A QUALITATIVE STUDY ON AFRICAN WOMEN IN VICTORIA ON THEIR VIEWS ON PERINATAL CARE SERVICES. BACKGROUND Excellent perinatal care services results in positive maternal outcomes. However, barriers still exist in some communities due to inequalities, language barriers and education levels which compels individuals to access and use appropriately such services among women of the reproductive age. Perinatal care services refers to care that pregnant women and their unborn babies receive before, during, and after delivery which commences from the first visit of antenatal care through the fortieth day after delivery. which in short are referred to as antenatal, labour and delivery and postnatal period which women undergo through during maternity …show more content…
In Australia maternity services can be accessed in either public or the private sector(Brown, Sutherland, Gunn, & Yelland, 2014). In Australia, many studies have been done to explore the experiences of migrant women of different backgrounds and not much has been done on African women on their experiences on perinatal care only one study was done on African women’s experience in Brisbane (Murray, Windsor, Parker, & Tewfik, 2010). According toBuckskin et al 2013, recommended that non-english speaking background women are hard to reach group which needs further to be investigated. This has prompted the researcher to explore the experiences of African women on perinatal care in Victoria. OBJECTIVES Broad Objective To explore the experiences of perinatal care services among women of African background who are living in Victoria, Australia. Specific Objectives To examine their experiences on antenatal care services. To explore their experiences on labour and delivery. To explore their experience on postnatal care which they received. Literature Review Antenatal experiences Antenatal period is very crucial for pregnant mothers and their unborn baby in order to identify and prevent ailments. Thus WHO recommends that women should start antenatal care services as
Receiving good prenatal care is extremely important for an expecting mother. The prenatal period has a great impact on the newborn's health. Low birth weight is a problem among a certain population of newborns. It is crucial to understand the conditions in poverty and its
Although the security of Australia is grateful, the social inclusion was disregarded. (In text) described the lack of interpreting services in Australian hospitals and an absence of personal and communal care impacted on their experiences giving birth. Frequently, normal births became confusing or difficult for the midwife to manage, and with a language barrier it can become exacerbated due to stress of the women. (In text) have researched in responses from the women’s culture can vary from healthcare to healthcare professionals, with younger women displaying preparedness to report and identify discrimination. They believe the problems lie within the health care, coupled with the inability of women who require attention, not within the healthcare system itself, but more likely individual social attitudes which are the women’s rights to be treated (in text). Stress, depression, hopelessness and feelings of hostility can play a part from the language barriers. Without understanding each other the midwife and women would not achieve a good professional relationship. Without the rapport, labour and birth is compromised by the frustrations on the midwife and women due to the language barrier. This compromised by the lack of verbal
These social disadvantages directly relate to dispossession and are characterized by poverty and powerlessness, and are reflected in education, Racism and discrimination are directly associated with poorer health outcome which again links up with the dangers of c-section and even general vaginal birth (Pharmaceutical society of Australia, 2014). Aboriginal and Torres strait islander mothers find c-section birth to be more preferred as it doesn’t risk the mother and child, but this is not always the case (Baby Care, 2018). About 1 in 12 women get an infection, such as cellulitis, abdominal abscess, thrush, urinary tract and bladder infection after having a c-section birth (D. R. Wilson, 2018). Indigenous mothers are more likely to develop these infections. These infections could be easily being treated by the consumption of antibiotics. Communication between researchers is found to be highly effective, as more and more mothers in indigenous communities and other communities are being more aware and notified about the effects of c-section birth to the child and mother. The samples collected back up the researcher’s statements and provide the public about how this can be improved. Without communication between researchers, lack of knowledge would increase and so will the rate of c-section births in remote communities and private hospital. Lack of medical equipment would also increase in remote communities which will indeed result in an increased rate of deaths in indigenous
The methods utilized as part of this research was a non-experimental design which is qualitative design. In this research, 60 pregnant, low wage African American looking for routine pre-birth care was exhibited with standardized descriptions of three methodologies,
Explain how access to health care can promote the health of women and their babies during pregnancy. Access to health carers such as midwives, doctors and obstetricians can promote the health of women and their babies during pregnancy. These professionals are able to provide support and information, as they monitor the mother’s health and wellbeing and that of the baby. In addition, they are able to identify special medical or personal requirements that the mother may need.
