Alexia is also involved in the Malta Union of Midwives and Nurses as a representative of the Malta Midwives Association.

Alexia also serves on the National Council of Women representing the Malta Midwives Association.

Newsletter 2 - April 2004
This issue includes: Letters from our Members, 5th May 2004: Int. Day of the Midwife, Formation of the Midwives Association, Parenting Skills Sessions for Couples, Midwife Jokes

Alexia's Thesis for her BSc. (Hons) in Midwifery

Abstract

‘Postnatal women’s perceptions on the effectiveness of antenatal parents’ education’, is aimed at identifying the satisfaction of postnatal mothers having completed an antenatal course. A random sample of 20 mothers, 10 of which delivered by normal vaginal delivery and the other 10 by caesarean section participated in the study. Data was collected though guided interview schedules. This quantitative data was later analysed and presented using descriptive statistics.

The inspiration for this thesis is derived from the little evidence to associate attendance at antenatal classes with a reduction in psychological distress or increased satisfaction with the experience of labour and postnatal care. As antenatal education is a vast topic this study identified areas to be further discussed at a local level, these being characteristics of those who attend and the nature of antenatal classes.

As stated by Clark (1983) and Bulger (1988), the effectiveness of antenatal education classes is difficult to assess. However, the study concentrated on the more immediate effects of education such as use of pain relief in labour, rather than long-term aspects such as ease of parenting which may be one way in identifying the effectiveness of these classes. Themes that emerged from the data collected include the ‘need of realistic information’, ‘sharing of experiences’ and ‘constant support both by the partner/relative and by the midwife providing the care’. The discussion then moves on to analyse the data findings of the guided interview schedules in the light of evidence-based research. Overall, mothers seem quite satisfied with the classes provided and the study concludes that antenatal classes, in the long run, do more good than harm.

As a result of this study, limitations and recommendations for research and practice were noted and suggestions for further research were given (Chapter 5). It is suggested that further larger scale studies over a period of time will be undertaken before conclusions can be drawn.