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Background: Respectful care during labour and childbirth, which has recently received a great deal of attention around the world, is vital for providing high-quality maternity care. However, this area has been underexplored in developing countries including Iran. Research aim: This study aimed to assess postpartum women's views regarding disrespect and abuse during labour and childbirth in Iran. Methods: A qualitative study that involved a purposive sample of 21 postpartum women was conducted in Tehran, Iran, between 2019 and 2020. Following the semi-structured individual interviews, a conventional content analysis was performed. Ethical considerations: This research approved by Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences in Tehran, Iran, with the ethical approval number 1396.810. Following explanation of the study's objectives, eligible women consented to participate in the study. The confidentiality of the participants' information and the anonymity of the analysis were maintained at all stage of the study. All data was stored on the password protected file in the researcher computer The findings were only disseminated in summary form, with no identifying of individual participants. Results: Analysis of the data resulted in two main themes: 'inappropriate interaction' and 'inadequate quality care'. The 'inappropriate interaction' theme includes 'lack of empathy' and 'verbal abuse'. The second theme includes five sub-themes 'lack of participation in decision-making', 'lack of privacy', 'ignorance of women's pain and medical needs', 'rushed labour and painful procedures', and "unsatisfying facilities'. Conclusion: Providing supportive care, respectful communication, adequate participation in decision-making, maintaining privacy, attending to women's labour pain and medical needs, and improving the quality of the physical birth environment are all examples of what labouring women consider to be respectful maternity care. To minimise disrespect and maltreatment of women during childbirth, an all-inclusive strategy engaging women, communities, healthcare professionals, managers, and educators is required. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Background and aim Effective support given by a midwife during labor and childbirth is associated with numerous positive outcomes. Yet the delivery of such support can be hindered by negative workplace cultures. The purpose of the current study was to examine the relationship between attitude and self-efficacy of labor support and labor supportive behaviors from the perspectives of midwives working in Iran. Methods Midwives (n = 213) employed in the labor wards of selected hospitals in an urban area of Iran participated in this cross-sectional study. Participants were recruited via convenience sampling from December 2016 to September 2017. The data were collected using a personal characteristics tool, the Labor Support Questionnaire, the Self-efficacy Labor Support Scale, and attitudes toward the Labor Support Questionnaire. Descriptive statistics along with multiple linear regression was used for data analysis. Results Participants had a supportive behavior score of 74.98 for mean (SD ± 13.39). The informational support dimension had the highest reported score of the supportive behaviors, whereas the tangible support dimension had the lowest score. The mean scores of attitude and self-efficacy toward labor support were 24.79 (SD ± 4.14) and 79.83 (SD ± 13.82). There were also statistically significant correlations between attitude and self-efficacy, and labor support behaviors and its dimensions. Multiple linear regression analysis results indicated that interests in occupation, attitude, and self-efficacy were predictors of labor supportive behaviors. Conclusion Midwives’ level of interest in the profession, attitude, and self-efficacy of labor support were significantly associated with labor support behaviors. Thus midwives’ interest in their profession, along with their attitudes and self-efficacy could usefully be developed to enhance their supportive behaviors during labor.

BACKGROUND: The implementation of Sharia Model Childbirth (SMC) is in accordance with Fatwa Majelis Ulama Indonesia (MUI) no l07/DSN-MUI/X/2016 on the practice of sharia principles in health services. Sharia services in hospitals are general. This SMC innovation is specific and comprehensive, covering prenatal, delivery and postnatal. This model was implemented in 2017 but has never been qualitatively evaluated. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the application of SMC in the maternity services from the perspective of midwives and staff of the Islamic service unit. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Applied qualitative research was conducted from 5 December 2021 to 31 January 2022. In-person in-depth interviews were conducted using semi-structured interview guidelines. Informants were taken from the midwives of the maternity room and the Islamic service installation until a fair saturation of data was achieved. Observational and documentation were conducted for the validity of the data. The data were analyzed thematically and presented in themes and sub-themes. RESULTS: The results of the study were on the work procedures implemented, and the obstacles and shortcomings found. Most of the procedures and accompanying regulations had been implemented. Participants revealed obstacles and shortcomings in this innovative program. The major obstacle found was that the patient's right to choose a female medical officer was not fulfilled because of the type of teaching hospital it was and the lack of female medical staff. The shortcomings were in the reading of prayers and remembrances, the understanding of the contents of the manual, and the design of the delivery room, which did not maintain privacy. CONCLUSION: Overall, SMC is being implemented, but there are obstacles and shortcomings in the implementation. Solutions and regulations in sharia services should urgently be found and enforced. The deficiencies in this innovative program must be corrected immediately.

In the analysis of baptism rituals in eastern Lithuania and western Belarus, I have repeatedly drawn attention to the similarity in the structure of individual traditional wedding and baptism rites and even the transition of some ritual acts from one ritual to another. The similarities noticed in the ritual acts performed at baptisms and weddings in the first half of the twentieth century have led to a more detailed analysis of these life-cycle celebrations in the twenty-first century. In this article, I examined the peculiarities of the ceremonial/symbolic killing (or attempted killing) of a midwife and a matchmaker. Analysing both rituals I revealed the differences between the traditional ceremonial killing of a midwife and the ‘hanging’ of a matchmaker; uncover and compare modifications of these rites in modern society. I showed that, with the loss of their former ritual value and the absence of matchmakers and midwives in real life, the ritual practice of symbolic drowning or hanging has remained. This indicates a desire to preserve the old customs and, with modifications, practice them in today’s baptism and wedding ceremonies as the final part of the ritual. On the other hand, a thorough analysis of the ceremonial acts has shown that both the symbolic hanging of a matchmaker and, in particular, the drowning of a midwife (bobutė) are late cultural phenomena, dating back only one or several hundred years in the areas studied.

