The Feasibility and Acceptability of the Adverse Childhood Experiences Questionnaire in Danish Antenatal Care—A Qualitative Study of Midwives’ Implementation Experiences

Helle Johnsen (), Vibeke de Lichtenberg, Eva Rydahl, Sara Mbaye Karentius, Signe Camilla Hjuler Dueholm, Majbritt Friis-Alstrup, Mette Grønbæk Backhausen, Katrine Røhder, Michaela Louise Schiøtz, Lotte Broberg and Mette Juhl
Additional contact information
Helle Johnsen: Department of Midwifery and Therapeutic Sciences, University College Copenhagen, Sigurdsgade 26, 2200 Copenhagen N, Denmark
Vibeke de Lichtenberg: Department of Midwifery and Therapeutic Sciences, University College Copenhagen, Sigurdsgade 26, 2200 Copenhagen N, Denmark
Eva Rydahl: Department of Midwifery and Therapeutic Sciences, University College Copenhagen, Sigurdsgade 26, 2200 Copenhagen N, Denmark
Sara Mbaye Karentius: Department of Midwifery and Therapeutic Sciences, University College Copenhagen, Sigurdsgade 26, 2200 Copenhagen N, Denmark
Signe Camilla Hjuler Dueholm: Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Holbæk Hospital, Smedelundsgade 60, 4300 Holbæk, Denmark
Majbritt Friis-Alstrup: Department of Obstetrics, Slagelse Hospital, Fælledvej 13, 4200 Slagelse, Denmark
Mette Grønbæk Backhausen: Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Zealand University Hospital Roskilde, Sygehusvej 10, 4000 Roskilde, Denmark
Katrine Røhder: Institute for Psychology, Copenhagen University, Øster Farimagsgade 2A, 1350 Copenhagen K, Denmark
Michaela Louise Schiøtz: Center for Clinical Research and Prevention, Bispebjerg and Frederiksberg University Hospital, The Capital Region of Denmark, Nordre Fasanvej 57, 2000 Frederiksberg, Denmark
Lotte Broberg: Center for Clinical Research and Prevention, Bispebjerg and Frederiksberg University Hospital, The Capital Region of Denmark, Nordre Fasanvej 57, 2000 Frederiksberg, Denmark
Mette Juhl: Department of Midwifery and Therapeutic Sciences, University College Copenhagen, Sigurdsgade 26, 2200 Copenhagen N, Denmark

IJERPH, 2023, vol. 20, issue 10, 1-18

Abstract: Adverse childhood experiences have a potential lifelong impact on health. A traumatic upbringing may increase antenatal health risks in mothers-to-be and impact child development in their offspring. Yet, little is known about the identification of adverse childhood experiences in antenatal care. The objective of this study was to explore the feasibility and acceptability of the adverse childhood experiences questionnaire among midwives and factors affecting its implementation. Three Danish maternity wards participated in the study. The data consisted of observations of midwifery visits and informal conversations with midwives, as well as mini group interviews and dialogue meetings with midwives. The data were analysed using systematic text condensation. Analysis of the data revealed three main categories; “Relevance of the adverse childhood experiences questionnaire”, “Challenges related to use of the adverse childhood experiences questionnaire” and “Apprehensions, emotional strain, and professional support”. The findings showed that the adverse childhood experiences questionnaire was feasible to implement in Danish antenatal care. Midwives’ acceptability of the questionnaire was high. Training courses and dialogue meetings motivated the midwives to work with the questionnaire in practice. The main factors affecting the implementation process were time restrictions, worries of overstepping women’s boundaries, and a lack of a specific intervention for women affected by their traumatic upbringing circumstances.

Keywords: adverse childhood experiences; antenatal care; pregnancy; screening (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2023
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations:

Downloads: (external link)
https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/20/10/5897/pdf (application/pdf)
https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/20/10/5897/ (text/html)

Related works:
This item may be available elsewhere in EconPapers: Search for items with the same title.

Export reference: BibTeX RIS (EndNote, ProCite, RefMan) HTML/Text

Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:20:y:2023:i:10:p:5897-:d:1151847

Access Statistics for this article

IJERPH is currently edited by Ms. Jenna Liu

More articles in IJERPH from MDPI
Bibliographic data for series maintained by MDPI Indexing Manager ().