Abstract
Previousresearchonpregnantwomenwithadisabilityandtheirexperienceofmaternitycaredemonstratedthatthesemothersperceivedthemselvestobethe‘perennialoutsiders’withmidwivesautomaticallycategorisingthemas‘highrisk’becauseoftheirdisability.Theyalsofeltthattheirabilityto makechoices,stayincontrolandhavecontinuityofcarewasnotconsideredtobepartofthemainstreammaternitycareforthembecausetheydidnotfitthe‘normal’category.Objective:thisresearchwasundertakentoexploretheperceptionsoftwomultiprofessionalteamsin Irishhospitalsastohowmaternityservicestothesemotherscanbeimproved.Participants:nineteenhealth-careprofessionalsfrommidwifery,socialworkandpublichealthnursingwererecruited.Setting: twofromtwomajormaternityhospitals,oneintheNorthandoneintheSouthofIreland.were featured.Design: themethodchosenwasaqualitativeapproach,usingfocusgroupinterviewsinwhichcasestudiesdepictingarangeandbreadthofwomen’sbirthingexperienceswerepresentedanddiscussed.NewellandBurnard’s(2006) six stageapproachtothematiccontentanalysiswasused.Findings:theprofessionalsfoundthedisabledwomen’sstoriesbelievable,upsettingandchallenging.Keyconclusions:Staffacknowledgedtheir‘lackofcompetence,knowledgeandskill’regardingdisabilityandfeltthat,onreflection,theirfailuretoconsultandcollaboratewithdisabledwomencontributedtotheirfailingtoprovideindividualisedwomancentredcaretowomenwithadisability.Implicationsofpractice:Aseriesofrecommendationsforimprovedpracticewasagreed.& 2011ElsevierLtd.Allrightsreserved
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 294-299 |
| Journal | Midwifery |
| Volume | 29 |
| Issue number | 4 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published (in print/issue) - Apr 2013 |
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