Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

Twinning In Nepal: The Royal College Of Midwives Uk And The Midwifery Society Of Nepal Working In Partnership, Jillian Ireland, Edwin Van Teijlingen, Joy Kemp

Journal of Asian Midwives (JAM)

The midwifery association of the United Kingdom, the Royal College of Midwives (RCM), has twinned with the Midwifery Society of Nepal (MIDSON) to help strengthen the latter association, through its Global Midwifery Twinning Project (GMTP). The GMTP aims to strengthen midwifery and develop leadership, advocacy, and campaigning skills both at the level of the association and at the individual midwife level. Reciprocity is an important aspect of twinning as the RCM also hopes to strengthen midwifery in the UK through greater engagement of its members and a raised profile of global maternal and new-born health. This paper describes the importance …

Midwifery In Gilgit Baltistan By Aga Khan Health Service, Pakistan, Nawroz Zeenat, Rafat Jan

Journal of Asian Midwives (JAM)

Midwives are practicing in diverse capacities in public and private health settings of Pakistan, including Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) such as the Aga Khan Health Service, Pakistan (AKHS, P), which is a leading non-profit, non-governmental and non-denominational community-based organization that provides quality maternal and child health services all over Pakistan. Maternal and child health centers led by registered Midwives and Lady Health visitors (LHV), were specifically established in Gilgit Baltistan in 1974 by this NGO as a strategy to combat the alarming rates of maternal and child mortalities.

Woman, Mother And Baby: A Relishing Experience, Shahnaz Shahid, Ayesha Anwar

Journal of Asian Midwives (JAM)

No abstract provided.

Utilizing The Delphi Survey Approach: A Review, Nilufar Shariff

School of Nursing & Midwifery, East Africa

No abstract provided.

Are We Empowered? A Qualitative Approach To Unfold The Experiences Of Female Nurses In Pakistan, Saleema A. Gulzar, Rozina Karmaliani, Nasreen Lalani, Qurratulain Nasiruddin

School of Nursing & Midwifery

The disparity of men and women in certain societies, such as Pakistan, is a growing concern. The disparity, unchanging mind-set, and definitions rooted in traditions do not free individuals from the socially bound gender identities. In such circumstances, educational institutions can become a way of transforming social structures. Considering female nurses in Pakistan as a case study, this paper explores the notion of “empowerment” and the factors responsible for empowerment or disempowerment of female nurses. The study also evaluates the role of a leading nursing institution in Pakistan namely the Aga Khan University- School of Nursing and Midwifery (AKUSONAM) in …

Immigrant Women's Experiences Of Maternity-Care Services In Canada: A Systematic Review Using A Narrative Synthesis, Gina M A. Higginbottom, Myfanwy Morgan, Mirande Alexandre, Yvonne Chiu, Joan Forgeron, Deb Kocay, Rubina Barolia

School of Nursing & Midwifery

Background: Canada's diverse society and its statutory commitment to multiculturalism means that a synthesis of knowledge related to the healthcare experiences of immigrants is essential to realise the health potential for future Canadians. Although concerns about the maternity experiences of immigrants in Canada are relatively new, recent national guidelines explicitly call for the tailoring of services to user needs. We therefore assessed the experiences of immigrant women accessing maternity-care services in Canada. In particular, we investigated the experiences of immigrant women in Canada in accessing and navigating maternity and related healthcare services from conception to 6 months postpartum in Canada. …

Polio - An Endemic Disease In Pakistan: Literature Review, Savera Aziz Ali, Nadir Suhail, Hunaina Hadi, Mohsina Hussain, Marium Manji, Jaweria Bano, Abdul Salam, Sajida Naseer, Sumera Aziz Ali

School of Nursing & Midwifery

Poliomyelitis is a highly contagious and incurable disease, which mainly affects children under five years of age leading to irreversible paralysis and possibly death. For decades, both private and government organizations have been putting efforts through their partnership to eradicate polio completely from the different parts of the globe and as a result of those efforts there are left only three countries which are currently polio endemic. Since Pakistan is one of those three countries which still remain polio endemic along with Afghanistan and Nigeria, it is significant to address this issue and work on the preventive measures to control …

Case Report: Bicornuate Uterus – A Precipitator Of Maternal Morbidity, Merlin Mary James

Journal of Asian Midwives (JAM)

This case report concerns a woman diagnosed with a bicornuate uterus with ovarian torsion. She had been married for seven years and had conceived three times, giving birth to two live babies and had onespontaneous abortion. She was presently admitted to the hospital with complaints of pain in the left iliac fossa,which she had had for two hours before admission along with vomiting, severe bleeding, and burning micturition.During the abdominal examination, left iliac tenderness was present. During the speculum examination, cervical erosions were seen and discharge was present. A vaginal examination revealed a normal sized uterus and the left fornix …

