Background: Skilled birth attendance, usually available by promoting childbirth at health care institutions in low-resource settings, is known to prevent maternal and neonatal morbidity and mortality. While institutional childbirths in India have increased at an exponential rate, the infrastructure, material and manpower resources to support this practice are lagging, raising concerns about the quality of childbirth services. Methodology: A mixed-method approach was used in this project: in-depth interviews with women (n= 13); and focus-group-discussions with the care providers (n=27) were conducted and analysed using Grounded Theory. A cross-sectional survey (n= 1004) assessed prevalence of Fear of Birth (FoB) and postnatal depressive symptoms (PND), along with satisfaction with childbirth services among women in the immediate postpartum period. Results: The system of cashless childbirth provided at the public health facilities, in the women’s experiences, came at the hidden cost of them having to make themselves subordinate to the offered services. The prevalence of FoB and PND was 13.1% and 17.1%, respectively, and these were significantly associated (p < 0.001). Among women with vaginal births (VB), 41.2% had experienced a perineal wound and 59% of them underwent repair without local anaesthesia. While the majority of the women were satisfied (VB 68.7%; Caesarean births 79.2%) with the services; women having VBs at Community Health Centres (nearly 81%) were more commonly satisfied compared to those at the District Hospitals (nearly 60%) (p < 0.001). From the care providers’ perspective, maintaining quality of childbirth services was like a balancing act between the realities of low-resource settings with stakeholders’ expectations. While the providers remained proud and committed; the challenges often left them fatigued, disillusioned, irritable and sceptical. Conclusion: There is a need to improve the sensitivity with which childbirth services are being delivered to women coming to public health facilities; as well as towards improving the care providers’ work conditions. Suboptimal birth experiences are associated with the women’s perinatal mental health and satisfaction, while perpetual work challenges may make the care providers frustrated and/or apathetic. Improving manpower resources could reduce work-stress in care providers and thereby improve childbirth processes.

Violence against women is a global public health problem as well as a violation against human rights. This descriptive cross-sectional quantitative study was conducted to investigate experience of violence among women who receive midwifery care for childbirth fear. Data were retrieved from 633 patient records. In addition, all obstetric clinics offering care for fear of childbirth in Sweden were asked via e-mail about routines with regard to violence. Response rate was 56 percent. The results showed that only 50 percent of pregnant women had been asked about violence as part of the medical history, despite the national recommendation that all pregnant women should be asked about the subject. Among women who received midwife-led counseling for childbirth fear, 34 percent had reported some form of violence during their lifetime. All obstetric clinics follow the recommendations of The National Board of Health and Welfare regarding the appropriate skills within the team, although supplementary courses taken by the midwives at the clinics do differ. Midwives can play a crucial role for the survival and well-being of women faced with domestic violence. Midwives should keep in mind that there may be earlier or ongoing violence that contributes to the woman´s fear of childbirth. / Våld mot kvinnor är ett globalt folkhälsoproblem samt ett brott mot mänskliga rättigheter. Denna deskriptiva tvärsnittsstudie med kvantitativ ansats genomfördes för att undersöka våldsutsatthet bland kvinnor som fått barnmorskeledd behandling av förlossningsrädsla. Data från 633 journaler inhämtades. Samtliga obstetriska kliniker i Sverige som erbjuder behandling av förlossningsrädsla tillfrågades via e-post om rutiner kring våldsutsatthet. Svarsfrekvensen var 56 procent. Resultatet visade att endast 50 procent av gravida kvinnor hade tillfrågats om våld som en del av anamnesen, trots rekommendationen att alla gravida kvinnor ska tillfrågas. Av kvinnor som fått barnmorskeledd behandling av förlossningsrädsla, hade 34 procent rapporterat att de erfarit någon form av våld under sin livstid. Samtliga obstetriska kliniker som ingick i studien följer Socialstyrelsens rekommendationer om lämplig kompetens i teamen, även om det finns stor variation gällande barnmorskornas påbyggnadsutbildningar. Barnmorskor kan spela en avgörande roll för våldsutsatta kvinnors överlevnad och hälsa. Barnmorskor bör ha i åtanke att det kan finnas tidigare eller pågående våldsproblematik som bidrar till kvinnans förlossningsrädsla.

