Assessment of Oral Health Status and Pregnancy Outcomes Among Women in Saudi Arabia.

Purpose: Pregnant women witness many changes in the body as well as in the oral cavity with many factors influencing these changes. This study evaluated the relationship between oral health status, perceptions, and pregnancy outcomes. Methods: A cross sectional study design was implemented to recruit a convenience sample of women attending Obstetrics and gynecology department in public hospitals in East and capital city of Saudi Arabia. To collect data, a validated self-administered questionnaire in English and Arabic was used. The questionnaire covered background information, perceived oral health status, and dental visits. Results: About 64.4% of the 481 women recruited had dental problems, 49.7% reported deterioration in their oral health during pregnancy, and 17.5% reported adverse pregnancy outcomes. Only 40.7% of pregnant women rated their oral health as good, and only 22% visited a dentist during their pregnancy. Dentists were the most common source of oral health information (44.1%), followed by social media (38.9%). Dental problems during pregnancy were significantly associated with adverse outcomes (P=0.007). Oral health perceptions of pregnant women, not visiting the dentist during pregnancy, and gingival problems were also significantly associated with adverse pregnancy outcomes (P=0.001). Those with fair to poor oral health were twice as likely to experience adverse pregnancy outcome. Those who intended to visit the dentist during their pregnancy but did not do so, as well as those who did not visit the dentist at all were 12 and 9 times more likely to experience adverse pregnancy outcomes respectively. Conclusion: Dental complaints during pregnancy, oral health perceptions, and a lack of dental visits were all linked to increased likelihood of adverse pregnancy outcomes. There is a need for interprofessional collaboration to dispel myths and encourage oral health care and regular dental visits during pregnancy.

Assessing the awareness and acceptability of hepatitis B immunoglobulin among pregnant women in Enugu metropolis, Southeast, Nigeria: A cross-sectional study.

Objectives: Assessed the level of awareness of hepatitis B virus infection and hepatitis B immunoglobulin, and determined the proportion of pregnant women that will accept hepatitis B immunoglobulin if needed for their babies and the factors that were associated with the choices made by pregnant women in the Enugu metropolis. Methods: A cross-sectional study of 379 pregnant women in health facilities in the Enugu metropolis was undertaken between March and November 2019. A structured pre-tested interviewer-administered questionnaire was used for data collection. Data collected were analysed using SPSS version 23. Results: The overall knowledge of the respondents on hepatitis B virus infection was poor as only 26.6% had good knowledge. Only 25.6% of the respondents had heard of hepatitis B immunoglobulin but the majority of the respondents (93.1%) were both willing to accept to give the vaccine to their babies and recommend the vaccine to their relatives. The educational level and occupation of the respondents were significantly associated with overall knowledge of hepatitis B. Only the religion of the respondents correctly predicted the overall knowledge of the respondents on hepatitis B. Conclusion: Despite the poor knowledge of hepatitis B and hepatitis B immunoglobulin among the study participants, the acceptability of hepatitis B immunoglobulin was high.

Risk Factors and Clinical Outcomes of Asymptomatic Bacteriuria in Pregnant Women: A Comprehensive Analysis.

Background Asymptomatic bacteriuria (ASB) in pregnant women poses risks to maternal and neonatal health. Understanding its prevalence and associated risk factors is crucial for effective management. This study aimed to determine the prevalence of ASB among pregnant women and identify associated risk factors. Methodology A cross-sectional study involving 294 pregnant women was conducted. ASB prevalence was determined, and bivariate analysis was performed to identify associated risk factors. Logistic regression analysis was employed to assess the significance of identified risk factors. Results The overall prevalence of ASB was 17.34%. Bivariate analysis revealed associations between ASB and maternal age (p > 0.05), socioeconomic status (p < 0.001), previous urinary tract infection (UTI) history (p < 0.001), diabetes mellitus (p = 0.00204), and anemia (p = 0.522). Multivariate logistic regression confirmed significant associations of ASB with maternal age (p = 0.008), parity (p = 0.001), previous UTI (p < 0.001), and diabetes mellitus (p < 0.001). Conclusion This study underscores the importance of screening for ASB during prenatal care, particularly among pregnant women with advanced maternal age, higher parity, previous urinary tract infection (UTI) history, and diabetes mellitus. Tailored screening strategies and prompt treatment can mitigate the risks associated with untreated ASB, improving maternal and neonatal outcomes. Healthcare providers should integrate these findings into routine antenatal care protocols to optimize maternal and fetal health.

