scholarly journals Personal Use of Handheld Fetal Doppler Monitors by Women in New Zealand

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lyndal Honeyman
Keyword(s):  
New Zealand ◽  
Pregnant Women ◽  
Health Professionals ◽  
Neonatal Morbidity ◽  
Fetal Life ◽  
Online Forums ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Fetal Doppler ◽  
Personal Use ◽  
Qualitative Descriptive

<div>This qualitative descriptive study explores what factors are driving women in New Zealand to use handheld fetal Doppler monitors during their pregnancy. This is a little explored phenomenon in the literature, and consensus among health professional bodies is that pregnant women should be discouraged from using a handheld fetal Doppler. One concern health professionals hold is that a pregnant woman may be falsely reassured about the condition of her unborn baby and would delay presentation to her lead maternity carer, culminating in stillbirth or neonatal morbidity and mortality that potentially could have been avoided.</div><div><br></div><div>Six women from a major New Zealand city who were between 20- and 39-weeks’ gestation participated in semi-structured interviews. Thematic analysis, as described by Braun and Clarke, was used to generate five main themes and six subthemes. Control was a strong overarching</div><div>theme with subthemes of Fertility and Pregnancy Loss, Ultrasound and Doppler anxieties. Fetal feedback with the subtheme of Bonding was another strong theme. The third and fourth themes were Peer-to-peer education and support and Lay knowledge versus professional knowledge with a</div><div>subtheme of Lack of research. The final theme was the Woman-Midwife relationship with a subtheme of More support.</div><div><br></div><div>Women’s reasons for using a handheld fetal Doppler is for control of their response to the potential of miscarriage. This response is largely one of anxiety, particularly prior to the quickening of the fetus when there is little feedback to prove ongoing fetal life outside of symptoms such as morning sickness. Whilst women gain their information to underpin use of a handheld fetal Doppler via their peer groups in online forums and other internet-based repositories, they are</div><div>wanting to enact partnership and shared decision-making with their lead maternity carer (LMC) regarding their use of handheld fetal Doppler monitors in pregnancy.</div><div><br></div><div>As technologies advance and become more available to non-health professionals, further exploration of use of handheld fetal Doppler monitors by pregnant women is needed in order to better inform women and midwives around the potential benefits and risks.</div>

scholarly journals Personal Use of Handheld Fetal Doppler Monitors by Women in New Zealand

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lyndal Honeyman
Keyword(s):  
New Zealand ◽  
Pregnant Women ◽  
Health Professionals ◽  
Neonatal Morbidity ◽  
Fetal Life ◽  
Online Forums ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Fetal Doppler ◽  
Personal Use ◽  
Qualitative Descriptive

<div>This qualitative descriptive study explores what factors are driving women in New Zealand to use handheld fetal Doppler monitors during their pregnancy. This is a little explored phenomenon in the literature, and consensus among health professional bodies is that pregnant women should be discouraged from using a handheld fetal Doppler. One concern health professionals hold is that a pregnant woman may be falsely reassured about the condition of her unborn baby and would delay presentation to her lead maternity carer, culminating in stillbirth or neonatal morbidity and mortality that potentially could have been avoided.</div><div><br></div><div>Six women from a major New Zealand city who were between 20- and 39-weeks’ gestation participated in semi-structured interviews. Thematic analysis, as described by Braun and Clarke, was used to generate five main themes and six subthemes. Control was a strong overarching</div><div>theme with subthemes of Fertility and Pregnancy Loss, Ultrasound and Doppler anxieties. Fetal feedback with the subtheme of Bonding was another strong theme. The third and fourth themes were Peer-to-peer education and support and Lay knowledge versus professional knowledge with a</div><div>subtheme of Lack of research. The final theme was the Woman-Midwife relationship with a subtheme of More support.</div><div><br></div><div>Women’s reasons for using a handheld fetal Doppler is for control of their response to the potential of miscarriage. This response is largely one of anxiety, particularly prior to the quickening of the fetus when there is little feedback to prove ongoing fetal life outside of symptoms such as morning sickness. Whilst women gain their information to underpin use of a handheld fetal Doppler via their peer groups in online forums and other internet-based repositories, they are</div><div>wanting to enact partnership and shared decision-making with their lead maternity carer (LMC) regarding their use of handheld fetal Doppler monitors in pregnancy.</div><div><br></div><div>As technologies advance and become more available to non-health professionals, further exploration of use of handheld fetal Doppler monitors by pregnant women is needed in order to better inform women and midwives around the potential benefits and risks.</div>