Bakgrund: Barnmorskan ska vårda och stödja kvinnan genom hela förlossningsprocessen. Situationer kan uppkomma under förlossningen där olika åtgärder kan behöva utföras som exempelvis episiotomi i samband med att föregående fosterdel framföds. Studier visar att både fördelar och nackdelar är assosierade med episiotomi. Det är därför viktigt att barnmorskor vet sitt resonemang kring episiotomi när resultaten av studier varierar eftersom barnmorskan har ansvar för den födande kvinnan. Syfte: Att undersöka barnmorskors resonemang kring episiotomi. Metod: Semistrukturerade intervjuer med nio barnmorskor som analyserades med kvalitativ innehållsanalys med induktiv ansats. Resultat: Resultatet presenteras i ett tema, En berg- och dalbana, innehållande två kategorier, Blandade känslor till episiotomi samt Det säkra före det osäkra, dessa utmynnade i sex underkategorier. Barnmorskorna ansåg att episiotomi inte var något som skulle utföras i onödan och med erfarenhet upplevde barnmorskorna det lättare att avgöra när episiotomi hade en positiv effekt på förlossningsprocessen. Konklusion: Barnmorskorna var restriktiva i utförandet av episiotomi och att det endast var i speciella situationer det ansågs vara nödvändigt med ingreppet. Tålamod var en viktig egenskap för en barnmorska och tillsammans med en ökad arbetslivserfarenhet var det lättare att avgöra när den födande kvinnan var i behov av episiotomi. / Background: The midwife will care for and support the woman throughout the childbirth process. There may occur situations during childbirth when certain measures, like episiotomy, need be taken in relation to the advance of the fetus. Studies reveal different advantages, as well as disadvantages associated with episiotomy. Given the multitude of opinions with regards to episiotomy, it is important that midwives have a clear stance on the procedure since they are in charge of the woman who is giving birth. Aim: To investigate midwives' reasoning on the subject of episiotomy. Method: Semi-structured interviews with nine midwives. The data underwent qualitative content analysis, and inductive approach was applied. Results: The results present a theme, A roller coaster, containing two categories, Varied attitudes to episiotomy and The secure before the insecure, these resulted in six subcategories. The midwives felt that episiotomy should not be conducted unless absolutely necessary. Midwives further felt that growing experience helped them to determine in what situations episiotomy would have a positive effect on the childbirth process. Conclusion: The midwives are cautious about the use of episiotomy reserving it for special situations when the procedure is deemed absolutely necessary. Patience, an important characteristic for a midwife, in conjunction with work experience made it easier to determine when the woman giving birth was in need of episiotomy.

M.Cur. / Please refer to full text to view abstract

D.Cur. (Psychiatric Nursing Science) / The overall goal of this research study was to explore and describe strategies in order to promote the mental health of married couples throughout the ante- and postnatal period. The majority of research on the transition to parenthood has found that as couples become parents, there is a dramatic decrease in positive marital interchanges, a dramatic increase in marital conflict and a precipitous decline in marital satisfaction (Belsky & Kelly, 1994; Belsky & Pensky, 1988: 133-156; Belsky, Spanier & Rovine, 1983: 567-577). The transition to parenthood is viewed as instigating a shift in the marriage whereby most couples are expected to experience a qualitative change in their relationship that is relatively abrupt (Pancer, Pratt, Hunsberger & Gallant, 2000: 253-280). Becoming a new parent poses challenges for nearly every married couple (Curran, Hazen, Jacobvitz & Feldman, 2005: 189). Becoming a parent is a major developmental transition of adulthood (Harwood, McLean & Durkin, 2007: 1). Individuals often have optimistic expectations about parenthood, yet this transition also presents a number of challenges (Harwood et al, 2007: 1). The questions that arose was what are the stories of married couples throughout the ante- and postnatal period of their first child, and what can be done by an advanced psychiatric nursing practitioner to promote the mental health of married couples based on their story. The researcher utilised a qualitative, explorative, descriptive and contextual study design as described in Babbie (2010: 92). This research study was carried out in four phases. During the first phase of this research study, the researcher explored and described the stories of married couples throughout the ante- and postnatal period of their first child according to the quest narrative method described by Frank (1997: 115). The results were discussed within relevant literature. iv In the second phase of this research study the researcher developed a conceptual framework on the basis of the empirical data. The conceptual framework was developed according to the concepts as proposed by Dickoff, James and Wiedenbach (1968: 435). The researcher described strategies, to promote the mental health of married couples throughout the ante- and postnatal period of their first child, in the third phase of this research study. These strategies were described according to a relationship phase, a working phase and a termination phase as part of the facilitation process. These three phases were discussed as part of a proposed facilitation process that forms part of the developed conceptual framework. In the fourth phase of this research study, the developed strategies were subjected to expert assessment according to the criteria stated by Chinn and Kramer (2011: 196-205). The findings of the research study are applicable to psychiatric nursing practice, research and psychiatric nursing education.

