The experiences of midwives from a transcultural caring perspective in Nuwakot, Nepal

Abstract: This study is a minor field study and is sponsored by Swedish Development Cooperation Agency. Nepal is one of the poorest countries in the world and struggles with continuing reducing the national maternity mortality rate in order to satisfy WHO millennium targets. In order to improve the maternal care in Nepal an understanding of midwives experiences is needed. This study aims to explore midwives experiences from working in the Nuwakot region in Nepal from a transcultural caring perspective. The study uses a qualitative methodological approach. Unstructured interviews were performed during April 2015 at health posts in remote mountain villages in the region of Nuwakot, Nepal. Seven midwives, two men and five women were involved. By analyzing the interviews with a qualitative content analysis several categories emerged. The result shows that midwives working in a rural area of Nepal today experience several challenges in their work based on cultural influences; challenging family hierarchy, dangerous home deliveries, villagers lack of education, patients arriving too late, patients distrust in medicine and lack of resources but happy to help. The conclusion is that in order for Nepal to keep improve their maternal care, midwives needs to develop an understanding of the patient and the family’s cultural beliefs. The result can be used to reflect on how the patient's cultural beliefs can affect the midwives when performing their work in a rural area of Nepal. It can also be used to develop the midwifery education in Nepal by improving midwives’ meeting with patients and their families with cultural needs.