The Perception of Empowerment in Pregnancy Monitoring by Pregnant People and Healthcare Providers in Quebec

Abstract

Background: Pregnant people have been noting a sense of loss of control in their prenatal care for several decades. This sense of control, also known as empowerment, should be encouraged, and it has been associated with better health outcomes. In view of these potential benefits, we set out to analyze the perceptions of empowerment held by pregnant people and their healthcare providers in Quebec, to identify the factors that enable and hinder this process. Methodology: Semi-structured individual interviews were conducted with seven pregnant women and two midwives, followed by a thematic analysis of the verbatims obtained. Results: Facilitating and hindering factors affecting both the care relationship with healthcare providers and the personal characteristics of pregnant people were identified and detailed. Tools and solutions to support empowerment were also shared. Conclusion: A desire to acquire more power was noted by the participants. In order to meet this need, measures and adjustments could be implemented both in the care relationship and in the dynamics of the healthcare system, or in the training of healthcare providers to support patient empowerment.