Women and Birth最新文献

{"title":"‘Every woman deserves that’: A qualitative exploration of the impact of Australia’s national maternity strategy","authors":"Paula Medway ,&nbsp;Alison M. Hutchinson ,&nbsp;Linda Sweet","doi":"10.1016/j.wombi.2025.101871","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.wombi.2025.101871","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><div>Since 2019, maternity care in Australia has been guided by the national maternity policy, <em>Woman-centred care: Strategic directions for Australian maternity services</em> (the Strategy). The Strategy has four core values (safety, respect, choice and access), which underpin 12 principles of woman-centred care.</div></div><div><h3>Aim</h3><div>To describe women’s experiences of receiving maternity care in Australia and explore how their care aligned with the values and principles of the Strategy.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>A qualitative descriptive approach was used. Fifty women from across Australia, including women from each of the priority populations within the Strategy, were interviewed. Data analysis was conducted using Braun and Clarke’s reflexive thematic analysis.</div></div><div><h3>Findings</h3><div>Women described how their care aligned and misaligned with the Strategy. Workforce shortages impacted their sense of safety, and they frequently had to self-advocate for individualised care that made them feel safe. Women wanted a holistic approach to care provision where they were listened to, heard, and their choices were respected by maternity care providers, but they felt the need to arm themselves with information to achieve this. They also expressed a desire for better care in the postnatal period to 12 months that included appropriate and affordable mental health support.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusion</h3><div>Receiving care that aligns with the values and principles of the Strategy is on an ad hoc basis, and maternity care provision is not consistent across Australia. A greater commitment to the implementation and adoption of the Strategy is required at a national and service level if its intent is to be fully realised.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":48868,"journal":{"name":"Women and Birth","volume":"38 2","pages":"Article 101871"},"PeriodicalIF":4.4,"publicationDate":"2025-01-21","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143026051","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Bereaved parent involvement in co-designed stillbirth research: Experiences of Project Engage","authors":"Kirstin Tindal ,&nbsp;Danielle Pollock ,&nbsp;Brad Farrant ,&nbsp;Nicky Robinson ,&nbsp;Yumi Oba ,&nbsp;Ashley Pade ,&nbsp;Jassy Moore ,&nbsp;Siobhan Loughnan ,&nbsp;Vicky Flenady ,&nbsp;Christine Andrews","doi":"10.1016/j.wombi.2024.101838","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.wombi.2024.101838","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><div>While benefits of involving consumers in research are well established, bereaved parents face unique challenges, and descriptions of their experiences with co-designed stillbirth research are lacking. The collective experience of ‘<em>Project Engage’</em> involved co-designing resources to support bereaved parents’ involvement in research.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>This study aimed to describe and evaluate the involvement of bereaved parents as co-investigators of a stillbirth research project. Descriptive and exploratory methods were used to describe the process of <em>Project Engage,</em> between 2021 and 2023, in which bereaved parents were involved in all aspects. Evaluation was performed through iterative review and reflection to examine barriers and enablers of co-designed stillbirth research.</div></div><div><h3>Findings</h3><div>The project team co-designed and published ‘<em>Getting Involved in Stillbirth Research: A guide for bereaved parents</em>’. Seven co-investigators completed the end-of-phase project evaluation, including five bereaved parents and two researchers without lived experience of stillbirth. Most co-investigators felt that their contribution was highly valued and that project outputs matched their expectations. Enablers of co-design included clear communication, having a shared goal, a supportive team, relevant outputs, and lived-experience researchers on the team. Barriers included research jargon, meeting logistics, support and maintaining engagement, role expectations, and institutional governance processes.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusion</h3><div>The co-design experience was perceived positively by both parents and researchers, with many key facilitators to the teams’ success identified. Evaluation of the experiences of bereaved parents and researchers co-designing stillbirth research is vital. The process and recommendations outlined here will guide future best practice for bereaved parent involvement in stillbirth research.