Researchers from Acadia University are studying maternal health and midwifery in rural areas.
A research project will focus on the Valley where there are no government run midwifery services and the South Shore, where provincially run midwifery services have been recently suspended due to staffing issues.
Graduate student and research coordinator on the project, Kayla McCarney is speaking with mothers in the area about their experiences with maternal health.
The question the project poses is this: “How has the professionalization of midwifery in Nova Scotia affected families, care provision, and support services in two rural communities, a community that does not have a midwifery pilot program and a community that does have a midwifery pilot program?”
Although, they are still collecting and analyzing data, McCarney says the issues in the area highlight problems with centralization and the need for universal health services.
“In order for communities to … flourish and to be able to withstand centralization practices you need to have services in the community.”
McCarney says she hopes lessons can be learned in the future on how to support a midwifery model province-wide.
She says she can’t comment too much yet on the data she’s received but says mothers have been pointing out flaws in the system.
“Being in an area that has a midwifery model based in a hospital doesn’t mean it’s an accessible service,” says McCarney. “I’ve been hearing from women on the South Shore there are incredibly long wait lists.”
Families across the South Shore have been speaking out regarding the lack of services with many asking government to expand the program from pilot sites to being universally offered.
McCarney is hosting a focus group in Vogler’s today, which is full but she says she may host another in the future.
She says she’s been inundated with mothers looking to speak to her about their experiences with the services as well as those who were looking to use midwives in the near future.
Those wishing to weigh in can reach McCarney at kaylamccarney@acadiau.ca