National Skills Training Centre In India, Manju Chhugani, Ashin Merlin

Journal of Asian Midwives (JAM)

A key determinant which can ensure the quality of healthcare in public health institutions is the skill set of the individuals providing service delivery. Health professionals possess the skills and the expertise in this respect; however, they fail to utilize these optimally. This is because there is a disconnect between their knowledge and practice, it is now imperative tobridge the gap between basic education and clinical practice. The creation of skill labs is one way in which this gap can be addressed. Though India has seen a decline inboth the Maternal and Infant Mortality Rates, significant changes are yet to …

Factors Affecting The Midwifery-Led Service Provider Model In Pakistan, Surriya Shahnaz, Rafat Jan, Arusa Lakhani, Rozina Sikandar

Journal of Asian Midwives (JAM)

Background: Pakistan has a high rate of maternal and infant mortality, and a shortage of skilled birth attendants (SBAs). Many efforts have been made through the health sector and the international agencies to resolve the problem of both a high Infant Mortality Rate (IMR) and Maternal Mortality Ratio (MMR), but the desired outcomes have not been achieved so far. Literature shows that midwifery plays a significant role in the reduction of MMR and IMR in other parts of the world, and the implementation of a Midwifery-led Service Provider Model could help reduce these rates in Pakistan. This study aims to …

To Achieve Safe And Respectful Maternity Care In Tertiary Level Hospitals In Nepal, Relatives Are A Valued Addition To The Provision Of Maternity Care, Sabitri Sapkota, Jamuna T. Sayami, Maiya Manadhar, Kerstin Erlandsson

Journal of Asian Midwives (JAM)

Introduction: The White Ribbon Alliance for safe motherhood believes respectful maternity care is the universal right of every childbearing woman.
Methods: NHRC in 2012 approved an inquiry of respectful care at facility-based childbirth. Individual-, focus group interviews and content analysis was used for gathering and analysis of data.
Findings: The participating women and the SBAs shared similar views, and this was that together the SBAs and relatives ensured the women remained within the comfort and safety zone when giving birth in a tertiary level maternity unit.
Conclusion: The SBAs strategy of having relatives provides basic care alongside the provision of …

Community Based Skilled Birth Attendants Programme In Bangladesh; Intervention Towards Improving Maternal Health, Sabera Turkmani, Fatima Gohar

Journal of Asian Midwives (JAM)

Aim: To review the strength and weakness of a community based skilled birth attendant (CSBA) program in Bangladesh.
Specific Objective: To explore perceptions of the providers, decision makers and community regarding newly trained community based skilled birth attendants.
To understand challenges, gaps and obstacles and recommend potential solutions for programme improvement.
Design: A descriptive study, using a qualitative approach was chosen to elicit the views and experiences of different stakeholders and the beneficiaries of the program was undertaken. The study intended to enhance understanding on gaps and challenges during program implementation by getting insight into different views. The data were …

Is “Empowerment” A Trickle-Down Effect Of The Afghanistan Midwifery Education Program?, Fatima Gohar, Pashtoon A. Zyaee, Sabera Turkmani

Journal of Asian Midwives (JAM)

Introduction: The patriarchal Afghan society has thousands of years of history. For most parts it has been governed by its tribal systems. The society has systematically evolved with its thousands of years old tradition, which has resulted in the subjugation of women. Although it is widely assumed that the midwifery education program (MEP) has contributed to female empowerment, no formal investigation has been carried out that explores the actual impact of MEP on the status of women midwifery graduates. Therefore, this study systematically explores the trickle down effects of MEP on women’s empowerment.
Methodology:
Design: Exploratory qualitative study
Study sites: …

News & Events

Journal of Asian Midwives (JAM)

No abstract provided.

Jam Carries On To Serve Midwives And The Midwifery Profession, Rafat Jan

Journal of Asian Midwives (JAM)

No abstract provided.

The Patterns Of Health Seeking Behavior Among Patients With Hepatitis C In Karachi, Pakistan, Shahina Sabz Ali Pirani, Tazeen S. Ali, Saleema Allana, Faisal Wasim Ismail

School of Nursing & Midwifery

Background: The study aimed to assess the patterns of health seeking behavior and the level satisfaction with the health care providers among hepatitis C patients in Karachi, Pakistan.
Methodology: A descriptive, cross-sectional study was conducted among 250 hepatitis C patients, who were recruited from the Aga Khan University Hospital and the Civil Hospital Karachi, Pakistan, between March and May 2013.
Results: The patterns of health seeking behavior showed that a majority of the study participants approached a medical doctor (n=359), followed by spiritual healers (n=103), and a few participants approached traditional healers (n=38) and homeopaths (n=11). The pattern …

