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Andrén A, Lindgren H, Akselsson A, Rådestad I, Erlandsson K. One size does not fit all: Perspectives from Swedish midwives on fetal movement counselling. Women Birth 2024; 37:101621. [PMID: 38688145 DOI: 10.1016/j.wombi.2024.101621] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/24/2023] [Revised: 04/22/2024] [Accepted: 04/22/2024] [Indexed: 05/02/2024]
Abstract
PROBLEM Migration continues to play a role in determining health outcomes related to pregnancy and childbirth in Sweden. BACKGROUND Migrant women have, compared to Swedish-born women, increased risks of adverse birth outcomes. Previous research suggests that migrant women seek care for decreased fetal movements less than Swedish-born women. Given these documented risks, understanding midwives' perspectives in this context is crucial to address maternal health inequities. AIM To explore midwives' experiences conveying information about fetal movement to migrant women in antenatal healthcare settings. METHODS Semi-structured, individual interviews with midwives (n=15) experienced in providing information about fetal movements to migrant women. The interviews were analysed using reflexive thematic analysis. FINDINGS The midwives' efforts to compensate for the deficiencies within the antenatal healthcare organisation and to ensure that all women received access to information and care regarding fetal movements are described in four themes: (a) building a trusting relationship; (b) empowering women through guidance and support; (c) overcoming communication challenges; and d) navigating safety measures. DISCUSSION Our findings suggest that the standard antenatal care programme does not support midwives to provide holistic and individualised care that aligns with midwifery care philosophy. CONCLUSION To reduce health inequities for migrant women, this study highlights the need for more flexible guidelines within the standard antenatal care programme. These guidelines should prioritise the individual woman's needs over institutional protocols, acknowledge the midwife-woman relationship as the core of midwifery practice and support midwives to build a partnership with women through continuity of care.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna Andrén
- Department of Health Promoting Science, Sophiahemmet University, Valhallavägen 91, Stockholm SE-114 28, Sweden.
| | - Helena Lindgren
- Department of Health Promoting Science, Sophiahemmet University, Valhallavägen 91, Stockholm SE-114 28, Sweden; Department of Women's and Children's Health, Karolinska Institute, Tomtebodavägen 18A, Solna SE-171 77, Sweden
| | - Anna Akselsson
- Department of Health Promoting Science, Sophiahemmet University, Valhallavägen 91, Stockholm SE-114 28, Sweden
| | - Ingela Rådestad
- Department of Health Promoting Science, Sophiahemmet University, Valhallavägen 91, Stockholm SE-114 28, Sweden
| | - Kerstin Erlandsson
- School of Health and Welfare, Dalarna University, Högskolegatan 2, Falun SE-791 88, Sweden
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Fox D, Coddington R, Levett KM, Scarf V, Sutcliffe KL, Newnham E. Tending to the machine: The impact of intrapartum fetal surveillance on women in Australia. PLoS One 2024; 19:e0303072. [PMID: 38722999 PMCID: PMC11081371 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0303072] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/04/2024] [Accepted: 04/18/2024] [Indexed: 05/13/2024] Open
Abstract
Qualitative research about women and birthing people's experiences of fetal monitoring during labour and birth is scant. Labour and birth is often impacted by wearable or invasive monitoring devices, however, most published research about fetal monitoring is focused on the wellbeing of the fetus. This manuscript is derived from a larger mixed methods study, 'WOmen's Experiences of Monitoring Baby (The WOMB Study)', aiming to increase understanding of the experiences of women and birthing people in Australia, of being monitored; and about the information they received about fetal monitoring devices during pregnancy. We constructed a national cross-sectional survey that was distributed via social media in May and June, 2022. Responses were received from 861 participants. As far as we are aware, this is the first survey of the experiences of women and birthing people of intrapartum fetal monitoring conducted in Australia. This paper comprises the analysis of the free text survey responses, using qualitative and inductive content analysis. Two categories were constructed, Tending to the machine, which explores participants' perceptions of the way in which clinicians interacted with fetal monitoring technologies; and Impressions of the machine, which explores the direct impact of fetal monitoring devices upon the labour and birth experience of women and birthing people. The findings suggest that some clinicians need to reflect upon the information they provide to women and birthing people about monitoring. For example, freedom of movement is an important aspect of supporting the physiology of labour and managing pain. If freedom of movement is important, the physical restriction created by a wired cardiotocograph is inappropriate. Many participants noticed that clinicians focused their attention primarily on the technology. Prioritising the individual needs of the woman or birthing person is key to providing high quality woman-centred intrapartum care. Women should be provided with adequate information regarding the risks and benefits of different forms of fetal monitoring including how the form of monitoring might impact her labour experience.
