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Health inequities and socio-economic disadvantage are causes for concern in Aotearoa New Zealand. Becoming pregnant can increase a woman’s vulnerability to poverty, with the potential for an increase in multiple stressful life events. Providing midwifery care to women living in socio-economic deprivation has been found to add additional strains for midwives. Exploring the perspectives of the midwives providing care to women living with socio-economic deprivation can illuminate the complexities of maternity care.

To explore the impact on midwives when providing care for socio-economically disadvantaged women in Aotearoa New Zealand.

Inductive thematic analysis was used to analyse an open-ended question from a survey that asked midwives to share a story around maternal disadvantage and midwifery care.

A total of 214 stories were received from midwives who …