A Reflection on Psychosocial Assessment and Support as a Component of Holistic Antenatal Care

Abstract

The rationale of any national screening programme is to recognize the benefits for public health, to test a healthy population and to detect risk factors for morbidity and mortality in order to provide timely and appropriate care interventions.The purpose of the study was to establish the existence and the importance of psychosocial care in midwifery, in an attempt to enhance holistic care. The philosophical basis of the study was hinged on the researcher’s values and belief on holism and comprehensive assessment. A mixed-method approach was applied through combining quantitative and qualitative research techniques and approaches to address psychosocial risk assessment and psychosocial support by midwives during antenatal care in Gauteng province, South Africa. Qualitative data were collected through in-depth interviews with midwifery experts and focus group discussions with pregnant women and midwives in clinical practice. Findings of in-depth interviews with midwifery experts are reported. The focus of the interview was on the expert’s perception of psychosocial care within midwifery practice. Data saturation occurred with the fourth interviewee. The results of the study suggest that psychosocial care is addressed to a limited extent in midwifery practice. Holistic screening of women and recognition of emotional responses with appropriate interventions are essential to promote a woman’s healthy adjustment to pregnancy.

Keywords: Reflection, Psychosocial Assessment, Psychosocial Support, Holistic Antenatal Care