To be a midwife in Latvia - Midwives talking - Pilot study

Area of Science:

• Maternal Health
• Sociology of Health
• Professional Identity Studies

Background:

• Latvia's EU membership has influenced healthcare, necessitating a shift towards horizontal, patient-centered care models.
• The evolving woman-midwife relationship requires a re-evaluation of professional identity within this new paradigm.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore how practicing midwives in Latvia perceive their professional identity, core values, norms, and beliefs.
• To understand the impact of the changing healthcare landscape on the midwife's role and self-perception.

Main Methods:

• Thematic analysis was employed in a pilot study involving three interview rounds with 20 midwives.
• Midwives' descriptions of their professional identity were analyzed to identify key themes.

Main Results:

• Eleven themes emerged, categorized into integral aspects (courage, intimacy, creativity), desirable aspects (self-evaluation, boundary setting, diversity acceptance), and hindrances (bureaucracy, financial struggles).
• Midwives expressed a strong sense of professional pride, viewing their role as 'the most beautiful profession'.

Conclusions:

• This study is the first to conceptualize midwives' voices on professional identity in Latvia.
• Midwives' reflections revealed both the valued components of their identity and the significant challenges they encounter, including bureaucratic and financial obstacles.