Modeling the Effects of Policies that Restrict Tobacco Retail Outlets on Prenatal Smoke Exposure and Perinatal Health Care Utilization.

Tobacco retail outlet (TRO) density has been associated with increased cotinine levels in pregnant persons and their children. As such, the higher densities of TROs may represent higher levels of active smoking during pregnancy. The purpose of this study is to simulate the reduction in cotinine (a biomarker of smoke exposure) and health care utilization that could occur in pregnant persons under enactment of several candidate TRO reduction policy recommendations. Using existing retail outlet data from the state of North Carolina and from the Newborn Epigenetic Study (NEST), the present study created hypothetical policy-informed datasets of TROs that a) limited the number of TROs to the same density as the 2014 San Francisco (SF) policy (Policy 1), b) set the minimum distance to 500 feet between TROs from a school and from other TROs (Policy 2), c) restricted the types of TROs to exclude pharmacies (Policy 3), and d) a combination of Policies 1-3 (Policy 4). We estimated the effects of each policy individually and in a separate model with their combined effects in terms of the reduction on cotinine levels and health care utilization, as measured by number of visits to the emergency department (ED). We found that the hypothetical policies were likely to be effective in reducing maternal cotinine and ED visits, with the majority of the mothers in the dataset demonstrating reductions in these outcomes after implementation of the policies. We found that Policy 1 led to moderate reductions in TRO exposure for the majority of the sample as well as stratified by race/ethnicity. Additionally, Policy 4 had slightly larger estimated effects than Policy 1, but could be more onerous to implement in practice. Overall, we identified evidence supporting the efficacy of TRO reduction strategies that could impact smoke exposure during pregnancy in our diverse sample in North Carolina.

Hueso nasal como marcador de aneuploidías y resultado perinatal / Nasal bone as a marker of aneuploidies and perinatal outcome

Objetivo: Describir el resultado perinatal de los embarazos en función de la evaluación del hueso nasal como marcador de aneuploidía. Métodos: De 1006 embarazadas, 607 cumplieron con los criterios de inclusión para este estudio prospectivo, descriptivo, correlacional no causal donde se correlacionó la ausencia/presencia de hueso nasal con la presencia de síndrome de Down a través de cariotipo fetal prenatal y/o posnatal, así como examen clínico neonatal. Los datos fueron analizados mediantes frecuencias absolutas, porcentajes, capacidad diagnóstica del hueso nasal (índice de Youden), sensibilidad, especificidad, valor predictivo positivo, valor predictivo negativo y cocientes de probabilidad, positivo y negativo. Resultados: La prevalencia de síndrome de Down fue de 1,48 %, la ausencia del hueso nasal como marcador aislado, obtuvo un índice de Youden de 0,55 (0,23 - 0,88), sensibilidad de 55,56 %, especificidad de 99,50 %, valor predictivo positivo de 62,5 %, valor predictivo negativo de 99,33 %, cocientes de probabilidad positivo (hueso nasal ausente) 111 (IC 95 % 31 - 394) y cocientes de probabilidad negativo (hueso nasal presente) de 0,45 (IC 95 % 0,22 -0,93). Conclusión: La ausencia de hueso nasal en primer trimestre aumenta el riesgo de síndrome de Down en 111 veces y la presencia del mismo lo disminuye, sin valor como prueba diagnóstica sino de pesquisa debe considerarse como un marcador secundario(AU)

Objective: To know the perinatal outcome based on nasal bone evaluation as an aneuploidy marker. Methods: From 1006 pregnant women, 607 met the inclusion criteria for this prospective, descriptive, correlational not causal research correlating nasal bone absence / presence with Down syndrome through prenatal / postnatal fetal karyotype and neonatal clinical examination. Absolute frequencies and percentages, nasal bone performance as a diagnostic test (Youden índex), sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, negative predictive value, likelihood ratios positive and negative, were calculated. Results: 1.48 % was the Down syndrome prevalence on the sample. The nasal bone absence as an isolated marker obtained an 0,55 Youden index (0.23 to 0.88 ), sensitivity 55,56%, specificity 99,50%, positive predictive value 62,5%, negative predictive value 99,33%, likelihood ratios positive (absent nasal bone) 111, (95% CI 31-394) and likelihood ratios negative (nasal bone present ) 0,45 (95% CI 0 22 -0.93 ). Conclusion: The nasal bone absence in first trimester increases Down syndrome risk 111 times and nasal bone presence decreases it with poor performance as a diagnostic test, so it should be considered a screening test and a secondary marker. Recommendations correlate these results with other markers to improve detection rates and quantify nasal bone measurements in order to make nasal bone nomograms in first trimester pregnancies(AU)

Examining the quality of care across the continuum of maternal care (antenatal, perinatal and postnatal care) under the expanded free maternity policy (Linda Mama Policy) in Kenya: a mixed-methods study.

