scholarly journals Women’s experiences, beliefs and knowledge of urinary symptoms in the postpartum period and the perceptions of health professionals: a grounded theory study

2017 ◽  
Vol 18 (05) ◽  
pp. 448-462 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ann R. Wagg ◽  
Sally Kendall ◽  
Frances Bunn
Keyword(s):  
Grounded Theory ◽  
Health Professionals ◽  
Help Seeking ◽  
Pelvic Floor Muscle ◽  
Small Body ◽  
Age Groups ◽  
Antenatal Clinic ◽  
Urinary Symptoms ◽  
Women’S Experiences ◽  
Women's Experiences

AimThis study aimed to explore, describe and enhance understanding of women’s experiences, beliefs and knowledge of urinary symptoms in thepostpartumperiod and also sought to understand the perceptions of health professionals of these issues.BackgroundWomen often take no action with regard to urinary symptoms particularly in the postnatal period, which can lead to the adoption of coping mechanisms or normalisation of symptoms. The true prevalence is difficult to assess due to differing age groups and time spans in studies. There is only a small body of work available to try to understand the lack of action on the part of the women, and even less around the attitudes of health professionals.MethodsGrounded theory was selected for a qualitative inductive approach, to attempt to understand the social processes involved and generate new knowledge by examining the different interactions. Recruitment was by theoretical sampling. In total, 15 women were interviewed and two focus groups of health professionals were undertaken. In addition, an antenatal clinic and a postnatal mothers group were observed. All information was analysed manually using constant comparison.FindingsThe findings revealed that at times poor communication, lack of clear education and the power of relative’s stories of the past were barriers to help seeking, and were disempowering women, creating a climate for normalisation. Women were willing to talk but preferred the health professional to initiate discussion. In addition, health professionals were concerned about a lack of time and knowledge and were uncertain of the effect of pelvic floor muscle exercises due to some research indicating improvement may not be maintained over time. The core category was; ‘overcoming barriers to facilitate empowerment’, indicating that improving communication and education could reduce barriers and enable them to seek help.

Intersections and Multiple ‘Candidacies’: Exploring Connections between Two Theoretical Perspectives on Domestic Abuse and Their Implications for Practicing Policy

2014 ◽  
Vol 14 (1) ◽  
pp. 43-62 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mhairi Mackenzie ◽  
Ellie Conway ◽  
Annette Hastings ◽  
Moira Munro ◽  
Catherine A. O’Donnell
Keyword(s):  
Help Seeking ◽  
Domestic Abuse ◽  
The Political ◽  
Service Utilisation ◽  
Structural Factors ◽  
Women’S Experiences ◽  
Women's Experiences ◽  
Theoretical Perspectives ◽  
Literature Synthesis

Domestic abuse policy increasingly uses language which indicates that abuse is patterned according to structural factors. However, practicing according to these structural accounts of abuse is problematic because of the policy and organisational contexts that practitioners work within and, we argue, because the implications of the structured nature of victims’ experiences is not fully understood by all practitioners.We ask whether women's differential use and experiences of services with a remit to address abuse can be illuminated using two theoretical perspectives – ‘candidacy’ and intersectionality. We report the findings of a literature synthesis that investigates how these improve our understanding of women's help-seeking and service utilisation and of the responses that they receive. Both concepts were highly congruent with the literature and we conclude that, together, candidacy and intersectionality offer a means of enhancing knowledge of how the political becomes enacted in the personal. Embedding such knowledge within practice repertoires offers the potential to develop more nuanced structural understandings of women's experiences and constraints.

Self-Stigma and Its Relationship With Rates of Depression Diagnosis

Crisis ◽  
2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Feng Li ◽  
Haipeng Jia ◽  
Jinchen Liu ◽  
Sihai Liu ◽  
Xuesong Lu ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Health Services ◽  
Older People ◽  
Mental Health Professionals ◽  
Health Professionals ◽  
Help Seeking ◽  
Age Groups ◽  
Suicide Notes ◽  
Professional Mental Health ◽  
Seeking Help

Abstract. Background: Self-stigma about suicide might impede people seeking help from mental health professionals. There is little research about self-stigma expressed by suicide decedents. Aims: We aimed to explore (a) self-stigma about suicide through examination of suicide notes; and (b) whether the expression of self-stigma was associated with the formal diagnoses of depression. Method: Data were extracted from notes left by people who died by suicide in two major Chinese cities (Shanghai, 2004–2017; Wuhan, 2005–2019). Note content was examined and self-stigma items were coded. Demographics associated with self-stigma were reported. Rates of depression were compared between note-leavers who expressed self-stigma, and those who did not. Results: Notes were left by 567 suicide decedents (representing about 19% all suicides). Approximately 25% notes contained at least one self-stigma item. Older people made fewer self-stigma references, as did people from Wuhan. Depression was not associated with self-stigma. Limitations: Not all people dying from suicide leave notes, and suicide notes variably report self-stigma, thus self-stigma about suicide may be underestimated. Conclusion: Self-stigma items varied across regions and age groups, but not with depression. Therefore, self-stigma expressed by suicide decedents may not reflect help-seeking behaviours from professional mental health services.

