Use of birth technology-related competence of midwives in labor management: an observational study

The present study was aimed at investigating how midwives used their birth technology-related competence in labor management.

The study sample consisted of 14 midwives. Data were collected through interviews and by observing how the midwives followed up pregnant women. During the observations, the "Midwife Information Form", "Form to Assess Competence Areas of Midwives in Birth Technology" and "Form to Assess Technology Used in Labor" were used. Each midwife was observed five times.

The assessment of the birth technology competence areas of the midwives revealed that they had deficiencies in the "caring", "communication" sub-domains of the interpersonal skills domain and "decision making", "traditional midwifery skills" sub-domains of the clinical competence domain.

According to the analysis of the assessment of the technology used, the midwives working in delivery rooms tended to use low-tech devices. Traditional midwifery skills used by the participating midwives during labor were inadequate.