Cathrine Fowler

Maternal incarceration: Impact on parent–child relationships

Publisher: SAGE Publications

Date: 20-03-2021

DOI: 10.1177/13674935211000882

Abstract: Female incarceration is rising steeply in Australia and other high-income countries. The majority of incarcerated women are mothers. Their children represent a particularly vulnerable group, often subject to adverse experiences due to their family’s disadvantaged circumstances involving inadequate housing, food insecurity, poverty, poor health, a lack of personal safety due to violence and resulting trauma. This qualitative study explores parenting experiences of incarcerated mothers separated from their children. Interviews involved 65 mothers in three Australian prisons and 19 stakeholders providing correctional services and support for incarcerated women. Data were analysed using interpretive description. Mothers’ accounts highlighted frustrations resulting from trying to maintain relationships with their children, often exacerbating their separation and compounding parenting difficulties. Two major themes emerged from the data: ‘protecting their children’ and ‘at the mercy of the system’. Mothers described how they tried to protect their children from the consequences of their incarceration, yet many of the correctional system processes and procedures made it even harder to maintain connection. Incarcerated mothers need support in their parenting role. Ideally, this support should commence during incarceration. Further, changes within prison routines could enhance mothers’ efforts to keep in contact with their children, through visits and phone calls.

Adapting community child and family health service models for rural and other diverse settings: A modified Delphi study to identify key elements

Publisher: Hindawi Limited

Date: 04-10-2022

DOI: 10.1111/HSC.14052

Abstract: Inequity in health outcomes is pervasive, with poorer health outcomes identified in rural, regional and remote communities. An international call to action emphasises the need for service models adapted for less well-resourced settings. The aim of this study was to identify key elements of a framework for the adaptation of specialist community-based child and family health (CFH) service models for rural and other under-resourced settings. A modified Delphi study was undertaken with a 12-person expert panel in CFH including Australian and international professionals and parents from rural and remote communities. The study was informed by the WHO Framework for Strengthening Health Service Systems building blocks, the outcomes of an integrative review of literature and a Participatory Action Research study. Experts assessed 107 potential elements for service model development and rated them for importance when adapting service models for different contexts. Round 1 of the Delphi generated considerable consensus with 80 of the 107 potential elements identified as necessary for the service model adaptation framework. A further 17 elements for CFH service models were added in round 2. While multiple varied elements are important for adapting CFH service models for erse settings, some elements had common themes. Experts highlighted the importance of community engagement and participation utilising both data and local knowledge to develop a robust understanding of the community context and the need for a flexible approach to funding and modes of service delivery to address barriers to implementation and access.

Bottle-feeding, a neglected area of learning and support for nurses working in child health: An exploratory qualitative study.

Publisher: SAGE Publications

Date: 08-04-2022

DOI: 10.1177/13674935211007321

Abstract: Breastfeeding is the ideal infant feeding modality however, the reality is some parents need or choose to use bottles to feed their infants. Parents who bottle-feed have been identified as not receiving adequate levels of bottle-feeding information and advice from health professionals. This study’s aim was to explore nurses’ knowledge of the components in the bottle-feeding act. Twenty-one nurses working in early parenting residential units participated in three focus groups. Three themes were identified relating to nurses’ bottle-feeding knowledge: experience not evidence-based, it is hard to know what to advise, we will support whatever choice they make. The nurses identified a deficit in their knowledge, education and training related to the components of bottle-feeding. The nurses struggled with their interpretation of infant feeding policies and the provision of bottle-feeding information to parents. Nurses working in child and family health were motivated to inform, educate and enable parents to confidently make decisions concerning infant feeding. The healthcare system and the infant feeding policy drivers appear to have a mixed and at times negative impact on nurses’ practice. Further research is required across a larger population of nurses.

Exploring the knowledge of community‐based nurses in supporting parents of preterm babies at home: A survey‐based study

Publisher: Wiley

Date: 19-05-2021

DOI: 10.1002/NOP2.937

Abstract: This study aimed to investigate the confidence levels, knowledge base and learning needs of community‐based nurses relating to the care of preterm babies and parents, to explore what education is required and in what format. An online survey methodology was used. A 32‐item questionnaire was distributed via social media platforms to community‐based nurses in Australia. Descriptive analysis was undertaken relating to knowledge base, confidence levels, previous training, learning and resource needs and barriers to education. It was deemed vital to expand confidence and knowledge in this area. Gaps in learning resources were identified and a need for more training in topics such as developmental outcomes, feeding, expected milestones, weight gain, growth trajectories and supporting parents. Online resources were the preferred format to teach key knowledge to community‐based health professionals, tailored to the specific features of preterm babies and support needs of parents.

