Health Care for Women International最新文献

A survey of 300 expectant mothers, in their third trimester, was conducted in Bindura district of Zimbabwe. The causal study was done over a period of 6 months with the intention of determining the differential effects of various demographic factors of expectant mothers on midwife gender preferences. Data was collected using a short questionnaire on demographic factors and expectant mothers' preferences of male or female midwives. A binary logistics regression and odds ratios were used to analyse data. Our results revealed that specific demographics show preferences regarding the gender of midwives. Older women (aged 40 and above), who are married, having their first child, members of the African religion, and with less formal education, tend to prefer midwives of the same gender. Younger women (aged 18-39), those with prior pregnancy experience, Christians, and urban residents, generally were indifferent to midwife gender. Implications of the study were proffered.

Misinformation about COVID and the vaccine are rampant in Guatemala. Insights are needed from community leaders regarding public perceptions of the pandemic to inform effective interventions. Thus, 210 lay midwives participated in 11 focus groups. Participants shared the knowledge, practices, and attitudes of their families and communities about COVID-19 and the vaccine. Five themes emerged. Myths about the vaccine abound. Guatemalans use traditional remedies to treat COVID, have faith in God to cure them, and mistrust hospital care. The virus impacted cities more than rural areas. Integrating cultural viewpoints with modern information would build trust among Guatemalans regarding COVID-19.

We conducted a randomized clinical trial at a tertiary center between March and August 2022. We enrolled primiparous women aged 18-45 years requiring an episiotomy. Skin closure of the episiotomy was performed using three suture techniques: mattress, primary interrupted, and subcutaneous. Evaluation of healing and pain was carried out using Visual Analog Scale (VAS) and Redness, Edema, Ecchymosis, Discharge, and Approximation (REEDA) scores on the first and fifteenth postpartum days. The interrupted and subcutaneous groups showed significantly lower VAS scores on the first postpartum day compared to the mattress group (p < 0.001). The duration of mattress suturing was longer than that of interrupted or subcutaneous suturing (p = 0.044). On the fifteenth postpartum day, the subcutaneous group demonstrated lower REEDA scores compared to the other groups (p = 0.013). The subcutaneous continuous suturing group exhibited superior healing compared to the primary interrupted and mattress groups on the fifteenth postpartum day.

In this study, we described perinatal women's experiences of childbirth and parenting during the COVID-19 pandemic, guided by the qualitative descriptive methodology. We interviewed 14 women who gave birth during the pandemic. Data were analyzed using inductive qualitative content analysis. Our results showed that perinatal women experienced fear of COVID-19 infection, depression, and difficulties related to childbirth and parenting. They believed that online services and sharing information through social networking were helpful. They were looking forward to participating in outdoor activities to promote children's development and suggested enforcing untact (no contact) services for perinatal women in the post-COVID-19 era.

No research has explored the experiences of Indian women who become pregnant after they migrate to Australia, and how their existing traditions mix with their new environment and subsequently impact eating patterns. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with eleven women of Indian heritage who were living in Australia, and data were thematically analyzed. The researchers identified two main themes were identified (a) foods to eat and which to avoid, and (b) support networks and sources of health information during pregnancy. Women get advice and information from a range of sources and have diverse attitudes and beliefs about cultural food practices. that are both rigid and flexible, as well as traditional and contemporary.

Intimate Partner Violence (IPV) is a global problem and has been reported to be significantly higher for women in Low and Middle-Income Countries (LMICs). The researchers analyzed Demographic and Health Survey (DHS) data of married women in 20 LMICs to examine those most vulnerable to accepting IPV by investigating associated risk factors. The researchers revealed a higher level of acceptance of IPV among illiterate women from poorer households in remote areas. Using these findings, the authors provide insight into ensuring and enhancing the living standards of these vulnerable women by making education more readily accessible.

In this study, it was tried to determine the relationship between anxiety and marital adjustment in pregnant women during the epidemic, and to explain the variables affecting anxiety and marital adjustment. During the epidemic, many factors cause changes in the perceived anxiety level and marital adjustment in pregnant women. As the level of COVID-19 anxiety increases in pregnant women, marital adjustment scores decrease. It was determined that the anxiety levels were lower and marital adjustment was higher in pregnant women who had a planned pregnancy, did not have fears about childbirth, thought that their physical, mental health were not affected.

The pushback on women's health rights, particularly when it comes to more vulnerable groups like indigenous women, has necessitated new approaches for targeted communication strategies by health NGOs on sexuality and reproductive health rights (SRHR). To assess indigenous women's understanding of health communications on SRHR, the researchers conducted focus groups with the comadronas of Saving Mothers in Guatemala to explore their reception to these messages. Our results underscored the difficulties of access of these groups to quality information on reproductive health matters, placing limits on their capacity to navigate a complex (and manipulated) media landscape on SRHR. Based on our findings, the necessity to foster partnerships between NGOs, indigenous women's groups, researchers and government to enhance health literacy skills, engaging with communities so as to co-create communications material that attends specifically to their needs is highlighted.

Breastfeeding promotion is done in the form of education, not shared decision making. Consequently, breastfeeding while in hospital is still so low that problems arise after being discharged from the hospital. Researchers aimed to analyze the relationship between family support, personal communication, shared decision making, and breastfeeding in low birth weight babies. This study was a cross-sectional design conducted in three hospitals in the East Java province of Indonesia. Two-hundred mothers who have babies were selected as samples using simple random sampling. The variables were collected by a questionnaire. The data were then analyzed using path analysis. Breastfeeding showed a direct and positive relationship with shared decision making (b = 0.53; 95% CI = 0.25 to 0.81; p = <0.001). Shared decision making was directly and positively related with personal communication (b = 0.67; 95% CI = 0.56 to 0.77; p = <0.001). Personal communication showed a direct and positive relationship with family support (b = 0.40 95% CI = 0.24 to 0.57; p = <0.001). Yet, breastfeeding showed an indirect relationship with family support and personal communication. Breastfeeding increases with shared decision making and excellent personal communication between nurses and mothers. Personal communication will increase when getting support from the family.

Researchers in this study assesses risk behaviors for sexually transmitted infections (STIs) among sexual minority women (SMW) in Beijing, China. A total of 1,631 SMW participated in the study. Compared with women who have sex with women exclusively, women who have sex with both women and men reported more sex partners, more likely sharing sex toys, experiencing STI infections. Digital-genital sex, using sex toys, G-spot stimulation is associated with STI symptoms. SMW in Beijing engaged in high-risk sexual behaviors that may cause substantial risk for STIs. SMW and healthcare providers should be informed and STI testing should be promoted among SMW.