Amaç: Toplumsal cinsiyet eşitsizliği birçok alanda görülmekte ve ekonomik kültürül ve sosyal birçok alanı etkilemektedir. Bu araştırma, toplumsal cinsiyet ve şiddet konusunda farkındalığı artırmak amacıyla verilen eğitimin ebelik öğrencilerinin toplumsal cinsiyet algı ve tutumuna etkisini incelemek amacıyla yapılmıştır. Yöntem: Araştırma, deneysel araştırma tasarımlarından randomize olmayan gruplarda ön test-son test yarı deneysel olarak planlanmıştır. Araştırmada örneklem seçimine gidilmemiş olup, araştırmaya dâhil edilme kriterlerine uyan 41 ebelik öğrencisi ile yürütülmüştür. Veriler, tanıtıcı bilgi formu, Toplumsal Cinsiyet Rolleri Tutum Ölçeği, Toplumsal Cinsiyet Algısı Ölçeği ile toplanmıştır. Katılımcılara çalışmanın amacı aktarılarak, gönüllülük ilkesi doğrultusunda veriler toparlanmıştır. Verilerin analizinde, tanımlayıcı istatistikler için sayı, yüzde, ortalama ve standart sapma kullanılmıştır. Karşılaştırmalı tekrarlı ölçümlerde tek faktörlü varyans analizi ve korelasyon analizi kullanılmıştır. Bulgular: Katılımcıların toplumsal cinsiyet rolleri tutum ölçeği ön test puan ortalamasının 60,02 ± 8,49, son test puan ortalamasının 58,93 ± 7,96 olduğu belirlenmiştir. Toplumsal cinsiyet algı ölçeği ön test puan ortalamasının 111,00 ± 10,50, son test puan ortalamasının ise 110,51 ± 12,07 olduğu bulunmuştur. Katılımcıların eğitim öncesi ve sonrası toplumsal cinsiyet rolleri tutum (p = 0,2929) ve toplumsal cinsiyet algı (p = 0,771) puan ortalamaları karşılaştırıldığında anlamlı fark olmadığı belirlenmiştir. Uygulamada Kullanım: Toplumsal cinsiyet ve şiddete yönelik eğitim sonrası ebelik öğrencilerinin toplumsal cinsiyet tutum ve algılarının değişmediği belirlenmiştir. Toplumsal cinsiyet ve şiddet üzerine etki edecek farklı bölüm, müfredat, eğitim programı içeriği bakımından karşılaştırmalı çalışmalar planlanması önerilmektedir.

Abstract Background Episiotomy is a surgical solution to relieve perineal stress, resulting in an easily repairable incision, in comparison to the risks of serious vaginal trauma during delivery. The midwife typically adopts such a clinical decision, on experience and subjective judgment. However, the association between perineal stress and episiotomy is poorly characterized. Our aim was to identify a threshold value for perineal stress leading to episiotomy, which eventually may be employed as a clinical tool for assessing whether an episiotomy is required or not. Methods In total, 245 nulliparous women were investigated for perineal stress during non-instrumental vaginal delivery in Ningbo Women & Children’s Hospital. During the second stage of labor, a flexible membrane stress sensor was placed between the fetal head and perineal wall above the anal fissure. Once the entire fetal head pressed against the sensor, real-time perineal stress was measured, and the peak value was recorded. Cases were divided into non-episiotomy group (n = 173) and episiotomy group (n = 72). The correlations between perineal stress and episiotomy was assessed through logistic regression with adjustment for maternal age, estimated birthweight, duration of second stage of labor, maternal body mass index, and presence of analgesia. Midwives were blinded to all stress measurement values. The predictive value of perineal stress on performing episiotomy was evaluated, together with the ideal cut-off perineal stress value for performing episiotomy. A ROC analysis was also performed. Results The episiotomy group had significantly higher levels of perineal stress in comparison to the non-episiotomy group (140.50 ± 16.03 N versus 118.37 ± 19.21 N, p

Background and Objective: Nausea and vomiting during pregnancy are one of the most common complaints of pregnant women. The present study aimed to assess the effect of counseling based on the model of continuous midwife-led care on nausea and vomiting during pregnancy. Materials and Methods: This two-group clinical trial study was performed on 60 pregnant women aged 8-12 weeks in 2020. Participants in the intervention group received three face-to-face counseling sessions based on the continuous midwife-led care model, while the control group received routine prenatal care. The severity of nausea and vomiting was assessed using the Pregnancy-Unique Quantification of Emesis (PUQE) questionnaire three days before the commencement of the study and two weeks during the study. Data analysis was performed in SPSS software (version 22) using the Chi-square test, one-way analysis of variance, and analysis of covariance. A p-value less than 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results: In the intervention group, after the midwife-led consultation, compared to before, the mean scores of nausea and vomiting, as well as the overall severity of nausea and vomiting, decreased during two weeks (P0.05), the difference between the two groups in the second week of the study was significant in terms of overall severity of nausea and vomiting based on the overall score of the PUQE questionnaire (P

