This thesis studies the relationship of irony, as defined in Kierkegaard's The Concept of Irony to the text and subject of Fear and Trembling. Irony is interpreted in this thesis as negative space, which both binds and separates and which assumes meaning equal to or greater than the positive space that binds it. This definition applies to Kierkegaard's Socrates who lived ironically in the space between actuality and ideality. This thesis considers how Abraham also lived in ironic space and why ironic space is a prerequisite for faith. Unlike Socrates, Abraham did not stop with irony, but used irony to open ironic space in which a knight of faith can be both separated from and reconciled to his actuality. Because in Fear and Trembling the Virgin Mary is compared to Abraham, this thesis examines at length how irony is related to Mary both in terms of her faithfulness and her maternity. Irony can then be seen as a necessary circumstance of maternity. The negative space of the female anatomy becomes ironic because it can take on more meaning than it can have alone, particularly in its ability to create (an)other person. Faith and maternity share irony as a requirement for their modes of living because both require an ironic separation from the masculine sphere. Applying the relationship of irony to faith and the maternal offers a interpretive possibilities for the knight of faith that otherwise go unnoticed.

This study was a sub-study based on the MIDWIZE capacity building program for public health officials in maternal and child health. This is a leadership program where participants conduct a quality improvement project at a selected health facility in their respective country. Implementing quality improvements with evidence-based methods such as dynamic positions, perineal protection, and intrapartum support can have a positive effect on the mothers and newborns outcomes, essential to reach the relevant goals of Agenda 2030.  The study aimed to describe maternity nurses’ experiences of implementing a quality improvement project at a health facility in Nairobi, Kenya.  The chosen design for this study included a qualitative method with nine individual semi- structured interviews. The participants were maternity nurses working in the antenatal, labour, and postnatal ward at the facility, Kianda 42. Data analysis was processed through inductive content analysis.  The findings resulted in two main categories, where the first category was titled Implementing dynamic positions, perineal protection, and intrapartum support with the subcategories The quality improvements positive effects, and Challenges with implementing the quality improvements The second category was titled Necessities needed to move forward with the subcategories Emotional necessities, Material and political necessities, and also Proposals on how to spread knowledge onwards.  Through implementing quality improvements, the maternity nurses had the opportunity of developing professionally. With methods such as dynamic positions, perineal protection, and intrapartum support there is a big possibility of reducing interventions and minimising complications for mothers and newborns. This study is of great importance due to it presenting the maternity nurses’ experience of implementing quality improvements, which can improve this project and future similar projects / Denna delstudie var baserad på programmet MIDWIZE capacity building för ledare inom offentlig förvaltning med inriktning på kvinnors och barns hälsa. Det är ett program avsett för ledarskap, där deltagarna i respektive land utför ett kvalitetsförbättrande arbete på angiven sjukvårdsinrättning. Att implementera kvalitetsförbättrande arbete med evidensbaserade metoder som dynamiska positioner, perinealskydd och intrapartum stöd kan ha positiva effekter på utfallen hos mödrar och nyfödda, nödvändigt för att nå angivna mål i Agenda 2030.  Studien ämnar beskriva sjuksköterskors upplevelser av att implementera kvalitetsförbättringar på en sjukvårdsinrättning i Nairobi, Kenya.  Designen tillämpad för denna studie var en kvalitativ metod med nio individuella semistrukturerade intervjuer. Deltagarna var sjuksköterskor som jobbade på antenatal-,förlossnings- och postnatal avdelning på sjukvårdsinrättningen, Kianda 42. Dataanalysen genomfördes med hjälp av en induktiv innehållsanalys.  Resultatet sammanställdes till två huvudkategorier, den första benämndes Att implementera dynamiska positioner, perinealskydd och intrapartum stöd med underkategorierna Det kvalitetsförbättrande arbetets positiva effekter och Utmaningar med att implementera det kvalitetsförbättrande arbetet. Den andra kategorin benämndes Nödvändigheter för att fortskrida med underkategorierna Emotionella nödvändigheter och Materiella och politiska nödvändigheter samt Förslag på hur kunskapen ska spridas vidare.  Genom att implementera kvalitetsförbättringar får sjuksköterskorna tillfälle att utvecklas professionellt. Med metoder som dynamiska positioner, perinealskydd och intrapartum stöd minskar risken för interventioner och komplikationer hos mödrar och nyfödda. Studien är av värde då den speglar sjuksköterskornas upplevelser av att implementera kvalitetsförbättringar, vilket kan effektivisera detta projekt och liknande projekt i framtiden.

