Obstetricians' and midwives' contrasting perceptions of pregnancy

Abstract

The aim of the current study was to compare the attitudes towards pregnancy of obstetricians, midwives and pregnant women. Fifteen obstetricians, 14 midwives and 136 pregnant women completed a questionnaire assessing attitudes towards pregnancy. Obstetricians, midwives and pregnant women had different views of pregnancy: obstetricians were more likely to view it as a state involving risk, while midwives were more likely to view it as a normal process. Pregnant women held views in between these two. Whatever the reasons for these differences, such differing perspectives within the same team providing care to pregnant women may reduce the effectiveness of this care by adversely affecting communication and decision-making. These hypotheses await further study.