Women's Experiences Of Care Research Articles

Preliminary findings on the experiences of care for women who suffered early pregnancy losses during the COVID-19 pandemic: a qualitative study

BackgroundWomen who suffer an early pregnancy loss require specific clinical care, aftercare, and ongoing support. In the UK, the clinical management of early pregnancy complications, including loss is provided mainly through specialist Early Pregnancy Assessment Units. The COVID-19 pandemic fundamentally changed the way in which maternity and gynaecological care was delivered, as health systems moved to rapidly reconfigure and re-organise services, aiming to reduce the risk and spread of SARS-CoV-2 infection. PUDDLES is an international collaboration investigating the pandemic’s impact on care for people who suffered a perinatal bereavement. Presented here are initial qualitative findings undertaken with UK-based women who suffered early pregnancy losses during the pandemic, about how they navigated the healthcare system and its restrictions, and how they were supported.MethodsIn-keeping with a qualitative research design, in-depth semi-structured interviews were undertaken with an opportunity sample of women (N = 32) who suffered any early pregnancy loss during the COVID-19 pandemic. Data were analysed using a template analysis to understand women’s access to services, care, and networks of support, during the pandemic following their pregnancy loss. The thematic template was based on findings from parents who had suffered a late-miscarriage, stillbirth, or neonatal death in the UK, during the pandemic.ResultsAll women had experienced reconfigured maternity and early pregnancy services. Data supported themes of: 1) COVID-19 Restrictions as Impractical & Impersonal; 2) Alone, with Only Staff to Support Them; 3) Reduction in Service Provision Leading to Perceived Devaluation in Care; and 4) Seeking Their Own Support. Results suggest access to early pregnancy loss services was reduced and pandemic-related restrictions were often impractical (i.e., restrictions added to burden of accessing or receiving care). Women often reported being isolated and, concerningly, aspects of early pregnancy loss services were reported as sub-optimal.ConclusionsThese findings provide important insight for the recovery and rebuilding of health services in the post-pandemic period and help us prepare for providing a higher standard of care in the future and through any other health system shocks. Conclusions made can inform future policy and planning to ensure best possible support for women who experience early pregnancy loss.

Midwives' lived experiences of caring for women with mobility disabilities during pregnancy, labour and puerperium in Eswatini: a qualitative study.

Midwives encounter various difficulties while aiming to achieve excellence in providing maternity care to women with mobility disabilities. The study aimed to explore and describe midwives' experiences of caring for women with mobility disabilities during pregnancy, labour and puerperium in Eswatini. A qualitative, exploratory, descriptive, contextual research design with a phenomenological approach was followed. Twelve midwives working in maternal health facilities in the Hhohho and Manzini regions in Eswatini were interviewed. Purposive sampling was used to select midwives to participate in the research. In-depth phenomenological interviews were conducted, and Giorgi's descriptive phenomenological method was used for data analysis. Three themes emerged from the data analysis: midwives experienced physical and emotional strain in providing maternity care to women with mobility disabilities, they experienced frustration due to the lack of equipment to meet the needs of women with mobility disabilities, and they faced challenges in providing support and holistic care to women with mobility disabilities during pregnancy, labour and puerperium. Midwives experienced challenges caring for women with mobility disabilities during pregnancy, labour and the puerperium in Eswatini. There is a need to develop and empower midwives with the knowledge and skill to implement guidelines and enact protocols. Moreover, equipment and infrastructure are required to facilitate support and holistic maternity care for women with mobility disabilities.

Experiences of caring for women with cervical cancer: A qualitative study among male partners in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.

