Summary
Background: In spite of caring being the core of midwifery and nursing, there is a constant
public outcry about uncaring behaviours of midwives towards clients. Local media reports
and recent discussion in the health system have highlighted the concerns regarding caring
behaviours of midwives. Thus, there is a need to compare the meaning of caring from the
perspectives of student midwives, midwives and educators.
Aims: The aim of this article was to determine the meaning of caring from the perspectives of
the undergraduate student midwives, the professional midwives, and the educators teaching
midwifery in Tshwane.
Setting: The study was conducted at healthcare institutions which the undergraduate student
midwives attended for work integrated learning and at nursing education institutions in
Tshwane, South Africa.
Methods: The strategy was qualitative and exploratory in nature. The population comprised
student midwives, professional midwives and educators. Purposive sampling was done.
Focus group discussions were held with student midwives and professional midwives, whilst
the naïve sketch form was used as data-collection instrument for educators. Content data
analysis was done. The total sample realised was 38.
Results: The findings revealed that ‘caring’ was taken to mean being well conversant, upto-
date and proficient in the field of work as well as considerate and respectful to others.
The professional midwives indicated that they have seen colleagues demonstrate uncaring
behaviour whilst educators emphasised respect as caring.
Conclusion: The student midwives, professional midwives and educators described caring as
being a competent nurse with compassion and respect for others.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:netd.ac.za/oai:union.ndltd.org:tut/oai:encore.tut.ac.za:d1001972 |
| Date | 16 December 2015 |
| Creators | Masala-Chokwe, MET, Ramukumba, TS |
| Publisher | African Journal of Primary Health Care and Family Medicine |
| Source Sets | South African National ETD Portal |
| Language | English |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Text |
| Format | |
| Rights | © 2015. The Authors. |
| Relation | AOSIS OpenJournals. |
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