Breastfeeding has health benefits for mothers and babies. An action research project was undertaken to improve knowledge of breastfeeding and implement evidence based practice, that of uninterrupted skin-to-skin contact between mother and baby at birth. The beliefs underpinning the project were informed by critical inquiry, dialectics and feminist theory. Data was collected by means of field notes, participant observation, focus groups and semi- structured interviews. Analysis during the project using critical reflection was ongoing and collaborative, feeding back into the action research cycles, so guiding the changes. Before successful change in practice can occur, practitioners need to be convinced of its value, involved in the change process and facilitated to incorporate it into practice. Hospitals tend to reinforce the power of professionals by their adherence to historical routines and institutionalised practices which lead to compliance thus hindering change. The strategic use of power by midwives was apparent, constructing people's world view, thus reinforcing the power structure. Empowerment of women and midwives was necessary to the success of the project by education, support, role modelling, strategies for remembering and the active participation of midwives. Theories of change were used to illuminate challenging issues from the project. Early contact between mother and baby at birth is an area generating a large volume of literature. Skin-to-skin contact was disrupted by technology, time limits and the social norm of separation. Interviews with women and midwives allowed a deeper insight into the experience of skin-to-skin contact, giving more value to the change. Further issues to emerge were the implications of separation, the social construction of time, embodied praxis and love. Recommendations are made for the more effective action research approach to implementing change, and personal empowerment as the basis for improving the experience of birth.

Single motherhood has become increasingly common and yet very little research examines how women themselves experience the transition into single motherhood, thus their life stories remain largely unchronicled. This study explores the lived experience of transition from motherhood within a married or co-habiting couple to single motherhood for professional working mothers. The study is idiographic and qualitative and it is grounded in the detailed accounts of individual women going through the transition, prioritising their own view of the experience. Six professional women took part in semi structured interviews, and interpretative phenomenological analysis was employed to analyse the material. Three superordinate themes were identified; the first highlighted the emotional turmoil the women experienced , in the initial phase of transition, in relation to personal, familial and social consequences that divorce might have on them and their children. The second theme detailed the women's actual experiences of these consequences and their effects following divorce, with the most notable finding being that the women concurrently held ambivalent or conflicting feelings about their experience. The third superordinate theme pertained to the social stigma and stereotyping that the women encountered throughout the transitional process. Existing literature on life transitions, motherhood and single motherhood was used in order to discuss the findings. The findings revealed that after a great deal of emotional struggle women satisfactorily negotiated and adapted to their new single mother status. The outcome of this study has implementations for clinical work with professional women as it highlights the benefits of allowing them to become aware of and examine the possible transitions that might arise from ambivalent feelings as they make the transition from married to single motherhood.

Background: Kangaroo Mother Care (KMC) is defined as skin-to-skin contact between a mother and her newborn baby, frequent and exclusive or nearly exclusive breastfeeding and early discharge from hospital. This concept was proposed as an alternative to conventional methods of care for low birth weight (LBW) infants, and in response to problems of serious overcrowding in neonatal intensive care units (NICUs). KMC essentially uses the mother as a natural incubator. According to this principle, LBW babies are placed to the mother’s chest in an upright position, where maternal body heat can help control the baby’s body temperature. Although widely used in some parts of the world, this practice is not the norm in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA). Aim: The aim was to assess the feasibility and acceptability of running a randomised controlled trial (RCT) to evaluate the effectiveness of KMC in LBW infants in KSA.Study Design: A pilot RCT with supportive qualitative interviews was conducted, underpinned by a post-positivist approach.Methods: This was a mixed methods study. Quantitative methods were used to measure the effectiveness of KMC, and qualitative methods were used to explore women’s and nurses’ experiences of a) KMC and b) trial processes. The study took place in two urban hospitals in Jeddah, KSA. Ethical approval was gained, and data were collected between March and May 2011.The quantitative element comprised a two-group, individually randomised controlled pilot trial with 20 mothers-and-babies per group. The randomisation sequence was computer-generated, and participants were randomised using consecutively numbered, sealed, opaque envelopes. Data were collected using routinely collected case records, specifically designed clinical data sheets and two questionnaires (validated maternal bonding scale and maternal breastfeeding experience questionnaire). For the latter questionnaire, the design was informed by an expectation-fulfilment model. The qualitative element comprised semi-structured interviews, within 48 hours of birth, with a sample of 20 mothers who participated in the pilot RCT and 12 nurses who were attending these mothers. All 40 mothers were also telephoned when their babies were 6 months old to ascertain their feeding method and exclusivity of feeding.Quantitative data were managed using SPSS and analysed descriptively to estimate confidence intervals and effect sizes. Statistical tests and regression models were used to explore associations with potential outcome measures, with findings interpreted with caution as hypothesis-generating rather than hypothesis-confirming, given the small sample size. Qualitative data were analysed manually, using the Framework Approach.Results: The pilot study confirmed that trial processes were efficient, the intervention was acceptable (to mothers and nurses) and that the outcome measures were appropriate; the percentage of women exclusively breastfeeding at 6 months was identified as the most appropriate primary outcome. A large scale trial of KMC would be feasible and acceptable in KSA. However, issues relating to religious and organisational culture would need to be resolved, including improving privacy in the NICU, addressing language issues arising from transcultural nursing and engaging with male partners. A unique finding was the effect of KSA culture on women’s mobility and the impact that this had on their ability to carry out KMC if they were personally discharged but their baby remained in the NICU. Conclusion: A large scale RCT comparing KMC with standard care in KSA is feasible, acceptable and recommended. However, prior to progressing to a large scale study, a thorough planning stage is necessary which considers cultural practices and ward environment. The understandings gained from this research will be transferable to other research within similar settings

