Clients Perceptions of Male Midwives in Obstetric Care: A Cross-sectional Study in Yenagoa, South-South Nigeria

Abstract

Incorporating male midwives into maternal health services continues to be a culturally delicate matter across many Nigerian communities, where childbirth has traditionally been seen as a female‑only sphere. This study, therefore, investigates how childbearing women perceive male midwives in selected health facilities within Yenagoa Metropolis, Bayelsa State, aiming to identify the socio‑cultural and practical factors shaping their acceptance or rejection of male‑led maternity care. Guided by the Transcultural Nursing Theory, a cross‑sectional design was employed. The target population comprised 350 women, from which 187 respondents were selected through random sampling. Data were presented in tables, and frequencies with simple percentages served as the descriptive statistics for analysis. Regarding the perception of childbearing women towards male midwives, key findings included: to the question “Would you encourage a male to become a midwife?” a majority (58.8%) answered “No”. When asked “Should males be stopped from entering midwifery practice?” most (58.3%) said “No”. Nevertheless, 75% of respondents expressed a preference for female midwives. While 91.4% agreed that their religion does not oppose care from male midwives, 58.8% stated that their culture is against male midwives attending to them. The study concludes that clients hold a negative perception of male midwives. To counter such negative views, workshops and seminars should be organized.