Background: Postnatal PTSD affects between 1 and 6% of women, whereas 30% are partially symptomatic. The mental health of new mothers is of public health concern as it could affect the marital relationship and the behavioural and emotional health of children. Little research has explored emotional regulation difficulties as predictors for postnatal PTSD. Treatments such as Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) have long waiting list times and may be hard to access for new mothers. Aim: The relationship between key predictors especially those associated with emotional regulation and PTSD in postnatal women was investigated. The feasibility of using internet based writing therapy for women with postnatal PTSD was assessed. Exploration of women's views about writing therapy as a therapeutic tool and their lived experience of PTSD was undertaken. Methods: Two literature reviews were conducted; firstly to identify the types of therapy previously used for women with postnatal PTSD, secondly to identify necessary conditions for effective writing therapy. The quantitative phase used measures for key predictors of PTSD and incorporated a feasibility study for a writing intervention. Regression analysis for a variety of predictors and PTSD and general and psychological health was conducted on data from 211 women. In the qualitative phase narrative analysis was used on interview transcripts from seven non-writers exploring access to writing and their experience of PTSD. An in depth case study was conducted on a woman who participated in the intervention and who was interviewed. Findings: The quantitative phase showed that planning the pregnancy; whether the baby slept or fed as expected; maternal confidence; past trauma; attachment patterns; self-efficacy; social support and partner support correlated with PTSD. However, the pain component of the birth experience mediated the effect of affects and alexithymia on general and psychological health. Most women did not access writing therapy. The qualitative phase showed that complicating factors and relationships with staff and mothers affect women's experience of PTSD and their view of themselves. Social media was used by women for support. Conclusion: Emotion regulation difficulties could impact postnatal mental health. Antenatal screening for alexithymia may be useful. Women value good relationships with staff during labour. The role of social media for postnatal mental health support should be investigated.

