Women’s procreative capacities and the appreciation of birth experiences have always been recognised in civil society and the early days of psychology. Given that our culture is one that emphasises a woman’s capacity to bear children as one of the greatest social achievements, the social responsibility to procreate and ensure collective survival becomes a potent mandate, especially so for Black African women. To fulfil this social responsibility, traditional African culture dictates a very specific process of pregnancy which involves a series of watershed moments, each of which requires that social support, of whatever form, should be available. This study explored the role that social support from significant others and health professionals play in mediating psychological issues during pregnancy, childbirth and postnatally among Black African women in Madadeni Township in KwaZulu-Natal. The study was rooted in the interpretive, qualitative paradigm and a phenomenological research design was used. Purposive sampling was used to select participants who were aged from 18 to 25 years with a baby older than two weeks but less than six months. Semi structured interviews were conducted in the mother tongue of the participants until the point of saturation where no new information arose from the six participants interviewed. Thematic content analysis was used to extract recurrent themes across participants. The results indicate that social support, especially from parents and partners, plays a defining role in helping women to cope with the stress experienced during pregnancy, childbirth and postnatally. / Psychology / M.A. (Psychology: Research Consultation)

Women’s procreative capacities and the appreciation of birth experiences have always been recognised in civil society and the early days of psychology. Given that our culture is one that emphasises a woman’s capacity to bear children as one of the greatest social achievements, the social responsibility to procreate and ensure collective survival becomes a potent mandate, especially so for Black African women. To fulfil this social responsibility, traditional African culture dictates a very specific process of pregnancy which involves a series of watershed moments, each of which requires that social support, of whatever form, should be available. This study explored the role that social support from significant others and health professionals play in mediating psychological issues during pregnancy, childbirth and postnatally among Black African women in Madadeni Township in KwaZulu-Natal. The study was rooted in the interpretive, qualitative paradigm and a phenomenological research design was used. Purposive sampling was used to select participants who were aged from 18 to 25 years with a baby older than two weeks but less than six months. Semi structured interviews were conducted in the mother tongue of the participants until the point of saturation where no new information arose from the six participants interviewed. Thematic content analysis was used to extract recurrent themes across participants. The results indicate that social support, especially from parents and partners, plays a defining role in helping women to cope with the stress experienced during pregnancy, childbirth and postnatally. / Psychology / M. A. (Psychology: Research Consultation)

The aim of this research was to support new mothers in groups, so that they can function optimally as educators. During the research mothers with babies up to three months of age were used by means of a support group. This research project was done after it became evident from a literature study that new mothers suffered with unique problems during this adaption phase. In the empirical survey the researcher gave attention to the new mothers' specific needs and problems during this trimester. The researcher aimed to explore the experiences of the new mother as educator through weekly group sessions. From the results it was clear that there was a need of support from other mothers that is going through the same experiences. In this way new mothers could receive emotional support and obtain knowledge regarding relevant issues experienced during this unique life phase. / Educational Studies / M. Ed. (Guidance and Counselling)