Pregnant women with chronic hepatitis B virus infection at the assessment of tenofovir disoproxil fumarate prescription: Baseline characteristics of a prospective cohort study in Vietnam.

Objectives: We aimed to determine epidemiological characteristics and serologic markers among chronically hepatitis B virus (HBV)-infected pregnant women during the assessment of tenofovir disoproxil fumarate (TDF) prescription in Vietnam. Methods: We consecutively recruited 375 pregnant women with chronic HBV (cHBV) infection at week 25±2 of pregnancy, at which time they were assessed for TDF use as pre-prophylaxis and/or pre-treatment at the Hospital for Tropical Diseases in southern Vietnam during December 2019-April 2021. Demographic characteristics, serological biomarkers, and prenatal liver ultrasounds were obtained through interviews and reviews of medical records. Results: The median age of pregnant women was 29 years (interquartile range: 26-32). More than half of pregnant women (208/375; 55.5%) started TDF for prevention of mother-to-child transmission of HBV and/or treatment of chronic hepatitis B (CHB). Among the pregnant women initiating TDF, 96.1% (198/206) tested positive for hepatitis B e antigen, and 21.6% (45/208) had quantitative hepatitis B surface antigen (qHBsAg) ≤104 IU/mL. A relatively strong correlation between qHBsAg and HBV deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) (r = 0.81; 95% CI: 0.76-0.85) was observed in pregnant women starting TDF. Conclusions: Our results demonstrate the high need for TDF prescription for prevention and/or treatment purposes in pregnant women with cHBV infection. Pregnant women with qHBsAg levels ≤104 IU/mL may prioritize HBV DNA testing over qHBsAg to decide on TDF prescription.

A descriptive epidemiology in syphilis in Tokyo, 2019-2022.

The number of syphilis cases in Tokyo has been found to increase in recent years. We conducted a descriptive epidemiology to elucidate the actual status of syphilis. Data on age, sex, disease stage, and presumed sexual partner of syphilis cases reported in Tokyo were tabulated and analyzed. A total of 9,419 syphilis cases have been reported between 2019 and 2022. There was a particularly sharp rise in the number of reported cases from 2021 to 2022. Comparing 2020 to 2022, the number of syphilis cases among women in their 20s, rapidly increased, more than triple. Furthermore, the number of pregnant women among syphilis cases increased in 2022. Despite the rapid increase in the number of young women with syphilis, there has been no increase in cases of congenital syphilis. One of the reasons may be that syphilis was detected early in pregnancy due to the high antenatal checkup rate in Tokyo. However, the continued incidence of syphilis among young women may increase congenital syphilis in the future. Public health strategy should include educational activities targeting high-risk populations or adolescents, early and appropriate testing, and treatment for preventing progression of syphilis.

Design and psychometric evaluation of organizational determinants of prenatal dental services questionnaire in Iran.

AIMS: The quality of prenatal dental services is essential for improving the oral health of both mothers and children. However, a lack of a reliable tool to assess the quality of prenatal oral care has hindered research in this area. To address this gap, the study aimed to validate the Organizational Determinants of Prenatal Dental Services Questionnaire (OD_PDS) in Iranian pregnant women. METHODS: Literature reviews, interviews, and a cross-sectional survey with 300 pregnant women were conducted. To evaluate the validity; face, content and construct validity were assessed. Cronbach's alpha coefficient and the Test-retest method were used for reliability assessment. RESULTS: The final version of the OD_PDS comprises 12 items, and four subscales, which are Costs (four items), Access to Equipment and services (three items), Review of the service delivery process (two items), and Professional Behavior (three items). Questions with a factor loading of less than 0.3 were excluded. The obtained fit indices were acceptable (X2/pdf = 3.383, RMSEA: 0.089, CFI = 0.869, and TLI = 0.820). The content reliability was demonstrated by Cronbach's α  = 0.702 and 0.713 and the ICC  =  0.724. CONCLUSION: The current study indicates that the OD_PDS is a valid and reliable tool for Prenatal Dental Services assessment in health centers.

