Pemahaman Konsep Sakit Menurut Ajaran Agama Sebagai Dasar Empati Bidan Terhadap Pasien: Studi Literatur Tentang Spiritualitas dan Profesionalisme Kebidanan

Abstract

Understanding illness cannot be separated from the dimensions of religion and spirituality, as both provide a framework of meaning that helps individuals cope with suffering. This study aims to examine the concept of illness according to religious teachings and its relevance in developing midwives' empathy for patients. Using a systematic literature review with thematic analysis, 20 studies were selected from 189 records identified across five databases (PubMed, ScienceDirect, JSTOR, SpringerLink, and Google Scholar) after applying inclusion and exclusion criteria. Four major themes were identified: (1) the concept of illness across Islamic, Christian, Hindu, and Buddhist traditions, each offering unique frameworks of meaning; (2) spirituality as a multidimensional coping mechanism in illness experience; (3) empathy as a core midwifery competency that bridges spiritual understanding and clinical care; and (4) the integration of spirituality, empathy, and professionalism as the foundation of holistic midwifery practice. Findings show that Islamic teaching views illness as a test (ujian) and means of purification, while Christian tradition understands it as participation in suffering that strengthens faith, and Hindu-Buddhist traditions interpret it through karma and dukkha as paths toward spiritual liberation. Three illustrative case studies demonstrate that spiritual support combined with empathetic midwifery practice reduces maternal anxiety, creates positive birth experiences, and supports postpartum recovery. The article contributes a conceptual model of spiritually-informed empathetic midwifery and recommends the integration of spiritual care competencies into Indonesian midwifery education curricula.