Metaphysics of Midwifery in the Concept of Care: A Review Article
Purpose: This paper is a multidisciplinary review that combines the knowledge of midwifery and philosophy perspective to develop an original outlook on the metaphysics of midwifery.
Method: This is a review study. The research was conducted using keywords in the databases between 1995 and 2022. Considering the lack of records related to the exact phrases of “metaphysics of midwifery,” we attempted to categorize the metaphysics into three fundamental keywords, including “midwifery and ethics,” “midwifery and moral responsibility,” and “midwifery and spiritual care.”
Results: Among the retrieved full-text publications, fewer than ten articles discussed spiritual care and ethics in the midwifery field based on their titles and abstracts. Also, a doctoral thesis addressed the metaphysics of love as moral responsibility in nursing and midwifery. Based on our original opinion, the metaphysics of midwifery can be classified into three categories: spiritual and mental health support, moral responsibility, and ethical responsibilities.
Conclusion: We aimed to prove metaphysics exists in midwifery and integrate it into midwifery education programs to increase satisfaction of care in pregnant women. Furthermore, it is anticipated that the findings of this initial review will stimulate further qualitative and quantitative research on midwifery metaphysics, which has remained largely unknown throughout practice and education.