Preocupações maternas no pós-parto: Estudo em puérperas às três semanas após a alta da maternidade / Maternal preoccupations in the postpartum period: A study of postpartum women three weeks after discharge from the maternity hospital

Este estudo subordinado ao tema " Preocupações maternas no pós-parto: estudo em puérperas às três semanas após a alta da maternidade " é um estudo de carácter quantitativo, descritivo-correlacional cuja amostra é constituída por 245 puérperas. Foram utilizadas três escalas: Escala de Vinculação do Adulto (EVA- M. C. Canavarro 1995, Versão Portuguesa da Adult Attacment Scale (Collins & Read, 1990), Escala de Auto-percepção Materna nos Cuidados Neonatais (EAPMCCN ­ Mendes & Santos, 2009) e o Questionário de Preocupações Maternas (QPM), de Sheil et al, (1985), versão piloto Portuguesa de Mendes, Rodrigues, Santos & Pedrosa (2010). Os objectivos que delineámos para o presente estudo foram: identificar as principais preocupações sentidas pelas puérperas após a alta da maternidade e analisar factores associados com as preocupações maternas no período pós-parto. O estudo permitiu concluir que as principais preocupações maternas após a alta da maternidade foram ­ Em relação a si: "Cansaço", "Cuidado com as mamas", "Tensão emocional". ­ Relacionadas com o bebé: "Crescimento e desenvolvimento normais", "Ser uma boa mãe", " Reconhecer sinais de doença". ­ Relacionadas com o companheiro: "Relações sexuais", "Terem tempo para estarem sozinhos", "Planeamento familiar". ­ Referentes à família: "Recursos económicos","Gerir as exigências do lar", "Mudança do estilo de vida familiar". ­ Relativas à comunidade: "Trabalho/Emprego", "Acesso aos cuidados de saúde", "Facilidade de aceder às compras". Os itens para os quais as mães demonstraram menor auto-percepção das suas competências no cuidado ao RN para a Dimensão cognitivo-motora foram: "Identificar as características da urina", "Identificar as características das fezes" e "Definir o horário de dar de mamar". Para a Dimensão cognitivo-afectiva, foram: "Identificar os diferentes tipos de sono" e "Perceber quando o bebé está irritado". Este estudo permitiu identificar um conjunto de preocupações maternas bem como a identificação de factores associados com estas preocupações, de onde se evidencia que o tipo de parto e a auto-percepção das competências maternas influencia as preocupações das puérperas. Deste modo, actuação dos enfermeiros junto das puérperas (nos serviços onde o estudo foi desenvolvido) deverá promover de forma mais efectiva a aquisição de competências, conhecimentos e habilidades na preparação para a alta, com especial ênfase nos aspectos onde foram verificadas as maiores preocupações e onde foram identificados níveis mais baixos de competência materna.

Evaluation of in vivo reproductive toxicity of potassium chromate in male mice.

To evaluate the effects of potassium chromate on mice sperm cells after a short-term exposure, male ICR-CD1 mice were administered with 5 or 10mgK(2)CrO(4)/bw for 4 consecutive days. One group of mice was sacrificed at day 5, starting from the beginning of the experiment and another group was sacrificed at day 35. Testis and epididymis histology was evaluated by light microscopy and testicular cells populations were evaluated by flow cytometry (FCM). Spermatozoa were collected from the epididymis and their morphology and several functional parameters (density, motility, viability, mitochondrial function, acrosome integrity) were evaluated. Furthermore, DNA fragmentation and chromatin status of sperm cells were assessed at both experimental periods. Besides a reduction in seminiferous tubules diameter, exposure to potassium chromate did not induce further histopathological changes in mice testis or epididymis. These results were supported by the analysis of testicular cellular subpopulations by FCM. Concerning spermatozoa morphology, an increase in the percentage of multiple abnormalities and a decrease in the percentage of normal spermatozoa were found at days 5 and 35, respectively. Although spermatozoa mitochondrial function or viability was not affected, its motility was significantly reduced by potassium chromate exposure at both experimental periods. A decrease in acrosome integrity was found in mice injected with 10mgK(2)CrO(4)/bw after 35 days. Exposure to potassium chromate did not affect either DNA fragmentation or chromatin susceptibility to acid denaturation of sperm cells. In this work, we were able to show the effects of potassium chromate on spermatozoa physiological parameters such as motility, morphology and acrosome status and also demonstrate that the doses tested did not induce DNA damage to sperm cells after one spermatogenic cycle.

Effect of Cr(V) on reproductive organ morphology and sperm parameters: an experimental study in mice.

BACKGROUND: Cr(V) species are formed during the intracellular reduction of Cr(VI), a ubiquitous environmental pollutant. In this study, the acute toxicity of a physiologically stable Cr(V) compound, [CrV-BT](2-) (BT = bis(hydroxyethyl)aminotris(hydroxymethyl)methane) was investigated in the male reproductive system of sexually mature 60-day-old male ICR-CD1 mice. METHODS: Eight-week-old animals were subcutaneously injected daily with a dose of ca 8 micromol of Cr/mouse, during 5 days. The control group was injected with 0.5 mL of BT buffer. Testis and epididymis morphology was evaluated using light and transmission electron microscopy. Epididymal sperm counts, motility and acrosome integrity were also assayed using standard methods. RESULTS: Seminiferous epithelium abnormalities were detected in the CrV-BT experimental group, including intraepithelial vacuolation, and remarkable degeneration of Sertoli cells, spermatocytes and spermatids. The premature release of germ cells into the tubular lumen was also evident. Histological evaluation of epididymal compartments revealed apparently normal features. However, the epididymal epithelium presented vacuolation. [CrV-BT](2-) induced a reduction in sperm acrosome integrity. However, sperm motility and density were not significantly affected. CONCLUSION: This in vivo study using a Cr(V) compound, provides evidence for the potential reproductive hazards caused on male reproductive system by species containing chromium in intermediate oxidation states.