Mothers' experience of labour in a tertiary care hospital

ABSTRACT

The purpose of the study was to explore and describe experiences of mothers during childbirth in a tertiary hospital in the Limpopo Province. This was achieved through a qualitative research study which was exploratory; descriptive; contextual and inductive in nature. A sample of 24 mothers participated in this study. Data obtained from unstructured in-depth interviews were analysed according to the protocol by Tesch (1990; cited in Cresswell; 1994155). Five themes were identified; namely mutual participation and responsibility sharing; dependency and decision-making; information sharing and empowering autonomy and informed choices; open communication and listening; accom -modative /non-accommodative midwifery actions; and maximising human and material infrastructure. The themes indicated experiences that foster or promote dependency on midwifery care. Guidelines on how to transform this dependency into a mother-centered care approach during childbirth are provided