Facilitating antenatal education classes in Scotland

Abstract

Provision of antenatal education classes by registered midwives is viewed as pivotal in sharing information and providing health education for women and their partners during their journey into parenthood. The midwife's influence on the overall success of antenatal education classes has been identified in research but without focus on experiences of community midwives when fulfilling this aspect of their role. A study to address this gap using an interpretive/hermeneutic phenomenological approach was carried out. Semi-structured audiotaped individual interviews were transcribed and analysed by the researcher. The following themes were identified and explored: educator skills and confidence, midwife/client satisfaction and midwife perceptions. Community midwives appeared enthusiastic about their role in the provision of antenatal education classes, which facilitated the development of trusting relationships between women and the midwives. Despite expressing personal interest and motivation, some community midwives indicated that a few colleagues disliked or avoided facilitating antenatal education classes. The reluctance of some community midwives to fulfil this responsibility and meet the requirements of their professional role is of particular concern and further exploration of this issue is required.