Educating and Strengthening the Workforce for Maternal and Neonatal Health

Dear Colleagues,

Maternal and neonatal health remains a critical global priority, with preventable deaths and complications continuing to place immense pressure on health systems, particularly in low-resource, rural, and underserved communities. Despite notable advancements in clinical practice, technology, and policy, persistent disparities in access, quality, and continuity of care for mothers and newborns demand urgent attention.

At the heart of sustainable solutions lies a capable, well-supported, and future-ready health workforce. This Special Issue brings together cutting-edge scholarship, evidence-based innovations, and global perspectives that explore the dynamic intersections of education, workforce development, and maternal-neonatal health outcomes.

Across diverse contexts, the contributions in this issue demonstrate how the education and training of health professionals including midwives, nurses, physicians, and allied health providers who directly influence clinical excellence, workforce resilience, and the survival and wellbeing of mothers and babies. The issue highlights transformative educational strategies and workforce models that empower clinicians to deliver high-quality, safe, and culturally responsive care.

Key themes include the following:

1. Simulation-based learning and technology-enhanced education;
2. Interprofessional collaboration and team-based care;
3. Policy-driven workforce planning and retention strategies;
4. Continuing professional development and lifelong learning;
5. Equity-focused education and rural workforce capacity building.

This Special Issue also engages with critical questions shaping the future of maternal and neonatal care:

1. How can education prepare the workforce to meet evolving health challenges?
2. What models of care and workforce deployment enhance continuity across tertiary, regional, and community settings?
3. How can innovations in education and reflective practice better equip clinicians for complex care environments?
4. In what ways can workforce development address systemic inequities and improve access to quality care globally?

By addressing these questions, the Special Issue contributes to the growing evidence base guiding workforce policy, educational reform, and clinical practice. Improving maternal and neonatal health requires more than clinical innovation, it demands strategic investment in people: their knowledge, skills, and capacity to deliver compassionate, effective, and equitable care.

I look forward to your contributions.

Dr. Linda Ng
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

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• maternal health
• neonatal health
• workforce development
• nursing
• interprofessional education
• clinical training
• global health
• rural and remote health
• capacity building
• health systems strengthening