Psychometric properties of the Arabic version of the Fertility Quality of Life (FertiQoL) questionnaire tested on infertile couples in Jordan.

BACKGROUND: The Fertility Quality of Life (FertiQoL) questionnaire assesses the quality of life of people with fertility problems. The present study aimed to assess the psychometric properties of the Arabic version of the FertiQoL in infertile couples in Jordan. METHODS: This study used a cross-sectional design among 212 participants with infertility problems. An exploratory factor analysis (EFA) and a confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) were conducted to investigate the underlying structure of the novel Arabic version of the FertiQoL tool. RESULTS: The Cronbach's alpha values for the FertiQoL core domain, the FertiQoL treatment domain, and the total FertiQoL scale were 0.93, 0.74, and 0.92, respectively. The EFA indicated a two-domain model, with the first factor having 24 items and measuring "Core QoL". The second factor has 10 items and measures "Treatment QoL" in the context of infertility. The EFA and the CFA supported a two-factor model whereby the two factors explained 48% of the shared covariance between the analyzed quality of life indicators. The indices of goodness-of-fit of the model showed acceptable fit as follows: the chi-squared test (χ2) = 7.943, the comparative fit index (CFI) = 0.999, the root mean square error of approximation (RMSEA) = 0.001, and the Tucker-Lewis index (TLI) = 0.989. CONCLUSION: The study's findings demonstrated the reliability and validity of the Arabic version of the FertiQoL for assessing the quality of life of infertile couples or those in Jordan with no pregnancy or childlessness.

Knowledge, attitudes, and practices toward COVID-19 among pregnant women in Jordan during the COVID-19 outbreak.

BACKGROUND: COVID-19 is highly infectious and can cause harmful effects in pregnant women. As COVID-19 is a relatively new disease, there is a continuing need to assess the knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP) toward this virus among pregnant women globally in order to identify any gaps and suggest ways to address them. Little is known about how pregnant Jordanian women responded to the pandemic. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to investigate the level of KAP toward COVID-19 among pregnant women in Jordan and to detect the variables associated with a satisfactory KAP level. METHODS: A cross-sectional online survey based on a predesigned KAP survey was modified for use among pregnant women in Jordan. The data obtained from 574 participants were analyzed using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences, version 23. RESULTS: Overall, pregnant women in Jordan were found to be knowledgeable, to have a positive attitude, and to exhibit good practices in relation to COVID-19. Some demographic factors were significantly associated with high levels of knowledge, positive attitudes, and safer practices. CONCLUSIONS: Results suggest that special attention should be given by the government to pregnant women with respect to any future emergent situations such as additional COVID-19 surges or other novel respiratory conditions in order to ensure that they are fully informed and prepared.

Using Social Media Platforms to Enhance the Delivery of a Childbirth Education Program.

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of a childbirth education program on self-efficacy and state anxiety among first-time Jordanian mothers. METHODS: A randomized controlled trial was conducted using pretest/posttest design with 128 low-risk, first-time Jordanian mothers. The experimental group (N = 64) received a childbirth education program, while those in the control group (N = 64) received standard care in antenatal clinics. Data were collected at two different time points: at recruitment and 3 weeks after attending the program. RESULTS: The mean score of the experimental group on outcome expectancy (posttest) (139.91, SD = 15.586) was significantly higher than that of the control group (110.16, SD = 28.33) (F = 72.356, P = .003, partial Eta squared = .37). On the efficacy expectancy, the mean score of the experimental group (133.33, SD = 16.246) was also higher than that of the control group (92.06, SD = 27.07) (F = 144.282, P = .000, partial eta squared = .54). On the state anxiety scale, the mean score of the experimental group was significantly lower than that of the experimental group (F = 89.715, P = .002, partial eta squared = .42). CONCLUSION: The childbirth education program improved the coping ability of mothers during childbirth and decreased their state of anxiety.

Effectiveness of Telephone-Based Interpersonal Psychotherapy on Antenatal Depressive Symptoms: A Prospective Randomized Controlled Trial in The Kingdom of Jordan.

