I Reseach 4 Birth Portal

• Complexity Theory Sub Group

  Much research in the area of childbirth is based on the notion of simplicity. The assumption is that there is a straightforward cause–effect relationship in the physiology of birth. Additionally, it also assumes that clinical parameters are of overriding importance, in isolation from other parameters that impinge on birth, such as social interactions and environmental impact.

  More and more it becomes clear that the progress and experience of birth is influenced by many factors inside and outside women. And that these may act independently, or may interact in complex ways. The notion of cause and effect is no longer efficient to grasp the complexity of the system. The model where A, influenced by B, leads to C begins to break down unless it can cope with the kind of ‘noise’, such as the individual practitioner’s skills and attitudes, the culture of an organization, the efficiency of administration systems or other factors that actually influence the quality of care delivery.

  The power of complexity theory lies in the observation that events are profoundly interconnected. The concept of a simple linear process is replaced with the metaphor of a web or network of interconnections. It therefore challenges the assumption that there is a one ‘right’ way of doing things for everyone. Interactions are non-linear, meaning that small ‘causes’ may have large effect (Downe, 2010; Martin, 2010; Topolski, 2009; Sturmberg, 2009).

  • Downe, S. Beyond evidence-based medicine: complexity and stories of maternity care. Journal of Evaluation in Clinical Practice, 16, 232–237.
  • Martin, C. M. & Kasperski J. Developing interdisciplinary maternity services policy in Canada. Evaluation of a consensus workshop. Journal of Evaluation in Clinical Practice, 16, 238–245.
  • Topolski, S. (2009) Understanding health from a complex systems perspective. Journal of Evaluation in Clinical Practice, 15, 749–754.
  • Sturmberg, J. P. & Martin, C. M. (2009) Complexity and health – yesterday’s traditions, tomorrow’s future. Journal of Evaluation in Clinical Practice, 15, 543–548.

  The work of the subgroup ‘Complexity Theory’ is focused on the complexity theory and its meaning for analysing maternity care. The aim is to explore what models of maternity care are based on or are evaluated within the framework of complexity theory. And how the complexity framework is used to initiate changes in maternity care. These findings will be brought together in systematic review.
  Next, together with the work of the subgroup salotogenic theory, this will be input to a review that looks at tools and techniques based on these theories that are used in any area of health or social care. These reviews will be completed in year two, and papers will be prepared for publication. The findings will be synthesized into an organizational assessment tool as part of the EU survey.

• Marie Berg Professor, PhD RN RM MPH MNSci

  Marie Berg is Professor in Health and Care Sciences specializing in reproductive and perinatal health, and head of the midwifery program and master modules in Midwifery Science at the institute of Health and Care Sciences, the Sahlgrenska Academy at University of Gothenburg, Sweden. She is commissioner of the Scientific Board of the Swedish Association of Midwives, and the co-editor of the scientific journal Sexual and Reproductive Health Care.

  Marie has been working as a midwife in various clinical, project development and research roles both in Sweden and D.R. Congo. Her research aims at supporting well-being in mothers, fathers, families in the childbearing period (pregnancy, childbirth, early motherhood/infancy) through person-centered care. Her main research is divided in two programs, these include: 1) Support in Childbirth including management of the labor progress, theory development of intrapartum midwifery care and transition to a trustful parenthood; 2) Motherhood and diabetes (MODIAB) with focus on balancing diabetes with the challenges during pregnancy, childbirth and breastfeeding period.

• Marianne Nieuwenhuijze RM MPH

  Marianne Nieuwenhuijze is head of the Midwifery Science Research Department at the knowledge centre for Midwifery Education & Studies Maastricht, which is part of Zuyd University in the Netherlands. Marianne is a midwife and took a Master of Public Health.
  In research, Marianne’s fields of interest are women’s views on care and health promotion in maternity care, with a special focus on women’s mental well-being during pregnancy, birth and the postnatal period. Presently she is doing research on women’s choices and decision-making in midwifery care, e.g. with regard to birthing positions. Together with her team she is conducting a research project on the development and implementation of health promotion interventions for obesity and mental health in midwifery practices.

• Bengt Lindstrom PhD DrPH MD

  Bengt Lindstrom is a medical doctor in child and Adolescent Health. He is Research Director at Folkhälsan Research Center, Helsinki in Finland, as well as Professor of Health Promotion, Nordic School of Public Health, Sweden and Professor of Salutogenesis, NTNU, Norway. He is the chair of the Global Working Group on Salutogenesis, IUHPE. (Also see: www.salutogenesis .fi).

