Clínicas de Saúde Materno-Infantil

Abstrato

The Effect of Socio-Demographic Factors on Quality of Midwifery Performance as Perceived by Midwives

Areefa Alkasseh, Diaa Abu Kweik

Background: Midwives play a vital role in the provision of maternal health care globally. Quality of midwifery performance is essential to strengthen mother and child health care. A successful maternal health care services must have a strong midwifery performance in providing ante natal, basic intra partum and post-partum care. Therefore, it was important to identify the socio-demographic factors influencing quality of midwifery performance. The study aimed to determine socio-demographic factors that influence quality of midwifery performance from the perspective of the midwives in governmental hospitals in Gaza Strip.

Methods: A cross sectional study utilized representative census sampling of 212 midwives and nurses who work in maternity departments of governmental hospital in Gaza Strip. A questionnaire was developed with a response rate of 91.9%. The questionnaire was validated by experts, and reliability was obtained by Cronbach’s alpha coefficient. Data were analyzed using SPSS.

Results: The results of the study revealed that presence of the highest socio-demographic factor that positively influences the quality of midwifery performance (high level of salary and availability of transportation). On other hand, the results indicated lowest socio-demographic factor that positively influences the quality of midwifery performance (marriage and advancement in age with more experience). In addition, it was found that there is a significant difference in the quality of midwifery performance in the governmental hospitals between different job titles (nurses, midwives, head nurses, supervisors) of the participants (p<0.05) in favor of midwives.

Conclusion: There was a positive correlation between quality of midwifery performance and job titles in favor of midwives. Therefore, it is recommended that the managers should ensure adequate number of professional midwives at all times and shifts in maternity departments at the governmental hospitals in Gaza Strip.