Building positive respectful midwifery relationships: An analysis of women’s experiences of continuity of midwifery care in Aotearoa New Zealand

Abstract

Problem/BackgroundRespectful woman-centred care is an expectation of the Midwifery Standards of Practice within Aotearoa New Zealand. With both the national and international expectations identifying human rights as a priority in maternity care. Mistreatment can be experienced by women in all socio-political contexts. Identifying women’s experiences of their maternity service is vital when assessing the quality of these services. AimTo explore women’s experiences of continuity of midwifery care in Aotearoa NZ, whether they support the expectations within the Standards of Midwifery Practice and identify the characteristics of care that may contribute to positive or negative experiences of care. MethodsA retrospective analysis of women’s formal online feedback to their midwife using a mixed method design. Feedback forms received from the 1st January 2019 to the 31st December 2019 were analysed using descriptive statistics with free text thematically analysed. FindingsA total of 7749 feedback forms were received demonstrating high levels of satisfaction overall. Three overlapping themes were identified as being central to both positive and negative feedback. Building a positive relationship involved three steps. These were the establishment and maintenance of trust, honouring decisions and empowerment. Overall, the existence of these relationship characteristics contributed to a valued woman-midwife relationship.Women who gave negative feedback identified a lack of trust and a failure to honour decisions which led to women feeling disempowered contributing to a lack of being valued in the relationship. Conclusion: Continuity of care in Aotearoa NZ supports the development of a respectful partnership through trust, honouring decisions and empowerment.