Speaker: Wendy Foster
Facilitators: Belle Bruce and Siti Khuzaiyah
Problem: Across the globe midwives are leaving the profession. Moral distress may contribute to this attrition. While moral distress is broadly understood within health care disciplines a contextual understanding of moral distress in midwifery is limited. Current tools available to screen for moral distress are not as suitable for use in midwifery practice.
Methodology: This project is an exploratory sequential mixed methods design that occurred across four phases; concept analysis, in-depth interviews, an e-Delphi study and a pilot study. This presentation will present key findings from the first three phases.
Results: Midwives report feeling demoralised and confirmed the presence of moral distress in practice due to excessive workloads, unnecessary intervention and hierarchical medical systems. Health care organisations are identified as placing midwives in morally compromising situation that are significant factors in the development of moral distress. Negative psychological outcomes are a key feature in moral distress with midwives describing symptoms of work-related stress and anxiety, increased sick/personal leave, feelings of powerlessness and burnout. Importantly it was identified that moral distress was likely to occur across a continuum from low (moral frustration), moderate (moral distress) and severe (moral injury). A pilot tool to screen for moral distress across a continuum has been developed.
Conclusion: Moral distress is a significant issue in midwifery practice. The development of the midwifery moral distress screening tool has enhanced the conceptual understanding. This study has provided additional language for midwives to describe their experiences and may assist organisations to identify and address ethical challenges within workplaces.
Recording https://youtu.be/Czfj3EUg6g4
Speaker: Brenda Araujo Salas
Facilitator: Paloma Terra
A partir de las ilustraciones elaboradas por Yaquemilsa Matiashi Vicente, una joven madre del pueblo Matsigenka, perteneciente a la amazonía peruana, describiremos las prácticas tradicionales en salud materna que aún se mantienen vigentes en las comunidades más alejadas de la vida moderna. Se describirán las concepciones y prácticas culturales durante la primera menstruación, los cuidados en el embarazo, la atención del parto por parte de la familia y parteras, y los cuidados en el posparto.
Conocer gráficamente las prácticas en salud materna a través de la mirada de una mujer del mismo pueblo, nos permite visualizar detalles significativos que se dan en la los cuidados de las mujeres gestantes y los recién nacidos. La importancia de este material es educativa y en favor de una mejora en la atención del parto para fundar la comprensión y el respeto a las costumbres y participación de las parteras y especialistas tradicionales de salud, ya que, actualmente, gran parte de las comunidades amazónicas tienen acceso a establecimientos de salud, pero estos ofrecen servicios sin pertinencia cultural. Por otro lado, el material también permite el reconocimiento de la importancia de los conocimientos de las mujeres Matsigenka en los niños, niñas y adolescentes.
English:
From the illustrations elaborated by Yaquemilsa Matiashi Vicente, a young mother of the Matsigenka people, belonging to the Peruvian Amazon, we will describe the traditional practices in maternal health that are still in force in the communities farthest away from modern life. We will describe the cultural conceptions and practices during the first menstruation, pregnancy care, childbirth care by the family and midwives, and postpartum care.
The graphic presentation of maternal health practices through the eyes of a woman from the same village allows us to visualize significant details in the care of pregnant women and newborns. The importance of this material is educational and in favor of an improvement in childbirth care, in order to establish understanding and respect for the customs and participation of midwives and traditional health specialists, since, at present, most Amazonian communities have access to health facilities, but these offer services without cultural relevance. On the other hand, the material also allows the recognition of the importance of Matsigenka women’s knowledge in children and adolescents.
Recording: https://youtu.be/voZyHiTevvw
Speakers: Gina Kruger and Linda Sweet
Facilitator: Caitlin Goodwin
Abstract:
Background: Midwives have a central role in working with women to provide safe and appropriate care across pregnancy, childbirth, and the early parenting period. Midwives being supported in their practice role influences their capacity to promote healthy birthing for women. This study aimed to explore midwives’ perceptions and experiences of peer support in a hospital setting in Australia. Methods – Twenty-three midwives participated in four focus group discussions, which were recorded and professionally transcribed. Thematic analysis of the grouped data identified areas to inform the development of supportive peer support strategies to enhance midwives’ practice role in the provision of woman-centered care. Results – The themes identified were: communicating effectively with emphasis on the quality of intra-professional relationships; having a sense of belonging and being trusted in decision-making; being able to access individualised peer support; and, initiating support-seeking behaviours to meet the midwife’s needs. Discussion: Participants felt the need for greater peer support. This is a dynamic concept in that the timing and type of peer support required can influence midwives’ scope of practice with women in the changing, complex nature of the practice environment. Conclusions: Study findings inform the development of informal and formal peer support systems for midwives. With the development and piloting of peer support practice strategies tailored to value and promote midwives’ fulfilling our scope of practice while achieving healthy maternity care experiences for women and their babies.
Recording: https://youtu.be/NJK7xWhJ6hY
