Exploring Factors Influencing Pregnant Women's Perceptions and Attitudes Towards Midwifery Care in Romania: Implications for Maternal Health Education Strategies

Midwives are strong advocates for vaginal births. However, their visibility and accessibility are poorly perceived by women in Romania. Consequently, the women's options are limited to a single direction when pregnancy occurs, involving the family doctor, the obstetrician, and often an interventional technical approach at the time of birth. The aim of this research is to identify specific variables that affect the perceptions and attitudes of pregnant women towards the care provided by midwives. This knowledge could contribute to the development of more effective education and information strategies within maternal health services. A cross-sectional observational analytical survey was conducted in Romania among pregnant women from the general population. Data were collected through a self-administered questionnaire, with informed consent obtained from each participating pregnant woman. The questionnaire was administered online using the cloud-based Google Forms platform and was available on the internet for seven months, from January to July 2023. The questionnaire was distributed through various media channels, both individually and in communication groups, in the form of a link. All questions were mandatory, and the questionnaire could only be submitted after answering all questions. A total of 1301 individual responses were collected. The analysis of the socio-demographic and obstetrical profile of the pregnant women revealed that approximately half, 689 (52.95%), of the participants were aged between 18-29 years, and 1060 (81.47%) of the participants were married. Among our group of 1301 pregnant women, 973 (74.78%) had higher education, and 987 (75.86%) had a regular job. A majority of the survey participants, 936 (71.94%), lived in an urban geographic area, while 476 (36.58%) had attended childbirth education courses, and 791 (60.79%) were in the third trimester of pregnancy. A total of 298 (22.9%) respondents did not want to give birth in a hospital, and one-third, 347 (26.67%), did not place significant importance on control over the childbirth process. The main factors influencing women's decisions regarding perinatal care and the importance of midwives as a component of the maternal-infant care team are modifiable, and thorough educational and psychological preparation would reduce the increasing predominance of preference for cesarean section, thereby promoting healthier and more woman- and child-centered perinatal care.