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Affiliation(s)
- Deborah Fox
- Collective for Midwifery, Child and Family Health (CMCFH), University of Technology Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Rebecca Coddington
- Collective for Midwifery, Child and Family Health (CMCFH), University of Technology Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Kate M. Levett
- Collective for Midwifery, Child and Family Health (CMCFH), University of Technology Sydney, NSW, Australia
- School of Medicine, University of Notre Dame Australia, Sydney, NSW, Australia
- NICM Health Research Institute and THRI, Western Sydney University, Penrith, NSW, Australia
| | - Vanessa Scarf
- Collective for Midwifery, Child and Family Health (CMCFH), University of Technology Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Kerry L. Sutcliffe
- School of Medicine, University of Notre Dame Australia, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Elizabeth Newnham
- School of Nursing and Midwifery, University of Newcastle, Callaghan, NSW, Australia
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Lokot M, Hartman E, Hashmi I. Participatory approaches and methods in gender equality and gender-based violence research with refugees and internally displaced populations: a scoping review. Confl Health 2023; 17:58. [PMID: 38066619 PMCID: PMC10704759 DOI: 10.1186/s13031-023-00554-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/04/2023] [Accepted: 11/22/2023] [Indexed: 01/05/2024] Open
Abstract
Using participatory approaches or methods are often positioned as a strategy to tackle power hierarchies in research. Despite momentum on decolonising aid, humanitarian actors have struggled to describe what 'participation' of refugees and internally displaced persons (IDPs) means in practice. Efforts to promote refugee and IDP participation can be tokenistic. However, it is not clear if and how these critiques apply to gender-based violence (GBV) and gender equality-topics that often innately include power analysis and seek to tackle inequalities. This scoping review sought to explore how refugee and IDP participation is conceptualised within research on GBV and gender equality. We found that participatory methods and approaches are not always clearly described. We suggest that future research should articulate more clearly what constitutes participation, consider incorporating feminist research methods which have been used outside humanitarian settings, take more intentional steps to engage refugees and IDPs, ensure compensation for their participation, and include more explicit reflection and strategies to address power imbalances.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michelle Lokot
- London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, UK.
