Research Proposal Presentation

Good morning.

I would like to begin by paying my respects to

the direct people, The traditional custodians of the land on

which I'm delivering this presentation.

I pay my respects to their elders, past present and

emerging and acknowledge all aboriginal and Torres strait islander people

here today.

My name is Emma Hill and I am memories student

and a midwife and I am based within the School

of Nursing and Midwifery.

Thank you for this opportunity to present my research proposal.

The title of my project is healthcare provider mistreatment of

women in the birthing room.

Midwifery perspectives.

I'd like you to indulge me for just a moment

as I share with you a story that is a

compilation of many experiences I have either witness firsthand being

told about or read in the literature.

I want you to imagine that you're a young Australian

woman entering a hospital to birth your first child.

You're excited and frightened.

You're looking for kindness, respect and guidance.

A midwife who was all those things and more cares

for you and you feel in safe hands.

Then there's a change of shift.

A midwife you don't know, loudly enters the room muttering

about what's taking you so long.

She told you to lie on your back and conducts

a vaginal exam without explanation and without your consent.

You're strapped to monitoring that you don't want.

You are called dull and sweetheart and made to feel

like a child.

The obstetrician also tuts over the slow progress of your

labor. They dismiss the fact that you want a natural

birth and as your labor slows down even further, you

are coerced into intervention that you don't want.

They say you will have a dead baby if you

don't agree, you receive a raft of interventions that end

with an episiotomy and forceps.

They take the baby from you when she's born.

Without any explanation.

You feel removed from the whole experience violated, disrespected coerced,

you feel silenced and traumatized, you find it hard to

bond with your much longed for baby.

Systemic gender based violence is a violation of human rights

that has significant impacts on the lives of women and

young girls across the globe.

Within the context of birth violence is referred to as

obstetric violence.

Disrespect and abuse, mistreatment and dehumanizing care.

A 2015 global mixed methods systematic review identified significant instances

of physical verbal and sexual abuse together with discrimination, stigma

neglect and substandard care of women during childbirth within the

Australian context.

The groundbreaking birthing outside the system and the award winning

birth time documentary regarding the Australian maternity system provide ample

evidence that our shores are not immune.

I want to first acknowledge every passionate committed midwife who

provides woman centred care to the best of their ability.

Within a fragmented system.

However, we do know that mistreatment against women is an

issue as a midwife.

I have witnessed mistreatment firsthand and heard numerous accounts from

peers across the spare care spectrum.

I am painfully aware of the power imbalance a hierarchy.

That silence is a culture that is ailing.

I can no longer be complicit.

My research aims to explore healthcare provider mistreatment of women.

From the perspective of the midwife I want to identify

the midwifery understanding of and contribution to disrespectful and abusive

care. A review of the literature identifies that midwifery perceptions

of violence against women have been captured predominantly in low

resource nations.

A discussion of findings from the literature review is not

possible within the confines of this presentation and as such,

I would be happy to answer any questions you may

have regarding the key themes identified during the fiber relevant

to this presentation, however, is the fact that there is

a clear gap in relation to the Australian context, thereby

highlighting the need for research to capture Australian midwifery voices

in regards to mistreatment in the birthing room.

So how would this research add value?

What is its benefit?

It is anticipated that this research will contribute to the

understanding of obstetric violence and the mistreatment of women.

Increased knowledge of this phenomenon will elevate midwifery voices in

relation to gendered violence and the power imbalance within maternity

settings in Australia.

Ultimately, midwives may be better able to recognize and acknowledge

their involvement in the mistreatment of birthing women and change

their practice.

The findings will be utilized to inform Australian midwives, consumer

groups and peak bodies of the perspective of midwives with

a view to reducing childbirth mistreatment and human rights violations.

Yeah, this research will utilize feminist informed qualitative methodology and

thematic analysis of in depth interviews to explore how midwives

define, recognize and respond to mr Neil mistreatment across differing

models of care.

Critical feminist theory will provide the theoretical lens for the

research and will underpin each research phase.

Fundamentally. Critical feminist theory focuses on gender inequality and marginalization

driven by the patriarchy whilst interrogating issues of power and

hegemony. This research has synergy with critical feminist theory as

midwifery perspectives are frequently overshadowed by both a hierarchical healthcare

environment and the dominant medical voice.

