Communication Between Midwives and Women-in-Labour: A Case Study of Mamprobi Polyclinic-Accra, Ghana

Abstract

The quality of communication between the midwife and women who are in labour is important in midwifery care. The study sought to investigate the communication between midwives and women-in-labour at the Mamprobi Polyclinic in the Greater Accra Region of Ghana. Being a qualitative study set on a bedrock of a case study design, the main focus was to obtain rich insights into how they communicate during the labour process. Using Rhetorical Sensitivity and the Interaction-Process analysis theories, a total of 6 women-in-labour and 2 midwives participated in the study. The findings from the study revealed that midwives used diversion therapy to ward client’s minds off excruciating labour pains. They also used proxies and gestures to relay information to clients in cases where they were confronted with communication challenges. Women-in-labour were also counselled on self-care and care of baby while open and close-ended questions were used by midwives to elicit information from women in order to provide optimal care. Both verbal and nonverbal means of communication were used by women-in-labour to convey messages to midwives for medical attention. What emerged seemed to suggest that abusive communicative behaviour was predominant in the labour ward. However, midwives consider their communicative behaviours as preventive measures that facilitate safe delivery.

Keywords: midwifery care, labour, Ghana

DOI: 10.7176/NMMC/84-02

Publication date:October 31^st 2019