Implications for nurse managers arising from immigrant women’s experience of midwifery care in a hospital

tebid r., du plessis d., beukes s., van niekerk v. & jooste k. (2011) Journal of Nursing Management 19, 967–975

Implications for nurse managers arising from immigrant women’s experience of midwifery care in a hospital

Aim  This paper focuses on implications for nurse managers to support midwives in delivering nursing care to immigrant mothers in some government hospitals in Gauteng, South Africa.

Background  Immigration and poverty in Africa has led to midwives providing nursing care to immigrant mothers in a culturally sensitive environment. This necessitates an environment in which nurse managers should support midwives in caring for these mothers as unique individuals.

Method  An exploratory, descriptive phenomenological design was followed. The target population included nine immigrant mothers living in the inner centre of Johannesburg who, for the first time, attended, had antenatal clinics, laboured and gave birth at a Government Hospital in the Gauteng province of South Africa. After purposive sampling, phenomenological interviews were conducted until data saturation occurred.

Results  The findings indicate that nurse managers should ensure that midwifery care of immigrant mothers comply with the ethical–legal context of the South African constitution. Actions should be taken in combating issues related to impaired maternal–midwife relationship, lack of cultural sensitivity and psychological distress.

Conclusion  The delivery of maternity care to immigrant mothers is below the standard expected in the South African context.

Implications for nursing management  The nurse manager should support midwives to ensure an environment to care for immigrant mothers in maternity wards.