Download - Pregnant women and social factors
PREGNANCY AND COMPLEX SOCIAL FACTORS
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CATEGORIES OF PREGNANT WOMEN
Women who misuse substances
Women who are recent migrants, asylum seekers or refugee and who have difficulties reading or speaking English
Young women aged under 20
Women who experience domestic abuse
A F F E C T I N G C O M P L E X S O C I A L FA C T O R S
Some pregnant woman with complex social factors are discouraged from using antenatal care services.
Overwhelmed by the involvement of multiple agencies
Not familiar with antenatal care services
Practical problems that make it difficult for them to attend antenatal appointments
Finding hard to communicate with healthcare staff
Anxious about the attitudes of healthcare staff
METHO DS OF ADD RESS ING PRO BLEMS
Improve service organization
Provide training for healthcare staff
Enhance care delivery
IMPROVE SERVICE ORGANIZATION
Work with
Social care commissioners and providers
Service for migrants, refugees and asylum seekers
Substance misuse services
Domestic abuse support services
Housing services
Education authorities
Third-sector agencies
RECOMMENDATIONS
Tailor services to meet the needs of the local population• Maintain records for the no of woman presenting for
antenatal care with complex social factors• Maintain records for each complex social factor grouping• Maintain records for attendance of appointments by no of
woman in each complex social factor grouping
Involve woman in their antenatal care• Record, monitor and use as guide the women’s response on
satisfaction of services• Involve women and their families in determining local needs • Enable women to take a copy of their hand-held maternity
notes when moving from one area or hospital to another
PROVIDE TRAINING FOR HEALTHCARE STAFF
Work with
Social care professionals
RECOMMENDATION
Provide training on multi-agency needs assessment and information sharing
ENHANCE CARE DELIVERY
Work with:
Social care professionals
Substance misuse services
Midwives and doctors with specific expertise (e.g. in the care of women who misuse substances)
Domestic abuse support workers
Sexual health services
Interpreters
Link workers
GPs
RECOMMENDATIONS
Give information and offer referral at the first contact
Reinforce contact at the booking appointment
Coordinate care
Communicate sensitively
Keep the hand-held maternity notes up to date
RECOMMENDATIONS
Offer referral to a substance misuse program
Offer information and support
Work with social care professionals to provide supportive and coordinated care
P R E G N A N T W O M E N W H O A R E R E C E N T M I G R A N T S , A S Y LU M S E E K E R S O R R E F U G E E S O R
H A V E D I F F I C U LT Y I N R E A D I N G O R S P E A K I N G E N G L I S H
Issues:
May not make full use of antenatal care services
Unfamiliarity with the health service
Finding hard to communicate with healthcare staff
Resolution:
Use variety of means to communicate with women
Telling women about antenatal care services and how to use them
Undertaking training in the specific needs of women in these groups
RECOMMENDATION
Adapt antenatal services to meet local needs
Work with other agencies
Allow enough time for interpretation
Provide accessible information about pregnancy and how to find and use antenatal services in a variety of :
• Formats such as posters, notices, leaflets, photgraphs, drawings/diagrams, online video clips, audio clips and DVDs, interactive educational module
• Settings, including pharmacies, community centers, faith groups and centers, GP surgeries, family planning clinics, children’s centers, reception centers and hostels
• Languages
TRAINING FOR HEALTHCARE STAFF
Specific health needs of women such as needs arising from female genital mutilation or HIV
Specific social, religious and psychological needs of women in these groups
The most recent government policies on access and entitlement to care for recent migrants, asylum seekers and refugees
RECOMMENDATION
Offer information on access and entitlement to healthcare
Disscuss the importance of keeping her handheld maternity record with her at all times
Avoid making assumptions based on woman’s culture, ethnic origin or religious beliefs
Provide woman with interpreter who can communicate with her in her preferred language
Ask the woman about her understanding of what she has been told to ensure she has understood it correctly
REFERENCE
http://www.jhpiego.org/en/node/1191 (MCHIP)
http://www.guardian.co.uk/global-development/video/2012/dec/05/female-genital-mutilation-women-
video
Molly Melching, founder of NGO Toshan
http://www.guardian.co.uk/global-development/gallery/2013/feb/11/snapshots-suffering-survival-women-africa#/?picture=403732993&index=16
http://www.jhpiego.org/en/node/1191