Assessing Combined Longitudinal Mentorship and Skills Training on Select Maternal and Neonatal Outcomes in Rural and Urban Health Facilities in Malawi.

INTRODUCTION: Despite successful efforts to improve clinical access and skilled birth attendance in Malawi, it still faces high rates of maternal and neonatal mortality. In 2017, the UCSF-GAIN partnership began a nurse-midwifery clinical education and longitudinal mentorship program. While it has received positive reviews, it is unclear whether routinely collected indicators can assess such a program's impact. METHOD: A longitudinal review of the Malawian DHIS2 database explored variables associated with maternal and newborn care and outcomes before and after the intervention. Data were analyzed using generalized estimating equations (GEE) to account for facility-level correlations over time. RESULTS: Quality issues with DHIS2 data were identified. Significant changes potentially associated with the GAIN intervention were noted. DISCUSSION: The GAIN approach appears to be associated with positive trends in maternal and neonatal care. National summary databases are problematic, however, for evaluating targeted interventions and the provision of care to specific outcomes.

Childhood trauma is associated with depressive symptoms in Mexico City women.

OBJECTIVE: To describe childhood trauma and depressive symptoms in Mexican women and to explore the relationships between number and type of childhood traumatic events and depressive symptoms. METHODS: A community-based sample of 100 women was interviewed using a demographic questionnaire, the Life Stressor Checklist-Revised (LSC-R), and the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale (CES-D). Childhood trauma (trauma at or before 16 years of age) and depressive symptoms were described, and logistic and linear regressions were used to analyze the relationship between childhood traumatic events and current depressive symptoms. RESULTS: Participants reported a mean of 9.46 (standard deviation (SD): 4.18) lifetime traumas and 2.76 (SD: 2.34) childhood traumas. The mean CES-D score was 18.9 (SD: 12.0) and 36.0% of participants had clinically significant depression (CES-D > 24). Depression scores were correlated with lifetime trauma, childhood trauma, education level, employment status, and number of self-reported current medical conditions. Depression scores were not significantly correlated with age, marital status, number of children, or socioeconomic status. For every additional childhood trauma experienced, the odds of clinically significant depressive symptoms (CES-D > 24) increased by 50.0% (adjusted odds ratio (OR): 1.50; 95% confidence interval: 1.14-1.96), after controlling for number of children, age, education level, employment status, and number of self-reported medical conditions. CONCLUSIONS: The results indicated that the number of childhood trauma exposures is associated with current depression among urban Mexican women, suggesting a need for trauma-informed care in this setting.

Childhood trauma is associated with depressive symptoms in Mexico City women / Los traumas durante la niñez se asocian con síntomas depresivos en las mujeres de la Ciudad de México

OBJECTIVE: To describe childhood trauma and depressive symptoms in Mexican women and to explore the relationships between number and type of childhood traumatic events and depressive symptoms. METHODS: A community-based sample of 100 women was interviewed using a demographic questionnaire, the Life Stressor Checklist-Revised (LSC-R), and the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale (CES-D). Childhood trauma (trauma at or before 16 years of age) and depressive symptoms were described, and logistic and linear regressions were used to analyze the relationship between childhood traumatic events and current depressive symptoms. RESULTS: Participants reported a mean of 9.46 (standard deviation (SD): 4.18) lifetime traumas and 2.76 (SD: 2.34) childhood traumas. The mean CES-D score was 18.9 (SD: 12.0) and 36.0% of participants had clinically significant depression (CES-D > 24). Depression scores were correlated with lifetime trauma, childhood trauma, education level, employment status, and number of self-reported current medical conditions. Depression scores were not significantly correlated with age, marital status, number of children, or socioeconomic status. For every additional childhood trauma experienced, the odds of clinically significant depressive symptoms (CES-D > 24) increased by 50.0% (adjusted odds ratio (OR): 1.50; 95% confidence interval: 1.14-1.96), after controlling for number of children, age, education level, employment status, and number of self-reported medical conditions. CONCLUSIONS: The results indicated that the number of childhood trauma exposures is associated with current depression among urban Mexican women, suggesting a need for trauma-informed care in this setting.

OBJETIVO: Describir los traumas durante la niñez y los síntomas depresivos en mujeres mexicanas, y explorar las relaciones entre el número y tipo de sucesos traumáticos durante la niñez y los síntomas depresivos. MÉTODOS: Se entrevistó a una muestra comunitaria de 100 mujeres mediante un cuestionario demográfico, la Lista de Verificación de Estresores Vitales Revisada (LSC-R, por sus siglas en inglés), y la Escala de Depresión del Centro de Estudios Epidemiológicos (CES-D, por sus siglas en inglés). Se describieron los traumas durante la niñez (por debajo de los 16 años) y los síntomas depresivos. Se utilizaron regresiones logísticas y lineales para analizar la relación entre los sucesos traumáticos durante la niñez y los síntomas depresivos actuales. RESULTADOS: Las participantes notificaron un promedio de 9,46 (desviación estándar [SD] = 4,18) traumas a lo largo de la vida y 2,76 traumas (SD = 2,34) durante la niñez. La puntuación media obtenida en el CES-D fue de 18,9 (SD = 12,0). Un 36,0% de las participantes mostró una depresión clínicamente significativa (CES-D > 24). Las puntuaciones de la escala de depresión se correlacionaron con los traumas a lo largo de la vida, los traumas durante la niñez, el nivel de formación, la situación laboral, y el número de trastornos médicos actuales autonotificados por las participantes. Las puntuaciones de la escala de depresión no se correlacionaron significativamente con la edad, el estado civil, el número de hijos o la situación socioeconómica. Por cada trauma adicional durante la niñez, las probabilidades de síntomas depresivos clínicamente significativos (CES-D > 24) se incrementaron en 50,0% (razón de posibilidades [OR] ajustada: 1,50; intervalo de confianza [IC] de 95%: 1,14-1,96), tras controlar el número de hijos, la edad, el nivel de formación, la situación laboral y el número de trastornos médicos autonotificados. CONCLUSIONES: Los resultados indicaron que el número de exposiciones traumáticas durante la niñez se asociaba con la depresión actual en las mujeres mexicanas residentes en un entorno urbano; ello indica la necesidad de una atención que tenga en cuenta los antecedentes de sucesos traumáticos en este entorno.

A Pilot Study of Palliative Care Provider Self-competence and Priorities for Education in Kenya.

This study explored palliative care provider self-competence and priorities for future education in an inpatient hospice setting in Kenya. Self-competence scores for clinical skills and patient and family communication skills were hypothesized to differ according to provider type. A descriptive, cross-sectional study design was piloted at Kimbilio Hospice, a 26-bed rural, inpatient facility in Kenya. A quantitative survey instrument entitled, "Self assessment of clinical competency and concerns in end-of-life care," was administered to participants. Survey responses were collected from 5 clinical staff, 11 caregivers, and 8 support staff. Data were analyzed using Kruskal-Wallis test to compare between mean scores. Statistically significant differences were found in 5 self-competence variables: performing a basic pain assessment, use of oral opioid analgesics, assessment and management of nausea/vomiting and constipation, and discussing an end-of-life prognosis with a patient's family member (P < .05). Sixteen participants (66%) selected pediatric palliative care as their top priority for future education. The findings support the hypothesis that palliative care providers have varying levels of self-competence. Improving education to build palliative care competencies in adult and pediatric palliative care in sub-Saharan Africa is recommended.