Breastfeeding challenges and the impact of social support in Iranian Muslim mothers: A cross-sectional study.

Breast milk is the perfect food during infancy. Adequate support from family and health systems can be helpful to continue breastfeeding. This study aimed to determine the status of breastfeeding challenges and its relationship with social support and socio-demographic factors. In this correlational-descriptive study, 348 breastfeeding mothers were recruited using cluster random sampling from health care centers in Tabriz, Iran in 2022. Socio-demographic, breastfeeding challenges and social support questionnaires were used for data collection. Data were analyzed for descriptive and inferential statistics (Pearson correlation tests, independent t-test, one-way ANOVA and general linear model) using SPSS version 16. Difficulty in completing household tasks and breastfeeding at the same time (32.5 percent) was the most common challenge reported by mothers. There was an inverse and significant correlation between perceived social support and experiencing challenges (r = -0.199؛ p = .001). Based on the adjusted general linear model, with increasing social support, the score of breastfeeding challenges decreased (B = -0.165; 95 percent CI: -0.07-0.25, p < .001). Considering the relationship between perceived social support and the challenges experienced during breastfeeding, it can be concluded that adequate support from family along with training and guidance from health care providers can lead women to have better breastfeeding experiences and overcome breastfeeding problems.

The intention to leave among academics in Iran: an examination of their work-life quality and satisfaction.

BACKGROUND: Despite the importance of faculty retention, there is little understanding of how demographic variables, professional and institutional work-life issues, and satisfaction interact to explain faculty intentions to leave. This study aimed to investigate the intention to leave among academics and their Work-Life Quality and Satisfaction. METHODS: This is a descriptive cross-sectional study conducted by 8 faculties affiliated to Urmia University of Medical Sciences located in Urmia, West Azarbaijan province, Iran. The participants in the study were 120 faculty members from Nursing and Midwifery, Medicine, Allied health professions, and Health management and medical information faculties. The Work-Life Quality and Satisfaction scale, and the intension to leave scale were used for data collection. Uni- and multivariable linear regression analyses were employed to determine predictors of the intention to leave (P-values < 0.05). RESULTS: The mean scores of all dimensions of Work-Life Quality and Satisfaction scale, and intention to leave were in an average level. There is a negative correlation between Work-Life Quality and Satisfaction subscales, along with demographic factors, and the intention to leave (P < 0.05), while multivariate analysis showed that work experience and Discipline were significant independent predictors of intention to leave (P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: In order to improve education in universities, it is necessary to pay attention to the conditions of creating job satisfaction in academics. Considering the high intention to leave among Nursing lecturers, without sufficient support of nursing schools in terms of human resources, it may suffer by the lack of academic staff; eventually the quality of education will reduce in undergraduate nursing in the long term.

Donor Breast Milk Banking: Knowledge and Attitudes of Iranian Mothers.

INTRODUCTION: Milk donation is allowed in Islam and considered a virtue, though according to Islam Sharia, feeding donated milk of other mothers leads to kinship between infants, complicating milk donation programs in Islamic countries. This study aimed to determine the knowledge and attitude of Iranian Muslim mothers regarding milk donation and milk banks. METHODS: In this cross-sectional descriptive-analytic study, 634 mothers of infants below 1 year of age were recruited using cluster random sampling from health care centers in Tabriz, Iran. Data were collected by questionnaire. RESULTS: The findings revealed a low level of knowledge but relatively positive attitudes. Knowledge predictors were education level, income, type of birth, breastfeeding experience, encouragement to donate milk, and hearing about milk donation (p ≤ .02). Predictors of attitude were knowledge score and encouragement to donate milk (p ≤ .001). DISCUSSION: Comprehensive, culturally congruent education of mothers during pregnancy and post-pregnancy related to milk banks is recommended.

Cultural sensitivity in paediatric nursing care: a concept analysis using the Hybrid method.

BACKGROUND: Cultural sensitivity is a core concept to establish awareness and knowledge about various ethnicities, cultures, genders and additional diversity characteristics to understand individual's requests and respond appropriately to them. A need for further development of the concept is warranted, especially in the context of paediatric nursing. AIMS: The purpose of this paper was to determine the main elements of cultural sensitivity in the context of paediatric nursing in Iran. METHODS: The Hybrid method was implemented consisting of three phases: theoretical, fieldwork and final analysis. In the theoretical phase, articles from 2007 to 2017 were reviewed for relevance. In the phase of fieldwork, 25 nurses and nine parents were interviewed to explore the aspects of cultural sensitivity in paediatric nursing. The interviews were transcribed, and content analysis was conducted. In the final phase, an overall analysis of the two previous phases was performed. RESULTS: In the theoretical phase, the following attributes were determined: cultural encounter and awareness, acceptance of cultural diversity and designing programmes in accordance with family culture. The fieldwork phase explored three themes of intercultural encounters, intercultural communication and adapting the care plan with family culture. The final synthesis yielded that sensitivity to family requests and beliefs, effective intercultural communication and integration of family culture with the care plan are the main elements of cultural sensitivity in Iranian paediatric nursing. CONCLUSION: With a deeper understanding of the term cultural sensitivity, nurses will have a foundation to improve paediatric nursing care and align the care plan with the patient's culture to provide trust, child/parent participation, secure care, effective communication and satisfaction. Since the concepts are the building blocks that underpin theory, the present concepts identified can help to serve as the foundation for the development of a theoretical model.

