An ethnographic account of the beliefs, values, and experiences of rural Swazi women during childbirth
- Authors: Thwala, Siphiwe , Jones, Linda , Holroyd, Eleanor
- Date: 2012
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Evidence Based Midwifery Vol. 10, no. 3 (2012), p. 101-106
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- Description: Objective. To explore and describe the values, beliefs and experiences of rural Swazi women regarding childbirth. Method. A retrospective ethnographic explorative inquiry was utilised, and snowballing sampling method used to recruit participants. Unstructured interviews of 15 rural Swazi women were conducted and recorded using audio-taped face-to-face interviews. Thematic analysis of transcribed and translated interviews was undertaken in conjunction with analysis from field notes. Ethical approval was received from the human ethics committee of the university where the researcher was enrolled. Permission to conduct the study was obtained from the village chief by way of a signed plain language statement, after providing all the necessary information relating to its nature and purpose. The nature of the study was also verbally outlined to the rural health personnel before an invitation to assist the researcher in accessing the sample was extended to them. Results. Findings were categorised into nine themes: choice of venue for birthing; remaining active during labour; freedom to assume position of choice; hand inserted if a problem; attendant at birth; leaving perineal tears to heal themselves; traditional medicines used during labour; delayed clamping of the cord and; opting for home births without any assistance. Implications. Rural Swazi women engage customary explanations and practices commonly at odds with the current biomedical model operating in the formal health sector. Consequently, these women often have unmet expectations during labour which yields dissatisfaction with their childbearing experience. This indicates that there is the need for a more culturally appropriate approach to both the education of midwives and also the provision of midwifery health services in Swaziland.
Health belief dualism in the postnatal practices of rural Swazi women : An ethnographic account
- Authors: Thwala, Siphiwe , Holroyd, Eleanor , Jones, Linda
- Date: 2012
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Women and Birth Vol. 25, no. 4 (2012), p. e68-e74
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- Description: Objective: This study explores and describes the values, beliefs, and practices of rural Swazi women regarding childbearing in the postpartum period. Method: A retrospective ethnographic research design was used. A snowballing sampling method was used to recruit fifteen participants. Face-to-face unstructured audio-taped interviews and field notes were utilised to gather data. Findings: Results showed that rural Swazi women held a dual health belief system of modern and traditional medicinal use; practiced lengthy periods of postpartum confinement; customarily gave regular enemas and traditional medicines to their babies; undertook the specific cultural practice of taking the baby to enyonini [a tree struck by lightening] to perform specific rituals; used self-prescribed pharmacy medicines; used both traditional and modern contraception; as well as practiced breastfeeding. Conclusion: Rural Swazi women observe modern health practices alongside traditional customary practices that are inherent to their health belief and value systems in the postnatal period. These customary beliefs and values underpin their birth practices postpartum. Recommendations include the need to consider including formal knowledge on cultural aspects of childbirth and postpartum care into midwifery education; a review of maternal care practices and policies to incorporate widely practised traditional elements including redressing the use of self-prescribed pharmacy medicines to ensure a higher level of safety. © 2011 Australian College of Midwives.
Organisational barriers to effective pain management amongst oncology nurses in Saudi Arabia
- Authors: Alqahtani, Mohammed , Jones, Linda , Holroyd, Eleanor
- Date: 2015
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Journal of Hospital Administration Vol. 5, no. 1 (2015), p. 81-89
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- Description: Cancer pain is a multi-dimensional syndrome with a combination of acute and chronic pain that causes physical, psycho-social, behavioural, emotional and spiritual problems resulting in adverse effects on patients’ quality of life. Nurses need to be well prepared with knowledge on pain assessment and management techniques in oncology units, due to their vital role in the decision-making process regarding pain management. However, limited research has been conducted regarding nurses’ barriers regarding pain management in oncology units, especially in Saudi Arabia. The overall aim of this study was to explore the nurses’ perceived barriers that hinder the delivery of effective pain management to cancer patients. Five focus group discussions were conducted using a purposive sampling of six to eight nurses in each group, with a total of 35 oncology nurses. The results of focus group analysis revealed two main thematic categories with associated sub themes, being nurses’ workloads, and the absence of health team collaboration. This study provides an increased awareness of the barriers that may hinder the efficacy of pain management provided to cancer patients in Saudi Arabia context. Significant implications will benefit nursing practice, administration and education, in addition to identifying potential future research.
Swaziland rural maternal care : Ethnography of the interface of custom and biomedicine
- Authors: Thwala, Siphiwe , Jones, Linda , Holroyd, Eleanor
- Date: 2011
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: International Journal of Nursing Practice Vol. 17, no. 1 (2011), p. 93-101
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- Description: Thwala SBP, Jones LK, Holroyd E. International Journal of Nursing Practice 2011; 17: 93-101 Swaziland rural maternal care: Ethnography of the interface of custom and biomedicine A retrospective ethnographic enquiry was used to examine the values and beliefs that underpin Swazi women's birth practices during pregnancy, labour, birth and the postnatal period. An unstructured interview guide was used to conduct 15 one-to-one audio-taped interviews in the field. Results revealed that although Swazi women embraced modern biomedical practices, they also largely adhered to customary practices, including use of traditional model of causation of illness, and the use of traditional medicines during childbirth. Recommendations include parallel antenatal education, which gives credence to the customs within the context of scientific modernity. In addition, changes are needed to public health policy that allows parallel systems of care to be delivered within the context of community midwifery practice. © 2011 Blackwell Publishing Asia Pty Ltd.
To have or not have a child in contemporary Taiwan? Motherhood decision making
- Authors: Chen, ShuLing , Holroyd, Eleanor , Jones, Linda
- Date: 2012
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Australian Nursing Journal Vol. 19, no. 11 (2012), p. 41
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- Description: The article reports on research which was conducted through RMIT University, or the Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology, in an effort to investigate the factors which influence Taiwanese women’s decision to have children. A discussion of a decline in childbirth which has been seen in Taiwan, and of incentives and policies which the Taiwanese government has established to encourage Taiwanese women to have children, is presented.
- Description: The article reports on research which was conducted through RMIT University, or the Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology, in an effort to investigate the factors which influence Taiwanese women’s decision to have children. A discussion of a decline in childbirth which has been seen in Taiwan, and of incentives and policies which the Taiwanese government has established to encourage Taiwanese women to have children, is presented