More than three-fourths of cervical cancer cases occur in low- and middle-income countries, with sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) accounting for approximately 25% of global mortality. The significant rise in the prevalence of cervical cancer in SSA amplifies the burden on caregivers, contributing to elevated rates of mental illness, particularly among spouses who provide care. Men who assume the role of caregivers for their partners with cervical cancer encounter unique challenges and substantial adjustments across multiple facets of life, impacting both their own quality of life and that of their partners. Despite this, there is a notable lack of extensive research on the experiences of male partners in caregiving roles, particularly within SSA countries like Tanzania. Therefore, this study aimed to explore the experiences of male partners providing care for women with cervical cancer in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. An exploratory qualitative study was undertaken to explore the experiences of 13 male partners, selected purposively and guided by the principle of saturation. Data gathering employed in-depth interviews utilizing a semistructured interview guide, with subsequent analysis conducted via a thematic analysis approach. Five themes and 13 subthemes were generated, encompassing psychosocial distress, attitudes towards cervical cancer, unity in the provision of care, economic burden, and altered sexual relationships. Participants reported experiencing emotional distress, shifts in social responsibilities, financial challenges, and unfulfilled sexual needs. Moreover, they expressed the need for social, psychological, financial, and sexual and reproductive support. This study underscores the numerous challenges encountered by male partners caring for women with cervical cancer, encompassing emotional distress, financial strain, and shifts in social and sexual dynamics. The identified themes and subthemes highlight the intricate interplay of these difficulties and stress the necessity for holistic support systems addressing the social, psychological, financial, and sexual aspects of male partners' experiences. The findings emphasize the importance of designing and implementing comprehensive support programmes tailored to the diverse needs of male partners, ultimately enhancing their quality of life and overall well-being. Before the study, the nursing manager assisted in selecting three male partners randomly. These partners were involved in the design of the participants' information sheet, the evaluation of the interview schedule and rooms, and the dissemination of information about the study's purpose to the target population. Their valuable input contributed to improving the participant information sheet, refining data collection procedures and addressing ethical considerations. However, these individuals were not considered study participants. Throughout the study, in-charge nurses in the hospital were informed about the study's goals and helped organize appointments with participants and manage the interview schedule.

Healthcare professionals' experiences of caring for women with false-positive screening test results in the National Health Service Breast Screening Programme.

Understanding healthcare professionals' (HCPs) experiences of caring for women with false-positive screening test results in the National Health Service Breast Screening Programme (NHSBSP) is important for reducing the impact of such results. Interviews were undertaken with 12 HCPs from a single NHSBSP unit, including advanced radiographer practitioners, breast radiographers, breast radiologists, clinical nurse specialists (CNSs), and a radiology healthcare assistant. Data were analysed thematically using Template Analysis. Two themes were produced: (1) Gauging and navigating women's anxiety during screening assessment was an inevitable and necessary task for all participants. CNSs were perceived as particularly adept at this, while breast radiographers reported a lack of adequate formal training. (2) Controlling the delivery of information to women (including amount, type and timing of information). HCPs reported various communication strategies to facilitate women's information processing and retention during a distressing time. Women's anxiety could be reduced through dedicated CNS support, but this should not replace support from other HCPs. Breast radiographers may benefit from more training to emotionally support recalled women. While HCPs emphasised taking a patient-centred communication approach, the use of other strategies (e.g., standardised scripts) and the constraints of the 'one-stop shop' model pose challenges to such an approach. During the study design, two Patient and Public Involvement members (women with false-positive-breast screening test results) were consulted to gain an understanding of patient perspectives and experiences of being recalled specifically in the NHSBSP. Their feedback informed the formulations of the research aim, objectives and the direction of the interview guide.

Consensus-based recommendations for the care of women with a breech presenting fetus

ObjectiveTo establish consensus related to aspects of breech presentation and care. DesignA multinational, three round e-Delphi study. ParticipantsA panel of 15 midwives, four obstetricians and an academic with knowledge and/or experience of caring for women with a breech presenting fetus. MethodsAn initial survey of 45 open-ended questions. Answers were coded and amalgamated to form 448 statements in the second round and three additional statements in the third round. Panellists were asked to provide their level of agreement for each statement using a 5-point Likert scale. Consensus was deemed met if 70% of panellists responded with strongly agree to somewhat agree, or strongly disagree to somewhat disagree after the second round. FindingsResults led to the development of a consensus-based care pathway for women with a breech presenting fetus and a skills development framework for clinicians. Key conclusionsA cultural shift is beginning to occur through the provision of physiological breech workshops offered by various organisations and may result in greater access to skilled and experienced clinicians for women desiring a vaginal breech birth, ultimately improving the safety of breech birth. Implications for practicesThe care pathway and skills development framework can be used by services wishing to make changes to their current practices related to breech presentation and increase the level of skill in their workforce.

