Women's experiences providing kangaroo mother care in an academic hospital in Tshwane, Gauteng.

Preterm birth can be stressful for mothers and have negative consequences for the natural establishment of the mother-infant relationship. A high-impact, economical, and potentially life-saving strategy for the care of preterm and low-birthweight babies is kangaroo mother care (KMC). The literature suggests challenges to and enablers of KMC implementation in low-resource environments. The aim was to explore and describe women's experiences of providing KMC to their preterm babies. A qualitative, exploratory and descriptive approach was adopted. An unstructured interview guide was used to collect data during a focus group interview with mothers who provided kangaroo care. Data were analyzed using Braun and Clarke's method. Four main themes emerged from the analyzed data. The results reflected on participants' positive experiences, parenting skills and challenges. The participants suggested measures to enhance their encounters while providing KMC. Nurses need to support mothers who provide KMC; continuous education and guidance can enhance the implementation of this evidence-based practice to improve health outcomes for both preterm babies and their mothers. There is a need for continued training and support for mothers practising KMC, along with the consideration for healthcare providers to offer postpartum services for the mothers.

Une naissance prématurée peut être stressante pour les mères et avoir des conséquences négatives sur l'établissement naturel de la relation mère-enfant. Les soins maternels kangourous (KMC) constituent une stratégie à fort impact, économique et potentiellement vitale pour les soins aux bébés prématurés et de faible poids de naissance. La littérature suggère des défis et des catalyseurs pour la mise en œuvre de KMC dans des environnements à faibles ressources. L'objectif était d'explorer et de décrire les expériences des femmes en matière de fourniture de KMC à leurs bébés prématurés. Une approche qualitative, exploratoire et descriptive a été adoptée. Un guide d'entretien non structuré a été utilisé pour collecter des données lors d'un groupe de discussion avec des mères qui prodiguaient des soins kangourous. Les données ont été analysées à l'aide de la méthode de Braun et Clarke. Quatre thèmes principaux ont émergé des données analysées. Les résultats reflètent les expériences positives des participants, leurs compétences parentales et leurs défis. Les participants ont suggéré des mesures pour améliorer leurs rencontres tout en fournissant des KMC. Les infirmières doivent soutenir les mères qui dispensent des soins KMC ; une éducation et des conseils continus peuvent améliorer la mise en œuvre de cette pratique fondée sur des données probantes pour améliorer les résultats de santé des bébés prématurés et de leurs mères. Il est nécessaire de poursuivre la formation et le soutien des mères pratiquant la KMC, ainsi que d'envisager que les prestataires de soins de santé offrent des services post-partum aux mères.

Nurse managers' leadership styles as an impetus to patient safety in an academic hospital.

Background: Successful implementation of patient safety plans in a hospital necessitates, among other things, the leadership capacity of nurse managers. Patient care delivery errors and adverse events continue to occur for a variety of reasons, including a failure to follow recommended patient safety strategies. Certain leadership styles foster interactions with healthcare staff, resulting in work environments that promote positive patient outcomes. It is unclear what nurse managers believe about the type of leadership style that drives patient safety. Aim: The goal was to explore the nurse managers' perceptions of leadership styles as an impetus to patient safety. Setting: The study was conducted at an academic hospital in the Tshwane District of Gauteng province. Methods: A qualitative exploratory and descriptive contextual design was used. Semi-structured face-to-face interviews were conducted with 20 purposefully selected nurse managers. A thematic data analysis method was used to analyse data. Results: Common leadership styles among nurse managers and challenges affecting the efficiency of nurse managers' leadership styles emerged as themes. Conclusion: Nurse managers must have appropriate leadership styles to improve patient safety. Human and material resource shortages, as well as a lack of collaborative practice among healthcare professionals, jeopardise nurse managers' ability to maximise patient safety. Contribution: The article provides insight into nurse managers' perceptions of leadership styles as critical to improving patient safety. Recommendations included the need for a structured ongoing leadership training programme to develop and strengthen the skills of newly appointed and existing nurse managers.

Midwives perceptions: Birth unit environment and the implementation of best intrapartum care practices.

PROBLEM: Midwives related avoidable factors causing maternal morbidity and mortality rates continue to occur despite the existing intrapartum care-related evidence-based practice guidelines and continuing staff development initiatives. RESEARCH QUESTION: What are your perceptions regarding a birth unit environment that supports the implementation of best intrapartum care practices. OBJECTIVE: To explore and describe midwives' perceptions about the birth environment that supports the implementation of best intrapartum care practices. METHOD: A qualitative design that is explorative, descriptive, and contextual in nature using a descriptive phenomenology approach. SETTING: A public hospital birth unit in the Gauteng Province in South Africa. POPULATION AND SAMPLE: The population comprised of 56 permanently employed female registered midwives. A purposive sampling method was used to select 26 participants who met the selection criteria, these participants were willing to participate in the study and to sign the consent form. Data collection process involved three focus group interviews using semi-structured interviews. A qualitative data analysis method was used to analyse data. Trustworthiness was ensured and ethical considerations were adhered to. FINDINGS: Three main themes emerged namely, interpersonal skills, improved staff development, and adequate resources. DISCUSSION: Conducive birth environment is crucial to childbirth outcomes. Midwives' constant introspection is essential in fulfilling their obligation to render competent and ethical intrapartum care. CONCLUSION: Midwives identified perceived birth environment barriers affecting their implementation of best intrapartum care practices. Adoption of a comprehensive approach to address the birth unit environment-related factors is suggested to support midwives in their endeavour to provide the best care to women during childbirth.