• Dr. Claudia Meier Magistretti

  Claudia Meier Magistretti is research leader and teacher at the Centre for Prevention and Health Promotion at the University of Applied Sciences and Arts in Lucerne. Claudia is a health and clinical Psychologist with focus on Public Health. She submitted her interdisciplinary thesis about the measuring of outcome and effectiveness in prevention and health promotion at the University of Berne.

  Claudia’s research and teaching fields are Gender and Diversity Heath, mental Health, Health policy, outcome measurement and evaluation as well as cost analysis in birth care. She is Co-chair of the early stage researchers group in COST Action. Actually, she is leading a nationwide research program on postnatal care in Switzerland (based on the NCT, National Childbirth Trust of London, England).

• Marlies Rijnders RM PhD

   Marlies Rijnders is a senior researcher at the department Child Health of TNO. TNO is a national institute for applied research in Leiden, the Netherlands.
  In research, Marlies’ fields of interest are interventions in midwife led care, women’s views on care, health promotion in maternity care, with focus on women’s mental well-being during pregnancy, birth and the postnatal period.
  The focus of her PhD was women’s experiences with and effects of interventions in midwife led care that increase the change on spontaneous birth (such as amniotomy at home for post term pregnancy and external cephalic version).
  Presently she is involved in research projects into national implementation of external cephalic version, national implementation of strategies to prevent early onset neonatal GBS infections, feasibility and implementation of prenatal group care and the evaluation of birth centres. She is board member of the Dutch parent organisation, the scientific committee of prevention of EOGBS and the Task Force of the Dutch association of Midwives.

• Antoinette du Preez RM MSc PhD

   Antoinette du Preez is head of the Midwifery Science Department at the School of Nursing Science at the North West University, Potchefstroom campus in South Africa. Antoinette is an advanced midwife and obtained an PhD in Nursing Science.
  In research, Antoinette did her Masters degree on Intrapartum practices to limit vertical transmission of HIV. In her PhD thesis Antoinette develop a “Quality Improvement Intervention Programme (QIIP™) for intrapartum care. Part of the outcome is the establishment of positive practice environments and improving the quality of intrapartum care. Antoinette is part of the Maternal Child Health Nursing Leadership Academy (MCHNLA), an initiative of Sigma Theta Tau International (STTI) aiming to develop leadership skills in midwives and maternal-child nurses in Africa.

• Helga Gottfreðsdóttir RN RM MA PhD

   Helga Gottfreðsdóttir is the head of Midwifery Studies at the Faculty of Nursing, University of Iceland and Chair of Research in antenatal care. Helga is a midwife and she took her MA in midwifery in England, Thames Valley University. Her PhD thesis was submitted in 2009 at the University of Iceland, Prenatal screening: prospective parents and decisions concerning nuchal translucencncy screening.
  Helga’s research fields are prenatal screening and diagnosis and parents decision making in that context. Presently Helga is doing a study on professional’s views and knowledge on prenatal screening in Iceland. She is also exploring prenatal education/ information and preparation for childbirth where she is at the moment exploring the use of epidural and conducting a study in cooperation with the University Hospital on what contributes to the decision to have an epidural.

• Professor Soo Downe BA(hons) RM MSc PhD MBE

   Soo Downe is Professor of Midwifery Studies at the University of Central Lancashire (UCLan) in England. She set up the UCLan Midwifery Studies Research Unit in October 2002. She now leads the Research in Childbirth and Health (ReaCH) group.
  Her main research focus is the nature of, and culture around, normal birth. She is the editor of Normal Birth, Evidence and Debate (2004, 2008), and the founder of the International Normal Birth Research conference series.
  As well as running a number of locally funded projects, she is currently the principle investigator on two large funded studies, the SHIP trial of the use of self-hypnosis in labour (funded by the NHS RfPB) and an EU COST Action on childbirth contexts, cultures and consequences.

• Piedade Vaz Rebelo

   Piedade Vaz Rebelo is a psychologist, teacher educator at the Faculty of Sciences and Technology of the University of Coimbra, Portugal. She developed a PhD about family and school achievement. Analyzing family as developmental context across the life cycle has been a major interest of her research. She also developed research on the Project Motivation for parenthood and on the International Father Acceptance-Rejection Project (IFARP). She is interested in reflective and psychodynamic approaches of education and training, and participated on projects for developing and implement casebooks, narrative, autobiography and questioning approaches on adult development.

• Mercedes Perez-Botella

   Mercedes Perez-Botella is a midwife and working as a clinical practice facilitator for South London Healthcare NHS Trust, UK.
  She is currently undertaking a Master in Midwifery at the University of Central Lancashire and the topic of her Dissertation centres around the use of Salutogenesis within Maternity Care.
  Her main interest lies in intrapartum care in general and particularly in two specific areas: the ‘early pushing urge’ and exploring ways to promote the achievement of positive outcomes.

complex system team