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Student midwives
Student midwife

Midwifery students' experiences of learning to be ‘with woman’: a scoping review

02 August 2024
Literature Review
02 August 2024
Volume 32 · Issue 8

Abstract

Background/Aims

Being ‘with woman’ is a fundamental concept of midwifery and profoundly impacts maternal and infant wellbeing and outcomes. Understanding student midwives' experiences is vital in shaping learning strategies for positive and effective student-centred learning outcomes. This scoping review's aims were to gain meaningful insight into existing literature on students' experiences of learning to be ‘with woman’.

Methods

The scoping review searched the CINAHL, PubMed, AusHealth, Medline and PsycInfo databases in July 2023, October 2023 and April 2024. The search included qualitative and quantitative research studies published in English between 2018 and 2024. Articles were screened for eligibility by title, abstract and full-text review by three reviewers.

Results

A total of 1172 articles were screened, with nine articles included in the review from various countries. Key themes identified were ‘continuity of care’, ‘partnership with woman’, ‘preceptor and practitioner impact’ and ‘context and contrast’.

Conclusions

Limited literature exists to explore and provide an understanding of the learning experiences and outcomes of midwifery students providing woman-centred care and developing a midwifery philosophy to be ‘with woman’.

Midwifery students play a vital role in the maternity system, not only as the future of the midwifery workforce, but through their interactions with women and their families (Tickle et al, 2022). Research suggests that midwifery students' interactions with women and their families may provide a positive influence on a range of outcomes, such as increased rates of spontaneous vaginal birth and reduced rates of perineal trauma (Tickle et al, 2022). However, there is limited understanding of how midwifery students learn to be ‘with woman’, a vital learning outcome in the journey to becoming a midwife, as a cornerstone philosophy of midwifery. Commitment to continuous quality improvement is key in ensuring the midwifery profession is empowered with quality education to provide women with safe, competent and quality care throughout their childbearing continuum (World Health Organization, 2019). The experiences and learning of midwifery students are a vital area of research in ensuring midwifery students are empowered in the midwifery profession and workforce.

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Education
Midwifery
Students
With-woman
Woman-centred