Prenatal exposure to benzophenone-type UV filters and the associations with neonatal birth outcomes and maternal health in south China.

Benzophenone (BP)-type UV filters are commonly added to sunscreens and cosmetics to protect against UV radiation for human skin and hair. As a result, BPs are ubiquitous in the environment and human body, and their endocrine-disrupting characteristics have been a hot topic of discussion. However, our knowledge regarding the detrimental effects of prenatal exposure to BPs on pregnant women and their offspring remains limited. To fill this gap, we determined five BP derivatives in 600 serum samples obtained from pregnant women. All the target analytes, except 2,4-dihydroxybenzophenone (BP-1), have achieved a 100 % detection rate. The most prevalent compound was 2-hydroxy-4-methoxybenzophenone (BP-3), with a median concentration of 0.545 ng/mL. Significant and positive correlations were observed among BP derivatives, indicating both endogenous metabolism and common external sources. Utilizing Bayesian kernel machine regression (BKMR) and quantile-based g-computation (QGC) models, we found relationships between BP exposure and reduced neonatal birth weight (BW) and birth chest circumference (BC) during the third trimester. Notably, the adverse effect of BPs on birth size was sex-specific. Moreover, triglyceride (TG) was identified as a potential mediator of the effect of BPs on blood pressure, and co-exposure to BPs was linked to disruptions in thyroid hormone levels and glucose regulation. Further research is warranted to unravel the toxicity of BPs and their detrimental effects on pregnant women and fetuses.

Pregnant women's knowledge and clinical management of hemolytic disease of the fetus and newborn in Pará, Brazil.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the knowledge of pregnant women and the clinical management of hemolytic disease of the fetus and newborn, as well as to describe the gestational profile, risk factors and socio-epidemiological profile of pregnant women treated at two municipal health units in Belém (Pará, Brazil). METHODS: This was a cross-sectional analytical study, which consisted in the application of questionnaires to pregnant women who underwent prenatal care at the municipal health units. RESULTS: A total of 104 pregnant women were evaluated; most were aged between 24 and 29 years old, had high school degrees (38 %), family incomes between 1 and 2 minimum wages (45 %) and blood type O+ (43 %). Regarding the gestational profile, the participants were predominantly in the third trimester of pregnancy (49 %), started prenatal care in the first gestational trimester (81 %) and were primiparous (61 %). Failures in the management of prenatal care were observed, especially with regard to access to information about the disease, since most pregnant women did not receive information about blood incompatibility during prenatal care. This led to limited knowledge about the pathology of the disease evidenced by the fact that most of the correct answers were between Questions 0-4, which were significantly associated with the women's education and income. CONCLUSIONS: Although hemolytic disease of the fetus and newborn is serious, the pregnant women in this study demonstrated little knowledge about the disease and had inadequate care by health professionals, reinforcing the importance of improving care for women's health and prenatal care.

Neuroserpin, IL-33 and IL-17A as potential markers of mild symptoms of depressive syndrome in Toxoplasma gondii-infected pregnant women.

Introduction: Depressive syndrome (DS) is a common complication during pregnancy and the postpartum period, and is triggered by multiple organic/genetic and environmental factors. Clinical and biochemical follow-up is essential for the early diagnosis and prognosis of DS. The protozoan Toxoplasma gondii causes infectious damage to the fetus during parasite primary-infection. However, in long-term infections, pregnant women develop immune protection to protect the fetus, although they remain susceptible to pathological or inflammatory effects induced by T. gondii. This study aimed to investigate plasma inflammatory biomarkers in pregnant women seropositive and seronegative for T. gondii, with diagnoses of minor and moderate/severe DS. Methods: Pregnant women (n=45; age=18-39 years) were recruited during prenatal care at health centers in Ouro Preto, Minas Gerais, Brazil. Participants were asked to complete a socio-demographic questionnaire to be submitted to well-standardized DS scale calculators (Beck Depression Inventory Questionnaire, Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale, and Major Depressive Episode Module). Additionally, 4 mL of blood was collected for plasma neuroserpin, CCL2, IL-17A, and IL-33 analysis. Results: Pregnant volunteers with chronic T. gondii contact were all IgG+ (44%; n=21) and exhibited increased plasma IL-33, IL-17A, and neuroserpin levels, but not CCL2, compared to uninfected pregnant women. Using Beck's depression inventory, we observed an increase in plasma IL-17A and IL-33 in women with T. gondii infeCction diagnosed with mild DS, whereas neuroserpin was associated with minor and moderate/severe DS. Discussion: Our data suggest a close relationship between DS in pregnant women with chronic T. gondii infection and neurological conditions, which may be partially mediated by plasma neuroserpin, IL-33, and IL-17A levels.

