en Midwifery Orginal research <div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="line-height:2;"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;"><span style="font-size:14px;"><span style="background:white"><span style="color:#2980b9;"><b>Background:</b></span><span style="color:#0f1115">&nbsp;Critical shortages of skilled birth attendants due to brain drain have compromised the delivery of respectful, person-centred maternity care in Nigeria. Integrating doula support services has been proposed to complement midwifery care and bridge this gap. This study quantified stakeholders&#39; views on effective approaches for disseminating and implementing these services in Bayelsa State.</span></span><br> <span style="background:white"><span style="color:#2980b9;"><b>Objectives:</b></span><span style="color:#0f1115">&nbsp;This cross-sectional study aimed to: 1) assess stakeholders&#39; knowledge of doula services, 2) identify their preferred dissemination and implementation strategies, and 3) examine associations between knowledge and demographic/professional characteristics.</span></span><br> <span style="background:white"><span style="color:#2980b9;"><b>Methods:</b></span><span style="color:#0f1115">&nbsp;A descriptive cross-sectional census survey was conducted among 101 maternal health stakeholders (midwives and nursing directors) from two tertiary hospitals and two health governance bodies in Bayelsa State. Data were collected using a validated, researcher-structured questionnaire. The analyses included descriptive statistics and inferential statistics (Chi-square test and odds ratios).</span></span><br> <span style="background:white"><span style="color:#2980b9;"><b>Results:</b></span><span style="color:#0f1115">&nbsp;All 101 participants (100%) correctly defined a doula&#39;s role. Over 97% agreed on community-based outreach strategies using health talks and tailored messaging. For implementation, there was unanimous (100%) agreement on the need for government policy, standardized training, and clear referral pathways. Midwives were the preferred clinical leaders (92.1%). Overall, 92.1% of stakeholders had good knowledge, which was significantly associated with more years of work experience (OR: 1.13; p=0.045).</span></span><br> <span style="background:white"><span style="color:#2980b9;"><b>Conclusion:</b></span><span style="color:#0f1115">&nbsp;Stakeholders strongly endorse a scalable implementation model featuring policy integration, midwife-led coordination, culturally adapted community dissemination, and a structured framework for training, referral, and supervision. This model presents a viable strategy to mitigate workforce shortages and institutionalise respectful maternity care in Bayelsa State.</span></span></span></span><br> &nbsp;</span></div> Doula Support Services, Maternal Health Services, Program Implementation, Health Knowledge, Nigeria 28 41 http://nmcjournal.zums.ac.ir/browse.php?a_code=A-10-979-2&slc_lang=en&sid=1 Jessica Jimmy Agada jessicaagada@ndu.edu.ng 100319475328460014482 100319475328460014482 Yes Department of Maternal and Child Health Nursing, Faculty of Nursing Sciences, Niger Delta University, Wilberforce Island Bayelsa State, Nigeria. Helen Wankasi Idubamo helenwankasi@ndu.edu.ng 100319475328460014483 100319475328460014483 No Department of Community Health Nursing, Faculty of Nursing Sciences, Niger Delta University, Wilberforce Island Bayelsa State, Nigeria.