Background: Expecting a child and becoming a parent is one of life’s major events, during which the parents’ perspective on life and their couple relationship changes. For some parents, childbearing entails a decrease in parental couple relationship quality. The way in which parents are able to cope with childbearing may be connected with their Sense of Coherence; which is a person’s ability to perceive life as comprehensible, manageable and meaningful. For parents’ positive childbearing experiences, professional and social support have been proven to be valuable. However, far from all parents have access to social support; furthermore, professional support does not always meet the needs of expectant parents. Hence, more research is needed to increase knowledge about expectant parents’ experiences of professiona land social support. In addition, more research is needed to explore factors associated with quality of couple relationship among parents during childbearing. Aims: The overall aim of the thesis was to explore professional and social support for first-time mothers and partners during childbearing in relation toquality of couple relationship and Sense of Coherence. Methods: The study’s designs were explorative, prospective and longitudinal; both qualitative and quantitative methods were used. Specifically, explorative designs, qualitative methods and phenomenographic analysis were used to explore expectant first-time mothers’ (I) and partners’ perceptions of professional support (II). Furthermore, an explorative design, qualitative method and qualitative content analysis were used to explore expectant first-time mothers’ experiences of social support (III). Within Study IV, a prospective longitudinal design, descriptive statistics, non-parametric tests and multiple linear regression analysis were used to evaluate factors associated with quality of couple relationship among first-time mothers and partners, during pregnancy and the first six months of parenthood. Results: The overall results of the thesis revealed both similarities and differences between expectant first-time mothers’ and partners’ perceptions of professional support, effects from social support and associated factors with perceived quality of couple relationship. The similarities were; both mothers and partners perceived that professional support could facilitate partner involvement, influence their couple relationship and facilitate contacts with other expectant parents. According to first-time mothers’ experiences, their couple relationship with their partner was also strengthened by social support during pregnancy. Further, the results showed that both first-time mothers’ and partners’ higher perceived couple relationship quality six months after birth, was associated with their higher perceived social support. The results showed also that both mothers and partners perceived their quality of couple relationship to decrease and Sense of Coherence to increase six months after childbirth, compared to the pregnancy. Differences revealed were such as: higher Sense of Coherence was only associated with mothers’ higher perceived quality of couple relationship, and first-time mothers reported perceiving more social support compared to the partners both during pregnancy, first week and six months after childbirth. Conclusions: Professional and social support can strengthen first-time mothers and partners both individually and as a couple, in their abilities to cope with childbearing. On the individual basis, the expectant parents could be strengthened through professional and social support that contributed to their understanding and feeling of being prepared for childbirth and parenting, for instance. As a couple, the parents were strengthened by professional support that included the partner’s role, as well as higher perceived social support overall. In contrast, lack of support could have a negative influence on the expectant parents’ feeling of being prepared for childbirth and parenting. Besides this, the results indicates that childbearing has a positive effect on parents’ abilities to cope with life even though their quality of couple relationship decrease. Professionals can use these results in their further understanding about how to offer satisfactory support to first-time mothers and partners during childbearing.

Since the inception of the student supernumerary status, both globally and in South Africa, nursing and midwifery educators have been concerned about the clinical competencies of their students. Student clinical competency levels in South Africa are critical to midwifery practice, especially as most litigation against the Department of Health in South Africa concerns negligence in midwifery practice. In addition, the litigations mostly involve newly qualified midwives, thus suggesting a link with practice competency levels. Several challenges exist in the academic and practice environments regarding student learning, practice and clinical preparedness. Lack of support during clinical placement and a lack of facilities for use during clinical practice modules are among these challenges. Some students, due to the challenges they face with clinical learning and practice, fail to meet the practical competencies for examination entry requirements. Consequently, some of these students have to repeat the year or exit the programme. The current study sought to identify how to assist midwifery educators in their activities to prepare students for clinical placement readiness. The first objective of the study was to explore and describe the perceptions of midwifery educators regarding the need for additional measures to enhance the clinical preparedness of basic midwifery students before they are allocated to the clinical areas. The second objective sought to make recommendations that would further assist the midwifery educators to clinically prepare midwifery students before being allocated and placed in different clinical areas. A qualitative, explorative, descriptive and contextual research design was used for the study and the study was conducted at a nursing college in the Eastern Cape Province from August 2014 to January 2016. The research population consisted of midwifery educators at a nursing college and a purposive sampling technique was used guided by set criteria. Data were collected using focus group interviews. Four focus groups were used making a total of 17 participants. The principles applied for data analysis were those of Tesch’s method of data analysis, which were used to develop the themes and sub-themes. An independent coder assisted with the coding of the data for the purposes of trustworthiness. In addition, Lincoln and Guba’s model of trustworthiness consisting of the criteria of credibility, transferability, dependability and conformability was used to confirm the validity of the study while the ethical principles adopted were informed consent, justice, non-maleficence, privacy and confidentiality. The study found that the participants perceived numerous challenges that hindered the clinical preparedness of their students. These related to increased workload, lack of support from management and a lack of commitment on the part of students towards their studies. The participants also identified inconsistencies in clinical practice between the clinical midwives and the educators, and even among the educators themselves. This lack of consistency in turn causes confusion among the students and thus impacts negatively on their clinical practice preparedness. Based on these findings recommendations for clinical nursing practice, nursing education and research were made.

