Key Maternity Care Stakeholders' Views on Midwives' Professional Autonomy

Area of Science:

• Maternity Care
• Professional Autonomy
• Interprofessional Collaboration

Background:

• Midwifery professionalism is linked to professional autonomy.
• Previous studies focused on Belgian midwives' autonomy, neglecting other stakeholders' views.
• Understanding diverse perspectives is crucial for enhancing midwifery practice.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore maternity care stakeholders' views on Belgian midwives' professional autonomy.
• To identify factors influencing the perception of midwife autonomy.
• To inform strategies for professional development in midwifery.

Main Methods:

• Qualitative exploratory study design.
• Focus group interviews conducted with 27 diverse maternity care stakeholders.
• Thematic analysis of interview data.

Main Results:

• Five themes emerged: education and continuous learning, competence, experience, assurance of safe and quality care, and collaboration.
• Variation in perceived midwife autonomy was noted.
• Stakeholders emphasized the importance of mutual respect for competences and autonomy.

Conclusions:

• A collaborative maternity framework respecting professional autonomy is vital for safe, quality care.
• Interprofessional education is recommended to foster collaboration.
• A regulatory body can support midwife autonomy and professionalization.