Martin, SedeekaRobertson, AnnelineFilies, Gérard2026-01-202026-01-202025Martin, S., Filies, G.C. and Robertson, A.E., 2025. Quality midwifery care during childbirth at a midwife obstetric unit: A qualitative study. curationis, 48(1), pp.1-8.https://doi.org/10.4102/curationis.v48i1.2773https://doi.org/10.4102/curationis.v48i1.2773https://hdl.handle.net/10566/21762Background: Globally, there is an increasing focus on enhancing the quality of midwifery care. In public institutions, primary care midwifery is provided at a midwife obstetric unit (MOU). Midwives at MOUs are the first contact that pregnant women have when accessing midwifery care. There exists a notable disparity in the perception of quality midwifery care between midwives and women. In South Africa, there has been a scarcity of research examining the perspectives of midwives and women, regarding the quality of midwifery care provided during childbirth. Objectives: The objective of this study was to explore and describe women’s and midwives’ perceptions of the quality of midwifery care during childbirth, at a MOU in Cape Town in the Western Cape, South Africa. Method: A qualitative exploratory descriptive design was utilised. Four women and five midwives were selected through purposive sampling. Semi-structured interviews were undertaken, transcribed and analysed utilising Tesch’s eight-step approach to qualitative data analysis. Results: Three themes emerged: (1) understanding of quality midwifery care, (2) experiences of women during childbirth and (3) support received by women and midwives. Conclusion: The quality of midwifery care remains compromised within the MOU setting due to various challenges encompassing limitations of both human and physical resources. It is imperative to establish a shared understanding of what constitutes quality midwifery care, as women and midwives often perceive it differently. Contribution: Midwifery care during childbirth requires the engagement of all stakeholders, including women, to enhance the quality of midwifery care provided.enchildbirthmidwife obstetric unitmidwifery caremidwivesqualityArticle