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

Magister Curationis - MCur / Background and Problem Statement: Maternal mortality is a global health issue, which mostly affects the developing countries. The United Nations (UN) member states have made a commitment to reduce maternal mortality by 75% by 2015. However, one of the biggest challenges in monitoring maternal deaths in Sub-Sahara Africa including Ghana, is the lack of adequate information for the accurate estimation of the maternal mortality rate (MMRate), and to identify causes of death. The World Health Organization (WHO) developed strategies and guidelines to assist countries to generate accurate information regarding maternal deaths. Maternal death review is one such strategy that was implemented in Ghana. Midwives are among the health workers who participate in the implementation of this strategy in different health facilities.However, what is not well understood is the role that midwives play in the implementation of Maternal Death Review (MDR).The purpose of the study: To explore and describe the roles that midwives play in the implementation of MDR in selected health facilities in Ghana‟s Ashanti Region.Methodology: A qualitative descriptive design was used to guide the research.Purposive sampling was conducted to select midwives who have been involved in maternal death review from the teaching, regional and district referral hospitals. Data was collected by conducting semi-structured individual interviews. Data saturation was reached after twenty interviews. Thematic Content Analysis was used to manage and analyse data. The Facility-based maternal death review model was used to assist the researcher to identify and organize the emerged themes. Ethical clearance was obtained from the University, as well as approval from the management of the health facilities prior to approaching the informants.Main findings: The results of this study indicate that midwives in Ghana‟s Ashanti Region are undertaking various activities and duties in all the stages of the Facilitybased maternal review model. The type of activities and duties undertaken by midwives varied according to their seniority and the level of the health facilities.Conclusion and recommendation: The findings of this study bring insight into the roles played by midwives in the implementation of the Facility-based maternal death review process in the health facilities in Ghana‟s Ashanti Region. These findings have a direct implication for the training and education of midwives. It is recommended that issues related to maternal death review methods and processes be included in the formal and continuing training and education of midwives. However, further research considering the training and practice development needs of midwives in respect of implementation of maternal death review is required.

Syfte: att belysa barnmorskors upplevelser och erfarenheter av vårdmötet med förlossningsrädda kvinnor under aktiv förlossning. Design: kvalitativa intervjuer som analyserades med innehållsanalys. Lokalisation: studien utfördes på en mellanstor förlossningsklinik i Norra Sverige.  Deltagare: sex barnmorskor anställda och i aktiv tjänst på förlossningsavdelningen.  Resultat: tre beskrivande kategorier framkom; Att uppfatta och respektfullt bemöta rädsla; Att skapa en tillitsfull relation och Att utvecklas i professionen. Slutsats: Resultatet visade att barnmorskorna betraktade förlossningsrädsla som något normalt och uttryckte att de flesta kvinnor bar på någon form av oro och rädsla. Tillit och närvaro uttrycktes som viktiga grundförutsättningar för ett bra vårdmöte med en förlossningsrädd kvinna, och barnmorskorna efterfrågade forum i verksamheten som kunde främja deras professionella utveckling.  Praktiska implikationer: Resultatet tyder på att barnmorskor saknar regelbunden reflektion och handledning som en möjlighet att utvecklas och stärkas i vårdmötet med den förlossningsrädda kvinnan. / Objective: to highlight midwife's experience of care meeting with women with fear of childbirth. Design: qualitative interviews analyzed using content analysis.  Settings: the study was conducted on a medium sized childbirth clinic in Northern Sweden.  Participants: six midwives employees in active service at the delivery ward. Findings:Three descriptive categories emerged; To perceive and respectful response to fear; To create a trusting relationship and To develop in the profession.  Key conclusion: The results showed that midwives regarded the fear of childbirth as something normal and expressed that most women wore some form of fear. Presence and dialogue emerged as key prerequisites for a trusting relationship with the childbirth scared woman and midwives demanded forums in the business who could promote their professional development. Implications for practice:The results suggest that midwives have no regular reflection and tutoring as an opportunity to develop and strengthen the health care encounter with the woman with fear of childbirth