Hospital admission for mental illness: Comparing women who gave birth in a private hospital and a public hospital

Publisher: Wiley

Date: 12-11-2021

DOI: 10.1111/AJO.13269

Development of a framework for the collaborative adaptation of service models for child and family health in diverse settings (CASCADES)

Publisher: SAGE Publications

Date: 27-09-2022

DOI: 10.1177/13674935221129003

Abstract: The impact of health service access disparities has significant implications for society. The importance of addressing health and social inequities is never more critical than in the early years of a child’s life. Despite advances in healthcare implementation, there is a lack of an evidence-based framework to specifically guide the adaptation of child and family health (CFH) service models for different community contexts. This paper describes the development of a framework for the adaptation of community-based CFH service models. Drawing on the findings of an integrative review and Delphi study, Participatory Action Research was used to test the framework, resulting in the Framework for Collaborative Adaptation of Service Models for Child and Family Health in Diverse Settings (CASCADES). The Framework uses the analogy of a waterfall to represent the iterative process of collecting information to inform each step. The framework supports a collaborative co-design approach to build a comprehensive understanding of the target community to inform the adaptation and evaluation of evidence-based interventions appropriate to the local context. The ultimate aim is to enable the delivery of services that are contextually relevant for local communities and provide greater access to effective, accessible services to support children and their families.

Residential parenting services: An integrative literature review of characteristics, service usage and parent and staff perspectives

Publisher: Wiley

Date: 11-2022

DOI: 10.1002/NOP2.1415

Abstract: The primary aim of the review was to provide an overall assessment of residential parenting services in Australia, by describing the characteristics of infants and parents using residential parenting services, their prior service use and reasons for admission, referral pathways for access and parenting and infant outcomes. The secondary aims were to explore parent and staff perception of the programmes. An integrative literature review. A systematic and comprehensive search of health and social sciences databases was conducted for studies related to residential parenting services (published between 1st January 1990–31st December 2019). Six hundred and eleven peer‐reviewed papers were identified, after which 301 duplicates were removed and an additional 256 papers excluded after titles/abstracts were read. Of the remaining 54 abstracts apers, a further 14 were omitted as not relevant. Forty papers were independently reviewed by four authors. ENTREQ and MOOSE checklists were applied. Thirty studies were quantitative, nine were qualitative, and one was mixed methods. All studies originated from in Australia. Women and babies admitted to residential parenting services were found more likely to be: older, Australian born, from higher socio‐economic groups, and first‐time mothers, and having labour and birth interventions and a history of mental health disorders. The babies were more likely to be twins, male and admitted with sleep disorders and dysregulated behaviour. Studies reporting postintervention outcomes demonstrated improvements to maternal mental health, breastfeeding, parenting confidence and sleep quality, and infant sleeping and behaviour.

The forgotten mothers of extremely preterm babies: A qualitative study

Publisher: Wiley

Date: 08-03-2019

DOI: 10.1111/JOCN.14820

Ready for practice: What child and family health nurses say about education

Publisher: Elsevier BV

Date: 02-2015

DOI: 10.1016/J.NEDT.2014.11.002

Abstract: Australia has a well-established universal child and family health service predominately staffed by specialist/qualified child and family health nurses. Two common and interrelated concerns are the need for nurses to be ready for practice after completing a nursing education program and the means to ensure ongoing nursing competence. To investigate the readiness of CFH nurses to practise after qualification and their continuing engagement with learning. The study used an interpretive descriptive approach. This paper presents data from four questions from a larger survey of child and family health nurses across Australia. 1098 child and family health nurses responded to the survey. Qualitative survey responses from the four education questions were analysed using inductive thematic content analysis. Five significant themes were identified: hands-on experience (student clinical practice lacement) drawing on prior experience learning on the job learning (learning over time) and barriers to learning. This paper provides insights into nurses' readiness for practice at the completion of a postgraduate child and family health nursing qualification and their maintenance of competence and specialist knowledge. It highlights: the need for clinical placement to be retained and enhanced the significant contribution of more experienced child and family health nurses mentoring newly graduated child and family health nurses the need for minimum education standards the importance of reviewing education courses in relation to graduates' readiness for child and family health nursing practice the importance of supporting ongoing professional development and the removal of barriers to accessing education opportunities.

Australian parents’ experiences with universal child and family health services

Publisher: Elsevier BV

Date: 06-2019

DOI: 10.1016/J.COLEGN.2018.09.002

Bottle‐feeding an infant feeding modality: An integrative literature review

Publisher: Wiley

Date: 06-01-2020

DOI: 10.1111/MCN.12939

University Of Technology Sydney

Location: Australia

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Univerity Of Technology Sydney & Tresillian Family Care Centres

Location: Australia

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Linkage Projects - Grant ID: LP130100306

Start Date: 10-2013

End Date: 10-2016

Amount: $119,684.00

Funder: Australian Research Council

Linkage Projects - Grant ID: LP100100693

Start Date: 08-2010

End Date: 02-2014

Amount: $240,000.00

Funder: Australian Research Council