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":48868,"journal":{"name":"Women and Birth","volume":"38 1","pages":"Article 101838"},"PeriodicalIF":4.4,"publicationDate":"2025-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142928851","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"What are the experiences of Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander midwifery students and midwives? A scoping review","authors":"Donna L. Hartz ,&nbsp;Renae Coleman ,&nbsp;Stacey Butcher ,&nbsp;Leona McGrath ,&nbsp;Cherisse Buzzacott ,&nbsp;Karel Williams ,&nbsp;Angela Coe ,&nbsp;Machelee Kosiak","doi":"10.1016/j.wombi.2024.101856","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.wombi.2024.101856","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><div>Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander midwives are underrepresented within the midwifery workforce and is likely compounded by lower graduate rates. This review is a part of the Midwifery Futures Project. It explores the experiences of Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander midwives and midwifery students to illuminate issues impacting work and study and uncover successful strategies towards addressing current disparities.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>A scoping review was guided by the Joanna Briggs Institute framework. Literature searching identified 1311 papers. Eleven papers, four qualitative research studies, and seven grey papers met the inclusion criteria: published academic journals, book publishers or key professional organisations; focused on the professional experiences of Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander midwives or the learning experiences; written in English; and published 2004 onwards (inclusive). The papers were analysed using inductive thematic analysis.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>Three interconnected themes emerged: <em>connection and kinship, racism</em> and <em>balancing responsibilities</em>.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusion</h3><div>Culture, connection and kinship are foundational in providing experiences for Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander midwives and midwifery students that are clinically and academically transformational, culturally safe and promote resilience for</div><div>Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander midwives and midwifery students. Midwives and midwifery students need to connect with each other and value working with Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander women, clinicians and academics. Strategies that balance work, study and life responsibilities promote retention and resilience. Clinical, work and study contexts must be culturally safe by respecting and embracing Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander cultures and actively opposing racism in the personal, Community and organisational interfaces.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":48868,"journal":{"name":"Women and Birth","volume":"38 1","pages":"Article 101856"},"PeriodicalIF":4.4,"publicationDate":"2025-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142928933","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Midwives' experience of managing emergencies during labour and birth in a community setting: a mixed-methods systematic review","authors":"Rebecca Parker ,&nbsp;Ethel E. Burns ,&nbsp;Paul Carding ,&nbsp;Rachel Rowe","doi":"10.1016/j.wombi.2024.101861","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.wombi.2024.101861","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><div>For women at low risk of complications during labour and birth, in the United Kingdom, planned birth in a ‘community’ setting (at home or a freestanding midwifery unit) is generally safe, and intrapartum emergencies are uncommon. Limited exposure may affect midwives’ experience of managing an emergency.</div></div><div><h3>Aim</h3><div>Identify and synthesise available evidence about midwives’ experiences of managing intrapartum emergencies during labour in a community setting.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>A mixed-methods systematic review was undertaken, with searches conducted in April 2021 and February 2024. Studies were eligible for inclusion if they described midwives’ experience of managing intrapartum emergencies in high-income countries and if the setting(s) explicitly included community settings. Analytical themes were identified through integration of qualitative descriptive themes and a narrative summary of quantitative findings.</div></div><div><h3>Findings</h3><div>Ten papers were included, reporting seven studies carried out in the United Kingdom, United States of America, Australia and the Netherlands. Four inter-related themes were identified: unexpected and unpredictable nature of events; confidence and preparedness in skills and the birthing process; immediate and enduring emotional impact; and mediating effects of relationships and support.</div></div><div><h3>Discussion and conclusions</h3><div>Limited research exists about midwives’ experience of emergencies in community settings and much of the evidence included in this review was from studies about traumatic births, where emergencies were a subset of those studied. Further research about midwives’ experience would be valuable to inform optimal training and support.