Motherhood in family context - comparing professional practices in maternity and child health care in Finland and Scotland

Authors

• Kuronen Marjo

DOI: https://doi.org/10.23979/fypr.44956

Keywords:

motherhood, family, maternity and child health care, Finland, Scotland

Abstract

The purpose of this article is to examine professional practices in matemity and child
health care in two countries, Finland and Scotland, concentrating on how motherhood
is located in family context, on how family is defined and worked with. Subthemes
analysed are the role of fathers, 'family support' fr mothers and the discussion over
lone motherhood. The study was carried out through local case studies using ethnographic
methods, mainly observation and interviews with health professionals. Results
show that Finnish health professionals have adopted a family-oriented way of working
emphasising the importance of pair relationships and shared parenthood, compared
with their Scottish colleagues, who work in a more women-oriented way and emphasise
the role of other women as social support fr mothers. In conclusion the two different
professional orientations are connected to wider social and cultural differences between
the two countries.