In order to meet the aim of exploring midwifery perspectives

regarding health care provider mistreatment of birthing women.

There are four clear objectives to the study.

These include identifying if midwives readily recognize healthcare provider mistreatment

of women.

Ascertaining the response of midwives when they witnessed mistreatment by

peers or other health care providers, identifying if midwives feel

empowered within the hospital system to challenge peers if they

mistreat women, and finally, to establish the impact that witnessing

or participating in mistreatment has On midwives.

Study participants will include midwives working across different service models

In order to recruit participants with a rich knowledge of

childbirth mistreatment, sampling will be purpose, it recruiting 10-15 participants

for in depth interviews.

This purpose of sample will include female, male or non

binary midwives from 20 years of age with no upper

age limit Who have had at least 12 months of

experience. In supporting birthing women, participants will be provided with

a study information flyer and consent will be informed and

voluntary with the right to withdraw from the study at

any time without recrimination Data will be collected via in

depth semi structured interviews of 30-60 minutes duration.

Due to the current COVID-19 environment interviews will be conducted

over the phone.

Skype or zoom at a time suitable to the participant

Should circumstances alter face to face interviews.

In keeping with University COVID-19 policies will be considered.

A distressed management protocol will be developed to support participants

in the event that they are upset whilst participated participating

in the study interviews will be recorded with consent and

transcribed by a professional transcription service participants will be de

identified to maintain privacy and data will be managed confidential

confidentially. In keeping with the Western Sydney University research data

management planning tool data will be analysed thematically utilizing them

the protests process detailed by braun and clark and facilitated

through in vivo.

Clearly in a project such as this resources requirements and

timeline together with over or feasibility is pivotal.

A comprehensive timeline is available in my research proposal.

In figure two.

A high level overview of the timeline is presented here

in order to ensure readability.

After discussion with my supervisors and other researchers are realistic

and achievable timeline has been drafted buffers have been built

into each key milestone with regular supervisor check ins Throughout

the life of the project.

I am planning to submit to the November 25, 25

Ethics Committee.

I am aware that this is a tight time frame

and I have therefore commenced developing my interview guide study

information flyer consent form and distress management protocol.

I have built in a buffer to submit to the

january meeting if required.

And viva training will also occur during this time.

I have allocated the december to early january period to

draft the background chapter.

This chapter will be forwarded to my supervisors for review

and editing will occur in tandem with other research activities.

I have allocated six weeks commencing January five for purpose

of recruitment.

This will include finding study participants, sending the information flyer

and gathering informed consent.

I have allowed six weeks for data collection and transcription

in depth interviews will be held by me and d

identify transcription will be outsourced in keeping with both allocated

budget and maintenance of participant confidentiality.

Three months have been allocated for data analysis using brawn

and clark and en vivo.

I have some appreciation that this is a time intensive

process and I have built in a two week buffer

period to ensure that I have ample time to complete

this vital stage.

Finally, I have allocated a 3.5 month period to riding

the thesis chapters At this point the background will have

been completed and I have already conducted the literature review

so we'll only need to ensure additional literature from May

2020 is added Chapters will be sent to supervisors as

they are completed to enable time for feedback and further

development as required.

I am aiming to have the thesis finalized by end

October for a November one submission.

After the thesis is completed, I will be looking to

publish my findings and I will be submitting abstracts for

conference presentations in regards to study feasibility.

I feel well placed to deliver on the research proposal.

Within the proposed time frames, I have been fortunate enough

to have been involved in a research summer scholarship, a

research internship and now a research assistant role.

That being said, I am acutely aware that I am

a novice and at the early stages of my research

career however, I do have a demonstrated ability to deliver

on large projects and I am very comfortable with asking

questions and seeking the information I need in the event

that I hit a roadblock.

I have the utmost faith and confidence in my supervisors,

Professor Hannah Darlin and Dr Elaine Burns and they have

guided my efforts to date with both expertise, professionalism, integrity

and kindness.

I feel really honored to be learning from two of

the best.

Finally, I'd like to thank you for listening to my

presentation

Research Proposal Presentation

Chapters

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