Pregnancy and childbirth are critical life events and women and their families require physical as well as emotional support and care. The concepts continuity of care, choice and a sense of control are prominent in the literature on women’s satisfaction with as well as outcomes of care. Midwives have globally been identified as important role players in women-centred care for low risk pregnant women. To be able to offer their women safe, supportive care they need not only a certain degree of autonomy, but also the support of other health care professionals such as obstetricians to whom they can refer women with risk factors or complications. Maternity care has become “medicalised” and the overuse of interventions such as caesarean section is prevalent in many countries. South African women make use of either the public or private health sector for care during pregnancy and birth. The public sector is overburdened and women do not have a high level of continuity of care. The private sector is mainly obstetrician-led and intervention-driven, even for low risk women. The estimated caesarean section rate is higher than 70%. Private midwife-led care is available in South Africa, but is concentrated in the major cities. Private midwives practise at hospitals, birth centres, “active birth units” and women’s homes. No evidence could be found on the outcomes of private midwife-led care in South Africa. The objectives of this study were to explore and describe the outcomes of births attended by private midwives in Gauteng over a two year period and to compare these outcomes with the latest Cochrane review on midwife-led care. A retrospective cohort design was chosen to audit the birth registers of private midwives in Gauteng and conduct quantitative analyses. Gauteng midwives’ patients, when compared with the Cochrane review that juxtaposes midwife-led care with other models of care, had a significantly lower percentage of interventions such as induction of labour (9.6% versus 18.6%) but caesarean sections were performed significantly more frequently (19.3% for the women in Gauteng versus 12.5% for the women in the review). Women in Gauteng also made significantly less use of medications in labour. Maternal and neonatal outcomes were reassuring. Significantly more Gauteng women had intact perineums (53.4% versus 31.4%). A higher percentage of postpartum haemorrhage was found in the Gauteng sample (7.9% versus 6.2%). The difference is significant, although, only three women were admitted to high care units as a result of postpartum haemorrhage. Overall foetal loss (4.3% versus 6.7%) and neonatal ICU admissions (0.3% versus 2.9%) occurred significantly less frequently in the Gauteng sample. The study findings indicate that private midwife-led care in Gauteng compared well with that in the rest of the world in terms of intervention rates and outcomes. / MCur, North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2015

Pregnancy and childbirth are critical life events and women and their families require physical as well as emotional support and care. The concepts continuity of care, choice and a sense of control are prominent in the literature on women’s satisfaction with as well as outcomes of care. Midwives have globally been identified as important role players in women-centred care for low risk pregnant women. To be able to offer their women safe, supportive care they need not only a certain degree of autonomy, but also the support of other health care professionals such as obstetricians to whom they can refer women with risk factors or complications. Maternity care has become “medicalised” and the overuse of interventions such as caesarean section is prevalent in many countries. South African women make use of either the public or private health sector for care during pregnancy and birth. The public sector is overburdened and women do not have a high level of continuity of care. The private sector is mainly obstetrician-led and intervention-driven, even for low risk women. The estimated caesarean section rate is higher than 70%. Private midwife-led care is available in South Africa, but is concentrated in the major cities. Private midwives practise at hospitals, birth centres, “active birth units” and women’s homes. No evidence could be found on the outcomes of private midwife-led care in South Africa. The objectives of this study were to explore and describe the outcomes of births attended by private midwives in Gauteng over a two year period and to compare these outcomes with the latest Cochrane review on midwife-led care. A retrospective cohort design was chosen to audit the birth registers of private midwives in Gauteng and conduct quantitative analyses. Gauteng midwives’ patients, when compared with the Cochrane review that juxtaposes midwife-led care with other models of care, had a significantly lower percentage of interventions such as induction of labour (9.6% versus 18.6%) but caesarean sections were performed significantly more frequently (19.3% for the women in Gauteng versus 12.5% for the women in the review). Women in Gauteng also made significantly less use of medications in labour. Maternal and neonatal outcomes were reassuring. Significantly more Gauteng women had intact perineums (53.4% versus 31.4%). A higher percentage of postpartum haemorrhage was found in the Gauteng sample (7.9% versus 6.2%). The difference is significant, although, only three women were admitted to high care units as a result of postpartum haemorrhage. Overall foetal loss (4.3% versus 6.7%) and neonatal ICU admissions (0.3% versus 2.9%) occurred significantly less frequently in the Gauteng sample. The study findings indicate that private midwife-led care in Gauteng compared well with that in the rest of the world in terms of intervention rates and outcomes. / MCur, North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2015

