Support in the Battle against COVID-19: A National Qualitative Study among Midwives in Indonesia

Authors

  • Mergy Gayatri University of Brawijaya image/svg+xml
  • Oluwadamilare Akingbade Institute of Nursing Research
  • Emmanuel Adesuyi Institue of Nursing Research
  • Rahmat Oyekale Osun State University image/svg+xml
  • Faremi Oluwabunmi Ladoke Akintola University of Technology image/svg+xml
  • Grace Oluwatomi Olufayo Department of Nursing
  • Dian Kusumaningtyas University of Brawijaya image/svg+xml
  • Sujarwoto Sujarwoto University of Brawijaya image/svg+xml

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.25159/2520-5293/11871

Keywords:

support, midwife, maternal, pandemic, lower-middle-income country, qualitative study

Abstract

The outbreak of the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in 2019 was met with various responses globally in an effort to reduce its spread. Despite these efforts, however, low- and middle-income countries like Indonesia are still being confronted with challenges, especially the healthcare providers who are frontline workers in the struggle. The current study aimed to explore the support expected by and provided to Indonesian midwives and pregnant women during the COVID-19 pandemic. The research method used was a descriptive-interpretative qualitative research design. The data was collected through conducting in-depth interviews with 24 midwives who were purposively sampled and evenly recruited across all regions and all areas of midwifery practice in Indonesia. The recorded interviews were coded and themes were identified, after which a thematic analysis was done. Two main themes emerged and nine sub-themes were identified from the main themes. The study findings offered new insights into the individual and collective experiences of midwives from various regions in Indonesia. They had to adjust by leveraging the internet and mobile telephones in order to continue delivering standard care to pregnant women amid the pandemic. In addition, the midwives saw the need to provide food and financial support to pregnant women. However, despite the end of the pandemic being in sight in September 2022, there is a need to continue to support midwives and pregnant women in the disruption caused by the pandemic. Government agencies and non-governmental organisations (NGOs) should plan interventions targeted at providing specific support to midwives and pregnant women.

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Published

2022-11-18

How to Cite

Gayatri, Mergy, Oluwadamilare Akingbade, Emmanuel Adesuyi, Rahmat Oyekale, Faremi Oluwabunmi, Grace Oluwatomi Olufayo, Dian Kusumaningtyas, and Sujarwoto Sujarwoto. 2022. “Support in the Battle Against COVID-19: A National Qualitative Study Among Midwives in Indonesia”. Africa Journal of Nursing and Midwifery 24 (3):17 pages. https://doi.org/10.25159/2520-5293/11871.
Received 2022-08-01
Accepted 2022-09-19
Published 2022-11-18