scholarly journals How involved are husbands in antenatal care? The perspective of women availing antenatal services at a maternity hospital in rural South Karnataka-India

2019 ◽  
Vol 8 (10) ◽  
pp. 3879
Author(s):  
Nancy A. Gnanaselvam ◽  
Apoorva Dore ◽  
Sadhana Beaty ◽  
Jacqueline V. Y. ◽  
Tresa Rose A. ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Antenatal Care ◽  
Male Involvement ◽  
Maternity Hospital ◽  
Clinical Findings ◽  
Vital Role ◽  
Positive Health ◽  
Nuclear Families ◽  
Care Workers ◽  
Positive Health Outcomes ◽  
Antenatal Services

Background: Male involvement in maternal health is associated with significant positive health outcomes in the mother. We aimed to assess the antenatal womens’ perception of their husbands’ involvement in antenatal care in a maternity hospital in rural Karnataka, India.Methods: 200 pregnant women in a maternity hospital in Karnataka were interviewed using a semi-structured pilot tested questionnaire on their perception about their husbands’ participation in antenatal care.Results: The mean score of women’s perception of husband’s awareness of antenatal care was 10.1±2.2 out of a maximum of 12, while that of husband’s attitude to antenatal care was 7.7±1.4 out of a maximum of 9 and of husband’s participation was 21.7±5.4 out of a maximum of 30. The score of perception of husband’s awareness was significantly higher among multigravidae and among women who had a planned pregnancy. The score of perception of husband’s attitude was significantly higher among women from nuclear families, multigravidae, those with a living child and those with no complications in the current pregnancy. The score of perception of husband’s participation was significantly higher among women with no complications in the current pregnancy.Conclusions: Husbands play a vital role in the antenatal care of their wives. This should be harnessed by health care workers by providing health education to them, encouraging husbands to accompany their wives to antenatal checkups and labour and promptly communicating clinical findings to them.

scholarly journals A mixed reception: perceptions of pregnant adolescents’ experiences with health care workers in Cape Town, South Africa

2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Ronel Sewpaul ◽  
Rik Crutzen ◽  
Natisha Dukhi ◽  
Derrick Sekgala ◽  
Priscilla Reddy
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Health Care ◽  
Antenatal Care ◽  
Health Care Workers ◽  
Cape Town ◽  
Pregnant Adolescents ◽  
High Quality ◽  
Care Workers ◽  
Antenatal Clinics ◽  
Antenatal Services

Abstract Background Maternal mortality among adolescent mothers in South Africa is higher than many middle-income countries. This is largely attributable to conditions that can be prevented or managed by high quality antenatal care. The way in which pregnant adolescents are treated at antenatal clinics influences their timely utilization of antenatal services. This qualitative study reports on the experiences of pregnant adolescents with health care workers when accessing antenatal care. Methods Pregnant girls aged 13–19 (n = 19) who attended public health care facilities that provide Basic Antenatal Care (BANC) services in Cape Town, South Africa were recruited. Four face to face in-depth interviews and four mini focus group discussions were undertaken, facilitated by a topic guide. Thematic analyses were used to analyse the data. Results Experiences that reinforce antenatal attendance, such as respectful and supportive treatment, were outweighed by negative experiences, such as victimization; discrimination against being pregnant at a young age; experiencing disregard and exclusion; inadequate provision of information about pregnancy, health and childbirth; clinic attendance discouragement; and mental health turmoil. Conclusions There is evidence of a discordant relationship between the health care workers and the pregnant adolescents. Adolescents feel mistreated and discriminated against by the health care workers, which in turn discourages their attendance at antenatal clinics. Maternal health care workers need to receive support and regular training on the provision of youth friendly antenatal care and be regularly evaluated, to promote the provision of fair and high quality antenatal services for adolescent girls.

scholarly journals “I came to escort someone”: Men’s experiences of antenatal care services in urban Ghana—a qualitative study

2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Gloria Abena Ampim ◽  
Astrid Blystad ◽  
Albert Kpoor ◽  
Haldis Haukanes
Keyword(s):  
Antenatal Care ◽  
Health Workers ◽  
Group Discussion ◽  
Male Involvement ◽  
Active Role ◽  
Maternal Health Services ◽  
Positive Health ◽  
And Gender ◽  
Maternity Clinic ◽  
Female Space

