To consider the thoughts and actions of healthcare personnel in situations when an adverse prenatal diagnosis must be communicated, including appropriate strategies and skills to respond to information needs and to manage the emotional responses of patients. Descriptive qualitative study using non-participant observation and semi-structured interviews to analyse the discourses of physicians, midwives, nurses and nursing assistants who provide healthcare to obstetric patients. There may be barriers to effective communication between healthcare personnel and patients, depending on the characteristics of the persons involved, the organisation of healthcare, biotechnological progress and cultural factors. The human quality of healthcare has deteriorated due to excessive workloads and to the growing role played by technology. In order to improve communication, more attention should be paid to human and spiritual dimensions, prioritising empathy, authenticity and non-judgmental listening. An appropriate model of clinical relationship should be based on shared decision making, clarifying the functions of the multidisciplinary team to alleviate a mother’s suffering when a pregnancy is interrupted. To do so, protocols should be implemented to ensure the provision of comprehensive care, not only addressing biological issues but also providing psychosocial attention. Finally, training should be provided to healthcare staff to enhance their social skills and cultural competence. This study identifies potential improvements in the interventions made by healthcare personnel and in the organisation of the institution, concerning the attention provided to pregnant women when an adverse prenatal diagnosis must be communicated.

Sexuality and reproduction are two areas that have been dealt with differently over time and across cultures. Immigrant women resident in Spain, are largely of childbearing age and have some specific needs. Female immigrants have specific beliefs and behaviors which may influence how they approach to the Spanish sexual and reproductive health services. There is less visibility of the health problems presented by women immigrants. This article aims to shed light on the sexual and reproductive health beliefs and experiences of female immigrants in a region of southern Spain. A descriptive study design with qualitative data collection and analysis methods were used. Data were collected through face-to-face in-depth interviews using a semi- structured interview guide that collected information on women’s perception and beliefs about their sexual and reproductive health. Thirteen interviews were conducted in 2013 with a multi-ethnic sample of female immigrants, currently all are residing in Andalusia. Interview topics included questions about awareness and beliefs about sexuality and reproduction. Content analysis was used. We have found that female immigrant brings along all of her beliefs, opinions, attitudes and behaviors regarding sexuality, contraceptives, what is “correct” and what is not, etc. The sexual behavior is conditioned by the prevailing social rules of country of origin, and these rules act ambivalently. In general, knowledge of contraceptive methods was big, but there were perceptions that reproductive health was woman’s domain, due to gender norms and traditional family planning geared exclusively towards women. Results suggest that women’s behavior is influenced by the precepts of their origin societies. Therefore, sexual and reproductive health processes should be adapted and incorporated into our society, with special attention being paid to the immigrant population.

ResumenObjetivosConocer las motivaciones (creencias, valores) de las mujeres menores de 17 años para el embarazo adolescente.MétodoDiseño cualitativo fenomenológico con audiograbación de entrevistas en profundidad (12 adolescentes embarazadas), entre marzo y septiembre de 2008. Muestreo intencional de adolescentes embarazadas (14-16 años) de la consulta de alto riesgo obstétrico del Complejo Hospitalario de Jaén (España), usando nivel educativo, voluntariedad del embarazo, hábitat de residencia y nivel social de la familia como criterios de heterogeneidad. Análisis de contenido: codificación, triangulación de categorías y obtención/verificación de resultados.ResultadosEl contexto sociocultural de la adolescente tiene un peso considerable en la toma de decisiones sexuales y reproductivas. Las adolescentes que no planearon su embarazo perciben que su responsabilidad es relativa, y muestran una actitud de conformismo y resignación, resultando posteriormente una tendencia a la racionalización de los acontecimientos en la que afirman que el hijo/a es deseado/a e incluso planeado/a. Las adolescentes que deseaban su embarazo no tienen una imagen definida ni valoran las consecuencias que éste supone. Las ideas previas sobre una gestación están básicamente referidas a cambios físicos, sin tener en cuenta otros cambios que ocurren durante y tras el embarazo.ConclusionesEl contexto familiar y de socialización de las chicas se basa en una distribución tradicional de roles en función del género, en el cual posicionamiento y rol tradicional de mujer cuidadora está muy interiorizado. Las motivaciones para el embarazo adolescente no están claras; hay una falta de sentido de la autodeterminación y son las circunstancias las que deciden.AbstractObjectivesTo identify the motivations (beliefs, values) for adolescent pregnancy among girls aged less than 17 years old.MethodWe performed a phenomenological qualitative study with audio recording of in-depth interviews with 12 pregnant adolescents between March and September 2008. Purposive sampling of pregnant adolescents (14-16 years) in the high-risk obstetric unit of the Hospital of Jaen (Spain) was performed, using education, voluntariness of pregnancy, urban-rural setting of the family residence and family socioeconomic status as heterogeneity criteria. A content analysis was performed with coding, triangulation of categories, and extraction and verification of results.ResultsThe adolescent's sociocultural context was of considerable weight in sexual and reproductive decisions. Adolescents with unplanned pregnancies felt that their responsibility was relative, showing an attitude of acceptance and resignation, which later became a tendency to rationalize the events and claim that the child was wanted or even planned. Girls with a wanted pregnancy did not have a clear idea of the consequences of having a child. Previous ideas about pregnancy were mainly related to physical changes without taking into account other changes that occur during and after pregnancy.ConclusionsThe family context and socialization of girls are based on a traditional division of gender roles in which the traditional role of the female caregiver is strongly internalized. The reasons for teenage pregnancy are unclear; pregnant adolescents lacked a sense of self-determination and felt that their lives were determined by circumstances

The mother-child bond may be related to maternal health, especially postpartum depression (PPD). Existing studies show the need for further in-depth research on the subject. To determine the relationship between bonding and the probability of the development and presence of PPD in women with a biological child between 6 weeks and 18 months of age. A cross-sectional study was conducted. A questionnaire containing sociodemographic, psychosocial, and health variables referring to the mother and the newborn, a questionnaire measuring the mother-child bond (VAMF-bond), and the Edinburgh Postpartum Depression Scale (EDPS) were administered. 1114 women participated. The association between the items of the VAMF-bond subscale and the risk of PPD was statistically significant for all items (p < 0.05), except items 4 and 10. The multivariate analysis showed that the risk of PPD (EPDS scale) was lower in women with higher scores on bond (Adjusted Odds Ratio: aOR = 0.85; 95%CI: 0.81, 0.88), whose birth experience was good or very good (aOR = 0.57; 95%CI: 0.36, 0.89), who received high or very high support from their partner (aOR = 0.34; 95%CI: 0.18, 0.66), and family (aOR = 0.53; 95%CI: 0.32, 0.86). The presence of PPD was less frequent in women who presented higher scores for bond (aOR = 0.90; 95%CI: 0.84, 0.97), who had skin-to-skin contact (aOR = 0.39; 95%CI: 0.17, 0.93) and who received high or very high support from the family (aOR = 0.36; 95%CI: 0.12, 1.04). High scores on the subscale VAMF-bond were associated with a lower risk of PPD.