Informational continuity by midwives during birth at primary care settings in the Western Cape.

Background: Informational continuity ensures that all health and psychosocial information of the pregnant women is available at all encounters with healthcare providers. The World Health Organization recognised that ineffective informational continuity during birth contributed to fragmented care and duplication of services, which ultimately influenced the morbidity and mortality rates of the pregnant women. Aim: The aim of this study was to delve into the midwives' experiences on informational continuity approaches that enable effective care coordination during birth within the primary health care setting. Setting: The study setting was two maternity obstetric units (MOUs) in the Western Cape, South Africa. Methods: A qualitative descriptive phenomenological design was used. Participants were recruited by using purposive sampling. Interviews were audiorecorded, transcribed verbatim and analysed. Results: Three themes emerged from the findings. Theme one: adequate sharing of information with women during the intrapartum period. Theme two: efficient transition of information among midwives and other healthcare providers during the intrapartum period. Theme three: challenges to informational continuity during the intrapartum period. Conclusion: Communication with the women as well as with other healthcare providers during birth was effective. However, with minimal challenges, informational continuity was effectuated through communication among the midwives, the pregnant women and other healthcare providers. Contribution: Informational continuity approaches among the midwives, with the women and between healthcare facilities are a prerequisite to ensure continuity of care and care coordination during birth.

Informational continuity by skilled birth attendants during antenatal care in Lesotho.

Background: Informational continuity (IC) is one of the four approaches that enables integrated people-centered health services. IC enables the availability of all health and psychosocial information of the pregnant women at all health encounters. World Health Organization (WHO) recognised that ineffective IC results in fragmented health care and duplication of services. Hence, IC may assist in the reduction of maternal morbidity and mortality. Aim: The purpose of this study was to explore and describe the experiences of skilled birth attendants (SBAs) with IC during the antenatal period. Setting: Three primary healthcare centers in Maseru district, Lesotho. Methods: A qualitative descriptive phenomenological design was used with purposive sampling to choose nine participants. Results: Four themes emerged; Theme one: SBAs and pregnant women information communication, theme two: Information communication between the SBAs, theme three: information collection during ANC and theme four: guidelines used during ANC to standardise care. Several challenges regarding information communication form the sources of information, transition of information, information between caregivers and women which demonstrated the frustration between the women and the SBAs during ANC leading to ineffective care coordination. Conclusion: Enabling IC during ANC enables effective data collection from the sources of information, transition of information during care giving within and between health facilities. Contribution: Effective informational continuity enables effective care coordination in ANC in Lesotho.

Adolescent mothers' lived experiences whilst providing continuous kangaroo mother care: A qualitative study.

BACKGROUND: Kangaroo mother care (KMC) is the practice of skin-to-skin contact between an infant and parent and has been found to improve the growth and decrease the morbidity and mortality of low-birth-weight and premature infants. Adolescent pregnancy is associated with a preterm birth or low-birth-weight infant; therefore, it is possible that an adolescent mother may have to provide KMC. The adolescent mother, who is likely to have her first experience of motherhood, may have to be supported to ensure that she is able to provide KMC and the routine care for her preterm infant. The literature review did not reveal any research conducted in the Western Cape province on the experiences of adolescent mothers whilst providing KMC. It is, therefore, important to conduct research on this phenomenon so that the lived experiences of adolescent mothers whilst providing KMC can be described. AIM: The aim of this study was to explore the lived experiences of adolescent mothers whilst providing continuous KMC. SETTING: The study was conducted in a district and central hospital KMC wards in Cape Town in the Western Cape province of South Africa. METHODS: A qualitative, descriptive, phenomenological research design was used. Ten adolescent mothers were selected through purposive sampling. Semi-structured in-depth interviews were conducted, transcribed and analysed using Colaizzi's framework. RESULTS: Three themes emerged from the data: providing KMC, the interactions and the support received. CONCLUSION: Supportive educative environments should be established in the KMC wards to ensure that the adolescent mothers receive holistic support.