Exposing racial bias in midwifery education: a content analysis of images and text in Myles Textbook for Midwives

Abstract

Background Race is well documented as a factor in perinatal outcomes. Inherent racial bias has been identified in healthcare learning materials. Myles Textbook for Midwives is used by thousands of midwives globally. Aims To determine how people of different skin colours are represented within Myles. Methods Content analysis of text and images in Myles Textbook for Midwives 17th Edition, 2020 Findings The images overwhelmingly depict light skinned people of White European appearance. Descriptions of skin colour in context of clinical assessment often applied mostly or solely to people with light colour skin. This text often referred to conditions associated with severe morbidity or mortality. Key conclusions Myles Textbook for Midwives presents a light skinned White European norm and often fails to include information that is clinically relevant to the assessment of people with darker skin colours. This may lead to disparity in midwifery education and contribute to poorer outcomes for women and babies.