Doulas’ Perspectives about Providing Support to Incarcerated Women: A Feasibility Study

Shlafer, Rebecca J.; Hellerstedt, Wendy L.; Secor-Turner, Molly; Gerrity, Erica; Baker, Rae

doi:10.1111/phn.12137

Cited by 27 publications

(46 citation statements)

References 30 publications

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“…Five studies specified that the lay companion was anyone who the woman chose (Brüggemann 2014) or did not specify who the lay companion was (Dodou 2014; Maher 2004; Price 2007; Shimpuku 2013). Twenty‐three of the included studies described support provided by doulas (Akhavan 2012a; Akhavan 2012b; Berg 2006; Campero 1998; Coley 2016; Darwin 2016; de Souza 2010; Gentry 2010; Gilliland 2011; Hardeman 2016; Horstman 2017; Hunter 2012; Koumouitzes‐Douvia 2006; Lagendyk 2005; LaMancuso 2016; Lundgren 2010; McGarry 2016; McLeish 2018; Schroeder 2005; Shlafer 2015; Stevens 2011; Torres 2013; Torres 2015). One included study (Thorstensson 2008), described support provided to women by female student midwives whose sole responsibility was to provide continuous support (e.g.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Thirty‐three studies were conducted in six high‐income countries: Sweden (Akhavan 2012a; Akhavan 2012b; Bäckström 2011; Berg 2006; Ledenfors 2016; Lundgren 2010; Premberg 2011; Thorstensson 2008), Finland (Bondas‐Salonen 1998), Canada (Chandler 1997; Lagendyk 2005; Price 2007), USA (Chapman 1990; Coley 2016; Gentry 2010; Hardeman 2016; Horstman 2017; Hunter 2012; Koumouitzes‐Douvia 2006; LaMancuso 2016; Schroeder 2005; Shlafer 2015; Torres 2013; Torres 2015), United Kingdom (Darwin 2016; Longworth 2011; McGarry 2016; McLeish 2018; Somers‐Smith 1999), and Australia (Harte 2016; Maher 2004; Stevens 2011), and one multi‐country study conducted in the USA and Canada (Gilliland 2011). Of the 33 studies conducted in high‐income countries, 21 studies focused on doula models of companionship (Akhavan 2012a; Akhavan 2012b; Berg 2006; Coley 2016; Darwin 2016; Gentry 2010; Gilliland 2011; Hardeman 2016; Horstman 2017; Hunter 2012; Koumouitzes‐Douvia 2006; Lagendyk 2005; LaMancuso 2016; Lundgren 2010; McGarry 2016; McLeish 2018; Schroeder 2005; Shlafer 2015; Stevens 2011; Torres 2013; Torres 2015). …”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Seven studies were conducted in Africa (Afulani 2018; Alexander 2014; Chadwick 2014; Kaye 2014; Kululanga 2012; Pafs 2016; Shimpuku 2013); two in Asia (Qian 2001; Sapkota 2012); 14 in Europe (Akhavan 2012a; Akhavan 2012b; Bäckström 2011; Berg 2006; Bondas‐Salonen 1998; Darwin 2016; Ledenfors 2016; Longworth 2011; Lundgren 2010; McGarry 2016; McLeish 2018; Premberg 2011; Somers‐Smith 1999; Thorstensson 2008); five in the Middle East (Abushaikha 2012; Abushaikha 2013; Fathi 2017; Kabakian‐Khasholian 2015; Khresheh 2010); 17 in North America (Campero 1998; Chandler 1997; Chapman 1990; Coley 2016; Gentry 2010; Gilliland 2011; Hardeman 2016; Horstman 2017; Hunter 2012; Koumouitzes‐Douvia 2006; Lagendyk 2005; LaMancuso 2016; Price 2007; Schroeder 2005; Shlafer 2015; Torres 2013; Torres 2015); three in South America (Brüggemann 2014; Dodou 2014; de Souza 2010); and three in Oceania (Harte 2016; Maher 2004; Stevens 2011). …”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Perceptions and experiences of labour companionship: a qualitative evidence synthesis