Daily decision-making about food during pregnancy: a New Zealand study

2018 ◽  
Vol 34 (3) ◽  
pp. 469-478 ◽  
Author(s):  
Susan Pullon ◽  
Angela Ballantyne ◽  
Lindsay Macdonald ◽  
Christine Barthow ◽  
Kristin Wickens ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Decision Making ◽  
New Zealand ◽  
Pregnant Women ◽  
Health Professionals ◽  
Controlled Trial ◽  
Food Selection ◽  
Double Blind ◽  
Lifestyle Behaviours ◽  
Qualitative Interview Study ◽  
Food And Drink

Summary Pregnancy has always been a life-changing event for women and their families, but societal concern about pregnancy and motherhood has become intense in the digital age. The role of health promotion agencies and others supplying health-related resources about lifestyle behaviours is both important and in need of scrutiny. Ever increasing advice for pregnant women, their families and health professionals, abounds. This study of decision making during pregnancy investigated how women made everyday decisions during pregnancy about food and drink, as well as dietary supplements and medications, alcohol and recreational drugs. This qualitative interview study was a side-arm to a double-blind randomized, placebo-controlled trial conducted with pregnant women in Wellington New Zealand, 2013–2016. Data from interviews with 20 women were analysed using inductive thematic analysis. In relation to decision-making about lifestyle behaviours, five themes emerged—Information about food; Wanted and unwanted advice; Worry, anxiety and indecision; Making daily decisions about food; Changes in decision making over time. Participating women talked more about food selection and restriction advice than any other lifestyle topic. Analysis demonstrated concern about information accuracy and overload from multiple, diverse sources. Women described learning how to assess resource credibility, how to develop decision-making skills, and who to trust. The study raises important questions about how the health information environment, despite best intentions, can be confusing or potentially harmful. The study underlines the continued importance of the role health professionals have in not only interpreting information to discuss individualized advice, but also in empowering pregnant women to develop lifestyle-related decision-making skills.

scholarly journals Beyond coverage: a qualitative study exploring the perceived impact of Gabon’s health insurance plan on access to and quality of prenatal care

2020 ◽  
Vol 20 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
N’doh Ashken Sanogo ◽  
Arone Wondwossen Fantaye ◽  
Sanni Yaya
Keyword(s):  
Quality Of Care ◽  
Health Insurance ◽  
Antenatal Care ◽  
Pregnant Women ◽  
Health Professionals ◽  
Supply Side ◽  
Demand Side ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Compulsory Health Insurance

Abstract Background Access to affordable and adequate healthcare in a health system determines the universal health coverage achievement for all residents in a country. Achieving access to healthcare requires the availability of a financing system that ensures access to and provision of adequate care, regardless of the ability to pay. In sub-Saharan Africa, accessibility, use and coverage of prenatal visits are very low and poor, which reduces the quality of care. This paper explored the impact of a social health insurance scheme on the quality of antenatal care in Gabon. Methods This qualitative study involved the analysis of data collected from semi-structured interviews and non-participant observations to assess the quality of antenatal care. The study elicited perceptions on the demand side (pregnant women) and the supply side (health professionals) in health facilities. Fifteen semi-structured interviews were conducted with pregnant women (aged between 15 and 49) and 5 with health professionals, who each had a seniority of at least 10 years, at different levels of care. Nine non-participant observations were also conducted. Coded transcripts were reviewed and analyzed using the Canadian Institute for Public Administration of Citizen-Centered Services model as an analytical guide. Results On the demand side, women were generally satisfied with the prenatal services they receive in health facilities. However, complaints were made about the rudeness of some nurses, the high price of the delivery kit (50,000 XAF), and the fact that some essential medicines for maternity are not covered. On the supply side, participants agreed that compulsory health insurance is important in providing antenatal care access to those who need it the most. However, some problems remain. The participants outlined some logistical problems and a lack of medical equipment, including the stock of drugs, disinfectants, and the absence of clean water. Conclusion Understanding the perceptions of pregnant women and health professionals regarding the quality of antenatal care can help to inform refinements to methods through which the services can be better provided. In addition, the study findings are vital to increasing the use of care, as well as combating high maternal mortality rates. Compulsory health insurance has improved the accessibility and utilization of healthcare services and has contributed to improved quality of care.

scholarly journals Cultural health literacy: the experiences of Māori in palliative care

2018 ◽  
Vol 25 (4) ◽  
pp. 15-23 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jacquie Kidd ◽  
Stella Black ◽  
Rawiri Blundell ◽  
Tamati Peni
Keyword(s):  
Palliative Care ◽  
New Zealand ◽  
Health Literacy ◽  
Health Information ◽  
Health Professionals ◽  
Health Resources ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Aotearoa New Zealand ◽  
Palliative Care Setting ◽  
Maori Health