Strategies to improve interpersonal communication along the continuum of maternal and newborn care: A scoping review and narrative synthesis.

Effective interpersonal communication is essential to provide respectful and quality maternal and newborn care (MNC). This scoping review mapped, categorized, and analysed strategies implemented to improve interpersonal communication within MNC up to 42 days after birth. Twelve bibliographic databases were searched for quantitative and qualitative studies that evaluated interventions to improve interpersonal communication between health workers and women, their partners or newborns' families. Eligible studies were published in English between January 1st 2000 and July 1st 2020. In addition, communication studies in reproduction related domains in sexual and reproductive health and rights were included. Data extracted included study design, study population, and details of the communication intervention. Communication strategies were analysed and categorized based on existing conceptualizations of communication goals and interpersonal communication processes. A total of 138 articles were included. These reported on 128 strategies to improve interpersonal communication and were conducted in Europe and North America (n = 85), Sub-Saharan Africa (n = 12), Australia and New Zealand (n = 10), Central and Southern Asia (n = 9), Latin America and the Caribbean (n = 6), Northern Africa and Western Asia (n = 4) and Eastern and South-Eastern Asia (n = 2). Strategies addressed three communication goals: facilitating exchange of information (n = 97), creating a good interpersonal relationship (n = 57), and/or enabling the inclusion of women and partners in the decision making (n = 41). Two main approaches to strengthen interpersonal communication were identified: training health workers (n = 74) and using tools (n = 63). Narrative analysis of these interventions led to an update of an existing communication framework. The categorization of different forms of interpersonal communication strategy can inform the design, implementation and evaluation of communication improvement strategies. While most interventions focused on information provision, incorporating other communication goals (building a relationship, inclusion of women and partners in decision making) could further improve the experience of care for women, their partners and the families of newborns.

Newly qualified midwives' experiences of caring for women in the maternity setting: An integrative review.

This integrative review aims to explore the experiences of newly qualified midwives (NQMs) when caring for women in the maternity setting. An integrative review (IR) method was chosen based on a systematic approach using Cooper's 1984 framework for transparency and rigorousness. A total of 2428 articles were located, duplicate records were removed, leaving 1428 records. All titles and abstracts were reviewed and 91 articles were then retrieved in full text. After applying inclusion and exclusion criteria, 22 studies were ultimately included in this IR. Appraisal tools were used for each study included in this review according to its research approach. Literature demonstrated how NQMs' wellbeing is at stake after registration as they go through a tumultuous period full of psychological stress, fear and other surges of negative emotions. The importance for NQMs to form new and trusting relationships with colleagues and women patients is highly evident in the literature. Transitioning from a student to a midwife brings about stress and tension especially when NQMs take full responsibility for the women under their care, knowing that their decisions might have a direct impact on the outcome for women, newborns, and families. Literature shows that NQMs are a precious entity to healthcare as they are the future of midwifery and hence more research is recommended.

Experiences of Primary Healthcare Workers in Australia towards Women and Girls Living with Female Genital Mutilation/Cutting (FGM/C): A Qualitative Study.

Female genital mutilation/cutting (FGM/C) is a harmful cultural practice with significant health consequences for affected women and girls. Due to migration and human mobility, an increasing number of women with FGM/C are presenting to healthcare facilities of western countries (including Australia) where the practice is non-prevalent. Despite this increase in presentation, the experiences of primary healthcare providers in Australia engaging and caring for women/girls with FGM/C are yet to be explored. The aim of this research was to report on the Australian primary healthcare providers' experiences of caring for women living with FGM/C. A qualitative interpretative phenomenological approach was utilised and convenience sampling was used to recruit 19 participants. Australian primary healthcare providers were engaged in face-to-face or telephone interviews, which were transcribed verbatim and thematically analysed. Three major themes emerged, which were: exploring knowledge of FGM/C and training needs, understanding participants' experience of caring for women living with FGM/C, and mapping the best practice in working with women. The study shows that primary healthcare professionals had basic knowledge of FGM/C with little or no experience with the management, support, and care of affected women in Australia. This impacted their attitude and confidence to promote, protect, and restore the target population's overall FGM/C-related health and wellbeing issues. Hence, this study highlights the importance of primary healthcare practitioners being skilled and well-equipped with information and knowledge to care for girls and women living with FGM/C in Australia.

