The prevalence and associated factors of fear of childbirth among Turkish pregnant women.

OBJECTIVE: This study was conducted to determine the prevalence of fear of childbirth and affecting factors in pregnant women in Turkey. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This was a cross-sectional study and included a total of 2025.    Pregnant Women Assessment, some variables related to previous and current perinatal processes and Wijma Delivery Expectancy/Experience Questionnaire (version A) were used for data collection. FINDINGS: In this sample, 42.4% of the women reported fear of childbirth. What the women were afraid of most was the development of unwanted conditions at childbirth, obscurity/uncertainty, and negative attitudes of health professionals. The factors causing fear of childbirth were the low education level, unemployment status, low financial status, stillbirth, unplanned pregnancy, indecisiveness about the type of delivery, not attending prenatal education programs, negative effects of other people, insufficient social support, confiding in the healthcare centre and health professional, negative, and indecisive birth perceptions, prior negative birth experiences and not feeling ready for childbirth (p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence of fear of childbirth in this Turkish sample, especially in the multipara is higher than in Western countries. Causes of fear of childbirth can vary with countries and even with each region of a country.

Perinatal Loss: Experiences of Midwives and Nurses.

The aim was to determine the experiences of Turkish midwives and nurses when caring for families with perinatal loss. It was a descriptive and qualitative study. One-to-one interviews were conducted with ten midwives and five nurses using a semi-structured interview form. It was found that the nurses and midwives experienced pain and grief during caring for women who had perinatal losses, and they tried to relieve these feelings by using positive thinking and prayer. The nurses and midwives stated that they were unsure how to approach women or family experiencing perinatal loss, and they needed mentoring and training. The results showed that it would be beneficial to plan training for nurses and midwives and to conduct mentoring for those experiencing difficulties. For nurses and midwives frequently facing perinatal loss, there will be benefit in planning grief care training at regular intervals and mentoring for those experiencing difficulties.

Maternal Emotions and Experiences of Mothers Who Had Breastfeeding Problems: A Qualitative Study.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Many women are ceasing to breastfeed in the early period due to the breastfeeding problems and difficulties they perceive. Consequently, the approach and support of health professionals to mothers in the post-partum period is very important. The objective of the study is to determine the emotions and experiences of mothers who had breastfeeding problems by using Watson's Theory of Human Caring. METHODS: The research is a descriptive and qualitative type of study. The data were collected from 20 women with the semi-structured interview method based on Watson's Theory. The data were analyzed according to the Caritas Processes of Watson's Theory. RESULTS: It was determined that the health professionals did not show enough assistance, support and interest to the mothers who had breastfeeding problems and that the mothers expected respect, empathy, sincerity, understanding, trust, and assistance during this period. IMPLICATION FOR PRACTICE: The use of the interview methods based on Watson's Theory of Human Caring in the determination of the difficulties and emotions experienced by the women who had breastfeeding problems will be a guide for the health professionals. It is thought that the approaches based on Watson's Caritas Processes that would be made to women who had breastfeeding problems would be effective for understanding their experience and emotions.

Prevalence of urinary incontinence in women aged 18 and over and affecting factors.

The aim of study was to determine the prevalence of urinary incontinence (UI) in women aged 18 and over and the factors affecting it. The sample of the study consisted of the 1220 women. The results of the study showed that the rate of UI was 26.3%. Prevalence rose as age and body mass index increased. UI rates were also high in women who had long-term constipation and UTI, those who were in menopause, those with a high number of pregnancies, and in those who had undergone a vaginal birth. It is important that measures be taken to prevent UI.

Early postpartum breast-feeding outcomes and breast-feeding self-efficacy in Turkish mothers undergoing vaginal birth or cesarean birth with different types of anesthesia.

PURPOSE: To compare the breast-feeding outcomes and breast-feeding self-efficacy, in the first 24 postpartum hours, of mothers who underwent vaginal birth, cesarean birth with epidural anesthesia, and cesarean birth with general anesthesia. METHODS: A comparative study was conducted in Turkey. A total of 334 mothers participated. Data were evaluated through descriptive data form, breast-feeding outcomes form, and the Breastfeeding Self-Efficacy Scale. FINDINGS: It was observed that the mothers who had cesarean birth with general anesthesia experienced more breast-feeding problems. With regard to breast-feeding self-efficacy, all the groups were similar. CONCLUSION: For reducing breast-feeding problems, nurses should provide more care and support to mothers undergoing cesarean birth. Therefore, the fact that the breast-feeding self-efficacy was similar among the groups might be related to culture.

Breastfeeding knowledge among working pregnant women in Turkey.

The purpose of this study was to examine the breastfeeding knowledge of pregnant working women and explore factors that affected their knowledge. This Turkish study included 260 healthy, working women in the last trimester of pregnancy. Two separate questionnaires developed by the researcher were used to collect data. The average knowledge score of pregnant women respondents for all questions were 6.03 ± 2.99 (range: 0 to 14). Pregnant women had the least knowledge about duration of expressing breast milk (21.9%) and safe storage conditions for breast milk (27.2%). They knew the most about methods to express breast milk (87.3%) and features of containers used to store expressed milk (80%). Study results indicated that working pregnant women need better prenatal education to continue safe breastfeeding after returning to work. Occupational health nurses should inform working pregnant women about expression and storage of breast milk during prenatal education.

Effects of vaginal douching education on Turkish women's vaginal douching practice.

BACKGROUND: Vaginal douching (VD) is a very common practice in Turkish culture. This practice is affected by individual and cultural characteristics. PURPOSE: The aim of the research was to determine how the education based on Pender's health promotion model (HPM) affects women's decision to quit vaginal douche and the factors that cause women to continue VD practices. METHODS: The HPM guided the 2-hr education process. The sample has 58 women. RESULTS: As a result, the model education-based HPM helped 69% of women to quit VD practice. It was also determined that education affected women who performed VD to feel clean and to comply with the religion but was less effective in women who had lower education or performed VD to comply with the husband's demand. CONCLUSIONS: Finally, the study showed that the education based on HPM affected the women to change their attitude toward VD and quit it.

An investigation into breastfeeding characteristics of mothers attending childbirth education classes.

PURPOSE: This paper is a report of a study of the effects of breastfeeding education on the breastfeeding success and breastfeeding characteristics of mothers in a Turkish context. METHODS: The research was designed as quasi-experimental. The sample consisted of 93 mothers who participated in (n = 46) and did not participate in childbirth education classes (n= 47). The date was collected between 2005 and 2007. The childbirth education class comprised 16 hours in total. Two hours of this class involved breastfeeding education. The course was carried out with the principles of adult education principles. Data on mothers' breastfeeding were collected in the sixth week postpartum. RESULTS: The majority of the mothers (63.4%) were university graduates. No difference was found between breastfeeding frequency in the control and experimental groups and starting supplemental food. It was found that 80.4% of the women in the experimental group breastfed in line with the techniques. This rate was found to be 48.9% in the control group. It was documented that the first breastfeeding times were earlier in the experimental group, their babies slept longer after being fed, their perceived spouse support was higher, and had even higher perceived breastfeeding success. CONCLUSIONS: On the basis of the study results it could be argued that attending childbirth preparation class with the husband has a positive effect over breastfeeding. Childbirth education classes will greatly contribute to the health of the society by affecting breastfeeding positively.