Care and services partnership in Quebec birthing centres: myth or reality?
Abstract Context Working with women to best meet their needs has always been central to midwifery in Quebec, Canada. The creation of birthing centres at the end of the 1990s consolidated this desire to prioritize women’s involvement in perinatal care and was intended to encourage the establishment o...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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BMC
2024-03-01
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| Series: | BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12884-024-06362-w |
| _version_ | 1797266595472474112 |
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| author | Justine Sales Louise Normandin Marie-Pascale Pomey |
| author_facet | Justine Sales Louise Normandin Marie-Pascale Pomey |
| author_sort | Justine Sales |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Context Working with women to best meet their needs has always been central to midwifery in Quebec, Canada. The creation of birthing centres at the end of the 1990s consolidated this desire to prioritize women’s involvement in perinatal care and was intended to encourage the establishment of a care and services partnership between care providers and users. The aim of this pilot study is to evaluate the perceptions of clients, midwives and birth assistants of the way in which women are involved in partnership working in Quebec birthing centres. Methods A single qualitative case and pilot study was conducted with midwives (n = 5), birth assistants (n = 4), a manager (n = 1), clients (n = 5) and members of the users’ committee (n = 2) at a birthing centre in Quebec, Canada in July and August 2023. The partnership was evaluated using the dimensions of a validated CADICEE questionnaire. Results The women and professionals stressed that the relationship was established in a climate of trust. The caregivers also attached importance to autonomy, information sharing and decision-making, adaptation to context, empathy and recognition of the couple’s expertise. The women confirmed that they establish a relationship of trust with the professionals when the latter show empathy and that they adapt the follow-up to their knowledge and life context. Key factors in establishing this kind of care relationship are the time given, a de-medicalized environment, the comprehensive care received, and professionals who are well-informed about the partnership. In addition, the birthing centre has a users’ committee that can put forward ideas but has no decision-making powers. Conclusions Both the women and the professionals at the birthing centre appear to be working in partnership. However, at the organizational level, the women are not involved in decision-making. A study of all birthing centres in Quebec would provide a more comprehensive picture of the situation. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-25T01:03:11Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-d8e32d8113a84f579a91946935c1b535 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1471-2393 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-25T01:03:11Z |
| publishDate | 2024-03-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth |
| spelling | doaj.art-d8e32d8113a84f579a91946935c1b5352024-03-10T12:24:02ZengBMCBMC Pregnancy and Childbirth1471-23932024-03-0124111010.1186/s12884-024-06362-wCare and services partnership in Quebec birthing centres: myth or reality?Justine Sales0Louise Normandin1Marie-Pascale Pomey2Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1Research Centre, University of Montreal Hospital CentreResearch Centre, University of Montreal Hospital CentreAbstract Context Working with women to best meet their needs has always been central to midwifery in Quebec, Canada. The creation of birthing centres at the end of the 1990s consolidated this desire to prioritize women’s involvement in perinatal care and was intended to encourage the establishment of a care and services partnership between care providers and users. The aim of this pilot study is to evaluate the perceptions of clients, midwives and birth assistants of the way in which women are involved in partnership working in Quebec birthing centres. Methods A single qualitative case and pilot study was conducted with midwives (n = 5), birth assistants (n = 4), a manager (n = 1), clients (n = 5) and members of the users’ committee (n = 2) at a birthing centre in Quebec, Canada in July and August 2023. The partnership was evaluated using the dimensions of a validated CADICEE questionnaire. Results The women and professionals stressed that the relationship was established in a climate of trust. The caregivers also attached importance to autonomy, information sharing and decision-making, adaptation to context, empathy and recognition of the couple’s expertise. The women confirmed that they establish a relationship of trust with the professionals when the latter show empathy and that they adapt the follow-up to their knowledge and life context. Key factors in establishing this kind of care relationship are the time given, a de-medicalized environment, the comprehensive care received, and professionals who are well-informed about the partnership. In addition, the birthing centre has a users’ committee that can put forward ideas but has no decision-making powers. Conclusions Both the women and the professionals at the birthing centre appear to be working in partnership. However, at the organizational level, the women are not involved in decision-making. A study of all birthing centres in Quebec would provide a more comprehensive picture of the situation.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12884-024-06362-wWomen & family partnershipBirthing centresCare relationshipMidwifeContinuum of careWomen-centered care |
| spellingShingle | Justine Sales Louise Normandin Marie-Pascale Pomey Care and services partnership in Quebec birthing centres: myth or reality? BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth Women & family partnership Birthing centres Care relationship Midwife Continuum of care Women-centered care |
| title | Care and services partnership in Quebec birthing centres: myth or reality? |
| title_full | Care and services partnership in Quebec birthing centres: myth or reality? |
| title_fullStr | Care and services partnership in Quebec birthing centres: myth or reality? |
| title_full_unstemmed | Care and services partnership in Quebec birthing centres: myth or reality? |
| title_short | Care and services partnership in Quebec birthing centres: myth or reality? |
| title_sort | care and services partnership in quebec birthing centres myth or reality |
| topic | Women & family partnership Birthing centres Care relationship Midwife Continuum of care Women-centered care |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12884-024-06362-w |
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