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- Barkensjö, My, et al.
(author)
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The need for trust and safety inducing encounters: a qualitative exploration of women's experiences of seeking perinatal care when living as undocumented migrants in Sweden
- 2018
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In: Bmc Pregnancy and Childbirth. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 1471-2393. ; 18
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Background: Studies from around the world have shown that women living as undocumented migrants have limited and deficient access to perinatal care, increasing their risks of both physical and psychological complications during pregnancy and childbirth. Failures to provide equal access to healthcare have been criticized extensively by the United Nations. In 2013, undocumented migrants' rights to healthcare in Sweden were expanded to include full access to perinatal care. Research surrounding clinical encounters involving women living as undocumented migrants remains largely lacking. The present study aimed to provide a composite description of women's experiences of clinical encounters throughout pregnancy and childbirth, when living as undocumented migrants in Sweden. Methods: Taking an inductive approach, qualitative content analysis was implemented. Thirteen women from ten different countries were interviewed. Meaning-units were extracted from the data collected in order to identify emergent overarching themes. Results: In clinical encounters where healthcare professionals displayed empathic concern and listening behaviours, women felt empowered, acknowledged, and encouraged, leading them to trust clinicians, diminishing fears relating to seeking healthcare services. Conversely, when neglectful behaviour on part of healthcare professionals was perceived in encounters, anxiousness and fear intensified. Vulnerability and distress induced by the women's uncertain living circumstances were apparent across themes, and appeared exacerbated by traumatic memories, difficulties in coping with motherhood, and fears of deportation. Conclusion: The present study contributes unique and important knowledge surrounding women's experience of being pregnant and giving birth when living as undocumented migrants. The overarching findings indicated that the needs of undocumented migrant women were largely similar to those of all expectant mothers, but that due to vulnerabilities relating to their circumstances, flexible and informed care provision is essential. Being knowledgeable on undocumented migrants' rights to healthcare is vital, as clinical encounters appeared highly consequential to the women's well-being and help-seeking behaviours. Negative encounters inflicted emotional distress and fear. Contrastingly, positive encounters promoted trust in clinicians, personal empowerment, and relief. Positive clinical encounters could provide rare opportunities to assist an otherwise elusive population at increased risk for both physical and psychological complications, highlighting the crucial need for adherence to ethical principles in clinical practice.
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- Elden, Helen, 1959, et al.
(author)
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Predictors and consequences of long-term pregnancy-related pelvic girdle pain: a longitudinal follow-up study.
- 2016
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In: BMC musculoskeletal disorders. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 1471-2474. ; 17
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Pelvic girdle pain (PGP) is a multifactorial condition, which can be mentally and physically compromising both during and after pregnancy. However, long-term pregnancy-related PGP has been poorly investigated. This longitudinal follow-up study uniquely aimed to describe prevalence and predictors of PGP and its consequences on women's health and function up to 11years after pregnancy.A postal questionnaire was sent to 530 women who participated in 1 of 3 randomized controlled studies for PGP in pregnancy. Women who reported experiencing lumbopelvic pain were offered a clinical examination. Main outcome measure was the presence of long term PGP as assessed by an independent examiner. Secondary outcomes were: working hours/week, function (the Disability Rating Index, and Oswestry Disability Index), self-efficacy (the General Self-Efficacy Scale), HRQL (Euro-Qol 5D and EQ-Visual scale), anxiety and depression, (Hospital anxiety and depression scale,) and pain-catastrophizing (Pain Catastrophizing Scale), in women with PGP compared to women with no PGP.A total of 371/530 (70%) women responded and 37/ 371 (10%) were classified with long-term PGP. Pregnancy-related predictors for long-term PGP were number of positive pain provocation tests (OR=1.79), history of low back pain (LBP) (OR=2.28), positive symphysis pressure test (OR=2.01), positive Faber (Patrick's) test (OR=2.22), and positive modified Trendelenburg test (OR=2.20). Women with PGP had significantly decreased ability to perform daily activities (p<.001), lower self-efficacy (p=0.046), decreased HRQL (p<.001), higher levels of anxiety and depression (p<.001), were more prone to pain catastrophizing, and worked significantly fewer hours/week (p=0.032) compared to women with no PGP.This unique long-term follow up of PGP highlights the importance of assessment of pain in the lumbopelvic area early in pregnancy and postpartum in order to identify women with risk of long term pain. One of 10 women with PGP in pregnancy has severe consequences up to 11years later. They could be identified by number of positive pain provocation tests and experience of previous LBP. Access to evidence based treatments are important for individual and socioeconomic reasons.
