The Perfect Storm of Trauma: The experiences of women who have experienced birth trauma and subsequently accessed residential parenting services in Australia

Background

There appears to be a chasm between idealised motherhood and reality, and for women who experience birth trauma this can be more extreme and impact on mental health. Australia is unique in providing residential parenting services to support women with parenting needs such as sleep or feeding difficulties. Women who attend residential parenting services have experienced higher rates of intervention in birth and poor perinatal mental health but it is unknown how birth trauma may impact on early parenting.

安徽省出生人口性别比偏高的成因与对策

通过对安徽部分农村地区育龄妇女生育意愿的问卷调查及分析可见,当地育龄妇女的生育意愿已发生变化:数量追求减少但生男偏好依旧强烈。这是造成出生性别比偏高的主要因素。同时促成性别比偏高的还包括社会、经济、现实以及医学技术手段被滥用等多方面的因素。据此提出解决性别比问题应坚持“以人为本”,正面激励为主,疏管结合,标本兼治的对策思路。     

山西人口老龄化发展趋势及对策研究

山西已经进入老龄社会。到2050年,山西老年人口数量是否会一直增长下去,其老龄化会达到什么样的程度,这些问题已经引起政府和社会的普遍关注,因此,有必要对未来山西的人口老龄化发展趋势进行预测。我们应该如何应对已经到来的人口老龄化,本文认为,一是适时调整生育政策,二是鼓励社会力量对养老设施的投入,三是健全多层次、面向整个社会的养老保障体系,四是适时调整退休年龄。     

Midwifery-led care in South Australia: Looking back to move forward

BackgroundFrom the 1980s to the turn of the century, Australia saw an evolution of midwifery-led models of care, in part due to legislative reform and federal funding, but largely owing to the efforts of strong midwifery leaders and consumers who rallied for the implementation of alternative models of care. Through persistence and extensive collaboration, the first South Australian birth centres were established.AimTo better understand the evolution of midwifery-led care in South Australia and identify the drivers and impediments to inform the upscaling of midwifery models into the future.MethodsSemi-structured interviews were conducted with ten midwifery leaders and/or those instrumental in setting up birth centres and midwifery-led care in South Australia. Data was analysed using thematic analysis.FindingsThree overarching themes and several sub-themes were identified, these included: ‘Midwifery suffragettes’ which explored ‘activism’, ‘adversity’ and ‘advocacy’; ‘Building bridges’ captured the importance of ‘gathering midwives’, a ‘movement of women’ and ‘champions and influencers’; and ‘Recognising midwifery’ identified the strong ‘sense of identity’ needed to outface ‘ignorance and opposition’ and the importance of ‘role reformation’.ConclusionThese midwifery leaders provide insight into an era of change in the history of midwifery in South Australia and contribute valuable learnings. In order to move forward, midwives must continue to embrace the political nature of midwifery, enact authentic, transformational leadership and engage women across all levels of influence. It is critical that midwives pursue equity in professional recognition, work collaboratively to provide quality, woman-centred maternity care and expand midwifery continuity of care models.     

1964～2005年我国人口受教育状况的变动——基于人口普查/抽查资料的分析

人口受教育状况通常被当作衡量某一国家或地区社会经济发展状况的重要指标。利用全国人口普查或抽查资料,运用趋势分析和队列分析方法,分析1964~2005年间我国人口受教育状况的变动情况;1982~2005年间分性别、分城乡人口受教育状况的变动情况;不同年代出生人口的受教育状况的变动情况。结果发现,我国人口平均受教育年限逐步提高,教育基尼系数逐渐降低,男女之间的教育差距逐步缩小,但城乡之间的差距继续扩大。每个队列人口平均受教育年限均有所提高,且各队列人口取得了不同方式和不同程度的"进步",其中既有年龄效应作用的结果,也有队列和时期效应作用的结果。     

An account of significant events influencing Australian breastfeeding practice over the last 40 years

Background

Low breastfeeding duration rates reflect the pain and distress experienced by many women who discontinue breastfeeding in the early weeks and months of life. This paper explores modern key historical events that have significantly influenced Australian breastfeeding education and practice.

Method

Relevant literature reviewed from 1970 to 2010 identified key events that appear to have contributed to the decrease in Australian breastfeeding rates and the increase in women experiencing breastfeeding complications, particularly nipple pain and trauma.

Findings and discussion

The rise in institutionalisation and medical intervention in labour and birth has also medicalised midwifery practice. Technocratic intrusion and institutionalised care is contributing to the separation of the mother and newborn at birth. Delayed mother–baby initiation of breastfeeding and interruption of the duration of the first, and subsequent breastfeeds, negatively affects the innate ability of the mother and newborn to establish and sustain breastfeeding. The ‘pathologising’ of breastfeeding that involve midwives teaching women complicated and unnatural breastfeeding techniques interfere with instinctive sensory and mammalian behaviours and further contributes to the high complication rates.

Conclusion

Midwives are encouraged to reflect on their role as ‘experts’ in the breastfeeding process and give confidence to women so that they utilise their instinctive ability to breastfeed by self-determined techniques that encourage mammalian skills for newborn sustenance and survival.