Thesis (MCur)--Stellenbosch University, 2003 / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: It appears that registered midwives prefer not to cut episiotomies which results in an increase in perineal tears. This may be the case as a result of current controversies regarding episiotomies, lack of suturing skills due to insufficient training and evaluation, or the fact that the necessity of an episiotomy are not recognised timeously. In light of this the incidence of perineal trauma during deliveries in public healthcare institutions in the Western Cape was evaluated from a nursing perspective. The midwife can playa significant role in the prevention of unnecessary perineal trauma by applying particular precautions in practice. Triangulation was used as the research method. Seven public healthcare institutions in the Western Cape were included in this study. Nurses completed 45 questionnaires while 33 deliveries and 25 cases of suturing of perineal wounds were evaluated according to a pre-compiled checklist. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with registered midwives and medical practitioners involved in the training of nursing students. According to findings it appears that nurses do not recognise the risk factors to be contributory causes of perineal tears. Furthermore, it appeared that 46% of registered midwives did not feel competent enough to suture perineal wounds. Disparities were identified pertaining to the training of student nurses as well as the continuous training and evaluation of registered midwives regarding the suturing of perineal wounds. It is recommended that a uniform policy should be formulated concerning guidelines for the cut and suturing of episiotomies and lacerations. Furthermore, a uniform classification system regarding perineal trauma should be formulated as well as a uniform system to evaluate the competency of midwives. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Dit blyk dat geregistreerde vroedvroue nie graag 'n episiotomie knip nie, met 'n gevolglike toename in perineale skeure. Dit is moontlik as gevolg van die huidige kontroversie betreffende episiotomies, óf hegtingsvaardighede wat nie voldoende is nie te wyte aan gebrekkige opleiding en evaluering, óf die noodsaaklikheid van 'n episiotomie word nie betyds ingesien nie. In die lig hiervan is die voorkoms van perineale trauma tydens verlossings in openbare gesondheidsinstellings in die Wes- Kaap vanuit 'n verpleegkundige perspektief geëvalueer. Die vroedvrou kan 'n beduidende rol speel in die voorkoming van onnodige perineale trauma deur die toepassing van sekere maatreëls in haar praktykvoering. Triangulasie is as navorsingsmetode gebruik. Sewe openbare gesondheidsinstellings in die Wes-Kaap is in hierdie studie ingesluit. Vyf-en-veertig vraelyste is deur verpleegkundiges voltooi terwyl 33 bevallings en 25 hegtings van perineale wonde volgens 'n voorafopgestelde kontrolelys geëvalueer is. Semi-gestruktureerde onderhoude is gevoer met geregistreerde vroedvroue en geneeshere wat by die opleiding van verpleegstudente betrokke is. Volgens die bevindings blyk dit dat verpleegkundiges nie die risikofaktore as aanleidende oorsake van perineale skeure herken nie. Hulle verkies ook om nie episiotomies te knip nie en sal eerder 'n perineale skeur heg. Dit het verder geblyk dat 46% van die geregistreerde vroedvroue nie bevoeg gevoel het om perineale wonde te heg nie. Leemtes is geïdentifiseer ten opsigte van die opleiding van studentverpleegkundiges asook voortgesette opleiding en evaluering van geregistreerde vroedvroue ten opsigte van hegtingstegnieke. Aanbevelings sluit in dat 'n eenvormige beleid geformuleer moet word ten opsigte van die riglyne vir die knip en hegtings van episiotomies en skeure, 'n eenvorminge klassifikasiesisteem van perineale trauma asook 'n stelsel van evaluering van geregistreerde vroedvroue se bevoegdheid.

