How do household living conditions and gender-related decision-making influence child stunting in Rwanda? A population-based study.

Child stunting (chronic undernutrition) is a major public health concern in low- and middle-income countries. In Rwanda, an estimated 33% of children are affected. This study investigated the household living conditions and the impact of gender-related decision-making on child stunting. The findings contribute to ongoing discussion on this critical public health issue. In December 2021, a population-based cross-sectional study was conducted in Rwanda's Northern Province; 601 women with children aged 1-36 months were included. Stunting was assessed using low height-for-age criteria. The Multidimensional Poverty Index (MPI) was used to determine household socioeconomic status. Researcher-designed questionnaires evaluated gender-related factors such as social support and household decision-making. Multivariable logistic regression analysis identified risk factor patterns. Six hundred and one children were included in the study; 27.1% (n = 163) were diagnosed as stunted; there was a higher prevalence of stunting in boys (60.1%) than girls (39.9%; p<0.001). The MPI was 0.265 with no significant difference between households with stunted children (MPI, 0.263; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.216-0.310) and non-stunted children (MPI, 0.265; 95% CI, 0.237-0.293). Most households reported a lack of adequate housing (78.9%), electricity (63.0%), good water sources (58.7%), and proper toilets (57.1%). Male-headed households dominated (92% vs. 8.0%; p = 0.018), and women often shared decision-making with their partners. However, 26.4% of women reported forced sexual intercourse within marriage (Odds Ratio [OR] 1.81; 95% CI, 1.15-2.85). Lack of support during illness ([OR], 1.93; 95% CI, 1.13-3.28) and absence of personal guidance (OR, 2.44; 95% CI, 1.41-4.26) were significantly associated with child stunting. Poverty contributes to child stunting in the Northern Province of Rwanda. Limited social support and women's lack of decision-making power in the household increase stunting rates. Interventions should empower women and address the broader social and economic context to promote both women's and children's health.

Common mental disorders and perinatal outcomes in Victoria, Australia: A population-based retrospective cohort study.

PURPOSE: Common mental disorders (non-psychotic mental health conditions which impact on day-to-day functioning) are increasingly common in childbearing women and may impact significantly on both maternal and neonatal outcomes. Our study examines the associations between common mental disorders and perinatal outcomes. METHODS: We used routinely collected perinatal data (2009-2016) for this population-based retrospective cohort study (n = 597,522 singleton births). We undertook multiple logistic regression adjusting for key maternal medical conditions and sociodemographic factors to determine associations between maternal common mental disorders and adverse perinatal outcomes with confidence intervals set at 95%. RESULTS: Women with common mental disorders were more likely to have an induction of labour and caesarean birth, have a postpartum haemorrhage (PPH), and be admitted to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) than women without common mental disorders. Neonates of women with common mental disorders were more likely to have an Apgar score at five minutes of less than seven (a measure of neonatal wellbeing at birth), be born preterm and low birthweight, be admitted to the Special Care Nursery or Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (SCN/NICU) and have a congenital anomaly than neonates of women without common mental disorders. CONCLUSION: Common mental disorders during the perinatal period were associated with poorer perinatal outcomes for mothers and their neonates. Strategies that enable early recognition and response to maternal common mental disorders should be developed to mitigate the consequential impact on maternal and infant wellbeing.

Perinatal outcomes of socially disadvantaged women in Australia: A population-based retrospective cohort study.

OBJECTIVE: To examine the perinatal outcomes of women who experience social disadvantage using population-based perinatal data collected between 1999 and 2016. DESIGN: Population-based, retrospective cohort study. SETTING: Victoria, Australia. POPULATION OR SAMPLE: A total of 1 188 872 singleton births were included. METHODS: Cohort study using routinely collected perinatal data. Multiple logistic regression was performed to determine associations between social disadvantage and adverse maternal and neonatal outcomes with confidence limits set at 99%. Time-trend analysis for perinatal outcomes was performed in relation to area-level disadvantage measures. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Incidence of maternal admission to intensive care unit (ICU), postpartum haemorrhage (PPH) and caesarean section, perinatal mortality, preterm birth, low birthweight (LBW), and admission to special care nursery/neonatal intensive care unit (SCN/NICU). RESULTS: Social disadvantage was associated with higher odds of adverse perinatal outcomes. Disadvantaged women were more likely to be admitted to ICU, have a PPH or experience perinatal mortality (stillbirth or neonatal death) and their neonates were more likely to be admitted to SCN/NICU, be born preterm and be LBW. A persistent social gradient existed across time for the most disadvantaged women for all outcomes except caesarean section. CONCLUSIONS: Social disadvantage has a marked negative impact on perinatal outcomes. This aligns with national and international evidence regarding the impact of disadvantage. Strategies that improve access to, and reduce fragmentation in, maternity care in addition to initiatives that address the social determinants of health may contribute to improving perinatal outcomes for socially disadvantaged women.