The Ottawa Charter emphasises the importance of global health promotion by identifying necessary conditions, sectors and resources involved in obtaining optimum community health. This is broken down into five strategies building healthy public policy, creating supportive environments for mother and child, strengthening community actions, developing personal skills, and reorienting health services (McMurray & Clendon, 2015). This essay will address optimum maternal health being ensured by the support of nurses and midwives to maintain healthy lives for both mother and child. Proceeding with a brief description of maternal health, followed by the role of the nurse/ midwife in response to the condition. This will be in relation to the five major
This research consisted of key informants and general informants. These general informants were leaders in the community, granny midwives and African American and European American health care professionals. These general informants came from the clinics and hospitals where key informants were from. The key informants from each region were women who were either pregnant or had a baby within in a year preceding the study. (Marjorie Morgan, 1996)
A study ‘Experiences of childbirth by mothers at the tertiary hospital in Limpopo Province’ was conducted (Maputle & Nolte 2008), and experiences of the mothers during childbirth revealed the major concept ‘woman-centered care’. ‘Woman-centered care’ emerged as a
Within Victoria there are multiple models of maternity care available to women. An initial discussion with the woman’s treating GP during the early stages of her pregnancy is critical in her decision-making about which model of care she will choose and this key discussion is essential in allowing a woman to make the first of many informed decisions throughout her pregnancy. According to a survey conducted by Stevens et al. (2010) only 43% of women felt ‘they were not supported to maintain up-to-date knowledge on models of care, and most reported that model of care referrals were influenced by whether women had private health insurance coverage.’ Many elements of these models of care differ: from location of care, degree of caregiver continuity, rates of intervention and maternal and infant health, outcomes access to medical procedure, and philosophical orientation such as natural or medical (Stevens, Thompson, Kruske, Watson, & Miller, 2014). According to the World Health Organization (1985) and Commonwealth of Australia (2008) there is a recognition that ‘85% of pregnant women are capable of giving birth safely with minimal intervention with the remaining 15% at potential risk of medical complications’ (McIntyre & Francis, 2012).
The roots of the tree symbolise the health and wellbeing of the mother and the capacity to which she can support her child; the extensiveness of the root system indicates the need for a strong basis in all aspects of health and wellbeing, such as having a well-developed connection to land, community network, and sense of self. In the process of trying to limit or remove the risk factors for low birthweight and achieve an ideal birthweight, the unique experiences and feelings of the pregnant woman can be somewhat shuffled to the back of the queue.10 This is not adequate if we wish for the mother to be fully empowered in her pregnancy and birthing experience, and be the barrier that is needed for the baby. The development of treatment plans that place significance on the cultural and spiritual experience of the Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander woman during her pregnancy as well as cultural security and continuity of care may help protect her health and wellbeing. In doing so, it may serve to alleviate subliminal issues that lead to behaviours that place the baby at risk of low
Statistically, African American have 2.5 times the likelihood of women of other races to start prenatal care in the third trimesters, or in some cases, not at all (Heisler, 18). Prenatal care includes education and counseling about how to handle various aspects of pregnancy in terms of nutrition, the importance of adequate physical activity, and basic infant care skills. This education encourages appropriate weight gain and discourages alcohol and tobacco consumption during pregnancy. It can be inferred from this information that prenatal care will reduce the occurrence of low birthweights and short gestational age births (premature births) (Heisler, 18).This education can also decrease deaths due to accidents or Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS). No prenatal care for the mother will result in a high probability that the infant will die in the first month after birth. However, it is a sad reality that many African American women do not have access to or knowledge of prenatal care; this unawareness will result in an equally disparaging consequence - high
In 1993 continuity of care was recognised by the government and was outlined in the department of health policy paper ‘Changing childbirth’ (DH, 1993). The document focused on choice and continuity of the care a woman should receive. Subsequently, a greater shift towards Midwifery Led Care developed. It has been suggested that a midwife should be the first point of contact for women accessing maternity services (Department of Health 2007, Welsh Assembly Government 2002, Scottish Executive 2001). Nevertheless, statics show that this was the case for only 24 percent of women in 2010, with some improvement by 2013 at 32 percent. Conversely, in 2013 63 percent of women first made contact with their family doctor (The Care Quality Commission, 2013). However 98% percent of women had their the remaining antenatal care provided by a midwife, 40% exclusively and with 60% having shared care with a GP or consultant led care (The Care Quality Commission, 2013).
Unless they are a specialized midwife, they will need to work collaboratively with primary care and mental health services. Unlike the US, obstetricians only deal with high risk and complex pregnancies, including women with severe mental illness.
The beginning stages of life start with prenatal development. This is the most essential part of the human development process. Prenatal care for a woman starts from the egg is fertilized until the actually delivery of the new born. When it comes to prenatal development, there are many concerns in care. Some of the main areas of concern are the actually care that woman received while being in this stage. Most writing and viewpoints that are shined on this topic are for the advancement and importance in prenatal care. The general population has desire to know more about what can be done to assure a health child at birth. What I will be sharing is different reading on the topic of adequate prenatal care and its success and results. I have gather information from serval different scholarly journals and published books upon this topic. I will go in and analyze the data and information that is given from each article and break down what is essential to know.
Prenatal care is widely accepted as an important element in improving pregnancy outcome. (Gorrie, McKinney, Murray, 1998). Prenatal care is defined as care of a pregnant woman during the time in the maternity cycle that begins with conception and ends with the onset of labor. A medical, surgical, gynecologic, obstretic, social and family history is taken (Mosby's Medical, Nursing, and Allied Health Dictionary, 1998). It is important for a pregnant woman as well as our society to know that everything that you do has an effect on your baby. Because so many women opt not to receive the benefits of prenatal care, our society sees the ramification, which include a variety of complications primarily