BACKGROUND: Jordanian pregnant women report high prevalence of antenatal depressive symptoms, compared to their counterparts internationally. One potential nonpharmacological intervention is Interpersonal Psychotherapy (IPT), accessed by telephone. AIM: The aim of this study is to compare the depressive symptom level(s) among Jordanian pregnant women who received IPT treatment with those who received routine antenatal care. METHODS: A prospective randomized controlled trial design was used. Following ethical approval, a sample of 100 pregnant women (50 in each group) at 24 to 37 weeks gestation, was drawn from one governmental public hospital. Seven sessions (each half an hour) of telephone-based IPT were offered twice weekly to those assigned to the intervention arm: one pretherapy orientation, five intermediates, and one closing session. The Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale was administered before and after the intervention. Analysis of covariance was used to detect the intervention effect. The two groups were matched based on demographic and health characteristics. RESULTS: Compared to the control group, pregnant women who received the intervention reported fewer depressive symptoms. CONCLUSIONS: Midwives and general nurses should screen all pregnant women for symptoms of depression. The effectiveness of IPT treatment in alleviating depressive symptoms indicates the importance of using such supportive interventions by midwives and general nurses, who are trained in psycho-educational counseling techniques. Moreover, data provided by this study may encourage policymakers to legislate policies that make psychotherapists available and accessible in antenatal care units and ensure that staff have adequate training via continuing education programs to screen for antenatal depressive symptoms.

Abuse by the male intimate partner: Psychometric testing of the modified worksite harassment tool in working women.

The authors' purpose was to examine psychometric qualities of the modified worksite harassment tool in working women. Internal consistency was used for reliability and principal components analysis and correlation for construct validity. Two items were dropped due to poor psychometric qualities. Cronbach's alpha was 0.78. Two factors (subscales) emerged from dimensionality testing. The abuse scores found using the tool, as well as by the two factors, were significantly correlated with women's depressive symptoms, stress, and diagnosis with chronic illnesses. Incorporating the modified worksite harassment tool with routine assessment of women in health care facilities within the work settings was recommended.

Patients Hospitalized for Psychiatric Problems and Their Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices Toward COVID-19.

The current study aimed to assess knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP) toward coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) of persons hospitalized for psychiatric problems and the correlation between knowledge and demographics. A correlational, cross-sectional study was used to collect data through structured interviews from a convenience sample of 200 patients with psychiatric disorders seeking treatment at a psychiatric hospital using the Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices questionnaire. Participants had poor knowledge (51.5%), moderate attitudes (75%), and low to moderate practices (61%) toward COVID-19. Knowledge was different across most demographic and illness-related variables. Global assessment of functioning and educational level predicted knowledge and accounted for 37.5% of the variance. Due to disability and poor self-care, persons hospitalized for psychiatric problems are more vulnerable to infectious diseases than the general population. Mental health nurses need to raise KAP toward COVID-19. Current results are informative to health care policymakers and mental health authorities in helping identify target populations for prevention and education about COVID-19. [Journal of Psychosocial Nursing and Mental Health Services, 60(8), 37-45.].

Effect of the Helping Babies Breathe Training Program: An Experimental Study on Jordanian Midwives' Knowledge and Skills.

The Helping Babies Breathe (HBB) training program trains providers in effective resuscitation of infants in developing countries. This study evaluated the effectiveness of the HBB training program on midwives' knowledge and skills in Northern Jordan. Using a nonequivalent control group design, 50 midwives (control, n = 25; experimental, n = 25) from 3 public hospitals in Northern Jordan were recruited and their knowledge and skills were evaluated before and after the training. The program has 3 aspects: 2 hours of teaching, 1 hour of testing, and 25 minutes of skills assessment per participant. The skills were tested individually for each participant, and they were reevaluated at 8 months after. The control and experimental groups significantly differed in posttest scores on knowledge, Objective Structured Clinical Examination A and B skills, and bag-mask application after adjusting for covariates. The HBB training program significantly enhanced knowledge of midwives in the experimental group (P < .05) and demonstrated skills. The HBB training program was helpful in improving midwives' knowledge and practices on immediate care of a newborn baby. Therefore, training midwives using the HBB training program can improve their knowledge and skills and thereby improve infant outcomes in Jordan.

