Abstract
Problem and background
During the past two decades, Mexico has launched innovative maternal health initiatives
to improve maternal and neonatal outcomes, placing emphasis on the incorporation of
professional midwifery practices into the healthcare system. This study explored the
perceptions of healthcare providers and women using public birth care services regarding
professional midwifery practices and how can the inclusion of evidence-based midwifery
techniques improve the quality of service.
Methodology
We conducted a qualitative, cross-sectional study of three healthcare networks in
Mexico. A content analysis was performed of data collected through 109 semi-structured
interviews: 72 with healthcare providers and 37 with women.
Results
Healthcare providers and women had minimal knowledge of the competencies and skills
of professional midwives. Medical personnel accepted the incorporation of some evidence-based
midwifery practices. Women had experienced fear and anguish during childbirth so they
considered that incorporating professional midwifery practices into maternal health
services would be favourable in that it would render birth care more respectful.
Discussion and conclusions
Healthcare providers are willing to consider the inclusion of some evidence-based
midwifery practices in health services and regard assistance from professional midwives.
They believe that structural conditions will complicate their incorporation. Although
the women interviewed had experienced fear, anxiety and loneliness during childbirth,
most of them admitted to feeling “safer” in a hospital (secondary-care health centre)
setting where possible complications could be resolved. This perception of safety
served to justify the delivery of healthcare in a manner that is inattentive to women’s
needs, which go beyond biomedical issues and include emotions and the positive experience
of childbirth.
Keywords
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Article info
Publication history
Published online: June 11, 2019
Accepted:
May 22,
2019
Received in revised form:
May 21,
2019
Received:
April 10,
2018
Identification
Copyright
© 2019 Australian College of Midwives. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
