Journal of Midwifery History and Philosophy

INFLUENCE OF PRE MARRIAGE EDUCATION ON READINESS FOR PREGNANCY IN PROSPECTIVE BRIDES AT PUSKESMAS

2024-08-10T09:42:11+07:00

Background. Premarital education has an important role in preparing prospective brides and grooms to face various aspects of married life, including pregnancy readiness.

Purpose. This study aims to compare the results of 20 journals regarding the effectiveness of premarital education in improving readiness for pregnancy.

Method. This study covers various methods of premarital education such as counseling, educational programs, the use of leaflet media, and digital applications. The population in these studies varied from brides-to-be to young couples, with research locations spread across different regions of Indonesia. The sampling techniques used include purposive, random, and stratified sampling. The most common data collection tools are questionnaires, in-depth interviews, and documentation analysis.

Results. Results from the 20 journals consistently showed that premarital education significantly improved readiness for pregnancy, with increased preparedness ranging from 30% to 70% after educational interventions. The statistical analysis used included the Wilcoxon Test, T Test, and Chi-Square Test, all of which showed a significant p-value (p-value < 0.05), indicating a significant influence of premarital education on readiness to face pregnancy

Conclusion. The conclusion of this study is that various forms of premarital education, both through face-to-face, print and digital media, are effective in preparing the bride-to-be to face pregnancy, so it is important to be implemented more widely.

Beyond the Statistics: A Biographical Study of Martha Ballard and the Diary of an 18th Century Midwife

2026-04-05T04:09:30+07:00

Background. Historical studies of childbirth have largely relied on aggregate statistics and institutional archives, resulting in the marginalization of experiential knowledge and everyday practices of community-based midwives. Such approaches risk reducing complex care systems into depersonalized data, thereby overlooking how knowledge, authority, and maternal agency were constructed in practice. The diary of Martha Ballard offers a rare microhistorical account that captures the lived realities of maternal care in the eighteenth century.

Purpose. This study aims to examine how Ballard’s diary reflects patterns of midwifery practice, forms of maternal agency, and modes of knowledge production that challenge dominant institutional and statistical narratives of pre-modern medicine.

Method. This study employs a qualitative biographical research design, integrating microhistorical analysis with thematic coding of selected diary entries. Supporting historical sources are used to contextualize findings and enhance interpretive validity.

Results. The findings reveal that Ballard’s midwifery practice functioned as a structured and adaptive system of care grounded in experiential knowledge, relational trust, and sustained community engagement. Evidence indicates that midwifery operated effectively despite the absence of formal institutional frameworks. Furthermore, the diary demonstrates that midwives acted not only as healthcare providers but also as producers of knowledge and holders of social authority within their communities.

Conclusion. This study highlights the importance of incorporating narrative-based and experiential evidence into historical analysis. It argues that personal documents such as Ballard’s diary provide critical insights into alternative healthcare epistemologies, enabling a more comprehensive understanding of maternal care beyond institutional perspectives.

Analysis of the Needs for Christian Religion for Elderly Age at the Tresna Werdha Sinta Rangkang Social Home

2024-08-31T09:48:23+07:00

Background. Old age is often considered a burden for productive people. This is motivated by the aging process, which includes physical decline and psychological and social problems. Seeing this, the church must take a role in discipling its people and not ignore the needs experienced by old age.

Purpose. This is intended so that the church can take part in the welfare of the elderly by paying attention to every aspect of their growth and making it contextual with the Christian religious guidance provided.

Methods. This study uses qualitative methods with descriptive types and data collection techniques, namely in-depth interviews, observation, and documentation.

Results. The research results obtained from defining psychological and psychological-sociological needs based on B.S. Sidjaga, Ed.D is that the elderly tend to feel sad, easily suspicious, defend themselves against experiences, egocentrism, stress due to family, and tend to have irritable emotions. Furthermore, in the psychological-sociological phase, which tends to be in the phase of despair in line with Erik Erikson's theory of feeling worried, anxious, and afraid, This feeling is felt by almost all the elderly at the Tresna Werda Sinta Rangkang Social Institution, due to their background age before entering the orphanage and their decline.

Conclusion. The elderly require coaching in psychological and psychological-sociological fields, as they often experience the indicators of integrity vs. despair, as per Erik Erikson's developmental theory. However, Christian religious formation at PSTW Sinta Rangkang has not prioritized these psychological conditions, leading to general teaching materials and monotonous coaching. To address this, Christian Religious Development should collaborate with churches, communities, and other Christian institutions, provide teaching materials that address the needs and struggles of the elderly, and create a written curriculum that outlines objectives, materials, methods, and evaluation of coaching activities

The Shift from Traditional Birth Attendants to Nurse-Midwives: A Post-Colonial Historical Review

2026-04-05T04:06:03+07:00

Background. Maternal healthcare systems in many post-colonial societies have undergone profound transformations characterized by a transition from traditional birth attendants (TBAs) to professionally trained nurse-midwives. This shift is frequently framed as a linear process of modernization aimed at improving clinical outcomes. However, such narratives often obscure the historical dynamics of colonial governance, epistemic hierarchies, and socio-cultural restructuring that shape healthcare practices and authority.

Purpose. This study aims to critically examine the transition from TBAs to nurse-midwives through a post-colonial historical lens, focusing on how authority, knowledge systems, and maternal care practices have been reconfigured within this process.