Effectiveness of couple-based health education on utilization of maternity waiting homes among pregnant women in rural Ethiopia: A study protocol for cluster-randomized trial.

Background: Maternity waiting homes are used to enhance women's access to health facilities in low-resource settings; however, its use remains low in Ethiopia. It is important to investigate strategies that can enhance the usage of maternity waiting homes in Ethiopia. Methods: The purpose of his study is to assess how well couple-focused health education works to increase maternal knowledge, attitudes, and use of maternity waiting homes in rural Ethiopia. A cluster-randomized trial with two parallel groups will be the study's design. Three hundred twenty samples will be drawn from 16 clusters (160 in each group). Clusters will be assigned to intervention or control groups using a restricted randomization with a 1:1 allocation ratio. Women who are in their 14-16 weeks of gestation, or in the early stages of their second trimester, along with their male partners, will participate in the study. Health education, home visits, and the distribution of leaflets will be the intervention packages. Discussion: The trial results will provide conclusive evidence on whether couple-based health education can improve women's access to maternity waiting homes in rural Ethiopia.

Prevalence of hyperemesis gravidarum and associated factors among pregnant women at comprehensive specialized hospitals in northwest Ethiopia: Multicenter cross-sectional study.

Background: Hyperemesis gravidarum is one of the problems encountered among pregnant women due to persistent and excessive vomiting starting before the end of the 22nd week of gestation. The current study aimed to assess the prevalence of hyperemesis gravidarum and associated factors among pregnant women at comprehensive specialized hospitals in northwest Ethiopia. Methods: A multi-facility-based cross-sectional study was conducted at comprehensive specialized hospitals from 1st June 2022 to 30th July 2022. The data were entered using EPI Data Version 4.6 statistical software and analyzed using SPSS Version 26. Descriptive statistics such as frequency, mean, and percentage were calculated. Univariable and multivariable binary logistic regression analyses were carried out to identify the associated factors of hyperemesis gravidarum. Results: In all, 404 study participants were enrolled. About 16.8% of pregnant women were found to have hyperemesis gravidarum. Age < 20 year (AOR = 3.170; 95% CI: 1.119, 8.980), study participants who cannot read and write (AOR = 5.662; 95% CI: 2.036, 15.7470), grade 1-8 (AOR = 4.679; 95% CI: 1.778, 12.316), and grade 9-10 (AOR = 8.594; 95% CI: 3.017, 24.481), being housewife (AOR = 6.275; 95% CI: 1.052, 37.442), living in urban area (AOR = 2.185; 95% CI: 1.035, 4.609), having previous hyperemesis gravidarum (AOR = 2.463; 95% CI: 1.210, 5.012), having family history of hyperemesis gravidarum (AOR = 2.014; 95% CI: 1.002, 4.047), unplanned pregnancy (AOR = 2.934; 95% CI: 1.030, 8.351), having recent abortion (AOR = 2.750; 95% CI: 1.010, 7.483), and gravidity (AOR = 1.956; 95%CI: 1.023, 3.737) were factors associated with hyperemesis gravidarum. Conclusion: The prevalence of hyperemesis gravidarum is higher. Low maternal age, lower educational level, being a housewife, being an urban resident, having previous hyperemesis gravidarum, having a family history, having an unplanned pregnancy, and having a recent abortion were significantly associated with hyperemesis gravidarum.

Antimicrobial resistance among pregnant women with urinary tract infections is on rise: Findings from meta-analysis of observational studies.