Physical violence in college women: Psychometric evaluation of the safe dates-physical violence victimization scale.

Researchers examined psychometric characteristics of the Safe Dates-Physical Violence Victimization scale in 97 Jordanian college women. Reliability coefficient and Principal Components Analysis were used. Construct validity was examined using independent samples t-test. Cronbach's alpha of 0.80 was yielded. Two dimensions (injury-causing tactics and threatening tactics) were identified. Using construct validity analysis, researchers indicated significant differences in the mean depression, anxiety, stress, and childhood victimization scores among women reporting physical violence, compared to their counterparts. College women possess psychological stressors due to academic and social responsibilities. Such stressors influence their decision to leave the partner which adversely impacts their psychological health.

The impact of a planned health educational program on the compliance and knowledge of Jordanian pregnant women with anemia.

Iron deficiency anemia is a major public health problem among pregnant women in developing countries. This study aimed to use a randomized controlled trial to evaluate the effectiveness of a health information package in Jordanian anemic pregnant women's knowledge regarding anemia, compliance with iron supplementation, and hemoglobin level. Two hundred pregnant anemic women were recruited and randomly assigned into intervention or control group from April to July 2016. The intervention group received a video presentation of the Health Information Package Program (HIPP), narrated by a midwife, combined with PowerPoint slides to educate women about anemia in pregnancy. The participants in the control group received standard care in antenatal clinics, including iron supplementation. No significant differences were observed between the groups in age, gestational age, health problems, and total income. Only education and source of information differed significantly between the groups. Women in the intervention group had higher scores on the compliance checklist, knowledge, food selection ability, and hemoglobin level than women in the control group. The health information package program was effective. Policymakers should adopt a health information package program and apply it as a comprehensive national strategy for the prevention of anemia during pregnancy.

Traditional neonatal care practices in Jordan: A qualitative study.

Traditional practices during the first months of neonatal life are common in developing countries, such as Jordan. Many international studies and reports have highlighted the fact that traditional neonatal practices are the cause of high neonatal mortality and morbidity rates in some countries. The aim of the present study was to identify neonatal care practices in Jordan. A descriptive, qualitative research design was used across four Jordanian cities across diverse regions. Forty mothers of neonates were interviewed over a period of 6 months (from January to June 2016). Thematic and content analysis was undertaken following Braun and Clarke's six step analysis. The results indicated that in Jordan, home-based neonatal care comprises non-biomedical practices. Rubbing the neonate's skin with salt, swaddling, prelacteal feeding, and other treatment modalities are common. Further studies are necessary to determine and report on the pros and cons of these practices in regard to neonatal health.

Characteristics of pregnant Jordanian women dissatisfied with life: A comparison between satisfied and dissatisfied women's demographics.

Dissatisfied pregnant women who are at higher risk of negative outcomes perinatally have not been identified in Jordan. The purposes of the researchers were to identify and compare sociodemographic characteristics of satisfied pregnant women with dissatisfied pregnant women. A non-experimental, descriptive, comparative design was employed. Jordanian pregnant women (n =203) were consecutively selected. We found that younger, better educated pregnant women with a high economic status and a small number of children were more satisfied with their lives. Practitioners can identify dissatisfied women and develop an educational and interventional package that focuses on improving satisfaction with life for pregnant mothers.

Prevalence of intimate partner violence among women visiting health care centers in Palestine refugee camps in Jordan.

This study was conducted to investigate the prevalence of intimate partner violence (IPV) among a sample of women visiting health care centers in Palestine refugee camps in Jordan. We found that different types of IPV, including physical, emotional, sexual, economic, and control behaviors by the partners were experienced by the participants. This study was among a number of studies that investigated this phenomenon in residents of Palestinian camps. It adds to existing studies in this field, however, as it focuses on the prevalence of the top five types of IPV in these women. Co-occurrence of IPV, that is, experiencing two or more types of partner violence at the same time, was noticed in these women. Experiencing control by one's partner and the presence of different attitudes between men and women toward the use of violence were factors contributing to the occurrence of this phenomenon in these women. National efforts aiming at breaking the cycle of violence should be fostered through media and public awareness campaigns. Changing people's attitudes concerning men's use and women's acceptance of violence should be the aim of these efforts.

