Opinions of Pregnant Womens Intended to Male Midwives

Aim: The study was conducted to determine opinion of pregnant women about their gender preferences related with midwife profession.

Methods: The study was conducted in cross-sectional and descriptive type. Whereas the research universe was consisted of 2954 pregnant women,the sampling group was including 384 pregnant women. The study was conducted in three randomly-selected Family Health Centers under the jurisdiction of the Manisa Public Health Directorship. The questionnaire consisted of 42 questions, developed by the researchers was harnessed in data collection process. In analysis process of the collected data, mean, percentage and chi-square methods were utilized.

Results: It was determined that although 52.2% of pregnant women agree with the opinion that both women and men could participate in childbearing operation; 97.9% of women preferred to have service from a midwife; and 98.4% preferred to have assistance from a woman midwife. When descriptive characteristics of pregnant women and their opinions regarding gender preferences in midwifery are compared, it was determined that whereas no any statistically significant difference was determined with age, education status, marital status, longest residential place, social security and family types of pregnant women (p>0.05); a statistically significant difference was determined with their employment status, one of their descriptive characteristic (p<0.05).

Conclusion: Whereas majority of pregnant women agree with the opinion that men could be midwife; when it comes to receiving service from midwife during delivery, almost all of them preferwomen midwives. Therefore, if key role of midwives in enhancement of public health are taken into consideration, childbearing, pre- and post-partum care services are especially required to be provided by women midwives.