# “What You Leave…Will Leave You”: A Qualitative Study of Perceptions of Midwifery’s Intangible Heritage and Professional Identity Among Midwives and Student Midwives in Cyprus

## TL;DR

This study explores how midwives and students in Cyprus perceive midwifery's intangible heritage and its impact on their professional identity.

## Contribution

It is the first study to examine midwifery perceptions within the framework of UNESCO-recognized Midwifery’s Intangible Heritage.

## Key findings

- Four major themes emerged: intangible heritage transmission, shared professional identity, threats to the profession, and future expectations.
- Participants highlighted the contrast between historical midwifery practices and contemporary overmedicalization in Cyprus.
- Safeguarding midwifery heritage requires empowering women and enabling midwives to practice autonomously.

## Abstract

Background: Midwifery’s Intangible Heritage was officially recognized by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization on 6 December 2023, highlighting that elements of midwifery knowledge and practice, shaped over generations, constitute cultural heritage worth safeguarding. While previous studies have investigated midwives’ perceptions of professional identity, none have done so within the explicit framework of MIH. Objective: this study explored how midwives and student midwives in Cyprus perceive the intangible heritage of their profession and how it relates to their shared professional identity. Methods: A qualitative descriptive study was conducted between April and July 2023. Three focus groups were held, involving 22 participants: 15 registered midwives and 7 student midwives. A semi-structured interview guide consisting of 10 questions was used, developed by the lead author (M.P.) based on the literature and improvisation and finalized with the research team (E.H., S.V., N.M.) after expert input. Thematic analysis was performed inductively to identify recurrent themes. Results: Four major themes emerged: (1) key elements of Midwifery’s Intangible Heritage and their transmission across generations; (2) a sense of shared professional identity; (3) perceived threats to the midwifery profession; and (4) midwives’ expectations for the future of the profession. Conclusions: The findings reflect the historical background of midwifery in Cyprus and its contrast with contemporary practice, particularly within the context of the overmedicalization of birth and societal perceptions of midwifery in the socio-cultural setting. Safeguarding Midwifery’s Intangible Heritage requires both empowering women to seek midwifery-led care and enabling midwives to practice autonomously within their full professional scope. In addition, policymakers and educational bodies must support the preservation of midwives’ core skills through targeted educational curricula, structured mentorship, and continuous professional development.