BACKGROUND: Kenya still faces the challenge of mothers and neonates dying from preventable pregnancy-related complications. The free maternity policy (FMP), implemented in 2013 and expanded in 2017 (Linda Mama Policy (LMP)), sought to address this challenge. This study examines the quality of care (QoC) across the continuum of maternal care under the LMP in Kenya. METHODS: We conducted a convergent parallel mixed-methods study across multiple levels of the Kenyan health system, involving key informant interviews with national stakeholders (n=15), in-depth interviews with county officials and healthcare workers (HCWs) (n=21), exit interview survey with mothers (n=553) who utilised the LMP delivery services, and focus group discussions (n=9) with mothers who returned for postnatal visits (at 6, 10 and 14 weeks). Quantitative data were analysed descriptively, while qualitative data were analysed thematically. All the data were triangulated at the analysis and discussion stage using a framework approach guided by the QoC for maternal and newborns. RESULTS: The results showed that the expanded FMP enhanced maternal care access: geographical, financial and service utilisation. However, the facilities and HCWs bore the brunt of the increased workload and burnout. There was a longer waiting time for the initial visit by the pregnant women because of the enhanced antenatal care package of the LMP. The availability and standards of equipment, supplies and infrastructure still posed challenges. Nurses were multitasking and motivated despite the human resources challenge. Mothers were happy to have received care information; however, there were challenges regarding respect and dignity they received (inadequate food, over-crowding, bed-sharing and lack of privacy), and they experienced physical, verbal and emotional abuse and a lack of attention/care. CONCLUSIONS: Addressing the negative aspects of QoC while strengthening the positives is necessary to achieve the Universal Health Coverage goals through better quality service for every woman.

Grasping the meaning of perinatal palliative care for the multiprofessional team.

OBJECTIVE: To grasp the meaning of perinatal palliative care for the multidisciplinary team. METHODS: This is a qualitative study guided by content analysis. The study included 56 health professionals working in maternal and child units of a public university hospital. A semi-structured interview was conducted, which was recorded and subsequently fully transcribed. The collection took place from June 2018 to May 2019. Data were entered and exported to Atlas ti: The Qualitative Date Analysis & Research Software, version 23.1.1.0. RESULTS: Four thematic categories emerged from the data analysis: palliative care and eligible public in the view of professionals; communication between family and team in decision-making; assistance in palliative care; humanized care. CONCLUSIONS: The professionals think of palliative care in Perinatology in a similar way and perceive the difficulties of communication with the family and decision-making. They agree that it is necessary to provide greater support to the family, and to provide comfort measures, either for the non-viable fetus or for the baby eligible for palliative care.

What Is Perinatal Depression?

This JAMA Patient Page describes perinatal depression screening and diagnosis and available treatment options.

Social work practice in perinatal palliative care: an overview.

Social workers in Perinatal Palliative Care (PPC) play an essential role in caring for birthing people carrying a baby with a life-limiting condition and their families. Perinatal palliative care is consistent with social work values concerning fostering quality of life and promoting social justice and access to care. Social workers play a multidimensional role in providing a holistic approach to caring for the birthing person, baby, and family. Although social workers may be part of an interdisciplinary care team, their role is not defined solely by the goals of the greater team, nor has it been discussed in depth in the perinatal palliative care literature. The purpose of this paper is to describe the knowledge, values, and skills essential to the role of the social worker in a hospital-based perinatal palliative care team. A case study will be used to illustrate the relevant practices, and implications are outlined.

Clinical Experiences of Perinatal Palliative Care After a Stillbirth: A Narrative Therapy for Grief.

Narrative care for families suffering from perinatal loss is rarely provided by medical institutions in China Mainland. However, with the advancement of the Chinese narrative medicine theory and practice, the clinical significance of narrative care has been increasingly recognized. Based on the principles of Chinese narrative medicine, this narrative case study described traumatic narrative foreclosures occuring in a family suffering from stillbirth, and highlighted the multidisciplinary collaboration for practising narrative care in the process of supporting the bereaved in our hospital. Meanwhile, we advocate the establishment of a narrative care ecology by training more obsteticians and nurses with good narrative competence in purpose of helping the family experiencing perinatal losses to overcome their tramatic narrative foreclosures, increasing the chances of another successful pregnancy and childbirth as well as enhancing their quality of life.

Screening and Follow-Up Care for Perinatal Mood and Anxiety Disorders at a Rural Obstetric Clinic.

