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No / Current literature has indicated a concern about standards of maternity care experienced by pregnant women who are seeking asylum. As the next generation of midwives, it is important that students are educated in a way that prepares them to effectively care for these women. To understand how this can be achieved, it is important to explore what asylum seeking means to midwifery students. This article is the first of three parts and reports on one objective from a wider doctorate study. It identifies dominant discourses that influenced the perceptions of a group of midwifery students' about the pregnant asylum seeking woman. The study was designed from a social constructivist perspective, with contextual knowledge being constructed by groups of people, influenced by underpinning dominant discourses, depending on their social, cultural and historical positions in the world. In a United Kingdom University setting, during year two of a pre-registration midwifery programme, eleven midwifery students participated in the study. Two focus group interviews using a problem based learning scenario as a trigger for discussion were conducted. In addition, three students were individually interviewed to explore issues in more depth and two students' written reflections on practice were used to generate data. Following a critical discourse analysis, dominant discourses were identified which appeared to influence the way in which asylum seekers were perceived. The findings suggested an underpinning ideology around the asylum seeker being different and of a criminal persuasion. Although the pregnant woman seeking asylum was considered as deserving of care, the same discourses appeared to influence the way in which she was constructed. However, as the study progressed, through reading alternative sources of literature, some students appeared to question these discourses. These findings have implications for midwifery education in encouraging students to challenge negative discourses and construct positive perceptions of asylum seeking.

The purpose of this study was to analyse and describe the factors that influence the choice of site of delivery by pregnant women in Mukono district. By employing quantitative, non experimental research methods, 431 women were interviewed by using structured questionnaires. These women had either delivered at; home, TBA, private or public clinic and 72% had been delivered by skilled attendants. Choice of delivery site was influenced by the attitudes of health workers which were rather poor in public sites, proximity of site, attendance of antenatal clinic at a site, availability of supplies and drugs, plus level of care including emergency obstetric care. / Health Studies / M. A. (Public Health)

The study was conducted to describe how socio-economic characteristics (SEC) of women affect their utilization of maternal healthcare services in Abuja Municipal Areas Council (AMAC) in Abuja Nigeria. A non-experimental, facility-based cross-sectional survey was done. Data was collected using structured interviewer administered questionnaire in 5 district hospitals in AMAC. Sample size of 384 was calculated a priori based on the assumption that 50% of the target population utilized maternal healthcare services during their last pregnancy. Equal allocation of samples per facility was done. The ANC register was used as the sampling frame and proportionate allocation of samples per clinic days was undertaken in each facility. Data analysis included descriptive statistics, cross tabulations and measures of inequality. Logistic regression analysis was used to test the hypothesized relationship between socioeconomic characteristics (predictors) and maternal healthcare service utilization. Other than birth order that showed consistent effect, the results of this study indicated that the predictive effect (predisposing and enabling factors) of the SEC of women included in this study (age, education, birth order, location of residence, income group and coverage by health insurance) on maternal healthcare service utilization were not consistent when considered independently (bivariate analysis) as opposed to when considered together through logistic regression. In addition, the study revealed that there was inequality in the utilization of maternal healthcare services (ante-natal care - ANC, delivery care and post natal care - PNC, and contraceptive services) among women with different SEC, and the payment system for maternal healthcare services was regressive. Addressing these predictors in the natural co-existing state (as indicated by the logistic regression) is essential for equitable access and utilization of healthcare during pregnancy, delivery and the postnatal period, and for contraceptive services in AMAC, Abuja Nigeria. Targeted policy measures and programme actions guided by these findings are recommended to optimise returns on investment towards achieving national and global goals on maternal health in Nigeria / Health Studies / D. Litt. et Phil. (Health Studies)

