| Sumario: | The purpose of this research study was to explore the relationship between women's search for knowledge, perceptions of self-efficacy and patterns of involvement in the context of childbearing and childbirth. The theoretical underpinnings are drawn from self-directed learning theory, self-efficacy theory, and control theory. The review of literature guided theoretical sampling and the interview process, with in-depth interviews providing the means for data collection. The story that emerged from within the context of women's narratives reflected a universal search for knowledge related to childbearing, childbirth and early child rearing. The three emergent categories were: 'Knowing all I could', the core category; 'confidence'; and 'nature of the client-provider relationship'. Women's search for knowledge was a pervasive concept interwoven into their development of confidence and influenced by the nature of the relationship between women and their health care providers. This research recognises women's use of health care providers to gain information during pregnancy. Health care providers are optimally placed throughout the perinatal health care system to facilitate women in this search for knowledge during pregnancy. Through the provision of information, health care providers can enable women to become active participants in their care.
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