In the United States, 98.3% of patients give birth in hospitals, 1.1% give birth at home, and 0.5% give birth in freestanding birth centers. This review investigated the impact of birth settings on birth outcomes in the United States. Presently, there are insufficient data to evaluate levels of maternal mortality and severe morbidity according to place of birth. Out-of-hospital births are associated with fewer interventions such as episiotomies, epidural anesthesia, operative deliveries, and cesarean deliveries. When compared with hospital births, there are increased rates of avoidable adverse perinatal outcomes in out-of-hospital births in the United States, both for those with and without risk factors. In one recent study, the neonatal mortality rates were significantly elevated for all planned home births: 13.66 per 10,000 live births (242/177,156; odds ratio, 4.19; 95% confidence interval, 3.62–4.84; P <.0001) vs 3.27 per 10,000 live births for in-hospital Certified Nurse-Midwife–attended births (745/2,280,044; odds ratio, 1). These differences increased further when patients were stratified by recognized risk factors such as breech presentation, multiple gestations, nulliparity, advanced maternal age, and postterm pregnancy. Causes of the increased perinatal morbidity and mortality include deliveries of patients with increased risks, absence of standardized criteria to exclude high-risk deliveries, and that most midwives attending out-of-hospital births in the United States do not meet the gold standard for midwifery regulation, the International Confederation of Midwives' Global Standards for Midwifery Education. As part of the informed consent process, pregnant patients interested in out-of-hospital births should be informed of its increased perinatal risks. Hospital births should be supported for all patients, especially those with increased risks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background/Aims: Maternal cytomegalovirus infection can result in congenital cytomegalovirus, with neonatal and childhood sequalae including sensorineural deafness, visual impairment, and neurological abnormalities. This study's aim was to explore midwives' and women's level of awareness and knowledge of cytomegalovirus infection, and its impact during pregnancy. Methods: A systematic review of the literature was carried out. Seven papers met the criteria for inclusion, and data were analysed for a total of 370 registered midwives and 1717 women. Results: Participating midwives and childbearing women experienced significant levels of inadequate knowledge of cytomegalovirus infection. Midwives exhibited restricted recognition of viral transmission, maternal and neonatal symptoms and antenatal prevention, and childbearing women documented limited awareness and understanding of cytomegalovirus infection and congenital cytomegalovirus. Conclusions: Pregnant women need to be provided with information about cytomegalovirus, including how it may affect the fetus and how to reduce the risk of exposure during pregnancy. Midwives require additional education to increase their knowledge and understanding of cytomegalovirus. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Journal of Ege University Nursing Faculty (JEUNF) is the property of Journal of Ege University Nursing Faculty (JEUNF) and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Background: In Australia, maternity care services provide care for pregnant and postpartum women and their newborns. The COVID-19 pandemic forced these services to quickly adapt and develop policies and procedures for dealing with transmission in health care facilities, as well as work under public health measures to counter its spread within the community. Despite well-documented responses and adaptations by healthcare systems, no studies have examined the experiences of maternity service leaders through the pandemic. This study aimed to explore the experiences of maternity service leaders, to understand their perspectives on what happened in health services and what was required of a leader during the COVID-19 pandemic in one Australian state. Methods: A longitudinal qualitative study collected data from 11 maternity care leaders during the pandemic in the state of Victoria. Leaders participated in a series of interviews over the 16-month study period, with a total of 57 interviews conducted. An inductive approach to developing codes allowed for semantic coding of the data, then a thematic analysis was conducted to explore patterned meaning across the dataset. Results: One overarching theme, 'challenges of being a maternity service leader during the pandemic', encompassed participant's experiences. Four sub-themes described the experiences of these leaders: (1) needing to be a rapid decision-maker, (2) needing to adapt and alter services, (3) needing to filter and translate information, and (4) the need to support people. At the beginning of the pandemic, the challenges were most acute with slow guideline development, rapid communications from the government and an urgent need to keep patients and staff safe. Over time, with knowledge and experience, leaders were able to quickly adjust and respond to policy change. Conclusion: Maternity service leaders played an important role in preparing and adapting services in accordance with government directives and guidelines while also developing strategies tailored to their own health service requirements. These experiences will be invaluable in designing high quality and responsive systems for maternity care in future crises. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: This study was conducted to determine the effect of the interactive training about family planning given to married women on family planning attitudes. Material and Method: The study was quasi-experimental; the sample consisted of 60 women who met the sampling criteria. The Family Planning Attitude Scale was applied to the married women who agreed to participate in the study, with a questionnaire created by the researcher. After the pretest was applied to the women, educational material was created, interactive training was given, and posttest was applied. The IBM Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) program version package program was used to evaluate the data of the study. Results: The scores of the women before the training are 47.40±11.98 as the sub-dimension regarding society, 40.57±8.80 as the sub-dimension regarding the method, 27.30±6.93 as the sub-dimension regarding pregnancy, and 115.27±24.46 as sub-dimension regarding total family planning attitude scale. The scores of the women in the posttest applied after the training; sub-dimension for society was 47.88±9.40, the sub-dimension 48.75±5.71 for method, 31.08±5.38 for pregnancy, and the total score for the family planning attitude scale was 127.72±17.07. The difference between the pretest and posttest mean scores of the women’s total family planning attitude scale, contraceptive methods, and subscales related to pregnancy is statistically significant (p<0.05). Conclusion: It was determined that the difference between the attitude towards pregnancy subscale according to the contraceptive use status of the women was significant. Women who use family planning methods have a higher attitude towards pregnancy. Women are thought to develop a positive attitude towards contraceptive use as their knowledge about contraceptive methods increases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: This article examines the legal status and level of accessibility to perinatal palliative care (PPC) in Poland, with a focus on the number of services provided and the number of parents receiving PPC services. Material and methods: The desk research was based on information obtained from the National Health Fund regarding the number of units that signed a contract for the provision of guaranteed PPC services from 2018 to the first half (January-June) of 2022; the number of parents receiving the service from 2018 to 2022; and the number of services provided by a doctor, a psychologist and by primary care midwives (PCMs). In addition, the Map of Health Needs and National Transformation Plan data were used to prepare the data. Results: In Poland, since 2018, PPC services have been provided with public funds under contracts signed with the National Health Fund. Since 2022, these type of services has been provided by 17 centres. Care was provided to 1,860 pregnant women diagnosed with lethal foetal anomaly and to four fathers. There are still voivodeships in which there is a lack of provision of PPC services that are financed from the state budget. Conclusions: In Poland, there is no full accessibility to publicly funded PPC in every voivodeship. The lack of a sufficient number of PPC centres and the lack of a uniform national standard of practice for this type of care -- provided in hospices, hospitals and home settings -- prevents women from having continuity of professional perinatal care. There is a need to ensure the quality of the services provided and make progress towards the employment of midwives in PPC facilities by service providers to ensure that women receive obstetric care from the moment of an adverse diagnosis, professional preparation for childbirth and the postnatal period. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Communication skills help people have a better life. Due to the changes caused by menopause and their effects on interpersonal communication, it is essential to reinforce communication skills during this period. This study aimed to investigate the effect of communication skills training (CST) using the transactional analysis (TA) approach on menopausal women's marital adjustment. Material and methods: This quasi-experimental study with a parallel design was performed by the availability sampling method with participation of 46 married menopausal women. Participants were randomly assigned to two groups. The intervention group participated in eight CST sessions with a TA approach. The control group did not receive any psychosocial or educational services. Participants completed the demographic information, Queen Dam communication skills, and Spinner's marital adjustment questionnaire before, at the end of, and one month after the training period. Data were analyzed by descriptive and analytical tests with SPSS22 software. Results: There was no significant difference in demographics between the groups (p < 0.05). The mean marital adjustment scores were 53.48 ±12.24, 117.70 ±11.15, and 116.52 ±10.73 before, at the end of, and one month after the intervention, respectively. The marital adjustment scores before the intervention did not differ between the two groups but significantly increased after training and in the follow-up period (p < 0.001). Conclusions: Communication skills training with a TA approach in postmenopausal women improves marital adjustment. Therefore, it is suggested that midwives use this method in comprehensive health centers as an effective method for improving the lives of postmenopausal women. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose The purpose of the study was to determine the current status of contraceptive education and counseling provided by midwives. Methods The anonymous web-based questionnaire survey was administered to midwives working in medical institutions and in the community. The survey included: the implementation (within 3 years) of individual counseling and group education on contraception, the target population, the place of implementation, the content of implementation, and the facilitating and inhibiting factors in the implementation of individual counseling and group education. Descriptive statistics were calculated for quantitative data, and content analysis was conducted for qualitative data. Results Responding were 708 midwives. Individual counseling on contraception was provided by 278 (39.3%) and group education by 274 (38.7%). Respondents (55.8%) provided individual consultations with 155 women who were hospitalized after childbirth and 21.9% provided for 61 women who were hospitalized before or after abortion. A majority of consultations (n=206, 74.1%), took place at hospitals, clinics, and midwifery centers. There were 107 (39.1%) mid-wives providing group education for women hospitalized after childbirth, 104 (37.8%) junior high school students, and 95 (34.7%) high school students. The most common place of implementation for group education was school or university 164 (59.9%). The most common content of implementation was "general information on contraceptive methods" for both individual counseling and group education, by 246 (88.5%) and 263 (96.0%) respondents, respectively. The most common factor promoting individual counseling and group education was the improvement of midwives' knowledge and skills. The inhibiting factors included difficulties in accessing women's partners and limited educational content in schools. Conclusion The implementation rate of both contraceptive counseling and education by midwives was about 40%. The issues for promoting the implementation of contraceptive education and counseling were identified. Midwives as a profession need to acquire not only general knowledge about contraception, but also in-depth knowledge and support skills regarding contraception to assist women. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Journal of Midwifery & Health Sciences is the property of Ataturk University Coordinatorship of Scientific Journals and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

