title: A qualitative exploration of how midwives' and obstetricians' perception of risk affects care practices for low-risk women and normal birth.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Maternity care is facing increasing intervention and iatrogenic morbidity rates. This can be attributed, in part, to higher-risk maternity populations, but also to a risk culture in which birth is increasingly seen as abnormal. Technology and intervention are used to prevent perceived implication in adverse outcomes and litigation.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  Does midwives' and obstetricians' perception of risk affect care practices for normal birth and low-risk women in labour, taking into account different settings?
  
  
  METHODS
  The research methods are developed within a qualitative framework. Data were collected using semi-structured interviews and analysed thematically. A purposive sample of 25 midwives and obstetricians were recruited from three maternity settings in Ireland. This included obstetric-led hospitals, an alongside midwifery-led unit and the community.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Midwifery is assuming a peripheral position with regard to normal birth as a progressive culture of risk and medicalisation affects the provision of maternity care. This is revealed in four themes; (1) professional autonomy and hierarchy in maternity care; (2) midwifery-led care as an undervalued and unsupported aspiration; (3) a shift in focus from striving for normality to risk management; and (4) viewing pregnancy through a 'risk-lens'.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Factors connected to the increased medicalisation of birth contribute to the lack of midwifery responsibility for low-risk women and normal birth. Midwives are resigned to the current situation and as a profession are reluctant to take action.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Improved models of care, distinct from medical jurisdiction, are required. Midwives must take responsibility for leading change as their professional identity is in jeopardy.
authors.affiliation: Department of Nursing and Midwifery, University of Limerick, Limerick, Ireland. Electronic address: Sandra.healy@ul.ie.
authors.forename: Sandra
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Healy
authors.affiliation: Institute for the Study of Knowledge in Society, University of Limerick, Limerick, Ireland.
authors.forename: Eileen
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Humphreys
authors.affiliation: School of Nursing and Midwifery, Robert Gordon University, Aberdeen, Scotland, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Catriona
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Kennedy
mesh_terms: D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D036861:Delivery, Obstetric / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007494:Ireland; D008880:Midwifery; D009723:Nurse-Patient Relations; D009774:Obstetrics / Q000592:standards*; D036801:Parturition; D010817:Physician-Patient Relations; D011247:Pregnancy
keywords: Childbirth; Medicalisation; Midwives; Obstetricians; Risk