Attitudes of nursing students toward male and LGBTQ individuals entering the midwifery profession and their role in providing midwifery care

Abstract

Objective: The objective of this study, which targeted nursing students, was to evaluate their level of agreeableness toward males and LGBTQ individuals in the provision of midwifery care.

Methods: A survey request was sent to 562 nursing students at a Private University A, and 99 valid responses (male: 10; female: 89) were received. Due to the small number of male respondents, the analysis was limited to female respondents. An online survey was conducted using Google Forms between April and May 2024. The survey evaluated participants’ level of agreeableness across 14 items defined by the Japan Midwives Association, including the roles and responsibilities of midwives in midwifery care and the acquisition of midwifery qualifications. A four-point Likert scale ranging from “very disagreeable” to “very agreeable” was used. Analyses were conducted to compare responses across survey items and academic year.

Results: The five items for which 50% or more respondents selected “very disagreeable” or “rather disagreeable” were pregnancy, delivery, postpartum, and menstrual disorder care as well as acquisition of midwifery qualifications. Additionally, first-year students tended to evaluate individuals with a non-female appearance as more disagreeable than students in other academic years.

Conclusions: Female nursing students preferred individuals with a female appearance to provide pregnancy, delivery, postpartum and menstrual disorder care and to acquire midwifery qualifications. Moreover, first-year students tended to exhibit higher levels of disagreeableness than students in other academic years.