Project 20: Midwives’ insight into continuity of care models for women with social risk factors: What works, for whom, in what circumstances, and how

Women with social risk factors such as those living in poverty and social isolation, seeking asylum or refugee status, experiencing domestic abuse, mental illness, learning difficulties, and substance abuse problems, have significantly higher rates of poor birth outcomes compared to their more advantaged counterparts (Draper, 2019, Biro, 2017, Lindquist, 2015, Blumenshine, 2010, Smith 2009). In both the UK and the US women from black and minority ethnic backgrounds [BME] also experience unacceptably high rates of morbidity and mortality compared to their white counterparts, regardless of their socio-economic status (Knight et al, 2018).

Benchmarking outcomes in maternity care: Peripartum incontinence - a framework for standardised reporting

To evaluate a framework to facilitate standardised reporting of perinatal incontinence.

Improvisation and harm avoidance: An ethnographic study of adherence to postnatal care protocols in two hospitals in Southern Ghana

Postnatal care (PNC) is the skilled care given to mothers and babies immediately after delivery and for six weeks thereafter (WHO, 2013). The aim is to detect, manage or refer maternal and newborn health problems and life-threatening complications. (Ronsmans and Graham, 2006; Nadisauskiene et al., 2014; Singh et al., 2014; WHO and UNICEF, 2014). Protocols and guidelines are “statements to assist healthcare practitioners to make appropriate decisions about the right care in specific conditions and circumstances” (Woolf et al., 1999:527).

Recently graduated midwives in Uganda: Self-perceived achievement, wellbeing and work prospects

to investigate how recent graduates from a combined work/study midwifery degree programme in Uganda viewed its effects on their wellbeing and work prospects.

Acceptability of dietary or nutritional supplementation in pregnancy (ADONS) – Exploring the consumer's perspective on introducing creatine monohydrate as a pregnancy supplement

Pre-clinical studies suggest maternal dietary creatine supplementation during pregnancy could protect babies against hypoxic intrapartum events, however creatine has not been used as a supplement in pregnancy. The aim of this study was to explore pregnant women and healthcare professional's general knowledge, behaviours, and attitudes toward nutritional supplements, and their thoughts on introducing creatine as a pregnancy supplement.

Effect of stay in a postpartum care institution on postpartum depression in women

Childbirth is a major life experience for women. From conception to arrival of the newborn, the physical and mental experience has a great impact and influence on mothers (Swanson et al., 2011), which may lead to emotional or mental disorders post partum (Dolatian et al., 2013; Roy-Byrne et al., 2016). Postpartum depression is a common problem in women (Motzfeldt et al., 2013). In the 6 weeks after birth, serious intentions or behaviours that can harm the mother or baby may have adverse effects on child growth and development (O'Hara and McCabe, 2013; Bennett et al., 2016).

Incidence of maternal near miss among women in labour admitted to hospitals in Ethiopia

To assess the incidence of maternal near miss and contributing factors among hospitals in Ethiopia. The study also assessed the ability of hospitals to provide signal functions of emergency obstetric care and its regional distribution.

De nuevo el Cáncer. Vivencias personales de la recidiva del Cáncer de mama

El cáncer es una enfermedad emergente en nuestra sociedad. Existen multitud de estudios en los cuales se quiere conocer datos de forma cuantitativa sobre la epidemiologia, sintomatología y afectación de la enfermedad en la población. Pero pocos son los estudios en los que el propósito es conocer cuáles son las emociones, sentimientos y vivencias de las personas que están pasando o han pasado por la enfermedad. En este estudio se quiere ir más allá y ahondar en la situación en la cual esta persona vuelve a tener que enfrentarse al Cáncer una vez que ya pensaba que estaba curada. Se trata de abordar el tema desde un punto de vista fenomenológico, tomando de referencia el relato biográfico de una mujer con antecedentes previos de Cáncer de mama y que ahora, 5 años más tarde, se tiene que enfrentar a una recaída de la enfermedad. Estudio cualitativo de un solo caso, desde un punto de vista fenomenológico, usando el méto-do descriptivo. Eva (nombre ficticio) nos relata cómo es enfrentarse a esta dura noticia desde el primer momento donde se da cuenta de que algo no va bien hasta que le diagnostican de nuevo el Cáncer. Nos cuenta cómo es el impacto en su vida y en la de las personas que le rodean. Y de qué manera, el haber pasado por todo el proceso en la primera ocasión, le ha ayudado o por el contrario le ha cau-sado más inconvenientes que beneficios.

Enfriamiento del cuero cabelludo para la prevención de la alopecia inducida por quimioterapia

Introducción. La quimioterapia produce el efecto secundario más temido por los pacientes con cáncer, la alopecia, que podría evitarse con gorros de crioterapia del cuero cabelludo. Objetivo principal. Evaluar la crioterapia del cuero cabelludo como método preventivo para la alopecia inducida por quimioterapia. Metodología. Se ha realizado una revisión bibliográfica narrativa, seleccionándose 22 artículos, introduciendo ecuaciones de búsqueda en varias bases de datos. Desarrollo. Su eficacia es difícil de determinar y la efectividad es muy variable, aprobándose en pacientes con cánceres sólidos. Sin embargo, existen ciertos efectos secundarios, requiriéndose de cuidados de enfermería independientemente de la técnica utilizada. Conclusiones. Estudios han demostrado que el uso de este método es eficaz y efectivo, y que su uso no aumenta el riesgo de metástasis en el cuero cabelludo, contraindicándose en pacientes con tumores hematoló-gicos.