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":48868,"journal":{"name":"Women and Birth","volume":"38 1","pages":"Article 101861"},"PeriodicalIF":4.4,"publicationDate":"2025-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142928907","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Insights from a publicly funded homebirth program","authors":"Sheryl Sidery ,&nbsp;Andrew Bisits ,&nbsp;Virginia Spear ,&nbsp;Allison Cummins","doi":"10.1016/j.wombi.2024.101864","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.wombi.2024.101864","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><div>There are high levels of consumer demand for homebirth in Australia, however access is limited due to a wide range of factors, including associated costs of a private midwife and the limited number of publicly funded homebirth models. Homebirth with a qualified midwife, networked into a health system, is a safe option for women with a low-risk pregnancy.</div><div>This paper has two aims. The first is to describe the implementation of a publicly funded homebirth service with an employed mentor. The second is to provide the outcomes from a matched cohort of women who received care from the same Midwifery Group Practice [MGP] who gave birth at home, compared with those who gave birth in hospital.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>The retrospective comparative cohort study used routinely collected perinatal data from the hospital’s electronic database (eMaternity) from July 2018 – October 2021. The cohort of interest were women who received care through MGP. They were identically matched by parity, age, Body Mass Index (BMI), spontaneous labour and gestation of 37–42 weeks. A description of the employed midwifery mentor to implement this model of care is also provided.</div></div><div><h3>Findings</h3><div>100 women gave birth at home during the study period. They were more likely to have a physiological birth (p &lt; 0.001), intact perineum (p &lt; 0.0001), and less likely to have a postpartum haemorrhage (p &lt; 0.0001) compared to the matched cohort of women who birthed in hospital. There were less assisted births and caesarean section births for women who transferred from home to hospital (p &lt; 0.0001). No statistical differences were seen between groups for postpartum haemorrhage, and Apgar score of &lt; 7 at 5 minutes.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusion</h3><div>This study demonstrated favourable outcomes for women receiving MGP who planned to birth at home compared to those women who chose a hospital birth. This is consistent with the existing literature that place of birth makes a difference. A description of the role of a mentor in supporting the sustainability of a publicly funded homebirth program is provided. Further research is recommended to evaluate the mentor’s role in implementing and sustaining the model.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":48868,"journal":{"name":"Women and Birth","volume":"38 1","pages":"Article 101864"},"PeriodicalIF":4.4,"publicationDate":"2025-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142960990","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"‘Mob aren’t staying when there’s no support’: Enablers and barriers of recruitment and retention of First Nations midwifery students – A qualitative study","authors":"Tanisha L. Springall ,&nbsp;Kerry Hall ,&nbsp;Amanda G. Carter","doi":"10.1016/j.wombi.2024.101863","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.wombi.2024.101863","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><div>Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander (hereafter referred to as First Nations) childbearing women report negative experiences from a lack of culturally safe maternity care. Evidence supports improved health outcomes for First Nations women and infants when cared for by First Nations midwives. There are barriers to First Nations students accessing university, particularly nursing and midwifery students, with a lack of evidence exploring the experiences of First Nations midwifery students.</div></div><div><h3>Aim</h3><div>This study aims to understand the impact of the current strategies to improve recruitment and retention of First Nations midwifery students and identify further innovations.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>A semi-structured yarning circle was held with six Bachelor of Midwifery students at a university in Queensland, Australia.</div></div><div><h3>Findings</h3><div>Three key categories emerged: student recruitment, student retention and student success. Enablers included culturally appropriate recruitment, partnerships with other First Nations peoples, incorporating First Nations ways of Knowing, Being, and Doing, culturally safe support, placements and mentorship, and identification and representation. Barriers included financial impacts, experiences of racism and lack of Cultural Safety and humility.</div></div><div><h3>Discussion</h3><div>Overall, students felt the university provided a culturally safe environment and implemented strategies that supported students’ recruitment, retention and success in the degree. They suggested improvements to current strategies and new ideas for implementation.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusion</h3><div>Strategies to improve recruitment and retention of First Nations midwifery students are imperative to close the gap in educational attainment and improve health outcomes for First Nations peoples. These strategies need to be multi-layered, culturally appropriate and implement a whole of university approach.