The Turkish version of the Postpartum Bonding Questionnaire (PBQ): Examination of the validity and reliability and scale structure.

PURPOSE: The aim of this study is to investigate the validity and reliability of the Turkish version of the Postpartum Bonding Questionnaire (PBQ). DESIGN AND METHODS: This methodological study was conducted with 250 women who presented to three family health centers in Istanbul/Turkey between April and June 2022 and met the sampling criteria. Validity analysis was performed using the content validity index, exploratory factor analysis, and confirmatory factor analysis. Pearson product-moment correlation and Cronbach Alpha reliability coefficients were used for reliability analysis. RESULTS: To evaluate invariance of the instrument over time, test-retest measurements were conducted at least two weeks apart and showed no difference in mean scores (p > .05). Adjusted goodness-of-fit index >0.97 and comparative fit index >0.98 confirmed the construct validity of the Turkish PBQ. Each item had a content validity index of 96%. Corrected item-total score correlations ranged from 0.50 to 0.93. The Cronbach Alpha was found to be 0.96, indicating high internal consistency. CONCLUSION: The results of this study show that the Turkish version of the PBQ is valid and reliable. It can be used as a measurement tool to determine the degree of maternal bonding in the postpartum period.

Partners in Pain, Two Sides of a Zipper - Midwives' Experiences With Stillbirth: A Qualitative Study.

This study was conducted to explore and understand the experiences of midwives who care for women experiencing stillbirth and the challenges they face in this process. A qualitative study was conducted with 11 midwives using the phenomenological method. Descriptive analysis of the data revealed four main themes: 1) Silent screams in the face of despair (women's reactions to stillbirth), 2) Being a partner in pain, "two sides of a zipper" (midwives' experience of stillbirth), 3) Efforts to cope with the pain, and 4) Just two words: "if only." The impact of stillbirths on midwives should not be disregarded. Emotions such as shock, horror, fear, guilt, and anger experienced by midwives following a stillbirth can adversely affect their mental health. The guilt experienced by midwives can also negatively impact their health and quality of life, as well as cause burnout and distancing from the profession.

Development and psychometric properties of the Respectful Maternity Care Scale (RMCS).

AIMS/BACKGROUND: The Respectful Maternity Care Scale (RMCS) was developed specifically to assess the health care that women receive during pregnancy, labour and the postnatal period. The aim of this study was to investigate the validity and reliability of the RMCS. DESIGN/METHODS: This study used a methodological design. The RMCS, a self-report instrument, was developed in consultation with professionals and women who had given birth, based on the literature. It was tested for content and construct validity. Reliability was assessed using Cronbach's alpha, test-retest method, and adjusted item-total correlation. The study sample consisted of 405 women between 6 weeks and 12 months postpartum who were admitted to a family health centre in Istanbul between April and June 2023. RESULTS: The scale's content validity index is 0.92. The scale consists of 29 items and 3 sub-dimensions, which explain 61% of the total variance. χ2/df was less than 5 and RMSEA was less than 0.08, which confirms the validity of this model. The corrected item-total correlations were acceptable, and the Cronbach's alpha coefficient was 0.96. CONCLUSION: The RMCS has been shown to be valid and reliable and can be used to assess respectful maternity care among Turkish women.

Psychodrama as a new intervention for reducing fear of childbirth: a randomised controlled trial.

This study was designed to examine the potential benefit of the addition of psychodrama classes to antenatal education as a new technique to address fear of childbirth. This was a randomised controlled trial. A total of 150 women were initially enrolled in two groups. Psychodrama sessions were added to standard antenatal education in the experiment group. The control group participated only in routine antenatal education classes. Birth outcomes and fear of childbirth were measured and analysed to assess the impact. The analysis was completed with an experimental group of 50 women and a control group of 49 women. At the conclusion of the training, it was observed that there was a greater decrease in fear of childbirth in the experiment group than in the control group. Additionally, in the postpartum period, the experimental group had a higher rate of vaginal childbirth and a shorter childbirth time than the control group. Psychodrama may be an effective means of reducing fear of childbirth and reduced caesarean section childbirth. Psychoeducation should be added antenatal education programs. Thus, it may represent an important tool in the efforts to improve maternal mental health and also provide broader social benefits.IMPACT STATEMENTWhat is already known on this subject? Studies examining means to reduce fear of childbirth have found that psychoanalysis, cognitive behavioural therapy, eye movement desensitisation and reprocessing, haptotherapy and art therapy were useful.What the results of this study add? Psychodrama as a new intervention may be beneficial decreased of fear of childbirth, increased of normal birth rate and at improving the experience of pregnancy and childbirth.What the implications are of these findings for clinical practice and/or further research? Protecting and caring for the mental health of the mother and child benefits the entire community. It has been reported that 1 in 5 mothers experience psychiatric difficulties during the postpartum period, and 7 of 10 do not receive treatment, which has a negative impact on the mother, the child and family. Assesment of the mental health of women during the postpartum period is not regularly performed in many countries and women are frequently left to struggle on their own. The identification of pregnant women who have a high fear of childbirth and who are at risk of developing a psychiatric disorder by nurses is an important element of providing of appropriate, high-quality care.