Violencia obstétrica desde la perspectiva de las madres en un hospital de Serra Gaucha

Objetivo principal: identificar posibles situaciones de violencia obstétrica durante el ciclo embarazo-puerperal en la perspectiva de mujeres puerperales en un hospital de la Serra Gaúcha. Metodología: estudio descriptivo, exploratorio con enfoque cualitativo. Once mujeres postparto participaron en el estudio. La recolección de datos se realizó a través de entrevistas semiestructuradas, realizadas de forma individual. Para el análisis de la información se utilizó la técnica de Análisis de Contenido de tipo Temático. Resultados principales: los siguientes temas surgieron del análisis: Percepciones de las mujeres puérperas sobre su experiencia en la atención del parto; y Prácticas inadecuadas durante la atención en el período de embarazo-puerperal. Conclusión principal: el estudio permitió conocer situaciones de violencia obstétrica que a veces no son reconocidas por las mujeres. La educación continua puede ser una estrategia para combatir la violencia obstétrica, a través de actualizaciones profesionales que permiten mejores prácticas de salud en el cuidado del parto y el parto.

Women's information needs, decision-making and experiences of membrane sweeping to promote spontaneous labour

UK policy currently recommends membrane sweeping to avoid prolonged pregnancy and reduce the need for formal induction. Guidance from the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE, 2008) on induction of labour recommends that at 40- and 41-week antenatal visits, nulliparous women should be offered membrane sweeping prior to formal induction and additional membrane sweeping may be offered if labour does not start spontaneously. Updates to the guideline are expected in July 2020. NICE Quality Standard [QS22] (NICE, 2016) for antenatal care additionally recommends that women having their second or later baby are offered membrane sweeping.

An antenatal wish list: A qualitative systematic review and thematic synthesis of UK dietary advice for weight management and food borne illness

To understand UK women's experiences of antenatal dietary advice for risk of food borne illness and weight gain.

Patterns of delivery assistance among adolescent mothers in Nigeria

This study examined the sociodemographic and sociocultural factors associated with the pattern of birth assistance used among adolescent mothers aged 15–19 in Nigeria.

Evaluation of women's worries in different strategies for the prevention of early onset group B streptococcal disease in neonates

: Early onset group B streptococcal (EOGBS) disease is an important cause of neonatal morbidity and mortality. EOGBS preventive strategies aim to reduce the risk of neonatal complications. Two new strategies to prevent EOGBS were implemented in two regions in the Netherlands: a risk-based and a combination strategy and were compared to the Dutch strategy in a third region. Little is known how women feel about preventive EOGBS strategies, the consequences for management during labour, side effects such as harm caused by over prescribing of antibiotics or anxiety caused by screening.

Exploring the validity of allostatic load in pregnant women

The theory of allostatic load has gained momentum in perinatal research to understand the biological pathways of the impact of maternal chronic stress on adverse perinatal outcomes. However, due to physiological changes of pregnancy, including large variations across gestation, the extent to which allostatic load measured in pregnancy is valid has not been queried in depth.

Dimensions in women's experience of the perinatal period

A positive experience of the perinatal period is significant for women in midwifery care. The literature on women's experiences of the care in this period is extensive. However, a clear overview of the dimensions important for women's experiences is lacking. Consequently, care providers and researchers may ignore aspects significant to women's experience. In this short communication, we present a framework identifying the dimensions relevant for women's experiences of the perinatal period.

Conceptualising women's perinatal well-being: A systematic review of theoretical discussions

Over the last two decades there has been an increasing interest in well-being as a focus of policy, practice and research. There is general agreement that well-being takes a more holistic approach and focuses not simply on the absence of illness. In its constitution, the World Health Organisation defines health as ‘a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity’. However, the concept of well-being still remains poorly defined and frequently appears to be used at a superficial level as ‘health and well-being’ to cover a wide range of concepts.

Barriers and facilitators in antenatal settings to screening and referral of pregnant women who use alcohol or other drugs: A qualitative study of midwives’ experience

Screening pregnant women for substance use is highly recommended in antenatal care settings. Although midwives provide routine screening for substance use and referral for treatment in pregnancy, little is known about the barriers and facilitators they experience.

The association between breastfeeding and attachment: A systematic review

Breastfeeding has multiple positive outcomes on child health, including benefits for the immune system, protection against sudden infant death, and prevention of early infections, diseases and obesity (Dieterich et al., 2013; Duijts et al., 2009; Hoddinott et al., 2008; Xanthou, 1998). The World Health Organization therefore recommends exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months of life (World Health Organization, 2011). While the majority of research has focused on the physiological benefits of breastfeeding, potential psychological benefits have been studied less often (Else-Quest et al., 2003; Schmied et al., 2001).

Neonatal outcomes and its association among gestational diabetes mellitus with and without depression, anxiety and stress symptoms in Malaysia: A cross-sectional study

Prevalence of depression, anxiety and stress symptoms in gestational diabetes mellitus ranges from 10.2% to 39.9% based on previous studies in Malaysia. Presence of depression, anxiety or stress in pregnancy may increase the risk of neonatal morbidity and mortality. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of neonatal outcomes and its association among mothers with gestational diabetes mellitus with and without the presence of depression, anxiety and stress symptoms in Malaysia.