Method. The study employs a qualitative historical review design, integrating the analysis of policy documents, archival records, and scholarly literature. Data are examined through thematic coding guided by post-colonial theoretical frameworks to capture patterns of power, marginalization, and knowledge transformation.

Results. The findings reveal that the transition was neither uniform nor uncontested. While nurse-midwifery became increasingly institutionalized, indigenous knowledge systems embodied by TBAs were systematically marginalized. At the same time, evidence points to the emergence of hybrid healthcare models in which traditional and biomedical practices coexist, interact, and adapt within local contexts.

Conclusion. The transformation of maternal healthcare in post-colonial settings cannot be understood as a linear trajectory of progress. Instead, it represents a complex negotiation of power, culture, and knowledge. These findings highlight the need for more inclusive and context-sensitive policy approaches that recognize the value of pluralistic healthcare systems in improving maternal care outcomes.

The Role of Patient and Family Engagement in Shaping Clinical Practice Guidelines

2024-08-04T05:53:58+07:00

Background: The inclusion of patient and family engagement (PFE) in the development of clinical practice guidelines (CPGs) is increasingly recognized as crucial for creating guidelines that are both relevant and effective. Engaging patients and families ensures that the guidelines address real-world concerns and preferences, potentially leading to better adherence and improved healthcare outcomes.

Objective: This study aims to explore the role of patient and family engagement in the formulation of CPGs, examining how their involvement influences the content and quality of the guidelines.

Methods: A systematic review was conducted, analyzing CPGs across various medical fields published between 2015 and 2023. The review focused on guidelines that explicitly reported PFE in their development process. Data was extracted on the methods of engagement, the extent of patient and family input, and the resultant changes in guideline recommendations. Quality assessment of the guidelines was performed using the AGREE II instrument.

Results: The review identified 45 CPGs that incorporated patient and family engagement in their development. The methods of engagement varied, including surveys, focus groups, and direct participation in guideline panels. Guidelines with robust PFE tended to have higher AGREE II scores, particularly in the domains of 'stakeholder involvement' and 'clarity of presentation'. Notably, these guidelines often included recommendations that better aligned with patient values and preferences, emphasizing shared decision-making and personalized care.

Conclusion: Patient and family engagement significantly enhances the relevance and quality of clinical practice guidelines. Involving patients and families in the guideline development process ensures that the recommendations are patient-centered, fostering greater trust and adherence to the guidelines. The findings underscore the importance of integrating PFE into all stages of guideline development to improve healthcare delivery.

Mentorship in Midwifery: The Role of Preceptors in Shaping Professional Identity

2026-03-28T11:19:07+07:00

Background. Mentorship is widely regarded as a crucial element in midwifery education, particularly in facilitating students’ transition from academic learning to professional clinical practice. Beyond technical skill acquisition, mentorship plays a significant role in shaping professional identity by influencing how midwifery students internalize professional values, responsibilities, and ethical standards within clinical settings. However, the mechanisms through which preceptors contribute to professional identity formation remain insufficiently explored.

Purpose. This study aimed to examine the role of clinical preceptors in shaping the professional identity of midwifery students during clinical placements, with a particular focus on mentorship practices that support identity development.

Method. The study employed a qualitative interpretive research design. Data were collected through in-depth interviews, reflective journals, and non-participant observations involving midwifery students and experienced preceptors in clinical learning environments. The data were analyzed thematically to identify recurring patterns related to mentorship interactions and professional identity formation processes.

Results. The findings indicate that preceptors exert a substantial influence on students’ professional identity through role modeling, professional validation, reflective dialogue, and the gradual negotiation of autonomy in clinical decision-making. Supportive and consistent mentorship was associated with enhanced self-confidence, ethical awareness, and a stronger sense of professional belonging. Conversely, fragmented or limited mentorship contributed to uncertainty and weaker integration of professional identity.

Conclusion. The study concludes that preceptorship functions as a formative relational process that extends beyond clinical supervision. It serves as a critical mechanism in the development of professional identity among midwifery students. Strengthening mentorship structures and enhancing preceptor preparation are therefore essential to fostering resilient, competent, and professionally grounded future midwives.

Handmaids to the Doctor: Tracing the Subordination of Midwifery to Obstetrics in the 20th Century

2026-04-05T04:03:23+07:00

Background. The twentieth century marked a fundamental transformation in childbirth practices, driven by the rise of obstetrics and the gradual subordination of midwifery within institutional healthcare systems. This shift redefined maternal care through clinical authority, technological intervention, and standardized protocols, while simultaneously reshaping professional hierarchies and gendered roles in medicine.

Purpose. This study aimed to critically examine how midwifery was repositioned from an autonomous, community-based practice into a subordinate role under the dominance of obstetrics within modern healthcare institutions.

Method. A qualitative historical research design was employed, integrating archival analysis, policy documents, and scholarly literature. The data were analyzed using thematic coding informed by feminist theory and the sociology-of-professions framework to explore shifts in power, knowledge, and professional identity.

Results. The findings indicate that the subordination of midwifery was influenced not only by clinical advancements but also by regulatory mechanisms, institutional expansion, and epistemological hierarchies privileging biomedical knowledge over experiential practice. Evidence further shows that this transformation reshaped both professional identities and the nature of childbirth, shifting it from relational, woman-centered care toward standardized medical control.

Conclusion. The study concludes that the rise of obstetrics represents a complex reconfiguration of power and knowledge rather than a purely linear progression of medical improvement. These findings provide important insights for contemporary discussions on maternal care, interprofessional collaboration, and the development of more patient-centered healthcare approaches.