Associations between pre- and postnatal antibiotic exposures and early allergic outcomes: A population-based birth cohort study.

BACKGROUND: Early life antibiotic treatment is one likely exposure influencing allergy risk. The objective was to investigate associations between pre- and postnatal antibiotic exposures and the development of allergic manifestations until age 18 months. METHODS: We included 1387 mother-child dyads from the prospective, population-based NorthPop birth cohort study. Data on antibiotic exposures in pregnancy and childhood were collected by web-based questionnaires. Until the child turned 18 months old, parents (n = 1219) reported symptoms of wheeze, eczema, and physician-diagnosed asthma; parents (n = 1025) reported physician-diagnosed food allergy. At age 18 months, serum immunoglobulin E levels to inhalant (Phadiatop) and food (Food mix fx5) allergens were determined. Associations were estimated using bivariable and multivariable logistic regressions. RESULTS: Prenatal antibiotic exposure was positively associated with food sensitization in the crude (OR 1.82, 95% CI 1.01-3.26) but not in the adjusted analyses (aOR 1.58, 0.82-3.05). A borderline significant association was found between prenatal exposure and wheeze (aOR 1.56, 0.95-2.57). Postnatal antibiotics were positively associated with wheeze (aOR 2.14, 1.47-3.11), asthma (aOR 2.35, 1.32-4.19), and eczema (aOR 1.49, 1.07-2.06). Postnatal antibiotics were negatively associated with food sensitization (aOR 0.46, 95% CI 0.25-0.83) but not with food allergy nor sensitization to inhalants. CONCLUSION: Pre- and postnatal antibiotic exposure demonstrated positive associations with allergic manifestations and the former also with food sensitization. In contrast, there was a negative association between postnatal antibiotics and food sensitization. Food sensitization is often transient but may precede respiratory allergies. Future studies should investigate the relationship between antibiotic exposure and food sensitization later in childhood.

Severe mental illness and pregnancy outcomes in Australia. A population-based study of 595 792 singleton births 2009-2016.

BACKGROUND: Women with Severe Mental Illness (SMI) may have more complex pregnancies and pregnancy outcomes that require different care and management, but this has not been extensively studied. The aim of this study was to explore associations between SMI and adverse maternal and infant outcomes in the state of Victoria, Australia. METHODS: Our sample included all reported live singleton births in Victoria 2009-2016 (N = 595 792). Associations between SMI and adverse pregnancy outcomes were explored using Odds Ratios (OR), adjusted for sociodemographic and lifestyle factors, and co-morbidities, including any other mental illness. RESULTS: Of all singleton births, 2046 (0.34%) were to a mother diagnosed with a SMI. We found evidence of an association between SMI and a range of adverse maternal and infant outcomes. Compared to women without SMI, women with a SMI had higher adjusted odds of being admitted to a High Dependency Unit or Intensive Care Unit (aOR 1.83, 1.37-2.43), having gestational diabetes mellitus (1.57, 1.34-1.84), undergoing an unplanned caesarean section (1.17, 1.02-1.33), induction of labour (1.17, 1.05-1.30) and postpartum haemorrhage (1.15, 1.03-1.29). Newborns of women with SMI had higher adjusted odds of being admitted to Special Care Nursery (aOR 1.61, 1.43-1.80), a low Apgar score at 5 minutes (1.50, 1.19-1.90), preterm birth (1.40, 1.20-1.63), and low birthweight (1.26, 1.06-1.49). CONCLUSION: Women with SMI are at higher risk for a range of adverse maternal and infant outcomes and are a population that may benefit from targeted early identification and enhanced antenatal care.

