Developing Music Therapy in Maternity Care in Ireland: A Qualitative Study

Area of Science:

• Perinatal Mental Health
• Complementary Therapies
• Maternal Healthcare

Background:

• Music therapy offers preventive and early intervention for perinatal challenges.
• It aids relaxation, reduces anxiety and depression, and promotes parent-infant attachment.
• Irish maternity services could enhance care quality by integrating music therapy.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore perspectives on developing music therapy in Irish maternity care.
• To understand the views of women and healthcare professionals regarding music therapy.
• To identify key components and strategies for implementing music therapy services.

Main Methods:

• Qualitative study using 6 semi-structured interviews.
• Participants included women and perinatal healthcare professionals in Ireland.
• Thematic analysis was used to identify key themes.

Main Results:

• Music serves multiple functions during the perinatal period.
• Music programs enhance holistic care and approachability.
• Music therapy offers specialist support, but development faces challenges.

Conclusions:

• Music therapy has significant potential in Irish maternity settings.
• Collaboration between researchers, practitioners, and policymakers is crucial.
• Addressing identified challenges is necessary for successful service development.