Public Health Nurses and Mothers Challenge and Shift the Meaning of Health Outcomes

Overview

Journal Glob Qual Nurs Res

Publisher Sage Publications

Specialty Nursing

Date 2017 May 3

PMID 28462331

Citations 5

Authors

Megan Aston

Josephine Etowa

Sheri Price

Adele Vukic

Christine Hart

Emily MacLeod

Patricia Randel

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Maternal, child, and newborn health is a priority area in Canada and around the world. The work of public health nurses (PHNs) is often invisible and misunderstood. The purpose of this qualitative research project was to explore how universal and targeted home visiting programs for mothers and babies were organized, delivered, and experienced through the everyday practices of PHNs ( = 16) and mothers ( = 16) in Nova Scotia, Canada. Feminist poststructuralism and discourse analysis were used to analyze interviews. Concepts of relations of power enabled an understanding of how health outcomes had been socially and institutionally constructed through binary relations. PHNs and mothers spoke about the importance of "softer" health outcomes, including maternal self-confidence and empowerment that had been constructed as less important than health outcomes that were seen to be more tangible and physical. Findings from this research could be used to guide practice and planning of postpartum home visiting programs.

Citing Articles

Being a "Warrior" to Care for the New Family: A Meta-ethnography of Nurses' Perspectives on Municipal Postnatal Healthcare.

Hogmo B, Alstveit M, Bondas T Glob Qual Nurs Res. 2023; 10:23333936231218843.

PMID: 38149124 PMC: 10750548. DOI: 10.1177/23333936231218843.

Mothers' Access to Social and Health Care Systems Support during Their Infants' First Year during the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Qualitative Feminist Poststructural Study.

Benoit B, Aston M, Price S, Iduye D, Sim S, Ollivier R Nurs Rep. 2023; 13(1):412-423.

PMID: 36976690 PMC: 10057522. DOI: 10.3390/nursrep13010038.

Maternal Stressors and Coping Strategies During the Extended Postpartum Period: A Retrospective Analysis with Contemporary Implications.

Walker L, Murry N Womens Health Rep (New Rochelle). 2022; 3(1):104-114.

PMID: 35136882 PMC: 8812510. DOI: 10.1089/whr.2021.0134.

Canadian Women's Experience of Postnatal Care: A Mixed Method Study.

Dol J, Hughes B, Tomblin Murphy G, Aston M, McMillan D, Campbell-Yeo M Can J Nurs Res. 2021; 54(4):497-507.

PMID: 34704508 PMC: 9596944. DOI: 10.1177/08445621211052141.

Mental Health & Parental Concerns during COVID-19: The Experiences of New Mothers Amidst Social Isolation.

Ollivier R, Aston D, Price D, Sim D, Benoit D, Joy D Midwifery. 2021; 94:102902.

PMID: 33421662 PMC: 9756383. DOI: 10.1016/j.midw.2020.102902.

References

Aston M, Price S, Etowa J, Vukic A, Young L, Hart C . The power of relationships: exploring how Public Health Nurses support mothers and families during postpartum home visits. J Fam Nurs. 2014; 21(1):11-34. DOI: 10.1177/1074840714561524. View

Kersten-Alvarez L, Hosman C, Riksen-Walraven J, Van Doesum K, Hoefnagels C . Long-term effects of a home-visiting intervention for depressed mothers and their infants. J Child Psychol Psychiatry. 2010; 51(10):1160-70. DOI: 10.1111/j.1469-7610.2010.02268.x. View

Aston M, Meagher-Stewart D, Edwards N, Young L . Public health nurses' primary health care practice: strategies for fostering citizen participation. J Community Health Nurs. 2009; 26(1):24-34. DOI: 10.1080/07370010802605762. View

Hedges S, Simmes D, Martinez A, Linder C, Brown S . A home visitation program welcomes home first-time moms and their infants. Home Healthc Nurse. 2005; 23(5):286-9. DOI: 10.1097/00004045-200505000-00005. View

