Malawi women's knowledge and use of labour and birthing positions: A cross-sectional descriptive survey

Zileni, Barbara Debra; Glover, Pauline; Jones, Meril; Teoh, Kung-Keat; Zileni, Chisomo Waazileni; Müller, Amanda

doi:10.1016/j.wombi.2016.06.003

Cited by 30 publications

(24 citation statements)

References 20 publications

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“…These positions were common birth practices that usually occurred in a home setting. 1 The current literature supports an evidence-based birth position that is beneficial to women. 2 The World Health Organization 3 endorses the use of alternative birth positions which are associated with favourable maternal and childbirth outcomes.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 61%

“…8,9 In addition, the utilisation of these positions enhances progression and prevents prolonged duration of labour, thus reducing complications such as postpartum haemorrhage. 1 Furthermore, alternative birth positions are associated with lower incidence rates of performing episiotomy, less perineal tears and less use of instrumental deliveries. 5,10…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…13 However, regardless of the benefits of alternative birth positions, women are not aware of a variety of alternative birth positions available to them. 1,15 Therefore, this paper is about the factors hindering midwives’ utilisation of alternative positions during labour.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Factors hindering midwives’ utilisation of alternative birth positions during labour in a selected public hospital

Musie

Peu

Bhana-Pema

2019

Afr. j. prim. health care fam. med.

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BackgroundAn evidence-based practice suggests that the birth position adopted by women during labour has a significant impact on the maternal and neonatal birth outcomes. The birth positions are endorsed by guidelines of maternity care in South Africa, which documented that women in labour should be allowed to select the birth position of their choice, preferably alternative birth positions (including upright, kneeling, squatting and lateral positions) during labour. Thus, the lithotomy birth position should be avoided. However, despite available literature, midwives routinely position women in the lithotomy position during normal vertex births, which causes several adverse maternal outcomes (namely prolonged labour, postpartum haemorrhage) and adverse neonatal outcomes (such as foetal asphyxia and respiratory compromise).AimThe aim was to explore and describe factors hindering midwives’ utilisation of alternative birth positions during labour in a selected public hospital.SettingA public hospital in the Tshwane district, Pretoria were used in the study.MethodsThis study used the qualitative, exploratory and descriptive research design. This design gathered quality information on factors hindering midwives’ utilisation of alternative birth positions during labour in a selected public hospital.ResultsThe study revealed the following themes: (1) midwives’ perceptions on alternative use of birth positions and (2) barriers to utilisation of alternative birth positions. The themes were discussed and validated through the use of a literature review.ConclusionThe lack of skills and training during the midwifery undergraduate and postgraduate programme contributes to the midwives being incompetent to utilise alternative birth positions during clinical practice.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 61%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Factors hindering midwives’ utilisation of alternative birth positions during labour in a selected public hospital

Musie

Peu

Bhana-Pema

2019

Afr. j. prim. health care fam. med.

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“…Maternal positioning as preferred by women during birth act as a coping mechanism for pain and promote comfort [ 26 ], and utilizing positions such as the upright position during the second stage of labor, minimizes obstetric complications and interventions, shorten the duration of labor and reduces the feeling of pain [ 27 ]. In The Gambia, the supine/lithotomy position is the most widely used position during the second stage of labor in the health facilities across the country, this is also evident in Malawi [ 28 ]. Lack of knowledge and competence in conducting deliveries using positions other than the supine position could be one of the reasons for women not helped to try different positions in this study.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Women’s perception of support and control during childbirth in The Gambia, a quantitative study on dignified facility-based intrapartum care

Colley

Kao

Gau

et al. 2018

BMC Pregnancy Childbirth

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BackgroundIn The Gambia, a woman faces 1 in 24-lifetime risk of maternal death due to pregnancy and childbirth, yet, only 57% of deliveries are conducted by skilled birth attendants. However, poor provider attitude has been identified as one of the contributing factors hampering the efforts of the government in improving access to skilled care during childbirth. This study, therefore, explored women’s perception of support and control during childbirth in The Gambia.MethodsA descriptive cross-sectional study was employed. A convenience sampling method was used to select participants in two regions in The Gambia. A sample size of 200 women who met the eligibility criteria was recruited after informed consent. The demographic-obstetric information sheet and the Support and Control in Birth scale (SCIB) were used to collect data. Data analysis was done using SPSS software version 23.0.ResultsWomen’s perceptions of support and control were low. External control 1.85 (SD ± 0.43) recorded the least perception compared to internal control 2.41 (SD ± 0.65) and perception of support 2.52 (SD ± 0.61). Participants reported the lowest perceptions in pain control, involvement in decision making, information sharing and the utilization of different position during birth. Women’s age (p < .001) and mode of delivery (p = .01), significantly predicted women’s perception of internal control. Educational status (p = .02), mode of delivery (p = .04), place of delivery (p < .001) and perception of support (p < .001) significantly predicted women’s perception of external control, whilst birth plan (p = .001), mode of delivery (p = .04), and perception of external control (p < .001) significantly predicted women’s perception of support.ConclusionThis study concluded that an environment that promotes women feeling a sense of control and support during childbirth should be created in order to ensure a dignified intrapartum care in The Gambia. This can be achieved through effective training of skilled birth attendants on non-pharmacological pain management, effective communication with clients and promoting women’s participation in decision-making regarding their care throughout the process of childbirth.Electronic supplementary materialThe online version of this article (10.1186/s12884-018-2025-5) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

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“…Several evidence-based guidelines encourage and help women to move and adopt any position they find most comfortable throughout labor and childbirth, except supine or semi-supine position [3,34,35]. Despite the scientific evidence against the use of supine position, current literature suggests that supine positions are the most common position assumed by women during childbirth worldwide [36]. For example, in many Asian countries, women usually assume supine position to give birth [37].…”

Section: Common Maternal Positions During the Second-stage Of Labormentioning

confidence: 99%

A review and comparison of common maternal positions during the second-stage of labor

Huang

Zang

Ren

et al. 2019

International Journal of Nursing Sciences

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The second-stage of labor is the most stressful part of childbirth process and the proper maternal position during this period is paramount for women's safe vaginal birth. Midwives play a pivotal role in managing maternal positions during the second-stage of labor. However, there is limited evidence to support an ideal maternal position during the second-stage of labor. Further, the difference between different maternal positions might not be apparent. This paper aims to review and compare the benefits and risks of common maternal positions during the second-stage of labor, thereby to provide midwives evidence-based practical guidelines.

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Malawi women's knowledge and use of labour and birthing positions: A cross-sectional descriptive survey

Cited by 30 publications

References 20 publications

Factors hindering midwives’ utilisation of alternative birth positions during labour in a selected public hospital

Factors hindering midwives’ utilisation of alternative birth positions during labour in a selected public hospital

Women’s perception of support and control during childbirth in The Gambia, a quantitative study on dignified facility-based intrapartum care

A review and comparison of common maternal positions during the second-stage of labor

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