Although it is considered an everyday occurrence, childbirth is nonetheless an important and dramatic experience in the life of every woman. Childbirth, a normal physiological state in the life of a woman, can be an awe-inspiring and exciting experience, but sometimes disconcerting experiences may also occur. Women sometimes see labour as the end to a long drawn out process following pregnancy and therefore attribute great significance to all occurrences during labour. When complications occur in a usually uncomplicated process of labour, the health care provider must be able to make quick and effective management decisions and implement appropriate interventions. This may include the referral of women in labour to a level of care where complications can be dealt with more effectively, thereby ensuring the best maternal and neonatal outcomes. Patient referral is regarded as a fundamental component of the health care system therefore a well functioning system should ensure that patients are treated in the appropriate manner at the appropriate place at the lowest possible cost to the health system. The goal of this research study was to explore and describe the inter-level health service referral of women in labour by midwives, in order to design guidelines for midwives and other relevant health care providers involved in inter-level health service referral of women in labour in the South African public health care sector. The research design used for this study is a combination of qualitative and quantitative approaches. The paradigmatic perspective of this study was based on the World Health Organization’s Health for All Model. Appropriate data collection and analysis strategies were used for the different stages of the study. Data collection commenced only after permission to conduct the research had been obtained from relevant authorities and University of Port Elizabeth and the Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University structures. Informed consent was obtained from participants included in the study. In stage 1 of this research project, a profile of midwives at lower level maternity care centres was compiled and the perceptions and experiences of midwives working at lower level maternity services, who are responsible for inter-level health referrals of women in labour, were described. Stage 2 described, by means of analysis of maternity case records, aspects of the inter-level referral of women in labour including the profiles of women admitted to midwife obstetric units (MOUs) who are v referred to higher levels of care. Of significance in this study is the appropriateness of midwifery referrals and the maternity care implemented by health care providers during inter-level health service referral of women in labour. In stage 3 clinical guidelines for midwives and other relevant maternity care providers, to assist them in the inter-level health service referral of women in labour, were developed. Findings from stage 1 of this research study revealed that midwives were generally well qualified and sufficiently experienced in the management of women in labour who need referral. Disconcerting findings relating to human and material resource shortages were discovered; these included major problems with patient transportation and difficulties with communication relating to inter-level health service referral of women. These shortages adversely affected midwives’ ability to efficiently care for women during the inter-level health service referral of women in labour in the research area. Stage 2 of the study yielded results of questionable standards of care to women and infants included in the study. A further disturbing finding from the study is the poor state of record keeping. The development of the provisional guidelines in stage 3 of the study was informed by the four main themes identified from the research findings. Before embarking on guideline development, the researcher familiarized herself with theory related to the clinical guidelines. These included clarifying the concept ‘clinical guidelines’, justifying the need for developing clinical guidelines as well as giving consideration to concerns about clinical guidelines. The research findings as well as literature related to these findings informed the researcher on the development of the guidelines. Provisional guidelines were therefore developed on responsibilities of role players in inter-level health service referral of women in labour at first level of referral, namely the midwife obstetric units, transport personnel and maternity care providers at the referral hospital. Steps were taken throughout the study to adhere to ethical standards of research. The researcher will ensure that the research report is available to all health authorities involved, the participants included in the study and the health care providers who may benefit from the research findings.

'Reconceptualising the Birth Process in Eighteenth-Century England' employs a broad range of historical sources to construct a richly detailed account of childbirth. By examining women's life-writings, manuscript recipe books, medical texts, court records, collections of folklore, Anglican prayerbooks and material culture this thesis moves away from an historiographical focus on the delivery of the infant to explore the embodied experience of 'giving birth' in the eighteenth-century from the perspective of the labouring woman, her family and the friends and neighbours that visited her. Birth, it is argued, was a process of four distinct phases that lasted between four and six weeks in total. These phases - confinement, labour, delivery and lying-in - were flexible, highly adaptable and indispensable components of 'giving birth'. In exploring birth as a process, this thesis challenges the dominant historiography of the rapid professionalisation of childbirth during the eighteenth century by tracing high levels of continuity in community practices of childbirth management. By broadening the focus of research to include each phase of the birth process this thesis highlights the wide range of cultural, social and emotional behaviours that constituted the embodied experience of giving birth. In reconceptualising childbirth as a process, the thesis refocuses attention on the woman giving birth and the rich networks of friends, family and neighbours that were so crucial to the management of birth in eighteenth-century England.