Cheryl Corbett

Nursing Support during Labor

This descriptive study replicates and extends the previous work on nursing support during labor. Within 72 hours of giving birth, 88 participants rated 25 selected nursing behaviors on a Likert scale as to their perceived helpfulness, with two open-ended questions for additional comments on helpful nursing behaviors. Nursing behaviors were categorized as emotional, informational, or tangible support. The majority of behaviors considered most helpful were in the emotional support category. Sixteen of the 25 behaviors were considered helpful, with the most helpful behaviors being making the woman feel cared about as an individual, appearing calm and confident, and treating the woman with respect. Findings were consistent with those of a previous study and suggest that, regardless of the pain management used, nurses supporting childbearing women must not only be competent but also use a high degree of interpersonal skills in providing nursing care.

Postpartum Depression and Help Seeking Behaviors in Immigrant Hispanic Women

OBJECTIVES To describe perceptions of immigrant Hispanic women experiencing symptoms of postpartum depression (PPD) and to identify barriers to seeking mental health services. DESIGN Qualitative descriptive. SETTING Community health clinic. PARTICIPANTS Twenty immigrant Hispanic women scoring positive for symptoms of PPD receiving health care at a community health clinic who declined mental health services participated in audiotaped interviews held in their homes. METHODS Following Institutional Review Board approval and informed consent, interviews were conducted with study participants. Transcribed data were analyzed as appropriate for qualitative inquiry. RESULTS Some of the women did not recognize and/or denied their symptoms attributing their sadness to financial concerns, family relationships, and/or work stressors. Study participants articulately described their symptoms and identified personal barriers including beliefs about emotional health, the perceived stigma of mental illness, hesitancy to seek treatment for symptoms of PPD, and cultural beliefs about motherhood and the role of women. Social barriers included inadequate social support, immigration status, and limited English proficiency. Health care delivery barriers included financial and time constraints and lack of child care and transportation. CONCLUSION Limited social networks and barriers to health care should be addressed to foster positive outcomes. Mental health services should be embedded with primary health care or obstetric care clinics to facilitate access. Personal and professional support can make a significant contribution to the reduction of symptoms of PPD.

Postpartum depression and culture: Pesado Corazon.

The purpose of this article is to describe what the -literature has shown about postpartum depression (PPD) in culturally diverse women. The majority of qualitative studies done with women identified as -having PPD have been conducted with Western -women, with the second largest group focusing on Chinese women. This article reviews the qualitative studies in the literature and discusses how the management of PPD in technocentric and ethnokinship cultures differs. Social support has been shown to be significantly related to fewer symptoms of PPD, and culturally prescribed practices may or may not be -cultural mediators in decreasing the incidence of PPD. Nurses should be sensitive to the varied ways in which culturally diverse women perceive, explain, and report symptoms of PPD. Exemplary interventions for culturally diverse women suffering from PPD are examined in this article as well, although it is clear that additional research is needed to develop models for culturally competent interventions for PPD in culturally diverse women and to document the outcomes of such interventions.

Giving Birth The Voices of Ecuadorian Women

Purpose The purpose of this ethnographic study was to describe the perceptions of Ecuadorian childbearing women Background No studies published in English could be found documenting the perspectives of Ecuadorian childbearing women about their birth experiences. Method Thirty-two women who had recently given birth in Guayaquil, Ecuador participated in audiotaped interviews, which were analyzed as appropriate for ethnographic inquiry. Results “Enduring birth to obtain the gift” was the overarching theme. Supporting themes included caring for self and accessing prenatal care to have a healthy newborn; relying on God to ensure positive maternal/newborn outcomes; submission of self to healthcare providers because of fear, pain, and lack of education; and valuing motherhood. The focus was on the well-being of the child rather than the quality of the birth experience. Implications for Clinical Practice With a growing population of women of childbearing age immigrating into the United States from Central and South America, the need for culturally competent care is increasing. Sensitivity to the cultural beliefs and practices of Hispanic and other culturally diverse childbearing women is critical. Womens reliance on God to ensure positive outcomes should be respected. The provision of education and supportive care will help ensure positive outcomes in culturally diverse women.

Giving birth: the voices of women in Tamil Nadu, India.

Purpose:The purpose of this qualitative descriptive study is to describe the perceptions of childbearing women living in Tamil Nadu, India. This study can increase cultural understanding and foster cultural competence in nurses caring for Indian women. Study Design and Methods:Women were invited to share their childbearing experiences. Following institutional review board approval, interviews were held with 22 women who had given birth in the previous 18 months to a viable infant. The women were grateful for the opportunity to share their perspectives with an interested nurse investigator. Data collection proceeded concurrently with data analysis. Themes were generated collaboratively by the research team. Results:This research provides insights into the perspectives of mothers living in Tamil Nadu, India. Themes included anticipating becoming a mother, following the advice of mothers-in-law and other “wise” women, fear of childbirth related to lack of knowledge, and valuing support during labor and birth. Others included having the greater blessing of giving birth to a son, making the transition to motherhood, following postpartum rituals/ceremonies, and having a desire to give their child the best that life circumstances allow. Clinical Implications:Nurses should be sensitive to the social determinants of health, which frame giving birth. Listening to the voices of women is helpful in guiding clinical practice. Understanding of childbirth practices in culturally diverse women is essential. Potentially harmful practices can be changed through appropriate educational offerings.

Honoring Motherhood: The Meaning of Childbirth for Tongan Women

PURPOSE The purpose of this ethnographic study was to describe the meaning of childbirth for Tongan women. STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS In this qualitative descriptive study, 38 Tongan women, 18 from Tonga and 20 from the United States, who had given birth in the past year were invited to share their perceptions of childbirth. Themes were generated collaboratively by the research team. FINDINGS The overarching theme was honoring motherhood; other themes include using strength to facilitate an unmedicated vaginal birth, describing the spiritual dimensions of birth, adhering to cultural practices associated with childbearing, and the influence of the concept of respect on childbearing. IMPLICATIONS FOR CLINICAL PRACTICE Understanding the value Tongan women and their families place on motherhood can help nurses to give culturally sensitive nursing care. Tongan beliefs and cultural practices should be respected. Nurses should assess womens personal preferences for their care and advocate for them as needed. Sensitivity to stoicism is important, especially on pain control and patient education. Nurses should be aware of Tongan values regarding modesty and respect, and provide an appropriate care environment. A culturally competent nurse understands the importance of sociocultural influences on womens health beliefs and behaviors and generates appropriate interventions.

Long-term effects on nursing alumni: Assessing a course in public and global health

The impact of a cultural awareness course among nursing students may affect the particular person for years to come. Cultural awareness can be taught via many methods, often requiring study abroad and/or extreme investment of time, money and effort. There is little research on sustained effects on nursing alumni from such a course. The purpose of this descriptive survey study was to determine the long term outcomes of a cultural awareness course and 2) compare the long term effects between alumni who went abroad and those who chose to complete the course locally. One hundred and twenty-one nursing alumni completed the International Education Survey (IES) (Zorn, 1996) with additional open-ended questions. Quantitative and qualitative results concluded: 1) nursing alumni were influenced long term by a course dedicated to public and global health and 2) all alumni had statistically significant IES scores but alumni who studied abroad had the greatest increase.