Abstract Background Male involvement in maternal healthcare has been widely recognized as essential for positive health outcomes for expectant mothers and their unborn babies. However, few studies have explored men’s experiences of maternal health services. The purpose of this paper is to explore men’s involvement in antenatal care in urban Ghana and to discuss how men navigate their roles in a space that has been constructed as feminine. The study draws upon theories of space, place, and gender. Methods A qualitative exploratory study using semistructured interviews, focus group discussion, and observation was conducted in Accra, Ghana. Expectant fathers and health workers were interviewed, and observation was conducted at a selected public hospital in Accra. Results The findings suggest that the few men who attend antenatal care with their expecting partners become involved to a limited extent in the clinic’s activities. Beyond a few who take an active role, most men stay on the outskirts of the hospital grounds and rarely participate in consultations with their partner and midwife. Men still view their presence as necessary to acquire knowledge and as sources of emotional, financial, and physical support for their partners. On the health workers’ side, the study found no clear agenda for engaging men at the clinic, and nurses/midwives felt there was a lack of staff who could engage more directly with the men. Conclusion The study indicates that most expecting fathers feel too shy and uncomfortable to locate themselves in the female space that makes up antenatal care/maternity wards. Health workers do not feel they have the necessary resources to involve men fruitfully. Thus, men do not engage in the activity as hoped but rather remain on the outskirts of the maternity clinic. However, if men continue to negotiate their involvement at the clinic and become more assertive in their roles, the maternity clinic as a female space could, with time, be transformed into a space in which both expecting mothers and fathers can actively participate and be engaged to the benefit of all.

scholarly journals “I came to escort someone”: Men’s experiences of antenatal care services in Urban Ghana. A qualitative study

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gloria Abena Ampim ◽  
Astrid Blystad ◽  
Albert Kpoor ◽  
Haldis Haukanes
Keyword(s):  
Antenatal Care ◽  
Health Workers ◽  
Group Discussion ◽  
Male Involvement ◽  
Active Role ◽  
Maternal Health Services ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Positive Health ◽  
Maternity Clinic ◽  
Female Space

Abstract BackgroundMale involvement in maternal healthcare has been widely recognized as important for positive health outcomes for expectant mothers and their unborn babies, but few studies have explored men’s experiences of maternal health services. The purpose of this paper is to explore men’s involvement in antenatal care in urban Ghana and to discuss how men navigate their roles in a space that has been constructed as feminine. The study draws upon theories of gender, place and space.MethodsA qualitative exploratory study using semi-structured interviews, focus group discussion and observation was conducted in Accra, Ghana. Expectant fathers and health workers were interviewed and observation was conducted at a selected public hospital in Accra. ResultsThe findings suggest that the few men who attend antenatal care with their expecting partners get involved to a limited extent in activities at the clinic. Beyond a few who take an active role, most men stay on the outskirts of the hospital grounds, and rarely participate in the consultation with their partner and nurse-midwife. Men still view their presence as important, both to acquire knowledge, and as a source of emotional, financial and physical support for their partners. On the health workers’ side, the study found that there was no clear agenda for engaging men at the clinic, and nurses / midwives felt the lack of staff who could engage more directly with the men. ConclusionThe study indicates that most expecting fathers feel too shy and uncomfortable to locate themselves in the female space that makes up antenatal care / maternity wards. Health workers do not feel they have the necessary resources to involve men in a fruitful way. Thus, men do not engage in the activity as hoped but remain on the outskirts of the maternity clinic. However, if men continue to negotiate their involvement at the clinic and become more assertive in their roles, the maternity clinic as a female space could, with time, be transformed into a space where both expecting mothers and fathers can be active and engaged to the benefit of all.

scholarly journals The power-trust cycle in global health: Trust as belonging in relations of dependency

