The views and attitudes of health professionals providing antenatal care to women with a high BMI: A qualitative research study

Knight-Agarwal, CR; Kaur, M; Williams, LT; Davey, R; Davis, D

The views and attitudes of health professionals providing antenatal care to women with a high BMI: A qualitative research study

Knight-Agarwal, CR Kaur, M Williams, LT Davey, R Davis, D

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Publication Type:: Journal Article
Citation:: Women and Birth, 2014, 27 (2), pp. 138 - 144
Issue Date:: 2014-01-01

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Field	Value	Language
dc.contributor.author	Knight-Agarwal, CR	en_US
dc.contributor.author	Kaur, M	en_US
dc.contributor.author	Williams, LT	en_US
dc.contributor.author	Davey, R	en_US
dc.contributor.author	Davis, D https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2041-1064	en_US
dc.date.available	2013-11-04	en_US
dc.date.issued	2014-01-01	en_US
dc.identifier.citation	Women and Birth, 2014, 27 (2), pp. 138 - 144	en_US
dc.identifier.issn	1871-5192	en_US
dc.identifier.uri	http://hdl.handle.net/10453/120586
dc.description.abstract	Background: The prevalence of overweight and obesity is increasing amongst women of child bearing age. The objective of this study was to investigate the views and attitudes of providers of antenatal care for women who have a body mass index (BMI) of 30kg/m2 and over. Methods: A qualitative study using focus groups was undertaken within the department of obstetrics and gynaecology at a large teaching hospital in south-eastern Australia. Three focus group discussions were held. One with hospital midwives (n= 10), one with continuity of care midwives (n= 18) and one with obstetricians (n= 5). Data were analysed using Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA). Findings: Six dominant themes emerged: (1) obesity puts the health of mothers, babies and health professionals at risk; (2) overweight and obesity has become the norm; (3) weighing women and advising about weight gain is out of fashion; (4) weight is a sensitive topic to discuss; (5) there are significant barriers to weight control in pregnancy; and (6) health professionals and women need to deal with maternal obesity. These themes are drawn together to form a model representing current health care issues for these women. Conclusion: Health professionals, who have a high BMI, can find it difficult to discuss obesity during antenatal visits with obese women. Specialist dietary interventions and evidence based guidelines for working with child-bearing women is seen as a public health priority by health care professionals. © 2013.	en_US
dc.relation.ispartof	Women and Birth	en_US
dc.relation.isbasedon	10.1016/j.wombi.2013.11.002	en_US
dc.subject.classification	Obstetrics & Reproductive Medicine	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	Humans	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	Obesity	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	Body Mass Index	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	Prenatal Care	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	Focus Groups	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	Attitude of Health Personnel	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	Professional-Patient Relations	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	Pregnancy	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	Qualitative Research	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	Adult	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	Infant	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	Nurse Midwives	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	Physicians	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	Women's Health	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	Female	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	Hospitals, Teaching	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	South Australia	en_US
dc.title	The views and attitudes of health professionals providing antenatal care to women with a high BMI: A qualitative research study	en_US
dc.type	Journal Article
utslib.citation.volume	2	en_US
utslib.citation.volume	27	en_US
utslib.for	1110 Nursing	en_US
utslib.for	11 Medical and Health Sciences	en_US
pubs.embargo.period	Not known	en_US
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney/Faculty of Health
utslib.copyright.status	closed_access
pubs.issue	2	en_US
pubs.publication-status	Published	en_US
pubs.volume	27	en_US

Abstract:

Background: The prevalence of overweight and obesity is increasing amongst women of child bearing age. The objective of this study was to investigate the views and attitudes of providers of antenatal care for women who have a body mass index (BMI) of 30kg/m2 and over. Methods: A qualitative study using focus groups was undertaken within the department of obstetrics and gynaecology at a large teaching hospital in south-eastern Australia. Three focus group discussions were held. One with hospital midwives (n= 10), one with continuity of care midwives (n= 18) and one with obstetricians (n= 5). Data were analysed using Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA). Findings: Six dominant themes emerged: (1) obesity puts the health of mothers, babies and health professionals at risk; (2) overweight and obesity has become the norm; (3) weighing women and advising about weight gain is out of fashion; (4) weight is a sensitive topic to discuss; (5) there are significant barriers to weight control in pregnancy; and (6) health professionals and women need to deal with maternal obesity. These themes are drawn together to form a model representing current health care issues for these women. Conclusion: Health professionals, who have a high BMI, can find it difficult to discuss obesity during antenatal visits with obese women. Specialist dietary interventions and evidence based guidelines for working with child-bearing women is seen as a public health priority by health care professionals. © 2013.

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http://hdl.handle.net/10453/120586