Qualitative assessment of maternal healthcare services: Infrastructure, staffing, and quality of care in Lejweleputswa District Municipality, South Africa
Qualitative case study reveals infrastructure deficits and severe workload pressures among public maternity providers, highlighting the urgent need for targeted resource investments.
Key Points
To examine how healthcare providers experience the conditions influencing maternal care, specifically regarding infrastructure, staffing capacity, and quality-of-care processes.
Conducted a qualitative case study utilizing semi-structured interviews with nurses, midwives, and medical officers in public-sector maternity services.
Analyzed provider responses using an interpretative phenomenological approach.
Providers reported persistent infrastructure deficits and heavy workloads driven by severe staff shortages, hindering their capacity to deliver timely and consistent care.
Participants identified frequent breakdowns in clinical guideline adherence and communication barriers that negatively impacted patient care experiences.