Ethical Issues in Maternal and Child Health Nursing

Background: Health care givers, particularly midwives, perinatal and neonatal nurses, face ethical issues possibly because of their interactions with patients and clients in the reproductive age groups. Ethical issues across the child bearing ages are multiple and complex.Material and Methods: This is a literature review on ethical issues in maternal and child health nursing, challenges faced by maternal and child health nurses and strategies for decision making.Results: A unique aspect of maternity nursing is that the nurse advocates for two individuals, the woman and the fetus. The maternity nurse’s advocacy role is more clearly assigned for the pregnant woman than for the fetus, yet the needs of the mother and fetus are Interdependent. Ethical dilemmas occur in maternal and child health nursing, as they do in other areas of nursing. Such situations_ are common in perinatal and neonatal care because the wellbeing of mother and her neonate must be considered. Rapid technological and scientific advancement are presenting difficult questions. Maternal and child health issues often involve conflicts in which a woman behaves in a way that may cause harm to her fetus or is disapproved of by some or most members of society. conflicts between a mother and fetus occur when the mother’s needs, behavior, or wishes may injure the fetus. The most obvious instances involve abortion, assisted reproduction (artificial insemination, in vitro fertilization and embryo transfer, and surrogate parenthood), and selective reduction in multi fetal pregnancy, intrauterine treatment of fetal conditions, substance abuse, and refusal to follow the advice of caregivers. Health care workers and society may respond to such a woman with anger rather than support. However, the rights of both mother and fetus must be children.Conclusion: maternal and child health nurses are faced with complex ethical issues. Moral courage and advocacy for women and children are necessary tools to help manage the associated distress. Nurses should adhere to standard professional ethics in health care decision making.