Birthing outside the guidelines: a qualitative study of student midwives' experiences

Background Choice in childbirth is not a new concept, yet it has been suggested that few service-users have a genuine choice about birth. Existing research has explored midwives' experiences of caring for service users birthing outside guidelines, but nothing is known about student midwives' experiences. This study's aim was to explore student midwives' experiences of caring for women giving birth outside the guidelines. Methods A generic qualitative approach was used, and purposive sampling recruited five student midwives from a university in east England. Data were collected using semi-structured interviews and analysed thematically. Results The three themes were ‘contradictions’, focusing on the incongruity identified in the narratives, ‘the actions of clinicians’ illustrated by clinician behaviour witnessed by the participants and ‘punishment and judgement’, which outlines the treatment of service users who gave birth outside the guidelines. Conclusions Students can be exposed to inapt clinicians' behaviours, with the failure to protect and advocate for service users leaving them feeling anxious and potentially burnt out. Midwives should act as role models, so future midwives are aware this behaviour is not conducive to person-led care.

Transforming women's and providers' experience of care for improved outcomes: A theory of change for group antenatal care in Kenya and Nigeria.

BackgroundGroup antenatal care (G-ANC) is a promising model for improving quality of maternal care and outcomes in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) but little has been published examining the mechanisms by which it may contribute to those improvements. Substantial interplay can be expected between pregnant women and providers’ respective experiences of care, but most studies report findings separately. This study explores the experience and effects of G-ANC on both women and providers to inform an integrated theory of change for G-ANC in LMICs.MethodsThis paper reports on multiple secondary outcomes from a pragmatic cluster randomized controlled trial of group antenatal care in Kenya and Nigeria conducted from October 2016—November 2018 including 20 clusters per country. We collected qualitative data from providers and women providing or receiving group antenatal care via focus group discussions (19 with women; 4 with providers) and semi-structured interviews (42 with women; 4 with providers). Quantitative data were collected via surveys administered to 1) providers in the intervention arm at enrollment and after facilitating 4 cohorts and 2) women in both study arms at enrollment; 3–6 weeks postpartum; and 1 year postpartum. Through an iterative approach with framework analysis, we explored the interactions of voiced experience and perceived effects of care and placed them relationally within a theory of change. Selected variables from baseline and final surveys were analyzed to examine applicability of the theory to all study participants.ResultsFindings support seven inter-related themes. Three themes relate to the shared experience of care of women and providers: forming supportive relationships and open communication; becoming empowered partners in learning and care; and providing and receiving meaningful clinical services and information. Four themes relate to effects of that experience, which are not universally shared: self-reinforcing cycles of more and better care; linked improvements in health knowledge, confidence, and healthy behaviors; improved communication, support, and care beyond G-ANC meetings; and motivation to continue providing G-ANC. Together these themes map to a theory of change which centers the shared experience of care for women and providers among multiple pathways to improved outcomes.DiscussionThe reported experience and effects of G-ANC on women and providers are consistent with other studies in LMICs. This study is novel because it uses the themes to present a theory of change for G-ANC in low-resource settings. It is useful for G-ANC implementation to inform model development, test adaptations, and continue exploring mechanisms of action in future research.

Manifestations, responses, and consequences of mistreatment of sick newborns and young infants and their parents in health facilities in Kenya.