Vietnamese midwives' experiences of working in maternity care - A qualitative study in the Hanoi region.

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to explore Vietnamese midwives' experiences of working in maternity care. METHODS: A descriptive qualitative study was undertaken, which involved four focus group discussions with midwives (n = 25) working at three different hospitals in urban, semi-urban and rural parts of Hanoi region, Vietnam. Data were analysed using qualitative content analysis. RESULTS: The overall theme, "Practising midwifery requires commitment" showed that Vietnamese midwives' dedication to their work and to women's reproductive health helped them to cope with stress, pressure and negative aspects of their work environment. In the first category "Being the central link in the web of care", midwives described themselves as having a key role in maternity care although collaborations with other health professions were important. In the second category "Rewarding role but also vulnerable position", positive aspects of midwifery were expressed although the great pressure of the work midwives do was prominent. High workload, patients' demands, and being negatively exposed and vulnerable, when adverse events occurred, were reported. In the third category "Morally challenging tasks", ultrasound examinations to reveal fetal sex and working with abortion services were described as emotionally stressful. CONCLUSIONS: Although participating Vietnamese midwives experienced midwifery as essentially positive, they felt exposed to significant workload pressure, ethically highly demanding work and being blamed when adverse obstetric events occurred. Public health interventions to inform Vietnamese citizens about reproductive issues, as well as specific antenatal education measures may increase the understanding of evidence-based maternity care and complications that can occur during pregnancy and birth.

A limited life - a mixed methods study on living with persistent pregnancy-related lumbopelvic pain more than 12 years postpartum in Sweden.

PURPOSE: The scope of this study is women's descriptions of symptoms experienced through persistent pregnancy-related lumbopelvic pain (PPLP) as well as their strategies to cope with the condition. METHODS: This is a mixed-method study based on questionnaire responses and inductive interviews with 12 Swedish women with self-reported PLP during pregnancy 2002 partaking in a 12-year postpartum follow-up questionnaire cohort. Test of statistical differences between the interview cohort and the total cohort was performed and the interviews were analysed through inductive qualitative content analysis. RESULTS: The questionnaire data showed that the interview sample reported significantly more pain than the questionnaire respondents but resembled the questionnaire respondents on most other characteristics. The theme "Balancing avoidance and activity" and its sub-themes illustrate the strategies the participants used to manage their situation on a daily basis. The pain was a constant reminder that led to evaluation of pros and cons for physical, social, and mental activities as well as the search for therapies and treatments. CONCLUSIONS: For the women who participated in the interviews, living with persistent pregnancy-related lumbopelvic pain caused limitations and negatively affected various and major parts of life to a far greater extent than previously known.Implications for rehabilitationPersisting pregnancy-related lumbopelvic pain affects various and major parts of life, including working, physical and social activities, and psychological well-being.Rehabilitation should focus on individualized physical activities and effective coping strategies.Effort should be put into helping the patient find fulfilling explanatory reasons for the persisting pregnancy-related lumbopelvic pain.

Maternal health care professionals' experiences and views on the use of obstetric ultrasound in Rwanda: A cross-sectional study.

BACKGROUND: This study, undertaken in Rwanda, aimed to investigate health professionals' experiences and views on the following topics: current clinical guidelines for ultrasound from second trimester at the clinic, regional and national levels, and adherence to clinical guidelines; medically indicated ultrasound examinations; non-medical use of ultrasound including ultrasounds on maternal request; commercialisation of ultrasound; the value of ultrasound in relation to other clinical examinations in pregnancy; and ultrasound and medicalisation of pregnancy. METHODS: A cross-sectional design was adopted. Health professionals providing antenatal care and delivery services to pregnant women in 108 health facilities were invited to complete a survey, which was developed based on the results of earlier qualitative studies undertaken as part of the CROss Country Ultrasound Study (CROCUS). RESULTS: Nine hundred and seven health professionals participated: obstetricians/gynecologists (3.2%,) other physicians (24.5%), midwives (29.7%) and nurses (42.7%). Few physicians reported the existence of clinical guidelines at clinic, regional or national levels in Rwanda, and guidelines were moderately adhered to. Three obstetric ultrasound examinations were considered medically indicated in an uncomplicated pregnancy. Most participants (73.0%) were positive about obstetric ultrasound examinations on maternal request. Commercialisation was not considered a problem, and the majority (88.5%) agreed that ultrasound had contributed to medicalisation of pregnancy. CONCLUSIONS: Findings indicate that clinical guidelines for the use of obstetric ultrasound are limited in Rwanda. Non-medically indicated obstetric ultrasound was not considered a current problem at any level of the healthcare system. The positive attitude to obstetric ultrasound examinations on maternal request may contribute to further burden on a maternal health care system with limited resources. It is essential that limited obstetric ultrasound resources are allocated where they are most beneficial, and clearly stated medical indications would likely facilitate this.

