CRC HLTH PROMO MIDWIFE PDF

PREFACE

Health promotion is very much part of the Government's agenda for reducing inequalities in health. Current Government policy and strategy clearly identify midwives as an integral part of their plans. Health promotion is not a new concept for midwifery and is a major part of what it is to be a midwife. Some may argue that almost everything a midwife does has an impact on, or link to, promoting the health of the woman, her fetus/baby and her family. As we discover more about the effect of the environment (in utero and generally), the ability to influence health in the short and long term is becoming more apparent. This includes environmental and social factors and, as a profession, midwifery is striving to face these issues and provide individualized care based on the needs of the woman.

The principles of general health promotion, such as models of care, good communication and information giving, and understanding basics of psychology, social and cultural issues, ethics and education, are important to the underpinning of good midwifery practice. This book attempts to bring together these concepts in a way that is user friendly and accessible, and encourages midwives to look at their wider public health role. However, midwives do not work alone, but with many allied professions in partnership, such as complementary therapy practitioners, primary health-care trusts and public health networks. Practice issues and frameworks related to providing health promotion within the multidisciplinary team are discussed and there are links and suggestions for further reading to lead on to the wider issues that we were unable to cover in this book.

Midwives today work in such diverse areas that each midwife, in their own way, needs to adapt their care to meet the needs of the woman, her family, the service and the Government's expectations. This book is intended to be realistic and practical in its suggestions for the promotion of health and for the provision of holistic care that is woman focused.