Evidence map›Paper›PMID 39297756›Full record

ArticleBirth (Berkeley, Calif.)2025

The midwifery capabilities theory: How midwives enact woman-centered care to address systemic inequity.

Simone Naughton, Adele Baldwin, Clare Harvey, Tanya Capper

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Birth (Berkeley, Calif.), 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 2 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
2citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

2 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Article
  2. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

4 authors.

Simone NaughtonSchool of Nursing, Midwifery and Social Sciences, CQUniversity Australia, Cairns, Queensland, Australia.ORCID 0000-0001-6094-0449
Adele BaldwinSchool of Nursing, Midwifery and Social Sciences, CQUniversity Australia, Townsville, Queensland, Australia.ORCID 0000-0002-6325-4142
Clare HarveySchool of Nursing, Massey University Wellington, Wellington, New Zealand.ORCID 0000-0001-9016-8840
Tanya CapperSchool of Nursing, Midwifery and Social Sciences, Higher Education Division, CQUniversity Brisbane, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia.ORCID 0000-0003-3464-1423

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundHealthcare for childbearing women with complex needs demands a multi-disciplinary approach requiring transitions between care providers, paradigms, and models of care. These transitions may create disconnects between women and the maternity care "system." Poorly managed care transitions can lead to women becoming hostage to the power struggles between healthcare organizations and the professionals working within them, further increasing the risk of poor outcomes. This paper presents the findings of a study that aimed to better understand how midwives provide woman-centered care for women with complex needs in the real world of maternity services.

methodsA constructivist grounded theory approach, using Clarke's situational analysis to extend critical and feminist perspectives in data analysis. Qualitative data were obtained from two sources: publicly available data, and individual interviews with providers of care (midwives) and recipients of care (women with complex pregnancies).

resultsWoman-centered care is defined as care in which the woman is seen, heard, and known. "The midwifery capabilities theory" describes the process whereby midwives create opportunities to develop women's capabilities. Capabilities are enabled through the midwifery relationship creating space, moments in time, and equalizing power and positionality.

conclusionsAligning with contemporary theories surrounding the provision of midwifery care, the midwifery capabilities theory recognizes the individual health and social status of women and the rights to self-determination. This centers care around each individual's needs, which, in addition to improving health and well-being outcomes, contributes to improved self-confidence, enhancing engagement through authentic professional relationships.

Indexed as

Healthcare DisparitiesMaternal Health ServicesMidwiferyNurse-Patient RelationsPatient-Centered CareAdultFemaleGrounded TheoryHumansPregnancyQualitative Researchcomplexhigh riskmaternity caremidwiferymodels of carerespectfultrauma informedwoman centered

Identifiers

PMID39297756
PMCPMC12434215

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY-NC-ND
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.