Physical activity and sedentary time during pregnancy and associations with maternal and fetal health outcomes: an epidemiological study.

BACKGROUND: Physical activity is generally considered safe for the pregnant woman as well as for her fetus. In Sweden, pregnant women without contraindications are recommended to engage in physical activity for at least 30 min per day most days of the week. Physical activity during pregnancy has been associated with decreased risks of adverse health outcomes for the pregnant woman and her offspring. However, there are at present no recommendations regarding sedentary behavior during pregnancy. The aim was to examine the level of physical activity and sedentary time in a representative sample of the pregnant population in Sweden, and to explore potential effects on gestational age, gestational weight gain, birth weight of the child, mode of delivery, blood loss during delivery/postpartum, self-rated health during pregnancy and risk of pregnancy-induced hypertension and preeclampsia. METHODS: This was an epidemiological study using data from the prospective, population-based NorthPop study in Northern Sweden and information on pregnancy outcomes from the national Swedish Pregnancy Register (SPR). A questionnaire regarding physical activity and sedentary time during pregnancy was answered by 2203 pregnant women. Possible differences between categories were analyzed using one-way Analysis of variance and Pearson's Chi-square test. Associations between the level of physical activity/sedentary time and outcome variables were analyzed with univariable and multivariable logistic regression and linear regression. RESULTS: Only 27.3% of the included participants reported that they reached the recommended level of physical activity. A higher level of physical activity was associated with a reduced risk of emergency caesarean section, lower gestational weight gain, more favorable self-rated health during pregnancy, and a decreased risk of exceeding the Institute of Medicine's recommendations regarding gestational weight gain. Higher sedentary time was associated with a non-favorable self-rated health during pregnancy. CONCLUSIONS: Our study showed that only a minority of pregnant women achieved the recommended level of physical activity, and that higher physical activity and lower sedentary time were associated with improved health outcomes. Encouraging pregnant women to increase their physical activity and decrease their sedentary time, may be important factors to improve maternal and fetal/child health outcomes.

Bridging different realities - a qualitative study on patients' experiences of preoperative care for benign hysterectomy and opportunistic salpingectomy in Sweden.

BACKGROUND: Hysterectomy is a common procedure worldwide and removing healthy fallopian tubes at the time of hysterectomy (opportunistic salpingectomy) to possibly prevent ovarian cancer is increasing in frequency, but still controversial. The experiences and perceptions of women, eligible for the procedure, have not been previously investigated. This study aims to, among women waiting to undergo hysterectomy, explore i) experiences and perceptions of self and healthcare in relation to their elective surgery, ii) perceptions of risks and benefits of hysterectomy, including opportunistic salpingectomy. METHODS: A qualitative study, with focus group discussions including women < 55 years, planned for hysterectomy with ovarian preservation, was performed. Participants were recruited through purposive sampling from six gynecological departments in different parts of Sweden, including both country and university hospitals. Focus group discussions were conducted using a semi-structured interview guide, digitally recorded, transcribed verbatim and analysed by qualitative manifest and latent content analysis. RESULTS: Twenty-one Swedish-speaking women participated. They were 40-53 years of age, reported varying educational levels, countries of birth and indications for hysterectomy. Analysis rendered a theme "Bridging different realities" over four categories: "Being a woman today", "Experiencing and managing body failure", "Navigating the healthcare system" and "Processing continuously until surgery", including 17 subcategories. The participants displayed varying attitudes towards the significance of their uterus in being a woman. A vague understanding of their body was described, leading to fear related to the reasons for surgery as well as surgery itself. Participants described difficulties understanding and recalling information but also stated that insufficient information was provided. Perceptions of the risks and benefits of opportunistic salpingectomy varied. Involvement in decisions regarding the hysterectomy and potential opportunistic salpingectomy was perceived to be dependent on the counselling gynecologist. CONCLUSIONS: The theme Bridging different realities captures the complexity of women deciding on removal of their uterus, and possibly fallopian tubes. It also describes the women's interactions with healthcare and perceived difference between the health professionals and the women's perception of the situation, as viewed by the women. Bridging the different realities faced by patients is required to enable shared decision-making, through sufficient support from healthcare.