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":48868,"journal":{"name":"Women and Birth","volume":"38 1","pages":"Article 101863"},"PeriodicalIF":4.4,"publicationDate":"2025-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142960991","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Pathways, development needs, and clinical connections for midwifery faculty in low- and middle-income settings of the Asia Pacific region: A qualitative study.","authors":"Rachel M. Smith ,&nbsp;Joanne E. Gray ,&nbsp;Caroline SE Homer","doi":"10.1016/j.wombi.2024.101841","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.wombi.2024.101841","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Introduction</h3><div>The development and strengthening of midwifery education requires a focus on midwifery faculty as an important strategy to improve quality of care provision. Despite the need for high-quality midwifery educators in all-countries, preparation and development of faculty is challenging, particularly in low- and middle-income countries.</div></div><div><h3>Aim</h3><div>The aim was to explore the experiences of midwifery faculty in low- and middle-income countries in the Asia Pacific region regarding their pathway to being a faculty member, programs of development and/or factors that supported their transition to faculty. We also aimed to identify barriers and enablers to continued clinical practice.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>A qualitative exploratory design applying reflexive thematic analysis was used. We undertook 17 semi-structured interviews with midwifery faculty from low- and middle-income countries in the Asia Pacific region.</div></div><div><h3>Findings</h3><div>Key themes were 1) drawing on professional determination and personal passion, 2) transitioning from clinical to academia is challenging, 3) meeting diverse role expectations, 4) needing orientation, mentorship and training, and 5) maintaining clinical skills.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusion</h3><div>Identifying supportive pathways for midwifery faculty, including transitional support and ongoing development, is crucial in providing quality midwifery education. Provision of early and sustained development and support is required to ensure professional identity is developed alongside the ability to function in the diverse roles expected of midwifery faculty.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":48868,"journal":{"name":"Women and Birth","volume":"38 1","pages":"Article 101841"},"PeriodicalIF":4.4,"publicationDate":"2025-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142928914","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Women’s preferences for care delivery during labour and birth in Dutch hospitals: A Q-methodology study","authors":"Maud van den Berg ,&nbsp;Michael van der Voorden ,&nbsp;Elisabeth Bossenbroek ,&nbsp;Hiske Ernst-Smelt ,&nbsp;Kees Ahaus ,&nbsp;Arie Franx","doi":"10.1016/j.wombi.2024.101842","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.wombi.2024.101842","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Problem</h3><div>Women’s preferences regarding care delivery during labour and birth remain insufficiently understood. Obtaining a clear understanding of these is important to realise a maternity care system that is future-proof and person-centred.</div></div><div><h3>Background</h3><div>Dutch maternity care deals with capacity issues due to staff shortages. Despite expected stable birth rates in the coming decades, this situation jeopardises the provision of care during labour and birth that is responsive to women's preferences.</div></div><div><h3>Aim</h3><div>To systematically study a variety of women’s preferences for care delivery during labour and birth in Dutch hospitals using Q-methodology.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>Q-methodology is a mixed methods approach. Thirty individual interviews were conducted with women living in the south-western Netherlands, during which they ranked 29 statements about their labour and birth preferences from least to most important. By-person factor analysis was performed to identify factors (viewpoints). Interpretation of the viewpoints was done using the qualitative interview data.</div></div><div><h3>Findings</h3><div>Four viewpoints emerged from the study sample: 1) The personal approach, 2) The empowering approach, 3) The expert approach and 4) The needs-based approach. Consensus statements show a shared preference for respectful interaction. The study cohort emphasises continuity of adequate information provision, while continuity of care professional is deemed less important.</div></div><div><h3>Discussion</h3><div>Our study was the first to apply Q-methodology to capture women’s preferences for care delivery during labour and birth in Dutch hospitals. Although preferences are individual, they share commonalities in four viewpoints.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusion</h3><div>The viewpoints provide valuable guidance for the allocation of scarce resources to ensure a maternity care system that is responsive to women’s preferences.