Article
Subjectively experienced security and childbirth: first results of fathers’ experiences. A qualitative study
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Published: | February 13, 2018 |
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Background: On the individual level, security is described as one of the fundamental human needs and is defined as a condition in which a person feels self-confident and without fear [1]. In the childbirth context of German-speaking countries, the term “Sicherheit” (in the German language exists only one word for security/safety/certainty) has a more specified attribution and is characterized under the heading of patient safety as “the absence of undesirable results” [2], constituting one of the key quality characteristics in obstetrical care. The experience of a subjectively perceived security is not taken into consideration inside this context.
The results of a literature review carried out within the research project have revealed inter alia an analogy to the socio-psychological definition of security in which the phenomenon is described as a basic need that is aspired to during pregnancy and birth. However, the search for security is subjected to changes, and influences the women’s behaviour and decisions at all times during pregnancy and birth [3]. Moreover, the results focus more on the experiences of the pregnant women/mothers – there are hardly any studies dealing with security in an obstetrical context as experienced by the fathers.
Aim: The study focuses on how a couple as a family system experiences security in the context of childbirth. How the security of both partners during the birthing process is constituted will be the object of the analysis. In this presentation, the fathers’ experiences are the central theme, which is presented here in the form of first results.
Method: The research questions are processed here within the framework of the Grounded-Theory-Methodology. Guideline- based, individual interviews with both parents are conducted after about six months following the birth of the last child. The collection and evaluation of the data began in February 2016 and is performed using Strauss and Corbin’s coding method [4].
At the time of submitting this abstract, 14 interviews (seven of them with fathers) have been carried out. The currently emerging categories are being worked out and correlated with each other using a coding paradigm [4].
Results: The first results from the analysis of the interviews with the fathers have indicated a complex picture of the phenomenon of subjective security that is constructed before birth through specific preparations and decision processes. In addition, an orientation towards a trusting relationship with the caregivers is indicated as one of the essential phenomena of subjective security.
Relevance: Family-centered healthcare, which is oriented to the needs of mothers and fathers, depends initially on understanding the parents’ subjective security constructs and the resulting confrontation. The findings from this study should contribute to this understanding.
Recommendations/Conclusions: Conclusions and recommendations for practice can be drawn after the study has been completed.
Ethical criteria and conflict of interests: This research/project was approved by an ethics committee and was financed by third party funds: Federal Ministry of Education and Research (grant number: FKZ: 01KX1113A and FKZ: 01KX1113B). There is no conflict of interest.
References
- 1.
- Kaufmann FX. Sicherheit als soziologisches und sozialpolitisches Problem: Untersuchungen zu einer Werteidee hochdifferenzierter Gesellschaften; unveränderter Nachdruck von 1973. Berlin: Lit (Zivile Sicherheit 4); 2012.
- 2.
- Ärztliches Zentrum für Qualität in der Medizin (ÄZQ). Definitionen und Klassifikation zur Patientensicherheit. 2015. [Zugriff/cited Oct 2017]. Verfügbar unter/available from: http://www.aezq.de/patientensicherheit/definition-ps
- 3.
- Mozygemba K. Die Schwangerschaft als Statuspassage: Das Einverleiben einer sozialen Rolle im Kontext einer nutzerinnenorientierten Versorgung. Bern: Hans Huber; 2011.
- 4.
- Strauss A, Corbin J. Grounded Theory: Grundlagen Qualitativer Sozialforschung. Weinheim: Belz, Psychologie Verlags Union; 1996.