Os objetivos deste estudo foram correlacionar o tipo de lesão valvar mitral com eventos maternos e neonatais. É um estudo retrospectivo, observacional, realizado na Clínica Obstétrica do Hospital das Clínicas da Faculdade de Medicina de São Paulo. Foram coletados dados de 117 gestações em 111 mulheres com valvopatia mitral e 117 recém-nascidos resultantes destas gestações. No grupo estudado, foram observados 71 casos de gestantes portadoras de insuficiência mitral e 46 casos de gestantes portadoras de estenose mitral e seus 117 recém-natos. O tipo de lesão valvar, a estenose mitral, esteve significantemente relacionado piores classes funcionais (com predominância de CF III/IV), a maior necessidade de uso de medicamentos cardiovasculares, à maior freqüência de internação para compensação do quadro cardíaco, a maiores índices de parto cesárea, a menor média ponderal ao nascimento e a maior incidência de RNs pequenos para idade gestacional. Entretanto, a lesão valvar predominante não influiu com relevância estatística quanto à presença de complicações obstétricas, presença de co-morbidades clínicas, a complicações fetais, índice de Apgar < 7, e necessidade de UTI neonatal. A presença de valvopatia mitral na gravidez, principalmente a estenose mitral, acompanha-se de riscos maternos e perinatais / PURPOSE: To evaluate the maternal (clinical e obstetrical) and perinatal events related to the predominant valvar lesion in pregnant women with mitral valve disease. This is a Observational and retrospective study of 117 pregnancies in 111 patients with mitral disease, followed in a single tertiary center from January 2004 until August 2008. Clinical and obstetrical data were reviewed and analyzed according to the main type of valvar lesion (stenosis or insufficiency). The statistical analysis of the results was performed by chi-square test, Fishers exact test, and Mann-Whitney test. Among the 117 pregnancies (and neonates), there were 71 cases of predominant mitral regurgitation (MR group) and 46 with predominant mitral stenosis. The MS group presented more severe heart failure symptoms (functional class III and IV) during pregnancy, received more cardiovascular drugs and needed more hospital admissions due to cardiac reasons . Concerning perinatal events, MS presented higher rates of cesarean sections, smaller birthweight and higher incidence of SGA (small for gestational age, babies. Nevertheless, the predominant valvar lesion was not significantly related to other clinical co-morbidities, obstetrical or perinatal complications. Mitral valve disease in pregnancy is related to clinical and perinatal events, especially in patients with predominant mitral stenosis

The study was conducted to describe how socio-economic characteristics (SEC) of women affect their utilization of maternal healthcare services in Abuja Municipal Areas Council (AMAC) in Abuja Nigeria. A non-experimental, facility-based cross-sectional survey was done. Data was collected using structured interviewer administered questionnaire in 5 district hospitals in AMAC. Sample size of 384 was calculated a priori based on the assumption that 50% of the target population utilized maternal healthcare services during their last pregnancy. Equal allocation of samples per facility was done. The ANC register was used as the sampling frame and proportionate allocation of samples per clinic days was undertaken in each facility. Data analysis included descriptive statistics, cross tabulations and measures of inequality. Logistic regression analysis was used to test the hypothesized relationship between socioeconomic characteristics (predictors) and maternal healthcare service utilization. Other than birth order that showed consistent effect, the results of this study indicated that the predictive effect (predisposing and enabling factors) of the SEC of women included in this study (age, education, birth order, location of residence, income group and coverage by health insurance) on maternal healthcare service utilization were not consistent when considered independently (bivariate analysis) as opposed to when considered together through logistic regression. In addition, the study revealed that there was inequality in the utilization of maternal healthcare services (ante-natal care - ANC, delivery care and post natal care - PNC, and contraceptive services) among women with different SEC, and the payment system for maternal healthcare services was regressive. Addressing these predictors in the natural co-existing state (as indicated by the logistic regression) is essential for equitable access and utilization of healthcare during pregnancy, delivery and the postnatal period, and for contraceptive services in AMAC, Abuja Nigeria. Targeted policy measures and programme actions guided by these findings are recommended to optimise returns on investment towards achieving national and global goals on maternal health in Nigeria / Health Studies / D. Litt. et Phil. (Health Studies)

