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.