Exploring clinical empathy among maternal healthcare providers in Zambia: Does the heart meet the mind? Insights from a qualitative study

Empathy is crucial for enhancing interpersonal interactions in healthcare. While provider empathy improves health outcomes, studies focused on this concept in Zambia are limited. This qualitative study utilized a hermeneutic phenomenological approach, employing qualitative content analysis as the analysis method, to explore clinical empathy through the perspectives of 14 maternal healthcare providers recruited via purposive and snowball sampling. Participants varied in age, experience, and professional roles. The study identified three primary themes: (1) the multifaceted nature of empathy in maternal healthcare, (2) dual aspects of empathy—patient care and professional boundaries, and (3) contextual dynamics—balancing challenges in maternal empathy. Findings highlight that while empathy enhances patient experiences, providers often struggle to maintain emotional boundaries. The study highlights the need for targeted training programs in strengthening empathy in clinical practice and recommends further research on culturally specific expressions of empathy in healthcare settings.