Exploring experiences and self efficacy of midwives in screening and managing gender based violence in pregnant women: A qualitative study in Antenatal Clinic of Mulago hospital.
Abstract
Background: Gender-based violence among pregnant mothers remains a challenge in both
developed and developing countries in the world today. Nations and stakeholders continue to
involve themselves in the tackling of this vice. The involvement of midwives is very crucial
during the prenatal care period as these are the professionals constantly in touch with them
throughout pregnancy. Assessing the experiences and self-efficacy of midwives to understand
their interaction with the pregnant mothers experiencing GBV is very paramount. Less is known
about the experiences andself-efficacy of midwives during screening and managing gender-based
violence in Uganda. This study aims at assessing the experiences and self-efficacy of midwives
in screening and managing gender-based violence among pregnant mothers attending antenatal
care services in Mulago hospital.
Objective: To explore the experiences and self-efficacy of midwives in screening and managing
gender-based violence.
Methodology: This study used an explorative qualitative design using in-depth interviews to
collect data from participants. The participants that were recruited in this study were midwives in
Mulago hospital both enrolled and registered working in the antenatal clinic.
Results: Midwives experience various challenges such as lack of facility support, lack of
training on GBV, failure of clients to disclose abuse and knowledge related challenges among
them. They report confidence in screening and managing GBV among pregnant mothers.
Conclusion: Midwives do a screening of GBV according to the presentation of pregnant mothers
at antenatal care clinic. In the process of screening and managing GBV, they face many
challenges.