| | - Erin Hartman
- London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, UK
| | - Iram Hashmi
- London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, UK
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Curtin M, Murphy M, Savage E, O’Driscoll M, Leahy-Warren P. Midwives', obstetricians', and nurses' perspectives of humanised care during pregnancy and childbirth for women classified as high risk in high income countries: A mixed methods systematic review. PLoS One 2023; 18:e0293007. [PMID: 37878625 PMCID: PMC10599554 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0293007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/23/2022] [Accepted: 10/04/2023] [Indexed: 10/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Women classified as 'high risk' or 'complicated' in pregnancy and childbirth have increased difficulty in accessing humanised care/humanisation in childbirth due to perceptions that this approach rejects the use of intervention and/or technology. Humanised care recognises the psychological and physical needs of women in pregnancy and birth. A mixed methods systematic review using a convergent segregated approach was undertaken using the Joanne Briggs Institute (JBI) methodology. The objective of the review was to identify the presence of humanisation for women with high risk pregnancy and/or childbirth in high income countries. Studies were included if they measured humanisation and/or explored the perspectives of midwives, obstetricians, or nurses on humanisation for women classified as having a high-risk or complicated pregnancy or childbirth in a high income country. Qualitative data were analysed using a meta-aggregative approach and a narrative synthesis was completed for the quantitative data. All studies were assessed for their methodological quality using the MMAT tool. Four databases were searched, and nineteen studies met the inclusion criteria. A total of 1617 participants from nine countries were included. Three qualitative findings were synthesised, and a narrative synthesis of quantitative data was completed. The integration of qualitative and quantitative data identified complimentary findings on: (i) the importance of developing a harmonised relationship with women; (ii) increased time counselling women on their choices; and (iii) fear of professional reputational damage if caring outside of protocols. Negotiating with women outside of protocols may have a wider impact on the professional than first thought. Understanding how healthcare professionals individualise care for women at risk in labour requires further investigation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mary Curtin
- School of Nursing, Midwifery and Health Systems, University College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
- School of Nursing and Midwifery, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland
| | - Margaret Murphy
- School of Nursing and Midwifery, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland
| | - Eileen Savage
- School of Nursing and Midwifery, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland
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Batram-Zantvoort S, Wandschneider L, Razum O, Miani C. A critical review: developing a birth integrity framework for epidemiological studies through meta-ethnography. BMC Womens Health 2023; 23:530. [PMID: 37817176 PMCID: PMC10565979 DOI: 10.1186/s12905-023-02670-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/17/2022] [Accepted: 09/21/2023] [Indexed: 10/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Over the past decade, there has been growing evidence that women worldwide experience sub-standard care during facility-based childbirth. With this critical review, we synthesize concepts and measurement approaches used to assess maternity care conditions and provision, birth experiences and perceptions in epidemiological, quantitative research studies (e.g., obstetric violence, maternal satisfaction, disrespect or mistreatment during childbirth, person-centered care), aiming to propose an umbrella concept and framework under which the existing and future research strands can be situated. On the 82 studies included, we conduct a meta-ethnography (ME) using reciprocal translation, in-line argumentation, and higher-level synthesis to propose the birth integrity multilevel framework. We perform ME steps for the conceptual level and the measurement level. At the conceptual level, we organize the studies according to the similarity of approaches into clusters and derive key concepts (definitions). Then, we 'translate' the clusters into one another by elaborating each approach's specific angle and pointing out the affinities and differences between the clusters. Finally, we present an in-line argumentation that prepares ground for the synthesis. At the measurement level, we identify themes from items through content analysis, then organize themes into 14 categories and subthemes. Finally, we synthesize our result to the six-field, macro-to-micro level birth integrity framework that helps to analytically distinguish between the interwoven contributing factors that influence the birth situation as such and the integrity of those giving birth. The framework can guide survey development, interviews, or interventional studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stephanie Batram-Zantvoort
- Department of Epidemiology and International Public Health, School of Public Health, Bielefeld University, Bielefeld, Germany.
| | - Lisa Wandschneider
- Department of Epidemiology and International Public Health, School of Public Health, Bielefeld University, Bielefeld, Germany
| | - Oliver Razum
- Department of Epidemiology and International Public Health, School of Public Health, Bielefeld University, Bielefeld, Germany
| | - Céline Miani
- Department of Epidemiology and International Public Health, School of Public Health, Bielefeld University, Bielefeld, Germany
- Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights Research Unit, Institut National d'Études Démographiques (Ined), Aubervilliers, France
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Anderson R, Williams A, von Kalm H, Bazirete O, Al-Khair H, Nur M, Homer C. Global complacency with perpetuation of gender oppression in maternity care pride and gender transformation. Midwifery 2023; 123:103735. [PMID: 37263143 DOI: 10.1016/j.midw.2023.103735] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/08/2023] [Accepted: 05/22/2023] [Indexed: 06/03/2023]
Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | - Maqsura Nur
- Directorate General of Nursing and Midwifery, Bangladesh
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