African journal of reproductive health最新文献

Though women are usually targeted for contraception use, fertility decisions are mostly taken by the man, who is more likely to have more children in many developing countries. This study, therefore, aimed to assess and compare fertility intentions among men in rural and urban areas of Osun State, Nigeria. This comparative cross-sectional study was conducted among 400 men in rural and urban areas of Osun State. Data collection was done using semi-structured interviewer-administered questionnaires. The mean age of the rural respondents was 40.35 ± 9.137 years, while that of the urban respondents was 42.62 ± 9.130 years (t= -3.526, P= < 0.001). Age (AOR = 2.589, 95% C.I = 1.476 - 4.540), education (AOR = 0.478, 95% C.I = 0.287 -0.797), religion (AOR = 2.671, 95% C.I = 1.694 - 4.214) and number of living children (AOR = 2.411, 95% C.I = 1.381 - 4.211) predicted fertility intentions in the urban areas.

Shifting geopolitical policies, competing priorities and declines in national economies have lately led to a decrease in foreign aid from various donor countries with implications for multilateral agencies. This sharp fall in official development assistance threatens the attainment of sustainable development goals, especially as pertaining to sexual and reproductive health and rights across the global south. International concerns have led to calls for innovative partnerships, alternative resource mobilisation, and stronger community engagement. This challenge offers opportunities for both governments and civil society to shift from dependency to sustainability through alternative pathways for domestic resource mobilisation and much more predictable financing.

This study aimed to explore the effect of the discharge readiness linkage intervention programme based on the Meleis transformation theory in the home ward of preterm infants. The study population consisted of 74 preterm infants and their caregivers who were admitted to the NICU of Chifeng Municipal Hospital between January and June 2023. The intervention group received the routine care combined with the intervention model of discharge preparation based on the Meleis transition theory, while the control group received routine care. The results indicated that the discharge readiness linkage intervention programme based on the Meleis transformation theory significantly improved the caregiving capacity of preterm caregivers, increased the readiness of the babies for discharge, and reduced the readmission rate of preterm infants within 1 year of discharge. In addition, the discharge readiness linkage intervention programme based on the Meleis transformation theory helped to improve the physical development of preterm babies and the negative emotions of caregivers. We conclude that the discharge readiness linkage intervention programme based on the Meleis transformation theory effectively improves the survival of preterm infants.

This study aimed to develop a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and clinical factor-based nomogram for prenatal diagnosis of placenta accreta spectrum disorders (PAS). Clinical and MRI data from pregnant women were retrospectively analyzed and split into training (70%) and validation (30%) sets. Binary logistic regression identified age, placenta previa, T2 dark band, placental/uterine bulge, loss of T2 hypointense interface, myometrial thinning, and abnormal placental bed vessels as significant predictors of PAS. A nomogram incorporating these factors demonstrated strong diagnostic performance via ROC analysis (AUC >0.8), calibration curves, and decision curve analysis (DCA) in both training and validation sets. The model showed high accuracy and clinical utility, supporting its use in prenatal PAS diagnosis.

Training competent clinicians in reproductive health requires teaching approaches that integrate theoretical knowledge with clinical reasoning, communication, and evidence-based decision-making. Traditional lecture-based methods often fall short of addressing this complex need in obstetrics and gynecology education. This study examined the effectiveness of an integrated teaching model that combines Case-Based Learning (CBL), Problem-Based Learning (PBL), Standardized Patients (SP), and Evidence-Based Medicine (EBM) in improving clinical competence, critical thinking, and evidence-based application. A prospective, quasi experimental study was conducted in January and June 2024 at Zhongshan Hospital Fudan University, involving 100 medical interns during their rotation in obstetrics and gynecology. Participants were randomly assigned to an integrated teaching group or a control group receiving conventional lectures. Post-intervention results showed that the integrated group scored significantly higher in clinical performance (Mini-CEX: 8.3 ± 0.9 vs. 6.8 ± 1.1), critical thinking (CTSI: 180.3 ± 15.2 vs. 134.1 ± 14.3), EBM competency (26.9 ± 2.3 vs. 22.9 ± 2.5), and teaching satisfaction (95.2% vs. 75.3%) (all p < 0.01). These findings suggest that the combined CBL/PBL/SP/EBM model effectively enhances clinical and analytical capabilities in reproductive health training. Its broader application could improve the quality of obstetrics and gynecology education and better prepare future healthcare professionals.

The objective of the study was to investigate the effectiveness of cluster nursing intervention in preventing urinary catheter-related urinary tract infections. Seventy-eight patients with indwelling urethral catheters admitted to Funan County Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine from January 2020 to December 2020 were recruited as study participants. They were randomly divided into a control group (routine nursing intervention) and an observation group (cluster nursing intervention). The results showed that compared with the control group, the observation group had better total effectiveness rate, shorter indwelling catheter time, shorter disappearance time of bladder irritation symptoms, higher scores of emotional role, physical health, cognitive ability, social function and quality of life, lower occurrence of adverse catheter events, and higher nursing satisfaction. We conclude that clustered nursing can reduce the occurrence of urinary catheter-related urinary tract infections, promote the quality of life, shorten the duration of catheter indwelling and bladder irritation symptoms, prevent adverse catheter events, and improve nursing satisfaction of patients with patients with indwelling urinary catheters.

