ABSTRACT
A labor companion of choice during childbirth is crucial for improving women's birth experience and confidence to give birth. Labor companions provide various benefits, including enhanced communication, emotional support, non-pharmacological pain relief, and better healthcare. However, little is known about the supportive actions of labor companions with respect to women's needs during labor and birth, as well as healthcare providers' perceptions of labor companions. Therefore, this study was conducted to explore the perceptions of healthcare providers and women regarding labor companions. The study utilized an interpretative phenomenology research design. Data collection involved conducting semi-structured interviews with 14 participants. The sample consisted of mothers, physicians, and nurses, ensuring a diverse range of perspectives. An interpretative phenomenological analysis was conducted for data analysis. Five themes were identified: (a) impact of companionship, (b) benefits for healthcare providers, (c) companion roles, (d) loneliness and alienation of mothers, and (e) challenges of implementation. The findings indicated that the presence of a companion reduces the need for unnecessary medical interventions and eases the workload of healthcare providers. Without a companion, mothers often feel lonely and disconnected during the birthing process. The presence of companions is often hindered by space limitations in delivery rooms, the absence of clear policies, and lack of childbirth education programs for companions. Clear policies, education programs, and adequate space are essential for implementing and promoting labor companionship during childbirth.
ABSTRACT
Introduction: Staff turnover is a major obstacle to the success of Saudi Arabia's health transformation agenda and the realization of Saudi Vision 2030. Nurses' and midwives' intentions to remain with the organization are heavily influenced by their sense of structural empowerment and resilience. Objectives: To gain insight into the perspectives of nurses and midwives working in the Obstetrics and Gynecology departments of a selection of Saudi Arabian governmental hospitals about structural empowerment, resilience, and intentions to stay in their current positions. Methods: Qualitative Descriptive Phenomenology. Purposive sampling was used to choose eighteen nurses and midwives working in the OB/GYN department in three government hospitals in the Eastern Province of Saudi Arabia. Semi-structured interviews were conducted to gather the participants' perceptions. Colaizzi's steps were used as a data analysis method. Results: The narratives of the selected participants generated five major themes: (a) "nurturing physical and physiological," (b) "developing psychological," (c) "managing financial," (e) "restructuring organizational," and (f) "enriching professional and occupational." Conclusions: The emerging major themes highlighted the perceptive elements of nurses and midwives that keep them empowered, resilient, and determined to stay in their organization. A failure to fulfill any one of these elements will affect the others. To improve organizational outcomes, empowerment and resilience must be obtained.
ABSTRACT
Perceptions and experiences of midwives regarding structural empowerment during practice in Saudi Arabia were explored using a qualitative, constructive, descriptive design. Data was gathered using individual semi-structured interviews with ten midwives employed in delivery rooms, and prenatal and postnatal units of governmental hospitals in Saudi Arabia's eastern province. Data was analyzed with assistance of NVivo software, Version 12. Five themes emerged from our study: the meaning of structural empowerment, ambiguous hospital policies, the insufficient numbers of midwives, midwife-physician dynamics, and continuing education and training. Structural empowerment of midwives in maternity units may be useful in improving midwifery services in Saudi Arabia and worldwide.
What is the further research?Further studies on this topic should expand the current study's sample and include participants from more regions of Saudi Arabia. In addition, research on the psychological empowerment of midwives is needed.What is known on the subject?Midwives are educated to care for women during pregnancy, birth, and postnatal, and midwives must be empowered to fulfill this professional role. The evidence showed the importance of structural empowerment for midwives to perform their professional function and provide quality care for women during pregnancy, birth, and postnatal.What does this paper add to existing knowledge?In Saudi Arabia, there is little research evidence on how to explore the perceptions and experiences of structural empowerment among midwives. Our study provided valuable recommendations for identifying environmental practices, positive workplace characteristics, and promoting higher-quality midwifery in the workplace.What are the implications for practice?Midwife workplace empowerment is correlated with the quality of care, job satisfaction, staff effectiveness, and the positivity of the work environment. The results of this study suggest that every healthcare organization must work to bring about structural empowerment for midwives to facilitate successful practice.
