Midwifery
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to examine the use of complementary and alternative medicine during pregnancy using data from a longitudinal cohort study. ⋯ given the potential risks of some complementary and alternative medicine for pregnant women and their unborn child, it is essential that maternity care providers are adequately informed about these treatments and that further research investigates the details of such concurrent use.
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Comparative Study
Cross-cultural comparison of levels of childbirth-related fear in an Australian and Swedish sample.
research, conducted predominately in Scandinavian countries, suggests that a substantial number of women experience high levels of fear concerning childbirth which can impact on birth outcomes, the mother-infant relationship and the ongoing mental health of the mother. The prevalence of childbirth-related fear (CBRF) is not well known outside of the Nordic nations. This study aimed to examine the prevalence of CBRF in two rural populations (Sweden and Australia) and to pilot a short, easy-to-administer measurement tool. ⋯ the high proportion of women identified with CBRF suggests a need for monitoring of women during pregnancy, particularly those with a previous negative birth experience. The FOBS developed for this study could be used as a screening tool to identify women who require further investigation. Further cross-cultural research is needed to explore the role of fear in women's preference for caesarean section.
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to explore first- and second-generation Pakistani women's experiences of maternity services and the inter generational differences/comparisons. ⋯ care given should be based on individual need but given within a wider collaborative context in order to support women effectively. Increased maternity service user involvement would also be welcomed for future planning of maternity services.
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to address the social aspects of pregnancy and the views of pregnant women regarding prenatal assistance in Brazil. ⋯ the findings reveal that communication between pregnant women and health-care professionals has been ineffective and that prenatal care has not been effective for the group interviewed--features that are likely to be found among other low- to middle-income groups living elsewhere in Brazil.