Sub-optimal use of ultrasound examinations may result in underperformance of Vietnamese maternity care - A qualitative study of midwives' experiences and views.

OBJECTIVE: To explore Vietnamese midwives' experiences and views on the role of obstetric ultrasound in relation to clinical management, including ethical aspects. METHODS: Using a qualitative design, content analysis of focus group discussions with midwives (N = 25) working at Departments of Obstetrics and Gynecology at three hospitals in urban, semi-urban and rural parts of Hanoi were performed. RESULTS: Obstetric ultrasound was reported as being a highly valuable tool, although replacing ordinary antenatal care surveillance with ultrasound examinations and misuse of ultrasound without medical indication was perceived as troubling. Participants generally viewed the fetus as a human being already at an early stage of pregnancy. However, when complications occurred, the pregnant woman's health was mostly prioritised. CONCLUSION: Although the use of ultrasound has many benefits during pregnancy, replacing ordinary antenatal care surveillance with ultrasound examinations and misuse of ultrasound without medical indication is concerning and needs to be addressed. There is also a need to communicate the benefits of adequate antenatal care to pregnant women and caution about the non-beneficial use of repeated ultrasound examinations without medical indication. Additionally, non-medical ultrasounds consume limited healthcare resources and its use needs to be better regulated in Vietnam.

A qualitative study of healthcare professionals' perceptions of men and women's mental healthcare seeking in Rwanda.

This study aimed to explore health care professionals (HCP') perceptions about mental-health-seeking behaviours in men and women and its social and gender implications in Rwanda. Six focus group discussions including 43 HCPs working at mental health facilities and district hospitals in Rwanda were conducted. Data were analysed using qualitative content analysis. The emerging theme "Traditional gender role patterns and stigma are displayed in mental health care seeking, adherence to treatment and family effects" illustrated how HCPs perceived gender differences and outcomes in mental healthcare seeking. The theme was based on three categories: "Gender differences in health care seeking patterns," "Gender roles and stigma affect adherence to counselling and treatment," and "Gender roles exert an influence on family support" and related subcategories, with which each described various aspects contributing to the result. According to HCPs who regularly encountered people with mental health problems, neither men nor women with mental health problems could adequately benefit from the available mental health services because of the strong influence stigma and prevailing traditional gender roles had on men's and women's mental-healthcare-seeking behaviour. There is an urgent need for comprehensive societal interventions involving policy makers, HCPs, and the general population to diminish the stigma tied to mental illness and the traditional gender norms that negatively influence healthcare-seeking patterns; such actions can improve the health of many citizens.

Health professionals' experiences and views on obstetric ultrasound in Vietnam: a regional, cross-sectional study.

OBJECTIVES: Obstetric ultrasound is an important part of antenatal care in Vietnam, although there are great differences in access to antenatal care and ultrasound services across the country. The aim of this study was to explore Vietnamese health professionals' experiences and views of obstetric ultrasound in relation to clinical management, resources and skills. DESIGN: A cross-sectional questionnaire study was performed as part of the CROss Country UltraSound study. SETTING: Health facilities (n=29) in urban, semiurban and rural areas of Hanoi region in Vietnam. PARTICIPANTS: Participants were 289 obstetricians/gynaecologists and 535 midwives. RESULTS: A majority (88%) of participants agreed that 'every woman should undergo ultrasound examination' during pregnancy to determine gestational age. Participants reported an average of six ultrasound examinations as medically indicated during an uncomplicated pregnancy. Access to ultrasound at participants' workplaces was reported as always available regardless of health facility level. Most participants performing ultrasound reported high-level skills for fetal heart rate examination (70%), whereas few (23%) reported being skilled in examination of the anatomy of the fetal heart. Insufficient ultrasound training leading to suboptimal pregnancy management was reported by 37% of all participants. 'Better quality of ultrasound machines', 'more physicians trained in ultrasound' and 'more training for health professionals currently performing ultrasound' were reported as ways to improve the utilisation of ultrasound. CONCLUSIONS: Obstetric ultrasound is used as an integral part of antenatal care at all selected health facility levels in the region of Hanoi, and access was reported as high. However, reports of insufficient ultrasound training resulting in suboptimal pregnancy management indicate a need for additional training of ultrasound operators to improve utilisation of ultrasound.