Interaction And Cognitive Engagement In Online Discussions In Professional Development Leadership And Management Course At A Private Nursing Institution, Nimira Asif, Samina Vertejee, Sharifa Bashir Lalani

School of Nursing & Midwifery

In the Post RN BScN curriculum, one of the courses “Professional Development and Leadership (PDLM)” was offered as blended mode for the first time. In order to explore the students’ interactions and Cognitive Engagement (CE) in Online Discussion Forums (ODFs), the research team conducted a retrospective study for the first time at a private nursing institution of Karachi-Pakistan. The study was conducted by utilizing the retrospective qualitative paradigm of discourse analysis to understand student’s CE in ODFs. The study has addressed the following one main and three subsidiary research questions: How do threaded discussions (in the part of online forums) …

Psychobiobehavioral Model For Preterm Birth In Pregnant Women In Low- And Middle-Income Countries, Shahirose S. Premji, Ilona S. Yim, Aliyah Dosani (Mawji), Zeenatkhanu Kanji, Salima Sulaiman, Wangira Musana, Pauline Samia, Kiran Shaikh, Nicole Letourneau

School of Nursing & Midwifery, East Africa

Preterm birth (PTB) is a final common outcome resulting from many interrelated etiological pathways; of particular interest is antenatal psychosocial distress (i.e., stress, anxiety, and depression). In LMI countries, both exposure to severe life stressors and rate of PTB are on average greater when compared with high-income countries. In LMI countries women are exposed to some of the most extreme psychosocial stress worldwide (e.g., absolute poverty, limited social resources). High prevalence of antenatal stress and depression have been observed in some studies from LMI countries. We propose a psychosocial, biological, and behavioral model for investigating the complex multisystem interactions in …

A Delphi Survey Of Leadership Attributes Necessary For National Nurse Leaders’ Participation In Health Policy Development: An East African Perspective, Nilufa Jivraj Shariff

School of Nursing & Midwifery, East Africa

Background: Nurses’ involvement in health policy development ensures that health services are: safe, effective, available and inexpensive. Nursing history reveals several legendary nurse leaders who have influenced policy and the course of nursing and health care. In the recent times there have been concerns regarding the availability of effective leaders physically, symbolically and functionally at clinical, organizational and national levels, who can effectively influence health policy. Exerting influence in the policy arena requires that nurse leaders acquire attributes that enable them to be effective in policy development activity.

This paper reports part of a larger study whose purpose included: “build …

Food Choices And Practices During Pregnancy Of Immigrant Women With High-Risk Pregnancies In Canada: A Pilot Study, Gina M A. Higginbottom, Helen Vallianatos, Joan Forgeron, Donna Gibbons, Fabiana Mamede, Rubina Barolia

School of Nursing & Midwifery

Background: Immigrant women may be regarded as a vulnerable population with respect to access and navigation of maternity care services. They may encounter difficulties when accessing culturally safe and appropriate maternity care, which may be further exacerbated by language difficulties and discriminatory practices or attitudes. The project aimed to understand ethnocultural food and health practices and how these intersect in a particular social context of cultural adaptation and adjustment in order to improve the care-giving capacities of health practitioners working in multicultural perinatal clinics.
Methods: This four-phase study employed a case study design allowing for multiple means of data collection …

A Review Related To Midwifery Led Model Of Care, Shahnaz Shahid, Rafat Jan, Rahat Najam Qureshi, Salma Rattani

School of Nursing & Midwifery

Background: Midwifery led care (MLC) is a model of care in which perinatal care is provided to women throughout different phases of childbirth by a midwife.
Objective: This paper aims to provide a literature review on MLC.
Methods: A variety of databases and reports were considered to do the literature review on MLC. The search was limited from 1991 to 2011 by using keywords. A total of 50 articles were critically appraised for this review.
Findings: The main theme that emerged was women ^’s satisfaction with MLC. Satisfaction was integrated with midwife ^’s presence throughout childbirth, experience to …

Case Report-Maternal Death Due To Rupture Of The Uterus, Sumia Bari

Journal of Asian Midwives (JAM)

Objective: To present the case report of a woman who died during her third delivery due to the mismanagement of her labour. The woman had had one previous caesarean section and tried for vaginal delivery with injudicious use of oxytocin, leading to a rupturing of the uterus and death.
Methods & Result: During a maternal death audit it was found that a 28-years old woman (para 2) Meena (name changed to maintain anonymity) had died. Meena had one previous normal vaginal delivery and a second delivered by caesarean section. In her third pregnancy she did not take have any antenatal …

