Development of Holistic Health Care Interventions for Women With Infertility: A Nominal Group Technique.

Infertility care is often directed by a biomedical approach rather than a holistic approach, especially in African countries. This article explores the opinions of health care providers regarding holistic health care interventions in managing women with infertility in Ghana. Data were retrieved using a qualitative design and nominal group technique with a purposive sample of 12 health care providers in Ghana. Data were analyzed through thematic analysis. Health care providers explored various psychological, educational, spiritual, social, and medical interventions to ensure women diagnosed with infertility receive holistic treatment and attain optimal health.

Holistic management of female infertility: A systematic review.

Although issues pertaining to infertility affect both males and females, women often become victims of stigmatization and rejection, making them susceptible to emotional pain and suffering. Due to these psychosocial problems, they require not only biomedical treatment, but also psychological, social, and spiritual support. Unfortunately, many women with infertility are not treated holistically. The aim of this review was to retrieve existing evidence of holistic healthcare interventions for women with infertility. Global databases were searched for articles published anywhere in the world between 2010 to 2018 that explored holistic healthcare interventions for women diagnosed with infertility. A total of 18 articles meeting the inclusion criteria were assessed, and data extraction was performed. Findings revealed that interventions adopted in managing infertile women alongside the bio-medical management included: counseling; cognitive behavioral therapy; acceptance and commitment therapy; educational interventions; spiritual interventions; emotionally focused therapy/intervention and integrative body-mind-spirit interventions. The results of this review have implications for healthcare professionals to ensure holistic care of women diagnosed with infertility in Ghana and Africa at large.

Use of the partogram in a private hospital in South Africa.

OBJECTIVE: to explore and describe the use of the partogram in private hospitals in South Africa. DESIGN: an explanatory mixed method design. In-depth interviews were conducted with the midwives and midwife specialists to explicate the significance of the initial quantitative questionnaires. SETTING: a private maternity hospital in Gauteng Province, South Africa. PARTICIPANTS: 11 midwives and 3 advanced midwives working in the labour unit of the private maternity hospital. FINDINGS: although all the midwives and midwife specialists knew the purpose of the partogram, where to find the recommendations on the use of the partogram and the signs of true labour, not all were sure when the partogram had to be completed and who is accountable for plotting the findings. Fetal heart rate monitoring during the active phase of labour remains a concern. KEY CONCLUSION: the findings revealed that the midwives understood the importance of the partogram but are not using it within the parameters for which it was intended. The obstetricians intervened during labour with no or little use of the partogram. IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE: the study identified the knowledge strengths and deficits of midwives working in a private hospital on partogram use that would benefit from training interventions and professional development. Evidence suggests a culture where the partogram is not central to care as obstetricians are not using the partogram. The purpose of the partogram in the private sector needs to be reviewed.

Process of development of a contemporary curriculum in advanced midwifery.

BACKGROUND: We identified the need for a contemporary curriculum to enhance education in advanced midwifery. Midwifery education needs to address the changing health needs, meet the requirements of the educational framework in South Africa and align with international trends. AIM: The aim was to describe the development of a contemporary curriculum for advanced midwifery. SETTING: The curriculum development took place at a South African university. METHOD: We used a situational analysis to create a contemporary curriculum based on the Research Development and Diffusion Model. RESULTS: We described the process followed for the situation analysis towards the development of a contemporary curriculum in advanced midwifery which is aligned with global trends. CONCLUSION: A situation analysis of the existing curriculum, the community and country's maternal and neonatal needs, educational framework and global trends should be used to develop the intended contemporary curriculum.

Quality Improvement Initiative for Family-Centered Care in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit of a Tertiary Hospital in South Africa.

The introduction of family-centered care in the neonatal intensive care unit was identified as a high priority to facilitate bonding and attachment with potential positive outcomes for the parents and infants. The aim of the study was, therefore, to develop and implement a quality improvement initiative to foster family-centered care in a tertiary neonatal intensive care unit from birth onward. A pretest posttest intervention design was used using mixed methods over 3 phases to determine the perceived level of family-centered care according to healthcare professionals and parents using self-administered questionnaires; to develop and implement a quality improvement initiative to enhance family-centered care in a neonatal intensive care unit using a nominal group technique, followed by the quality improvement process; and to evaluate the outcomes of the initiative by repeating the self-administered questionnaires to parents and staff. Various activities were introduced as part of the initiative such as early breastfeeding, early introduction of parents to their infant, open visitation policy, and involvement in caring activities. The perceived level of care according to staff and parents increased. It is expected to enhance bonding and attachment between the infants and their parents, with consequential long-term positive outcomes.

The support needs of high-risk antenatal patients in prolonged hospitalisation.

OBJECTIVE: to identify and describe the support needs of high-risk antenatal patients hospitalised for more than five days. DESIGN: a qualitative, explorative and descriptive design. In-depth interviews were conducted with pregnant women during their stay in hospital until data saturation was reached. SETTING: an antenatal unit in a private hospital in Gauteng Province, South Africa. PARTICIPANTS: 11 antepartum women who had been hospitalised for five days or more and were of any gestation period. FINDINGS: three main themes emerged: (a) a need for social support; (b) improvement of the environment; and (c) assistance with emotional adaptation and acceptance of prolonged hospitalisation. KEY CONCLUSION: prolonged hospitalisation of high-risk antenatal patients disrupts the usual adaptation to pregnancy. These patients develop specific needs during hospitalisation. Findings suggest that the length of hospitalisation influences the specific support needs of antenatal patients. IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE: this study identified a link between social and environmental support, emotional adaptation, acceptance of hospitalisation of high-risk antenatal patients and improvement of their health status. Through reflection on these themes, recommendations can be made and strategies implemented to meet the support needs of high-risk antenatal patients.