Background: Brazil has high frequency of inappropriate obstetric practices and cesarean sections. This procedure may be associated with increased maternal and perinatal morbidity. Objective: to describe practices and interventions used during labor and childbirth and factors associated with such practices and to evaluate the impact of mode of delivery in breastfeeding incentive practices and in neonatal and maternal complications. Methods: A Cohort study was conducted, between june 2015 and april 2017, at the 11 maternity hospitals in Sergipe with 768 puerperal women, interviewed in the first 24 hours after delivery, 45-60 days and 6-8 months after delivery. The associations between good practices and interventions used during labor and delivery with exposure variables were described by simple frequencies, percentages, crude and adjusted odds ratios (ORA) with the confidence interval and the association between breastfeeding incentive practices, neonatal and maternal, both short term and late complications and the exposure variables were evaluated by the relative risk (95% IC) and the Fisher exact test. Results: were fed 10.6% of women and 27.8% moved during labor; non-pharmacological measures for pain relief were performed in 26.1%; the partograph was filled in 39.4% of the charts and the companion was present in 40.6% of deliveries. Oxytocin, amniotomy and analgesia occurred in 59.1%, 49.3% and 4.2% of women, respectively. The delivery occurred in the lithotomy position in 95.2% of the cases, there was episiotomy in 43.9% and Kristeller's maneuver in 31.7%. The factors most associated with cesarean section were the private health sector (ORA = 4.27,95% CI: 2.44-7.47), had higher education (ORA = 4.54,95%CI 2.56 -8.3) and high obstetric risk (ORA = 1.9,95%CI: 1.31-2.74). Private-sector users had a greater presence of the companion (ORA = 2.12,95% CI:1.18-3.79) and analgesia (ORA = 4.96,95% CI:1.7-14.5). The C-section delivery resulted in less skin-to-skin contact immediately after delivery (intrapartum c-section: RR=0.18;95%CI:0.1-0.31 and elective c-section: RR=0.36;95%CI:0.27-0.47) and less breastfeeding within one hour of birth (intrapartum C-section: RR=0.43;95%CI:0.29-0.63 and elective C-section: RR=0.44;95%CI:0.33-0.59). Newborns from elective c-section were less frequently breastfed in the delivery room (RR=0.42;95%CI:0.2-0.88) and stayed less in rooming- in (RR=0.85;95%CI:0.77-0.95). Women who were submitted to intrapartum c-section had greater risk of early complications (RR=1.3;95%CI:1.04-1.64; p=0.037) and sexual dysfunction (RR=1.68;95%CI:1.14-2.48; p=0.027). There was no difference in the frequency of neonatal complications, urinary incontinence and depression according to the mode of delivery. Conclusions: good obstetric practices are poorly performed and unnecessary interventions are frequent, and the factors most associated with cesarean delivery have been the private health sector, higher schooling and high obstetric risk. C-section was negatively associated to breastfeeding incentive practices. C-section after labor increased the risk of early maternal complications and sexual dysfunction, six to eight months after delivery. / Introdução: No Brasil, verifica-se elevada frequência de práticas obstétricas inadequadas e de cesáreas. Este procedimento pode associar-se a aumento de risco de morbidade materna e neonatal. Objetivo: descrever as práticas utilizadas durante o trabalho de parto e parto e fatores associados e avaliar práticas de incentivo à amamentação, complicações neonatais e maternas precoces e tardias segundo tipo de parto. Pacientes e Métodos: estudo tipo coorte, no período de junho de 2015 a abril e 2016, nas 11 maternidades de Sergipe, com 768 puérperas entrevistadas após 6h do parto, 45 a 60 dias e 6 a 8 meses após o parto e análise de dados do prontuário das puérperas e dos recém-nascidos. As associações entre as boas práticas e intervenções utilizadas durante o trabalho de parto e parto com as variáveis de exposição foram descritas em frequências simples, percentuais, razões de chances brutas (OR) e ajustadas (ORA) com o intervalo de confiança e as associações entre as práticas de incentivo à amamentação, as complicações neonatais e maternas precoces e tardias e as variáveis de exposição foram descrias por risco relativo (IC=95%) e pelo teste exato de Fisher. Resultados: alimentaram-se 10,6% das mulheres e 27,8% movimentaram-se durante o trabalho de parto; medidas não farmacológicas para alívio da dor foram realizadas em 26,1%; o partograma estava preenchido em 39,4% dos prontuários e o acompanhante esteve presente em 40,6% dos partos. Ocitocina, amniotomia e analgesia ocorreram em 59,1%, 49,3% e 4,2% das mulheres, respectivamente. O parto ocorreu na posição de litotomia em 95,2% dos casos, houve episiotomia em 43,9% e manobra de Kristeller em 31,7%. Os fatores mais associados à cesárea foram ser do setor privado de saúde (ORA=4,27;95%CI:2,44-7,47), ter maior escolaridade (ORA=4,54;95%CI:2,56-8,3) e alto risco obstétrico (ORA=1,9;95%CI:1,31-2,74). Usuárias do setor privado tiveram maior presença do acompanhante (ORA=2,12;95%CI:1,18-3,79) e analgesia (ORA=4,96;95%CI: 1,7-14,5). Os recém-nascidos de puérperas que se submeteram a cesárea tiveram menor frequência de contato pele a pele com suas mães imediatamente após o parto (cesárea intraparto: RR=0,18;95%CI:0,1-0,31 e cesárea eletiva: