Discuss how research evidence can inform improvements in the care of women living with HIV during the pregnancy

Advancing Maternal Care: The Role of Research in Supporting Women Living with HIV During Pregnancy in the United Kingdom Your Name Subject and Section Professor’s Name November 16, 2024 Understanding how to conduct proper research is essential for any healthcare professional. Research is an organized method of investigation that facilitates the acquisition of new knowledge or the confirmation of knowledge already in existence (Pawar, 2022). Research is, therefore, inherent in delivering nursing care as it enhances the functionality of clinical practice, develops healthcare systems, and supports patient-oriented results (Pawar, 2022). Nursing research includes and refers to the study of the biopsychosocial aspects of health and the search for knowledge for knowledge to improve care delivery processes (Williams, 2022). Nursing research is categorized into three main types: Different approaches include qualitative, quantitative, and a combination of both, known as mixed method research (Gassas, 2021). Quantitative analysis deals with numbers, while qualitative research aims to grasp the process, context, feelings, observations, and attitudes. For example, qualitative research can understand the reception of WLHIV to healthcare during pregnancy (Williams, 2022). The assessments include the efficacy effectiveness of antiretroviral therapy (ART) for HIV-positive pregnant women. The combined approach of quantitative and qualitative research is used in mixed methods where one can study the topic exhaustively, for example, the patient satisfaction levels and, simultaneously, estimate the impact of treatment (Gassas, 2021). These research types form the basis of evidence-based practice (EBP) as it seeks to promote clinical practice based on sound evidence that meets strict methodological standards (Pawar, 2022). Accordingly, EBP is based on research as it provides healthcare professionals with evidence needed for decision-making (Chau et al., 2022). This is especially important, especially concerning the provision of care to particular groups of people like the WLHIV during pregnancy. Research findings make it easier for nurses to deal with the issues that women with HIV encounter during pregnancy and breastfeeding, such as managing risks of vertical transmission, accessing ART, and stigma (Kasadha, 2024). It is, therefore, possible for healthcare providers to apply research findings to improve maternal and neonatal health as well as equity in the delivery of healthcare services (Chau et al., 2022). Enhancing the quality of antenatal care for WLHIV is an essential field of practice. In all parts of the world, there have been improvements in how frequently mother-to-child transmissions of HIV are seen through programs like universal ART. An unequal gender reporting, nonetheless, continues to exist, primarily based on the type of support provided for women, which includes psychosocial and informational support (Kasadha et al., 2024). In the UK, it is estimated that 600-800 women live with HIV and are pregnant each year, with the HIV transmission rate from mother to child being a deficient 0.22% (Kasadha et al., 2024). Kasadha, B., Hinton, L., Tariq, S. et al. How women living with HIV in the UK manage infant-feeding decisions and vertical transmission risk – a qualitative study. BMC Public Health 24, 2130 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-024-19581-9 Kasadha et al. (2024) examined WLHIV's experiences in decision-making regarding infant feeding and risks of vertical transmission in the UK using a qualitative research design. In this context, this study is particularly relevant in order to enhance pregnancy and post-pregnancy care because it demonstrated how women, after analyzing the pros and cons of both options, feel practically and psychosocially abandoned during the process of choice: formula feeding (Kasadha et al., 2024). This brings an important area of emphasis on clinical support, practically based recommendations involving the client, the culture, and the social relationships other than mere time-tables of recommended interventions (Kasadha et al., 2024). In the present study, the researchers used semi-structured interviews with 36 WLHIV in the pregnancy or postpartum period (Kasadha et al., 2024). Participants were approached purposively from NHS clinics, community centers, organizations, friends, and relatives (Kasadha et al., 2024). Qualitative data were then analyzed by coding the responses to seven themes and two subthemes using NVivo 12 software. Examining participants' viewpoints was more feasible since this methodology is essential for comprehending multiple decisional phases (Paradis-Gagne et al., 2024). However, sources of bias should not be ignored completely. First, using questionnaires with postpartum women may give rise to recall bias because women tend to forget events of the past. The responses may also have been socially desirably because the study participants were predominantly of Black African origin and from outside the UK, which may have represented another sect of societies (Evans et al., 2021). Moving forward, the study identified three key themes influencing infant-feeding decisions: It includes the following: (1) information and support, (2) challenge: the practical realities of putting medical advice into action, and (3) concern: the potential consequences of what goes into a child's mouth (Kasadha et al., 2024). Some women commented that clinical advice appeared to overemphasize the risks associated with VM but did not reflect their individual and societal concerns, such as shame or ability to pay (Kasadha et al., 2024). Also, several participants looked for information not from their direct clinical care team members to be self-directed (Kasadha et al., 2024). These findings have tremendous implications for practice. Doctors and other healthcare workers need to increase the scope of their thinking and acknowledge patients' cultural beliefs when giving expert opinions in the best interest of patients (Woodhead et al., 2022). Provider interventions include facilitating communication skills and competency and integrating training that might augment awareness and support WLHIV self-determination (Kasadha et al., 2024). Study 2: O...