Stress among parents of infants with neural tube defect and its associated factors.

The purpose of this study was to assess the stress among parents (either the mother or the father) of infants with neural tube defects (NTDs) and its associated factors. Using Parenting Stress Index-Short Form (PSI-SF), 100 parents of infants with NTDs were compared with 100 parents as a normative group. The total mean score for parents of infants with NTDs was 104.0 (standard deviation (SD) = 22.9) compared with 84.3 (SD = 18.9) for parents of infants without NTDs. Fifty-three (53.5%) parents of infants with NTDs and 15% of the control group had clinically significant high total stress score. Parents of infants with NTDs had a significantly higher score of distress in all scales of PSI-SF compared with those of infants without NTDs. Multivariate analysis found that mothers of infants with NTDs had a significantly higher average score for parental distress, parent-child dysfunctional interaction and total stress than fathers. Parents' lower education, unemployed parents and lower family income per month were significantly associated with increased parent-child dysfunctional interaction and parental distress. Parents with lower education and lower family income are in need for psychological and emotional support from health-care professionals.

The association between second hand smoke and low birth weight and preterm delivery.

To determine the association between maternal exposure to SHS and low birth weight and preterm delivery. This cross-sectional study was carried out in the four main governmental hospitals dealing with deliveries in the north of Jordan. A consecutive 8,490 women who delivered in these hospitals between April 2007 and September 2007 were included in the study after excluding those who reported active smoking during the current pregnancy. Pre-structured questionnaire and review of hospital records were used to collect data about maternal background, obstetric history, medical history, and data related to second hand smoke exposure. Overall, 13.8% of women gave birth to a preterm baby and 10.0% gave birth to a low birth weight baby. About 12.6% of women who were exposed to SHS delivered low birth weight babies compared to 7.7% for non exposed women. The rate of preterm delivery among the exposed group was significantly higher than that among the non-exposed group (17.2 vs. 10.6%). In the multivariate analysis, exposure to SHS during pregnancy was significantly associated with increased odds of low birth weight (OR = 1.56 (95% CI 1.31, 1.89)) and preterm delivery (OR = 1.61 (95% CI: 1.30, 1.99)). Exposure of women to SHS during pregnancy is associated with increased odds of low birth weight and preterm delivery. Health care professionals should carry out educational programs to increase awareness and understanding of pregnant women and their husbands about the harmful effects of second hand smoke on birth outcomes.