For many years there has been growing concern about the culture of fear
that is penetrating maternity services throughout the world, and that
the fear felt by maternity care workers is directly and indirectly being
transferred to the women and families they serve. The consequences of
fear includes increased risk of defensive practice, where the woman and
her family become potential enemies to those providing her care. In
addition, the prevailing risk management and 'tick box' culture in
maternity services encourages maternity workers to give priority to the
records instead of the childbearing woman. These factors contribute to
the dissatisfaction felt by those using and providing maternity
services, and the apparent lack of kindness and respect. There is
however increasing evidence that kindness, compassion and mutual respect
improves efficiency, effectiveness, experience and staff morale within
healthcare settings. The Roar Behind the Silence provides information,
inspiration and practical suggestions to support maternity care workers,
policy makers, and maternity care funders across the world in their
quest to deliver sensitive, compassionate and high quality maternity
services.
The book highlights examples of good practice, and practical tools for
making change happen, using evidence and stories where appropriate.
Edited by Sheena Byrom & Soo Downe, with contributions by Hana Ruth
Abel, Maria Helena Bastos, Dean Beaumont, Dianne Bowser, Anna Byrom,
Sheena Byrom, Penny Campling, Michael Clift, Hannah Dahlen, Raymond de
Vries, Soo Downe, Ngai Fen Cheung, Julie Frohlich, Kathryn Guttridge,
Jennifer Hall, Shelagh Heneghan, Milli Hill, Billie Hunter, Mavis
Kirkham, Mande Limbu, Amali Lokugamage, Kerstin Uvnas Moberg, Mercedes
Perez-Botella, Gill Phillips, Elizabeth Prochaska, Progress Theatre
Group, Rineke Schram, Anna Ternovszky, Lucie Warren and Robin Youngson.