Predictors of antenatal depression among Jordanian pregnant women in their third trimester.

Antenatal depression has not been well studied worldwide. The objective of this study was to identify the prevalence and predictors of antenatal depression among Jordanian pregnant women in their third trimester. A correlational design was used with a convenience sample of 218 Jordanian pregnant women. Data were collected using valid and reliable measures and were analyzed with regression. Fifty-seven percent of the women displayed symptoms of depression. Thirty-seven percent (34% adjusted) of the variability in depression levels was predicted by knowing scores on life satisfaction, perceived stress, family and nonfamily stressful relationships, education, and parity. For that, antenatal depression needs early detection and treatment.

Pregnant Women's experiences with intimate partner violence one year after the COVID-19 pandemic in Jordan.

AIM: To assess the prevalence and compare the levels of intimate partner violence (IPV) before and during the pandemic and to identify the factors that associated with physical IPV among Jordanian pregnant women. DESIGN: A cross-sectional, correlational design. Women were asked to report their experience with IPV twice: during and before the pandemic. METHODS: A convenience sampling technique was used to select pregnant women from National Woman's Health Care Center from 15 April to 1 September 2021. The Domestic Violence Questionnaire Screening Tool (DVQST) was used to assess the levels of IPV. RESULTS: The women (n = 232) who participated in the study experienced considerable levels of IPV before (69% control IPV, 59.90% psychological, 46.10% physical, 43.10% sexual) and during (75.90% control IPV, 64.20% psychological, 46.10% physical, 40.90% sexual) the pandemic. There were statistically significant (p ≤ 0.05) higher mean DVQST scores for control IPV and psychological IPV during the pandemic (control IPV mean = 9.78, psychological mean = 7.03) versus before the pandemic (control IPV mean = 8.95, psychological mean = 6.62). Woman's educational level, marriage duration, woman's employment status, and level of mutual understanding were inversely associated with physical IPV during the pandemic. PATIENT OR PUBLIC CONTRIBUTION: IPV is a global public health problem and a major violation of human rights. The levels of control IPV and psychological IPV increased during the COVID-19 pandemic, while the levels of physical and sexual IPV stayed the same. Antenatal screening for IPV is crucial to save women and their offspring from suffering this type of violence.

Reasons for Not Seeking Professional Help by Abused Refugee Women: A Qualitative Study.

This study aimed to gain insight into factors that have an impact on Syrian abused refugee women's decision for seeking professional help regarding intimate partner violence (IPV) against them. This study attempted to answer the following question; what are the reasons for not seeking professional help by victims of IPV among refugee women? The qualitative method was used with semi-structured interviews in an accessible sample of 30 abused refugee women, who were identified by cooperated local community organizations working with the refugee. Five reasons emerged from the interviews affecting seeking help behaviors for refugee women: misconceptions about IPV problem; difficulties to access and approach different care centers; lack of awareness about the negative consequences of IPV; unaware, negative expectations, negative experiences, and incorrect thoughts about IPV's services; and psychological and physical health difficulties. The authors suggested some recommendations in light of this study results. Raising awareness activities toward the negative impact of violence on women's and children well-being, improving service availability, building professional capacities to work with abused women, and providing professional services for depressed and amputee's refugee women.

Intimate partner violence among Jordanian pregnant women and its predictors.

AIM: To determine and compare the level of prevalence of intimate partner violence (IPV) at 12 months before pregnancy and during pregnancy and to identify the predictors of physical IPV. DESIGN: A cross-sectional, correlational design was used for data collection and analysis. METHODS: Convenience sampling was used to recruit 247 women for the study. The women's IPV experience was measured by the Arabic version of the World Health Organization's Domestic Violence Questionnaire Screening Tool. RESULTS: The women reported that they experienced substantial levels of different types of IPV during pregnancy: 93.1% control, 66% psychological, 31.2% physical and 8.9% sexual. The levels of psychological, physical and sexual IPV during pregnancy were statistically significantly lower than those before pregnancy. In the case of physical IPV, women's age and verbal fighting were independent positive predictors, while women's educational level, husbands' educational level and level of mutual understanding were independent negative predictors. It is therefore recommended that policymakers focus on providing marital advice and marriage counselling and on empowering women by education in order to tackle IPV during pregnancy.

