We investigate the level of mindfulness among midwifery students, as mindfulness can have a major impact on their perception of stress and can increase the quality of their work after graduation.
A ...causal, non-experimental method of a cross-sectional study was used. We collected data using an online questionnaire that included a valid modified Mindful Attention Awareness Scale - MAAS. The sample consisted of Slovenian midwifery students in academic year 2022-2023.
Fifty-five Slovenian midwifery students (82% response rate) participated in the study. The average score of all midwifery students on the 5-Likert modified MAAS was 3.2, with the lowest average score among second-year students. Those students who practiced mindfulness techniques in their free time had higher average scores than those who did not.
The average MAAS score of our midwifery students was lower than in other foreign studies among nursing students. The study program should promote student mindfulness. This would benefit the graduates also later, when employed, as investing in midwives' well-being improves both their job satisfaction and women's experience of care. The Slovenian curriculum is often perceived as overwhelming by students. This might be the reason for their low mindfulness scores. Further analysis of the curriculum is needed to find solutions on how to integrate mindfulness techniques into the undergraduate curriculum.
This article presents research into the professionalization of midwifery in Slovenia. Since recognition by related occupations is important for professions, this comparative study asked doctors and ...nurses in Slovenia about their perceptions of the status of midwifery.INTRODUCTIONThis article presents research into the professionalization of midwifery in Slovenia. Since recognition by related occupations is important for professions, this comparative study asked doctors and nurses in Slovenia about their perceptions of the status of midwifery.A questionnaire survey was conducted with 300 Slovenian midwives, 666 nurses and 416 obstetricians. The questionnaire included statements covering traditional sociological notions of the profession (ethics, theory, power), and three notions based on new elements of professionalism (reflective practice, interdisciplinary working, and partnership with clients).METHODSA questionnaire survey was conducted with 300 Slovenian midwives, 666 nurses and 416 obstetricians. The questionnaire included statements covering traditional sociological notions of the profession (ethics, theory, power), and three notions based on new elements of professionalism (reflective practice, interdisciplinary working, and partnership with clients).Findings suggest that nurses perceived themselves to be less autonomous than midwives, and this partly explains why most nurses thought that midwifery should be a specialized course of study, after the general nursing diploma. Obstetricians claimed to support midwives, however, they did not give midwives credit for basic midwifery competencies and did not feel midwifery to be equal to their profession. Midwives revealed not to feel autonomous; they felt that nursing and obstetrics is jeopardizing independent midwifery practice.RESULTSFindings suggest that nurses perceived themselves to be less autonomous than midwives, and this partly explains why most nurses thought that midwifery should be a specialized course of study, after the general nursing diploma. Obstetricians claimed to support midwives, however, they did not give midwives credit for basic midwifery competencies and did not feel midwifery to be equal to their profession. Midwives revealed not to feel autonomous; they felt that nursing and obstetrics is jeopardizing independent midwifery practice.Slovenian midwifery was poorly evaluated in some attributes of professionalism, especially knowledge and autonomy. Even midwives themselves consider midwifery more occupation than profession. The autonomy of midwifery will be hard to achieve in the institutions of medical dominance. The study revealed that participants of all three groups are in a competitive relation and are poorly aware of the roles and competencies of the other two professions. Therefore, partially joined education might be beneficial in order to promote interprofessional collaboration in the future.CONCLUSIONSSlovenian midwifery was poorly evaluated in some attributes of professionalism, especially knowledge and autonomy. Even midwives themselves consider midwifery more occupation than profession. The autonomy of midwifery will be hard to achieve in the institutions of medical dominance. The study revealed that participants of all three groups are in a competitive relation and are poorly aware of the roles and competencies of the other two professions. Therefore, partially joined education might be beneficial in order to promote interprofessional collaboration in the future.
INTRODUCTIONPostpartum blues in 20% of cases develops into postnatal depression if it lasts longer than 14 days, so the condition requires attention. To help Slovenian midwives in screening for ...postpartum blues, we aimed to translate the Kennerly-Garth Blues Questionnaire (BQ). METHODSThe blues questionnaire was translated using a double-blind translation method. The Cathedra for Midwifery at the Faculty Health Sciences Ljubljana reviewed the ethics and research design of the study. The online survey was conducted among Slovenian postpartum women who had to be between the 3rd and 15th day postpartum (inclusion criteria). A snowball sampling was used. The online questionnaire was active from January to March 2020. Women voluntarily participated in the survey and were assured of anonymity. RESULTSA total of 101 women participated in the study. More than half (58%) scored ≥7 points in the questionnaire, which is the cut-off score, indicating postpartum blues. More single women obtained a high score (66.6%) than those who were married (63.6%) or in an extramarital relationship (50.9%). High questionnaire scores were more common among women who had had their second child. Cronbach alpha for the Slovenian version of the Blues questionnaire was 0.995. CONCLUSIONSThe survey instrument can be used easily and quickly and is a good way to open discussion with women about emotional and mental health in the postnatal period. The Slovenian version of the Blues questionnaire showed a satisfactory level of internal consistency, but a larger study should be conducted to evaluate the cut-off score and the content validity.
Smoking in pregnancy is unhealthy and can also have negative effects on the foetus. However, there are still some women who do not quit smoking during pregnancy. The aim of the study was to identify ...Slovenian women at risk who smoke during pregnancy.