Validity and reliability of the Turkish version of the City Birth Trauma Scale (CityBiTS).

The City Birth Trauma Scale (CityBiTS) was developed to be consistent with the current Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders-DSM-5. It has been used as a complementary instrument that measures the psychological trauma related to childbirth. The aim of this study was to investigate the validity and reliability of the Turkish version of the CityBiTS. This research is a methodological study. This study was conducted with 315 women who had 6-month-old infants from August to October 2018. The CityBiTS is a 29-item instrument that was developed according to DSM-5 criteria to assess childbirth-related Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder. Test-retest measurements were performed at two-week intervals to evaluate the invariance of the scale over time. Cronbach's alpha coefficient of reliability was used to analyse internal consistency of scale. Cronbach's alpha coefficients were .76 for re-experiencing symptoms, .57 for avoidance symptoms, .77 for negative cognitions and mood, .83 for hyperarousal and .82 for dissociative symptoms. In conclusion, The Turkish version of the CityBiTS, as an instrument developed to be consistent with DSM-5 criteria in assessing childbirth-related trauma symptoms, is a valid and reliable tool.Impact statementWhat is already known on this subject? One of the possible barriers for this is the lack of validated questionnaires that measure the postpartum PTSD.What do the results of this study add? The aim of this study was to investigate the validity and reliability of the Turkish version of the CityBiTS. The City Birth Trauma Scale has good psychometric properties and the two symptom clusters identified are consistent with previous research on symptoms of postpartum PTSD.What are the implications of these findings for clinical practice and/or further research? The City Birth Trauma Scale provides with a measure of birth-related PTSD foruse in research and clinical practice.

The adaptation of the Postpartum-Specific Anxiety Scale into the Turkish language.

Background: The Postpartum Specific Anxiety Scale (PSAS) is used as a descriptive instrument to measure anxiety. Aim: The aim of this study was to examine the validity and reliability of the Turkish version of the PSAS. Study Design: The study is of methodological design. Methods: The study was conducted with 360 women who had given birth four months ago and presented at a Family Health Center. The validity analysis of the data was performed using the content validity index, exploratory factor analysis, confirmatory factor analysis, reliability analysis, Pearson's Moments Multiplication Correlation and Cronbach's Alpha Coefficient of Reliability. Correlation analysis, Cronbach's alpha analysis, and exploratory/confirmatory factor analysis were used in the evaluation of the data. Results: To assess the consistency of the scale over time, test-retest measurements were taken in a two-week interval. In the analysis of the internal consistency of the PSAS, Cronbach's alpha coefficient of reliability was .90 for maternal competence and attachment anxieties, .89 for infant safety and welfare anxieties, .83 for practical infant care anxieties, .83 for psychosocial adjustment to motherhood, and .94 for the overall scale. Conclusion: Our study has demonstrated that the Turkish version of the scale is a valid and reliable tool to use.

Validity and reliability of the Turkish version of the Self-Efficacy Tool for the Ability to Support Breastfeeding Mothers.

AIM: The aim of the study is to investigate the validity and reliability of the Turkish version of the Self-Efficacy Tool for the Ability to Support Breastfeeding Mothers. METHODS: In the current methodological study, research data were collected using a Descriptive Information Form and the Self-Efficacy Tool for the Ability to Support Breastfeeding Mothers. Validity analysis was conducted using the content validity index, exploratory factor analysis, and confirmatory factor analysis. The Pearson product-moment correlation and Cronbach alpha reliability coefficients were performed for reliability analysis. High scores indicate a higher ability to support breastfeeding mothers. RESULTS: To evaluate the tool's invariance over time, test-retest measurements were made at an interval of at least two weeks and showed no difference in mean scores (p > 0.05). Corrected item-total score correlations varied between 0.43 and 0.77. The Cronbach alpha value was determined to be 0.97, which indicated high internal consistency. CONCLUSION: The results of the present study show that the Turkish version of the Self-Efficacy Tool for the Ability to Support Breastfeeding Mothers is valid and reliable. It can be utilised as a measurement tool to determine the degree of self-efficacy in the ability to support breastfeeding mothers.

