Abstract
Background Midwives play an important role as advocates and guides for women in labour regarding their choice of mode of birth. However, there is a paucity of research exploring midwives' perceptions of their role in how women make this choice. Aim To explore and describe how midwives perceive their role in facilitating the choice of mode of birth of women in labour at public sector birthing units. Method A quantitative, exploratory-descriptive design was used. A questionnaire was used to collect data from 288 midwives in public birthing units in the Eastern Cape, South Africa. Findings The majority of the participants agreed that women in labour should be allowed to choose their preferred mode of birth. However, nearly half felt that care providers could overrule that decision depending on the health of the mother and the baby. Conclusion Midwives perceived themselves as the main role players in assisting women in labour to make an informed decision regarding the mode of birth that would best suit their circumstances.
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