Exploring Some Swedish Women’s Experiences of Support During Childbirth

2014 ◽  
Vol 4 (3) ◽  
pp. 183-190 ◽  
Author(s):  
Astrid Nystedt ◽  
Lisbeth Kristiansen ◽  
Kerstin Ehrenstråle ◽  
Ingegerd Hildingsson
Keyword(s):  
Social Support ◽  
Grounded Theory ◽  
Study Design ◽  
Birth Experience ◽  
Women’S Experiences ◽  
Pregnancy And Childbirth ◽  
Women's Experiences ◽  
Women's Experience ◽  
Open Coding

BACKGROUND: Caregivers need to better understand women’s experiences of support during childbirth because research suggests that social support positively influences childbirth.AIM: This study describes women’s experiences of support given by caregivers during pregnancy and childbirth.METHOD: The study design was inspired by grounded theory. Seven interviews of women were analyzed with an open coding, and different time-related categories related to the childbirth process emerged. The categories were marked by fear and a negative birth experience, being guided on own terms, feel supported, and transformation into courage to give birth. The analysis continued with a selective coding, reflecting the process of mistrust to trust in caregivers.FINDINGS: The mistrust in caregivers began with feelings of fear of birth and a negative birth experience. Through being guided on own terms and feeling supported by the caregivers, a trusting relationship could be established. If the trusting relationship continued during labor, then a woman could transform the fear of birth into the courage to give birth.CONCLUSIONS: Women’s experience of support can be seen as a product of earlier experiences from interactions with caregivers. Therefore, caregivers must be sensitive to the potential power and far-reaching consequences their actions can have.

scholarly journals Women in Motion: Experiences with Contact & Movement Improvisation

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ashley Bieze Wilson
Keyword(s):  
Grounded Theory ◽  
Theory Approach ◽  
Women’S Experiences ◽  
Contact Improvisation ◽  
Women's Experiences ◽  
Societal Norms ◽  
Patriarchal Society ◽  
Grounded Theory Approach

This research uses a grounded theory approach to examine women’s experiences in contact and movement improvisation communities. Eight women ages 26 to 54 were interviewed regarding their initial experiences with contact improvisation, their current experiences, and their motivations for participation. The four main themes from these interviews are Motivation, Physiology and Psychology, Safety, and Community and Society. Based on the responses it seems that contact and movement improvisation provides a space for participants that may temporarily lessen the pressures they feel from patriarchal society. However, contact and movement improvisation does not exist in a vacuum and societal norms still permeate these communities.

scholarly journals Exploring women’s experiences of participation in shared decision-making during childbirth: a qualitative study at a reference hospital in Spain

2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
María López-Toribio ◽  
Paulina Bravo ◽  
Anna Llupià
Keyword(s):  
Decision Making ◽  
Qualitative Study ◽  
Shared Decision Making ◽  
Health Professionals ◽  
Shared Decision ◽  
Women’S Experiences ◽  
Birth Plan ◽  
Women's Experiences ◽  
Women's Participation ◽  
Reference Hospital

Abstract Background Women’s engagement in healthcare decision-making during childbirth has been increasingly emphasised as a priority in maternity care, since it increases satisfaction with the childbirth experience and provides health benefits for women and newborns. The birth plan was developed as a tool to facilitate communication between health professionals and women in Spain, but their value in routine practice has been questioned. Besides, little is known about women’s experiences of participation in decision-making in the Spanish context. Thus, this study aimed to explore women’s experiences of participation in shared decision-making during hospital childbirth. Methods An exploratory qualitative study using focus groups was carried out in one maternity unit of a large reference hospital in Barcelona, Spain. Participants were first-time mothers aged 18 years or older who had had a live birth at the same hospital in the previous 12 months. Data collected were transcribed verbatim and analysed using a six-phase inductive thematic analysis process. Results Twenty-three women participated in three focus groups. Three major themes emerged from the data: “Women’s low participation in shared decision-making”, “Lack of information provision for shared decision-making”, and “Suggestions to improve women’s participation in shared decision-making”. The women who were willing to take an active role in decision-making encountered barriers to achieving this and some women did not feel prepared to do so. The birth plan was experienced as a deficient method to promote women’s participation, as health professionals did not use them. Participants described the information given as insufficient and not offered at a timely or useful point where it could aid their decision-making. Potential improvements identified that could promote women’s participation were having a mutually respectful relationship with their providers, the support of partners and other members of the family and receiving continuity of a coordinated and personalised perinatal care. Conclusion Enhancing women’s involvement in shared decision-making requires the acquisition of skills by health professionals and women. The development and implementation of interventions that encompass a training programme for health professionals and women, accompanied by an effective tool to promote women’s participation in shared decision-making during childbirth, is highly recommended.

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