In which year did Madras Presidency succeed in enacting the Madras Nurses and Midwives Act to promote the hiring of a registered midwife for service during childbirth?

Correct option is D

Correct Answer:
✅ (d) 1926
Explanation:
The Madras Nurses and Midwives Act, 1926, was a significant milestone in regulating nursing and midwifery practices in India. The Act was enacted by the Madras Presidency to ensure that only trained and registered midwives were allowed to assist in childbirth, thereby improving maternal and neonatal health outcomes.
Key Features of the Madras Nurses and Midwives Act (1926):
1. Regulated the Training and Registration of Midwives
· Established a licensing system for midwives and nurses.
· Ensured that untrained individuals could not practice as midwives.
2. Improved Maternal Healthcare
· Encouraged institutional deliveries (hospital-based) instead of unsafe home births.
· Reduced the risk of maternal and neonatal mortality.
3. Strengthened Midwifery Education
· Set up training programs and certification requirements for midwives and nurses.
· Ensured that midwives received proper training in safe delivery practices.
4. Formation of the Nursing Council
· Led to the establishment of regulatory bodies for nursing and midwifery in India.
· This was a precursor to the Indian Nursing Council Act, 1947, which later standardized nursing regulations nationwide.
Why Other Options Are Incorrect?
❌ (a) 1928
· The Act was passed earlier, in 1926.
· However, nursing reforms continued after 1926, with subsequent improvements in regulation.
❌ (b) 1945
· By 1945, India was preparing for independence, and nursing reforms had already been in place for nearly two decades.
· The Indian Nursing Council Act was passed in 1947, but the Madras Nurses and Midwives Act came much earlier (1926).
❌ (c) 1923
· While nursing education and reforms began in the early 1900s, the specific Act was enacted in 1926, not 1923.