Le vécu de l'IMG par les sages-femmes en salle de naissance

The aim of this study was to assess the reactions, opinions and difficulties that French midwives encounter in the labor ward while performing termination of pregnancy for fetal abnormality (TOP). Midwives working in six public maternity hospitals located in the Île-de-France region answered questionnaires including multiple choice and open-ended questions. Open-ended questions were studied by content analysis. Ninety-one midwives responded (79%). Two-thirds of the midwives reported that their role in the labor ward during a TOP was difficult. The main perceived difficulties were the midwives' responsibility of providing psychological support to patients, the emotional distress of the midwives themselves and the risk of the child being alive in cases of late TOP. Moral conflicts due to personal, cultural or religious background, mainly for borderline indications, were reported by 25% of the midwives. A majority of midwives requested training about psychological aspects of TOP. It is necessary to improve institutional support available within maternity units and to consider their need for training to alleviate the difficulties midwives face in their roles during TOP.