Midwives’ experiences of becoming and being a midwife in the post-conflict setting of Somaliland.: An interview study
2018 (English)Independent thesis Advanced level (degree of Master (Two Years)), 10 credits / 15 HE credits
Student thesis
Abstract [en]
Background: Working as a midwife means being an important key to health and counsellor for women, their families and the community. Post conflict refer to the fragile situation occurring after a conflict. The effects of the war in Somalia led to a collapse of the health care system, with consequences for midwives catering for women before, during and after childbirth.
Purpose: To describe midwives’ experiences of becoming and being a midwife in the post-conflict setting of Somaliland.
Method: A qualitative and empirical interview study with inductive approach was chosen for this study to gain broader a view of midwives' experiences. Eleven individual interviews with midwives were analysed by thematic analysis.
Findings: Time as refugees and current social situation were factors that had shaped the midwives, as well as challenges in professional life related to lack of equipment and training, encountering women with low health status, and women in need of additional health education and awareness in general and in reproductive health. Improvement of women's health and rights was also described as a key part of the midwives' jobs.
Conclusion: Previous life experiences combined with challenges in working life and the desire to change and improve were of great importance for the midwives working in the post conflict setting of Somaliland and gave the them roles as changemakers for Somali women.
Clinical Applicability: This study can be used to increase the understanding of women’s health and the prerequisites for midwives and women living in, or originating from, a conflict or post conflict setting with experiences of war and displacement.
Place, publisher, year, edition, pages
2018.
Keywords [en]
Challenge, midwife, post-conflict, Somalia, Somaliland, women’s health
National Category
Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Medicine
Identifiers
URN: urn:nbn:se:du-29756OAI: oai:DiVA.org:du-29756DiVA, id: diva2:1298890
2019-03-252019-03-25