The effect of backup midwife on maternal experience after vaginal childbirth - a qualitative study.

One of the goals of reproductive health enhancement is to ensure the desired experience of safe childbirth by reducing possible complications, fears, and worries about delivery by ongoing midwife backup care. This study explains women's experiences with a backup midwife during labor and childbirth. This was a qualitative study involving 19 women who had natural childbirth in Hamadan, 2020. Purposeful sampling and data collection were performed using semi-structured in-depth interviews. Data were analyzed by conventional content analysis using MAXQDA software version 10. Data analysis showed three themes and six main categories. The themes included security, high-quality care, and respectful care, consisting of two main categories of perceived empowerment and support, physiological approach and reassuring care, and respect for the mother's privacy and optimal accountability. The presence of a backup midwife during labor caused a sense of security, control, and perceived empowerment, thus a positive childbirth experience. Therefore, it is necessary to train and employ midwifery in the healthcare system. It is recommended to train and employ midwifery graduates for this purpose and include it as one of the basic principles in the current planning to promote natural childbirth.

Evaluating the effect of garlic extract on serum inflammatory markers of peritoneal dialysis patients: a randomized double-blind clinical trial study.

BACKGROUND: Garlic can be considered as a useful natural herb in inhibition of inflammation. The aim of this study was to assess the effectiveness of garlic extract in lowering inflammatory markers in peritoneal dialysis (PD) patients. METHODS: In this parallel-designed double blind randomized clinical trial, 42 PD patients at the Shafa dialysis center, Tehran in 2017 were included. The primary outcome in this study was systemic inflammation which was evaluated by measuring the concentrations of IL-6 and CRP and ESR in serum. RESULTS: Baseline versus after-intervention median (IQR) of IL-6 (pg/ml), CRP (mg/L) and mean ± SD of ESR (mm) in garlic and placebo groups was 2.2 (0.8, 6.4) versus 0.7 (0.6, 1.2) (p <  0.001) and 2.0 (0.8, 2.1) versus 0.6 (0.6, 0.8) (p = 0.002), 13.0 (5.0, 14.0) versus 2.0 (1.0, 9.0) (p <  0.001) and 7.0 (2.0, 10.0) versus 6.0 (3.7, 7.5) (p = 0.547) and 35.4 ± 21.7 versus 50.7 ± 28.5 (p = 0.021) and 46.0 ± 26.0 versus 45.3 ± 22.3 (p = 0.797). Median (IQR) of Percentage Before-After change in CRP was - 71.4%(- 85.7, - 42.9%) and - 20.0%(- 30.0, 114.3%) in garlic and placebo group respectively. The Mann-Whitney U test indicated this difference is statistically significant (p <  0.001). CONCLUSION: The results imply that administrating 400 mg of standardized garlic extract twice a day for 8 weeks resulted in a significant reduction in IL-6, CRP and ESR. Since inflammatory state can be a serious life threatening condition in PD patients, we suggest prescribing this safe and well-tolerated natural substance to attenuate the inflammatory state in these patients. However, assessment of these effects in a larger randomized trial is strongly recommended (IRCTID: IRCT2017072535305N1, 2017-10-16).

Effects of licorice on relief and recurrence of menopausal hot flashes.

Vasomotor hot flash is the most common and distressful complication of menopausal women. Its treatment is the most frequent clinical challenge. As a result, an effective and harmless therapy is needed. This double-blind controlled clinical trial was conducted to determine the effects of licorice roots on the relief and recurrence of hot flash in menopausal women referring to the healthcare centers affiliated to Shahid Beheshti Medical University in 2010. Ninety menopausal women complaining of hot flash were selected by reviewing their records in healthcare centers and randomly divided into 2 licorices (3 capsules daily containing 330 mg licorice abstract) and placebo (3 capsules daily containing 330 mg starch) groups over the 8 weeks of intervention and 4 weeks of follow-up. Two weeks prior to the intervention, the severity as well as frequency of hot flashes and the foods taken were asked and documented with questionnaires and data sheets. Data within and between the groups were analyzed by ANOVA with repeated measurements and t-test respectively. Means of age and body mass index (BMI) of the subjects in licorice and placebo groups were 53 ± 3.2, 52.69 ± 2.8, 24.71 ± 3.2 and 23.61 ± 3.3, respectively. The groups were similar in terms of intervening variables. The frequency of hot flash decreased significantly in the experimental (than the placebo group) and this lasted for 2 weeks after the administration of the capsules. The severity of hot flash decreased in the licorice group as well. This decrease was also seen in the placebo group in the first week of the intervention. Decreased hot flash in the placebo group was only significant after the 1(st) week of intervention compared to the previous period. Recurrence of frequency and severity of hot flashes occurred 2 weeks after the termination of therapy. The significant decrease in the placebo group after the 1(st) week of the intervention may be attributed to the psychological effects of placebo. Licorice roots decreased the frequency and severity of hot flashes. The administration of this harmless, inexpensive herb well accepted by the menopausal women together with the appropriate and continuous physical activities and consumption of dairy products are recommended for relieving this complication.