Abstract
Background/Objectives: Malawi is one of the countries in the world with the worst maternal mortality rate. In view of this, women are encouraged to deliver at a health facility assisted by a skilled birth attendant. However, this initiative can only be effective when health care workers manifest a professional demeanor which conveys care and compassion to patients/clients. The objective of the study was to foster the development of compassionate care among nurses/midwives working in selected maternal and child health care clinical settings. Methods: The study employed an action research (AR) approach. Focus group discussions (FGDs) were conducted with nurse/midwives from the selected health facilities. Purposive sampling was utilized to obtain the sample of participants to the eight FGDs and thematic analysis was used to analyze the data. Results: The data collected from nurses/midwives clearly indicate that it is not possible to effectively render compassionate care under the present work conditions. The study reveals the following factors which hinder the delivery of compassionate care: severe nursing shortages, gross lack of essential supplies and equipment, negative attitudes of nurses/midwives and unsupportive leadership which demotivates nurses/midwives. Conclusion: The study reveals problems which hinder the delivery of compassionate care, and there is need to address these problems. This will enhance the effectiveness of hospital delivery by a skilled birth attendant as a safe motherhood initiative aimed at lowering the high maternal mortality rate.
Highlights
This paper reports preliminary findings of an action research study whose aim is to foster the development of compassionate care among nurses/midwives working in selected health care facilities in Malawi
The findings reported in this paper are derived from the data which was collected from the nurse/midwives to develop an understanding of the problems associated with the provision of compassionate care within the selected health care facilities
This paper reports preliminary findings from the study which explored compassionate care from the perspectives of nurses/midwives who participated in the study
Summary
Women are encouraged to deliver at a health facility assisted by a skilled birth attendant This initiative can only be effective when health care workers manifest a professional demeanor which conveys care and compassion to patients/clients. Some media reports attest to the fact that negligence is quite rampant among health care workers in Malawi. Interventions to promote compassionate care practices should be informed by both patient and health care worker perspectives. To this end, this paper reports preliminary findings of an action research study whose aim is to foster the development of compassionate care among nurses/midwives working in selected health care facilities in Malawi. The findings reveal the nurses/midwives’ perspectives on issues of compassionate care in Malawi
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