Experiences of midwives regarding the use of pharmacological and non-pharmacological labour pain interventions in Lejweleputswa district in Free State
- Authors: Parkies, Limakatso Elizabeth
- Date: 2019
- Subjects: Anesthesia in obstetrics , Labor (Obstetrics) , Pain -- Treatment
- Language: English
- Type: Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/27187 , vital:66387
- Description: Due to the disabling effects of severe labour pains, labour pain management remains an important topic in midwifery and needs to be reviewed more often. According to studies, various pain relief options, both pharmacological and non-pharmacological, are available to help women cope with pain, but midwives did not employ these techniques adequately because of various experiences. Studies further indicate that, though the limited number of these techniques were employed they were not effective on some women. Thus, the purpose of this research study was to explore and describe midwives’ experiences on pharmacological and non-pharmacological labour pain management in the Lejweleputswa District of the Free State Province. This study employed a qualitative, descriptive, explorative, and contextual design. A purposive sampling technique was used to select the participants. The target population was midwives who work in the maternity wards of the institutions under study with three to five years’ experience in midwifery. Individual, face-face, semi-structured interviews were conducted; these were recorded for the researcher’s reference purposes, so as not to overlook important information. In addition, the researcher made use of field notes, recording in them what was heard, observed, felt, experienced, and thought during the interview. Ethical principles and trustworthiness were maintained throughout this study. Data analysis was done using Tesch’s approach to open coding in qualitative research. Confidentiality and anonymity were ensured throughout the interviews. The nine themes and 19 sub-themes that emerged during data analysis were discussed comprehensively. The findings indicate that midwives use both pharmacological and non-pharmacological methods in managing labour pain. Some methods are effective in relieving pain for certain mothers, while other methods proved ineffective. Midwives administer Pethidine and Phenergan as per doctors’ prescription; non-pharmacological methods, such as back massage, deep breathing exercises, mobilisation, and warm baths or showers are also employed. Midwives provide pharmacological methods to all women in labour, and routinely employ non-pharmacological methods. Although the midwives are willing to manage patients’ pain, they face certain challenges, such as shortage of staff, increased workload, as well as inadequate resources. This leads to inadequate provision of non-pharmacological care. In conclusion, the midwives’ experiences were that both pharmacological and non-pharmacological techniques were used for all labouring women and they had relaxing and calming effects on some women, resulting to them giving birth with ease, although for some they were not effective. In addition, the pharmacological interventions caused drowsiness to some women and babies. The findings will provide evidence-based information to the Free State Department of Health in order to assist policymakers and stakeholders in initiating and developing appropriate policies, guidelines, and interventions that can improve labour pain management. The Free State Department of Health should consider using other opioids and non-opioids in managing labour pain to broaden the scope of pain relief methods available to the midwives. , Thesis (MPH) -- Faculty of Health Sciences, 2019
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- Date Issued: 2019
Perceptions of the doctors working in labour wards related to the use of cardiotocograph as an intrapartum monitoring tool
- Authors: Mabenge, Mfundiso Samson
- Date: 2013
- Subjects: Fetal heart rate monitoring , Labor (Obstetrics)
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: vital:10061 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/d1020345
- Description: Monitoring of women in labour is an important aspect of the practice of the health care professionals working in the labour ward. The pregnancy of a woman mightappear to be normal but it is not possible to predict the positive outcome of labour until the baby is born because foetal distress can occur suddenly or other problems can arise during the course of labour. Doctors need to closely monitor the progress of labour of all the women regardless of whether he pregnancy is rated low risk or not. The use of Cardiotocography (CTG) during labour thus becomes critical. In the current study the perceptions of the doctors working in labour ward units will be explored and described in order to recommend activities that could optimize the use of CTG by doctors as an intrapartum monitoring tool. A qualitative research design will be used and the data collection method will be by means of semi-structured audio-taped one-on-one interviews.
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- Date Issued: 2013
Confinement and labouring women: a persistent struggle against nature
- Authors: James, Sindiwe
- Subjects: Childbirth , Labor (Obstetrics) , f-sa
- Language: English
- Type: text , Lectures
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/40028 , vital:35730
- Description: Nature in its essence is frequently viewed as a thing of beauty and the ultimate truth of perfection. Unfortunately, this view of nature is often undermined when it comes to the concept of women in confinement and labour. Women, naturally by virtue of being females, have the capacity to become pregnant and thus to bear children. However, in many instances this capacity becomes limited, or misunderstood. In such cases, humans start viewing or considering confinement and labour in terms of ‘being wrong and incorrect’. They only see issues around age and marital status while losing sight of the fact that nature has ordained that all women have a uterus, which has a potential to conceive, but under ‘suitable’ conditions. Yes, the uterus does not know about age and health restrictions, but will expel its contents when the time comes, and suitability around that expulsion unfortunately becomes the concern of humans (midwives or family members). Very often young girls who are in confinement are received and treated differently by these two categories of humans because they are deemed not to be at the correct age for falling pregnant and to be in labour, or they are regarded as having been ‘naughty’.
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