Factors influencing nurse-to-parent communication in culturally sensitive pediatric care: a qualitative study.

BACKGROUND: To deliver quality healthcare to diverse patients, effective commmunication is key. Little evidence exists about what factors influence nurse-to-parent communication in culturally sensitive pediatric care. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to explore factors that influence nurse-to-parent communication in the provision of culturally sensitive pediatric care. DESIGN: This study employed a qualitative content analysis. METHOD: The participants included 25 nurses and 9 parents from pediatric wards of hospitals located in Northwest and Central Iran. Semi-structured interviews were conducted. Data were analyzed using Graneheim and Lundman's method of content analysis. RESULTS: Factors that influenced the nurse-to-parent communication in pediatric culturally sensitive care were 1-organizational factors (inefficient policies and professional factors) and 2-human factors (nurse-related factors and unique characteristics of the family). Sub-categories included: lack of definitive policies for delivering cultural healthcare, insufficient cultural healthcare education, professional status of nursing in society, time, individual characteristics, cultural knowledge, cultural differences, and family's health literacy. CONCLUSION: The Iranian healthcare system requires a paradigm shift regarding the provision of culturally sensitive care.

The effect of stationary walking on the quality of life of the elderly women: a randomized controlled trial.

INTRODUCTION: Aging has a profound effect on all the body organs and quality of life. One of the appropriate interventions is exercises such as walking. Nevertheless, the risk of falling and its complications are lower in stationary walking than walking on ground. Due to the higher life expectancy in women than men, the increasing number of elderly, and the low quality of life of women compared to men, this study aimed to assess the impact of stationary walking on the quality of life of the elderly women. METHODS: In this clinical trial, 66 household elderly women covered by health centers of Maragheh were randomly selected and divided into experimental and control groups. Six weeks exercise intervention was conducted. The participants completed the quality of life questionnaire of the elderly, before and after the intervention. SPSS software was used to analyze the data. RESULTS: Mean scores of quality of life, in various aspects of the experimental group, before and after intervention, showed significant difference; there was no statistically significant difference in the control group. In addition, there was a significant difference in the mean and standard deviation of different aspects of quality of life in pre- and post-test of experiment and control groups. CONCLUSION: Using regular and constant exercise program such as stationary walking can increase the quality of life of the elderly women. It can improve healthy aging and having a healthy life at this age, too. Therefore, it is recommended to have stationary walking program in daily lives of the elderly.

Risk factors for breast cancer in Iranian women: a hospital-based case-control study in tabriz, iran.

PURPOSE: Breast cancer is the most common cancer in women worldwide and the leading cause of cancer death among women. In Asian countries such as Iran, the incidence of breast cancer is increasing. The present study aimed to assess the risk factors for breast cancer of women in Tabriz, Iran. METHODS: A hospital-based case-control study was undertaken to identify breast cancer risk factors. The study consisted of 140 cases confirmed via histopathological analysis and 280 group-matched controls without any malignancy. Data were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistical methods via the SPSS software version 18. RESULTS: In a multivariate analysis, educational level (odds ratio [OR], 4.7; 95% confidence interval [CI], 2.11-10.83), menopausal status (OR, 2.54; 95% CI, 1.41-4.59), a high-fat diet (OR, 2.76; 95% CI, 1.51-5.04), abortion (OR, 2.13; 95% CI, 1.20-3.79), passive smoking (OR, 2.76; 95% CI, 1.51-5.04), oral contraceptive use (OR, 3.18; 95% CI, 1.80-5.59), stress (OR, 3.05; 95% CI, 1.74-5.36), and migration (OR, 3.09; 95% CI, 1.39-6.90) were factors associated with a significantly increased risk of breast cancer. Breastfeeding (OR, 0.39; 95% CI, 0.16-0.97) and a diet containing sufficient fruit and vegetables (OR, 0.22; 95% CI, 0.12-0.39) had protective roles against breast cancer. CONCLUSION: The study revealed that the risk factors for breast cancer among women in the Tabriz area of Iran are related to the lifestyle. Therefore, the provision of education to change unhealthy lifestyle choices and periodic check-ups for early breast cancer detection are recommended.