Thesis (MCur)--University of Stellenbosch, 2011. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: This research was an attempt to investigate the role of the doula during labour and the promotion of natural childbirth as well as the assessment of the effect of the presence of the doula during natural childbirth. There has been a shift from home-based deliveries to hospital-based deliveries, which does not sufficiently provide for optimal care and emotional support to the women during labour. The registered midwives in the maternity units in Port Elizabeth in the Eastern Cape region in both private and public hospitals displayed some reluctance in using the doulas during labour. The design for this study utilised a quantitative approach which is non-experimental, explorative, descriptive and contextual in nature. The data -collection method used was only the statistical data from the registered midwives’ questionnaire designed as per the format from the University of Stellenbosch. Research ethics implemented were confidentiality, informed consent, privacy, protection, information and debriefing. Validity and reliability had to be observed on this study as it was observed that the content of the study had to be closely related to what was measured, as well as consistency of the data –gathering instrument in obtaining the same results in similar situations The study took place at the Port Elizabeth Maternity Units in the Eastern Cape with registered midwives (40 in the Public Sector and 45 in the Private Sector),and 45 in the private sector of the maternity units of the selected hospitals. The results of this study and the interpretation thereof assisted the researcher to confirm that there was indeed a great need for the doulas during natural childbirth in the maternity units in the public sector, where there is a shortage of registered midwives and care workers to attend to the basic needs of the patients. The value of the contributions of the doula to support and provide comfort measures to women during labour should not be underestimated; and registered midwives should be informed about the important role of the doula and how the doula can complement the obstetrical care rendered by the midwife. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Hierdie navorsingstudie is uitgevoer om die rol van die doula of kindergeboorte-begeleidster gedurende baring in die bevordering van natuurlike kindergeboorte asook die effek van die teenwoordigheid van laasgenoemde te ondersoek. Die klem het verskuif van tuisbevallings na hospitaal- bevallings. Hierdie tendens het veroorsaak dat daar nie genoeg voorsiening gemaak word vir versorging en emosionele ondesteuning nie. Die geregistreede vroedvroue in die verlossings-eenhede in Port Elizabeth in die Oos-Kaapse streek, in beide openbare en private hospitale toon ‘n mate van onwilligheid om doulas tydens baring te benut, Die studie ontwerp is non-eksperimenteel, eksploratief, beskrywend en kontekstueel van aard, met ‘n kwantitatiewe benadering. In kwantitatiewe studies help die ontwerp, die navorser deur middel van prosedures om akkurate en interpreteerbare data te ontwikkel. Die studie is onderneem by die Port Elizabeth se Verloskunde-eenhede in die Oos-Kaap. In hierdie hospitale is daar 40 geregistreerde vroedvroue in die Openbare- en 45 in die Privaatsektor. Die resultate van hierdie studie en die interpretasie daarvan het die navorser gehelp om te bevestig dat daar inderdaad ‘n groot behoefte bestaan vir die bydraes van kindergeboortbegeleidsterss en veral in die openbare sektor waar daar groot tekorte aan geregistreerde vroedvroue voorkom en nie genoeg personeel is om in die basiese behoeftes van die pasiënte te voorsien nie. Die waarde van die bydraes van doulas om ondersteuning en bemoedigingsmaatreëls vir die vrou tydens baring te voorsien moet nie onderskat word nie; en geregistreerde vroedvroue behoort bewus gemaak te word van die belangrike rol van die doula en hoe die doula die obstetriese sorglewering van die pasient kan komplementeer.

The purpose of this research was to test the predicted relationships among a component of nurse-midwifery care, psychosocial health outcomes and other maternal psychosocial variables. The theoretical framework for the research was the Intrapartum Care Level of the Nurse-Midwifery Practice Model, a middle range theory. Previous nurse-midwifery research had been based on theories and models not specific to nurse-midwifery practice. A nonexperimental, correlational design was used, with measures in the last trimester of pregnancy and the first month following birth. The psychosocial variables measured were prenatal care satisfaction, personable environment, positive presence, labor support, transcendence, labor satisfaction and enhanced self-concept. Purposive sampling was used at a birth center in a Southwestern city where women received nurse-midwifery care for pregnancy, labor and birth. The sample of 89 women consisted of 35 primiparas and 54 multiparas, with a mean age of 29 years; 46.1% gave birth at the birth center and 53.9% gave birth at a local hospital. The primary instruments for the research included the Prenatal Satisfaction Questionnaire, the Attitude Toward Issues in Choice of Childbirth Scale, the Positive Presence Index, the Labor and Birth Support Inventory, the Coping in Labor and Delivery Scale, the Labor and Delivery Satisfaction Questionnaire, and the Self-Confidence Scale of the Adjective Check List. The secondary instruments, used for the evaluation of construct validity, included the Positive Presence Index - Alternate Format, the Labor and Birth Coping Index, the Labor and Birth Satisfaction Index, and the Self-Concept Index - Alternate Format. Acceptable levels of reliability and validity were obtained for the instruments. The predicted relationships from the Model were tested with causal analysis using multiple regression and residual analysis. The empirical rather than the theoretical model was supported by the data. Prenatal care satisfaction, personable environment, positive presence and transcendence explained 66% of the variance in labor satisfaction, with an additional 2% explained variance with the addition of the situational variable of consultation. Positive presence had the greatest direct effect (B =.70) and also explained 5% of the variance in enhanced self-concept. The empirically significant relationships were clinically relevant.

