What the client needed
Midwives are essential to reducing maternal and newborn deaths, yet systemic and social barriers limit how effective they can be. UNFPA commissioned a multi-country study, implemented by hera, to examine how gender inequality affects midwives' ability to provide high-quality care.
For Zambia's part of the study, hera needed a partner that could secure ethical approval and collect sensitive qualitative data with midwives and health leaders in urban and rural settings.
How M31 Research delivered
M31 Research led the Zambia field component. We obtained ethical clearance, translated the tools into local languages and engaged stakeholders. Using a qualitative approach rooted in gender and human rights frameworks, our team conducted 12 key informant interviews with national and sub-national stakeholders and 8 focus group discussions with midwives across four locations.
All interviews were fully transcribed and translated, and the data was cleaned rigorously to support thematic analysis.
What we delivered
- Ethical approval and stakeholder engagement
- Tools translated into local languages
- 12 key informant interviews and 8 focus group discussions
- Full transcription and translation
- Support to global reporting and a peer-reviewed publication
What changed for the client
M31's work enabled Zambia's part of the multi-country study to be completed, giving UNFPA and hera grounded insights into how gender norms, workplace inequality and professional discrimination undermine midwives. The findings fed into global advocacy, a peer-reviewed paper and a policy brief promoting gender-transformative strategies in health systems.
Key findings and outcomes
- Zambia's portion of the multi-country study completed
- Findings used in global advocacy and a policy brief
- Contribution to a peer-reviewed publication