Psychosocial and behavioural characteristics in women with pregnancy-related lumbopelvic pain 12 years postpartum.

Background: There is insufficient evidence regarding psychosocial factors and its long-term association with persistent pregnancy-related lumbopelvic pain. The overall aim of this study was to investigate women with persistent pregnancy-related lumbopelvic pain 12 years postpartum based on psychosocial and behavioural characteristics using the Swedish version of the Multidimensional Pain Inventory (MPI-S) classification system. Material and methods: This is a cross-sectional study based on a previous cohort. Data collection took place through a questionnaire. A total of 295 women from the initial cohort (n = 639) responded to the questionnaire giving a response rate of 47.3%. To determine the relative risk (RR) of reporting pain 12 years postpartum, a robust modified Poisson regression was used. This is the first study using the MPI-S as a predictive variable on women with persistent pregnancy-related lumbopelvic pain. Results: The MPI-S classification procedure was carried out on a total of n = 226 women, where 53 women were classified as interpersonally distressed (ID), 82 as dysfunctional (DYS), and 91 as adaptive copers (AC). Women in the ID and DYS subgroups had a relative risk (RR) of reporting persistent pregnancy-related lumbopelvic pain 12 years postpartum that was more than twice as high compared to the AC subgroup (95% confidence interval (CI) in parenthesis): RR 2.57 (CI 1.76 - 3.75), p<0.0001 and RR 2.23 (CI 1.53 - 3.25), p<0.0001 respectively. Women in the DYS subgroup had more than 5 times increased risk of reporting sick leave the past 12 months compared to the AC subgroup (RR 5.44; CI 1.70 - 17.38, p=0.004). Conclusions: The present study demonstrates that it is possible to classify women with persistent pregnancy-related lumbopelvic pain 12 years postpartum into relevant clinical subgroups based on psychosocial and behavioural characteristics using the MPI-S questionnaire.

Incremental cost and health gains of the 2016 WHO antenatal care recommendations for Rwanda: results from expert elicitation.

OBJECTIVES: High-quality evidence of effectiveness and cost-effectiveness is rarely available and relevant for health policy decisions in low-resource settings. In such situations, innovative approaches are needed to generate locally relevant evidence. This study aims to inform decision-making on antenatal care (ANC) recommendations in Rwanda by estimating the incremental cost-effectiveness of the recent (2016) WHO antenatal care recommendations compared to current practice in Rwanda. METHODS: Two health outcome scenarios (optimistic, pessimistic) in terms of expected maternal and perinatal mortality reduction were constructed using expert elicitation with gynaecologists/obstetricians currently practicing in Rwanda. Three costing scenarios were constructed from the societal perspective over a 1-year period. The two main inputs to the cost analyses were a Monte Carlo simulation of the distribution of ANC attendance for a hypothetical cohort of 373,679 women and unit cost estimation of the new recommendations using data from a recent primary costing study of current ANC practice in Rwanda. Results were reported in 2015 USD and compared with the 2015 Rwandan per-capita gross domestic product (US$ 697). RESULTS: Incremental health gains were estimated as 162,509 life-years saved (LYS) in the optimistic scenario and 65,366 LYS in the pessimistic scenario. Incremental cost ranged between $5.8 and $11 million (an increase of 42% and 79%, respectively, compared to current practice) across the costing scenarios. In the optimistic outcome scenario, incremental cost per LYS ranged between $36 (for low ANC attendance) and $67 (high ANC attendance), while in the pessimistic outcome scenario, it ranged between $90 (low ANC attendance) and $168 (high ANC attendance) per LYS. Incremental cost effectiveness was below the GDP-based thresholds in all six scenarios. DISCUSSION: Implementing the new WHO ANC recommendations in Rwanda would likely be very cost-effective; however, the additional resource requirements are substantial. This study demonstrates how expert elicitation combined with other data can provide an affordable source of locally relevant evidence for health policy decisions in low-resource settings.