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-21
Author(s):  
Emma-Louise Anderson ◽  
Laura Considine ◽  
Amy S. Patterson
Keyword(s):  
Global Health ◽  
Health Outcomes ◽  
Positive Health ◽  
Global Health Initiatives ◽  
Health Initiatives ◽  
Power Trust ◽  
Trust And Power ◽  
Positive Health Outcomes ◽  
Exercise Of Discretion ◽  
The Relationship

Abstract Trust between actors is vital to delivering positive health outcomes, while relationships of power determine health agendas, whose voices are heard and who benefits from global health initiatives. However, the relationship between trust and power has been neglected in the literatures on both international politics and global health. We examine this relationship through a study of relations between faith based organisations (FBO) and donors in Malawi and Zambia, drawing on 66 key informant interviews with actors central to delivering health care. From these two cases we develop an understanding of ‘trust as belonging’, which we define as the exercise of discretion accompanied by the expression of shared identities. Trust as belonging interacts with power in what we term the ‘power-trust cycle’, in which various forms of power undergird trust, and trust augments these forms of power. The power-trust cycle has a critical bearing on global health outcomes, affecting the space within which both local and international actors jockey to influence the ideologies that underpin global health, and the distribution of crucial resources. We illustrate how the power-trust cycle can work in both positive and negative ways to affect possible cooperation, with significant implications for collective responses to global health challenges.

When Religion Hurts: Structural Sexism and Health in Religious Congregations

2021 ◽  
pp. 000312242199668
Author(s):  
Patricia Homan ◽  
Amy Burdette
Keyword(s):  
General Social Survey ◽  
State Level ◽  
Religious Participation ◽  
Religious Institutions ◽  
Religious Congregations ◽  
Positive Health ◽  
Nationally Representative ◽  
Positive Health Outcomes ◽  
High Degree ◽  
The Relationship

An emerging line of research has begun to document the relationship between structural sexism and health. This work shows that structural sexism—defined as systematic gender inequality in power and resources—within U.S. state-level institutions and within marriages can shape individuals’ physical health. In the present study, we use a novel dataset created by linking two nationally representative surveys (the General Social Survey and the National Congregations Study) to explore the health consequences of structural sexism within another setting: religious institutions. Although religious participation is generally associated with positive health outcomes, many religious institutions create and reinforce a high degree of structural sexism, which is harmful for health. Prior research has not reconciled these seemingly conflicting patterns. We find that among religious participants, women who attend sexist religious institutions report significantly worse self-rated health than do those who attend more inclusive congregations. Furthermore, only women who attend inclusive religious institutions exhibit a health advantage relative to non-participants. We observe marginal to no statistically significant effects among men. Our results suggest the health benefits of religious participation do not extend to groups that are systematically excluded from power and status within their religious institutions.

scholarly journals Fear of Childbirth among Pregnant Women Availing Antenatal Services in a Maternity Hospital in Rural Karnataka

2019 ◽  
Vol 41 (4) ◽  
pp. 318-322 ◽  
Author(s):  
Avita Rose Johnson ◽  
Melvin Kumar G ◽  
Rosy Jacob ◽  
Maria Arul Jessie ◽  
Fabiyola Mary ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Pregnant Women ◽  
Maternity Hospital ◽  
Fear Of Childbirth ◽  
Antenatal Services

‘You should tell somebody’: An evaluation of a survivor stories blog project to motivate sexual assault victims

2021 ◽  
pp. 001789692110164
Author(s):  
Rachel E Riggs
Keyword(s):  
Sexual Assault ◽  
Health Outcomes ◽  
Thematic Analysis ◽  
Social Cognitive ◽  
Cognitive Theory ◽  
Positive Health ◽  
Sexual Assault Survivors ◽  
Assault Victims ◽  
Positive Health Outcomes ◽  
Blog Posts