Os objetivos deste estudo foram correlacionar o tipo de lesão valvar mitral com eventos maternos e neonatais. É um estudo retrospectivo, observacional, realizado na Clínica Obstétrica do Hospital das Clínicas da Faculdade de Medicina de São Paulo. Foram coletados dados de 117 gestações em 111 mulheres com valvopatia mitral e 117 recém-nascidos resultantes destas gestações. No grupo estudado, foram observados 71 casos de gestantes portadoras de insuficiência mitral e 46 casos de gestantes portadoras de estenose mitral e seus 117 recém-natos. O tipo de lesão valvar, a estenose mitral, esteve significantemente relacionado piores classes funcionais (com predominância de CF III/IV), a maior necessidade de uso de medicamentos cardiovasculares, à maior freqüência de internação para compensação do quadro cardíaco, a maiores índices de parto cesárea, a menor média ponderal ao nascimento e a maior incidência de RNs pequenos para idade gestacional. Entretanto, a lesão valvar predominante não influiu com relevância estatística quanto à presença de complicações obstétricas, presença de co-morbidades clínicas, a complicações fetais, índice de Apgar < 7, e necessidade de UTI neonatal. A presença de valvopatia mitral na gravidez, principalmente a estenose mitral, acompanha-se de riscos maternos e perinatais / PURPOSE: To evaluate the maternal (clinical e obstetrical) and perinatal events related to the predominant valvar lesion in pregnant women with mitral valve disease. This is a Observational and retrospective study of 117 pregnancies in 111 patients with mitral disease, followed in a single tertiary center from January 2004 until August 2008. Clinical and obstetrical data were reviewed and analyzed according to the main type of valvar lesion (stenosis or insufficiency). The statistical analysis of the results was performed by chi-square test, Fishers exact test, and Mann-Whitney test. Among the 117 pregnancies (and neonates), there were 71 cases of predominant mitral regurgitation (MR group) and 46 with predominant mitral stenosis. The MS group presented more severe heart failure symptoms (functional class III and IV) during pregnancy, received more cardiovascular drugs and needed more hospital admissions due to cardiac reasons . Concerning perinatal events, MS presented higher rates of cesarean sections, smaller birthweight and higher incidence of SGA (small for gestational age, babies. Nevertheless, the predominant valvar lesion was not significantly related to other clinical co-morbidities, obstetrical or perinatal complications. Mitral valve disease in pregnancy is related to clinical and perinatal events, especially in patients with predominant mitral stenosis

The purpose of this study was to analyse and describe the factors that influence the choice of site of delivery by pregnant women in Mukono district. By employing quantitative, non experimental research methods, 431 women were interviewed by using structured questionnaires. These women had either delivered at; home, TBA, private or public clinic and 72% had been delivered by skilled attendants. Choice of delivery site was influenced by the attitudes of health workers which were rather poor in public sites, proximity of site, attendance of antenatal clinic at a site, availability of supplies and drugs, plus level of care including emergency obstetric care. / Health Studies / M. A. (Public Health)

This study examined the impact and extent to which drugs and alcohol, consumed by mothers prenatally and perinatally, has affected their capacity to attach to their children. It examined the role the dependent variables measured (i.e. drug(s)/substance(s) abused, demographic information) played in the attachment process. Data was collected from mothers currently participating in the perinatal substance abuse treatment at the San Bernardino County Rialto program.

The introduction of abortion legalisation in South Africa during 1997 gave rise to the need for pre- and post-abortion counselling. Two dominant counselling groups came to the fore namely pro-choice and pro-life, reflecting the respective stances of society on abortion. In order to answer the following research questions: "What value-challenges do abortion counsellors experience, if any?" and "What ways have they found in negotiating these challenges?" A narrative conversation was used to come to an understanding of these research questions in practice. Research was undertaken with counsellors from both pro-life and pro-choice stances. The influence of capitalism, patriarchy and religion on role players confronted with making decisions on abortion was explored. Pro-choice counsellors negotiated their values in terms of forgiveness based on the unconditional forgiveness they would expect from God and pro-life counsellors in terms of God's forgiveness for the client, accepting her own responsibility for the consequences of the abortion. / Practical Theology / M. Th. (Pastoral Therapy)