Woman-centred ethical grid for midwifery education: A content analysis

Area of Science:

• Midwifery Education
• Bioethics
• Healthcare Professional Development

Background:

• Midwives globally adhere to international ethical principles.
• Current midwifery education often lacks practical skills for ethical competence.
• Students face challenges translating ethics theory into practice.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore midwifery students' perceptions of ethical issues encountered during clinical placements.
• To gather foundational data for developing a practical ethical deliberation tool.
• To enhance ethical competence and advocacy skills in student midwives.

Main Methods:

• Qualitative Content Analysis of 21 reflective assignments from midwifery students.
• Purposive sampling from a Western Australian university.
• Ethical approval obtained from the institutional review board.

Main Results:

• Three key themes emerged: moral distress from witnessing, ethical awareness through patient relationships, and learning advocacy.
• Students identified issues with consent, interventions, insensitive care, and technology overuse.
• A Woman-Centred Ethical Grid was developed by integrating findings with ethical theory.

Conclusions:

• Midwifery students frequently experience moral distress due to ethical dilemmas and a perceived inability to act.
• Practical, supported education is crucial for navigating complex maternity care ethics.
• The Woman-Centred Ethical Grid offers a framework to improve ethical deliberation and advocacy in midwifery.