The empowerment of pregnant women with a low-socioeconomic status in the northern part of the Netherlands

Background The Dutch perinatal mortality rate is relatively high when viewed in a European perspective. There appear to be also substantial differences in perinatal mortality between Dutch provinces . The provinces with the... [ view full abstract ]

Background

The Dutch perinatal mortality rate is relatively high when viewed in a European perspective. There appear to be also substantial differences in perinatal mortality between Dutch provinces . The provinces with the highest mortality rates were provinces in the northern part of the Netheralands: Friesland (11.3‰) and Groningen (11.1‰). Low socio-economic status (SES) could partly be associated with the higher mortality risk in Groningen (Ravelli, et al., 2011).

Empowerment strategies can improve health and reduce health disparities in general (WHO, 2006) and prenatal care provided by the primary care midwife can strengthen the pregnant women’s capabilities in particular (de Jonge, et al., 2015). CenteringPregnancy (CP) is a relatively new group model for prenatal care to empower pregnant women (van Zwicht, et al., 2016). However, it is unknown what the term ‘empowerment’ implies for maternity care in the Netherlands and how pregnant women with a low SES can be strengthened n their choices about their own health and their infants.

The research question is: What are the views of primary care midwives in northern part of the Netherlands on the concept of empowerment and and how they empower women with a low-SES in group or one-to-one care?

Method

This qualitative descriptive study is based on an interpretivist-constructivist paradigm using grounded theory design. Semi-structured individual and focus group interviews with 19 primary care midwives working with pregnant women with low SES and/or facilitating CP groups in the northern part of the Netherlands were conducted between February and March 2017, on the basis of a topic list, then later transcribed, coded and analysed.

Results/Discussion /Conclusion

The research will be completed by July 2017.

Statement on ethical matters

Participation of the midwives in this study was voluntary and consent to cooperate in this study was given. Privacy was guaranteed in accordance with Dutch legislation. Midwives’ anonymity will be maintained by using anonymous identifiers.

Statement on funding source for the study

This study received no funding

Statement

The results will be completed by July 2017 and presented at the conference.

References

de Jonge A,　de Vries R,　Lagro-Janssen AL,　Malata A,　Declercq E,　Downe S,　Hutton EK. The importance of evaluating primary midwifery care for improving the health of women and infants. Front Med (Lausanne).　2015 Mar 23;2:17. doi: 10.3389/fmed.2015.00017. eCollection 2015.

Ravelli AC,　Rijninks-van Driel GC,　Erwich JJ,　Mol　BW,　Brouwers HA,　Abu Hanna A,　Eskes M [Differences between Dutch provinces in perinatal mortality and travel time to hospital]. Ned Tijdschr Geneeskd.　2011;155:A2689.

World Health Organisation. What is the evidence on effectiveness of empowerment to improve health? Copenhagen: Health Evidence Network; 2006. p.37.

van　Zwicht BS,　Crone MR,　van Lith JM,　Rijnders ME. Group based prenatal care in a low-and high risk population in the Netherlands: a study protocol for a stepped wedge cluster randomized controlled trial. BMC Pregnancy Childbirth.　2016 Nov 15;16(1):354.