Assoc Prof Sheila Clow
I never cease to be amazed at the changes that women undergo during pregnancy and the adaptations they and their newborns make. Fort this reason I am committed to physiological birth supporting women and babies in achieving the best birth experience they can. My particular clinical focus is on intrapartum (childbirth) care, which is embedded in maternal and child health and family support within health systems. For this reason, I am passionate about strengthening our health systems to support mothers and their infants, during this critical stage. My PhD focused on improving intrapartum care for woman in rural areas, in recognition of their limited access to health services. I believe that research should be contextually responsive and has the potential to help us better understand how our context impacts Nursing and Midwifery services and vice versa.
More recently, my research interests have expanded to include vulnerable populations who experience challenges accessing appropriate maternal health services. These include migrants/refugees, disabled people, and adolescents whose challenges are exacerbated by stigma. I believe nurses and midwives are the absolute bedrocks in the functioning of the health system and have much to contribute towards the development of safe, acceptable, accessible, and cost-effective maternal and newborn health services. My current research which is an international collaboration explores midwife- led birthing centres in Low- and Middle-Income countries (LMIC), and how these can be adapted and customized for use in countries where currently such services do not exist.
Qualifications:
PhD
MSc(Nursing)
BSocSc (Nursing) AUDNE RN RM CHN
Publications:
Emmanuel, A and Clow SE 2017 A questionnaire for assessing breastfeeding intentions and practices in Nigeria: Validity, reliability and translation. BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth
Emmanuel, A and Clow, SE. 2018 Does Maternal Employment Affect Breastfeeding in Plateau State, Nigeria? Africa Journal of Nursing and Midwifery 19(2):11 · January
Fuzy, E, Clow, SE and Fouche NA. 2020. "Please treat me like a person" - Respectful care during adolescent childbirth. British Journal of Midwifery 28(6), 360 - 369 https://doi.org/10.12968/bjom.2020.28.6.360. ISSN (print): 0969-4900; ISSN (online): 2052-4307
Emmanuel, A and Clow, SE. 2020 Factors associated with timely initiation of breastfeeding and prelacteal feeding in North-central Nigeria" International Journal of Childbirth 10(2) 25 June 2020 http://dx.doi.org/10.1891/IJCBIRTH-D-19-00027
Emmanuel, A and Clow, SE. 2021 "Determinants of exclusive breastfeeding and overall duration of breastfeeding among women in Plateau State, Nigeria" African Journal of Midwifery and Women’s Health. Published Online: 4 May 2021 https://doi.org/10.12968/ajmw.2019.0027
Abraham SA and Clow SE. 2021 "Trends of PMTCT services uptake, disengagement and retention among newly diagnosed HIV-positive pregnant and postpartum women in a Ghanaian Hospital" International Journal of STD & AIDS. Vol 0(0)1-7 DOI: 10.1177/09564624211046995
Abraham SA and Clow SE. 2022 “HIV counselling and testing experiences of expectant mothers in the prevention of vertical transmission programme: implications for policy and service delivery” Therapeutic Advances in Infectious Disease. Vol 9: 1-10, 17 February 2022 https://doi.org/10.1177/20499361221078424