Women’s perceptions of midwifery continuity of care provided by bachelor of midwifery students from a public university in Northern Uganda: a descriptive qualitative study

Abstract

Background Domiciliary care is a midwifery continuity of care given to a mother by midwives in the hospital, clinic, or home during pregnancy, labor, and puerperium. While evidence exists on the benefits of continuity of midwifery care models to women and neonates, little is known about the perceptions of women who received domiciliary midwifery from midwifery students in Uganda. Aim This study explores women’s perceptions of midwifery continuity of care provided by Bachelor of Midwifery students. Methods An exploratory, descriptive qualitative study was conducted in Lira city, Uganda, from April to August 2024. Individual in-depth interviews were conducted using semi-structured interviews among eighteen purposively selected postnatal women who received domiciliary care from Bachelor of Midwifery students. Data was transcribed verbatim and analysed using the thematic technique and NVivo version 20. Findings The analysed data revealed that women appreciated the continuity of care received. Thematic analysis identified four themes: experience of care, empowerment through knowledge and skills, access to the health care system, and innovation approach to care, as well as 12 sub-themes from the study. Conclusion The study's findings show that women had positive experiences with the rendered care as it provided an opportunity for continuity of information and care. They felt empowered with knowledge, skills and information that they had not received in their previous deliveries and wished for the continuation of this care. There is also a need for stakeholder involvement and support to ensure continuation, maximize the impact of the care, and ensure the sustainability of the program.