title: Challenges of a Pregnancy Gone Wrong: Pregnancy Complications, Illness Perceptions and Distress

authors: Currie, Jane Christina Helen

subjects: Illness perceptions

abstract: Women with pregnancy complications need to cope with a pregnancy that can have life changing consequences. The objective of this research project was to understand the experience of women who had been diagnosed with a pregnancy complication. The research involved an exploratory investigation into illness perceptions of pregnant women with complications and how these relate to depression and anxiety. First a literature review was divided into two parts. The first part dealt with anxiety specific to pregnancy complications. The second part dealt with illness perceptions. Since no published literature on illness perceptions in pregnancy complications was found, a literature review was conducted into illness perceptions in hypertension, diabetes and pain which are all closely associated to pregnancy complications.
 The research was divided into two studies. The first was a mixed method study in which six women were interviewed regarding their experience in dealing with a pregnancy complication and a pilot was conducted using the Illness Perception Questionnaire (Revised). The second study consisted of an online survey further exploring the relationship between illness perceptions and distress in this population. Recruitment for participation proved very difficult and there were only thirty-six participants who complete the full online study. This survey comprised of a battery of self-report questionnaires including background information, rating of health scale, the Illness Perception Questionnaire (Brief), Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale and State Trait Anxiety Inventory Scale (State).


Results from both studies indicated that women in experienced significantly higher degrees of distress and anxiety than those in normal populations. They perceived their pregnancy complications as being outside of their personal control and they don’t see treatment as likely to be effective in controlling their medical condition. They also perceived their pregnancy complication as having high consequences in their lives and they are concerned about the impact of the pregnancy complication has on themselves and on their child. The women who did not have detectable symptoms (asymptomatic) and who could not directly experience cues to their illness were significantly more depressed.
This research adds to the international findings on illness perceptions in general and is a starting point for understanding illness perceptions for women with pregnancy complications. The psychological needs of women with pregnancy complications are significant, and are often under-rated and under-evaluated by treatment providers. Understanding illness perceptions of this population can provide a framework for the development of further interventions for this vulnerable population.

text: Challenges of a Pregnancy Gone Wrong: Pregnancy Complications, Illness Perceptions and Distress Women with pregnancy complications need to cope with a pregnancy that can have life changing consequences. The objective of this research project was to understand the experience of women who had been diagnosed with a pregnancy complication. The research involved an exploratory investigation into illness perceptions of pregnant women with complications and how these relate to depression and anxiety. First a literature review was divided into two parts. The first part dealt with anxiety specific to pregnancy complications. The second part dealt with illness perceptions. Since no published literature on illness perceptions in pregnancy complications was found, a literature review was conducted into illness perceptions in hypertension, diabetes and pain which are all closely associated to pregnancy complications.
 The research was divided into two studies. The first was a mixed method study in which six women were interviewed regarding their experience in dealing with a pregnancy complication and a pilot was conducted using the Illness Perception Questionnaire (Revised). The second study consisted of an online survey further exploring the relationship between illness perceptions and distress in this population. Recruitment for participation proved very difficult and there were only thirty-six participants who complete the full online study. This survey comprised of a battery of self-report questionnaires including background information, rating of health scale, the Illness Perception Questionnaire (Brief), Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale and State Trait Anxiety Inventory Scale (State).


Results from both studies indicated that women in experienced significantly higher degrees of distress and anxiety than those in normal populations. They perceived their pregnancy complications as being outside of their personal control and they don’t see treatment as likely to be effective in controlling their medical condition. They also perceived their pregnancy complication as having high consequences in their lives and they are concerned about the impact of the pregnancy complication has on themselves and on their child. The women who did not have detectable symptoms (asymptomatic) and who could not directly experience cues to their illness were significantly more depressed.
This research adds to the international findings on illness perceptions in general and is a starting point for understanding illness perceptions for women with pregnancy complications. The psychological needs of women with pregnancy complications are significant, and are often under-rated and under-evaluated by treatment providers. Understanding illness perceptions of this population can provide a framework for the development of further interventions for this vulnerable population.

year: 2014

title: Planning paradise with the Cheshire Cat: Governance problems under the RMA

authors: Ericksen, Neil

subjects: New Zealand

abstract: Much has been made of compliance costs to business and the need to process consents hastily in relation to the Resource Management Act in New Zealand. This obsession with compliance misses the fundamental
problem of implementing the RMA — shortcomings in governance. This address will shed some light on this pervasive problem, first by
characterizing RMA within the theoretical range of national mandates, then dealing
in turn with governance issues at each level in the intergovernmental hierarchy of
partnerships established by RMA and LGA. It concludes with brief mention of long term
council community planning, because it too is at risk if governance is not
improved.

text: Planning paradise with the Cheshire Cat: Governance problems under the RMA Much has been made of compliance costs to business and the need to process consents hastily in relation to the Resource Management Act in New Zealand. This obsession with compliance misses the fundamental
problem of implementing the RMA — shortcomings in governance. This address will shed some light on this pervasive problem, first by
characterizing RMA within the theoretical range of national mandates, then dealing
in turn with governance issues at each level in the intergovernmental hierarchy of
partnerships established by RMA and LGA. It concludes with brief mention of long term
council community planning, because it too is at risk if governance is not
improved.

year: 2003-05-23

title: Co-opting or valuing the indigenous voice through translation? A decision for research teams

authors: Kidd, Jacquie

subjects: Māori

abstract: Although te reo Māori is an official language of Aotearoa New Zealand, translation of research material such as information sheets, consent forms and questionnaires into te reo Māori remains highly variable. Translation tends to occur in research projects where Māori lead the work and that exclusively focus on Māori communities and topics. Translations are not offered or undertaken as a matter of course for all research. As a team of Māori and Indigenous researchers working within the health sector, we believe that there are important questions that need to be explored around the practice of using Indigenous languages, rich in similes and metaphors, to convey English/Western concepts/constructs/ideologies. In this paper, we draw on the story of one project to deconstruct and challenge the hegemonic terms through which translation of research material occurs. We explore the messages that translated material sends to potential research participants.
We contend that the choice about whether to translate research material into te reo Māori is one that should be undertaken within a robust decision-making framework that considers the reasons for a translation and its impact on the participants. Translation should not be undertaken primarily to attract Māori participants, but should reliably signal that the research is being undertaken in a way that honours a Māori worldview.

text: Co-opting or valuing the indigenous voice through translation? A decision for research teams Although te reo Māori is an official language of Aotearoa New Zealand, translation of research material such as information sheets, consent forms and questionnaires into te reo Māori remains highly variable. Translation tends to occur in research projects where Māori lead the work and that exclusively focus on Māori communities and topics. Translations are not offered or undertaken as a matter of course for all research. As a team of Māori and Indigenous researchers working within the health sector, we believe that there are important questions that need to be explored around the practice of using Indigenous languages, rich in similes and metaphors, to convey English/Western concepts/constructs/ideologies. In this paper, we draw on the story of one project to deconstruct and challenge the hegemonic terms through which translation of research material occurs. We explore the messages that translated material sends to potential research participants.
We contend that the choice about whether to translate research material into te reo Māori is one that should be undertaken within a robust decision-making framework that considers the reasons for a translation and its impact on the participants. Translation should not be undertaken primarily to attract Māori participants, but should reliably signal that the research is being undertaken in a way that honours a Māori worldview.

year: 2019