Thesis (M.S.)--University of Michigan, 1992.

Thesis (MPH.) -- University of Limpopo, 2016. / Introduction and purpose: Midwives are the backbone of maternal and child health—the output of their action affect quality of life of mother and child. The purpose of the study was to describe the challenges encountered by one-year diploma student midwives while acquiring clinical skills at selected hospitals in Limpopo Province. Research design and method: A quantitative, descriptive cross-sectional research method was used in this study. The study population comprised all one-year diploma student midwives in selected hospitals in Limpopo Province, namely, Dilokong Hospital, Jane Furse Memorial Hospital, Mokopane Hospital, Philadelphia Hospital, Siloam Hospital and St Rita’s Hospital. The whole study population was used as the total population was small. Data were collected using a self-administered questionnaire. Informed consent was received from the participants as was ethical approval from the relevant authorities. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 22 with the aid of a statistician. Descriptive statistics were used to analyze and describe the data. Data were presented in tables and bar graphs.Findings: Respondents in this study indicated that they encountered the following challenges during their acquisition of clinical skills at the selected hospitals in the Limpopo Province: inadequate resources; inadequate mentoring. Male participants reported feelings of being more competent than their female counterparts. There was no relationship between acquisition of skills and marital status, and no correlation between age and acquisition of skills.

Thesis (M. (Nursing)) -- University of Limpopo, 2022 / Background Despite all the interventions that have been developed previously preterm labour remain to be the leading cause of perinatal morbidity and mortality worldwide. Preterm labour occurs before 37 weeks of gestation under two obstetric circumstances namely, ‗spontaneous preterm labour‘ and ‗indicated preterm labour‘. The aim of the study was to develop the strategies to enhance prevention of preterm labour in selected hospitals in Capricorn District, Limpopo Province. Research Method A sequential explanatory mixed method was adopted, the study was conducted in three phases, namely, quantitative study, qualitative study, and development of strategies. Self-developed questionnaires with 50 item questions each for mothers and registered midwives were administered. Both questionnaires were pre-tested prior to being administered to the respondents of the main study. The sample size of mothers was 77 mothers and 62 registered midwives. Data collected from the respondents were analysed using Statistical Package for Social Science (SPSS) version 25 with the help of the statistician. Tables, pie charts and bar graphs were drawn to present the results. The results of quantitative phase were utilized to formulate the Interview Guides that were used to explore the knowledge and practise of registered midwives and obstetricians regarding preterm labour. Interviews were conducted with 20 mothers, 6 registered midwives and 4 obstetricians until data saturation was reached. Data were analysed qualitatively using Tesch‘s Open-Coding method. v Quantitative Results The quantitative results for midwives revealed that about 60% of the mothers who had preterm labour were teenagers. Most of the respondents had ‗spontaneous preterm labour‘ and did not have any comorbidities while few had ‗indicated preterm labour‘ and were induced. All 62(100%) of the midwives showed that the facility does not offer an Outreach Programme on the prevention of preterm labour. Themes and Sub-Themes Results Themes and sub-themes were coded manually. Results that emerged from the integration and comparison of quantitative and qualitative results revealed that the mothers who went into preterm labour spontaneously had little information or no health education regarding preterm labour. Developed strategies The following strategies were developed based on the identified factors that might hinders the prevention of preterm labour and after exploring the knowledge and practice of midwives and obstetricians in the selected hospitals, Capricorn District, Limpopo Province. Strategies includes strengthening of BANC Plus, staff establishment, laboratory turnaround time, outreach programmes and improvement of counselling and support services. Recommendations of the Study The recommendation of the study is divided into three groups which includes recommendations for midwives at the PHC and hospital, recommendations for the obstetricians at the hospital and the recommendations for the Department of Health. The midwives to visit schools and community centres at least twice in a month to give information to the woman of childbearing age and reinforce health education on each Antenatal Care visit. The obstetricians to screen all mothers who are at risk of preterm labour for infections, follow up the results and treat the mothers accordingly. The Department of Health should hire enough staff so that quality care can be vi rendered to the pregnant woman at the PHC and hospital. The Department of Health should develop the electronic database, to register all mothers who have a history of preterm labour, so that when they are pregnant the database system will also help to identify them at the PHC, and they would then be referred to the hospital in time. If the developed strategies to enhance prevention of preterm labour may be adopted and adhered to by the midwives and obstetricians, these may help in reduction of high figures of preterm labour in the selected hospitals.

