The research topic on pregnant women and its influence on the care to this population
This research has had a substantial effect on my practice as I am committed to the provision of patient-centered care, and this inquiry has equipped me with valuable data. I learned about specific needs adolescent and minority mothers have, so I will try to develop strategies to address these diverse needs. I will continue searching for more information regarding the cultural peculiarities of different groups, effective interventions aimed at addressing mental issues, and available resources. I will provide emotional support and try to inspire these females to concentrate on the positive side of pregnancy and motherhood.
Cultural implications associated with this population
As for cultural implications, it has been acknowledged that cultural peculiarities have an impact on the behavior of pregnant women and mothers (Chen et al., 2014). Although the recommendations of healthcare professionals are central, traditions and beliefs shape this population’s health-related choices. Nursing practitioners should be aware of major cultural peculiarities to explain the adverse effects of certain behaviors and to include some culture-specific aspects into interventions.
Available resources and gaps for this population
Healthcare facilities (and educational establishments in the case of adolescent mothers) have certain interventions and programs aimed at satisfying the needs of the target population. Community-based programs are mainly associated with support groups and counseling. Online resources are quite abundant, but the populations mentioned above are often unaware of them. Nevertheless, these efforts are far from being enough as the majority of these females do not use available opportunities. Nursing professionals should be more involved in educating these patients.
Knowledge needed to better serve this population
As mentioned above, I need to know more about the cultural peculiarities of different groups so that I could understand the exact needs and concerns of these females. I should also have more information about available resources especially when it comes to adolescent mothers who may feel stigmatized and isolated from the rest of the community. Finally, an effective PMHNP should learn more about the existing and innovative interventions aimed at addressing the mental issues of the target population.
Research About Pregnant Women
Pregnancy and motherhood are important stages in females’ life that are associated with considerable challenges and issues related to health. Apart from physical issues, women often develop some mental disorders of different severity. Postpartum depression is a common problem that affects approximately 13% of patients (Gaillard, Le Strat, Mandelbrot, Keïta, & Dubertret, 2014). At the same time, the prevalence of this mental issue in adolescent mothers may be as high as 44% (Hodgkinson, Beers, Southammakosane, & Lewin, 2014).
It has been acknowledged that numerous factors affect the development of depressive symptoms including physical health concerns, socioeconomic status, cultural peculiarities, and domestic violence (Gaillard et al., 2014). Clearly, all of these aspects have to be considered and effective interventions should be introduced to ensure the provision of high-quality healthcare services to all groups. However, some populations may need specific attention as they have been excluded from the scope of nursing research for quite a long period of time.
Relevance
Healthcare professionals know that different groups have diverse needs. Age and socioeconomic status tend to be some of the most influential factors that have an impact on people’s health and their access to high-quality healthcare. Adolescent mothers and mothers pertaining to minorities have to address many challenges including the lack of family support, limited access to healthcare services, and physical issues (Benza & Liamputtong, 2014; Gaillard et al., 2014).
These females are often marginalized and stigmatized due to the existing mainstream culture and inequity. Teenage mothers have to handle the burden of underage and often single motherhood. Minority mothers tend to feel misunderstood as to their cultural peculiarities while being important to them, are neglected or ignored. Different economic issues affect the mental health of these females. These populations develop depressive symptoms or even more severe conditions, which has adverse effects on their physical state as well as the development of the bond between the mother and child (Gaillard et al., 2014). Therefore, it is essential to ensure that proper care is delivered to these females.
Influence
The present research will have a considerable effect on my practice. I have delivered care to the population mentioned above, and I witnessed the challenges they faced. Now, I have a clear understanding of the exact areas of these women’s major concerns. I will try to provide emotional support to teenage and minority mothers and inform them about possible solutions to their problems and available resources. It has been found that minority mothers follow the medical staff’s prescriptions and recommendations, but this population is still affected by traditions related to their cultures (Chen et al., 2014). I will continue my research regarding cultural peculiarities since it will equip me with the necessary knowledge and skills.
Summary
To sum up, adolescent and minority mothers are quite a vulnerable population that requires special attention. Nursing professionals should consider the peculiarities of these females and try to address their needs in physical, mental, and emotional domains. All these areas are closely linked, so these patients’ mental health may depend on the ability of healthcare professionals to meet their expectations. It is essential to help these females to cope with various mental concerns and focus on the positive aspect of pregnancy and motherhood, which will have a positive effect on mothers and their children.
References
Benza, S., & Liamputtong, P. (2014). Pregnancy, childbirth and motherhood: A meta-synthesis of the lived experiences of immigrant women. Midwifery, 30(6), 575-584. Web.
Chen, L. W., Low, Y. L., Fok, D., Han, W. M., Chong, Y. S., Gluckman, P., … Van Dam, R. M. (2014). Dietary changes during pregnancy and the postpartum period in Singaporean Chinese, Malay and Indian women: The GUSTO birth cohort study. Public Health Nutrition, 17(09), 1930-1938. Web.
Gaillard, A., Le Strat, Y., Mandelbrot, L., Keïta, H., & Dubertret, C. (2014). Predictors of postpartum depression: Prospective study of 264 women followed during pregnancy and postpartum. Psychiatry Research, 215(2), 341-346. Web.
Hodgkinson, S., Beers, L., Southammakosane, C., & Lewin, A. (2014). Addressing the mental health needs of pregnant and parenting adolescents. Pediatrics, 133(1), 114-122. Web.