"We should be experts, but we're not": Sexual counselling at the antenatal care clinic.

OBJECTIVE

Several studies show that nurses don't meet patients' needs in addressing issues around sexuality and sexual health. However, little attention has been paid to midwives' views on sexual counselling. This study explores midwives' views and experiences on sexual counselling during antenatal care.

STUDY

DESIGN

Semi-structured interviews were conducted with nine midwives at seven different antenatal care clinics in southern Sweden. The interviews were analysed with qualitative content analysis, and script theory was used as a theoretical perspective.

RESULTS

The result showed that the midwives considered sexuality important but hard to address. Lack of time, knowledge, and encouragement from the managerial level and/or lack of counselling tools were given as reasons for not bringing it up. In addition, midwives' insecurity turned out to be even greater with patients that deviated from the heterosexual norm or had another cultural background.

CONCLUSION

There are cultural and interpersonal scripts in the workplace in which sexuality is not expected to be addressed. As long as these are in place, only education will not help to change issues in addressing patients' sexuality. Organizational and managerial support along with education and opportunities for reflection and dialogue regarding sexual issues might help midwives to approach sexuality and change the cultural and interpersonal scripts.