Is participation in antenatal classes associated with fathers' mental health? A quasi-experimental and prospective study.

BACKGROUND: In comparison to those conducted with women, studies about the transition of men to parenthood are limited in numbers, especially in developing countries. Moreover, in Turkey, along with gender roles and sociocultural changes, the roles of fathers are also changing. This change highlights the need to understand early parenthood for fathers. METHODS: A quasi-experimental, non-randomized prospective study with a pre- and post-training model was conducted in a hospital in Istanbul, Turkey. Men in the antenatal education group (EG = 55) and their pregnant wives participated in 6 weeks of training during pregnancy (24th-28th weeks gestation). Men in the care-as-usual group (CG = 55) attended routine check-ups and follow-ups with their wives. GHQ-28 (General Health Questionnaire-28) was administered three times in total at study enrolment, immediately following the 6-week intervention period, and at the 6th postpartum week. RESULTS: There was no significant difference between the groups' GHQ-28 scores before and after the training. In the 6th week of postpartum follow-up, the GHQ-28 scores were significantly higher for the fathers who participated in the educational intervention. CONCLUSIONS: Antenatal education classes were found to be associated with the mental health of fathers. Further research evaluating family-centered parenting support programs is warranted to better understand how to support fathers in the transition to parenthood, particularly in countries in which fathers' roles in pregnancy and early parenthood are changing.

The effects of local low-dose heat application on dysmenorrhea.

OBJECTIVES: This is a controlled, prospective study which compares the effects of a low-dose heat patch for self-medication on the reduction of pain symptoms in dysmenorrhea. METHODS: The sample group included female sophomore students studying at a university in Istanbul, Turkey, between 2007 and 2008. These female participants completed the Dysmenorrhea Identification Form to determine the sample group, and a total of 193 female students possessed the eligible criteria. The research control group consisted of 66 patients, the analgesia group consisted of 61, and the heat patch group consisted of 66. The control group did not use any treatments, while the self-medication group used analgesic medication (single dose), and the heat patch group applied a heat patch on the lower abdomen, against the skin, for an application period of 2 menstrual cycles. Using a visual analog scale (VAS), the pain severity was recorded at the baseline, after 4 hours of intervention, and after 8 hours of intervention. The data were examined using ANOVA. RESULTS: There were significant differences between the groups in terms of pain severity after 8 hours of application (P < .001). All groups had similar pain levels at baseline and during the fourth and eighth hours, with no significant differences between the groups during the first and the second menstrual cycles (P > .05). CONCLUSION: The authors conclude that the heat patch is an effective method for reducing dysmenorrhea.

Prevalence of dysmenorrhea in university students in Turkey: effect on daily activities and evaluation of different pain management methods.

This study was conducted to determine the following among a group of female university students: the prevalence of dysmenorrhea; pain severity ratings; methods used to manage dysmenorrhea; and the effect of dysmenorrhea on daily activities, school attendance, and ability to communicate with friends. This cross-sectional study was conducted between December 2009 and February 2010 at a public university located in Istanbul, in the northwest area of Turkey. The study group included 1515 female students. Data were collected from the female students in the study group using a self-report questionnaire; the severity of dysmenorrhea was determined with the visual analog scale. The data were examined with mean, percentages, chi-square analysis, and logistic regression. The prevalence of dysmenorrhea in the study group was 85.7%. Of this group of subjects with dysmenorrhea, 30.4% described their menstrual pain as severe, 49.8% as moderate, and 19.8% as mild. The mean severity of pain among the students was 6.33 ± 2.32 on the VAS. The majority of participants who experienced moderate or severe pain regularly used analgesics for pain management, and participants who experienced severe pain used analgesics before the beginning of menstruation. Participants who experienced moderate pain used herbal tea, massage, heat application, rest, and distraction for pain management. Participants who experienced severe pain consulted a physician and that a significant difference existed between the dysmenorrhea rating groups in this regard (p < .001). Severe pain was significantly associated with school absenteeism and limitations in social activities/functioning (p < .001). Dysmenorrhea is highly prevalent among university students and is related to school absenteeism, ability to participate in and enjoy daily activities, and limitations in social activities/functioning.