Antenatal Care and HIV

Antenatal Care and HIV

Introduction

The purpose of this assignment is to critically analyze the role of midwife in provision of care for pregnant women with human immune deficiency virus (HIV) and other health professionals. However, to achieve this, the enthusiasm will be based on the role of the midwife in antenatal period in screening and care of women with HIV virus.

Rational

This report describes the midwifery model of care and how it relates to and differs from the medical management model for the care of pregnant women. Although the model presented here is the opinion of a single author, it is based on diverse experience and relationships in midwifery, extensive study of a wide variety of midwives' writings on this subject, and ?ndings from research comparing the care provided by midwives and physicians. This report does not address the midwifery model as it applies to the care of women who are not pregnant. However, many of the differences between the midwifery and medical models for the care of pregnant women carry through to other aspects of the primary care of women.

Anatomy and Physiology, Legal, Ethical Issues: The role of the midwife in providing antenatal care for women with HIV in pregnancy

The existence of two separate approaches to the care of pregnant women began in ancient history; ultimately it led to the development of the two professions of midwifery and medical obstetrics. Each of these disciplines is based on a different understanding of the nature and signi?cance of pregnancy and childbirth. Midwifery developed out of the social, informational, physical, (Adler, 1997) and material support women have traditionally provided to one another in times of need. Midwives view pregnancy as a critical, vulnerable, but normal part of women's lives. Obstetrics developed from within medicine for the purpose of dealing with the pathologies of pregnancy and childbirth. Each of these perspectives calls forth a different approach to the care of pregnant women—the midwifery model and the medical model.

The underlying purpose of this paper is to describe how midwifery care differs from the care provided by and under the authority of physicians. However, it is impossible to do that accurately, as there are many midwives and many physicians and much variation within each group. To make it easier to identify and discuss the differences, this paper focuses on models. Focusing on models allows the writer—and reader—to ignore the variety that exists in reality and refer to theoretical abstractions as though they were real. But, discussing any subject in terms of models tends to accentuate differences. In this case, it is essential for all readers to understand that the differences are relative. (Adler, 1997)

Difference In Philosophy and Focus

Midwifery and medical obstetrics are separate but complementary professions with different philosophies and overlapping but distinct purposes and bodies of knowledge. Physicians are experts in pathology and should have primary responsibility for the care of pregnant women who have recognized diseases or serious complications. Midwives are experts in normal pregnancy and in meeting the other needs of ...