INTRODUCTION: Labor and childbirth are highly emotional experiences, and if these significant moments are perceived as acute stressors, they can become traumatic and lead to post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The traumatic nature of childbirth can affect not only the woman but also her partner, who witnesses the distressing labor. Furthermore, a traumatic birth experience can give rise to various difficulties such as bonding and breastfeeding challenges. While some women may not meet the criteria for PTSD, they may still exhibit symptoms associated with it. Stress factors during labor can range from life-threatening situations to perceived threats, including loss of control, loss of dignity, negative environments, and a sense of fear, loss of control, and terror. The objectives of this study were to examine the relationship between traumatic birth experiences and the mode of delivery, the role of the partner, the influence of birth preparation groups, the role of the doctor, and, most importantly, the role of midwives during labor and the postpartum period. DESIGN AND METHODS: This study employed a pilot qualitative research design. Interviews were conducted using a questionnaire divided into three parts. The interviews were conducted between January 2018 and March 2018. Thirteen women who had given birth to their first child via cesarean section participated in the study. These women subsequently attempted to have a vaginal birth for their second child. All participants adhered to the criteria for attempting vaginal birth after cesarean, as outlined by the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists and the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. All women completed the questionnaire. RESULTS: The findings indicate that nearly half of the women experienced their first labor as a traumatic event. This traumatic birth experience led to difficulties with bonding, breastfeeding, and overall psychological well-being in the postpartum period. Additionally, the role of midwives was found to be crucial in shaping the birth experience. CONCLUSIONS: The study concludes that birth experiences can become traumatic when stress factors, such as loss of control, lack of respect, insufficient informed consent, hostile environments, and lack of support, are present. Regardless of the mode of delivery (cesarean, vaginal delivery, or assisted vaginal delivery), a positive birth experience is possible when women feel secure, trusted, supported, and involved in decision-making. Furthermore, the constant presence of midwives during labor appears to play a significant role in shaping both the birth experience and the postpartum period. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: This descriptive qualitative study provides information on research dealing with women's opinions, experiences, and attitudes toward menopause. Design: A descriptive qualitative study. Methods: Individual semi-structured in-depth interviews were used for qualitative research into this topic. The research group consisted of 17 women aged 40 to 55 years. Thematic data analysis was used to analyze the data obtained. Results: Based on the thematic analysis, the following categories were created: 1) Association with the period of menopause; 2) Experiencing menopause; and 3) Education. The results showed that women viewed menopause as a transitional phase of life. The main symptoms included hot flashes, night sweats, disturbed sleep, mood swings, and weight gain. Prior to the study, participants were not interested in additional information on the issue. Conclusion: As estrogen levels decline later in life, women transition from the reproductive to the post-reproductive phase of their lives. For women to experience healthy menopause, they must understand the process before they begin to experience the consequences of estrogen deficiency. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There are vaccines in clinical trials that target the bacterium Group B Streptococcus (GBS). When approved, GBS vaccines will be intended for administration to pregnant women to prevent infection in their infants. The success of any vaccine will depend on its' uptake in the population. Experience with prior maternal vaccines, e.g. influenza, Tdap and COVID-19 vaccines, teaches us that acceptance of vaccines, especially if novel, is challenging for pregnant women, and that provider recommendation is a key driver of vaccine uptake. This study investigated attitudes of maternity care providers towards the introduction of a GBS vaccine in three countries (the United States (US), Ireland, and the Dominican Republic (DR)) with different GBS prevalence and prevention practices. Semi-structured interviews with maternity care providers were transcribed and coded for themes. The constant comparative method, and inductive theory building were used to develop conclusions. Thirty-eight obstetricians, 18 general practitioners and 14 midwives participated. There was variability in provider attitudes towards a hypothetical GBS vaccine. Responses ranged from enthusiasm to doubts over the need for a vaccine. Attitudes were influenced by perceived additional benefits of a vaccine over current strategy and confidence in the safety of vaccines during pregnancy. Knowledge, experience and approaches to GBS prevention differed geographically and according to provider type, and influenced how participants assessed the risks and benefits of a GBS vaccine. Maternity care providers are engaged in the topic of GBS management and there is opportunity to leverage attitudes and beliefs that will support a strong recommendation for a GBS vaccine. However, knowledge of GBS, and of the limitations of current prevention strategies vary among providers in different regions, and between different provider types. Targeted educational efforts with antenatal providers should focus on highlighting safety data the potential benefits of vaccination over current strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The mother-infant relationship is complex and dynamic, informing the psychological development of the infant through bonding and attachment. Positive early interactions influence the quality of this relationship. Midwives are well placed to support the developing relationship between the mother and baby, yet there has been limited research exploring the role of the midwife in this context. Aim: To explore interventions that have been provided by the midwife which support the development of the maternal-fetal or mother-infant relationship amongst a low-risk population from pregnancy, and up to six weeks postnatal. The review also sought to understand the types of interventions developed, format and delivery, outcomes measured and if cultural considerations had been incorporated. Methods: A scoping review of the research literature was undertaken using the Joanna Briggs Institute framework. Five online databases were searched for relevant articles published in English from 2000 to 2021. Findings: Sixteen articles met the inclusion criteria. Three themes emerged: (1) viewing the fetus as separate from the mother, (2) focused activities on the maternal-infant relationship and (3) targeted educational interventions. Discussion: Providing focused activities and targeted education during the pre and postnatal periods support the development of the mother-infant relationship. Significantly, there was insufficient research that considered the influence of culture in supporting the mother-infant relationship. Conclusion: Further research is required to develop interventions that include a diverse sample to ensure culturally appropriate activities can be integrated into care during pregnancy and/or the postnatal period provided by midwives. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Midwives and nurses are crucial in breastfeeding support. Few studies have explored appropriate language for nursing education on breastfeeding. We assessed the impact of the language used on breastfeeding attitudes among midwives and nurses. Methods: A quasi-experimental study was conducted online in Japan among 174 midwives and nurses who had work experience in obstetrics or pediatrics. Participants were allocated to three groups to receive different text messages as the intervention (the benefit of breastfeeding for Group 1; the risk of formula feeding for Group 2; the importance of childcare for Group 3 as the comparison). The Japanese version of the Iowa Infant Feeding Attitude Scale (IIFAS-J) was used to assess breastfeeding attitudes before and after reading the texts. Also, participant reactions to the text were assessed by their responses to three statements. ANOVA, the chi-square test, and the t-test were used for outcome assessments. Results: The post-test IIFAS-J score was significantly higher than the pre-test score only for Group 1 (p < 0.01). The percentage of participants who agreed with the content of the text was 70.7% in Group 1 and 48.3% in Group 2. The percentage of participants who reported discomfort with the text was 34.5% in Group 1 and 55.2% in Group 2. No significant difference among groups existed regarding interest in the text. In all three groups, participants who agreed with the text had a higher post-test IIFAS-J score than those who disagreed with the text (6.85 points higher, p < 0.01 in Group 1; 7.19 points higher, p < 0.01 in Group 2; 8.00 points higher, p < 0.02 in Group 3). Discomfort with the text and interest in the text were associated with a significantly higher post-test IIFAS-J score in Group 1 and Group 2 but not in Group 3. Conclusions: "Benefits of breastfeeding" language, which conveys the information in a positive manner, appears to be more appropriate than "risks of infant formula" language for creating a positive attitude toward breastfeeding in nursing education. Trial registration: This study was registered in the University Hospital Medical Information Network Clinical Trials Registry (UMIN000023322). Registered 05/08/2016. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Correct use of personal protective equipment is vital to minimise the risk of patients acquiring healthcare-associated infections. These measures are also important in preventing exposure to occupational infection. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the use of personal protective equipment was associated with anxiety, uncertainty and additional training requirements. This study investigated midwives' experiences using personal protective equipment during the pandemic. Methods: This systematic scoping review searched seven academic databases and grey literature. Data analysis was conducted using a thematic analysis framework. Results: A total of 16 studies were included. Four themes were found: 'fear and anxiety', 'personal protective equipment/resources', 'education and training needs' and 'communication'. Conclusions: Management and administration inconsistences, logistical issues and lack of training on personal protective equipment led to midwives' negative feedback. A gap has been identified in the exploration of midwives' experiences as personal protective equipment end-users during the COVID-19 pandemic. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Midwifery vacancies persist in small maternity units in Australian rural and private settings where midwives are expected to also care for general (non-maternity) patients when midwifery activity is low. Recruiting dual registered nurse/midwives over single registered midwives is preferred, as single registered midwives are seen as inflexible to assist with nursing work. Little is known about single registered midwives’ contribution to care of general patients in small maternity units. Objective: This scoping study aimed to consult single registered midwives and managers of single registered midwives to determine perspectives on single registered midwives’ contribution in small maternity units where the workload encompasses both midwifery and care of general patients, to inform further research. Study design and methods: This study used a qualitative description design. Two online focus groups were held, one containing three single registered midwives, the other three managers of single registered midwives. Similar questions were posed to each group about single registered midwives’ contribution to care in small maternity units. Data analysis was conducted collaboratively through coding and thematic categorisation processes. Results: Four major categories were found. Single registered midwives’ scope of practice concerning general patients is undefined; single registered midwives possess transferrable clinical skills applicable to general patients; practical, professional, and emotional barriers exist for single-registered midwives in small maternity units; and future research recommendations include scope of practice and workplace experiences. Discussion: Persistent midwifery vacancies are implicated in the closure of small maternity units to the detriment of childbearing families. Understanding the contribution of single registered midwives in small maternity units will inform future research and midwifery recruitment strategies to improve access to services. Conclusion: The experiences of single registered midwives working in small maternity units warrants further investigation. This scoping study contributes to the literature about single registered midwives’ experiences in small maternity units and suggests considerations for future research. Implications for research, policy and practice: Findings from this study provide information about the contribution of single registered midwives to small maternity units where there is an expectation to contribute to care of general patients in addition to midwifery. Future research into the experiences of single registered midwives working in these settings will generate information to inform recruitment strategies, potentially improving access to maternity care in small maternity units and may be used in the review of midwifery regulation and educational standards. What is already known about the topic? • Midwifery vacancies persist in small maternity units in rural and regional areas where the workload comprises both midwifery and nursing practice, despite strategies to recruit dual registered nurse/ midwives. • Dual registrants face challenges in maintaining both nursing and midwifery professional obligations in small maternity units. • There are increasing numbers of single registered midwives registering each year in Australia and educational opportunities to become a single registered midwife exist in rural settings. What this paper adds: • Single registered midwives make a useful contribution to care in small maternity units, and they assist with the care of general patients. • The scope of practice for single registered midwives in assisting with general patients is not defined. • Recommendations for future research include scope of practice for assisting with general patients and workplace challenges faced by single registered midwives because of their midwife-only qualification. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The content of midwifery courses is very similar across universities. The teaching approach is not, with universities adopting a variety of pedagogical methods. To explore views of midwifery students, midwifery academics and senior academic managers comparing a continuity approach where one main academic provides the majority of midwifery content plus pastoral care compared with a team-teaching approach of midwifery education where lecturers change throughout the course. Semi-structured interviews and focus groups were used to discover thoughts, benefits and disadvantages of two teaching approaches. Data were analysed using thematic analysis. Midwifery students and academics valued relationship building, consistency of advice and assessment expectations of the continuity approach but also appreciated a variety of teaching styles and content found in the team-teaching approach. Senior academic managers favoured a team-teaching approach due to workload concerns. Continuity and team-teaching pedagogical approaches offer different advantages. Continuity in midwifery education may provide students with a meaningful trusting relationship with their teacher and consistency of information, which could aid learning. A team-teaching approach provides students with diversity of teaching styles and midwifery 'stories'. A combination of both pedagogies offering both a mix of teachers and a named 'go-to' mentor might help meet student requirements for both continuity and variety. Relationship building, consistency and trust, were all evident in the continuity approach whereas the team-teaching approach was considered to be a more sustainable workload model. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Canadian Journal of Midwifery Research & Practice is the property of Canadian Association of Midwives and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The infant mortality rate in the Magelang Regency Health Office area will increase in 2020-2022 from 6.34/1000 KH to 7.38/1000 KH with details of the cause of death due to asphyxia neonatorum 27%. In handling neonatal asphyxia, the role of village midwives is needed to help reduce infant mortality. This study aims to determine the factors that influence the performance of midwives in the service of neonatal asphyxia in the Health Office of Magelang Regency. The type of research used is observational which is analytic in nature with a cross sectional approach. Data collection was carried out by interviews using a structured questionnaire that had been tested for validity and reliability. Sixty five respondents were selected purposively with inclusion and exclusion criteria. The analysis used is the Chi Square test and multiple logistic regression. The average age of the respondents was 38 years, 96.9% of the respondents had Diploma III in Midwifery. Most of the respondents (72.3%) had less knowledge, 55.4% had less attitude, 50.8% had less motivation. Most (80%) of the support resources (funds, facilities, infrastructure) are good. Respondents' perception of supervision (52.3%) is good. Most of the respondents (60%) had poor performance in handling neonatal asphyxia. The results of the bivariate analysis showed that knowledge (p = 0.001), attitude (p = 0.0001), motivation (p = 0.0001), perceptions of supervision (p = 0.0001) were related to the performance of village midwives. Multivariate analysis showed that there was a joint relationship between knowledge (Exp.(B) 7.723) and motivation (Exp.(B) 8.324) and the performance of village midwives in handling neonatal asphyxia. The Health Service needs to provide technical guidance on a regular basis in the management of neonatal asphyxia and increase motivation by giving awards to midwives who work well in the service of neonatal asphyxia.

