Feeling at home: A multisensory analysis of former refugee and host society residents’ integration in Wellington, Aotearoa New Zealand

<p>A woman's first birth experience can be a powerfully transformative event in her life, or can be so traumatic it affects her sense of 'self' for years. It can influence her maternity future, her physical and emotional health, and her ability to mother her baby. It matters greatly how her first birth unfolds. Women in Aotearoa/New Zealand enjoy a range of options for provision of maternity care, including, for most, their choice of birth setting. Midwives who practice in a range of settings perceive that birth outcomes for first-time mothers appear to be 'better' at home. An exploration of this perception seems warranted in light of the mainstream view that hospital is the optimal birth setting. The research question was: "Do midwives offer the same intrapartum care at home and in hospital, and if differences exist, how might they be made manifest in the labour and birth events of first-time mothers?" This mixed-methods study compared labour and birth events for two groups of first-time mothers who were cared for by the same midwives in a continuity of care context. One group of mothers planned to give birth at home and the other group planned to give birth in a hospital where anaesthetic and surgical services were available. Labour and birth event data were collected by a survey which was generated following a focus group discussion with a small group of midwives. This discussion centred around whether these midwives believed their practice differed in each setting, and what influenced care provision in each place. Content analysis of the focus group data saw the emergence of four themes relating to differences in practice: midwives' use of space, their use of time, the 'being' and 'doing' of midwifery and aspects relating to safety. Survey data were analysed using SPSS. Despite being cared for by the same midwives, women in the hospital-birth group were more likely to use pharmacological methods of pain management, experienced more interventions (ARM, vaginal examinations, IV hydration, active third stage management and electronic foetal monitoring) and achieved spontaneous vaginal birth less often than the women in the homebirth group. These findings strengthen the evidence that for low risk first-time mothers a choice to give birth at home can result in a greater likelihood of achieving a normal birth. The study offers some insights into how the woman's choice of birth place affects the care provided by midwives, and how differences in care provision can relate to differences in labour and birth event outcomes.</p>

Download Full-text

Shifting Identities: Uncovering Complexities of Psychosocial Aspects of Care for an Adolescent Child Dying at Home in Rural Aotearoa/New Zealand

International Journal for Human Caring ◽

10.20467/1091-5710.19.4.73 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 19 (4) ◽

pp. 73-76

Author(s):

Francie Dulieu,

Keyword(s):

New Zealand ◽

Sick Child ◽

Human Relationships ◽

Adolescent Child ◽

Aotearoa New Zealand ◽

Technical Competencies ◽

Psychosocial Difficulties ◽

Dying At Home ◽

Shifting Identities ◽

At Home

This narrative integrates ontological and technical competencies, along with perceptions, thoughts, and emotions, thus illuminating the fragility of human-to-human relationships. It uncovers many psychosocial difficulties encountered when caring for an adolescent child at home in rural Aotearoa/New Zealand. Revealing Sophie’s “shifting identities” as she transitioned from well child, to sick child, to terminally ill child, I quietly observed Sophie’s parents and her brother, as they joined the difficult dance, stepping skillfully around her, witnessing turning points and transformations as they unfolded, along with the hard and often silent work of dying, as explored by Coyle (2006).

Download Full-text

The postcolonial Possum: A passed parcel

Short Film Studies ◽

10.1386/sfs.6.1.71_1 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 6 (1) ◽

pp. 71-74

Author(s):

Brenda M. Allen

Keyword(s):

New Zealand ◽

Autistic Child ◽

Native Species ◽

Aotearoa New Zealand ◽

At Home

Brad McGann studied in Australia, where the possum is protected, but at home in Aotearoa New Zealand the animal is a threat to native species. In Possum, the autistic child Kid arouses similarly conflicting emotions in her close-knit family providing a metaphor for the changes wrought by and on settlers.

Download Full-text

Parents’ Perspective on Early Childhood Education in New Zealand: Voices from Pacifika Families

Australasian Journal of Early Childhood ◽

10.23965/ajec.43.1.06 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 43 (1) ◽

pp. 52-58

Author(s):

Pratika Singh ◽

Kaili C Zhang

Keyword(s):

Early Childhood ◽

New Zealand ◽

Early Childhood Education ◽

Early Childhood Teachers ◽

Cultural Practice ◽

Children And Families ◽

Childhood Education ◽

Aotearoa New Zealand ◽

Diverse Backgrounds ◽

At Home

AOTEAROA/NEW ZEALAND HAS a reputation for being a world leader in early childhood education. However, research indicates that many early childhood teachers in New Zealand encounter difficulties when working with children and families from diverse backgrounds. In addition, though a plethora of research has been done on early childhood teachers’ partnership with parents of multicultural backgrounds, little attention has been given by researchers to Pacifika parents’ perspective on early childhood education in New Zealand. This article draws on findings from an interpretative study on three Pacifika families’ views about their cultural practice at home and their views about early childhood education in New Zealand. It is believed that investigating parents’ views on early childhood education and early childhood services in New Zealand can provide better support for families and children from Pacifika backgrounds.