RR=0,36;95%CI:0,27-0,47) e mamaram menos na primeira hora de vida (cesárea intraparto: RR=0,43;95%CI:0,29-0,63 e cesárea eletiva: RR=0,44; 95%CI:0,33-0,59). Recém-nascidos de cesárea eletiva foram menos frequentemente colocados para mamar na sala de parto (RR=0,42;95%CI:0,2-0,88) e ficaram em menor frequência em alojamento conjunto (RR=0,85;95%CI:0,77-0,95). As mulheres submetidas a cesárea intraparto tiveram maior risco de complicações precoces (RR=1,3;95%CI:1,04-1,64; p=0,037) e de disfunção sexual (RR=1,68;95%CI:1,14-2,48; p=0,027). Não houve diferença nas frequências de complicações neonatais, incontinência urinária e de depressão segundo tipo de parto. Conclusões: boas práticas obstétricas são pouco utilizadas e intervenções desnecessárias são frequentes e os fatores mais associados à operação cesariana foram ser do setor privado de saúde, ter maior escolaridade e alto risco obstétrico. A cesárea associou-se negativamente às práticas de incentivo à amamentação. A cesárea após trabalho de parto associou-se a maior risco de complicações maternas precoces e a disfunção sexual seis a oito meses pós-parto. / São Cristóvão, SE

Background: Antenatal Psychosocial Assessment (APA) has recently been introduced into routine antenatal care, but the ways in which maternity service providers assess and respond to maternal stress are subject of debate. There is a lack of consensus on the instrument(s) of choice and lack of evidence regarding appropriate interventions. Further, national guidelines have not kept apace with the conceptual shift from ‘postnatal depression’ to ‘perinatal anxiety and depression’. Adopting the Medical Research Council Complex Interventions Framework, the ARMS research aimed to inform the development of interventions that support women who are experiencing, or at risk of, mild-moderate mental health disorder in pregnancy. Methods: A mixed methods approach was adopted. In the quantitative element (Study Part 1) participants (n=191) completed a questionnaire when attending for their first formal antenatal appointment, using a procedure and materials that had been previously tested in a pilot study. Details including mental health assessment and referrals were obtained from their health records, following delivery. In the qualitative element (Study Part 2) a sub-sample of women (n=22) experiencing high levels of maternal stress took part in up to three serial in-depth interviews during pregnancy and the early postnatal period.Findings: Maternal stress was found to be common. Using the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) threshold of ≥10, approximately 1 in 4 women were classed as high depression (halving to 1 in 8 at the more conservative threshold of ≥13). Almost 1 in 3 women were classed as high anxiety, using the state scale of the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI-S, threshold ≥41), compared with 1 in 5 using the two-item GAD (threshold ≥3). Fewer than half of the women identified as high anxiety were identified by both measures. Factor analyses of the symptom measures were consistent with wider literature suggesting a three-item anxiety component of the EPDS; however, concurrent validation using regression analyses did not indicate that the EPDS could be used as an anxiety case finding instrument. Women reported that maternal stress had significant impact on their lives that may not be captured with existing clinical approaches. Women commonly found it difficult to self-assess severity of maternal stress and the assessment process could itself act as an intervention. The research provided the first validation of the depression case finding questions in UK clinical practice. The Whooley items completed in clinical practice identified only half of the possible cases identified by the EPDS, at both commonly adopted EPDS thresholds. Inclusion of the Arroll 'help' question as a criterion improved specificity of the assessment completed in clinical practice but substantially compromised sensitivity, missing 9 in 10 possible cases. Women’s mental health history and treatment history were similarly under-reported, particularly concerning anxiety. APA was introduced into routine clinical practice without attention to topics of relevance to women, context of disclosure or to provision of adequate resources for consistently responding to identified need. Women experiencing, or at risk of, mild-moderate disorder were thus usually ineligible for further support. Implications: Care pathways are needed that encompass both assessing and responding to maternal stress, where communication with health professionals, subsequent referral and management are addressed. The development, implementation and evaluation of low-cost resources embedded in such pathways are a priority and the research presented in the thesis offers a foundation on which to build.