Despite efforts to incorporate experience of care for women and newborns in global quality standards, there are limited efforts to understand experience of care for sick newborns and young infants. This paper describes the manifestations, responses, and consequences of mistreatment of sick young infants (SYIs), drivers, and parental responses in hospital settings in Kenya. A qualitative formative study to inform the development of strategies for promoting family engagement and respectful care of SYI was conducted in five facilities in Kenya. Data were collected from in-depth interviews with providers and policy makers (n = 35) and parents (n = 25), focus group discussions with women and men (n = 12 groups), and ethnographic observations in each hospital (n = 64 observation sessions). Transcribed data were organized using Nvivo 12 software and analyzed thematically. We identified 5 categories of mistreatment: 1) health system conditions and constraints, including a) failure to meet professional standards, b) delayed provision of care; and c) limited provider skills; 2) stigma and discrimination, due to provider perception of personal hygiene or medical condition, and patient feelings of abandonment; 3) physically inappropriate care, including providers taking blood samples and inserting intravenous lines and nasogastric tubes in a rough manner; or parents being pressured to forcefully feed infants or share unsterile feeding cups to avoid providers' anger; 4) poor parental-provider rapport, expressed as ineffective communication, verbal abuse, perceived disinterest, and non-consented care; and 5) no organized form of bereavement and posthumous care in the case of infant's death. Parental responses to mistreatment were acquiescent or non-confrontational and included feeling humiliated or accepting the situation. Assertive responses were rare but included articulating disappointment by expressing anger, and/or deciding to seek care elsewhere. Mistreatment for SYIs is linked to poor quality of care. To address mistreatment in SYI, interventions that focus on building better communication, responding to the developmental needs of infants and emotional needs for parents, strengthen providers competencies in newborn care, as well as a supportive, enabling environments, will lead to more respectful quality care for newborns and young infants.

High-Risk Encounters: Primary Care Experiences of Women Living with Intimate Partner Violence, and Implications for the Patient Centered Medical Home

ABSTRACT Women experiencing intimate partner violence (IPV) often face stigma, uncertainty, and complex emotions when deciding to disclose IPV to primary care providers. As the Patient Centered Medical Home (PCMH) model’s general assumptions and value have been more widely accepted, interest has grown in understanding how well it serves different populations. We interviewed 50 women who had experienced prior-year IPV and received care from 2 Veterans Health Administration (VA) facilities, to explore their health care needs Disclosure of IPV status was revealed as a high-risk moment in medical care for many participants, yet nearly all supported clinical screening and described or envisioned patient-centered screening practices. The PCMH’s interprofessional team-based care model offers strengths for connecting women to services and support. However, if women do not experience trust, genuine care, and respect for their autonomy, they are unlikely to disclose IPV or access extended services. The PCMH model holds intrinsic promise but may fall short in delivering on relational aspects of patient-centered care desired by women experiencing IPV (and possibly others facing similar complex, stigmatized challenges). IPV screening practices should aim to empower the entire care team to be able to build the trusting relationships that open the door to discussions of IPV.

Midwives’ experiences of caring for women with antenatal anxiety and depression: A qualitative study with midwifery acupuncturists

Background: Pregnant women seek help for a range of physical and emotional pregnancy symptoms from traditional acupuncturists. Whether midwifery acupuncturists in Aotearoa New Zealand (Aotearoa NZ) provide acupuncture for antenatal anxiety and depression (AAD) in practice is currently unknown. Aim: This qualitative arm of a mixed-methods study aimed to explore midwifery acupuncturist experiences of caring for pregnant women with AAD in Aotearoa NZ. The aim of the research was to examine the factors that influence midwifery acupuncturists' perceptions of acupuncture use for AAD. Method: This was a mixed-methods study involving an online survey and in-depth interviews from a convenience sample of Aotearoa NZ midwifery acupuncturists who had completed a Certificate of Midwifery Acupuncture. This paper describes the thematic analysis of the semi-structured interviews. Findings: The eight interviewees were mostly NZ European (n=6) and Lead Maternity Carers (LMCs; n=6) caring for pregnant women in rural and urban locations throughout Aotearoa NZ. The interviews revealed an overarching theme, “helping midwives to navigate the ocean of AAD”, which identified the lack of support participants experienced from current maternity health services for AAD in Aotearoa NZ. Subthemes “Missing the boat during pregnancy” expressed how participants felt no options were available for AAD prevention, while “keeping women afloat with no ship in sight” represented how interviewees tried to keep women in their care stable even though access to maternal mental health services was difficult. Participants felt acupuncture was a useful non-pharmaceutical tool that works; however, they had reservations about “adding acupuncture to the midwifery toolbox”. Conclusion: Aotearoa NZ midwifery acupuncturists were concerned about AAD and the limited conventional options available for women in their care. Acupuncture was viewed as a promising adjunct to usual treatment for AAD. Reservations included adding acupuncture to an already heavy midwifery workload, the cost of acupuncture, and the appropriateness of the treatment.