Problem: The dietitian service at a metropolitan health service in Queensland, Australia has a non-engagement rate for high-risk antenatal women of 50%. Aim: Determine which attributes are related to non-attendance at dietitian appointments, and women's perceptions and attitudes towards dietitian appointments during pregnancy. Methods: An explanatory mixed-methods design was utilised, with first phase including 103 antenatal women referred to a dietitian in 2021 and compared the attributes of those who attended with those who did not engage. Queensland Health electronic databases were used to collect attribute data, which were then analysed with Jamovi (version 1.6) for descriptive, correlational, multivariate analyses of variance MANOVA. Second phase included seven semi-structured interviews with women attending a dietitian appointment, and subsequently analysed through thematic analysis. Results: Distance from clinic was not related to clinic attendance, and women reported they would attend regardless of distance or work status. Non-attendance was related to higher gravidity, parity, and if referred for obesity, but not previous gastric sleeve or underweight referral. Six themes were identified from the interview data: “Women want to be treated like an individual,” “It's all about expectations,” “Midwives hold the key,” “Preferences in receiving dietary information,” “Weight has been a long-term problem and is a sensitive topic,” and “Barriers to attendance.” Conclusion: Antenatal services can adjust service delivery to improve engagement in weight management services during pregnancy. Telehealth appointments may reduce non-engagement due to distance from clinic. Demystifying the dietitian appointment, ensuring non-judgemental referral processes and collaboration between midwives and dietitians will ensure that women value the service.