Bohren

Berger

Munthe‐Kaas

et al. 2019

Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews

198

197

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BackgroundLabour companionship refers to support provided to a woman during labour and childbirth, and may be provided by a partner, family member, friend, doula or healthcare professional. A Cochrane systematic review of interventions by Bohren and colleagues, concluded that having a labour companion improves outcomes for women and babies. The presence of a labour companion is therefore regarded as an important aspect of improving quality of care during labour and childbirth; however implementation of the intervention is not universal. Implementation of labour companionship may be hampered by limited understanding of factors affecting successful implementation across contexts.ObjectivesThe objectives of the review were to describe and explore the perceptions and experiences of women, partners, community members, healthcare providers and administrators, and other key stakeholders regarding labour companionship; to identify factors affecting successful implementation and sustainability of labour companionship; and to explore how the findings of this review can enhance understanding of the related Cochrane systematic review of interventions.Search methodsWe searched MEDLINE, CINAHL, and POPLINE K4Health databases for eligible studies from inception to 9 September 2018. There were no language, date or geographic restrictions.Selection criteriaWe included studies that used qualitative methods for data collection and analysis; focused on women’s, partners’, family members’, doulas', providers', or other relevant stakeholders' perceptions and experiences of labour companionship; and were from any type of health facility in any setting globally.Data collection and analysisWe used a thematic analysis approach for data extraction and synthesis, and assessed the confidence in the findings using the GRADE‐CERQual approach. We used two approaches to integrate qualitative findings with the intervention review findings. We used a logic model to theorise links between elements of the intervention and health and well‐being outcomes. We also used a matrix model to compare features of labour companionship identified as important in the qualitative evidence synthesis with the interventions included in the intervention review.Main resultsWe found 51 studies (52 papers), mostly from high‐income countries and mostly describing women's perspectives. We assessed our level of confidence in each finding using the GRADE‐CERQual approach. We had high or moderate confidence in many of our findings. Where we only had low or very low confidence in a finding, we have indicated this.Labour companions supported women in four different ways. Companions gave informational support by providing information about childbirth, bridging communication gaps between health workers and women, and facilitating non‐pharmacological pain relief. Companions were advocates, which means they spoke up in support of the woman. Companions provided practical support, including encouraging women to move around, providing massage, and holding her hand. Finally, companions...

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Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 1 more Smart Citation

Perceptions and experiences of labour companionship: a qualitative evidence synthesis

Bohren

Berger

Munthe‐Kaas

et al. 2019

Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews

198

197

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

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“…Doulas’ perspectives on providing support to incarcerated women and information on the logistical feasibility of this program have been published recently. 21 Additional results on women’s outcomes are forthcoming (and are avail able by request from the first author). What we describe next are three key lessons learned from our community–university pilot study of the Minnesota Prison Doula Project .…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Pregnancy and Parenting Support for Incarcerated Women: Lessons Learned

Shlafer¹,

Gerrity²,

Duwe³

2015

cpr

Self Cite

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Background There are more than 200,000 incarcerated women in U.S. prisons and jails, and it is estimated that 6% to 10% are pregnant. Pregnant incarcerated women experience complex risks that can compromise their health and the health of their offspring. Objectives Identify lessons learned from a community–university pilot study of a prison-based pregnancy and parenting support program. Methods A community–university–corrections partnership was formed to provide education and support to pregnant incarcerated women through a prison-based pilot program. Evaluation data assessed women’s physical and mental health concerns and satisfaction with the program. Between October 2011 and December 2012, 48 women participated. Lessons Learned We learned that providing services for pregnant incarcerated women requires an effective partnership with the Department of Corrections, adaptations to traditional community-based participatory research (CBPR) approaches, and resources that support both direct service and ongoing evaluation. Conclusions Effective services for pregnant incarcerated women can be provided through a successful community– university–corrections partnership.

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“…In contrast, the few community-based doula programs that do exist either train existing doulas to perform essential tasks such as accompanying women to prenatal classes and providing breast-feeding support (Cattelona et al, 2015;Munoz and Collins, 2015;Steel et al, 2013) or serve (but do not train or employ) low-income (Gruber et al, 2013;Kozhimannil et al, 2015;Spiby et al, 2015) or currently incarcerated women (Hotelling, 2008;Shlafer et al, 2015). It is important to note that these programs do not pay the doulas that work in these programs.…”

Section: Navigating Different Care Environmentsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Making the case for innovative reentry employment programs: previously incarcerated women as birth doulas – a case study

McLemore

Hand

2017

IJPH

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Purpose The purpose of this paper is to make a case for novel and innovative reentry programs focused on women of color and to describe policy recommendations that are necessary to support the sustainability of these programs and in turn the success of the women who participate in them. Design/methodology/approach A review and analysis of the literature that described job-training opportunities specifically targeted to women exiting jail and the impact on recidivism provided limited information. The authors developed, implemented, and evaluated doula training program for low-income and women of color to determine if birth work could provide stable income and decrease recidivism. Findings Training low-income formerly incarcerated women to become birth doulas is an innovative strategy to solve employment barriers faced by women reentering communities from jail. Realigning women within communities via birth support to other women also provides culturally relevant and appropriate members of the healthcare team for traditionally vulnerable populations. Doulas are important members of the healthcare workforce and can improve birth outcomes. The authors’ work testing doula training, as a reentry vocational program has been successful in producing 16 culturally relevant and appropriate doulas of color that experienced no re-arrests and to date no program participant has experienced recidivism. Originality/value To be successful, the intersections of race, gender, and poverty, for women of color should be considered in the design of reentry programs for individuals exiting jail. The authors’ work provided formerly incarcerated and low-income women of color with vocational skills that provide consistent income, serve as a gateway to the health professions, and increase the numbers of well-trained people of color who serve as providers of care.

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Doulas’ Perspectives about Providing Support to Incarcerated Women: A Feasibility Study

Cited by 27 publications

References 30 publications

Perceptions and experiences of labour companionship: a qualitative evidence synthesis

Perceptions and experiences of labour companionship: a qualitative evidence synthesis

Pregnancy and Parenting Support for Incarcerated Women: Lessons Learned

Making the case for innovative reentry employment programs: previously incarcerated women as birth doulas – a case study

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