Compliance rate of midwives with the professional codes of ethics in Maternal Child Health Centers in Tehran

Ethical performance is one of the main components of offering quality care to women and mothers. The aim of this study was to assess the degree of compliance with the professional codes of ethics among the midwives employed in maternal child health centers in Tehran. This was a descriptive، cross-sectional study performed on 125 maternal child health center midwives in Tehran. Method of sampling was stratified and cluster sampling. The data collection tool consisted of a valid، reliable questionnaire including two sections: demographic information and 43 questions in 10 areas of professional ethics based on a 5-point Likert scale. Data analysis was performed by descriptive statistics via the SPSS software. The overall compliance with ethical codes among midwives was 3. 866±0. 522، and compliance rates in each of the 10 areas mentioned above were as follows: respect for human dignity: 3. 77±0. 676; observance of clients’ decision-making right: 3. 62±0. 58; obtaining informed consent: 3. 48 ± 0. 988; truth telling: 4±0. 74; respect for clients’ privacy: 4. 08±0. 709; observance of the principles of beneficence and non-maleficence: 3. 97±0. 689; revealing clients’ information: 3. 47±0. 723; confidentiality: 3. 83±0. 844; fair treatment of clients: 4. 14±0. 802; and professional relationship with colleagues: 4. 23±0. 709. In order to improve the quality of midwifery services، more attention should be paid to teaching professional ethics in midwifery courses، and after extensive notification، compliance with ethical codes should be monitored.