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Our paper analyzes how paid parental leave schemes affect female labor force participation in Sweden. We examine this question on municipality level from 2003 to 2019. The purpose of this paper is to examine the role of a policy reform made in 2016 and analyze how it mainly affects women and their participation rate. It contributes to the fields of economics but also has a sociological aspect. We expect the policy reform to increase the share of parental leave days taken out by men, decrease the women's share, and increase female labor force participation. The empirical results do not show statistically significant evidence that the reform in 2016 increased or decreased women's participation rate. However, the share of net days taken out by men rises, and the share of female net days falls.

The purpose of the present study was to investigate the factors that may be related to employees' decisions to use the family-friendly benefits (e.g., maternity/paternity leave, flexible work schedule) that are offered to them by their employers. Research has shown that both employees and organizations benefit when employees use family-friendly benefits. However, research has also shown that many employees do not take advantage of such benefits. Studies examining this issue are limited, and much of the research that has been conducted is anecdotal and atheoretical. The present study overcame this problem by empirically examining the use of family-friendly benefits within the theoretical context of Ajzen's (1991) theory of planned behavior. The results of this study support the theory of planned behavior. Specifically, the results indicated that whether an individual perceived he/she had control over the use of family-friendly benefits was the most predictive of whether he/she intended to use them. Whether the individual perceived that others would approve of these behaviors was also predictive of intention to perform the behaviors. In addition, an individual's intention to take leave or use a flexible work schedule was the most predictive of whether he or she actually engaged in the behaviors. Implications for practice as well as future research directions are also discussed.

Bakgrund: Obstetriskt våld inom förlossningsvården är ett dilemma både nationellt och internationellt som kan komma att påverka kvinnors syn på förlossningen negativt. Varje kvinna har självbestämmanderätt över sin kropp samt rätt till att vara delaktig i sin vård och få sina önskemål kring förlossningen i möjligaste mån uppfyllda. Barnmorskan har en viktig roll att stödja och skapa trygghet hos kvinnan under förlossningen och har en stor påverkan på hur kvinnan kommer att uppleva sin förlossning. Syfte: Syftet med denna studie är att utifrån instagraminlägg beskriva kvinnors upplevelser av obstetriskt våld under förlossningen. Metod: Netnografiskt inspirerad metod baserad på 107 publicerade inlägg från ett instagramkonto. Kvalitativ innehållsanalys tillämpades. Resultat: Resultatet består av tre kategorier och åtta subkategorier. Bristande information och samtycke; skalpelektod, oxytoxininfusion, studentnärvaro. Fysiskt och psykiskt våld; påtvingade positioner, fysiska och psykiska övergrepp, kränkande kommentarer. Bristande bemötande och negativa attityder; hotfulla kommentarer av vårdpersonal, bristande tilltro till den födande. Kvinnor upplevde bristande information och samtycke, de kände sig utsatta för fysiska övergrepp i form av fasthållning. De upplevde sig överkörda och kände sig misstrodda av vårdpersonalen. Dessa händelser kan alla tolkas som obstetriskt våld. Slutsats: Obstetriskt våld under förlossning kan yttra sig på olika sätt och kan tillämpas omedvetet från vårdpersonal. Som barnmorska är det viktigt att ha kunskap och kännedom om begreppet för att kunna förebygga uppkomsten av detta. Barnmorskan bör skapa trygghet och autonomi hos kvinnan och sträva efter att skapa en mer positiv förlossningsupplevelse. Klinisk tillämpbarhet: Resultatet i denna studie kan ge ökad kunskap och medvetenhet om hur vårdpersonalens bemötande och handlingar kan komma att påverka kvinnans förlossningsupplevelse. Ökad kunskap och medvetenhet om obstetriskt våld under förlossningen kan resultera i att barnmorskan omsätter denna kunskap och anammar ett mer professionellt förhållningssätt gentemot den födande kvinnan. Detta genom att tydligare informera om varför undersökningar och interventioner utförs samt genom att alltid inhämta kvinnans samtycke. / Background: Obstetric violence in maternity care is a dilemma both nationally and internationally, which may negatively affect women's view of childbirth. Every woman has the right to selfdetermination over her body, to be involved in her care and to have her wishes regarding childbirth metas far as possible. The midwife has an important role in supporting and creating security for the woman during childbirth and has a major influence on how the woman will experience her delivery. Aim: The aim of this study is to describe women’s experiences of obstetric violence during childbirth bases on Instagram posts. Methods: Netnographic inspired method based on 107 published posts on an Instagram account. Qualitative content analysis was applied. Results: The result consists of three categories and eight subcategories. Lack of information and consent; scalp electrode, oxytocin infusion, students attendance. Physical and psychological violence; forced positions, physical and psychological abuse,offensive comments. Lack of treatment and negative attitudes; threatening comments by healthcare staff, lack of trust in the birthing woman. Women experienced a lack of information and consent, they felt exposed to physical abuse in form of restraint. They felt trampled on and humiliated and felt distrustedby the healthcare staff. These events can all be interpreted as obstetric violence. Conclusion: Obstetric violence during childbirth can manifest itself in different ways and can be applied unconsciously by healthcare professionals. As a midwife, it is important to have knowledge and awareness with the concept in order to be able to prevent the occurrence of this. The midwife should create security and autonomy in order to create a more positive birth experience for the women. Clinical implications: The results of this study can provide increased knowledge and awareness of how the care staff's treatment and actions can affect the experience of the woman who gives birth. Increased knowledge and awareness of obstetric violence during childbirth can result in the midwife putting this knowledge into practice and adopting a more professional approach towards the woman who gives birth. This by more clearly informing about why examinations and medical actions are carried out and by always obtaining the woman's consent.