During pregnancy, various factors influence sexual life, and religious attitudes play a significant role. However, studies on sexual satisfaction and religious attitudes in pregnant Muslim women are limited. This cross-sectional study, conducted in Türkiye's Mediterranean region with 230 pregnant volunteers (October 2023-March 2024), found that sexual satisfaction is significantly associated with educational status, frequency of intercourse, perceptions of safety, and feelings of shame or guilt. Despite no restrictions on sexual activity in healthy pregnancies, religious beliefs can negatively impact sexual life. The study highlights the lack of discussion on female sexuality during pregnancy in clinical settings and emphasizes the need for integrating this topic into pregnancy education. While contributing to the limited literature, findings are specific to one region and based on self-reported data, which may introduce bias.

This was an original study, aimed to explore the efficacy of rapid urease, serum antibody and histopathological detection of Helicobacter pylori (Hp) infection in children. One hundred and forty (140)children admitted to Liaoning Cancer Hospital & Institute due to gastrointestinal symptoms who underwent electronic gastroscopy from June 2020 to June 2022 were included. Among the 140 children, 72 were positive for Hp infection by rapid urease, 71 with serum antibody, and 67 with histopathology. The specificities of Hp infection detected by the three methods - rapid urease, serum antibody and histology were 88.7%, 90.6% and 91.7%, respectively. We conclude that the combination of three detection methods of rapid urease, serum antibody and histopathology can improve the sensitivity, specificity, and the accuracy of Hp detection.

Semen cryopreservation is an essential technique in artificial insemination (AI) and assisted reproductive technology (ART). The addition of antioxidants to the freezing medium is a promising strategy to reduce cryo-induced damage to sperm cells. While sperm freezing has been extensively studied, this research aimed to improve the post-thaw durability and functionality of sperm. A total of 110 semen samples 55 from fertile and 55 from infertile individuals were collected and processed. After centrifugation, each sample was mixed with a cryoprotectant medium at a 1:1 (v/v) ratio. Three different cryoprotectant formulations (S1, S2, and S3), each containing varying concentrations of protective agents, were evaluated. The samples were then frozen in liquid nitrogen at -196°C. Post-thaw analyses included assessments of sperm count, motility, vitality, morphology, DNA fragmentation, and reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels representing a major strength of the study due to the comprehensive evaluation of sperm quality. The results showed significant differences in DNA fragmentation between fresh and cryopreserved samples. Among the tested formulations, S3 supplemented with citric acid anhydrous and taurine produced the best outcomes. It significantly improved sperm motility and vitality, while effectively reducing oxidative stress and cryodamage. Statistical analysis using one-way ANOVA and Tukey's HSD test revealed significant differences in sperm morphology between fresh and post-thaw S3-treated samples (p < 0.05), with a 95% confidence level. A limitation of the study was the long interval between the use of fresh control samples and the analysis of cryopreserved samples, which may influence comparative accuracy. Despite this limitation, the findings suggest that the S3 formulation is highly effective in preserving sperm quality. These results support its potential integration into fertility preservation protocols in ART. Furthermore, the outcomes may guide clinical practice and support the development of national policies aimed at improving access to advanced cryopreservation techniques as part of comprehensive reproductive healthcare services.

Labor pain is often managed with pharmacological interventions, which can lead to several adverse effects for mothers and neonates. Consequently, non-pharmacological interventions are gaining attention as safer alternatives for pain relief during labor. This systematic review aimed to assess the effectiveness of non-pharmacological methods in reducing labor pain. A comprehensive search was conducted in PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and Cochrane Library databases up to September 2024. Only randomized controlled trials (RCTs) evaluating non-pharmacological interventions for labor pain relief were included, with pain intensity during cervical dilatation as the primary outcome. Data synthesis was performed using RevMan (V5.3). Seventy-seven RCTs involving 8,805 pregnant women were analyzed. The results indicated that non-pharmacological methods significantly reduced pain at 3-4 cm cervical dilatation compared to control groups (M.D. = -1.63, 95% C.I. [-2.05 to -1.21], P < 0.0001). Notably, subgroup analysis showed that body acupressure (M.D. = -2.08, 95% C.I. [-2.76 to -1.40], P < 0.0001) and foot reflexology (M.D. = -2.48, 95% C.I. [-2.84 to -2.13], P < 0.0001) were particularly effective. High heterogeneity (I² > 90%) was noted, partly reflecting differences in intervention types, protocols, and participant characteristics. Overall, non-pharmacological interventions provided substantial relief in labor pain compared to standard care, suggesting their potential utility in obstetric practice. Further large-scale studies are warranted to confirm these findings.