Background: Parturient health is a priority worldwide. In this regard, the promotion of natural childbirth has always been considered by health policy makers. However, the most important cause of parturient tendency to caesarean section is fear of labour pain and lack of information about surgery complications, leading to inappropriate rate of caesarean. Midwives, attending in prenatal visits and labour, may have a key role in encouraging pregnant patients through labour analgesia. In this study we evaluate midwives’ attitude through necessity of labour analgesia and their understanding of neuraxial analgesia for labour pain. Methods: One hundred and five midwives working educational hospitals, participated in this observational study. All participants were asked to fill questionnaires. Each questionnaire consists of 15 questions, each answer had 1 to 3 points. Total score of 15 to 25 was considered as poor, score 26 to 35 as intermediate and 35 to 45 as good attitude. Results: Forty-nine percent of midwives had experience with labour analgesia. Forty-one percent participated in relevant educational workshops. About 40% presumed these techniques would result in immobility, while 66% assumed it will lengthen the procedure. 63% believed labour analgesia will increase mother’s satisfaction. Overall, 73% of them agreed with regional analgesia. In regards to attitude score, 22% were scored poor, 65% intermediate and 13% good. Conclusion: Midwives’ attitude was estimated low. Participating in workshops improved their attitude, yet the difference was not significant. Attitude of those who participated in labour analgesia was significantly better than others.

BACKGROUND: Despite the prominent role of midwives in improving the health of women and families, limited studies have been conducted in the occupational and organizational field and their role on the performance of this group. The purpose of this research is to investigate the relationship between organizational health, burnout, and job stress among midwives working in hospitals affiliated to Shahrekord University of Medical Sciences. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The present study is a cross-sectional descriptive–analytical study, which was conducted with available sampling method on 159 midwives working in hospitals affiliated to Shahrekord University of Medical Sciences in 2020. Data collection tools were: Demographic Questionnaire, Modified Hoy and Feldman Organizational Health Questionnaire, Job Stress Questionnaire, Maslach Questionnaire to measure job burnout. Finally, the obtained data were analyzed with descriptive and analytical statistical tests (Pearson). RESULTS: The findings of the study showed that 70.4% of the participants had moderate to severe job stress and 70.4% of the participants had moderate level of organizational health and 79.9% suffered from job burnout. The results of structural equations showed that organizational health has an inverse and significant relationship with job stress (P < 0.001, β = −0.45) and job burnout (P = 0.002, β = −0.33). CONCLUSION: Organizational health has an inverse and significant relationship with job stress and job burnout. The findings of this study can be useful in planning and organizational policies for midwifery professionals. It also conveys the importance of extensive studies and planning to reduce stress and burnout and then improve organizational health. As a result, it can improve the performance and productivity, and as a result, improve the health of midwives and patients under their care and, consequently, the health of the society.

This cross-sectional descriptive study aimed to analyze the relationship between maternal positions during the expulsion phase and perineal outcomes in 367 eutocic births attended by midwives or midwifery residents at a public hospital in northern Spain in 2018. A total of 94.3% of women opted for horizontal positions. Limited sacral retroversion was observed in 71.7%, potentially influencing perineal outcomes. A low incidence of tears indicated effective management during the expulsive phase, with an episiotomy rate of 15.3%, which was slightly above the 15% standard. Primiparity and maternal age were identified as risk factors associated with episiotomy. Additionally, sacral mobilization and vertical positions during delivery were significantly related to fewer perineal injuries, suggesting benefits for both mother and newborn. The correlation between maternal positions and the need for epidural analgesia highlighted the importance of considering these in pain management during childbirth. Despite limitations, the study provides valuable insight into obstetric practices and advocates for a woman-centered approach that respects autonomy during childbirth. Further research is needed to explore biomechanical parameters and enhance childbirth experiences.

Caesarean birth is associated with suboptimal breastfeeding outcomes such as delayed initiation, a higher incidence of difficulties and shorter duration when compared to vaginal birth [...]

Objectives: Good sleep quality is crucial for medical staff especially nurses and midwives to prevent possible errors and injuries during the providing care. The aim here is to investigate the sleep quality of nurses and midwives during the early corona pandemic and its related factors. Methods: An online observational and cross-sectional study included 340 medical staff who engaged in the treatment of patients with COVID-19 infection in 2020. Participants completed questionnaires about working characteristics, Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), and Social Support Indexes (SSI). Pearson’s correlation analysis and Multivariate logistic regression identified the interactions between these factors. Results: The mean PSQI and SSI were 8.4 ± 4.46 and 28.6 ± 13.29, respectively, indicating poor sleep quality and moderate social support. The condition of the participants was serious in terms of sleep efficiency, and sleep disturbance. More than half of the participants reported severe and very serious daytime dysfunction. Poor sleep quality was more common, in nurses than in midwives (OR:0.074, CI; 0.032–0.098, P

BackgroundGlobally, the digital sources developed and available in antenatal care differ, and infrastructure challenges may impede the further development of such sources. Challenges accompanying digital developments can include the commonly occurring high workload, which affects healthcare professionals' ability to acquire professional knowledge about how to best support parents in using digital sources. Including healthcare professionals in the development process of digital sources may increase the likelihood that such sources will be adopted and employed by these professionals in their future care work. Therefore, the present research explored healthcare professionals' perceptions of the digital support intervention Childbirth Journey, which was constructed as a serious game for expectant parents.MethodsData were collected through semi-structured focus-group interviews with 11 midwives at antenatal, labour and postnatal clinics as well as with child healthcare nurses. Prior to the interviews, all participants were provided the intervention, Childbirth Journey, which is a serious game in a mobile application format consisting of two distinct parts: (1) a story-driven game and (2) a Knowledge Portal. The data were analysed using phenomenographic methods.ResultsThe perceptions of Childbirth Journey by healthcare professionals, midwives and child healthcare nurses are presented in four descriptive categories: extended professional support, trustworthy contents, diversity or individuality, and both appealing and in need of development.ConclusionsCurrent study revealed that Childbirth Journey may be utilised as a digital support for parents, allowing healthcare professionals to offer a digital solution as a complementary support to standard, face-to-face meetings with caregivers. However, the research results also revealed that some elements of Childbirth Journey must be improved, thereby representing a main contribution of this study: insights into how to better develop digital tools under the umbrella of health care. Thus, we conclude that in order to create sustainable and safe digital care solutions that function as trustworthy professional supports instead of technical products that risk harming users, the perspectives of both patients and healthcare professionals should be considered in the exploration and development of these solutions.