OBJECTIVE: To improve screening for perinatal mood and anxiety disorders (PMAD) and follow-up care while balancing team workload. DESIGN: Four rapid plan-do-study-act cycles were implemented over 8 weeks. SETTING/LOCAL PROBLEM: At baseline, only 2% of patients with PMAD were identified at a rural obstetric clinic, and none (n = 0 of 50) received screening with a validated tool. Of the 12 patients who had a current or prior history of PMAD, 92% (n = 11) were not screened for self-harm, and 67% (n = 8) received no referral. The clinic had no standardized care for PMAD. PARTICIPANTS: Patients (n = 253) screened at initial pregnancy intake, early in the third trimester, and at the 6-week postpartum visit. INTERVENTION/MEASUREMENTS: Following the screening, brief intervention, and referral to treatment model, patients were screened using the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale, and brief intervention and referral to treatment were used with a point-of-care checklist. Data were collected three times weekly for run chart analysis, and team surveys measured workload. RESULTS: At the end of 8 weeks, effective screening for PMAD and follow-up care were achieved for 98% of patients and included screening, education, shared decision-making for management, referral, and clinic and phone follow-up to support mental health care uptake. CONCLUSIONS: Standardizing screening and follow-up care can increase identification of PMAD and increase uptake of mental health care. For sustainability, a decision aid can streamline patient-provider communication and reduce visit length.

Monkeypox infection and pregnancy in lower and middle-income countries: Precautions & recommendations

Abstract Monkeypox (MPX), an orthopoxviral disease endemic in Africa, is now a public health emergency of international concern (PHEIC) as declared by the World Health Organization in July 2023. Although it is generally mild, the overall case fatality rate was reported to be 3%, and the basic reproduction number (R0) is > 1 in men who have sex with men (MSM, i.e., Portugal (1.4), the United Kingdom (1.6), and Spain (1.8)). However, R0 is < 1 in other settings. In concordance with the smallpox virus, it is also expected to increase the risk of adverse outcomes for both the mother and the fetus. The outcomes of the disease in an immunocompromised state of pregnancy are scary, showing high mortality and morbidity of both mother and fetus, with up to a 75% risk of fetal side effects and a 25% risk of severe maternal diseases. Therefore, it warrants timely diagnosis and intervention. The reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT PCR) test is the standard approach to diagnosis. We summarized the recent findings of MPX on pregnancy, and the associated risk factors. We also give recommendations for active fetal surveillance, perinatal care, and good reporting to improve outcomes. The available vaccines have shown promise for primary disease prevention.

Inequity in Cancer and Cancer Care Delivery in the United States.

Inequity exists along the continuum of cancer and cancer care delivery in the United States. Marginalized populations have later stage cancer at diagnosis, decreased likelihood of receiving cancer-directed care, and worse outcomes from treatment. These inequities are driven by historical, structural, systemic, interpersonal, and internalized factors that influence cancer across the pathologic and clinical continuum. To ensure equity in cancer care, interventions are needed at the level of policy, care delivery, interpersonal communication, diversity within the clinical workforce, and clinical trial accessibility and design.

Maternidade distante do país de origem: "aqui a gente não tem uma aldeia" / Maternity far from the country of origin: "here we do not have a village" / Maternidad lejos del país de origen: "aquí no tenemos pueblo"

O presente estudo é um recorte de uma pesquisa mais ampla sobre a experiência da maternidade de mulheres brasileiras migrantes. Ele tem como objetivo investigar o apoio recebido por elas no processo de tornar-se mãe. Trata-se de uma pesquisa qualitativa na qual foram realizadas, em 2022, sete entrevistas com mulheres brasileiras que vivenciaram gestação, parto e primeiro ano de vida do filho (a) em Portugal, Reino Unido, Itália, Espanha e França. Os resultados apontam para a relevância da presença de pessoas que compartilham da mesma cultura de origem na construção da maternidade e na rede de apoio durante a perinatalidade. Conclui-se que o distanciamento da rede familiar, de amigos e de referenciais da cultura de origem da mulher migrante gerou o aumento das sobrecargas psíquica e física inerentes à maternidade. Ao mesmo tempo, de acordo com as participantes, o distanciamento da família e da cultura de origem proporcionou maior liberdade e abertura para a construção da maternidade, provendo novas representações culturais que contribuíram para a construção de sua forma de ser mãe.(AU)

This study is a segment of a broader research project on the maternity experience of Brazilian migrant women. It aims to investigate the support received by these women in the process of becoming mothers. It encompasses a qualitative research study involving seven interviews conducted in 2022 with Brazilian women who experienced pregnancy, childbirth, and the first year of their child's life in Portugal, the United Kingdom, Italy, Spain, and France. The findings highlight the importance of having individuals sharing the same cultural background in the construction of motherhood and in the support network during the perinatal period. The distance from the family network, friends, and references of the migrant woman's culture of origin generated an increase in the psychic and physical burdens inherent to motherhood. Simultaneously, according to the participants, distancing from family and their cultural origins provided greater freedom and openness in constructing motherhood, offering new cultural representations that contributed to shaping their way of being mothers. (AU)