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":48868,"journal":{"name":"Women and Birth","volume":"38 1","pages":"Article 101842"},"PeriodicalIF":4.4,"publicationDate":"2025-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142928934","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Midwives perspectives of barriers and facilitators for the practice of promoting women’s positive childbirth experience in China: A qualitative study","authors":"Yaxuan Xu ,&nbsp;Yuhan Tang ,&nbsp;Mengxue Wang ,&nbsp;Xiaoyue Wang ,&nbsp;Wenli Xu ,&nbsp;Fengying Zhang ,&nbsp;Lihua Zhou","doi":"10.1016/j.wombi.2025.101867","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.wombi.2025.101867","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><div>Women-centered care for positive childbirth experiences is currently a global trend. However, there are some barriers to promoting women’s positive childbirth experiences in practice. This study explored midwives’ perspectives on the barriers and facilitators to promoting women's positive childbirth experience in practice.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>Qualitative semi-structured interviews were undertaken with 18 midwives in the birth unit of four tertiary care hospitals in Hefei, Anhui Province, China. Thematic analysis was used to code the interviews with deductive codes, and we organized findings according to levels of influence within the Dahlgren and Whitehead rainbow model, a socioecological model of health.</div></div><div><h3>Result</h3><div>Midwives reported barriers to women’s positive childbirth experience were identified on four levels: individual factors included psychological barriers and childbirth expectations (micro level), social and community and organization factors included interpersonal violence, medical mistrust and obstetric violence and outcome (meso level), healthcare system factors included midwife shortage and hospital environment (macro level). Facilitators for a positive birth experience include antenatal education, community continuum of care, and respectful and understanding care.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusion</h3><div>This study indicated that midwives experienced several barriers and facilitators in providing positive childbirth experience care to women in the Chinese context. The findings will help maternity care providers and policymakers develop multi-level implementation strategies at the individual, social, community, organization, and healthcare system levels.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":48868,"journal":{"name":"Women and Birth","volume":"38 1","pages":"Article 101867"},"PeriodicalIF":4.4,"publicationDate":"2025-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142974119","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Factors influencing women's and men's place of birth decisions in rural Western Highlands Province of Papua New Guinea: A qualitative descriptive study","authors":"Paula Zebedee Aines ,&nbsp;Kristen Graham ,&nbsp;Linda Sweet","doi":"10.1016/j.wombi.2024.101862","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.wombi.2024.101862","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><div>Evidence shows that birthing with a skilled birth provider improves maternal and neonatal health outcomes. However, whilst most women in the Western Highlands Province of Papua New Guinea seek skilled health care during pregnancy in a health facility, more than half give birth at home or in the village without a skilled birth provider.</div></div><div><h3>Aim</h3><div>To explore the factors influencing women's and men's decisions about place of birth in rural Western Highlands Province of Papua New Guinea.</div></div><div><h3>Method</h3><div>A qualitative-descriptive study was conducted. Semi-structured, in-depth interviews were conducted with 20 participants (16 women who were pregnant or recently given birth and four men whose partners were pregnant or recently gave birth). Interviews were audio-recorded and transcribed verbatim. The data was thematically analysed.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>Three key themes associated with the place of birth decision factors were identified from the study findings: (1) health service accessibility and availability, (2) socio-cultural influences, and (3) previous maternity care experiences. Participant experiences influenced their choice of place of birth, resulting in many giving birth at home in their village without a skilled birth provider.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusion</h3><div>Maternal and child health services need to be appropriately tailored to improve accessibility and meet the unmet needs of pregnant women in Papua New Guinea. Additionally, health education programs should address socio-cultural factors influencing the uptake of healthcare services, especially in rural areas where health disparities are more evident. Further research is required to explore health worker perspectives, patriarchal control, and respectful care regarding health service utilisation in this study context.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":48868,"journal":{"name":"Women and Birth","volume":"38 1","pages":"Article 101862"},"PeriodicalIF":4.4,"publicationDate":"2025-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142960989","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}