Bashour H, Kharouf M, Abdulsalam A, El Asmar K, Tabbaa M, Cheikha S . Effect of postnatal home visits on maternal/infant outcomes in Syria: a randomized controlled trial. Public Health Nurs. 2008; 25(2):115-25. DOI: 10.1111/j.1525-1446.2008.00688.x. View

Matuk L, Horsburgh M . Rebuilding public health nursing practice: a Canadian perspective. Public Health Nurs. 1989; 6(4):169-73. DOI: 10.1111/j.1525-1446.1989.tb00593.x. View

Sharps P, Campbell J, Baty M, Walker K, Bair-Merritt M . Current evidence on perinatal home visiting and intimate partner violence. J Obstet Gynecol Neonatal Nurs. 2008; 37(4):480-90. PMC: 2583059. DOI: 10.1111/j.1552-6909.2008.00267.x. View

Eckenrode J, Ganzel B, Henderson Jr C, Smith E, Olds D, Powers J . Preventing child abuse and neglect with a program of nurse home visitation: the limiting effects of domestic violence. JAMA. 2000; 284(11):1385-91. DOI: 10.1001/jama.284.11.1385. View

Vanderburg S, Wright L, Boston S, Zimmerman G . Maternal child home visiting program improves nursing practice for screening of woman abuse. Public Health Nurs. 2010; 27(4):347-52. DOI: 10.1111/j.1525-1446.2010.00865.x. View

10.

Jack S, DiCenso A, Lohfeld L . A theory of maternal engagement with public health nurses and family visitors. J Adv Nurs. 2005; 49(2):182-90. DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2648.2004.03278.x. View

11.

Plews C, Bryar R, Closs J . Clients' perceptions of support received from health visitors during home visits. J Clin Nurs. 2005; 14(7):789-97. DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2702.2005.01122.x. View

12.

Aston M, Meagher-Stewart D, Sheppard-Lemoine D, Vukic A, Chircop A . Family health nursing and empowering relationships. Pediatr Nurs. 2006; 32(1):61-7. View

13.

Engle P, Black M, Behrman J, de Mello M, Gertler P, Kapiriri L . Strategies to avoid the loss of developmental potential in more than 200 million children in the developing world. Lancet. 2007; 369(9557):229-42. DOI: 10.1016/S0140-6736(07)60112-3. View

14.

Kitzman H, Olds D, Sidora K, Henderson Jr C, HANKS C, Cole R . Enduring effects of nurse home visitation on maternal life course: a 3-year follow-up of a randomized trial. JAMA. 2000; 283(15):1983-9. DOI: 10.1001/jama.283.15.1983. View

15.

Nievar M, Van Egeren L, Pollard S . A meta-analysis of home visiting programs: Moderators of improvements in maternal behavior. Infant Ment Health J. 2017; 31(5):499-520. DOI: 10.1002/imhj.20269. View

16.

Sweet M, Appelbaum M . Is home visiting an effective strategy? A meta-analytic review of home visiting programs for families with young children. Child Dev. 2004; 75(5):1435-56. DOI: 10.1111/j.1467-8624.2004.00750.x. View

17.

Elkan R, Robinson J, Williams D, Blair M . Universal vs. selective services: the case of British health visiting. J Adv Nurs. 2001; 33(1):113-9. DOI: 10.1046/j.1365-2648.2001.01644.x. View

18.

Aston M . Public health nurses as social mediators navigating discourses with new mothers. Nurs Inq. 2008; 15(4):280-8. DOI: 10.1111/j.1440-1800.2008.00408.x. View

19.

Olds D, Kitzman H, Cole R, Hanks C, Arcoleo K, Anson E . Enduring effects of prenatal and infancy home visiting by nurses on maternal life course and government spending: follow-up of a randomized trial among children at age 12 years. Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med. 2010; 164(5):419-24. PMC: 3249758. DOI: 10.1001/archpediatrics.2010.49. View

20.

Armstrong K, Fraser J, Dadds M, Morris J . A randomized, controlled trial of nurse home visiting to vulnerable families with newborns. J Paediatr Child Health. 1999; 35(3):237-44. DOI: 10.1046/j.1440-1754.1999.00348.x. View