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- Elden, Helen, 1959, et al.
(author)
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Study protocol of SWEPIS a Swedish multicentre register based randomised controlled trial to compare induction of labour at 41 completed gestational weeks versus expectant management and induction at 42 completed gestational weeks
- 2016
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In: Bmc Pregnancy and Childbirth. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 1471-2393. ; 16:49
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Background: Observational data shows that postterm pregnancy (>= 42 gestational weeks, GW) and late term pregnancy (>= 41 GW), as compared to term pregnancy, is associated with an increased risk for adverse outcome for the mother and infant. Standard care in many countries is induction of labour at 42 GW. There is insufficient scientific support that induction of labour at 41 GW, as compared with expectant management and induction at 42 GW will reduce perinatal mortality and morbidity without an increase in operative deliveries, negative delivery experiences or higher costs. Large randomised studies are needed since important outcomes; such as perinatal mortality and hypoxic ischaemic encephalopathy are rare events. Methods/Design: A total of 10 038 healthy women >= 18 years old with a normal live singleton pregnancy in cephalic presentation at 41 GW estimated with a first or second trimester ultrasound, who is able to understand oral and written information will be randomised to labour induction at 41 GW (early induction) or expectant management and induction at 42 GW (late induction). Women will be recruited at university clinics and county hospitals in Sweden comprising more than 65 000 deliveries per year. Primary outcome will be a composite of stillbirth, neonatal mortality and severe neonatal morbidity. Secondary outcomes will be other adverse neonatal and maternal outcomes, mode of delivery, women's experience, cost effectiveness and infant morbidity up to 3 months of age. Data on background variables, obstetric and neonatal outcomes will be obtained from the Swedish Pregnancy Register and the Swedish Neonatal Quality Register. Data on women's experiences will be collected by questionnaires after randomisation and 3 months after delivery. Primary analysis will be intention to treat. The statistician will be blinded to group and intervention. Discussion: It is important to investigate if an intervention at 41 GW is superior to standard care in order to reduce death and lifelong disability for the children. The pregnant population, >41 GW, constitutes 15-20 % of all pregnancies and the results of the study will thus have a great impact. The use of registries for randomisation and collection of outcome data represents a unique and new study design.
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- Naurin, Elin, 1975, et al.
(author)
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Does transition to parenthood affect gender traits? The Effect of Pregnancy on Perceived Female and Male Traits
- 2019
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In: NJF Congress 2019 Abstract Book.
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Conference paper (other academic/artistic)abstract
- Background Gendered identities are strengthened during pregnancy and the early phases of parenthood; women feel more female and men more male. Gendered cultural narratives that further emphasize disparities in parenting roles between the sexes embed this transition period. However, it has been argued that it is the social practice of mothering, rather than the bodily or emotional experience or pregnancy and childbirth, which yield a traditionalizing influence on women’s gender ideologies. There is reason to believe that the effects of pregnancy and childbirth is less apparent in contexts with strong welfare state support for the parents and where gender equality is a societal norm. Methods The data was collected from a subset of the large-scale Swedish Citizen Panel consisting of pregnant respondents or respondents who identify themselves as partners to someone who is pregnant. At two time points, these respondents were asked about the extent to which they have “female” and “male traits”. The methodological approach was to explore pregnancy and childbirth as a process and study respondents over time; to compare pregnant women to partners of pregnant women and to compare pregnant women and partners of pregnant women to individuals in the panel who do not become pregnant during the studied period. Data was analyzed by fixed effects panel regression. Findings Data from 2445 respondents was analyzed. No statistical significant changes in perceived gender traits were found in the respondents’ answers between pre-pregnancy and pregnancy; pregnancy and being having an infant <6 months of age; or being a parent of an infant < 6 months of age and having a child > 6 months of age. With the exception that men expressed that they had somewhat less female traits postpartum (-0.3, p<0.05). Conclusion Self-perceptions of gendered traits are mainly stable over pregnancy and early parenthood in this Swedish sample.
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- Wennerholm, Ulla-Britt, 1948, et al.