Do adverse childhood experiences increase the risk of postpartum traumatic stress and depression?

AIM: This study was conducted to determine the effect of childhood adverse experiences on the risk of postpartum posttraumatic stress disorder (PP-PTSD) and postpartum depression (PPD). METHODS: This descriptive study was conducted with 417 mothers between 1 March and 30 April 2022. Data were collected using a demographic and obstetric information form, the Adverse Childhood Experiences Questionnaire (ACE), City Birth Trauma Scale (CityBiTS) and Edinburgh Postpartum Depression Scale (EPDS) through the Google Forms platform. RESULTS: The mothers participating in the study had a mean age of 30.47 ± 4.21 years, 65.9% (n = 275) had at least one ACE, 10.3% (n = 43) met all of the DSM-5 PTSD criteria according to the CityBiTS, and 91.8% (n = 383) had at least one traumatic stress symptom. Correlation analysis revealed weak positive associations between number of ACEs and CityBiTS score (p < 0.001, r = 0.328) and EPDS score (p < 0.001, r = 0.291) and a moderate positive association between CityBiTS and EPDS scores (p < 0.001, r = 0.601). PP-PTSD was found to be a partial mediator variable between ACE and PPD. CONCLUSION: The presence of ACE in mothers was found to increase the risk of developing PPD, both alone and when combined with traumatic birth experience. Therefore, we believe that screening for a history of ACE during pregnancy, investigating traumatic birth experiences in the postpartum period, closer follow-up of mothers with both ACE and traumatic birth experiences and increasing support systems will be beneficial in the prevention and early diagnosis of PPD.

Validity and Reliability of the Turkish Version of the COVID Stress Scale.

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to assess the Turkish adaptation of the COVID Stress Scale (CSS) on the basis of determining the stress caused by the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic, and to test its validity and reliability. METHODS: The English CSS was translated into Turkish using forward and backward translation. Data were collected online from 360 participants. Construct validity was evaluated using confirmatory factor analysis, exploratory factor analysis, and content validity. Pearson product-moment correlation, Cronbach's alpha reliability coefficient, and test-retest methods were used to evaluate reliability. RESULTS: The Turkish version of the CSS has 36 items consistent with the original scale and has five factors: COVID danger and contamination, socioeconomic consequences of COVID, COVID xenophobia, traumatic stress due to COVID, and compulsive checking for COVID. The construct validity of the Turkish version of the CSS was verified by the adjusted goodness of fit index > .85, and comparative fit index > .95. The content validity index of each item was 91%. The corrected item-total correlations of the scale ranged from .51 to .89. Internal consistency was reliable, with a Cronbach's α of .93. CONCLUSION: The Turkish version of the CSS is valid and reliable. It can be used as a measurement tool for the assessment of COVID-related stress.

Secondary traumatic stress among midwifery students.

PURPOSE: This study aimed to examine the factors affecting secondary traumatic stress on midwifery students. DESIGN AND METHODS: This descriptive study was conducted between November and December 2018. Data were collected using information form and the Secondary Traumatic Stress Scale. FINDINGS: The study found that 22.2% of midwifery students met all the trauma criteria for posttraumatic stress disorder according to the Secondary Traumatic Stress Scale. Midwifery students who were unhappy to continue their education and those who wished to switch to another profession after graduation respectively showed a 2.8- and a 4-fold higher risk of meeting the trauma criteria (p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: The secondary traumatic stress rate in midwifery students is particularly high considering the fact that one in five students fulfills all of the Secondary Traumatic Stress criteria. However, to reduce their secondary traumatic stress rate, students should be thoroughly assessed by the educators who could provide the support necessary. IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING PRACTICE: Before graduation from the midwifery departments, students traumatic stress symptoms could be assessed mental health nursing courses, which might enable to change their attitudes towards to cope with this situation. Especially after traumatic childbirths, midwifery students should be supported by mental health nurses to cope with traumatic stress. Midwifery students should be encouraged each and every possible moment to express their feelings when they experience traumatic stress and thus their skills for effective coping can be reinforced.

The risk factors for postpartum posttraumatic stress disorder and depression.

PURPOSE: In this study, we examined the association between specific birth-related variables and postpartum posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and depressive symptoms. DESIGN AND METHODS: In this descriptive study, data were collected using a personal information form, the City Birth Trauma Scale, and the Edinburgh Postpartum Depression Scale. FINDINGS: The findings revealed that 8.5% of participants met all the diagnostic criteria for PTSD. The risk of developing depression was 9.7 times higher among women who met all the criteria for PTSD than among those who did not meet all the criteria. PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS: During the postpartum period, at-risk mothers should be followed and screened for PTSD and depressive symptoms.