"Not taken seriously"-A qualitative interview study of postpartum Rwandan women who have experienced pregnancy-related complications.

BACKGROUND: There is limited knowledge on the women's experiences of pregnancy-related complications in Rwanda. This study aimed to investigate women's experiences and perceptions of specific complications during pregnancy and delivery and the consequences of these complications on postpartum health and family situation. METHODS: Data were collected through individual in-depth interviews (N = 15). Participants who experienced complications such as postpartum haemorrhage, caesarean section due to prolonged labour/dystocia, pre-eclampsia, or fistula and who were 13-24 months postpartum were invited to participate in the study in July 2015. Interviews were held in Kinyarwanda, digitally recorded, transcribed verbatim, translated into English, and analysed using qualitative content analysis. RESULTS: Most participants reported that they were previously unaware of the complications they had developed, and they claimed that at discharge they should have been better informed about the potential consequences of these complications. Most participants blamed the health care system as the cause of their problems due to the provision of inadequate care. Participants elaborated different strategies for coping with persistent health problems. Pregnancy-related complications negatively affected participants' economic situation due to increased health care expenses and lowered income because of impaired working capacity, and participants expressed fear of encountering the same pregnancy-related health problems during future pregnancies. CONCLUSIONS: The findings of this study demonstrate how participants felt that inadequate health care provision during pregnancy, delivery, and the postpartum period was the source of their problems. Participants reported different coping strategies to improve their respective life situation despite persistent health problems. Women's individual postpartum experiences need to be considered and actions taken at the policy level and also by the local community, in terms of the quality of antenatal and postpartum care services, and in sensitizing the local community about the existence of these complications and preparing the community to support the affected women.

A much valued tool that also brings ethical dilemmas - a qualitative study of Norwegian midwives' experiences and views on the role of obstetric ultrasound.

BACKGROUND: Midwives are the main providers of routine antenatal care services including the routine ultrasound examination in Norway. The ultrasound examination can be perceived by expectant parents not only as a medical examination but also as a social event facilitating attachment to their fetus. This study explores Norwegian midwives' experiences and views on the role of ultrasound in clinical management of pregnancy. METHODS: A qualitative study design was applied. Twenty-four midwives who all performed obstetric ultrasound examinations were recruited for focus group discussions and individual interviews. Data collection took place in 2015 in five hospitals in two different regions of Norway. Data were analyzed using qualitative content analysis. RESULTS: Midwives described obstetric ultrasound examinations as very valuable although doing ultrasounds placed high demands on their operational and counselling skills. Increasing requests for ultrasound from pregnant women were mentioned. Advancements in ultrasound diagnosis were considered to have put the fetus in the position of a patient, and that pregnant women declining ultrasound could be viewed as irresponsible by some health professionals. Ethical concerns were raised regarding the possibility of pregnancy termination when fetal anomalies were detected. Fears were also expressed that prenatal diagnoses including those following ultrasound, might create a society where only 'perfect' children are valued. However, participants stressed that their intention in performing ultrasound was to optimize pregnancy outcome and thereby assist expectant couples and their unborn children. CONCLUSIONS: Midwives in Norwegian maternity care services describe obstetric ultrasound as very valuable, playing a central role in pregnancy management by optimizing pregnancy outcomes. Although high demands are placed on operators' technical skills and counseling, midwives described performing obstetric ultrasound as very satisfying work. However, midwives believed that expectant parents' approach to the ultrasound examination, both its medical value and the precious images obtained of the fetus, could put extra strain on the midwives performing ultrasounds. The potential of ultrasound to detect fetal anomalies and the possibility that this may lead to termination of pregnancy, seemed to create some ambivalent feelings in midwives towards its use.

Maternal Hypertensive Disorders of Pregnancy and Offspring Risk of Hypertension: A Population-Based Cohort and Sibling Study.