Introduction: According to the guidelines, health-care personnel should have routines to identify depression and anxiety, but no screening tool is required. The aim of the study is to describe how midwives in antenatal care describe strategies and requirements when following up pregnant women at risk of developing perinatal depression. Methods: Study is designed as qualitative descriptive study. It includes authorized midwives who work in prenatal care in Western Norway (n = 11) were interviewed between October 21 and November 02, 2021. Verbatim transcribed interviews were analyzed using manifest qualitative content analysis. The study was performed in accordance with the Consolidated Criteria for Reporting Qualitative Research. Results: The manifest content analysis revealed three categories: (1) Midwife as haven, (2) Growing into the professional role as a midwife and (3) Organizational challenges in antenatal care. The midwives also expressed that they felt they were saddled with a great responsibility that could be a lot to bear. Clinical experience was highlighted as essential sources of self-confidence in work. Conclusion: Identified categories confirm some crucial issues in midwifery-led maternity care, such as the need for continuous professional training, clear local guidelines, and sufficient time for consultation with women at risk of developing perinatal depression. The findings also reflect the importance of early detection of these women to offer support and assistance throughout pregnancy and after delivery.

Background: In Australia, midwives care closely for women during pregnancy and birth and the immediate postnatal period. This scoping review aimed to explore the experiences of female maternity healthcare professionals when they return to work following a personal pregnancy loss or neonatal death. Methodology: A scoping review was carried out on published and unpublished research and grey literature looking at how maternity healthcare professionals who have had a personal perinatal loss experience working in a maternity setting following the loss. A search of the literature was performed between October and December 2018, with no set limitations. A search for relevant references from included papers was also carried out. The literature was analysed thematically. The types of perinatal loss were defined as per Australian guidelines. Results: 10 articles were included in this scoping review. Four themes emerged from the literature and these were: 1) Impact of being asked, "have you got children?"; 2) Impact on professional practice; 3) Impact of pre-existing professional knowledge; 4) Importance of collegial support on return to work. Conclusions: Return to work in a maternity setting following a personal perinatal loss is emotionally challenging and requires a range of supports. Further research is needed in this area. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims and Objectives: The aim of this study was to explore healthcare managers' perceptions about older nurses' and midwives' and their contribution to the workplace. Design: A qualitative descriptive methodology. Method: Twenty healthcare managers working in Australia participated in semi‐structured interviews. Data were collected between April 2019 and April 2021. Interviews were recorded, transcribed and then analysed using thematic analysis. Results: All healthcare managers said older nurses and midwives contributed to the workplace through their experience and knowledge. Managers viewed them as a different type of worker and while there were some positive aspects to this, it was mostly negative. Although managers identified a broad age range for the older nurses or midwives, there was a common perception that if they were no longer able to perform their duties, they should leave the workforce. Conclusion: Healthcare managers' perceptions towards older nurses and midwives are mostly negative, and their understanding of older workers' contribution is contradictory and poor. These negative views co‐exist with the lack of agreement on who is the older worker, which explain the reluctance of healthcare organizations to invest in their older workforce. Future research is needed to better understand the unique contribution of older nurses and midwives in healthcare and how they can be supported at work. Impact The global ageing population will result in a rise in complex age‐related health issues and will require an experienced and knowledgeable workforce. Given the greater experience of older nurses and midwives they are an important part of the health workforce. Yet managers' perception of the contribution by older nurses and midwives were often negative. The findings of this study highlight the need for organizational change so that the contribution of older nurses and midwives is recognized and supported by managers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: There is an active strategy to recruit international nurses and midwives to help manage vacancy gaps in the United Kingdom's healthcare system. However, there is little evidence detailing how recruiting organisations prepare new recruits for the Objective Structured Clinical Exam (OSCE) they are required to pass. Aims and objectives: To gather and analyse feedback from recruiting organisations on the preparation offered to international nurses and midwives on arrival in the United Kingdom, prior to undertaking an OSCE in order to gain Nursing and Midwifery Council professional registration. Design and methods: An online cross-sectional questionnaire. The data was analysed using thematic analysis. Results: Four main themes were generated from thematic analysis of the qualitative data: SAME IDEAS DIFFERENT PRACTICE; PASSING THE OSCE; INDIVIDUALISED SUPPORT; SUPPORT NETWORKS. Conclusion: Differences in how organisations prepare and support international nurses and midwives to undertake the OSCE suggest standardised approaches could benefit new recruits. Impact statement: Addressing an evidence gap, this research suggests recruits may benefit from standardised support around working and living in the UK. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In France, although the vast majority of births take place in hospitals, some women prefer to give birth at home with the assistance of a midwife. In recent years, eight midwives attending home births have had their licenses revoked by the National Council of Midwives. In this article I discuss the complaints that led to seven midwives' lifetime ban from practising, their reflections on why they were disbarred, and their perspectives on the technologization of childbirth. My goal is to understand why some independent midwives continue to attend home births without insurance, exposing themselves to disbarment and prosecution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: Midwives are potentially exposed to high levels of occupational stress. The level of stress may be related to the job demands and job resources, as well as midwife seniority. To date, few studies on the determinants of occupational stress have examined Polish midwives. OBJECTIVE: This study aims to investigate the roles of workload, job satisfaction, and seniority in shaping the stress levels of midwives in Poland. METHODS: A cross-sectional approach and structural equation modeling (SEM) were used to compare two groups: newly qualified midwives (NQMs; n = 79) and experienced midwives (n = 99). All data were collected between January and November 2018. RESULTS: Analysis revealed that in both NQMs (β = 0.34, p = 0.006) and experienced midwives (β = 0.40, p < 0.001) workload was a positive predictor of occupational stress. In contrast, job satisfaction was found to be a negative predictor of stress in both groups (NQMs: β = -0.44, p < 0.001; experienced midwives: β = -0.57, p < 0.001). The study groups did not differ significantly in terms of the levels of workload, job satisfaction, and occupational stress. CONCLUSION: Workload and job satisfaction are predictors of occupational stress in midwives. The results of this study indicate the important role of job satisfaction and workload in the shaping of occupational stress levels. Resource-rich and low-stress work environments can enhance the quality of health care provided by midwives. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

