Skills (2)
Publications (65) View all
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Dataset: Migrant women less likely to have unassisted birth: study
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Article: Exploring the Process of Women's Infant Feeding Decisions in the Early Postbirth Period.
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ABSTRACT: Research indicates that multiple factors are associated with decisions women make about infant feeding, yet few studies have explored the decision-making process. In this article, we present the analysis that produced the core category "deconstructing best," previously reported as part of a grounded theory exploring 37 Australian women's infant feeding experiences and decisions in the first 6 weeks postbirth. We expand on the previous article by detailing and discussing the phases of the infant feeding decision-making process in relation to decision-making theory. Analysis demonstrates the importance of these early weeks in shaping women's infant feeding trajectories. Findings illustrate that information gathering encompassing multiple factors occurred at this time, and that complex and often competing goals were involved in the women's decisions. We suggest that acknowledging and assisting women to meet alternate goals in the postbirth period might help them meet their breastfeeding goals.Qualitative Health Research 05/2013; · 2.19 Impact Factor -
Article: 'Be our guest': challenges and benefits of using 'family conversations' to collect qualitative data about infant feeding and parenting.
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ABSTRACT: AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: To describe the use of family conversations as a data collection strategy in a study that aimed to explore how 'social context' impacts on the infant feeding and early parenting choices of first-time mothers. Specifically, the authors aim to describe the challenges and benefits of facilitating 'family conversations' and the importance of considering the needs of the researcher and the research participants in the data collection process. BACKGROUND: Breastfeeding is endorsed by the World Health Organisation as a key health promotion strategy, and yet many women in Australia cease breastfeeding (either fully or partially) before the recommended time frame of six months. Engaging with and interviewing families is a well-established research strategy, but interviewing the family as a whole has rarely been used as a part of breastfeeding research. DESIGN: A component of a study, conducted in Sydney, Australia, was to use 'family conversations' to ascertain the views and beliefs that are held by those in the first-time mother's social network and how these impact on her experience of mothering and associated decision-making. CONCLUSIONS: Being able to balance the needs of the researcher and the research participants is an important challenge that is a core component of conducting ethical research. RELEVANCE TO CLINICAL PRACTICE: This paper highlights the viability of 'family conversations' as a data collection method for midwifery and nursing research and the need for midwives and child and family health nurses to more actively engage with a woman's support network with education and other strategies to assist in creating an environment for new mothers that is conducive to the continuation of breastfeeding and thriving as a mother.Journal of Clinical Nursing 05/2013; · 1.12 Impact Factor -
Article: Rates of obstetric intervention during birth and selected maternal and neonatal outcomes for low risk women born in Australia compared to those born overseas.
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ABSTRACT: BACKGROUND: There are mixed reports in the literature about obstetric intervention and maternal and neonatal outcomes for migrant women born in resource rich countries. The aim of this study was to compare the risk profile, rates of obstetric intervention and selected maternal and neonatal outcomes for low risk women born in Australia compared to those born overseas. METHOD: A population-based descriptive study was undertaken in NSW of all singleton births recorded in the NSW Midwives Data Collection between 2000--2008 (n=691,738). Risk profile, obstetric intervention rates and selected maternal and neonatal outcomes were examined. RESULTS: Women born in Australia were slightly younger (30 vs 31 years), less likely to be primiparous (41% vs 43%), three times more likely to smoke (18% vs 6%) and more likely to give birth in a private hospital (26% vs 18%) compared to women not born in Australia. Among the seven most common migrant groups to Australia, women born in Lebanon were the youngest, least likely to be primiparous and least likely to give birth in a private hospital. Hypertension was lowest amongst Vietnamese women (3%) and gestational diabetes highest amongst women born in China (14%). The highest caesarean section (31%), instrumental birth rates (16%) and episiotomy rates (32%) were seen in Indian women, along with the highest rates of babies <10th centile (22%) and <3rd centile (8%). Lebanese women had the highest rates of stillbirth (7.2/1000). Similar trends were found in the different migrant groups when only low risk women were included. CONCLUSION: The results suggest there are significant differences in risk profiles, obstetric intervention rates and maternal and neonatal outcomes between Australian-born and women born overseas and these differences are seen overall and in low risk populations. The finding that Indian women (the leading migrant group to Australia) have the lowest normal birth rate and high rates of low birth weight babies is concerning, and attention needs to be focused on why there are disparities in outcomes and on effective models of care that might improve outcomes for this population.BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth 05/2013; 13(1):100. · 2.83 Impact Factor -
Article: Maternal mental health in Australia and New Zealand: A review of longitudinal studies.
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ABSTRACT: AIM: The aim of this paper is to describe the factors that impact on the mental health of Australian and New Zealand (NZ) women in the perinatal period (pregnancy and the year following birth), and to determine the impact of perinatal mental health on women's subsequent health by summarising findings from prospective longitudinal studies conducted in Australia and NZ. METHODS: A systematic search was conducted using the databases, Scopus, Medline, PsychInfo and Health Source to identify prospective longitudinal studies focused on women's social and emotional health in the perinatal period. Forty-eight papers from eight longitudinal studies were included. RESULTS: The proportion of women reporting depressive symptoms in the first year after birth was between 10 and 20% and this has remained stable over 25 years. The two strongest predictors for depression and anxiety were previous history of depression and poor partner relationship. Importantly, women's mood appears to be better in the first year after birth, when compared to pregnancy and five years later. Becoming a mother at a young age is by itself not a risk factor unless coupled with social disadvantage. Women report a high number of stressors in pregnancy and following birth and the rate of intimate partner violence reported is worryingly high. CONCLUSION: Midwives have an important role in the identification, support and referral of women experiencing mental health problems. As many women do not seek help from mental health services, the potential for a known midwife to impact on women's mental health warrants further examination.Women and Birth 04/2013;