Abstract: Health literacy is a concept that is frequently applied to the patient’s ability to find and comprehend health information. However, recent literature has included the skill of the health professional and the accessibility of health resources as important factors in the level of health literacy achieved by individuals and populations. In 2014 a qualitative study undertaken in Aotearoa New Zealand, investigated the context of health literacy for Māori in a palliative care setting (Māori are the indigenous people of Aotearoa New Zealand). The study included the experiences of patients, whānau (families), and health professionals. Method: Individual semi-structured interviews were held with 21 patients, whānau and six key informants: a medical specialist, a service leader involved in developing culturally specific responses to patients, two Māori service managers, and two Māori health team leaders. Focus groups were held with a total of 54 health professionals providing palliative care services. Data analysis: A thematic analysis was undertaken using a general inductive approach. The trustworthiness and reliability of the analysis was supported by sharing analysis of the transcripts among the research team. Member checking or respondent validation was used in seeking confirmation of the interim findings at five hui (meetings) with the research communities involved. Findings: This study found that the shock and grief that attends a life-limiting illness made hearing and processing health information very difficult for patients and whānau. Further, ‘hard conversations’ about moving from active treatment to palliative care were often avoided by health professionals, leaving patients and whānau distressed and confused about their choices and prognosis. Finally, poor cultural health literacy on the part of organisations has likely impacted on late access to or avoidance of palliative care for Māori.

scholarly journals Experiences of midwives and community health workers using mHealth to improve services to pregnant women in rural Burkina Faso, Africa

2019 ◽  
Vol 10 (3) ◽  
pp. 57
Author(s):  
Antonia LDC Arnaert ◽  
Norma Ponzoni ◽  
Zoumanan Debe ◽  
Mouoboum Marc Meda ◽  
Noufou Gustave Nana ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Burkina Faso ◽  
Pregnant Women ◽  
Community Health ◽  
Community Health Workers ◽  
Health Workers ◽  
Community Health Center ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Center Staff ◽  
Work Related ◽  
Qualitative Descriptive

Objective: This qualitative, descriptive study explored the experiences of midwives and community health workers (CHWs) using mhealth to improve the care provided to pregnant women living in the rural Diapangou region of Burkina Faso, Africa.Methods: Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 4 CHWs and 4 community health center staff. Transcripts were content analyzed.Results: Despite internet connectivity challenges all participants agreed that mhealth allowed them to provide better maternal care. The service enhanced their practice collectively, through facilitating better follow-up care, promoting communication and collaboration, and facilitated management while simplifying administrative tasks. From a managerial perspective, having access to productivity information allowed for effective oversight and supervision of work-related activities. CHWs perceived additional work responsibilities and an opportunity for growth; however, both CHWs and staff recognized that the exposure to technology allowed them to achieve mastery of basic computer skills.Conclusions: The ‘digital divide’ remains a challenge in low resource settings, thus while findings are promising, Burkina Faso will have to wait to reap the full benefits of digital technology until a supportive infrastructure can be put in place.

scholarly journals New Zealand Families' Beliefs About What Constitutes Successful Management of Unsupervised Childcare

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
◽  
Deborah Ann Trenberth
Keyword(s):  
New Zealand ◽  
Parental Support ◽  
Social Consequences ◽  
Community Context ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Successful Management ◽  
Policy Makers ◽  
Practitioner Knowledge ◽  
Qualitative Descriptive ◽  
Critical Components

<p>This study explored what some New Zealand families believe constitutes the successful management of unsupervised childcare. It was designed to increase social understanding and practitioner knowledge of the issue by exploring families' beliefs, practices and perspectives. A qualitative descriptive approach was used to obtain a straight description of successful unsupervised childcare, using the everyday language of the participating families. Data was collected in semi structured interviews with five family groups, and subjected to content and thematic analysis. Findings suggest unsupervised childcare is both choice and solution, though parents are fearful of the legal and social consequences of using it. Context of the care is important, with the child's preference, community context and availability of adults through distal supervision critical components of its success. Trust between parent and child, the use of rules and boundaries to regulate child behaviour, the teaching of skills and strategies to build child competency, and parental support of children while unsupervised are identified by parents as factors linked to success. Parents identify increasing child independence and self responsibility as positive outcomes from the successful use of unsupervised childcare. The findings from this study, while not conclusive, provide an insight into the New Zealand experience of successful unsupervised childcare. This study has helped to identify positive factors resulting in good outcomes from which successful interventions could be developed, provides information that will be of particular interest to practitioners and policy makers, and provides a platform to launch larger studies into the issue of unsupervised children.</p>

