Background: Obstetric ultrasound is an important tool, aiding in screening, diagnosis, and surveillance throughout pregnancy.
Aims: To explore obstetric doctors', midwives', and sonographers' experiences and views of obstetric ultrasound in Victoria, Australia. To investigate the increasing role of obstetric ultrasound for clinical management, and the adequacy of resources and training for appropriate use of ultrasound in clinical management.
Obstetric ultrasound is an important tool in managing pregnancies and its use is increasing globally. However, the status of the pregnant woman and the fetus may vary in terms of clinical management, views in the community and legislation. To investigate the views and experiences of Vietnamese health professionals on maternal and fetal health interests, priority setting and potential conflicts, we conducted a cross-sectional study using a structured questionnaire.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: Due to changes in Swedish maternity care during the COVID-19 pandemic, partners were often excluded from antenatal and postnatal care.
Aim: To explore partners' experiences of pregnancy, labour, and postnatal care in relation to the COVID-19 pandemic restrictions.
Methods: A descriptive qualitative interview study with 15 partners of women who gave birth from March 2020 to March 2022.
Background: Obstetric ultrasound is considered important for determining gestational age, identifying single or multiple pregnancies, locating the placenta and fetal anomalies and monitoring fetal growth and pregnancy-related complications in order to improve patient management.
Objectives: To explore health professionals' perspectives on different aspects of obstetric ultrasound in Tanzania regarding self-reported skills in performing ultrasound examinations and what could improve access to and utilization of obstetric ultrasound in the clinical setting.
Design: Cross-sectional study.
Background: Diagnosis of an adnexal mass might be a sign of ovarian cancer, with an overall poor prognosis. This study aimed to explore women's experiences and perceptions of facing ovarian surgery due to an adnexal mass, and expectations on life after surgery.
Methods: Individual in-depth interviews with 15 women facing ovarian surgery due to an adnexal mass.
Objective: A supportive environment for women with Hyperemesis Gravidarum is crucial but not always provided. There is a lack of research regarding Hyperemesis Gravidarum, its impact on the family, and the partner's perception of supporting their spouse. Thus, this study aims to explore partners' experiences of Hyperemesis Gravidarum during their spousés pregnancy.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFProblem: Little is known about midwives' views and wellbeing when working in an all-risk caseload model.
Background: Between March 2017 and December 2020 three maternity services in Victoria, Australia implemented culturally responsive caseload models for women having a First Nations baby.
Aim: Explore the views, experiences and wellbeing of midwives working in an all-risk culturally responsive model for First Nations families compared to midwives in standard caseload models in the same services.
Objective: This study aimed to explore Vietnamese midwives' experiences of working in maternity care.
Methods: A descriptive qualitative study was undertaken, which involved four focus group discussions with midwives (n = 25) working at three different hospitals in urban, semi-urban and rural parts of Hanoi region, Vietnam. Data were analysed using qualitative content analysis.
Background: This study, undertaken in Rwanda, aimed to investigate health professionals' experiences and views on the following topics: current clinical guidelines for ultrasound from second trimester at the clinic, regional and national levels, and adherence to clinical guidelines; medically indicated ultrasound examinations; non-medical use of ultrasound including ultrasounds on maternal request; commercialisation of ultrasound; the value of ultrasound in relation to other clinical examinations in pregnancy; and ultrasound and medicalisation of pregnancy.
Methods: A cross-sectional design was adopted. Health professionals providing antenatal care and delivery services to pregnant women in 108 health facilities were invited to complete a survey, which was developed based on the results of earlier qualitative studies undertaken as part of the CROss Country Ultrasound Study (CROCUS).
Objective: To explore Vietnamese midwives' experiences and views on the role of obstetric ultrasound in relation to clinical management, including ethical aspects.
Methods: Using a qualitative design, content analysis of focus group discussions with midwives (N = 25) working at Departments of Obstetrics and Gynecology at three hospitals in urban, semi-urban and rural parts of Hanoi were performed.
Results: Obstetric ultrasound was reported as being a highly valuable tool, although replacing ordinary antenatal care surveillance with ultrasound examinations and misuse of ultrasound without medical indication was perceived as troubling.
Objectives: Obstetric ultrasound is an important part of antenatal care in Vietnam, although there are great differences in access to antenatal care and ultrasound services across the country. The aim of this study was to explore Vietnamese health professionals' experiences and views of obstetric ultrasound in relation to clinical management, resources and skills.
Design: A cross-sectional questionnaire study was performed as part of the CROss Country UltraSound study.
Background: Midwives are the main providers of routine antenatal care services including the routine ultrasound examination in Norway. The ultrasound examination can be perceived by expectant parents not only as a medical examination but also as a social event facilitating attachment to their fetus. This study explores Norwegian midwives' experiences and views on the role of ultrasound in clinical management of pregnancy.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFObjectives: Implementation of ultrasound in antenatal care (ANC) in low-income countries has been shown to increase pregnant women's compliance with ANC visits, and facilitate detection of high-risk pregnancies. In Rwanda, as in other low-income countries, access to ultrasound has increased significantly, but lack of training is often a barrier to its use. The aim of this study was to investigate Rwandan health professionals' experiences and views of obstetric ultrasound in relation to clinical management, resources and skills.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFIntroduction: The primary aim of this study was to investigate midwives' and obstetricians' views on how many ultrasound examinations should be part of standard care during pregnancy in Norway.
Material And Methods: This study is a part of a larger study, the CROss-Country Ultrasound Study (CROCUS), an international investigation of midwives' and obstetricians' experiences of and views on the use of ultrasound. We distributed 400 questionnaires to respondents in all five health regions in Norway: 40 to municipal midwives, 180 to midwives working in hospitals and 180 to obstetricians.
Objective: To explore obstetricians' experiences and views of the use of obstetric ultrasound in clinical management of pregnancy.
Methods: A qualitative interview study was undertaken in 2015 with obstetricians (N = 20) in Norway as part of the CROss Country Ultrasound Study (CROCUS).
Results: Three categories developed during analyses.
Background: Obstetric ultrasound has become an indispensable part of antenatal care worldwide. Although the use of ultrasound has shown benefits in the reduction of maternal and foetal morbidity and mortality, it has also raised many ethical challenges. Because of insufficient numbers of midwives in Rwanda, uncomplicated pregnancy care is usually provided by nurses in local health centres.
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