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Improving the quality and safety of maternity services is an international top agenda item. This thesis describes the progress towards the development of a multidimensional approach to measure the quality and safety of care in ten maternity units in Oman based on three of the five dimensional Patient Safety Measurement and Monitoring Framework (PSMMF) which include measuring "past harm" and "anticipation and preparedness”. The three monitoring approaches used in this research are: (1) measuring the patient safety culture (2) measuring patient satisfaction (3) and monitoring caesarean section rates. The specific objectives of the research are to (1) measure patient safety culture level, (2) examine the association between nurse’s nationality and patient safety culture, (3) validate an Arabic language survey to measure maternal satisfaction about the childbearing experience, (4) measure patient satisfaction about the childbearing experience, and (5) to examine caesarean section rates across maternity units using statistical process control charts. This thesis started with four systematic reviews that focused on (1) the use of patient safety culture for monitoring maternity units (2) the available interventions to improve patient safety culture (3) Arabic surveys available for measuring maternal satisfaction and (4) the use of statistical process control charts for monitoring performance indicators. The overall conclusion from these reviews that these approaches are being increasingly used in maternity, found feasible and useful, and there are areas that need attention for future work. Five field studies were conducted to address the research aim and objectives. Patient safety culture was measured by a cross-sectional survey of all staff in the ten maternity units. It was found that safety culture in Oman is below the target level and that there is wide variation in the safety scores across hospitals and across different categories of staff. Non-Omani nurses have a more positive perception of patient safety culture than Omani nurses in all domains except in respect of stress recognition and this difference need further investigation and needs to be considered by designers of interventions to enhance patient safety culture. Using two existing validated English surveys, an Arabic survey was developed, validated, and used to measure maternal satisfaction with childbirth services. It was found that the new survey has good psychometric properties and that in all the ten hospitals, mothers were satisfied with the care provided during child delivery but satisfaction score varied across hospitals and groups of participants. Caesarean section rate in the last 17 years was examined using statistical process control charts to understand the variation across the ten hospitals. It was found that caesarean section rate is above the rate recommended by the World Health Organisation. Special cause variations were detected that warrant further investigation. In conclusion, the field studies demonstrated that it is feasible to use the three approaches to monitor quality and safety in maternity units. However, further work is required to use these data to enhance the quality and safety of care. Additionally, future work is needed to cover the other three dimensions of the PSMMF. / Ministry of Health in Oman,