Intimate Partner Violence Against Pregnant Jordanian Women at the Time of COVID-19 Pandemic's Quarantine.

In Jordan, women experience considerable levels of different types of violence. The emerging data from different countries indicate that intimate partner violence (IPV) has intensified since the COVID-19 outbreak. The main purpose of the current study is to find out whether there is any difference in the incidence of IPV during and before the COVID-19 pandemic quarantine and whether any sociodemographical factors are related to the incidence of IPV against pregnant women during quarantine. A cross-sectional, correlational design was in this study. The snowball sampling technique was adopted to select the participants, which produced a nonrepresentative sample of 215 pregnant women. The participants completed the Arabic version of the World Health Organization's Domestic Violence Questionnaire Screening Tool (DVQST). We found that women were exposed to different types of IPV before and during the quarantine. The most prevalent form of IPV was control and humiliation (n 172, 80%) and the least prevalent was sexual violence ((n 33, 15.3%), (n 24, 11.2%), respectively). However, there were statistically significant lower DVQST scores during the COVID-19 quarantine than before the quarantine. All types of IPV are significantly correlated with each other and with relationship problems (marital conflict, verbal fighting, understanding each other). While the findings are not generalizable to the general population of pregnant women in Jordan because the sample consisted only of women of high socioeconomic status due to the use of a nonprobability sampling technique, national campaigns should be developed and implemented in order to reduce IPV and change community behaviors and attitudes toward violence against women. It is also recommended that policymakers develop plans to help pregnant women during quarantine by, for example, training care providers on how to access vulnerable women.

Physical Intimate Partner Violence and Maternal Outcomes in a Hospital-Based Sample of Pregnant Women in Jordan.

AIM: The purpose of this study was to examine the effect of physical intimate partner violence on maternal pregnancy/ birth outcomes. METHODS: A cross-sectional, descriptive, comparative design was used. Consecutively, 223 birthing women were chosen. Data was collected in 2014 using the Arabic World Health Organization's Domestic Violence Questionnaire. RESULTS: Results showed that women who had experienced physical violence during pregnancy had a significantly higher risk of pregnancyinduced hypertension, cesarean section, more pain killer use during birth, and excessive use of postnatal medication. CONCLUSION: Jordanian health policy makers should find a strategy to eliminate intimate partner violence and reduce its negative impact on women. The inclusion of intimate partner violence screening and identification for every pregnant woman is vital. Sufferers should receive a betterfocused care in order for early detection and treatment of complications that are related to intimate partner violence.

Factors associated with antenatal depression in the Kingdom of Jordan during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Fear of infection and measures taken to mitigate infection, such as social distancing, lockdown and isolation can lead to anxiety and depression across the life course, but especially in pregnancy. We set out to identify the prevalence of depression in pregnancy, using Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) during national quarantine and to examine women's knowledge, attitude, and practices (KAP) in regard to potential COVID-19-related depression. Following ethical approval, an observational design, with an online questionnaire and snowball sampling was used to recruit 546 pregnant women (231 primi and 315 multiparous) in Jordan via common social media platforms (facebook, WhatsApp). Over one third (36.7%) reported depressive symptoms. There were significantly lower depression scores among pregnant women who exhibited more knowledge about COVID-19 (in high [vs low] knowledge groups, mean EPDS = 10.8 [vs 12.2]; p = 0.007). Depression scores were not significantly associated with attitude nor with practice. This suggests that enhanced knowledge levels may protect pregnant women against depression. Our findings contribute to understanding of the experience of pregnant women in developing countries during the COVID-19 pandemic. Healthcare Professionals should provide health education to all pregnant women and timely services to pregnant women with depressive symptoms. This may lead to the prevention of serious symptoms and reduce negative consequences on the next generation, not only in Jordan, but worldwide.