Case Study Flashcards
A woman comes to see you in early pregnancy wondering whether she should keep the baby, what ethical issues might she be considering?
Beliefs regarding termination
Any religious beliefs
Thoughts regarding bringing a child into the world that you do not feel able to care for
A woman comes to see you in early pregnancy wondering whether she should keep the baby, what psychological issues might she be considering?
Anxiety about being a parent
Anxiety about going through with a termination
Stress/anxiety about level of support she may have from family and friends
A woman comes to see you in early pregnancy wondering whether she should keep the baby, what social issues might she be considering?
Support network - does she feel her friends would be supportive
Her social life will dramatically change after having a baby
Ability to find a job/ work will be affected in the short or longer term
Factors which increase the chance of someone changing their behaviour
You think the advantages of change outweigh the disadvantages
You anticipate a positive response from others to your behaviour change
There is social pressure for you to change
You perceive the new behaviour to be consistent with your self-image
You believe you are able to carry out the new behaviour in a range of circumstances
Using smoking or alcohol as an example, how might the factors which increase the chance of someone changing their behaviour, apply to a woman who is pregnant?
The advantages of not drinking/smoking (healthy baby) outweigh the disadvantages
You anticipate a positive response from others to your behaviour change (e.g. your partner also wants the unborn child to be healthy)
There is social pressure for you to change (very socially unacceptable to drink/smoke when obviously pregnant!)
You perceive the new behaviour to be consistent with your self-image (a good mother)
You believe you are able to carry out the new behaviour in a range of circumstances (at home, celebrations, etc.)
What factors affect foetal wellbeing
Alcohol Smoking Illicit drugs Prescription drugs OTC medication, internet remedies, herbal medication X-rays Dietary factors - lack of folic acid, soft cheese etc. Infectious diseases
What actions might a government take to promote health in the population as a whole?
Legislation/policies on smoking/alcohol (e.g. minimum age to buy products, licensing laws, taxation) Improvements in housing Provision of health education Health and safety laws Traffic/transport legislation/policies
A pregnant patient tells their GP that their partner has left them but still shows up at the house late at night after drinking with friends, and is usually drunk and upset/angry. What issues might the GP note here? What other health professional might the GP lease with to get a better picture of the home situation?
Potential for gender based violence (domestic abuse)
Might be Child Protection issues at a later date
The Health Visitor (regular contact with families of pre-school children)
WHO definition of health
A state of complete physical, mental and social wellbeing and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity
Reasons why someone might feel they are health
No illness/ long term condition (chronic disease) Exercises regularly On no regular medication Manages to work, socialise 'Healthy diet' Managed to become pregnant
Why might someone feel that smoking is normal behaviour?
Might be normal for their peer or social group, but would be abnormal perhaps for the wider population
Might watch TV programmes where smoking is normal behaviour
What definition applies to babies born weighing less than 2500 grams?
Low birth weight
Advantages of developmental milestones
Provide GPs and HVs with aid to management in child development and clear cut off points for referral.
Makes it easier to reassure anxious parents about range of normality and to provide parents with a logical explanation about developmental progress.
Provides a structure for developmental assessment.
Aids parental interaction in child development e.g. encourage speaking and reading to aid development.
Use in research-allows comparison across peer groups.
Disadvantages of using developmental milestones
May result in parental anxiety.
Potential for different interpretations of guidelines.
Medicalisation of “normality”.
May place doctor in difficult situation e.g. parental anxiety resulting in unnecessary referral.
May be difficult to balance confounding factors such as prematurity against guidelines.
Which country in Europe has the highest number of single parent families? Approx how many single parent families are there in that country?
The UK
2 million
