http://localhost:8080/xmlui/handle/123456789/11665 Sat, 11 Apr 2026 19:37:26 GMT 2026-04-11T19:37:26Z http://localhost:8080/xmlui/handle/123456789/11677 Title: Women’s perspectives on the role and impact of breastfeeding support groups in Ireland Authors: McCarthy, Elizabeth; Vries, Jan de; Gallagher, Louise Abstract: Background: Breastfeeding Support Groups are deemed effective in promoting breastfeeding initiation and duration, but few studies have addressed the mothers’ perspectives. Research aim: To investigate the role and impact of Breastfeeding Support Groups on breastfeeding mothers in Ireland from the women’s perspective. Specific objectives included the assessment over time of breastfeeding self-efficacy knowledge, use, and limitations of BSGs and whether they contributed towards women achieving their breastfeeding goals. Methods: An online survey using an established, validated Breastfeeding Self-Efficacy tool and custom-designed questions was administered at two time points as part of a larger sequential explanatory mixed methods’ design. Cultural Historical Activity Theory was used as the theoretical framework. Results: Majority of respondents at Phase 1 (N = 978) were multiparous, urban dwellers, and breastfeeding more than twelve months. Mothers first attend Breastfeeding Support Groups primarily to meet other breastfeeding mothers with many attending multiple types of group formats weekly. Qualities considered extremely important in breastfeeding supporters were: personal breastfeeding experience breastfeeding knowledge empathy understanding and listening skills There was no statistical difference in breastfeeding self-efficacy over time (z = -1.296, p = .195, r = -0.06). Conclusions: Participants attend Breastfeeding Support Groups to ‘meet other mothers’ in a convenient and local location, and not necessarily for a problem. Breastfeeding Support Groups normalise breastfeeding through social support, with breastfeeding supporters providing knowledge, empathy, understanding listening, and personal breastfeeding experience. Breastfeeding self-efficacy was high and did not increase over time, suggesting mothers need to be highly efficacious in this cohort to breastfeed. Sun, 01 Sep 2024 00:00:00 GMT http://localhost:8080/xmlui/handle/123456789/11677 2024-09-01T00:00:00Z http://localhost:8080/xmlui/handle/123456789/11676 Title: To vaccinate or not to vaccinate? The dilemma of pregnant women Authors: Grimley, Cath; Parsons, Jo Sun, 01 Sep 2024 00:00:00 GMT http://localhost:8080/xmlui/handle/123456789/11676 2024-09-01T00:00:00Z http://localhost:8080/xmlui/handle/123456789/11675 Title: Nutrition education in the midwife consultation room. A cross sectional survey in Spain Authors: Olloqui-Mundet, Mª Josefa; Cavia, María del Mar; Alonso-Torre, Sara R.; Carrillo, Celia Abstract: Background: Diet during pregnancy is a key factor in the success of pregnancy. However, several studies have found pregnant women have low adherence to dietary recommendations. The midwife is a key health professional to provide nutrition education for pregnant women. Thus, it is important to know in detail her role in this respect. Aim: To explore how Spanish midwives undertake nutrition education in order to assess the need for specific interventions aimed at improving the health of pregnant women. Methods: A cross-sectional descriptive observational study was undertaken using an online questionnaire (466 responses). Findings: Spanish midwives recognise the importance of nutrition in pregnancy and that advising pregnant women in this regard is part of their role. In fact, all community midwives discuss nutrition to pregnant women, although they recognise that they do not feel particularly comfortable in dealing with certain topics, which could be related to a lack of mastery of the subjects. Midwives (56.5 %) rated the nutrition training their received as poor. Conclusion: In order to guarantee the quality in the nutrition education provided by Spanish midwives to promote the health of pregnant women, our results demonstrate the importance of strengthening both the nutrition content of midwives’ training programmes and the ongoing support they receive throughout their professional life. Thu, 01 Aug 2024 00:00:00 GMT http://localhost:8080/xmlui/handle/123456789/11675 2024-08-01T00:00:00Z http://localhost:8080/xmlui/handle/123456789/11674 Title: Midwife-led quality improvement: Increasing the use of evidence-based birth practices in Uganda Authors: Blomgren, Johanna; Lindgren, Helena; Amongin, Dinah; Erlandsson, Kerstin; Lundberg, Christina; Kanyunyuzi, Annette E. Abstract: Background: Addressing the evidence-to-practice gap in midwifery is vital for improving maternal and newborn health outcomes. Despite the potential of involving midwives in quality improvement interventions to address this gap, such interventions are understudied. In a Ugandan urban hospital, midwifery practices with a significant evidence-to-practice gap have been identified as areas for clinical improvement. Objectives: The primary objective of the Quality Improvement was to increase the uptake of identified and essential midwifery practices through a quality improvement approach led by midwives. Participants: We enrolled 703 women aged 18 years and older with uncomplicated full-term pregnancies (between 37+0 and 42+0 weeks) who gave birth at the facility. Intervention: The intervention focused on evidence-based practices with an identified evidence-to-practice gap: dynamic birth position, including women’s involvement in birth position decision-making, perineal protection and intrapartum support. A team of midwives led a seven-month co-created quality improvement intervention. The intervention used Plan–Do–Study–Act (PDSA) cycles, following the Model for Improvement and included a train-the-trainer approach and weekly online support meetings. Data collection: In this single-case prospective observational study, we compared pre-, during and postintervention uptake of evidence-based practices. Trained research assistants collected data through interviews and observations. Results: We observed improvements in the uptake of all clinical improvement areas. Dynamic birth positions increased from 0 % to 79 %, decision-making of birth positions from 0 % to 75 %, perineal protection measures from 62 % to 92 % and intrapartum support from 7 % to 67 %. Conclusion: A multifactorial midwife-led Quality Improvement resulted in significant and sustained improvements in the uptake of evidence-based practices in maternal and newborn healthcare. If given the mandate and time, midwives can successfully lead Quality Improvements, which enhance the quality of care and close the evidence-to-practice gaps in maternal and newborn health. The study’s results underscore the significance of developing effective strategies to enhance care quality and promote the adoption of evidence-based midwifery practices. Sun, 01 Sep 2024 00:00:00 GMT http://localhost:8080/xmlui/handle/123456789/11674 2024-09-01T00:00:00Z