The standards for postnatal care by the midwife in the hospital and the community.

Abstract

The child-bearing events are normal physiological processes in the body of the woman and embryo/foetus/baby. Many changes in the internal and external environments of the family take place, simultaneously with these normal processes. These changes lead to the development of certain tasks and responsibilities that must be successfully accomplished during the postnatal period. A description of the midwife's caring functions during the post-natal period, in the hospital as well as in the community, is therefore essential. This description forms the part of an article that was published in the previous issue of Curationis. Thereafter the formulation of valid standards for postnatal care by the midwife can contribute to quality post-natal care in South Africa. The aim of this second part of the study was to formulate valid general standards for postnatal care by the midwife; Concept standards were formulated with the model of postnatal care and the stated prerequisites of caring as conceptual framework. The statistical validity of all the standards were determined by midwifery experts.