Aims: To review and evaluate the literature on the factors related to developing supportive relationships between women and midwives, including facilitators and barriers.
Design: An integrative review.
Method: The search used CINAHL, MEDLINE, Embase, EMcare, Maternity and Infant Care, PsycINFO, and Google Scholar from January 2009-June 2020. Two reviewers screened the eligible studies, and 2,399 records were identified. Quality was assessed with the mixed methods appraisal tool, and 14 articles were included.
Results: The findings highlight that successful relationships require therapeutic communication, trust, respect, partnership, and shared decision-making. Supportive relationships improve women's satisfaction and birth outcomes, and continuity of care model is an enabling factor. Further research is required to understand supportive relationships in non-continuity of care models and when different cultural backgrounds exist.
Keywords: barriers; experience; facilitators; integrative review; maternity; midwife-woman relationship; midwives; nurses; relationship; supportive.
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