Factors in the Provision of High Quality Midwifery Care: A Qualitative Content Analysis

Introduction: In recent years, health care has faced many changes. Thereupon, it would be beneficial to investigate the quality of midwifery care and its related factors. Many factors contribute to the provision of quality care, and recognizing factors to ensure the quality of midwifery care. This qualitative study was conducted to explain the factors that affect the provision and quality of midwifery care.

Methods: This qualitative study with content analysis approach was conducted between June 2017 and February 2018 on 15 midwives working in private and public maternity hospitals in the city of Qom. The participants were selected by purposeful sampling. Semi-structured and in-depth interviews were performed with open ended questions to find out how midwives describe high quality midwifery care. Data were analyzed by conventional content analysis method through MAXQDA-11 software.

Results: The findings of this study revealed two main themes, including individual factors (personal efficiency, staffs’ psychological status, value-centeredness, cultural-educational issues, and professional attachment), and professional-organizational factors (professional characteristics, patient characteristics, personal-professional welfare, professional empowerment system, value-centered culture of organization, and organizational monitoring and evaluation).

Conclusion: The results of this study showed that individual and professional factors are associated with the quality of midwifery care. Midwives who participated in this study believed that providing high quality midwifery care requires a broad range of prerequisites. Since high quality midwifery care decreases maternal and infant mortality and morbidity, it is imperative for policymakers to pay attention to all the factors that contribute to the quality of midwifery care.