This thesis aimed to study the actual and perceived quality of midwifery practices during childbirth at peripheral and central health care levels in two low-income countries, Angola (I-III) and Mozambique (IV-V). Theoretical models interpreting women's and midwives' views have been developed. Objectives: Study I evaluates midwives' use of an adapted model of the World Health Organization's partograph, a tool used to monitor the progress of labour. Study II describes midwives experiences of working without immediate medical assistance. Study III explores women's perceptions of care-seeking behaviour during childbirth. Study IV observes perinatal midwifery care routines and examine partograph documentation. Study V explores and develops a theoretical understanding of factors perceived to obstruct or facilitate midwives ability to provide quality of perinatal care. Methods: Study I: A one-group pre-and post-test interventional evaluation of 100 partographs from one peripheral delivery unit. Study II: Semi structured interviews with eleven midwives, analysed in a qualitative process comprising six steps. Study III. Ten focus group discussions with pregnant and non-pregnant women, analysed using the grounded theory technique. Study IV. Pre-and post intervention observation of midwifery care of 702 vs. 616 women during delivery and examination of the partographs. Study V: In-depth interviews with 16 midwives, analysed using grounded theory technique. Educational interventions were designed and applied in study II and IV. Results: Study I. Significant improvement of documenting was found in seven of the ten variables and more partographs were correctly documented in sample II compared to sample I. Missed transfers increased, however, in sample II. Study II: The midwives experiences were sorted under four main areas: (1) Society/culture (2) Significant Others (3) Personal Self (4) Professional Self. Confidence was felt in the role as autonomous midwives but dependency on various factors such as the partograph, a functional referral system, peer support, community trust and continuous supervision was emphasised. Socio-economic hardships were identified as major stress factors for themselves and the women. Study III: Women seemed compelled to "mould" their care seeking behaviour and four patterns, two 'avoiding' and two 'approaching' institutional care were identified. The salient features of each pattern were found to be "personal courage", [B1]"disempowerment", "discarding traditional practices" and "awareness and emancipation". Study IV. No improvements were found in quality of care following the intervention. Common problems proved to be hypothermia and rare initiation of the graphic part of the partograph, which monitors progress of labour. Study V. A process labelled "changing perinatal care management" emerged, which comprised four dimensions addressing aspects related to i) existing environment ii) midwives' interaction with women in labour, iii) midwifery profession and iv) caring technology in order to improve quality of care. Communication and collaboration were identified as change agents. Conclusions: The findings in this thesis indicate that midwives' ability to provide quality of maternal and perinatal care in lowincome and post-war affected countries is restricted by organizational, structural, educational as well as attitudinal aspects. Women in need of assistance during childbirth are negatively affected as a consequence of midwives reaction to the various constraints, which at times (Luanda) seems to oblige adverse care seeking behaviour. Midwives recognises the need for change, but change is found to be a slow and complex process, which requires engagement by all levels of the care chain. A model suggesting how to achieve quality of maternal and perinatal care in Safe Motherhood context is presented.

Bakgrund: Prehospitala förlossningar är en sällsynt förekommande händelse, men när så sker är ambulanssjuksköterskor med i 90 % av fallen. Ambulanssjuksköterskor har en begränsad utbildning i förlossningssjukvård och samarbete med barnmorskor förekommer på olika sätt. Syfte: Att beskriva ambulanssjuksköterskors och barnmorskors upplevelse av samarbetet i samband med prehospitala förlossningar. Metod: En kvalitativ studie gjordes vid tre ambulansstationer och två förlossningskliniker. Studien genomfördes genom semistrukturerade intervjuer med totalt 7 sjuksköterskor i ambulans som vid ett eller flera tillfällen samarbetat med barnmorska vid prehospital förlossning samt 6 barnmorskor som vid ett eller flera tillfällen på något sätt varit behjälplig till ambulanssjuksköterska vid prehospital förlossning. Intervjuerna spelades in, transkriberades och analyserades med kvalitativ tematisk innehållsanalys. Resultat: Analysen resulterade i två teman med tre kategorier i varje. Första temat var Att samarbete och respekt med patientfokus ger trygghet i ovan situation och kategorierna i temat var; Att samarbeta för föräldrarnas bästa, Att ha respekt för varandras professioner och kunskap och Att känna trygghet. Det andra temat var Att se utvecklingsmöjligheter för ökad kunskap och bättre förutsättningar för samarbete med följande kategorier; Att ha behov av kunskap om förlossning och en vilja att förmedla den, Att ha behov av rutiner och riktlinjer och Att ha behov av teknisk utveckling. Slutsats: Både ambulanssjuksköterskorna och barnmorskorna är positiva till samarbete och vill utveckla detta. Ambulanssjuksköterskorna upplever trygghet och ett stöd i samarbetet med barnmorskorna och vill lära sig mer om förlossningsvård. Barnmorskorna är förstående och vill finnas till hands för ambulanssjuksköterskorna och de välkomnar hospitering. Forskningsimplikationer: I studien beskrivs långa avstånd till förlossningsklinik, relaterat till centralisering. Det framkommer också om förändring av utrustning i ambulanserna. Det skulle behövas mer forskning kring hur detta påverkar upplevelsen för ambulans-sjuksköterskorna, upplevelsen för den födande kvinnan och hur detta påverkar säkerheten för förlossningsvården.