Providing quality care for women with vasa praevia : Challenges and barriers faced by Australian midwives

Journal article


Javid, Nasrin, Hyett, Jon A. and Homer, Caroline S. E.. (2019). Providing quality care for women with vasa praevia : Challenges and barriers faced by Australian midwives. Midwifery. 68, pp. 91-98. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.midw.2018.10.011
AuthorsJavid, Nasrin, Hyett, Jon A. and Homer, Caroline S. E.
Abstract

Objective
To explore the barriers to providing quality maternity care for women with vasa praevia as identified by Australian midwives.

Design
A qualitative descriptive study using semi-structured in-depth telephone interviews.

Setting
Australian maternity system.

Methods
Midwives were recruited from across Australia. Interviews were audio-recorded, transcribed verbatim, and analysed using thematic analysis.

Participants
Twenty midwives from five Australian states practising in 15 different public or private hospitals who had cared for at least one woman with vasa praevia during 2010–2016 were interviewed. More than half of the participants held senior positions. Twelve were involved in a neonatal death or ‘near-miss’ due to vasa praevia.

Findings
Two categories and five themes were identified in relation to barriers to the provision of quality care. Practitioner-level barriers included two themes: identifying lack of midwifery education and lack of knowledge. System-level barriers included lack of a local policy to guide practice, limited information for women, and paucity of research about vasa praevia.

Conclusion
Midwives experienced a number of barriers in caring for women with vasa praevia. Offering more comprehensive pre-registration and continuing professional education to midwives, developing local protocols, and providing clear written information for women may improve the provision of quality care.

Implications for practice
Midwives have a critical role in caring for and supporting women with vasa praevia. Improving midwives’ knowledge with contemporary evidence and clinical guidelines could enable them to deliver safer maternity care and improve a women's journey through this potentially catastrophic condition.

Keywordsvasa praevia; midwifery; high-risk pregnancy; education; policy; communication
Year2019
JournalMidwifery
Journal citation68, pp. 91-98
PublisherElsevier Ltd
ISSN0266-6138
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)https://doi.org/10.1016/j.midw.2018.10.011
PubMed ID30396003
Scopus EID2-s2.0-85055894242
Page range91-98
FunderResearch Training Program Scholarship (RTP), Australian Government
Australian College of Midwives
Publisher's version
License
All rights reserved
File Access Level
Controlled
Output statusPublished
Publication dates
Online03 Nov 2018
Publication process dates
Accepted22 Oct 2018
Deposited07 May 2025
Additional information

© 2018 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

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