Birth Centre Management And Business Skill Training For Community Midwives Of Pakistan, Laila Lalji, Laila Akbar Ali, Marina Baig, Rozina Sewani, Arusa Lakhani, Karyn Kaufman, Rafat Jan

Journal of Asian Midwives (JAM)

The Community Midwifery program was introduced in 2007 across Pakistan with the idea that the trained Community Midwives (CMWs) will be deployed back to their ‘native’ rural communities. Hence, they are not employed by government rather they must earn their income by charging fees for their services. It is expected from them to attract clients, establish birth clinics and operate as a small business to support and sustain them financially. However, the CMW training program only teaches students about antenatal, intranatal, postnatal and newborn care, family planning services and awareness of community dynamics and does not include content about setting …

Midwifery In India And Its Roadmap, Manju Chhugani

Journal of Asian Midwives (JAM)

Healthy women are the key to the health of any nation. Midwifery in India has climbed up the ladder of progression from before independence till the present day. In the pre-independence era, maternal and newborn care was given by indigenous dais who not only helped during childbirth but also acted as consultants for any condition of the mother related to birth. They were midwives in the literal sense. Over the time, midwifery in India has broadened to the presence of a skilled birth attendant during childbirth. The maternal health status of women and maternal mortality are closely related to the …

Exploring Adolescent Reproductive Health Knowledge, Perceptions, And Behavior, Among Students Of Non-Government Secondary Schools Supported By Brac Mentoring Program In Rural Bangladesh, Bachera Aktar, Malabika Sarker, Andrew Jenkins

Journal of Asian Midwives (JAM)

Adolescence is the transition period from childhood to adulthood. Since Bangladesh is such a conservative society, reproductive health education for adolescents has not been widely introduced. Very small adolescent health components are included in the secondary and higher secondary school curricula. The BRAC Mentoring Program provides mentorship training to secondary school pupils to develop them as peer leaders. However, this program does not provide adolescent reproductive health education. Therefore, a study, supported by BRAC Education Program in rural Bangladesh, was conducted to explore the current status of reproductive health knowledge, perceptions and practice among the students of secondary schools. This …

Provision Of Mentorship Services For Midwives Working In Remote Areas In The Workplaces Of Afghanistan, Sabera Turkmani, Fatima Gohar, Pashtoon A. Zyaee, Mursal Musawi, Mahmood Azimi

Journal of Asian Midwives (JAM)

Background: Midwives working in remote facilities have little opportunity to receive technical support and coaching services. To close this gap and support rural midwives the Afghan Midwives Association (AMA) designed a field-based mentorship program for midwives working in remote areas.
Methods: The process included five stages:
1. Conduct base line assessment of mentees (midwives) and health facilities.
2. Identify and select of mentees through competitive process.
3. Provide on-the-job coaching and mentoring services to the mentees.
4. Assess the progress of the midwives regularly using existing quality assurance performance standards.
5. End-line / final evaluation
Results: That results of assessments …

News & Events

Journal of Asian Midwives (JAM)

No abstract provided.

Welcome To The First Journal Of Asian Midwives, Rafat Jan

Journal of Asian Midwives (JAM)

No abstract provided.

Factors That Act As Facilitators And Barriers To Nurse Leaders' Participation In Health Policy Development, Nilufa Jivraj Shariff

School of Nursing & Midwifery, East Africa

Background: Health policies impact on nursing profession and health care. Nurses' involvement in health policy development ensures that health care is safe, of a high quality, accessible and affordable. Numerous factors influence nurse leaders' ability to be politically active in influencing health policy development. These factors can be facilitators or barriers to their participation. There is scant research evidence from Eastern African region that draws attention to this topic. This paper reports part of the larger study. The objectives reported in this paper were those aimed to: build consensus on factors that act as facilitators and barriers to nurse leaders' …

Mycobacterium Tuberculosis Central Asian Strain (Cas) Lineage Strains In Pakistan Reveal Lower Diversity Of Miru Loci Than Other Strains, Asho Ali, Zahra Hasan, Sana Jafri, Raunaq Inayat, Rumina Hasan

Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine

Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTB) Central Asian Strain (CAS) lineage strains are predominant in South Asia. Mycobacterial interspersed repetitive units-variable number of tandem repeats (MIRU-VNTR) typing is an effective way of determining genetic diversity of strains. A maximum of 24 loci-based MIRU-VNTR typing can be used, however, it is important to investigate the relevance of specific MIRU loci for regional strains for more cost-effective MIRU typing. MIRU-VNTR typing was performed on MTB strains from Pakistan. Strains were comprised of CAS (n=113) and non-CAS lineages (n=87) - both multi-drug resistant (MDR) and drug susceptible. Hunter Gaston Discriminatory Index (HGDI) for each MIRU loci …