Experiences and perceptions of birth companions supporting women in labour at a District Hospital in Limpopo, South Africa.

BackgroundSouth Africa has included birth companions in its national guidelines for maternity care and the revised Maternity Case Record, in and effort to improve the quality and experience of care. However, reservations amongst healthcare providers remain about the acceptability of birth companions in the labour ward.ObjectivesTo document the experiences and perceptions of birth companions who supported women in labour in a rural hospital in Limpopo Province where a Respectful Maternity Care (RMC) project was piloted.MethodAn institution-based cross-sectional study design was employed. Purposive sampling was employed where all birth companions who supported a woman during labour and birth were included in the study. The experiences and perceptions of birth companions were captured using a birth companion feedback book during the period of 1st April to 30th August 2019. Thematic analysis was used to analyse the data.ResultsSeventy-one (71) of the 73 birth companions only had positive responses about the birthing experience and how both the birth companion and woman in labour were treated. Two birth companions were dissatisfied with the treatment provided by the midwife that supported the birth.ConclusionIt is important for healthcare providers to understand the far reaching emotional and psychological impact of their attitudes and behaviour on, not only women in labour but also on others who witness their (healthcare providers) behaviour. Mechanisms to obtain feedback from birth companions should be integrated into strategies to improve the quality and experience of care for women during childbirth.

Wanting to be ‘with woman’, not with machine: Midwives’ experiences of caring for women being continuously monitored in labour

ProblemSome continuous electronic fetal monitoring (CEFM) devices restrict women’s bodily autonomy by limiting their mobility in labour and birth. BackgroundLittle is known about how midwives perceive the impact of CEFM technologies on their practice. AimThis paper explores the way different fetal monitoring technologies influence the work of midwives. MethodsWireless and beltless ‘non-invasive fetal electrocardiogram’ (NIFECG) was trialled on 110 labouring women in an Australian maternity hospital. A focus group pertaining to midwives’ experiences of using CTG was conducted prior to the trial. After the trial, midwives were asked about their experiences of using NIFECG. All data were analysed using thematic analysis. FindingsMidwives felt that wired CTG creates barriers to physiological processes. Whilst wireless CTG enables greater freedom of movement for women, it requires constant ‘fiddling’ from midwives, drawing their attention away from the woman. Midwives felt the NIFECG better enabled them to be ‘with woman’. DiscussionMidwives play a pivotal role in mediating the influence of CEFM on women’s experiences in labour. Exploring the way in which different forms of CEFM impact on midwives’ practice may assist us to better understand how to prioritise the woman in order to facilitate safe and satisfying birth experiences. ConclusionThe presence of CEFM technology in the birth space impacts midwives’ ways of working and their capacity to be woman-centred. Current CTG technology may impede midwives’ capacity to be ‘with woman’. Compared to the CTG, the NIFECG has the potential to enable midwives to provide more woman-centred care for those experiencing complex pregnancies.

Midwives' experiences of caring for women's emotional and mental well-being during pregnancy.

