Acceptance of midwifery qualification acquisition by gender identity and sexual orientation: a survey of nursing students.

Objective: Amid growing calls for respect for gender diversity, Japanese law restricts midwifery qualifications to women, excluding individuals assigned male at birth. By contrast, in some countries, all individuals can pursue midwifery qualifications regardless of gender. These differences highlight varying institutional frameworks and levels of social acceptance. To clarify nursing students' acceptance of midwifery qualification acquisition across gender identities and sexual orientations. Methods: An anonymous online survey was conducted from April to May 2024 among 98 undergraduate nursing students (10 men and 88 women) enrolled at a single anonymous health sciences university in Japan. Acceptance of midwifery qualification acquisition was assessed using the proportion of positive evaluations for nine gender identity and sexual orientation categories. Evaluations were measured on a 4-point Likert scale. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, cross-tabulation, and χ Results: Heterosexual women had the highest level of acceptance (96.9% positive evaluations), while heterosexual and bisexual men had the lowest (46.9%). There were substantial gender differences in the level of acceptance for different sexual orientations; however, none were statistically significant. Conclusion: Acceptance of midwifery qualification acquisition varied by gender identity and sexual orientation categories, suggesting that gender roles and cultural perspectives may influence attitudes. The findings indicate that systems should be reviewed to allow anyone, regardless of gender, to qualify and work as a midwife. They also highlight the importance of fostering an understanding of diversity through education.