Objective: Sexual assault victims often do not disclose their assaults or seek positive health outcomes. The RAINN Survivor Stories project shares testimonials in the form of online blogs from sexual assault survivors to motivate and encourage others to come forward and disclose their assaults. This study aimed to better understand the themes present in the survivor stories to motivate victims to disclose their assaults and seek positive health outcomes. Design: A theoretical thematic analysis was conducted on blog posts created for the project to identify (a) how the posts tell survivor stories and (b) how the posts model positive health outcomes using social cognitive theory and the disclosure processes model as a guide. Setting: Online setting linked to the rainn.org website. Method: Blog posts were collected for inductive thematic analysis. Themes were identified based on their prevalence in the data and their pertinence to the research questions. Results: Emerging themes included (a) overcoming initial disclosure, (b) overcoming the lasting effects of victimisation, (c) utilising support and (d) advocating for others after assault. Conclusion: Findings offer insight to researchers and practitioners creating media messages for sexual assault victims and other stigmatised groups by expanding understanding of modelled positive health outcomes in media and the disclosure process of victims.

Understanding Variations in the Health Consequences of Sedentary Behavior: A Taxonomy of Social Interaction, Novelty, Choice, and Cognition

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-9
Author(s):  
Wendell C. Taylor
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Social Interaction ◽  
Health Outcomes ◽  
Sedentary Behavior ◽  
Age Groups ◽  
Sedentary Behaviors ◽  
Positive Health ◽  
Adverse Health Outcomes ◽  
Important Challenge ◽  
Positive Health Outcomes

The study of sedentary behaviors requires taxonomies (classification schemes) to standardize data collection, measurements, and outcomes. Three taxonomies of sedentary behaviors have been identified, but none address an important challenge in sedentary behavior research, which is to distinguish between beneficial and detrimental health effects of various sedentary behaviors. Some sedentary behaviors (e.g., reading) are associated with positive health outcomes, whereas other sedentary behaviors (e.g., television viewing) are associated with adverse health outcomes. To address directly this complexity and present a different conception and understanding of discrepant findings related to health outcomes, a new taxonomy is needed. The development of the new taxonomy is guided by analysis of literature and selection of a relevant and informative behavioral sciences theoretical framework (i.e., self-determination theory). Because older adults are an increasing percentage of the population and report a high prevalence of sedentary behaviors, the new taxonomy was designed for older adults with potential application to all age groups. Taylor’s taxonomy of sedentary behaviors is parsimonious with four domains: social interaction (i.e., not solitary, companionship, interacting, and connecting with others); novelty (i.e., refreshingly new, unusual, or different); choice (i.e., volition, preferred option or alternative, the power, freedom, or decision to choose); and cognition (i.e., mentally stimulating and engaging).

Protecting my baby: a qualitative study of the health promoting practices of pregnant Burmese migrant women living in Thailand

2019 ◽  
Vol 15 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-16 ◽  
Author(s):  
Titaree Phanwichatkul ◽  
Elaine Burns ◽  
Pranee Liamputtong ◽  
Virginia Schmied
Keyword(s):  
Pregnant Women ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Ethnographic Study ◽  
Migrant Women ◽  
Health Seeking ◽  
Positive Health ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Southern Thailand ◽  
Health Promoting ◽  
Antenatal Services

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to describe Burmese migrant women’s perceptions of health and well-being during pregnancy, their health promoting practices and their experiences with the Thai antenatal services.Design/methodology/approachThe study used an ethnographic design. Observations were conducted in two antenatal clinics in southern Thailand. Ten Burmese migrant women and three Burmese interpreters participated in interviews. Data were analysed using thematic analysis.FindingsThe Burmese women wanted to take care of themselves and their baby to the best of their ability. This included following traditional practices and attending the antenatal clinic if able. Negotiating the demands of earning an income, and protecting their unborn baby, sometimes led to unhealthy practices such as consuming energy drinks and herbal tonics to improve performance. Accessing antenatal care was a positive health seeking behaviour noted in this community, however, it was not available to all.Research limitations/implicationsThis is a small ethnographic study conducted in one Province in Thailand and all Burmese participants were legal migrants. Further research is required to understand the needs of pregnant women not able to access maternity services because of their status as an illegal migrant.Practical implicationsCommunity-based health promotion initiatives need to focus on the nutrition of pregnant women who are migrants living in southern Thailand. New models of care may increase migrant women’s use of antenatal services.Originality/valueMost studies of the health of migrant women are conducted in high-income countries. This study demonstrates the difficulties experienced by women migrating from a low to middle-income country.

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