Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41566284›Full record

ArticleBMC pregnancy and childbirth2026

Midwives practices and mothers' experiences during intrapartum midwifery care: a qualitative study.

Eve Katushabe, Ayishetu Musa-Maliki, Mary Steen

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in BMC pregnancy and childbirth, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

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1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

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The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

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Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

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4 · The record

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PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

3 authors.

Eve KatushabeDepartment of Midwifery, African Centre of Excellence for Public Health and Toxicological Research, University of Port Harcourt, Port Harcourt, River State, Nigeria. ekatushabe@hs.bsu.ac.ug.
Ayishetu Musa-MalikiDepartment of Nursing Science, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria Kaduna State, Nigeria.
Mary SteenSchool of Nursing, Faculty of Health Sciences, Curtin University, Perth, Western, Australia.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundLimited research addresses the intersection of women's intrapartum care experiences and midwives' daily practices within the same facilities, resulting in insufficient documentation of discrepancies between expectations and care routines. For women with low-risk pregnancies, midwife-led care is optimal. Quality intrapartum care measures are essential for reducing avoidable maternal-newborn morbidity and mortality. One factor contributing to the high rate of maternal and neonatal morbidity is sub-standard care. Thus, this study aimed to understand midwives’ practices and mothers’ experiences during intrapartum care.

methodsThis exploratory qualitative descriptive study was conducted in three health facilities in South Western Uganda between April 2025 and May 2025. Eleven (11) mothers admitted in early labour, expecting a normal physiological birth, and receiving midwifery care were purposively selected. Through nonparticipant direct observation ten (10) midwives were observed while caring for mothers in labour and in-depth interviews were conducted with the mothers after receiving care. Latent content analysis was applied for direct observations data, thematic analysis was applied for in-depth interviews data finally both data sets were triangulated.

resultsThree main themes emerged: “Disrespectful and Abusive intrapartum care” This emerged from three sub themes: Mistreatment, lack of emotional support and empathy, and abandonment of care. “Violation of Clinical Guidelines and Protocols”, Four important subthemes gave rise to the main theme: Retrospective filling of the labour care guide, disregard for women's rights during childbirth, improper immediate transfers of postpartum mothers by non-healthcare personnel, and lack of informed consent. “Mixed Perception of care” emerged from experiences with positive care, normalization of poor care and showing gratitude despite challenges.

conclusionTo enhance midwives' care practices and satisfy women's needs and preferences, it is crucial that they get ongoing support supervision and training, with an emphasis on guidelines and woman-centered care. We advise including respect, empathy, accountability, and good communication into every aspect of intrapartum care. This will improve maternal-newborn outcomes, create a positive childbirth experience, and restore women's trust in facility-based birth services.

Indexed as

MidwiferyMothersPerinatal CareAdultAttitude of Health PersonnelDelivery, ObstetricEmpathyFemaleHumansLabor, ObstetricPregnancyQualitative ResearchUgandaIntrapartum careMidwifery careMothers and Uganda

Identifiers

PMID41566284
PMCPMC12905935

What Socratic holds

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LicenceCC BY-NC-ND
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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the Socratic graph.