Silent Tears of Midwives: ‘I Want Every Mother Who Gives Birth to Have Her Baby Alive’—A Narrative Inquiry of Midwives Experiences of Very Early Neonatal Death from Tanzania
Article
Becker, Jan, Becker, Chase, Abeysekera, Rachel, Moir, James, Gray, Marion, Shimwela, Meshack and Oprescu, Florin. 2023. "Silent Tears of Midwives: ‘I Want Every Mother Who Gives Birth to Have Her Baby Alive’—A Narrative Inquiry of Midwives Experiences of Very Early Neonatal Death from Tanzania." Children. 10 (4). https://doi.org/10.3390/children10040705
| Article Title | Silent Tears of Midwives: ‘I Want Every Mother Who Gives Birth to Have Her Baby Alive’—A Narrative Inquiry of Midwives Experiences of Very Early Neonatal Death from Tanzania |
|---|---|
| ERA Journal ID | 212052 |
| Article Category | Article |
| Authors | Becker, Jan, Becker, Chase, Abeysekera, Rachel, Moir, James, Gray, Marion, Shimwela, Meshack and Oprescu, Florin |
| Journal Title | Children |
| Journal Citation | 10 (4) |
| Article Number | 705 |
| Number of Pages | 15 |
| Year | 2023 |
| Publisher | MDPI AG |
| Place of Publication | Switzerland |
| ISSN | 2227-9067 |
| Digital Object Identifier (DOI) | https://doi.org/10.3390/children10040705 |
| Web Address (URL) | https://www.mdpi.com/2227-9067/10/4/705 |
| Abstract | Background: Midwives working in settings with limited clinical resources experience high rates of very early neonatal deaths. Midwives manage the impact of this grief and trauma almost daily, which may affect patient care and their own well-being. Research Aims: To explore how midwives are impacted by and cope with high rates of very early neonatal deaths. To document midwives’ insights and local solutions that may reduce very early neonatal deaths in limited resource settings. To document the stories of midwives in order to create awareness and garner support for midwives and their critical work in low resource settings. Methods: Narrative inquiry utilizing semi structured interviews. Twenty-one midwives with at least six months experience who had experienced or witnessed very early neonatal death were interviewed. Data were audio recorded and transcribed, and reflexive thematic analysis of transcripts was conducted. Results and Discussion: Three themes were identified: (1) deep sadness resulting from very early neonatal deaths leading to internal struggles; (2) use of spirituality, including prayer and occasional beliefs that unexplainable deaths were ‘God’s plan’; and (3) development of resilience by seeking solutions, educating themselves, taking accountability and guiding mothers. Participating midwives noted that inadequate staff and high caseloads with limited basic supplies hindered their clinical practice. Participants articulated that they concentrated on active solutions to save babies during labour, such as vigilant foetal rate heart monitoring and partogram. Further, reduction and prevention of very early neonatal death is a complex problem requiring multidisciplinary teams and woman-centred care approaches to address issues contributing to the health of mothers and their new-borns. Conclusions: Midwives’ narratives highlighted ways of coping with grief and deep sadness, through prayer, and further education of both mothers and fellow colleagues to achieve better antenatal and intrapartum care and outcomes. This study gave midwives an opportunity for their voices to be heard and to generate solutions or insights that can be shared with colleagues in similar low-resource settings. |
| Keywords | active agency; very early neonatal death; resilience; stories; self-efficacy; sadness; global health; low-income settings |
| ANZSRC Field of Research 2020 | 420602. Health equity |
| Byline Affiliations | Midwife Vision Global, Australia |
| University of Nicosia, Cyprus | |
| Centre for Health Research | |
| Temeke Regional Referral Hospital, Tanzania | |
| University of the Sunshine Coast |
Permalink -
https://research.usq.edu.au/item/z2555/silent-tears-of-midwives-i-want-every-mother-who-gives-birth-to-have-her-baby-alive-a-narrative-inquiry-of-midwives-experiences-of-very-early-neonatal-death-from-tanzania
Download files
70
total views18
total downloads3
views this month0
downloads this month
Export as
Related outputs
First nation voices matter! Multi-level community consultations determine the design elements of a modified sport programme to promote healthy ageing in First Nation men
Pressick, Elizabeth L., Gray, Marion A., Cole, Rachel L., Burkett, Brendan J., Eggmolesse, Sharelle L. and Sayers, Mark G.. 2024. "First nation voices matter! Multi-level community consultations determine the design elements of a modified sport programme to promote healthy ageing in First Nation men." Sport in Society. https://doi.org/10.1080/17430437.2024.2378449Childhood trauma and alcohol misuse in college students: The moderating role of minimization
