scholarly journals Women’s experiences and perceptions of anxiety and stress during the perinatal period: a systematic review and qualitative evidence synthesis

2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Megan McCarthy ◽  
Catherine Houghton ◽  
Karen Matvienko-Sikar

Abstract Background The perinatal period, from pregnancy to the first year postpartum, is a transitional period that can result in anxiety and stress for some women. Perinatal anxiety and stress can adversely impact the physical and psychological health of women and children. Understanding women’s lived experiences of perinatal anxiety and stress is essential to better support women. The aim of this qualitative evidence synthesis was to examine women’s experiences and perceptions of, and barriers and facilitators to coping with, perinatal anxiety and stress. Methods Databases CINAHL, EMBASE, MEDLINE, PsycINFO and Maternity and Infant Care were searched from inception to June 2020. Eligible studies included women who were pregnant or up to one year postpartum and examined women’s experiences of anxiety and/or stress during the perinatal period. Data were synthesised using thematic synthesis. Results Of 20,318 identified articles, 13 studies met inclusion criteria and were included in this review. Five key themes emerged: Social support, women’s experiences of healthcare, social norms and expectations, factors that impact on coping and mother and baby’s health. Conclusion This review provided a comprehensive synthesis of perinatal anxiety and stress. Findings indicate that increased support for perinatal mental health in antenatal and postpartum care is needed. Addressing unrealistic expectations and conceptualisations of motherhood is also important to better support women. Enhancing women’s social support networks and provision of clear and consistent information are also essential to support women and minimise stress and anxiety in the perinatal period.

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Megan McCarthy ◽  
Catherine Houghton ◽  
Karen Matvienko-Sikar

Abstract Background. The perinatal period, from pregnancy to the first year postpartum, is a transitional period that can result in anxiety and stress for some women. Perinatal anxiety and stress can adversely impact the physical and psychological health of women and children. Understanding women’s lived experiences of perinatal anxiety and stress is essential to better support women. The aim of this qualitative evidence synthesis was to examine women’s experiences and perceptions of, and barriers and facilitators to coping with, perinatal anxiety and stress.Methods. Databases CINAHL, EMBASE, MEDLINE, PsycINFO and Maternity and Infant Care were searched from inception to June 2020. Eligible studies included women who were pregnant or up to one year postpartum and examined women’s experiences of anxiety and/or stress during the perinatal period. Data were synthesised using thematic synthesis.Results. Of 20,318 identified articles, 13 studies met inclusion criteria and were included in this review. Five key themes emerged: Social support, women’s experiences of healthcare, social norms and expectations, factors that impact on coping and mother and baby’s health.Limitations. Studies were predominantly conducted in high-income countries.Conclusion. This review provided a comprehensive synthesis of perinatal anxiety and stress. Findings indicate that increased support for perinatal mental health in antenatal and postpartum care is needed. Addressing unrealistic expectations and conceptualisations of motherhood is also important to better support women. Enhancing women’s social support networks and provision of clear and consistent information are also essential to support women and minimise stress and anxiety in the perinatal period.


PLoS ONE ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 16 (12) ◽  
pp. e0261551
Author(s):  
Jessica E. Moulton ◽  
Martha Isela Vazquez Corona ◽  
Cathy Vaughan ◽  
Meghan A. Bohren

Background Reproductive coercion and abuse is a major public health issue, with significant effects on the health and well-being of women. Reproductive coercion and abuse includes any form of behaviour that intentionally controls another person’s reproductive choices. The aim of this qualitative evidence synthesis is to explore women’s experiences of reproductive coercion and abuse globally, to broaden understanding of the different ways reproductive coercion and abuse is perpetrated, perceived and experienced across settings and socio-cultural contexts. Method We searched Medline, CINAHL and Embase for eligible studies from inception to 25th February 2021. Primary studies with a qualitative study design that focused on the experiences and perceptions of women who have encountered reproductive coercion and abuse were eligible for inclusion. Titles and abstracts, and full texts were screened by independent reviewers. We extracted data from included studies using a form designed for this synthesis and assessed methodological limitations using CASP. We used Thomas and Harden’s thematic analysis approach to analyse and synthesise the evidence, and the GRADE-CERQual approach to assess confidence in review findings. Results We included 33 studies from twelve countries in South Asia, the Asia Pacific, North America, South America, Africa and Europe. Most studies used in-depth interviews and focus group discussions to discuss women’s experiences of reproductive coercion and abuse. Reproductive coercion and abuse manifested in a range of behaviours including control of pregnancy outcome, pregnancy pressure or contraceptive sabotage. There were a range of reasons cited for reproductive coercion and abuse, including control of women, rigid gender roles, social inequalities and family pressure. Women’s different responses to reproductive coercion and abuse included using covert contraception and feelings of distress, anger and trauma. Across contexts, perpetration and experiences of reproductive coercion and abuse were influenced by different factors including son preferences and social exclusion. Conclusions We reflect on the importance of socio-cultural factors in understanding the phenomenon of reproductive coercion and abuse and how it affects women, as well as how the mechanisms of power and control at both individual and societal levels work to perpetuate the incidence of reproductive coercion and abuse against women.


