M. Moon, L. Breitkreuz,
C. Ellis and C. Hanson
Executive Summary
As the regulation of midwifery evolves, changes in delivery of midwifery
services are inevitable. The purpose of the project Midwifery Care:
Women's Experiences, Hopes and
Reflections is to document women's experiences of midwifery care and
to determine if these experiences match the perceptions that midwives
have about the care women want. In doing this, the project's objectives
were to determine if midwifery care is responsive to the needs of women;
to establish a benchmark against which further evaluations can be measured;
to strengthen links between midwives in Manitoba and Saskatchewan; and
to provide recommendations to policy makers regarding the implementation
of midwifery.
Sixteen women were interviewed and asked to share their experiences
with midwifery care and to provide policy recommendations regarding
the implementation of midwifery. Two focus groups were held with a total
of eleven midwives, one in Saskatchewan and the other in Manitoba. Midwives
were asked what they thought women wanted to know about themselves as
midwives and the care they offer.
Five dominant themes emerged from the interviews with women. Sub-categories
were identified within these themes. Themes and subcategories were time
spent with women - quality and quantity; personalized care and support
- home visits, choices and responsibility; consultative, not directive
care; self esteem and empowerment; respecting and strengthening family
relationships; midwifery care and support in different contexts; style
of care - holistic care; observant, hands-on and low-tech care; postpartum
care; trust and safety; accessibility - finding a midwife; cost; and
policy recommendations from women.
From focus groups midwives identified priorities they felt women wanted:
individualized care and continuity of caregiver; women wanted to know
about cost of care; the midwife's experience and training, the midwife's
philosophy and scope of practice. Midwives also assumed that women wanted
to know about the legality of midwifery and the political ramifications
surrounding their choice of midwifery care.
There were more similarities than differences between midwives' assumptions
regarding what women want and women's reported experiences. Midwives
assumed women were concerned about cost. Women identified this issue
as a difficulty for them and as a barrier to receiving midwifery care
for some people. Midwives thought women wanted individualized care and
continuity of caregiver. Women appreciated personalized care and midwives'
style of care (the expression of a midwife's philosophy). Midwives assumed
women wanted to know about midwives' scope of practice. This was identified
by women as something that medical personnel, the public and policy
makers need to know more about.
Summary of policy recommendations from women:
- that midwifery services should be publicly funded;
- that midwifery services should be available in rural and northern
communities, as well as in urban centers;
- that the essence of midwifery care should be supported and maintained
after regulation (In practical terms this translates into facilitating
midwives' autonomy in implementing care; into ensuring reasonable
workloads and flexibility in practice so that time can be spent providing
personalized care; and into providing opportunity for women to have
appointments and care in their homes); and
- that education and awareness campaigns regarding the value of midwifery
services should be targeted at medical personnel, health administrators
and the public.
For further information, contact:
Cathy Ellis
Midwifery Association of Saskatchewan
2836 Angus St.
Regina, SK S4S 1N8
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