Cross-Cultural Adaptation and Validation of the Portuguese Version of the Multidimensional Scale of Dating Violence 2.0 in Young University Students.

BACKGROUND: Dating violence has become a problem of social relevance with short- and long-term health consequences. Nurses are in a privileged position to detect and address this problem in health facilities and as school nurses in schools, providing health education and detecting this violence correctly. AIM: The aim of this study was to evaluate the cross-cultural validation of the Portuguese version of the Multidimensional Scale of Dating Violence-Short (MSDV 2.0). METHODS: A validation investigation was carried out in two phases: (1) cross-cultural adaptation of the items and content validation of the Portuguese version of MSDV 2.0 and (2) psychometric validation. RESULTS: Phase (1): The items of the original version include a cross-cultural translation from Spanish to Portuguese and analysed by a group of experts in gender violence and by the authors of the original scale, then a back translation was made and again reviewed by the experts. Young university students also participated for face validity, and a pilot test was carried out. Phase (2): Confirmatory factor analysis was performed using the robust maximum-likelihood estimation method, which confirmed the five-dimensional structure, obtaining good fit rates (chi-square significance (χ2) = 187.860 (p < 0.0001); root mean square error of approximation (RMSEA) = 0.049; comparative fit index (CFI) = 0.937; Tucker-Lewis index (TLI) = 0.923). Reliability analysis indicated adequate internal consistency (Cronbach's alpha (α) = 0.88 to 0.70). Finally, scores of the Portuguese versions MSDV 2.0 were correlated, as expected, positively with the Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scale (DASS-21) (r = 0.36 to 0.16) and negatively with the Medical Outcomes Study Questionnaire Short Form 36, Health Survey (SF-36) (r = -0.30 to -0.14). CONCLUSIONS: To date, it is the only instrument that measures dating violence in a multidimensional way validated in the Portuguese university context.

Perceptions, Beliefs, and Experiences about the Menstrual Cycle and Menstruation among Young Women: A Qualitative Approach.

The experience of menstruation is often associated with negative connotations and gender stereotypes, which results in making it invisible. This research aimed to explore the perceptions, beliefs, and knowledge of young Spanish women regarding the menstrual cycle and menstruation and their impact on their lives. The study delves into their understanding, menstrual management practices, the types of menstrual products employed, and their experiences related to menstrual health. Qualitative methodology was used with discussion groups as a data collection technique. The participants comprised 45 young Spanish women, aged between 18 and 23, hailing from both rural and urban areas. The majority were university students, with some engaged in part-time work, and one participant working full-time. While many experienced menstrual pain ranging from mild to debilitating, a normalization of this pain often led them to forego seeking specialist assistance. Disposable menstrual products (DMPs) are the most used by participants, despite limited awareness of their absorption capacity. Regarding reusable menstrual products (RMPs), menstrual cup users emphasized comfort but expressed a need for proper training. Negative menstruation experiences could evoke fear and difficulties, underscoring the importance of providing comprehensive menstrual health education encompassing both theoretical and practical components.

Unhealthy gestational weight gain: Are we neglecting inadequate gestational weight gain?

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the prevalence of unhealthy gestational weight gain and analyze the role of women´s knowledge about the recommendations, expectations, beliefs, counseling, and information provided by midwives as potential factors contributing to failure to meet recommendations. RESEARCH DESIGN/SETTING: A retrospective cross-sectional study was performed in a tertiary Hospital in Seville (Spain) between March and September 2019. A sample of 500 singleton pregnant women at or over 37 weeks of gestation completed a self-administered questionnaire during a prenatal visit. Gestational weight gain was categorized as healthy/excessive/inadequate, according to the Institute of Medicine, for 409 women. Descriptive, bivariate, and multivariate analysis was performed. FINDINGS: Inadequate and excessive gestational weight gain were 33.4% and 33.9%, respectively. A multivariate model for excessive gestational weight gain showed pre-gestational body mass index was a risk factor, while exercise and believing the weight gain was healthy were protective factors. The model for inadequate gestational weight gain showed knowledge of recommendations was a protective factor while believing gestational weight was healthy was a risk factor. KEY CONCLUSIONS: Unhealthy gestational weight gain is common. Inadequate gain from women with healthy pre-pregnancy body mass index who believed their gain was healthy, was almost as common as excessive gestational weight gain. As shown by our predictive model beliefs regarding healthy gestational weight gain may act either as a protective factor, in the excessive gain model, or as a risk factor, in the inadequate gain model, depending on women´s pre-pregnancy body mass index and despite knowledge of the recommendations. IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE: Inadequate weight gain, and not only excessive gain, should be properly addressed during pregnancy. Healthy gestational weight gain should be approached by midwives with a combination of one-to-one and group antenatal care, where believes regarding healthy gestational weight gain should be addressed. Midwives should remain alert as we may be facing a new trend: increasing numbers of women presenting with inadequate gestational weight gain; with negative health implications for a healthy population. We recommend that midwives pay attention to women with a healthy pre-pregnancy Body Mass Index and who believe that their weight gain is correct because this profile frequently had an inadequate gestational weight gain.

Female employees' perception of breastfeeding-friendly support in a public university in Spain.

OBJECTIVE: To explore women's experience with continuing breastfeeding when they returned to work. DESIGN AND SAMPLE: A cross-sectional study was conducted. Participants were female employees at the University of Seville who gave birth in the last 10 years while working at University. MEASURES: A questionnaire in Spanish was used to collect information on sociodemographic variables, employment characteristics, continued breastfeeding behavior after returning to work and the dimensions of the validated scale the Workplace Breastfeeding Support Scale (WBSS). RESULTS: A total of 197 women responded, consisting of 53.8% faculty and 46.2% administrative staff. Almost all the women had breastfed their children (92.9%). The proportion of women who continued to breastfeed after they returned to work was 51.3%. The main reason given for interrupting lactation was the challenge of reconciling family and work (53.1%). Faculty members took more breaks for breastfeeding (p = 0.002) and were able to arrange their breaks more easily (p < 0.001). Since it was easier for them to find a quiet place to pump breast milk (p = 0.025), they were more likely to continue breastfeeding after returning to work than were administrative staff (59.8% vs. 41.1%, p < 0.009). CONCLUSION: A designated lactation space and amenities should be provided in order to extend the duration of breastfeeding.

[Promoting breastfeeding]. / Promocionando la lactancia materna.

The World Health Organization considers maternal breast feeding to be the ideal manner to feed a newborn child, as well as being a unique biological and emotional base, and recommends breast feeding to be the exclusive feeding method until the age of six months. After a period of massive abandonment caused by multiple socio-cultural causes beginning about a half century ago, breast feeding is now starting to make a slow recuperation. In Spain, there is an initial predisposition to breast feed of about 80%. However, in spite of the initiatives carried out by organizations and professional groups, the admission of mother and child into a hospital has a negative effect on breast feeding. Therefore, the authors have designed an program to use in a health education course to promote breast feeding while under hospital care.