Tapia, Géraldine, Teysseyre, Jordan, Bréhonnet, Rémi, Baud, Alexandra, Gauvreau, Guillaume, Gray, Marion and Oprescu, Florin. 2024. "Childhood trauma and alcohol misuse in college students: The moderating role of minimization." Child Abuse and Neglect. 152. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chiabu.2024.106749Chiropractors in Multidisciplinary Teams: Enablers of Colocation Integration in GP-Led Primary Healthcare
Fjaagesund, Shauna Dawn, Graham, Wayne, Jones, Evan, Ladhams, Andrew, Sayers, Mark, Campbell, Gary, Hou, Xiang-Yu, Ungureanu, Marius-Ionut and Oprescu, Florin. 2024. "Chiropractors in Multidisciplinary Teams: Enablers of Colocation Integration in GP-Led Primary Healthcare." Healthcare. 12 (9). https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare12090926Investigation of the Consumer Perspective on Leisure in Mental Health Inpatient Units
Levick, Jessica, Broome, Kieran, Gray, Marion, Theodoros, Theo, Morrison, Thomas and Ray, Manan. 2024. "Investigation of the Consumer Perspective on Leisure in Mental Health Inpatient Units." OTJR: Occupational Therapy Journal of Research. 44 (1), pp. 67-77. https://doi.org/10.1177/15394492231175067Content analysis: Mental health staff viewpoints on the barriers and facilitators to leisure engagement in mental health inpatient units
Levick, Jessica, Broome, Kieran, Oprescu, Florin and Gray, Marion. 2023. "Content analysis: Mental health staff viewpoints on the barriers and facilitators to leisure engagement in mental health inpatient units." Occupational Therapy Australia 30th National Conference and Exhibition 2023. Cairns, Australia 20 Jun - 21 Jul 2023 Australia.Investigation of the consumer perspective on leisure activity available in Australian mental health inpatient units
Levick, Jessica, Broome, Kieran, Gray, Marion, Theodoros, Theo, Morrison, Thomas and Kar Ray, Manaan. 2023. "Investigation of the consumer perspective on leisure activity available in Australian mental health inpatient units." Occupational Therapy Australia 30th National Conference and Exhibition 2023. Cairns, Australia 20 Jun - 21 Jul 2023 Australia.Recommendations: The development of practice principles for leisure-based occupational enrichment in mental health inpatient units
Levick, Jessica, Broome, Kieran and Gray, Marion. 2023. "Recommendations: The development of practice principles for leisure-based occupational enrichment in mental health inpatient units." Occupational Therapy Australia 30th National Conference and Exhibition 2023. Cairns, Australia 20 Jun - 21 Jul 2023 Australia.Creating supportive environments for people with diabetes
Broome, Kieran, Gray, Marion, Pelly, Fiona, Cole, Rachel, Bruce, Rosa, Moore, H. and Coleman, E.. 2016. "Creating supportive environments for people with diabetes." 2016 NT/Qld Division Occupational Therapy Conference: Practitioners for the Future. Brisbane, Australia 28 - 29 Oct 2016 Australia.Silent voices of the midwives: factors that influence midwives’ achievement of successful neonatal resuscitation in sub-Saharan Africa: a narrative inquiry
Becker, Jan, Becker, Chase, Oprescu, Florin, Wu, Chiung-Jung (Jo), Moir, James, Shimwela, Meshak and Gray, Marion. 2022. "Silent voices of the midwives: factors that influence midwives’ achievement of successful neonatal resuscitation in sub-Saharan Africa: a narrative inquiry." BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth. 22 (1), pp. 1-13. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12884-021-04339-7HDR Cafe: A Group Supervision Model for HDR Students
Oprescu, Florin, Gray, Marion A. and Verdonck, Michele. 2016. "HDR Cafe: A Group Supervision Model for HDR Students." Picard, Michelle and McCulloch, Alistair (ed.) 12th Biennial Quality in Postgraduate Research Conference (QPR 2016). Adelaide, Australia 20 - 22 Apr 2016 Adelaide, Australia.Use of real-time biomechanical biofeedback to retrain posture and reduce pain: a randomized controlled trial
Josey, Lorraine, Broome, Kieran and Gray, Marion. 2015. "Use of real-time biomechanical biofeedback to retrain posture and reduce pain: a randomized controlled trial." Occupational Therapy Australia 26th National Conference and Exhibition. Melbourne, Australia 01 - 03 Jul 2015 Australia. https://doi.org/10.1111/1440-1630.12212_1Living with CRPS: patients in partnership
Johnston, Colleen M., Oprescu, Florin I., Gray, Marion and Wallis, Marianne. 2017. "Living with CRPS: patients in partnership." 2017 IASP Special Interest Group in Complex Regional Pain Syndrome. Cork, Ireland 31 Aug - 01 Sep 2017 Queensland, Australia.More than an ePortfolio: adopting PebblePad as a learning management tool to structure curriculum delivery, track competency achievement and build a graduate entry showcase
Hamilton, Anita, Trahar, Priscilla, Hansen, Angela, Kennedy-Behr, Ann, Verdonck, Michele, Broome, Kieran, Gray, Marion, Bruce, Rosie, Scott, Heather, Miller, Heidi, Taylor, Penny, Hilly, Cate and Bridgman, Marie. 2017. "More than an ePortfolio: adopting PebblePad as a learning management tool to structure curriculum delivery, track competency achievement and build a graduate entry showcase." Occupational Therapy Australia 27th National Conference and Exhibition. Perth, Australia 19 - 21 Jul 2017 Australia. https://doi.org/10.1111/1440-1630.12406