Midwives’ Practice Challenges in Triaging Expectant Mothers: A Qualitative Study in Mpumalanga Maternity Units, South Africa
1
Nursing Science, University of Limpopo, Mankweng, South Africa
Popul. Med. 2026;8(Supplement Supplement 1):A2062
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND:
In the early decades, triage systems were universally implemented in accidents and emergency departments. However, in recent years, various kinds of maternity triage systems, including digital technology triage models, have been employed gradually to evaluate the level of urgency of the arriving pregnant women in the maternity units. However, these systems are plagued with practice challenges, especially in South Africa, where data on triaging practices in maternity units is scarce, particularly in Mpumalanga province. This study seeks to identify and describe the practice challenges influencing the triaging of expectant mothers by the midwives working in the maternity units of Mpumalanga province.
METHODS:
A qualitative, exploratory descriptive design underpinned this study. The maximum variation purposive sampling technique was employed to purposively select the midwives working in the maternity units of Mpumalanga province. Semi-structured interviews were used for data collection and data saturation was reached and confirmed with the 20th participant. Thematic analysis was adopted for the data analysis.
RESULTS:
The study highlighted that triaging of expectant mothers by midwives is plagued with manifold practice challenges. Among the practice challenges were a shortage of resources, poor infrastructure, and incompetence among midwives. Nonetheless, the most concerning practice challenge was poor leadership, as it was evidenced by the midwives’ viewpoints that there is an absence of support, whether informational (triage policies/protocols) or psychological support.
CONCLUSIONS:
These findings suggest a need to rethink the healthcare service delivery priorities for enabling a clinical environment to improve the provision of quality care. Therefore, we recommend the implementation of strategies to ensure appropriate resource allocation and utilization within the clinical practice. Addressing the identified challenges will not only improve the provision of care but it will also improve the experience of care for patients.
In the early decades, triage systems were universally implemented in accidents and emergency departments. However, in recent years, various kinds of maternity triage systems, including digital technology triage models, have been employed gradually to evaluate the level of urgency of the arriving pregnant women in the maternity units. However, these systems are plagued with practice challenges, especially in South Africa, where data on triaging practices in maternity units is scarce, particularly in Mpumalanga province. This study seeks to identify and describe the practice challenges influencing the triaging of expectant mothers by the midwives working in the maternity units of Mpumalanga province.
METHODS:
A qualitative, exploratory descriptive design underpinned this study. The maximum variation purposive sampling technique was employed to purposively select the midwives working in the maternity units of Mpumalanga province. Semi-structured interviews were used for data collection and data saturation was reached and confirmed with the 20th participant. Thematic analysis was adopted for the data analysis.
RESULTS:
The study highlighted that triaging of expectant mothers by midwives is plagued with manifold practice challenges. Among the practice challenges were a shortage of resources, poor infrastructure, and incompetence among midwives. Nonetheless, the most concerning practice challenge was poor leadership, as it was evidenced by the midwives’ viewpoints that there is an absence of support, whether informational (triage policies/protocols) or psychological support.
CONCLUSIONS:
These findings suggest a need to rethink the healthcare service delivery priorities for enabling a clinical environment to improve the provision of quality care. Therefore, we recommend the implementation of strategies to ensure appropriate resource allocation and utilization within the clinical practice. Addressing the identified challenges will not only improve the provision of care but it will also improve the experience of care for patients.
| eISSN: | 2654-1459 |
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