Thai Women's Belief on Roles of Nurse-midwives Working with Pregnant Women in Antenatal, Intranatal and Postnatal Units
Keywords:
Thai women's belief, Roles of nurse-midwivesAbstract
The purposes of this study were to explore women's belief on roles of nurse-midwives working with pregnant women in antenatal, intranatal and postnatal units, and to examine differences in beliefs of women accessing care at different types of health care settings. The samples recruited in the study were 323 primigravid women firstly booking at primary to tertiary health settings (Bang-Yai Health center, Oothong Community hospital, Rachaburi provincial hospital, Maternal and Child hospital (Health promo- tion centre), and Ramathibodi university hospital). A questionnaire was chosen as a tool to collect data. Descriptive statistic was used to analyze demographic data and womens beliefs, while Odd ratio with 95% confident interval to examine differences in beliefs. It was found that not all roles defined by the Thai Nursing and Midwifery Council were not perceived by Thai pregnant women as midwife roles. Differences in beliefs also existed amongst women visiting different types of settings. Women booking care at Bang-Yai Health center, community, Provincial hospital, and Maternal and Child hospital believed more numbers of procedures as midwife's roles than those visiting at university hospital. Thai midwifery practice thus is not well recognized by pregnant women. The findings from this study can be used as fundamental data for developing midwifery practice and its profession in Thailand by firstly enhancing public recognition of care provided by midwives.
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