Acceptability and willingness to participate in the Tailored Activity Program: perceptions of people living with dementia, their care partners and health professionals

2020 ◽  
Vol 21 (3) ◽  
pp. 259-273
Author(s):  
Sally Bennett ◽  
Catherine Travers ◽  
Jacki Liddle ◽  
Sandra Smith ◽  
Lindy Clemson ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Health Professionals ◽  
Willingness To Participate ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Framework Analysis ◽  
Face To Face ◽  
Activity Program ◽  
Care Partners ◽  
The Usa ◽  
Qualitative Descriptive ◽  
To Receive

AbstractObjectives:The Tailored Activity Program (TAP) is an evidence-based occupational therapist-led intervention for people living with dementia and their care partners at home, developed in the USA. This study sought to understand its acceptability to people living with dementia, their care partners, and health professionals, and factors that might influence willingness to participate prior to its implementation in Australia.Methods:This study used qualitative descriptive methods. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with people living with dementia in the community (n = 4), their care partners (n = 13), and health professionals (n = 12). People living with dementia were asked about health professionals coming to their home to help them engage in activities they enjoy, whereas care partners’ and health professionals’ perspectives of TAP were sought, after it was described to them. Interviews were conducted face-to-face or via telephone. All interviews were recorded and transcribed. Framework analysis was used to identify key themes.Results:Analysis identified four key themes labelled: (i) TAP sounds like a good idea; (ii) the importance of enjoyable activities; (iii) benefits for care partners; and (iv) weighing things up. Findings suggest the broad, conditional acceptability of TAP from care partners and health professionals, who also recognised challenges to its use. People living with dementia expressed willingness to receive help to continue engaging in enjoyable activities, if offered.Discussion:While TAP appeared generally acceptable, a number of barriers were identified that must be considered prior to, and during its implementation. This study may inform implementation of non-pharmacological interventions more broadly.

scholarly journals Modification of maternal late pregnancy sleep position: a survey evaluation of a New Zealand public health campaign

BMJ Open ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (5) ◽  
pp. e047681
Author(s):  
Robin S Cronin ◽  
John M D Thompson ◽  
Rennae S Taylor ◽  
Jessica Wilson ◽  
Karen F Falloon ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
New Zealand ◽  
Pregnant Women ◽  
Supine Position ◽  
Health Professionals ◽  
Primary Outcome ◽  
Late Pregnancy ◽  
Sleep Position ◽  
Public Health Campaign ◽  
Health Campaign

IntroductionA ‘Sleep-On-Side When Baby’s Inside’ public health campaign was initiated in New Zealand in 2018. This was in response to evidence that maternal supine going-to-sleep position was an independent risk factor for stillbirth from 28 weeks’ gestation. We evaluated the success of the campaign on awareness and modification of late pregnancy going-to-sleep position through nationwide surveys.Methods and analysisTwo web-based cross-sectional surveys were conducted over 12 weeks in 2019–2020 in a sample of (1) pregnant women ≥28 weeks, primary outcome of going-to-sleep position; and (2) health professionals providing pregnancy care, primary outcome of knowledge of going-to-sleep position and late stillbirth risk. Univariable logistic regression was performed to identify factors associated with supine going-to-sleep position.DiscussionThe survey of pregnant women comprised 1633 eligible participants. Going-to-sleep position last night was supine (30, 1.8%), non-supine (1597, 97.2%) and no recall (16, 1.0%). Supine position had decreased from 3.9% in our previous New Zealand-wide study (2012–2015). Most women (1412, 86.5%) had received sleep-on-side advice with no major resultant worry (1276, 90.4%). Two-thirds (918, 65.0%) had changed their going-to-sleep position based on advice, with most (611 of 918, 66.5%) reporting little difficulty. Supine position was associated with Māori (OR 5.05, 95% CI 2.10 to 12.1) and Asian-non-Indian (OR 4.20, 95% CI 1.27 to 13.90) ethnicity; single (OR 10.98, 95% CI 4.25 to 28.42) and cohabitating relationship status (OR 2.69, 95% CI 1.09 to 6.61); hospital-based maternity provider (OR 2.55, 95% CI 1.07 to 6.10); education overseas (OR 3.92, 95% CI 1.09 to 14.09) and primary-secondary level (OR 2.80, 95% CI 1.32 to 6.08); and not receiving sleep-on-side advice (OR 6.70, 95% CI 3.23 to 13.92). The majority of health professionals (709 eligible participants) reported awareness of supine going-to-sleep position and late stillbirth risk (543, 76.6%).ConclusionMost pregnant women had received and implemented sleep-on-side advice without major difficulty or concern. Some groups of women may need a tailored approach to acquisition of going-to-sleep position information.