BACKGROUND: Women with a history of hypertensive disorders of pregnancy (HDP) are at increased risk of hypertension, cardiovascular disease, and type 2 diabetes. Offspring from pregnancies complicated by HDP also have worse cardiometabolic status in childhood and young adulthood, but the offspring risk of clinical hypertension in adulthood is largely unknown. METHODS: We studied 13,893 first-born adult offspring (49.4% female) who attended a structured population-based primary care visit (The Västerbotten Health Survey) at age 40 years in Sweden between 1994 and 2013. Data on maternal HDP were collected from a population-based birth register. We investigated the association between maternal HDP and the risk of adult offspring hypertension and worse cardiometabolic risk factor status utilizing multivariable poisson and linear regression models. We also conducted a sibling comparison, which inherently accounted for familial factors shared by siblings (N = 135). RESULTS: Offspring participants of women with HDP (N = 383, 2.8%) had increased relative risk of hypertension (1.67, 95% confidence interval: 1.38, 2.01) and also higher mean body mass index, systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure, and worse 2-hour 75 g oral glucose tolerance test result at age 40 years. No difference was observed for serum cholesterol. Point estimates for the cardiometabolic risk factors were attenuated in the sibling analyses. CONCLUSION: Offspring born to mothers with a history of HDP are on an adverse cardiometabolic trajectory and should be considered as concomitant targets for primordial prevention of hypertension in the maternal post-pregnancy period.

Health professionals' experiences and views on obstetric ultrasound in Rwanda: A cross-sectional study.

OBJECTIVES: Implementation of ultrasound in antenatal care (ANC) in low-income countries has been shown to increase pregnant women's compliance with ANC visits, and facilitate detection of high-risk pregnancies. In Rwanda, as in other low-income countries, access to ultrasound has increased significantly, but lack of training is often a barrier to its use. The aim of this study was to investigate Rwandan health professionals' experiences and views of obstetric ultrasound in relation to clinical management, resources and skills. METHODS: A cross-sectional questionnaire study was undertaken between November 2016 and March 2017, as part of the CROss Country UltraSound Study (CROCUS). Data were collected at 108 health facilities located in both rural and urban areas of Rwanda, including provincial, referral, district and private hospitals as well as health centres. Participants were obstetricians (n = 29), other physicians (n = 222), midwives (n = 269) and nurses (n = 387). RESULTS: Obstetricians/gynecologists/other physicians commonly performed ultrasound examinations but their self-rated skill levels implied insufficient training. Access to ultrasound when needed was reported as common in hospitals, but available to a very limited extent in health centres. The vast majority of participants, independent of health profession, agreed that maternity care would improve if midwives learned to perform basic ultrasound examinations. CONCLUSIONS: Barriers to provision of high quality ultrasound services include variable access to ultrasound depending on health facility level and insufficient skills of ultrasound operators. Physicians in general need more training to perform ultrasound examinations. Implementation of a general dating ultrasound examination seems to be a relevant goal as most health professionals agree that pregnant woman would benefit from this service. To further improve maternity care services, the possibility of educating midwives to perform ultrasound examinations should be further explored.

Quality of antenatal care services in Rwanda: assessing practices of health care providers.

BACKGROUND: Although most pregnant women in Rwanda visit antenatal care (ANC) clinics, little has been studied about the quality of services being provided. We investigated the ANC providers' (HCPs) current practices in relation to prevention, management and referral of maternal conditions as well as the information provided to pregnant women attending ANC services in Rwanda. METHODS: This facility-based, cross-sectional study included 312 ANC providers as participants and a review of 605 ANC medical records from 121 health centers. Data collection was performed using an interviewer-administered questionnaire and a structured observation checklist. For the analyses, descriptive statistics and bi-and multivariable logistic regression were used. RESULTS: Nurses and midwives in ANC services failed to report a number of pregnancy-related conditions that would need urgent referral to a higher level of health care. Midwives did somewhat better than nurses in reporting these conditions. There was no statistically significant difference in how nurses and midwives informed pregnant women about pregnancy-related issues. Ever been trained in how to manage a pregnant woman exposed to violence was reported by 14% of the participants. In 12, 13 and 15% of the medical records there was no report on tetanus immunization, anthelmintic treatment and syphilis testing, respectively. CONCLUSION: The providers in ANC clinics reported suboptimal practices on conditions of pregnancy that needed urgent referral for adequate management. Information to pregnant women on danger signs of pregnancy, recommended medicines and tests do not seem to be consistently provided. Midwifery training in Rwanda should be expanded so that most of staff at ANC clinics are trained as midwives to help lower maternal and child mortality and morbidity.