Title: Developing a theoretical framework on postpartum care from Tanzanian midwives' views on their role.

POPLINE Document Number: 187419

Author(s):

Lugina HI
Johansson E
Lindmark G
Christensson K

Source citation:

Midwifery, 2002;18:12-20.

Abstract:

Objectives: to describe a theoretical framework developed from the views of midwives in relation to provision of systematic postpartum care. Design: qualitative focus group study using grounded theory approach. Setting: Dares Salaam, Tanzania. Participants: 49 nurse-midwives in five focus group discussions each having 9-11 participants. Findings: the components of the Basic Social Process of 'Becoming a good resource and support person for the postpartum woman' consisted of 'reflection' as an entry point into the process. Integration, networking, balancing, and dealing with reality, emerged as categories related to process activities. The category of 'defining abilities' required that midwives become aware of their competency and their limitations in reflection and all process activities, so that improvement can be part of 'getting ready', a category that describes what needs to be done at individual and health system level to prepare for systematic postpartum care programmes. The 'caring' category was linked to an outcome of the process 'doing things in the right way', which means providing quality postpartum care. The conditional matrix shows the midwife as an individual affected by several micro and macro conditions. Conclusions: the proposed theoretical framework can be used in understanding the dynamics of work situations and in assisting midwives to achieve the goal of being good resource and support persons for postpartum women. Interventions for midwives should focus on the major components of the framework but also on the concepts that relate the proposed framework to other central concepts in midwifery and nursing, issues in the theory-practice gap, empowerment, political awareness, involvement in policy making, decision making and dealing with job stress. (author's)

Keywords:

Tanzania
Research Report
Focus Groups
Midwives and Midwifery
Postpartum Women
Postpartum Programs
Client-Staff Relations
Quality of Health Care
Africa, Eastern
Africa, Sub Saharan
Africa
Developing Countries
Data Collection
Research Methodology
Health Personnel
Delivery of Health Care
Health
Puerperium
Reproduction
Family Planning Programs
Family Planning
Interpersonal Relations
Behavior
Health Services Evaluation
Program Evaluation
Programs
Organization and Administration