To explore midwives' experiences of caring for women's emotional and mental well-being during pregnancy. Transitioning to motherhood is a major life event for any woman and while it is a joyful experience for the majority, 15%-25% of women will experience a perinatal mental health problem. Providing psychological support to mothers by midwives is acknowledged internationally. The 2016 Irish National Maternity Strategy identifies midwives as being ideally placed to assess women's emotional needs. The research revealed a paucity of qualitative research from an Irish context in this area; therefore, this study addressed this gap in the literature. Qualitative descriptive design. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with a purposive sample of 10 midwives recruited from the Irish midwifery e-group. Data were analysed using Burnard (Nurse Educ. Today, 11, 1991, 461) thematic content analysis. Transcripts were coded, and meanings were formulated to reflect significant statements, which were categorised. Categories were then evolved into subthemes, and eventually, three themes were emerged using the COREQ checklist. Three salient themes emerged from the data are as follows: 'awareness of Perinatal Mental Health', 'discussing emotional well-being' and 'the woman has something to divulge'. The themes convey the midwife's awareness, recognition and perceptions of mental well-being during pregnancy. How midwives discuss and assess emotional well-being, the observational skills they use, and what they perceive as the barriers and facilitators to discussing mental well-being were all identified. Midwives reported an awareness and acceptance that women's emotional health was as important as their physical health. Midwives used every antenatal opportunity to raise awareness about perinatal mental health, whilst also identifying key challenges in getting women to talk. Care pathways for assessing and identifying Perinatal Mental Health issues should be available in all maternity services. More support for midwives is required to debrief, which would assist them in supporting women's emotional well-being.

Can changes to improve person-centred maternity care be spread across public health facilities in Uttar Pradesh, India?

Poor quality person-centred maternity care (PCMC) leads to delays in care and adverse maternal and newborn outcomes. This study describes the impact of spreading a Change Package, or interventions that other health facilities had previously piloted and identified as successful, to improve PCMC in public health facilities in Uttar Pradesh, India. A quasi-experimental design was used including matched control-intervention facilities and pre–post data collection. This study took place in Uttar Pradesh, India in 2018–2019. Six large public health facilities participated in the evaluation of the spread study, including three intervention and three control facilities. Intervention facilities were introduced to a quality improvement (QI) Change Package to improve PCMC. In total, 1200 women participated in the study, including 600 women at baseline and 600 women at endline. Difference-in-difference estimators are used to examine the impact of spreading a QI Change Package across spread sites vs. control sites and at baseline and endline using a validated PCMC scale. Out of a 100-point scale, a 24.93 point improvement was observed in overall PCMC scores among spread facilities compared to control facilities from baseline to endline (95% CI: 22.29, 27.56). For the eight PCMC indicators that the Change Package targeted, spread facilities increased 33.86 points (95% CI: 30.91, 36.81) relative to control facilities across survey rounds. Findings suggest that spread of a PCMC Change Package results in improved experiences of care for women as well as secondary outcomes, including clinical quality, nurse and doctor visits, and decreases in delivery problems. Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT04208841..

Midwives holding the space for women undergoing termination of pregnancy: A qualitative inquiry

ProblemHospital midwives are the main care givers for women undergoing termination of pregnancy after 20 weeks. Midwives’ role and potential impact of regular involvement in termination of pregnancy (TOP) are poorly understood. SettingNew Zealand. BackgroundTOP after 20 weeks may be performed to save a woman’s life or preserve her physical and mental health. Throughout the process midwives play a key role in supporting women’s complex psychological and clinical needs. ObjectiveTo gain a deeper understanding of the role of midwives in TOP care after 20 weeks, including the support they might need and the impacts caring for women who are having a TOP may have on them. MethodsEight midwives from two District Health Boards were interviewed about their experiences of caring for women having a TOP after 20 weeks. Transcripts were analysed by applying a hermeneutic-phenomenological lens. FindingsThree themes emerged: “A different kind of midwife”, “Staying true to oneself” and “Melting an Iceberg”. TOP care is a different role within midwifery as midwives facilitate death in the space of birth. Immersing themselves in women’s emotional space they create meaningful connections to support their complex needs and provide a positive birth experience. Yet, midwives are unprepared for the emotional effects of repeatedly caring for women undergoing TOP. Lacking appropriate support they can experience increasing, lasting grief. ConclusionMidwives’ experiences of providing TOP care are complex, intense and have lifelong impact. Their role in the context of TOP is highly specialised and must be valued and supported.