(author)
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Induction of labour at 41 weeks versus expectant management and induction of labour at 42 weeks (SWEdish Post-term Induction Study, SWEPIS) : multicentre, open label, randomised, superiority trial
- 2019
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In: The BMJ. - : BMJ Publishing Group Ltd. - 1756-1833 .- 0959-8138. ; 367
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- OBJECTIVE: To evaluate if induction of labour at 41 weeks improves perinatal and maternal outcomes in women with a low risk pregnancy compared with expectant management and induction of labour at 42 weeks.DESIGN: Multicentre, open label, randomised controlled superiority trial.SETTING: 14 hospitals in Sweden, 2016-18.PARTICIPANTS: 2760 women with a low risk uncomplicated singleton pregnancy randomised (1:1) by the Swedish Pregnancy Register. 1381 women were assigned to the induction group and 1379 were assigned to the expectant management group.INTERVENTIONS: Induction of labour at 41 weeks and expectant management and induction of labour at 42 weeks.MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The primary outcome was a composite perinatal outcome including one or more of stillbirth, neonatal mortality, Apgar score less than 7 at five minutes, pH less than 7.00 or metabolic acidosis (pH <7.05 and base deficit >12 mmol/L) in the umbilical artery, hypoxic ischaemic encephalopathy, intracranial haemorrhage, convulsions, meconium aspiration syndrome, mechanical ventilation within 72 hours, or obstetric brachial plexus injury. Primary analysis was by intention to treat.RESULTS: The study was stopped early owing to a significantly higher rate of perinatal mortality in the expectant management group. The composite primary perinatal outcome did not differ between the groups: 2.4% (33/1381) in the induction group and 2.2% (31/1379) in the expectant management group (relative risk 1.06, 95% confidence interval 0.65 to 1.73; P=0.90). No perinatal deaths occurred in the induction group but six (five stillbirths and one early neonatal death) occurred in the expectant management group (P=0.03). The proportion of caesarean delivery, instrumental vaginal delivery, or any major maternal morbidity did not differ between the groups.CONCLUSIONS: This study comparing induction of labour at 41 weeks with expectant management and induction at 42 weeks does not show any significant difference in the primary composite adverse perinatal outcome. However, a reduction of the secondary outcome perinatal mortality is observed without increasing adverse maternal outcomes. Although these results should be interpreted cautiously, induction of labour ought to be offered to women no later than at 41 weeks and could be one (of few) interventions that reduces the rate of stillbirths.TRIAL REGISTRATION: Current Controlled Trials ISRCTN26113652.
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7. |
- Wessberg, Anna, 1963, et al.
(author)
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Being in limbo: Women's lived experiences of pregnancy at 41 weeks of gestation and beyond - A phenomenological study
- 2017
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In: BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 1471-2393. ; 17
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- © 2017 The Author(s).Background: Globally, the prevalence of post term pregnancy (PTP) is about 5-10%, but the rate varies considerably between and within countries. PTP is defined as a pregnancy ≥294days, but the definition is arbitrary. Many studies focusing on the prevalence, risks and management of PTP include pregnancies ≥41 gestational weeks (GW). However, qualitative interview studies concerning women's experiences of PTP are lacking. Therefore, the aim of this study was to describe women's lived experiences of a pregnancy ≥41 GW. Method: The study has a lifeworld research approach. Individual in-depth interviews were conducted from August 2013 to September 2014 with 10 healthy women with an expected normal pregnancy at GW 41+1-6days in Gothenburg, Sweden. Interviews were conducted at the antenatal clinic or in the woman's home, depending on her preference. Data were analysed with a phenomenological reflective lifeworld approach. Result: The essence of women's experiences of a pregnancy at GW≥41 was described as being in limbo, a void characterised by contradictions related to time, giving birth and the condition. Exceeding the estimated date of childbirth implied a period of up to 2 weeks that was not expected. The contradictory aspect was the notion that time passed both slowly and quickly. Negative feelings dominated and increased over time. The women experienced difficulty due to not being in complete control, while at the same time finding it a beneficial experience. Health care professionals focused solely on the due date, while the women felt neither seen nor acknowledged. Lack of information led to searches in social media. Previously, they had trusted the body's ability to give birth, but this trust diminished after GW 41+0. In this state of limbo, the women became more easily influenced by people around them, while in turn influencing others. Conclusions: Being in limbo represents a contradictory state related to time and process of giving birth, when women need to be listened to by healthcare professionals. An understanding of the importance of different information sources, such as family and friends, is necessary. It is vital that women are seen and acknowledged by midwives at the antenatal clinics. In addition, they should be asked how they experience waiting for the birth in order to create a sense of trust and confidence in the process.
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