El presente estudio es parte de una investigación más amplia acerca de la experiencia de la maternidad de las mujeres migrantes brasileñas. Tiene como objetivo investigar el soporte recibido por ellas en el proceso de convertirse en madre. Se trata de una investigación cualitativa en la que, en 2022, se realizaron siete entrevistas con mujeres brasileñas que vivieron el embarazo, el parto y el primer año de vida de su hijo en Portugal, Reino Unido, Italia, España y Francia. Los resultados apuntan para la relevancia de la presencia de personas que comparten la misma cultura de origen en la construcción de la maternidad y en la red de apoyo durante la perinatalidad. Se concluye que el alejamiento de la red familiar, amigos y puntos de referencia de su cultura de origen de la mujer migrante ha generado un aumento de las sobrecargas psíquicas y físicas inherentes a la maternidad. Al mismo tiempo, según las participantes, el alejamiento de la familia y de la cultura de origen les ha proporcionado una mayor libertad y apertura para la construcción de la maternidad, brindando nuevas representaciones culturales que contribuyeron para la construcción de su forma de ser madre. (AU)

Dificuldades com amamentação e sua relação com a prática alimentar na alta hospitalar / Breastfeeding difficulties and their relationship with eating habits at hospital discharge / Dificultades con la lactancia y su relación con la práctica alimentaria en el alta hospitalaria

Objetivo: descrever as frequências das dificuldades com aleitamento materno durante a internação em alojamento conjunto e sua relação com a prática alimentar na alta hospitalar. Método: estudo transversal conduzido a partir de dados de uma coorte, realizada entre março de 2017 e abril de 2018, mediante entrevistas face a face e coleta de dados de prontuários hospitalares de um hospital de referência nacional para alto risco fetal e infantil. Utilizou-se a estatística descritiva por meio de frequências absolutas, relativas e teste qui-quadrado em todas as análises. Resultados: de 686 mães e seus recém-nascidos, 50,6% das mulheres apresentaram dificuldades com aleitamento materno, com destaque para: pega, sucção, tipo de mamilo, trauma mamilar. Dentre os recém-nascidos que receberam aleitamento materno exclusivo na alta hospitalar, 51,3% não apresentaram dificuldades com amamentação durante a internação. Conclusão: apesar da dificuldade apresentada em metade da amostra estudada, ressalta-se a necessidade do suporte precoce ao aleitamento materno exclusivo ainda no ambiente hospitalar(AU)

Objective: to describe the frequencies of breastfeeding difficulties during hospitalization in rooming-in and their relationship with eating habits at hospital discharge. Method: cross-sectional study conducted from data from a cohort, carried out between March 2017 and April 2018, through face-to-face interviews and data collection from hospital records of a national reference hospital for high fetal and infant risk. Descriptive statistics were used through absolute and relative frequencies and the chi-square test in all analyses. Results: of 686 mothers and their newborns, 50.6% of the women had difficulties with breastfeeding, with emphasis on: attachment, suction, type of nipple, nipple trauma. Among newborns who were exclusively breastfed at hospital discharge, 51.3% had no breastfeeding difficulties during hospitalization. Conclusion: despite the difficulty presented by half of the studied sample, the need for early support for exclusive breastfeeding is highlighted, even in the hospital environment(AU)

Objetivo: describir las frecuencias de dificultades para amamantar durante la hospitalización en alojamiento conjunto y su relación con los hábitos alimentarios al alta hospitalaria. Método: estudio transversal realizado a partir de datos de una cohorte, realizada entre marzo de 2017 y abril de 2018, a través de entrevistas cara a cara y recolección de datos de registros hospitalarios de un hospital de referencia nacional de alto riesgo fetal e infantil. Se utilizó estadística descriptiva a través de frecuencias absolutas y relativas y la prueba de chi-cuadrado en todos los análisis. Resultados: de 686 madres y sus recién nacidos, el 50,6% de las mujeres presentaron dificultades para amamantar, con énfasis en: agarre, succión, tipo de pezón, traumatismo en el pezón. Entre los recién nacidos que recibieron lactancia materna exclusiva al alta hospitalaria, el 51,3% no tuvo dificultades para amamantar durante la hospitalización. Conclusión: a pesar de la dificultad presentada por la mitad de la muestra estudiada, se destaca la necesidad de apoyo temprano para la lactancia materna exclusiva, incluso en el ámbito hospitalario(AU)