INTRODUCTION The centralization of health services appears to be prevalent both in and outside Europe. As the distance to the nearest birth institution increases, so does the risk of unplanned births outside of an institution. A primary factor to prevent this is having a skilled birth attendant present. This study examines midwives' experiences of working in the accompaniment services in Norway. METHODS This was a qualitative interview study of 12 midwives working in the accompaniment services in Norway. Semi-structured interviews were conducted in January 2020. Systematic text condensation was used to analyze the data. RESULTS The analysis identified four main themes. The midwives felt that accompaniment service work was a heavy responsibility, but it was professionally fulfilling. They felt that being on call was a lifestyle, and they were motivated by their relationships with the pregnant women. Presenting themselves as confident midwives helped the women to feel reassured. The midwives considered the cooperation within the health service to be key to good transport midwifery. CONCLUSIONS The midwives who worked in the accompaniment services felt that their responsibility for caring for women in labor was challenging, but meaningful. Their professional knowledge was important for identifying the risk of complications and handling difficult situations. Despite carrying a heavy workload, they continued to work in the accompaniment services to ensure that women who had to travel long distances to birth institutions received appropriate help. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

(1) Background: One out of two pregnant women has a history of herpes infection. Initial infections have a high risk of neonatal transmission. Our objective was to analyse the professional practises of midwives regarding the management of herpes infections during pregnancy in France; (2) Methods: A national survey conducted via an online self-questionnaire, including clinical vignettes for which the midwives proposed a diagnosis, a drug treatment, a mode of birth, and a prognosis. These responses were used to evaluate the conformity of the responses to the guidelines, as well as the influence of certain criteria, such as mode of practise and experience; (3) Results: Of 728 responses, only 26.1% of the midwives reported being aware of the 2017 clinical practise guidelines. The midwives proposed taking the appropriate actions in 56.1% of the responses in the case of a recurrence, and in 95.1% of the responses in the case of a primary infection. For the specific, high-risk case of a nonprimary initial infection at 38 weeks of gestation, reporting knowledge of the recommendations improved the compliance of the proposed care by 40% (p = 0.02). However, 33.8% of the midwives underestimated the neonatal risk at term after a primary initial infection, and 43% underestimated the risk after a primary initial infection at term; (4) Conclusions: The majority of reported practises were compliant despite a low level of knowledge of the guidelines. The dissemination of guidelines may be important to improve information and adherence to appropriate therapeutic practise. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of TECHNO Review is the property of Eurasia Academic Publishing Group and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Objectives This study aims to establish an inventory of the teaching of Therapeutic Patient Education (TPE) in the initial training of French midwives. Method: A descriptive quantitative study was conducted in France. An online questionnaire comprising 27 questions was distributed to 35 French midwifery schools. Results: Out of 19 schools that responded to the survey, 11 taught TPE, 8 did not address it in training. This teaching is mainly transversal. The obstacles to the teaching of TPE are the current density of the program, the absence of a text regulating this teaching and the difficulties in circumscribing the field of TPE in relation to that of prevention, promotion and health education. The simulation is used in only one school. Discussion: This survey shows a willingness of educational teams to invest in the teaching of health education, including TPE. For this, it is a question of strengthening the training of teachers in order to clarify the areas of intervention of the midwife calling for health promotion, prevention and health education; to offer specific internships to students and to use simulation. Extending the duration of initial training is an opportunity to plan specific teaching and to discuss the place of the health service. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

According to the World Health Organization, midwife-led care is the most appropriate and cost-effective type of perinatal care. As the Covid-19 pandemic with its drastic changes and challenges for the health systems and the medical staff made large adjustments to the healthcare delivery system, midwife-led care became an even more important supportive tool in maintaining unnecessary interventions. This retrospective cohort study aims to compare the outcomes of midwife-led care and team-led care in low-risk births between the Covid-19 pandemic and non-Covid-19 pandemic period. The total studied population was 1,185 singleton births and consisted of 727 births during the non-Covid-19 period and 458 births from the Covid-19 period. The study revealed the safety of low-risk birth care during the first wave of the Covid-19 pandemic in both groups. The maternal and perinatal outcomes remained stable without an increased rate of unsuccessful vaginal births and newborn asphyxia; moreover, birth care of low-risk women provided by midwives preserved autonomy, integrity, and resistance to responding to a disaster. The aforementioned results exhibit that high-quality, safe supervision by midwives in low-risk births can be provided even in high-stress circumstances. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Choice in childbirth is not a new concept, yet it has been suggested that few service-users have a genuine choice about birth. Existing research has explored midwives' experiences of caring for service users birthing outside guidelines, but nothing is known about student midwives' experiences. This study's aim was to explore student midwives' experiences of caring for women giving birth outside the guidelines. Methods: A generic qualitative approach was used, and purposive sampling recruited five student midwives from a university in east England. Data were collected using semi-structured interviews and analysed thematically. Results: The three themes were 'contradictions', focusing on the incongruity identified in the narratives, 'the actions of clinicians' illustrated by clinician behaviour witnessed by the participants and 'punishment and judgement', which outlines the treatment of service users who gave birth outside the guidelines. Conclusions: Students can be exposed to inapt clinicians' behaviours, with the failure to protect and advocate for service users leaving them feeling anxious and potentially burnt out. Midwives should act as role models, so future midwives are aware this behaviour is not conducive to person-led care. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background/Aims: Midwives play a key role in the prevention and control of infection. The identification of barriers and facilitators to guideline adherence is of paramount importance to improve compliance and ultimately patient care. This review's aim was to explore barriers and facilitators to midwives' infection prevention and control guideline adherence. Methods: This integrated review used the Whittemore and Knafl method to conduct a systematic search of eight databases for research carried out between 2015 and 2021. Data were analysed using the Braun and Clarke framework and reported using PRISMA guidelines. Results: Four themes were identified: 'compliance is infrastructure and resource dependent', 'recognising and working with what you have', 'midwives' fear and anxiety' and 'culture change: a mammoth challenge'. Midwifery experience of infection prevention and control guidelines adherence is affected by factors such as resource availability, guideline availability, healthcare systems, socioeconomic factors and midwives' personal influences. Conclusions: Education for midwives is crucial to improve adherence to infection prevention and control guidance. However, education from a behaviour change standpoint has been shown to be most effective and this should be incorporated into training programmes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: According to the guidelines, health-care personnel should have routines to identify depression and anxiety, but no screening tool is required. The aim of the study is to describe how midwives in antenatal care describe strategies and requirements when following up pregnant women at risk of developing perinatal depression. Methods: Study is designed as qualitative descriptive study. It includes authorized midwives who work in prenatal care in Western Norway (n = 11) were interviewed between October 21 and November 02, 2021. Verbatim transcribed interviews were analyzed using manifest qualitative content analysis. The study was performed in accordance with the Consolidated Criteria for Reporting Qualitative Research. Results: The manifest content analysis revealed three categories: (1) Midwife as haven, (2) Growing into the professional role as a midwife and (3) Organizational challenges in antenatal care. The midwives also expressed that they felt they were saddled with a great responsibility that could be a lot to bear. Clinical experience was highlighted as essential sources of self-confidence in work. Conclusion: Identified categories confirm some crucial issues in midwifery-led maternity care, such as the need for continuous professional training, clear local guidelines, and sufficient time for consultation with women at risk of developing perinatal depression. The findings also reflect the importance of early detection of these women to offer support and assistance throughout pregnancy and after delivery. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]