Pregnant women have a higher risk of urinary tract infections (UTIs) compared to non-pregnant women, making antibiotics necessary for treatment. However, prescribing antibiotics without culture and sensitivity tests may contribute to antimicrobial resistance. A meta-analysis using R was conducted to determine the prevalence of antibiotic resistance patterns in UTIs among pregnant women. We identified observational studies published in the last 10 years and used a random effects model to calculate the pooled prevalence. The prevalence of Gram-negative organisms causing UTIs in pregnant women was 67 %, while Gram-positive organisms were 22 %. The burden of Gram-positive organisms exhibiting antimicrobial resistance was very high at 95 %, primarily to ampicillin. The most common Gram-negative organisms exhibiting antimicrobial resistance were E. coli, Klebsiella, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa, while the most common Gram-positive organisms resistant to antibiotics were Staphylococcus aureus and coagulase-negative Staphylococcus. Sensitivity and culture testing are recommended for effective treatment in pregnant women with UTIs.

Vaccination against seasonal flu in childhood and adolescence. Recommendations of the Advisory Committee on Vaccines and Immunizations of the Spanish Association of Pediatrics (CAV-AEP) for the 2024-2025 season.

The flu is a constant threat that can sometimes cause severe forms of disease. The highest incidence rates by age group occur in children under 15 years of age, especially in those under 5 years, in whom the rate of hospitalization is also similar to the population aged 65 years and older. In addition, children are the main transmitters of the infection. In Spain, 5 influenza vaccines are authorized for the paediatric age group: three inactivated tetravalent vaccines harvested from fertilised eggs, one tetravalent inactivated vaccine obtained from cell cultures and one attenuated tetravalent vaccine for intranasal administration, which will become trivalent in the 2024-2025 season by excluding the B Yamagata lineage as recommended by the WHO. The CAV-AEP recommends systematic vaccination in children aged 6-59 months, children and adolescents belonging to risk groups, people who can transmit the flu to groups at risk of complicated flu, and household contacts or close family of infants under 6 months. From 2 years of age, the intranasal attenuated vaccine is preferred due to its greater acceptability and thus contribution to greater vaccination coverage. The CAV-AEP also considers that vaccination against influenza of healthy children and adolescents aged 5-18 years is advisable, as it provides individual protection and promotes protection at the family and community levels. It is especially important to vaccinate all health care professionals against influenza as well as pregnant women at any time during pregnancy.

Sero-prevalence of syphilis and associated risk factors among pregnant women attending antenatal care at an urban-poor health centre in Kampala, Uganda: a cross-sectional study.

Introduction: syphilis and its outcomes remain a healthcare system burden with adverse consequences such as stillbirths, neonatal deaths and spontaneous abortions among others. The situation might have worsened because the COVID-19 pandemic has caused a major attention drift from other diseases. Additionally, much as testing for syphilis is a routine practice among pregnant mothers, its proportion is not known in urban health care setting. A study to determine the prevalence of syphilis among pregnant mothers in an urban poor setting is warranted. Methods: a cross-sectional study was conducted among pregnant women who attended antenatal care at Kawaala Health Centre IV in Kampala Capital City between December 2019 to March 2020. Informed consent was sought from study participants prior to data collection using structured questionnaires. Whole blood was collected and tested using SD Bioline HIV/syphilis duo rapid test kit (SD Standard Diagnostics, INC, Korea). Data analysis was done using STATA 14.2. Results: one thousand one hundred and sixty-nine pregnant women participated in the study, with a mean age of 25 years. About 27% of them had completed only primary-level education. Approximately 6% of the participants were HIV seropositive. The prevalence of syphilis was 5.9% (69/1169). HIV positivity (aOR: 4.13, 95%CI: 2.05-8.34), elevated blood pressure (aOR: 2.84, 95%CI: 1.42-5.69), and status of previous pregnancy (aOR: 0.21, 95%CI: 0.05-0.89) were significant predictors of the risk of syphilis among pregnant women in this setting. Conclusion: the prevalence of syphilis among pregnant women in urban poor settings is not low and so must not be underestimated. The potential drivers of syphilis among pregnant women are HIV, elevated blood pressure, and status of previous pregnancy. There should be increased awareness about routine syphilis testing among pregnant mothers attending antenatal care.

