Health Care Providers' Perceptions of Maternal Health Concerns in the Solomon Islands. (January 2016)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Yang, Yung-Mei; Hsiao, Shih-Huai; Chou, Fan-Hao; Hou, Levi; Lee, Shu-Li; Lin, Yu-Hua
• Is Part Of: Journal of transcultural nursing. Volume 27:Number 1(2016)
• Page Start: 49
• Page End: 56
• Publication Date: 2016-01
• Subjects: Melanesian women -- thematic analysis -- maternal health -- Solomon Islands; Transcultural nursing -- Periodicals; Nursing -- Cross-cultural studies -- Periodicals; Health attitudes -- Cross-cultural studies -- Periodicals; 610.73
• DOI: 10.1177/1043659614526256
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1043-6596

Abstract

Purpose: The objective of this study was to explore the maternal health risk factors and sentinel events among women in the Solomon Islands, from the viewpoints of health care providers in the Solomon Islands.Design and Method: Three focus group interviews were conducted in July and August 2011 at a secondary referral hospital in an urban area. The study consisted of 10 registered nurses and 11 skilled birth assistants. Thematic analysis was used for this qualitative data analysis.Findings: Six major themes were emerged from the data: (a) environmental hazard: malaria, (b) malnutrition: iron deficiency anemia, (c) adolescent pregnancy, (d) betel nut chewing, (e) cultural beliefs influencing women's health, and (f) difficulty accessing health care services.Conclusions and Implications for Practice: The results of this study provide a useful first step toward identifying specific maternal health risks among women in the Solomon Islands. The findings may assist the health sector and midwives/antenatal educators to better understand the health risks and reduce the disease burden among pregnant women in South Pacific countries. The results may also contribute to the development of policies to improve maternal health and to accelerate progress toward the fifth target goal of UNICEF's Millennium Development Goals.