Search

Fear of childbirth (FOC), also referred to as tokophobia, can have detrimental consequences for a woman's well-being during pregnancy and for their subjective birth experience. However, it is unknown what role self-esteem plays in the relationship between FOC and the experience of childbirth. This study investigates the relation between FOC and the birth experience, and the role of self-esteem in that relation. We studied 125 nulliparous and parous Finnish women from their third trimester of pregnancy to 4–8 weeks postpartum. Path analysis with MLR estimation was conducted using MPlus to predict the childbirth experience according to prior self-esteem and fear of childbirth as well as their interaction. Also, age and parity were included as predictors of the birth experience, as well as their interactions with self-esteem. FOC was measured with the Wijma Delivery Expectancy/Experience Questionnaire – version A (W-DEQ-A), self-esteem with the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale (RSES), and birthing experience with the Delivery Satisfaction Scale (DSS). We found that self-esteem moderated the association between fear of childbirth and the subjective birth experience: the lower the self-esteem, the stronger the negative connection between FOC and the birth experience; and, reversely, the higher the self-esteem, the weaker the connection between FOC and the birth experience. The results highlight intra-group differences between fearful women and contribute to theory formation. They can be used in clinical practice and when planning interventions to reduce negative birth experiences. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: In 2020, amid limited COVID‐19 vaccination access, many nurses from Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME) groups in the United States of America and United Kingdom succumbed to the virus. No fatalities among Filipino foreign‐born nurses (FBNs) in the BAME groups were recorded in the Nordic region. This study explored the experiences of Filipino FBNs in the Nordic region who, during the initial 2020 pandemic wave, cared for COVID‐19 patients, contracted the virus and subsequently recovered. Methods: The research employed a descriptive phenomenological methodology to explore the experiences of six Filipino FBNs who had recovered from COVID‐19 in various regions of the Nordic countries, including Finland (n = 1), Sweden (n = 1), Denmark (n = 2), Norway (n = 1) and Iceland (n = 1). Data collection occurred through online videoconferencing between September 2020 and February 2021, utilising a semi‐structured approach. The data analysis was conducted following Sundler and colleagues' qualitative thematic analysis, which is grounded in descriptive phenomenology. Results: The data analysis yielded three primary themes and twelve sub‐themes, which explored the experiences of Filipino FBNs with COVID‐19 infection. The study demonstrated that unclear national guidelines impacted nurses' preparedness in caring for COVID‐19 patients, contributing to their susceptibility to contracting the virus. The lack of occupational healthcare services for nurses during and after the pandemic affected their work morale in an unfamiliar setting. Conclusion: The study provided valuable insights into the experiences of Filipino FBNs during the COVID‐19 pandemic, emphasising the need for clearer guidelines, enhanced training and improved support for healthcare workers. It highlighted the psychological impact of COVID‐19, emphasising the importance of mental health support and stigma reduction efforts. The study also emphasised the significance of improving occupational health services to support the well‐being and recovery of healthcare workers during and after the pandemic, with implications for developing comprehensive strategies to protect frontline healthcare workers in health crises. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The ethical obligation of social services professionals is to ensure that clients are not repeatedly harmed by the same risks. This study examines reports classified as actions harmful to clients due to work culture and the measures taken by managers in Finnish social services. The data used were the reports submitted by social services professionals based on reporting obligations to the SPro client-safety-reporting system and managers' measures documented in the reports. The reports (n = 1,433) were submitted from October 11, 2016, to December 31, 2020; those related to harmful work culture (n = 95) were selected and analyzed using inductive content analysis and quantification. The results showed that, based on professionals' perceptions, harmful work culture was linked to cooperation, information flow, resources, service or care implementation, and individuals' actions. Managers often decided to discuss reported events within the unit. More research is needed on harmful work culture from clients' perspectives and the effectiveness of measures to eliminate observed risks. Based on professionals' perceptions, work culture can harm social services clients. However, more research is needed from the client's perspective. The most frequently reported events related to harmful work culture were linked to the flow of information. The most common measure recorded by the managers was a discussion of the reported events within the unit, but more research is needed on the final implemented changes in practice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]