Midwives's perception of ethical behaviour and professional malpractice in the labour units of Tshwane, Gauteng Province, South Africa

Abstract

Aim: The purpose of this study is to establish midwives’ perception of ethical and professional malpractices in labour units and to enhance the awareness of ethical behaviour and professional practice by midwives. Design: A qualitative, exploratory, descriptive and cross sectional design was followed to explore the midwives understanding of and experiences of ethical practice and professional malpractices in Labour Units of Tshwane, Gauteng Province. A non-probability purposive sampling was used to draw a sample from midwives with two or more years of experience working in Labour Units. Data collection: Individual in-depth interviews using open ended questions were used to collect data. Interviews were recorded using an audio tape recorder, which was later transcribed verbatim. Data collection was continuous until saturation was reached with the eight (n=8) participant. Findings: the results of the study revealed that midwives do understand the ethical code of conduct. However, due to challenges such as shortage of staff; shortage of material resources; non-compliance of midwives to policies and guidelines; fear of decision-making; and lack of management support, all this makes ethical conduct more challenging. It is hoped that the findings of this research will make contributions to midwifery training and practice.