Experiences of Academic Women in Jordan on Their Return to Work After Childbirth.

OBJECTIVE: To describe the experiences of women living in Jordan returning to work at their academic positions after giving birth to their first newborns. DESIGN: Qualitative descriptive phenomenological design. SETTING: Various schools within a governmental university in Jordan. This study describes the challenges women in academia experience in the context of Jordan's Arabic patriarchal communities. PARTICIPANTS: A purposive sample of 15 women returning to their academic positions. METHODS: Unstructured, face-to-face, in-depth interviews of women returning to their academic positions within 3 months after giving birth to their first newborns. The recorded interviews were analyzed using Braun and Clarke's thematic analysis process. RESULTS: Three major themes emerged: Living in Chaos, The Urgent Need for Transitional Time, and Calling for Help andSupport. Participants described their return to work as a period marked by a sense of chaos and instability, in which they felt a loss of control over their lives. They expressed a pressing need for a transitional period before resuming full-time academic roles, highlighting the importance of a gradual return. Finally, participants shared their struggles with the extra demands added to their daily routine. As working mothers, participants experienced extreme distress while attempting to fulfill their daily responsibilities. They emphasized the lack of adequate support in this challenging period. CONCLUSION: Women returning to their academic work after giving birth to their first newborns need to be prepared physically and emotionally for the changes and responsibilities of their new life. A longer period of maternity leave or a transitional period may help women working in academia to manage the demands of multiple maternal roles alongside their professional commitments. These findings highlight the absence of formal policies needed to support women in academia in their return to work after maternity leave.

Exploring Knowledge, Safety Practices, and Anxiety Level among Women of Reproductive Age During COVID-19 Outbreak: A Cross-Sectional Study.

Background: The global outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) and its consequences compromise the health of Women of Reproductive Age (WRA). The aim of this study was to assess the level of knowledge, safety practices, and anxiety levels among WRA during COVID-19 outbreaks. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional, correlational design was used to recruit a convenience sample of 453 WRA in Saudi Arabia. Data were collected using an electronic self-administered questionnaire of Spielberger state-trait anxiety and an adapted authors-developed knowledge and practices scale using an extensive literature review. Data were collected between September and December 2020 targeting all women in the country. Pearson correlation coefficient has been used to test correlation utilizing the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) 25. Results: The mean score of anxiety was 46.0 (13.40). Women have a high mean score of knowledge (24.50, standard deviation (SD) = 3.40) while having a low mean score of practices (19.70, SD = 3.10) indicating inappropriate practices. A significant difference was found in anxiety (t479 = 2.52, p = .012) and knowledge (t479 = -1.98, p = .048) between pregnant and non-pregnant women, while no statistically significant difference was found in relation to practices. The mean score of anxiety was higher among pregnant women than non-pregnant women, while a slightly higher mean score of knowledge was observed for non-pregnant women compared to pregnant ones. Conclusions: Although women had good knowledge about safety precautions, their practices did not indicate that. There is a need to educate women about safety practices and interventions that buffer their anxiety levels.

The impact of an educational intervention on neonatal intensive care unit nurses' knowledge, attitudes, and perceptions of parental participation in kangaroo mother care.

AIM: The aim of this study is to evaluate the effectiveness of the education interventions on NICU nurses' knowledge, attitudes, and perceptions of parental participation in kangaroo mother care (KMC) in NICU. METHOD: A quasi-experimental pretest/posttest nonequivalent group design was used to evaluate the effectiveness of the education interventions on NICU nurses' knowledge, attitudes and perceptions of parental participation in KMC delivered in the neonatal intensive care units at three hospitals. 160 nurses participated in the study, with a division of 80 in the educational group, and 80 in the non-educational group. RESULTS: The results showed that the educational group was statistically different in knowledge post-intervention (t = -2.819, df = 79, p≤0.001). The pre-intervention mean attitude for the educational group was 19.81 (SD = 4.3). The findings expressed that the educational group was statistically different in attitude in the post-intervention phase (t = -3.66, df = 79, p≤0.001). The results reflect a significant effect in the educational group regarding nurses' perspectives of parental participation post-intervention (t = 5.496, df = 79, p≤0.001). CONCLUSION: Our findings showed that providing nurses with additional education increased their knowledge, improved their attitudes, and enhanced their perceptions of parental support in NICU. Providing staff with an educational intervention about KMC in NICU can enhance nursing knowledge, attitudes, and perceptions of parental participation in neonate care in the NICU.

Sexual Satisfaction Among Infertile Couples: Demographics and Psychosocial Health Factors.

The purpose of the current study was to explore sexual satisfaction among infertile couples in Jordan and its associations with psychosocial and sociodemographic factors. Using a descriptive correlational design, 248 infertile couples from outpatient clinics were recruited and filled out a questionnaire on sexual satisfaction, in addition to perceived social support, depressive symptoms, psychological stress, coping skills, optimism, life satisfaction, and sociodemographics. Sexual satisfaction was significantly and positively correlated with perceived social support, optimism, life satisfaction, and coping. Stronger association was observed between sexual satisfaction and optimism. No difference was found in sexual satisfaction in relation to participants' gender, age, working status, or education. This study highlights the importance of building mental health nurses' competence to provide education and counseling on sexuality to improve the quality of life of infertile couples and optimize their sexual wellness. The most recent guidelines for psychosocial care for infertile couples are discussed. [Journal of Psychosocial Nursing and Mental Health Services, 58(9), 40-47.].

