“Never let a good crisis go to waste”: Positives from disrupted maternity care in Australia during COVID-19

Kluwgant, Dvora; Homer, Caroline; Dahlen, Hannah

doi:10.1016/j.midw.2022.103340

Cited by 15 publications

(11 citation statements)

References 38 publications

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“…This is the first Australian national study of women's maternity experiences and evaluations. (We note, however, that recent research has been published on women's experiences specific to COVID‐19, e.g., Kluwgant, Homer, and Dahlen 26 ). Women who birthed outside of a hospital or birth center were overrepresented (population = 0.3% 7 ; our study = 18%;).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 73%

“Make it better for the women and babies who come after me”: Findings from women in Australia completing the international Babies Born Better survey

Young,

Miller

2023

Birth

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BackgroundWoman‐centered maternity service delivery is endorsed by Australian federal health policy. Despite this, little evaluation of maternity care is conducted through the lens of women. We examined the responses of women birthing in Australia to the international Babies Born Better 2018 (Version 2) open‐response survey.MethodsAn online international survey was distributed primarily by means of social media for women who had given birth in the last 5 years. In addition to closed‐ended questions to describe the sample, a series of open‐ended questions recorded women's experiences and satisfaction with their maternity care and place of birth.ResultsOf 1249 women who reported birthing their most recent baby in Australia and speaking English, 84% responded to at least one open‐ended evaluation question. We thematically analyzed the data to identify three related themes of safety, choice, and respect for women. Women's experiences of these were closely tied to their model of care; those birthing at home with a private midwife more so reported positive experiences than those discussing obstetric care or, to a lesser extent, midwifery‐led care in a hospital. There was a strong preference and need for (1) access to affordable care with a known practitioner from early pregnancy to postpartum, and (2) individualized care with the removal of restrictive hospital policies not aligned with woman‐centered practice.DiscussionThis is the first Australian national study of women's maternity experiences and evaluations. Consistent with previous state‐based research, women birthing in Australia continue to report maternity “care” that is physically and emotionally harmful. They also stated a need to address the psychosocial aspects of becoming a mother, in addition to the biological ones. Women and other birthing people must be at the center of defining quality maternity health service delivery, and services must be accountable for preventing and addressing harm, as defined by all birthing people.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 73%

“Make it better for the women and babies who come after me”: Findings from women in Australia completing the international Babies Born Better survey

Young,

Miller

2023

Birth

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“…32 Related factors have been suggested by numerous studies and include dyspareunia, orgasmic difficulties, dry vagina, and vaginal atrophy, all brought on by the illness and side effects of cancer treatments. 33–36 …”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Pre- and Post-Treatment Quality of Life Among Patients with Advanced Stage Cervical Cancer at Tikur Anbessa Specialized Hospital, Ethiopia

Teshome,

Yang,

Woldetsadik

et al. 2024

CMAR

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Background The development of health concepts beyond traditional markers of illness and death has made the evaluation of quality of life (QoL) crucial to patient care. Yet, there is little research evaluating the pre- and post-treatment QoL of cervical cancer survivors in Ethiopia. Objective This study aimed to assess the pre- and post-treatment QoL of women diagnosed with advanced-stage cervical cancer. Methods and Materials A cohort design was conducted at the Tikur Anbessa Specialized Hospital Oncology Center. A total of 166 cervical cancer patients were recruited consecutively. Data was collected through interviews with standardized questionnaires before and after treatment. The Wilcoxon rank test was used to assess the significant differences in pre-treatment and post-treatment quality of life. Additionally, the Mann-Whitney U -test was also employed. Statistical significance was determined with p-values <0.05 and a 95% confidence interval. Results Women who were in stages IVA and IVB were 24.7% and 10.2%, respectively. Both the global health scale (66.67 [47.92–75] to 83.33 [66.67–83.33]) and the functional domain QoL (66.67 [40–80] to 70 [46.67–86.66]) showed statistically significant improvements from pre-treatment to post-treatment QoL. Women under the age of 45 were found to have higher global health QOL (P < 0.001) and functional domain QOL (P = 0.029). Women presented in stages II and III had comparatively higher global health QoL (P = 0.008) and functional domain QoL (P = 0.021). Conclusion Global health QOL and the majority of functional quality of life significantly improved following six months of cancer treatment. But there was no discernible change in terms of sexual enjoyment, sexual function, or activity. Age, marital status, the duration since diagnosis, the stage of the cancer, and the presence of comorbidities were the factors that affected the improvement of post-treatment quality of life.

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“…For example, research conducted in 2014 and 2021 showed that mothers' stress could be negated should they be given the option to birth locally 26,27 . The COVID‐19 pandemic has normalised the use of telehealth, which has been long known to benefit rural populations, though more research may be needed on how this impacts pregnancy and birth specifically 28–31 …”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

‘We country women need advocacy’: Birthing narratives from the Western Australian Wheatbelt region

Shackleton,

Fisher,

Bosco

et al. 2023

Australian J Rural Health

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IntroductionThis study describes the experiences of eight mothers from the Wheatbelt region of Western Australia who shared their stories of travelling and/or temporarily relocating for birth.ObjectiveThe aim of this study was to describe rural and remote Western Australian mothers’ experiences of travelling long distances and/or relocating to give birth.DesignThis study was based on Crotty's four elements of qualitative research. This study was underpinned by a constructivist epistemology, a feminist theoretical lens and a narrative approach using semistructured, story‐based interviews. Participants narrated their stories of birthing away from home by telephone interview.FindingsFive major themes were identified utilising thematic analysis. These were (1) feeling forgotten in the system, (2) accessibility and choice, (3) compounded social isolation, (4) doing it hard: financial and logistical challenges and (5) building strength: advocating for myself and baby.DiscussionMothers’ stories were reflective of current and historical failures of rural maternal health policy, including widespread closures of rural birthing hospitals. Mothers described the logistical barriers they faced with little support and suggested multiple solutions that would improve their experiences.ConclusionMothers faced significant obstacles which impeded their access to equitable maternal healthcare. This study highlights the complexities of birthing as a rural mother and the need to address maternal health inequities between rural and metropolitan women.

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“Never let a good crisis go to waste”: Positives from disrupted maternity care in Australia during COVID-19

Cited by 15 publications

References 38 publications

“Make it better for the women and babies who come after me”: Findings from women in Australia completing the international Babies Born Better survey

“Make it better for the women and babies who come after me”: Findings from women in Australia completing the international Babies Born Better survey

Pre- and Post-Treatment Quality of Life Among Patients with Advanced Stage Cervical Cancer at Tikur Anbessa Specialized Hospital, Ethiopia

‘We country women need advocacy’: Birthing narratives from the Western Australian Wheatbelt region

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