Midwives’ perceptions of influences on their behaviour of woman-centered care: a qualitative study
Year: 2016
Type: article
Abstract: Background: Placing the woman at the centre of midwifery care is a key recommendation for optimising Dutch midwifery care, although not fully utilised.Methods: Semi-structured interviews with ten Dutch midwives.The interviews were analysed using the Attitude, Social influence & self-Efficacy (ASE) model.Results: The research identified the following themes: Woman-centered care manifested in providing information, assessing needs, taking time, articulating a vision about woman-centered care and adhering to a physiological approach of pregnancy and birth and to care standards.Woman-centered care was perceived as care that is adapted to women's needs but it was not regarded as infinite.Midwives' overall intention and attitude about woman-centered care was positive, although midwives often could not fulfil these intentions as a result of perceived barriers.Midwives' personal boundaries, women's unrealistic wishes and logistic factors, such as time were barriers to provide woman-centered care.Personal factors, such as midwives' personal outlook on life, influenced woman-centered care.Woman-centeredness was also influenced by the woman's expression of her individual wishes or by the woman-centered care norm of colleague midwives.Not all midwives perceived that they had the abilities to provide woman-centered care.Being familiar with one's population and with woman-centered care were perceived as helpful.Midwives associated vocational characteristics with woman-centered care.Discussion/Conclusion: Woman-centered care behaviour is determined by various factors, predominantly showing a paradox between behaviour and attitude and intention.Woman-centered care therefore needs a philosophical underpinning to provide guidance for midwives.
Source: Frontiers in Women’s Health
DOI: 10.15761/fwh.1000107
Institution: Rotterdam University of Applied Sciences
Language: English
Subfield: Obstetrics and Gynecology
Field: Medicine
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: hybrid
OpenAlex ID: W2521907239