{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,7,30]],"date-time":"2026-07-30T15:54:34Z","timestamp":1785426874547,"version":"3.56.0"},"reference-count":38,"publisher":"AOSIS","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2025,11,21]],"date-time":"2025-11-21T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1763683200000},"content-version":"unspecified","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0"}],"content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["HSAG"],"abstract":"<jats:p>Background:\u00a0Intimate examinations are a vital part of midwifery care during pregnancy, labour, and the postnatal period. Women\u2019s experiences of these procedures vary greatly, and poor communication can lead to significant distress, particularly for first-time mothers. Despite its importance, psychological health during such examinations is often overlooked.\nAim:\u00a0The study aims to explore the psychosocial needs of women undergoing perinatal intimate examinations.\nSetting:\u00a0Data were gathered in postnatal wards and Midwife Obstetric Units (MOUs) of level 1\/district hospitals within the Tshwane District, Gauteng province, South Africa.\nMethods:\u00a0Telephonic semi-structured interviews were conducted with 30 postnatal mothers from two district hospitals and four MOUs located in community health centres in the Tshwane District.\nResults:\u00a0Women expressed the need for competent, empathetic health care providers who create a respectful, safe, and dignified environment. Minimising the frequency of intimate examinations reduced both physical and emotional discomfort. The use of alternative, less invasive assessment techniques enhanced women\u2019s comfort and alleviated anxiety. Emotional and practical support from health professionals and significant others also improved women\u2019s overall experience, decreasing fear and embarrassment.\nConclusion:\u00a0Intimate examinations often evoke fear and embarrassment due to privacy concerns and past trauma. Women require psychosocial support during these procedures. Midwives should receive training to conduct examinations with sensitivity and care to ensure women\u2019s comfort and emotional safety.\nContribution:\u00a0The study provides South Africa-specific guidelines promoting holistic, respectful perinatal intimate examinations that emphasise communication, consent, and women\u2019s psychosocial well-being.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.4102\/hsag.v30i0.3179","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2025,11,20]],"date-time":"2025-11-20T08:39:47Z","timestamp":1763627987000},"update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.4102\/crossmark-policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":0,"title":["Psychosocial needs of women undergoing perinatal intimate examinations"],"prefix":"10.4102","author":[{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0009-0009-4800-037X","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Ntsoaki M.","family":"Tshabalala","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"id":[{"id":"https:\/\/ror.org\/00g0p6g84","id-type":"ROR","asserted-by":"publisher"}],"name":"University of Pretoria"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-9311-5063","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Mariatha","family":"Yazbek","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"id":[{"id":"https:\/\/ror.org\/00g0p6g84","id-type":"ROR","asserted-by":"publisher"}],"name":"University of Pretoria"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0003-3477-7275","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Carin","family":"Maree","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"id":[{"id":"https:\/\/ror.org\/00g0p6g84","id-type":"ROR","asserted-by":"publisher"}],"name":"University of Pretoria"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]}],"member":"2580","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2025,11,21]]},"reference":[{"key":"ref0","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Adu-Bonsaffoh, K., Mehrtash, H., Guure, C., Maya, E., Vogel, J.P., Irinyenikan, T.A. et al., 2021, \u2018Vaginal examinations and mistreatment of women during facility-based childbirth in health facilities: Secondary analysis of labour observations in Ghana, Guinea and Nigeria\u2019, BMJ Global Health 5(Suppl. 2), e003682. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1136\/bmjgh-2020-003682","DOI":"10.1136\/bmjgh-2021-006640"},{"key":"ref1","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Avanigadda, D.B. & Kulasekaran, R.A., 2021, \u2018Associations between intimate partner violence and pregnancy complications: A cross-sectional study in India\u2019, Journal of Family and Community Medicine 28(1), 17\u201327. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.4103\/jfcm.JFCM_365_20","DOI":"10.4103\/jfcm.JFCM_256_20"},{"key":"ref2","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Avery, M.D., Jennings, J.C., Germano, E., Andrighetti, T., Autry, A.M., Dau, K.Q. et al., 2020, \u2018Interprofessional education between midwifery students and obstetrics and gynecology residents: An American College of Nurse-Midwives and American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists collaboration\u2019, Journal of Midwifery & Women\u2019s Health 65(2), 257\u2013264.","DOI":"10.1111\/jmwh.13057"},{"key":"ref3","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Bedaso, A., Adams, J., Peng, W. & Sibbritt, D., 2021, \u2018The association between social support and antenatal depressive and anxiety symptoms among Australian women\u2019, BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth 21(1), 708. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1186\/s12884-021-04188-4","DOI":"10.1186\/s12884-021-04188-4"},{"key":"ref4","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Bolton, P. & Gillert, K., 2019, \u2018Can mental health treatments help prevent or reduce intimate partner violence in low-and middle-income countries? 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