A quantative approach using an online survey was adopted. The study was conducted in May and June 2017, in Slovenia. A snowball sample was used. Participation in the survey was anonymous and voluntary, and 118 women who identified themselves as smokers participated in the study. Descriptive statistics was used to analyse the data.
More than half (66%) did not quit smoking during pregnancy. Women who continued to smoke during pregnancy were usually younger, less educated with a partner who smoked. Women who smoked more cigarettes per day before conception were less likely to refrain from smoking during pregnancy. The most common reason for not quitting smoking during pregnancy was failure in attempts to quit (37%).
Women who smoke need support to stop smoking before pregnancy or, at least, in the first trimester. Special groups for smoking cessation need to be created. Further and more extensive research is warranted in Slovenia to assess this issue.
Mobbing, defined as sustained harassment among workers, in particular towards subordinates, merits investigation. This study aims to investigate Slovenian midwifery students' (2nd and 3rd year ...students of midwifery at the Faculty for Health Studies Ljubljana; the single educational institution for midwives in Slovenia) perception of mobbing, since management of acceptable behavioural interrelationships in midwifery profession forms already during the study, through professional socialization. Descriptive and causal-nonexperimental method with questionnaire was used. Basic descriptive statistics and measures for calculating statistical significance were carried out with SPSS 20.0 software version. All necessary ethical measures were taken into the consideration during the study to protect participants. The re- sults revealed that several participants experienced mobbing during the study (82.3%); 58.8% of them during their practical training and 23.5% from midwifery teachers. Students are often anxious and nervous in face of clinical settings (60.8%) or before faculty commitments (exams, presentations etc.) (41.2%). A lot of them (40.4%) estimate that mobbing affected their health. They did not show effective strategies to solve relationship problems. According to the findings, everyone involved in midwifery education, but above all students, should be provided with more knowledge and skills on successful management of conflict situations.
Midwifery and Sexuality Geuens, Sam; Polona Mivsek, Ana; Gianotten, Woet L
2023, 2023-03-09
eBook
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This first open-access book on midwifery and sexuality integrates sexual health into the care for the pregnant and postpartum couple. It addresses sexuality and intimacy from an education and ...prevention perspective instead of just focusing on treating problems, aiming to foster the development of sexual well-being and happy couplehood. Sexuality and intimacy are essential elements in the bonding of the couple and the parents-to-be. That process can be seriously hampered by sexual problems due to mutual misunderstanding, fear and sexual troubles (especially when the natural processes of conceiving, pregnancy and delivery are disturbed). In this phase of life, disruption of intimacy, sexuality and sexual relationship is a significant risk factor for developing couple and family problems. The need for such a book stems from the very limited attention given to this health area in the daily practice of most midwives and related healthcare professionals. In building a close relationship with the couple through frequent, intense, longstanding contact, the midwife acquires a perfect position to address sexuality and intimacy. With 36 authors from 14 countries, the book comprises five modules: 1. Sexuality; 2. Sexual aspects of the various phases of reproduction when things develop without complications; 3. Sexual aspects when those same phases deviate from physiology; 4. Special topics on sexuality relevant to daily midwifery practice; 5. Teaching, learning, skills and competencies with regard to sexuality. This new practical textbook guides healthcare professionals such as midwives, obstetricians, gynaecologists, nurses, general practitioners, pelvic floor therapists, etc., by offering both basic knowledge and skills on sexual health and wellbeing, combined with modern sexological knowledge, like the entirely new topic of sexual aspects of preconception care.
Midwifery across the globe faces different issues. In some countries the autonomy of the profession is a tradition, while in some societies midwives struggle to practice autonomously the basic ...competencies. In one part of the world the medicalisation of childbirth is the main issue, preventing the natural processes of pregnancy and childbirth to flow at their own pace, while in other parts of the world midwives struggle with lack of resources to provide safe midwifery care. The authors of this book practice midwifery in different cultures and within different social contexts. They have to deal with different obstacles and seek solutions to diverse problems. With their contributions, they offer an insight into their thinking, their dilemmas, and the problems of midwifery practices in their countries. However, despite different backgrounds, they all have in common a uniform goal - a wish to offer women optimal midwifery care and to improve midwifery services.
Introduction: The COVID-19 epidemic and its restrictions have affected all aspects of people’s lives, including health-related quality of life and, considering sexuality as an integral part of ...individual needs, also intimacy and sexuality. Therefore, the aim of this article was to investigate women’s sexual functioning and health-related quality of life assessment in Slovenian women in the reproductive period. Methods: An online survey with valid questionnaires (short form 36 SF-36 and Female sexual function index FSFI-19) was conducted in January 2022. All research ethical measures were taken to ensure the integrity of the participants. Results: The FSFI scale score was 25.37 ± 8.29, 1.18 points above the cutoff point, indicating a higher risk of sexual dysfunction (26.55). The estimated prevalence of sexual dysfunction was 36.8%, with sexual desire being the most problematic area. The mean score on the SF-36 scale in our sample reached 73.52 ± 13.84 on a 100-point scale, with 0 representing the worst and 100 the best quality of life; fatigue (x̅ = 48.50) was the most problematic category. The results partly reflect the results of foreign studies, but we must be aware of cultural differences in the understanding of sexuality and keep in mind that some countries faced difficult circumstances during the COVID-19 pandemic and that social constraints were different in 2020 than in 2022. Conclusion: The epidemic affected the sexual function of women of reproductive age and their perception of (health-related) quality of life.
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