title: Caseload midwifery in a multi-ethnic community: the women's experiences.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  to evaluate caseload midwifery in a relatively deprived and ethnically diverse inner-city area.
  
  
  METHODS
  semi-structured interviews were undertaken with 24 women from diverse ethnic backgrounds, 12 of whom had received caseload care and 12 women from an adjacent area who had received conventional maternity care in a large inner-city maternity unit. Framework analysis was adopted drawing on links with the authors' previous work on women's views of caseload midwifery.
  
  
  RESULTS
  key themes from previous work fitted well with the themes that emerged from this study. Themes included 'knowing and being known', 'person-centred care', 'social support', 'gaining trust and confidence', 'quality and sensitivity of care' and 'communication'.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  women from this socially and ethnically diverse group of women had similar views and wanted similar care to those in previous studies of caseload midwifery. Many of the women receiving caseload care highlighted the close relationship they had with the midwives and as a result of this felt more able to discuss their concerns with them. This has the potential not only for improved quality of care but also improved safety.
authors: Florence Nightingale School of Nursing and Midwifery, King's College London, 57 Waterloo Road, London, UK. sarah.beake@kcl.ac.uk
authors: Sarah
authors: S
authors: Beake
authors: Luisa
authors: L
authors: Acosta
authors: Pauline
authors: P
authors: Cooke
authors: Christine
authors: C
authors: McCourt
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D004739:England; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008427:Maternal Health Services / Q000379:methods*; D008880:Midwifery / Q000379:methods*; D009723:Nurse-Patient Relations; D036801:Parturition / Q000208:ethnology*; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D011247:Pregnancy; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Caseload midwifery; Continuity; Ethnicity; Maternity