Motherhood has been described as an identity, a role, and a way of participating in life (Arendell, 2000; Farber, 2004). Motherhood has also been described as 'work', the care taking, nurturing and teaching of children (Francis-Connolly, 2000). Mothers with arthritis have reported difficulty in the tasks of parenting and household work (Allaire et al., 1991; Backman, Kennedy, Chalmers & Singer, 2004; Barlow, Cullen, Foster, Harrison & Wade, 1999; Grant, Cullen & Barlow, 2000; Reisine, Grady, Goodenow & Fifield, 1998), however, we know little about how a mother experiences these challenges. While the subjective experience of being a mother and having a disability is intrinsically linked to participation, health and social interaction (Farber, 2004), research has not been conducted on how mothers with arthritis experience mothering in the presence of arthritis, and how this experience affects their participation, identity and social interaction. This narrative research study asks "How is being a mother and doing motherhood activities affected by your arthritis?" Study objectives include: 1) Describe mothers' experiences of nurturing, teaching and caring for their children. 2) Describe how mothers understand and explain the effect of arthritis on their role of mother. 3) Describe whether or not this understanding changes how mothers participate and interact in their community. Narrative inquiry was used to explore the experiences of eight married mothers with inflammatory arthritis who have at least one child (aged 0-18) living at home. Purposive sampling allowed representation of families from different communities, with children of different ages. Data collection included two in-depth interviews, participant observation, document review, and fine art painting. Data was coded and analyzed using narrative inquiry techniques (Coffey & Atkinson, 1996; Riessman, 1993; Sandelowski, 1991). Overarching storylines are presented as narratives that describe the mother's experiences of identifying with the role of mother, participation, fatigue and the social context in which mothering occurs. This study contributes to the sparse body of literature on the impact of arthritis on participation in maternal practices and social interaction, informing health professionals about the experience of mothering with arthritis. / Medicine, Faculty of / Graduate

A thesis submitted to the Faculty of Arts in fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Arts in the Department of African Languages at the University of Zululand, South Africa, 2014 / This research reveals the need of using the mother-tongue in teaching of all subjects as the medium of instruction, especially to the learners from the African communities. Here it is recommended that English be taught for communication. Chapter one introduces the entire research, its aims, problem of language usage, meaning of words, and the research methods. In addition to that it gives the ideas of different writers and the people that are going to benefit from the research. It also displays the outline of chapters and the conclusion. Chapter two focusses on the language usage in the classroom, community and how the eThekwini Municipality communicates with its community through letters. It also reveals the history of isiZulu language. Chapter three displays the language usage in Parliament, how do the educators teach the mother-tongue at schools? The impact of the Western languages due to the ruling party and how that can be balanced. The selection and codification of words in the written documents of the government has an impact of the indigenous people to lose their mother-tongue. Chapter four reveals the fact of richness of mother-tongue because it displays its proverbs and idioms. That promotes the culture of that particular nation. The focus is on the correct usage of the language. Chapter five displays the languages that are commonly used in Social Development Department, Court, KwaMsane Clinic, Ithala Bank, Richards Bay Hospital and Mtubatuba Municipality. Information to support the research was obtained from the questionnaire. Chapter six focusses on the findings, recommendations and conclusion of the entire work done.

Investigations of caregiver-infant interaction have increasingly suggested a three pronged thesis about its structure, development and function: a) that such interactions conform to a hierarchically organized, rule governed exchange of message carrying displays (e.g., Stern et al., 1977; Tronick et al., 1979); b) that such exchanges evolve over time "shifting from a prominently biosocial to a more clearly psychosocial level" (Sander, 1977); and c) that it is within the ontogeny of this exchange that the precursors of adult communication are found (Kaye, 1977, 1979; Sander, 1977; Tronick et al., 1979). A central hypothesis of the first prong of this thesis is that caregiver displays which convey contradictory messages violate the rules governing the exchange and that such violations produce negative affect and disturbance in the infant. The goal of this project is to test this hypothesis and alternative hypotheses by evaluating the infants 1 response to simulated maternal depression using appropriate sequential analyses- This display presents the infant with powerful contradictory messages, and sequential analyses produce powerful descriptions of the quality of the infant's response to it

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A mosaic of past and present, mother and daughter, body and spirit: A Kind of Ghost inhabits memory and imagined spaces, haunting and begging to be remembered.

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