Download Full-text

First Birth at Home or in Hospital in Aotearoa/New Zealand: Intrapartum Midwifery Care and Related Outcomes

10.26686/wgtn.16959079 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

◽

Suzanne Claire Miller

Keyword(s):

New Zealand ◽

Focus Group ◽

Emotional Health ◽

Care Provision ◽

First Birth ◽

Aotearoa New Zealand ◽

Foetal Monitoring ◽

First Time Mothers ◽

First Time ◽

At Home

<p>A woman's first birth experience can be a powerfully transformative event in her life, or can be so traumatic it affects her sense of 'self' for years. It can influence her maternity future, her physical and emotional health, and her ability to mother her baby. It matters greatly how her first birth unfolds. Women in Aotearoa/New Zealand enjoy a range of options for provision of maternity care, including, for most, their choice of birth setting. Midwives who practice in a range of settings perceive that birth outcomes for first-time mothers appear to be 'better' at home. An exploration of this perception seems warranted in light of the mainstream view that hospital is the optimal birth setting. The research question was: "Do midwives offer the same intrapartum care at home and in hospital, and if differences exist, how might they be made manifest in the labour and birth events of first-time mothers?" This mixed-methods study compared labour and birth events for two groups of first-time mothers who were cared for by the same midwives in a continuity of care context. One group of mothers planned to give birth at home and the other group planned to give birth in a hospital where anaesthetic and surgical services were available. Labour and birth event data were collected by a survey which was generated following a focus group discussion with a small group of midwives. This discussion centred around whether these midwives believed their practice differed in each setting, and what influenced care provision in each place. Content analysis of the focus group data saw the emergence of four themes relating to differences in practice: midwives' use of space, their use of time, the 'being' and 'doing' of midwifery and aspects relating to safety. Survey data were analysed using SPSS. Despite being cared for by the same midwives, women in the hospital-birth group were more likely to use pharmacological methods of pain management, experienced more interventions (ARM, vaginal examinations, IV hydration, active third stage management and electronic foetal monitoring) and achieved spontaneous vaginal birth less often than the women in the homebirth group. These findings strengthen the evidence that for low risk first-time mothers a choice to give birth at home can result in a greater likelihood of achieving a normal birth. The study offers some insights into how the woman's choice of birth place affects the care provided by midwives, and how differences in care provision can relate to differences in labour and birth event outcomes.</p>

Download Full-text

Finding ‘a safe place to cry’: A review of research and evidence informing social work with refugees and new settlers in Aotearoa New Zealand

Aotearoa New Zealand Social Work ◽

10.11157/anzswj-vol21iss1-2id319 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 21 (1-2) ◽

pp. 48-59 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Jenny Pepworth ◽

Mary Nash

Keyword(s):

New Zealand ◽

Support Networks ◽

Evidence Based ◽

Host Society ◽

Relevant Research ◽

Employment Opportunities ◽

Safe Place ◽

Migrant Communities ◽

Aotearoa New Zealand ◽

Research Findings

This article presents current and relevant research findings relating to settlement in Aotearoa New Zealand for both refugees and migrants. The article looks at how losses experienced through migration impact on settlement outcomes. Protective and risk factors for new migrants’ adjustment including family and social support networks, language issues, employment opportunities, discrimination and prejudice as well as the size of different migrant communities are all explored. Social policy which aims to achieve social cohesion must adequately address the needs of both newcomers and host society members. Social workers need to be aware of the settlement issues faced by their clients at the micro, meso and macro levels in order to competently and ethically meet their clients’ needs in this field of practice. The article provides evidence based on research for practice.

Download Full-text

Place of death related to demographic factors for hospice patients in Wellington, Aotearoa New Zealand

Palliative Medicine ◽

10.1177/0269216311412229 ◽

2011 ◽

Vol 26 (4) ◽

pp. 342-349 ◽

Cited By ~ 14

Author(s):

Elizabeth Johnston Taylor ◽

Brian Ensor ◽

James Stanley

Keyword(s):

New Zealand ◽

Residential Care ◽

Hospital Setting ◽

Care Facility ◽

Retrospective Chart Review ◽

Inpatient Unit ◽

Place Of Death ◽

Residential Care Facility ◽

Aotearoa New Zealand ◽

At Home

Background: Because socioeconomic and cultural factors contribute to where one dies, it is important to document place of death determinants in diverse societies. Aim: The purpose of this study was to describe where persons in an Aotearoa New Zealand hospice die, and to identify factors that are associated with place of death. Design: A retrospective chart review was conducted. Setting/Participants: Data were extracted from the charts of all patients receiving services from one hospice (i.e. secondary care) for whom death occurred during 2006–2008; 1268 cases for whom place of death was recorded comprise this sample. Results: For close to half (47%), death occurred in the hospice inpatient unit, whereas 29% died at home, 8% died in an acute hospital setting, and 17% died in an aged/residential care facility. Bivariate analyses showed that persons who die in an aged/residential care facility are more likely to be aged 65 or older, unmarried, have a non-cancer diagnosis, and are likely poorer. Asians, those aged less than 65, those with cancer, and those admitted initially to hospice for respite care tended to die in the hospice inpatient unit. Multinominal logistic regression indicated that dying at home was only predicted by being from a Pacific Island. Conclusions: Age, economics, diagnosis, ethnicity, marital status, and whether one enters a hospice service for (at least in part) respite were all associated to a certain extent with where one dies. These findings contribute to the growing evidence linking various factors, especially ethnic groups, with place of death.

Download Full-text