I did google this and cut and paste a heap of quotes. Then
I lost it!. You could google it yourself and see what comes up. You could also
follow up on Mary Stewarts research. MM
hsc.uwe.ac.uk/net/research/Default.aspx?pageindex=7&pageid=259
Vaginal
examination in labour: power, control and decision making
Funding
body: Faculty of Health & Social Care
Contact:
Mary Stewart
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
Vaginal
examination is a common procedure, undertaken by midwives and obstetricians in
order to assess progress in labour. Despite its routine nature, little
attention has been paid to the experiences of those undergoing or performing
the vaginal examination. In particular, no research has been carried out to
explore who has power and control over decision-making about the procedure.
There are three research questions that will be addressed. These are:
1. Who
has power and control over decision-making about vaginal examination in labour?
2. In what ways does current practice reflect issues of power, control and
decision-making?
3. What influences midwives’ and obstetricians’ decision-making
regarding vaginal examination
An
ethnographic approach is being used, integrating narrative enquiry. The
research design will be underpinned by feminist principles in that the research
attempts to map and explore women’s experiences and address issues of
power, autonomy and control. Data are being collected through the use of
observation in the field, and interviews with midwives, obstetricians and women
whose labours have been observed. In addition, field diary and reflexive
diaries are being used. Analysis of data will include thematic content,
analytical memos and the use of computer software. A narrative approach is
being used for data analysis, identifying narrative sequences within the text
and using the method of analysis put forward by Catherine Riessman.
Data
collection began in June 2003 and
will continue for several more months. However, several themes are already
emerging. One of these involves the decisions midwives make about whether a
vaginal examination will be overt, in which case it is documented in the
clinical records, or whether it is ‘hidden’ and never formally
acknowledged. Further themes are being developed using concept of mapping and
this will continue throughout the research process.
