Developing a theoretical framework on postpartum care from Tanzanian midwives' views on their role.
OBJECTIVE
to describe a theoretical framework developed from the views of midwives in relation to provision of systematic postpartum care.


METHODS
qualitative focus group study using grounded theory approach.


METHODS
Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.


METHODS
49 nurse-midwives in five focus group discussions each having 9-11 participants.


RESULTS
the components of the Basic Social Process of 'Becoming a good resource and support person for the postpartum woman' consisted of 'reflection' as an entry point into the process. Integration, networking, balancing, and dealing with reality, emerged as categories related to process activities. The category of 'defining abilities' required that midwives become aware of their competency and their limitations in reflection and all process activities, so that improvement can be part of 'getting ready', a category that describes what needs to be done at individual and health system level to prepare for systematic postpartum care programmes. The 'caring' category was linked to an outcome of the process 'doing things in the right way', which means providing quality postpartum care. The conditional matrix shows the midwife as an individual affected by several micro and macro conditions.


CONCLUSIONS
the proposed theoretical framework can be used in understanding the dynamics of work situations and in assisting midwives to achieve the goal of being good resource and support persons for postpartum women. Interventions for midwives should focus on the major components of the framework but also on the concepts that relate the proposed framework to other central concepts in midwifery and nursing, issues in the theory-practice gap, empowerment, political awareness, involvement in policy making, decision making and dealing with job stress.
Lugina
Helen I
HI
Faculty of Nursing, Muhimbili University College of Health Sciences, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. Hlugina@muchs.ac.tz
Johansson
Eva
E
Lindmark
Gunilla
G
Christensson
Kyllike
K
D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D002983:Clinical Competence; D005260:Female; D017144:Focus Groups; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008880:Midwifery / Q000592:standards*; D016294:Models, Nursing; D009321:Natural Childbirth / Q000379:methods* / Q000451:nursing*; D024802:Nurse's Role; D009723:Nurse-Patient Relations; D011181:Postnatal Care / Q000379:methods / Q000592:standards*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011787:Quality of Health Care; D013636:Tanzania / Q000453:epidemiology