The study described and analysed the self-reported stress burden resulting from occupational exposure to maternal death among professional midwives working in rural health care units, and the effect of the identified stress burden on their physical and psychological well-being in order to recommend coping mechanisms and support for these midwives. Quantitative research using an exploratory, descriptive, and correlation design was used to collect data from midwives working in two rural districts, Mubende and Mityana in Uganda. Data was collected using a self-administered questionnaire which comprised of three standardised scales, and permission was granted by the developers of the scales. The study population comprised of 238 midwives and a response rate of 95.2% was obtained. Simple random sampling was used to select the study sites and the whole target population was studied. Data was analysed using the SPSS version 20. The findings revealed that occupational exposure to maternal death experienced by midwives working in rural districts of Uganda, may result into significant stress burden in the form of moderate to high death anxiety, mild to moderate death obsession and mild death depression. The respondents also experience physical un-wellness because of experiencing maternal death at the workplace, however, their psychological well-being was sustained. Although the midwives were using effective problem focused coping strategies to reduce their stress burden resulting from occupational exposure to maternal death, the study uncovered a number of factors that were non-modifiable that could be preventing this. However, midwifery educators, employers and managers should address the modifiable factors such as: midwives' education, involvement in other health care activities, lack of functional communication and ambulance services, support given at the work place after experiencing a maternal death, and professional training on how to handle death situations which exaggerate the stress burden resulting from occupational exposure to maternal death. Based on the key findings, proposed interventions, responsible persons and recommendations for practice to promote the coping mechanism and well-being of rural midwives in view of occupational exposure to maternal death were suggested. / Health Studies / D. Litt. et Phil. (Health Studies)

The study described and analysed the self-reported stress burden resulting from occupational exposure to maternal death among professional midwives working in rural health care units, and the effect of the identified stress burden on their physical and psychological well-being in order to recommend coping mechanisms and support for these midwives. Quantitative research using an exploratory, descriptive, and correlation design was used to collect data from midwives working in two rural districts, Mubende and Mityana in Uganda. Data was collected using a self-administered questionnaire which comprised of three standardised scales, and permission was granted by the developers of the scales. The study population comprised of 238 midwives and a response rate of 95.2% was obtained. Simple random sampling was used to select the study sites and the whole target population was studied. Data was analysed using the SPSS version 20. The findings revealed that occupational exposure to maternal death experienced by midwives working in rural districts of Uganda, may result into significant stress burden in the form of moderate to high death anxiety, mild to moderate death obsession and mild death depression. The respondents also experience physical un-wellness because of experiencing maternal death at the workplace, however, their psychological well-being was sustained. Although the midwives were using effective problem focused coping strategies to reduce their stress burden resulting from occupational exposure to maternal death, the study uncovered a number of factors that were non-modifiable that could be preventing this. However, midwifery educators, employers and managers should address the modifiable factors such as: midwives' education, involvement in other health care activities, lack of functional communication and ambulance services, support given at the work place after experiencing a maternal death, and professional training on how to handle death situations which exaggerate the stress burden resulting from occupational exposure to maternal death. Based on the key findings, proposed interventions, responsible persons and recommendations for practice to promote the coping mechanism and well-being of rural midwives in view of occupational exposure to maternal death were suggested. / Health Studies / D. Litt. et Phil. (Health Studies)

Aim: The purpose of this study is to establish midwives’ perception of ethical and professional malpractices in labour units and to enhance the awareness of ethical behaviour and professional practice by midwives. Design: A qualitative, exploratory, descriptive and cross sectional design was followed to explore the midwives understanding of and experiences of ethical practice and professional malpractices in Labour Units of Tshwane, Gauteng Province. A non-probability purposive sampling was used to draw a sample from midwives with two or more years of experience working in Labour Units. Data collection: Individual in-depth interviews using open ended questions were used to collect data. Interviews were recorded using an audio tape recorder, which was later transcribed verbatim. Data collection was continuous until saturation was reached with the eight (n=8) participant. Findings: the results of the study revealed that midwives do understand the ethical code of conduct. However, due to challenges such as shortage of staff; shortage of material resources; non-compliance of midwives to policies and guidelines; fear of decision-making; and lack of management support, all this makes ethical conduct more challenging. It is hoped that the findings of this research will make contributions to midwifery training and practice. / Health Studies / M.A. (Health Studies)

Submitted in fulfilment of the requirements for the Degree in Masters of Technology in Nursing, Durban University of Technology, 2014. / Introduction High maternal, perinatal and under-five morbidity and mortality are some of the formidable development challenges in Africa. The World Health Organisation (WHO) estimates that worldwide, as many as 1500 women die every day due to complications related to pregnancy or childbirth (WHO 2010). The partograph or partogram, an inexpensive tool, was designed by WHO to be used by midwives for decision-making during labour. Many studies conducted in and out of Africa reflect sub-optimal use of the partograph. Aim of the study The aim of the study was to describe the utilisation of the partograph by registered midwives working in the maternity sections of public hospitals in the uMgungundlovu District in the province of KwaZulu-Natal. Methodology A quantitative descriptive cross-sectional study was used to describe the use of the partograph in the selected hospitals, and carried out in two phases. In phase one, 197 participants completed a questionnaire. In phase two, retrospective audits on 310 completed maternity records were done. The collected data was analysed using SPSS version 20 and presented in frequency tables, cross-tabulations and graphs. Results The results revealed that there were certain parameters that were given more focus when it came to correct and consistent recording, such as contractions (80.0%) and cervical dilatation (89%) whilst others were poorly done, such as the duration of labour (13.5%), pain relief (23.5%) and unrecorded partographs from the primary health care clinics and community health centres (80.8%).

Thesis (M.S.)--University of Michigan, 1993.

Thesis (M.S.)--University of Michigan, 1994. / Spine title: CNM and MD outcomes for pain control in labor.

Thesis (M.S.)--University of Michigan, 1993.