Background: Professional midwives are being introduced as a long-term solution to improve maternal and newborn health in Bangladesh and to contribute to Universal Health Coverage. Professional midwives’ associations are a core element of a strong midwifery profession according to the International Confederation of Midwives (ICM). The Bangladesh Midwifery Society (BMS) was formed in 2010 to advocate for the introduction of professional midwifery in Bangladesh. Since 2017 BMS has benefitted from an international twinning partnership with the Royal College of Midwives (RCM) UK and has undergone significant organizational development.
Objective: The study aimed to describe the experiences, knowledge and attitudes of selected members of the Bangladesh Midwifery Society (BMS) about how the society was supporting its members and the wider profession of midwifery.
Methods: Semi-structured individual interviews with eighteen BMS members and executive board members.
Results: This study demonstrated that in Bangladesh the midwives’ association has played a dual role in supporting its members and in driving the profession forward.
Conclusions: This study confirms that the BMS, collaborating nationally and internationally with strategic partners, is a key player in establishing and supporting the nascent profession of midwifery in Bangladesh. It complements other data about efforts to build BMS’ capacity and influence and it makes recommendations for future practice, policy and research.