Abstract
Aim: To explore midwifery students’ experiences of negative attitudes or behaviour directed toward male partners by women, midwives, and/or doctors during antenatal and intrapartum care.
Methods: An open online anonymous survey was used to collect data from 21 midwifery students.
Findings: Two main themes were revealed: observed negative behaviours, and behaviour reasoning. Each theme contained several sub-themes, namely aggression, exclusion, and condescension (observed negative behaviours), and excusable by pain, preoccupied, misplaced support and respectful inclusion (behaviour reasoning).
Conclusions and implication for practice: The accommodation of male partners into maternity settings does not always meet their needs, and is at time disempowering through negative attitudes and behaviours. It is important that male partners continue to be recognised as key stakeholders in their partners’ childbirth journey. The inclusion of male partners within maternity care should be advocated for and cultivated by health professionals. Perhaps the targeting of specific needs of male partners would bring a greater benefit overall to women during pregnancy and birth. The knowledge base of health professionals relating to the value and significance of male partners requires investigating, with the possibility of education being provided in this area. This may help to alleviate future negative attitudes and behaviour towards male partners.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages | 18-18 |
| Number of pages | 1 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - Oct 2018 |
| Externally published | Yes |
| Event | Australian College of Midwives National Conference - Crown Perth, Burswood, Australia Duration: 16 Oct 2018 → 18 Oct 2018 Conference number: 21st https://www.midwives.org.au/events/acm-national-conference-2018 |
Conference
| Conference | Australian College of Midwives National Conference |
|---|---|
| Abbreviated title | ACM2018 |
| Country | Australia |
| City | Burswood |
| Period | 16/10/18 → 18/10/18 |
| Internet address |
Fingerprint
Cite this
}
Are male partners of pregnant women treated negatively in maternity care? / Wright, Christian ; Geraghty, Sadie.
2018. 18-18 Abstract from Australian College of Midwives National Conference, Burswood, Australia.Research output: Contribution to conference › Abstract › Research › peer-review
TY - CONF
T1 - Are male partners of pregnant women treated negatively in maternity care?
AU - Wright, Christian
AU - Geraghty, Sadie
N1 - Abstract as part of special issue: Abstracts for the Australian College of Midwives National Conference.
PY - 2018/10
Y1 - 2018/10
N2 - Background: There has been a significant cultural shift in attitudes towards male partners’ involvement in maternity care, resulting in a cultural acceptance that male partners should be involved throughout pregnancy and birth. Anecdotal evidence, however, shows that male partners may still experience negative attitudes from obstetric and midwifery professionals.Aim: To explore midwifery students’ experiences of negative attitudes or behaviour directed toward male partners by women, midwives, and/or doctors during antenatal and intrapartum care.Methods: An open online anonymous survey was used to collect data from 21 midwifery students.Findings: Two main themes were revealed: observed negative behaviours, and behaviour reasoning. Each theme contained several sub-themes, namely aggression, exclusion, and condescension (observed negative behaviours), and excusable by pain, preoccupied, misplaced support and respectful inclusion (behaviour reasoning).Conclusions and implication for practice: The accommodation of male partners into maternity settings does not always meet their needs, and is at time disempowering through negative attitudes and behaviours. It is important that male partners continue to be recognised as key stakeholders in their partners’ childbirth journey. The inclusion of male partners within maternity care should be advocated for and cultivated by health professionals. Perhaps the targeting of specific needs of male partners would bring a greater benefit overall to women during pregnancy and birth. The knowledge base of health professionals relating to the value and significance of male partners requires investigating, with the possibility of education being provided in this area. This may help to alleviate future negative attitudes and behaviour towards male partners.
AB - Background: There has been a significant cultural shift in attitudes towards male partners’ involvement in maternity care, resulting in a cultural acceptance that male partners should be involved throughout pregnancy and birth. Anecdotal evidence, however, shows that male partners may still experience negative attitudes from obstetric and midwifery professionals.Aim: To explore midwifery students’ experiences of negative attitudes or behaviour directed toward male partners by women, midwives, and/or doctors during antenatal and intrapartum care.Methods: An open online anonymous survey was used to collect data from 21 midwifery students.Findings: Two main themes were revealed: observed negative behaviours, and behaviour reasoning. Each theme contained several sub-themes, namely aggression, exclusion, and condescension (observed negative behaviours), and excusable by pain, preoccupied, misplaced support and respectful inclusion (behaviour reasoning).Conclusions and implication for practice: The accommodation of male partners into maternity settings does not always meet their needs, and is at time disempowering through negative attitudes and behaviours. It is important that male partners continue to be recognised as key stakeholders in their partners’ childbirth journey. The inclusion of male partners within maternity care should be advocated for and cultivated by health professionals. Perhaps the targeting of specific needs of male partners would bring a greater benefit overall to women during pregnancy and birth. The knowledge base of health professionals relating to the value and significance of male partners requires investigating, with the possibility of education being provided in this area. This may help to alleviate future negative attitudes and behaviour towards male partners.
KW - Pregnancy
KW - Male-partners
KW - Attitudes
U2 - 10.1016/j.wombi.2018.08.060
DO - 10.1016/j.wombi.2018.08.060
M3 - Abstract
SP - 18
EP - 18
ER -