“Take the treatment and be brave”: Care experiences of pregnant women with rifampicin-resistant tuberculosis

There are few data on the on the care experiences of pregnant women with rifampicin-resistant TB. To describe the treatment journeys of pregnant women with RR-TB-including how their care experiences shape their identities-and identify areas in which tailored interventions are needed. In this qualitative study in-depth interviews were conducted among a convenience sample from a population of pregnant women receiving treatment for RR-TB. This paper follows COREQ guidelines. A thematic network analysis using an inductive approach was performed to analyze the interview transcripts and notes. The analysis was iterative and a coding system developed which focused on the care experiences of the women and how these experiences affected their perceptions of themselves, their children, and the health care system in which treatment was received. Seventeen women were interviewed. The women described multiple challenges in their treatment journeys which required them to demonstrate sustained resilience (i.e. to "be brave"). Care experiences required them to negotiate seemingly contradictory identities as both new mothers-"givers of life"-and RR-TB patients facing a complicated and potentially deadly disease. In terms of their "pregnancy identity" and "RR-TB patient identity" that emerged as part of their care experiences, four key themes were identified that appeared to have elements that were contradictory to one another (contradictory areas). These included: 1) the experience of physical symptoms or changes; 2) the experience of the "mothering" and "patient" roles; 3) the experience of the care they received for their pregnancy and their RR-TB; and 4) the experience of community engagement. There were also three areas that overlapped with both roles and during which identity was negotiated/reinforced and they included: 1) faith; 2) socioeconomic issues; and 3) long-term concerns over the child's health. At times, the health care system exacerbated these challenges as the women were not given the support they needed by health care providers who were ill-informed or angry and treated the women in a discriminatory fashion. Left to negotiate this confusing time period, the women turned to faith, their own mothers, and the fathers of their unborn children. The care experiences of the women who participated in this study highlight several gaps in the current health care system that must be better addressed in both TB and perinatal services in order to improve the therapeutic journeys for pregnant women with RR-TB and their children. Suggestions for optimizing care include the provision of integrated services, including specialized counseling as well as training for health care providers; engagement of peer support networks; provision of socioeconomic support; long-term medical care/follow-up for children born to women who were treated for RR-TB; and inclusion of faith-based services in the provision of care.

Experiences of maternity care in New South Wales among women with mental health conditions

BackgroundHigh quality maternity care is increasingly understood to represent a continuum of care. As well as ensuring a positive experience for mothers and families, integrated maternity care is responsive to mental health needs of mothers. The aim of this paper is to summarize differences in women’s experiences of maternity care between women with and without a self-reported mental health condition.MethodsSecondary analyses of a randomized, stratified sample patient experience survey of 4787 women who gave birth in a New South Wales public hospital in 2017. We focused on 64 measures of experiences of antenatal care, hospital care during and following birth and follow up at home. Experiences covered eight dimensions: overall impressions, emotional support, respect for preferences, information, involvement, physical comfort and continuity. Multivariable logistic regression was used to compare experiences of women with and without a self-reported longstanding mental health condition.ResultsCompared to women without a condition, women with a longstanding mental health condition (n = 353) reported significantly less positive experiences by eight percentage points on average, with significant differences on 41 out of 64 measures after adjusting for age, education, language, parity, type of birth and region. Disparities were pronounced for key measures of emotional support (discussion of worries and fears, trust in providers), physical comfort (assistance, pain management) and overall impressions of care. Most women with mental health conditions (75% or more) reported positive experiences for measures related to guidelines for maternity care for women with mental illness (discussion of emotional health, healthy behaviours, weight gain). Their experiences were not significantly different from those of women with no reported conditions.ConclusionsWomen with a mental health condition had significantly less positive experiences of maternity care across all stages of care compared to women with no condition. However, for some measures, including those related to guidelines for maternity care for women with mental illness, there were highly positive ratings and no significant differences between groups. This suggests disparities in experiences of care for women with mental health conditions are not inevitable. More can be done to improve experiences of maternity care for women with mental health conditions.