AimTo explore the lived experiences of adolescents with sickle cell disease, in Kingston, Jamaica.MethodA descriptive qualitative design was used for this research. In-depth interviews were conducted with six adolescents with sickle cell disease at a Sickle Cell Unit operated by the University of the West Indies. Interviews were audiotaped, transcribed, and thematically analyzed.ResultsThe majority of the adolescents demonstrated a positive self-concept. They reported strong family, school, and peer support which made them feel accepted. All were actively engaged in social activities such as parties, but had challenges participating in sporting activities. Various coping strategies were utilized to address challenges of the disease including praying, watching television, and surfing the Internet.ConclusionSickle cell disease can be very challenging for the adolescent, but with positive self-concept and increased social support, especially from family and peers, these adolescents were able to effectively cope with their condition and live productive lives.

IntroductionGender-based violence (GBV) can have devastating consequences for pregnancy because both mother and child are at risk. Midwives are in a strategic position to identify and empower pregnant women experiencing GBV; however, currently midwives in Jamaica are not required to screen for GBV, neither are they prepared to do so.AimThis study forms the baseline of a larger study designed to improve the capacity of midwives to identify and treat pregnant women experiencing GBV in Jamaica. This specific component assessed midwives’ knowledge and attitudes when encountering GBV in their practice in Kingston, Jamaica.MethodsA qualitative study design was used. Six practicing midwives were purposely selected to participate in a focus group discussion at the antenatal clinic of a hospital in Kingston, Jamaica.ResultsAll six respondents said it was very important to screen for GBV among pregnant women in their care. The findings from their report revolved around six themes, namely midwives have suboptimal knowledge, are exposed to women experiencing GBV in pregnancy, lack professional preparedness, report gaps in the institutional framework to guide their practice, are concerned for their safety and security, and are willing to intervene.ConclusionThis study confirmed that midwives are aware of the problem and are willing to intervene but are faced with lack of formal procedures to detect and treat pregnant women who are experiencing GBV. Findings could be used to inform a protocol which is being developed to guide midwives’ practice. Findings could also be incorporated in the national strategy to eliminate GBV.

Background:Domestic violence (DV) is recognized as a priority in maternity care. Data on the prevalence and profile of women experiencing DV during pregnancy are limited in Jamaica. This baseline study has identified the prevalence and provided a profile of pregnant women who are at risk for DV in Kingston, Jamaica.Method:A descriptive cross-sectional study was done in 2014. A total of 185 randomly selected pregnant women attending the antenatal clinic completed a self-administered questionnaire. The data were analyzed using SPSS. The study was approved by our local ethical boards and all ethical considerations were adhered to.Results:The study identified a prevalence rate of 41% (n= 75/182) which includes all types of DV during pregnancy. Those at risk were 23–29 years old, single (66.6%), employed (44%), had primary education (66.6%), and had unplanned pregnancies (65%). The majority of respondents (98%) were willing to disclose DV, but the clinic does not provide them the opportunity. Only 11% (8/75) reported that they sought professional help.Conclusion:This study adds to the body of knowledge on the prevalence of DV and notes that it is high among pregnant women attending the antenatal clinic. The findings can guide the development of a DV screening protocol to identify and treat pregnant women and train health practitioners in Jamaica.

families and friends generally, and it is only brought into the public domain when the outcomes are deleterious and traumatic for families. The problem for countries like Jamaica is that there is a lack of comprehensive documentation of D&A experienced by women in childbirth facilities, specifically its nature, forms, causes and prevalence.Abuya, et al. [1], Freedman [2] have found that as many as 19% to 28% of women will experienced disrespectful and/or abusive treatment from health providers in Healthcare facilities during childbirth in low and middle income nations. Prior to their findings a landscape analysis was conducted by Bowser & Hill in 2010 [3] grouped disrespect and abusive care into seven major categories which they stated tend to overlap and occur on a continuum from subtle disrespect and humiliation to overt violence. The categories are physical abuse, care that was given without consent, treating the woman with disrespect, not adhering to confidentiality, discrimination, detention in the facilities and abandonment of care [3]. Subsequent studies carried out in countries like Kenya, Peru, Zimbabwe, Ethiopia and the United States of America have used this typology as the basis to study D&A its form, causes, consequences and prevalence in the respective countries. Bohren, et al. [4] have also developed an evidenced based typology of mistreatment to include physical abuse, sexual abuse, verbal abuse, stigma and discrimination, failure to meet professional standard of care, poor rapport between AbstractAmidst advance action to increase positive pregnancy outcomes globally, sufficient focus and considerations have not being given to the human element, specifically the interpersonal relationships between care providers and the childbearing family. The attitude and behaviours of Healthcare practitioners are critical to the overall delivery of quality maternity care and the mother's experience during childbirth. Women's experience with maternity care providers can empower and comfort them, or inflict lasting damage and emotional trauma. A lack of respectful care during childbirth is increasingly being recognized as both an indicator of poor quality of care as well as an obstacle to obtaining the infant and maternal health Sustainable Development Goal (SDG).The purpose of this paper is to highlight the importance of Respectful Maternity Care (RMC) as a key element of broader efforts to provide quality care, which underscore the need to generate evidence on the extent to which disrespect and abusive care is practiced and its effects on mother and child and how it may impact Jamaica achieving the maternal health and gender SDGs.

BACKGROUNDTeenage pregnancy is a multifaceted problem which is influenced by numerous issues including individual, family, and community characteristics. Its consequences affect the health, social and economic wellbeing of the teenagers and their children. The attitudes and behaviors of maternal healthcare providers were an essential component of quality as they impacted both positively and negatively on how the clients, their partners, and families observed and experienced maternal healthcare. This study was conducted to determine the general attitudes of student nurses towards teenage pregnancy and also to determine whether socio-demographic characteristics of the student nurses affected their attitude towards teenage pregnancy.METHODA quantitative descriptive, cross-sectional study was done in 2018. A total of 87 randomly selected fourth year student nurses completed a self-administered questionnaire. The data were analyzed using SPSS (Statistical Package for the Social Sciences). The study was approved by our local ethical boards and all ethical considerations were adhered to.RESULTSThe results of the study revealed that majority of the participants (93.1%) were single and attended church (90.8%). The majority of the sample was female 96.6% between the ages 18–24 years old. The respondents’ attitudes towards teen mothers were not affected by their relationship status. The results further revealed that the nursing students’ had a moderately positive attitude towards teenage pregnancy. The only sociodemographic variable that affected attitude was the respondents having a teen mother in the family. The respondents with teen mother in the family accounted for 29.9 %.CONCLUSIONThis study adds to the body of knowledge on the attitudes of nursing students towards teenage pregnancy. The findings can guide the nursing curriculum to accentuate patient centered care and professional values in Jamaica in order to deliver care to this vulnerable group.