Reproductive Health

Focus is aimed at sexual, reproductive and perinatal health, i.e. human reproduction and the beginning of life.

The research is focused on issues related to the clinical work of midwives. The philosophy of science as well as the design of the projects is thus generally based on caring and public health science, but also to some extent on social and medical science.

The unit is also engaged in international research projects and education in Asia, Africa and South America, as well as in student-teacher exchange programmes such as Erasmus and Linnaeus-Palme.

Research

Some examples of research projects:

• Caring routines in relation to childbirth (delivery, caesarean section, pain relief and preterm birth) and their effect on the mother/parent-infant interaction, well-being (physiological as well as psychological/behavioural) and breastfeeding.
• Normal childbirth incl. pregnancy and the postnatal/partum period
• The complexity of being a pregnant teenager and having to decide on continuing the pregnancy towards motherhood versus opting for an abortion.
• Infertility, mental ill health and social support related to reproductive health throughout the life span.
• Fex-Can, Fertility and sexuality following cancer.
• Fertility-related communication in cancer care.
• Psychosocial aspects of oocyte- and sperm donation.
• The Mindfulness Based Childbirth and Parenting Research Project
  

Education

Each year 64 midwives graduate at the Division, and many PhD students are supervised. Several courses are given, focusing on different target groups such as doctorial level courses, master's level courses, elective courses and commissioned education.