While there is abundant research and literature on the transition to becoming a mother while working and on mothers and work-life balance, literature on clergy and, in particular, clergywomen and work-life balance is scarce. This study contributes to that literature by utilizing role theory and grounded theory methods to investigate the experience of 12 clergywomen who negotiated maternity leave with their congregations and the implications of that process on how they understood and managed their roles as mothers and pastors. The result is a model for role management through the process of negotiating maternity leave which identifies and describes the causal conditions; personal, church and intervening factors; overall experience of negotiation and consequences of the negotiation, including decisions about role management. Major findings include the observations that the most influential church factor seems to be the overall stability and organizational health of the congregation and its leadership and that a presbytery level policy may be the only effective intervention in a difficult negotiation. Limitations of the study, as well as recommendations for future study, clinical implications, and recommendations for denominational leaders are also discussed. / Master of Science

Bakgrund: Förlossningsskador och andra besvär postpartum är vanligt förekommande. Fysioterapi har visat sig ha stark evidens för att hjälpa med smärta och funktion för dessa besvär. Trots detta används fysioterapeuter i mycket liten utsträckning inom förlossningsvården. Syfte: Syftet var att kartlägga prevalensen och omfattningen av förlossningsskador och andra besvär samt att ta reda på hur rehabiliteringsprocessen såg ut. Metod: En kvantitativ ansats med empiristisk-atomistisk design användes. Kartläggningen gjordes med hjälp av en digital enkät som delades i allmänna facebookgrupper riktade till mammor och kvinnor. Den insamlade datan analyserades med hjälp av frekvenstabeller, Pearsons korrelationskoefficient samt Chi2-test. Resultat: Över 80% av deltagarna hade fått en bristningsskada vid förlossning, där majoriteten fått grad 2. Av deltagarna uppgav 63% att de haft besvär efter förlossningen och 50% uppgav att de hade kvarstående besvär idag. Majoriteten uppgav att de haft multipla besvär, där inkontinens var vanligast förekommande. Efter återbesök hos barnmorska uppgav 54% att de inte fått någon information om sina besvär och 72% fick ingen information om rehabilitering för dem. Hälften av alla deltagare hade utfört någon form av rehabilitering efter sin förlossning, där bäckenbottenträning var det absolut vanligaste. 62% visste inte om att man kan söka hjälp hos en fysioterapeut för förlossningsrelaterade besvär.  Konklusion: Utbredningen av förlossningsrelaterade besvär är stor och många lever med kvarstående besvär långt efter sin förlossning. Fysioterapi är en outnyttjad resurs och fysioterapeuter bör med fördel kunna användas som en del av den standardiserade förlossningsvården i Sverige idag. Fler högkvalitativa studier behövs för att öka kunskapen inom ämnet. / Background: Childbirth injuries and other postpartum complications are common. Physiotherapy has shown strong evidence for helping with pain and function related to these complications. Despite this, physiotherapists are rarely used in standard maternity care.  Objective: The objective was to map the prevalence and extent of childbirth injuries and other complications, as well as to understand the rehabilitation process.  Method: A quantitative approach with an empiricist-atomistic design was used. The mapping was conducted using a digital survey shared in general Facebook groups targeted at mothers and women. The collected data were analyzed using frequency tables, Pearson’s correlation coefficient, and Chi-square tests.  Results: Over 80% of participants had suffered a perineal tear during childbirth, with the majority experiencing a second-degree tear. Of the participants, 63% reported complications after childbirth, and 50% reported having ongoing issues today. The majority reported multiple complications, with incontinence being the most common. After follow-up visits with a midwife, 54% stated they received no information about their complications, and 72% received no information about rehabilitation for them. Half of all participants had undergone some form of rehabilitation after childbirth, with pelvic floor exercises being the most common. Additionally, 62% did not know that they could seek help from a physiotherapist for childbirth-related complications.  Conclusion: The prevalence of childbirth-related complications is high, and many live with persistent issues long after childbirth. Physiotherapy is an underutilized resource, and physiotherapists should be integrated into the standardized maternity care in Sweden today. More high-quality studies are needed to increase knowledge in this field.