Psychosocial wellbeing of infertile couples in Jordan.

BACKGROUND: The psychological and social impact of infertility on married couples alerted researchers in developing countries to consequences of infertility and the need to not underestimate the problem. AIM: To examine the psychosocial wellbeing of infertile couples in Jordan. METHODS: A cross-sectional descriptive correlational study design was used to collect data regarding depression, psychological distress, life satisfaction, coping, optimism and perceived social support from 248 infertile couples using a self-administered questionnaire. Data were collected from May to August 2016. RESULTS: One hundred and sixty-four (66%) of the infertile couples had moderate to severe depression. Infertile couples had a high level of psychological distress, low level of life satisfaction, and yet a high level of optimism that the infertility is temporary. Participants had moderate ability to cope, moderate to high level of perception of social support from family and others, and low from friends. There were significant differences in depression and optimism between men and women (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Jordanian infertile couples face several psychosocial problems that need psychological counselling.

Jordanian mothers' beliefs about the causes of cancer in their children and their impact on the maternal role.

BACKGROUND: Arab culture and Islamic beliefs contribute to values and practices regarding cancer. Mothers in Jordanian society are expected to be the primary caregivers to children. PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to explore Jordanian mothers' beliefs regarding the causes of cancer in their children and their impact on their role as mothers. DESIGN: A descriptive, qualitative design was used. Individual interviews were conducted with Jordanian mothers (n = 51) of hospitalized children with cancer. RESULTS: Causes of cancer were attributed to supernatural explanations and biomedical explanations. The impact of cancer on these mothers' lives varied. For some, their child's illness resulted in stronger family bonds, whereas for others, the families suffered a state of disequilibrium. CONCLUSIONS: Cultural beliefs helped assign meaning to their children's illness. The maternal role of Jordanian women was partially fulfilled or inadequately performed, which in turn affected the functioning and coping abilities of the entire household.

Predictors of nursing faculty members' organizational commitment in governmental universities.

BACKGROUND: It is essential for all university leaders to develop and maintain an effective programme of total quality management in a climate that promotes work satisfaction and employee support. PURPOSE: The purpose of the study was to investigate the relationship of faculty members' organizational commitment to their job satisfaction, perceived organizational support, job autonomy, workload, and pay. METHODS: A quantitative study, implementing a correlational research design to determine whether relationships existed between organizational commitment and job satisfaction, perceived organizational support, job autonomy, workload and pay. RESULTS: Stepwise linear regression analysis was used to estimate the probability of recorded variables included significant sample characteristics namely, age, experience and other work related attributes. The outcome showed a predictive model of three predictors which were significantly related to faculty members' commitment: job satisfaction, perceived support and age. CONCLUSION: Although the findings were positive toward organizational commitment, continued consideration should be given to the fact that faculty members remain committed as the cost associated with leaving is high. IMPLICATION FOR NURSING MANAGEMENT: A study of this nature increases the compartment in which faculty administrators monitor the work climate, observe and identify factors that may increase or decrease job satisfaction and the work commitment.

The effects of undergraduate nursing student-faculty interaction outside the classroom on college grade point average.

BACKGROUND: The effects of student-faculty interactions in higher education have received considerable empirical attention. However, there has been no empirical study that has examined the relation between student-faculty interaction and college grade point average. PURPOSE: This is aimed at identifying the effect of nursing student-faculty interaction outside the classroom on students' semester college grade point average at a public university in Jordan. METHODS: The research was cross-sectional study of the effect of student-faculty interaction outside the classroom on the students' semester college grade point average of participating juniors and seniors. RESULTS: Total interaction of the students was crucial as it is extremely significant (t = 16.2, df = 271, P ≤ 0.001) in relation to students' academic scores between those students who had ≥70 and those who had <70 academic scores. However, gender differences between students, and other variables were not significant either to affect students' academic scores or students' interaction. CONCLUSION: This study provides some evidence that student-faculty interactions outside classrooms are significantly associated with student's academically achievements.

The effect of international courses on nursing practice at Jordanian hospitals.

BACKGROUND: Recently, nursing education in Jordan has been radically reformed to fit social and organizational processes of globalization. Jordanian nurses are attending international courses to improve their nursing practice. METHODS: This descriptive, qualitative study was aimed at identifying the impact of Jordanian nurses' participation in international courses on nursing practice in Jordan. Purposive sampling techniques were used. Two focus groups of Jordanian nurses who participated in international courses provided rich data. RESULTS: Findings from the focus groups suggested that participation in international courses makes a significant contribution to nurses' professional and personal development. CONCLUSION: Jordanian nurses are challenged to find ways to actually apply the new skills and knowledge gained from these courses in their work.