BMJ Open ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (12) ◽  
pp. e040731
Author(s):  
Soo Oh ◽  
Carolyn A Chew-Graham ◽  
Victoria Silverwood ◽  
Sirah Aksa Shaheen ◽  
Jacqualyn Walsh-House ◽  
...  

ObjectivesAnxiety affects around 15% of women during the perinatal period and can adversely impact both mother and child, with potential implications for long-term health; few studies have examined women’s experiences of perinatal anxiety (PNA). In the context of the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence prioritising PNA, this study aimed to explore women’s experiences of the identification and management of PNA and their engagement with healthcare professionals.DesignQualitative study with semi-structured interviews and applying thematic analysis.SettingRecruitment materials were shared widely through maternal support groups, children’s centres, libraries, National Health Service (NHS) providers (primary and secondary care) operating in the West Midlands or North West of England and through social media.ParticipantsSeventeen women (aged 25–42 years) with self-reported anxiety during pregnancy and/or up to 12 months postpartum. Interviews digitally recorded and transcribed with consent.ResultsThree main themes and corresponding sub-themes are described around a central concept of PNA as an individualised experience: barriers to disclosing PNA; help-seeking for PNA and establishing and engaging support networks. Disclosing, help-seeking and accessing systems of support were interconnected and contextualised by individualised experiences of PNA and pervaded by stigma.ConclusionsThis research provides new insights into PNA and calls for awareness to be improved to achieve parity alongside depression and avoid missed opportunities in the provision of care for women and families. Future research should seek to develop novel PNA-specific interventions aimed at prevention, management and/or combatting stigma to support more women to disclose mental health concerns and seek help early.


BMJ Open ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (4) ◽  
pp. e039348
Author(s):  
Nadine Janis Pohontsch ◽  
Thorsten Meyer ◽  
Yvonne Eisenmann ◽  
Maria-Inti Metzendorf ◽  
Verena Leve ◽  
...  

IntroductionStroke is a frequent disease in the older population of Western Europe with aphasia as a common consequence. Aphasia is known to impede targeting treatment to individual patients’ needs and therefore may reduce treatment success. In Germany, the postacute care of patients who had stroke is provided by different healthcare institutions of different sectors (rehabilitation, nursing and primary care) with substantial difficulties to coordinate services. We will conduct two qualitative evidence syntheses (QESs) aiming at exploring distinct healthcare needs and desires of older people living with poststroke aphasia. We thereby hope to support the development of integrated care models based on needs of patients who are very restricted to communicate them. Since various methods of QESs exist, the aim of the study embedding the two QESs was to determine if findings differ according to the approach used.Methods and analysisWe will conduct two QESs by using metaethnography (ME) and thematic synthesis (ThS) independently to synthesise the findings of primary qualitative studies. The main differences between these two methods are the underlying epistemologies (idealism (ME) vs realism (ThS)) and the type of research question (emerging (ME) vs fixed (ThS)).We will search seven bibliographical databases. Inclusion criteria comprise: patients with poststroke aphasia, aged 65 years and older, studies in German/English, all types of qualitative studies concerning needs and desires related to healthcare or the healthcare system. The protocol was registered in the International Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews, follows Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis Protocols guidelines and includes three items from the Enhancing Transparency in Reporting the synthesis of Qualitative Research checklist.Ethics and disseminationEthical approval is not required. Findings will be published in a peer-reviewed journal and presented on national conferences.


Author(s):  
Esther Cores-Bilbao ◽  
María del Carmen Méndez-García ◽  
M. Carmen Fonseca-Mora

AbstractThe current European context is characterised by the emergence of socio-political tensions that threaten to derail the cohesion objectives traditionally promoted by the authorities of the European Union. With EU citizenship in the shadow of Brexit, the fear of dismemberment of the current Europe of the 28 looms over a renewed debate on concepts like European identity, European citizenship or EU legitimacy and the involvement of its constituents in European affairs, as well as the role of education for promoting democratic awareness among young Europeans. This work aims to collect, appraise and synthesise qualitative evidence obtained in primary research exploring the perceptions of European university students about their civic and cultural identity. This systematic analysis sets out to identify predictors of positive self-identification with the EU and its institutions, focusing on the impact that different educational interventions have had on the attitudes and perceptions expressed by university students, and the importance of foreign language learning in the results obtained. The authors report their assessment of quality of the findings in a Cochrane-style qualitative evidence synthesis (QES), based on the GRADE-CERQual (Confidence in Evidence from Reviews of Qualitative research) method. The 12 informed findings described in this study support decision-making in future education policy formulation.


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