scholarly journals The views of pregnant women in New Zealand on vaginal seeding: a mixed-methods study

2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Éadaoin M. Butler ◽  
Abigail J. Reynolds ◽  
José G. B. Derraik ◽  
Brooke C. Wilson ◽  
Wayne S. Cutfield ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mixed Methods ◽  
New Zealand ◽  
Pregnant Women ◽  
Gut Microbiome ◽  
Natural Process ◽  
Mixed Methods Study ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Online Questionnaire ◽  
Infant Gut Microbiome ◽  
The Media

Abstract Background Vaginal seeding is the administration of maternal vaginal bacteria to babies following birth by caesarean section (CS), intended to mimic the microbial exposure that occurs during vaginal birth. Appropriate development of the infant gut microbiome assists early immune development and might help reduce the risk of certain health conditions later in life, such as obesity and asthma. We aimed to explore the views of pregnant women on this practice. Methods We conducted a sequential mixed-methods study on the views of pregnant women in New Zealand (NZ) on vaginal seeding. Phase one: brief semi-structured interviews with pregnant women participating in a clinical trial of vaginal seeding (n = 15); and phase two: online questionnaire of pregnant women throughout NZ (not in the trial) (n = 264). Reflexive thematic analysis was applied to interview and open-ended questionnaire data. Closed-ended questionnaire responses were analysed using descriptive statistics. Results Six themes were produced through analysis of the open-ended data: “seeding replicates a natural process”, “microbiome is in the media”, “seeding may have potential benefits”, “seeking validation by a maternity caregiver”, “seeding could help reduce CS guilt”, and “the unknowns of seeding”. The idea that vaginal seeding replicates a natural process was suggested by some as an explanation to help overcome any initial negative perceptions of it. Many considered vaginal seeding to have potential benefit for the gut microbiome, while comparatively fewer considered it to be potentially beneficial for specific conditions such as obesity. Just under 30% of questionnaire respondents (n = 78; 29.5%) had prior knowledge of vaginal seeding, while most (n = 133; 82.6%) had an initially positive or neutral reaction to it. Few respondents changed their initial views on the practice after reading provided evidence-based information (n = 60; 22.7%), but of those who did, most became more positive (n = 51; 86.4%). Conclusions Given its apparent acceptability, and if shown to be safe and effective for the prevention of early childhood obesity, vaginal seeding could be a non-stigmatising approach to prevention of this condition among children born by CS. Our findings also highlight the importance of lead maternity carers in NZ remaining current in their knowledge of vaginal seeding research.

scholarly journals Exploring Health Professionals’ Perceptions of Husbands’ Responsibilities in Muslim Women’s Health

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
pp. 24-34
Author(s):  
Restuning Widiasih ◽  
Katherine Nelson
Keyword(s):  
Women’S Health ◽  
Women's Health ◽  
Health Professionals ◽  
Urban Areas ◽  
Study Data ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Rural And Urban Areas ◽  
Rural And Urban ◽  
Qualitative Descriptive ◽  
And Behavior

Background: The husband has an important role in women's health. However, the information related to their roles is limited, including from the perspectives of health professionals. The health professionals' support and behavior have influenced men's and women's health behavior. Purpose: This study aimed to determine the health professionals’ perceptions of husbands’ roles and behavior in women's health, especially in the Muslim community.Methods: A qualitative descriptive approach applied in this study. Data were collected using the interview method. Ten clinicians from rural and urban areas of West Java, Indonesia, with a range of experience engaging with Muslim husbands involved in this study. Semi-structured interviews were recorded and then transcribed by the researchers. The transcribed data were analyzed using the comparative analysis for the interview technique.Results: Four main themes were identified: (1) Contextual factors impact husbands' roles in women's health; (2) Extensive roles of Muslim husbands in women's health; (3) Husbands and others involved in decisions about women's health; and (4) Level of health literacy affects husband's actions in women's health and cancer.Conclusion: Health professionals perceived that husbands' roles in Muslim women's health are pivotal, especially in supporting health treatments in health services. Little information was obtained about husbands' support in cancer prevention and early detection. Nurses can take the lead in improving Muslim husbands' understanding of women's health and cancer and raising their awareness of cancer screening for their wives.

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