Cultivating patient safety culture in midwifery practices through incident reporting

Abstract

This article explores the critical role of incident reporting in enhancing women's safety in midwifery care. Given the inherently dynamic, and often unpredictable, nature of pregnancy and childbirth, midwives are frequently tasked with navigating complex clinical and emotional scenarios. As women place high expectations on midwives for safe and quality care, incident reporting serves as a vital mechanism for ongoing improvement and learning. The discussion highlights the barriers inhibiting effective incident reporting, including fear of reprisal and blame, lack of understanding of incident reporting and perceived futility. By overcoming these barriers, incident reporting not only identifies and rectifies safety concerns but also acts as a catalyst for cultivating a positive safety culture in midwifery.