Need of Obstetric Family Consultation Activities for Patients from Marginal Groups

Abstract

The research on the problem concerning the health of women during pregnancy, childbirth and the postnatal period arose from the fact that the lack of involvement of a midwife in consultation activity leads to failure to satisfy the needs of promotive and preventive activities focused on the health and welfare of mothers and children. This problem has a pronounced medico-social aspect among marginalized groups of the society. AIM: The aim of this paper is to analyze the needs of family consultation of obstetric patients from marginal groups. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We have used the following methods: • Documentary method - an analysis of existing at the time legal and normative documents regulating the activities of the midwife. • Sociological method - a survey through direct anonymous poll among 416 patients hospitalized at the Maternity Ward of the St. Anna University Hospital, SHOGAT - Varna, MHAT - Shumen, Sliven, and Rousse in the period May 2014 - April 2015. • Statistical method - the analysis of the data from our own study used non-parametric analysis of the results with statistical package SPSS for Windows version 19.0.0. RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS: The expanding functions of the midwife focus on the deficits in healthcare, which are mainly in the volume and quality of obstetric care during pregnancy, childbirth and the postpartum period. The deficits in health care are associated with some of the characteristics of the respondents. Such dependence is established at an educational level. Women with higher and secondary education are more likely to visit regularly women`s consultation centers (5-6 or more visits) when pregnant (75A·80%), while 28% to 37% of less educated patients (P<0.001) do this. The need for more information about pregnancy and childbirth increases with the increase in education level - in women with low education it is 48 to 57 percent, while those with higher education - 75%. The mother tongue can also be considered a factor playing a role in the increased medical and social risk. Half of the respondents (50%) speak a language other than Bulgarian. This is very likely to cause difficulties in understanding the recommendations given to them by the midwife. The identification of such communities is relevant in public health in order to take appropriate steps leading to cover their health needs.