TY - JOUR
T1 - Existential aspects of parenthood transition seen from the health professionals’ perspective - an interview and theatre workshop study
AU - Prinds, Christina
AU - Timmerman, Connie
AU - Hvidtjørn, Dorte
AU - Ammentorp, Jette
AU - Christian Hvidt, Niels
AU - Larsen, Henry
AU - Toudal Viftrup, Dorte
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2023 The Authors
PY - 2023/9
Y1 - 2023/9
N2 - Objectives: A sense of existential vulnerability is embedded in parenthood transition. It is linked to meaning in life, relationship changes, awareness of death, and sometimes a transcendent belief. Nevertheless, in most maternity service guidelines, the existential aspects of life are not an explicit focus. Therefore, this study aimed to explore how health professionals in maternity services experience and understand existential aspects of parenthood transition among new parents. Study Design: Data were generated through a user-involving two-phase process inspired by action research consisting of three focus group interviews with health professionals (n = 10) and, subsequently, a theatre workshop for parents, health professionals, and researchers (n = 40). Between the two phases, case narratives were constructed using information from the interviews and, in collaboration with a dramatist, dramatized and then played out at a workshop by professional actors. We used thematic analysis for all data. Results: We identified five themes in the data material: 1. Death and fragility in maternity care, 2. Existential aspects in camouflage, 3. Existential and spiritual aspects of being professional in maternity care, 4. Talking about existential aspects of care, 5. Equipped for providing existential care? Conclusions: Existential aspects were often recognized during birth, specially in traumatic situations or discerned in the physical and non-verbal relational energy between the birthing woman and midwife or partner. Less often, existential aspects were recognized during pregnancy and the post-partum period.
AB - Objectives: A sense of existential vulnerability is embedded in parenthood transition. It is linked to meaning in life, relationship changes, awareness of death, and sometimes a transcendent belief. Nevertheless, in most maternity service guidelines, the existential aspects of life are not an explicit focus. Therefore, this study aimed to explore how health professionals in maternity services experience and understand existential aspects of parenthood transition among new parents. Study Design: Data were generated through a user-involving two-phase process inspired by action research consisting of three focus group interviews with health professionals (n = 10) and, subsequently, a theatre workshop for parents, health professionals, and researchers (n = 40). Between the two phases, case narratives were constructed using information from the interviews and, in collaboration with a dramatist, dramatized and then played out at a workshop by professional actors. We used thematic analysis for all data. Results: We identified five themes in the data material: 1. Death and fragility in maternity care, 2. Existential aspects in camouflage, 3. Existential and spiritual aspects of being professional in maternity care, 4. Talking about existential aspects of care, 5. Equipped for providing existential care? Conclusions: Existential aspects were often recognized during birth, specially in traumatic situations or discerned in the physical and non-verbal relational energy between the birthing woman and midwife or partner. Less often, existential aspects were recognized during pregnancy and the post-partum period.
KW - Childbirth
KW - Existential
KW - Interview
KW - Meaning
KW - Midwife
KW - Professional
KW - Theatre
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85165031875&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.srhc.2023.100884
DO - 10.1016/j.srhc.2023.100884
M3 - Journal article
C2 - 37454585
AN - SCOPUS:85165031875
SN - 1877-5756
VL - 37
JO - Sexual and Reproductive Healthcare
JF - Sexual and Reproductive Healthcare
M1 - 100884
ER -