Prevalence of Human Toxoplasmosis in Spain Throughout the Three Last Decades (1993-2023): A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.

Humans are infected by Toxoplasma gondii worldwide and its consequences may seriously affect an immune deprived population such as HIV and transplanted patients or pregnant women and foetuses. A deep knowledge of toxoplasmosis seroprevalence in Spain is needed in order to better shape health policies and educational programs. We present the results of the first systematic review and meta-analysis on the human prevalence for this disease in Spain. Databases (PubMed, Web of Science, SCOPUS and Teseo) were searched for relevant studies that were published between January 1993 and December 2023 and all population-based cross-sectional and longitudinal studies reporting the human seroprevalence in Spain were revised. Within the population analysed, our targeted groups were immunocompetent population, pregnant women and immunocompromised patients. Among 572 studies and 35 doctoral theses retrieved, 15 studies and three doctoral theses were included in the meta-analysis. A random effects model was used for the meta-analyses due to the high heterogeneity found between studies (I2: 99.97), since it is a statistically conservative model, in addition to allowing better external validity. The global pooled seroprevalence was 32.3% (95% CI 28.7-36.2%). Most of the studies carried out were in pregnant women and the meta-analysis reported that the pooled seroprevalence of toxoplasmosis in pregnant women in Spain was 24.4% (24,737/85,703, 95% CI 21.2-28.0%), based on the random effects model. It is recommended to continue monitoring the seroprevalence status of T. gondii in order to obtain essential guidelines for the prevention and control of the infection in the population.

Influence of gestational hypertension and maternal air pollutant exposure on birth outcomes.

The relationship between exposure to air pollutants and fetal growth outcomes has shown inconsistency, and only a limited number of studies have explored the impact of air pollution on gestational hypertension and birth outcomes. This study aimed to evaluate how maternal exposure to air pollutants and blood pressure could influence fetal birth outcomes. A total of 55 women with gestational hypertension and 131 healthy pregnant women were enrolled in this study. Data pertaining to personal characteristics, prenatal examinations, outdoor air pollutant exposure, and fetal birth outcomes were collected. The study revealed that fetal birth weight and abdominal circumference exhibited a significant reduction among women with gestational hypertension compared to healthy pregnant women, even after adjustments for body mass index, gestational age, and exposure to air pollutants had been made. Moreover, maternal exposure to outdoor air pollutants displayed a notable correlation with decreased birth length of fetuses. Consequently, the study concluded that maternal blood pressure and exposure to outdoor air pollutants during pregnancy potentially stand as pivotal factors influencing fetal birth outcomes.

Genomic Characterization and Resistance Features of Streptococcus agalactiae Isolated from Non-pregnant Adults in Shandong, China.

BACKGROUND: Streptococcus agalactiae is a recognized pathogen that primarily affects infants and pregnant women. However, its increasingly important role in causing invasive infections among non-pregnant adults has become a significant health concern due to the severity and variety of its clinical impacts. METHODS: Nonduplicate S. agalactiae clinical strains associated with clinical infections (n=139) were isolated from non-pregnant adults in Shandong, China. Antibiotic susceptibility testing, whole-genome sequencing, and genomic analyses were conducted to characterize the genome and identify resistance features of these strains. RESULTS: The strains exhibited universal susceptibility to penicillin, ampicillin, cefotaxime, meropenem, linezolid, and vancomycin. Notably, high resistance rates were observed for erythromycin (91.4%), clindamycin (89.2%), levofloxacin (84.2%), tetracycline (54.0%) and, to a lesser extent, chloramphenicol (12.9%). Serotyping revealed seven serotypes and one non-typeable strain. Serotypes Ia, Ib, III, and V predominated, representing 95.7% of the strains. Nineteen sequence types were categorized into seven clonal complexes, with CC10 being the most prevalent at 48.9%. The resistance genes mreA (100%), ermB (70.5%), and tetM (46.0%) were commonly detected. All the isolates carried at least one pilus backbone determinant and one alpha-like protein gene, with the PI-1+PI-2a and the bca gene being the most frequent at 84.2% and 54.7%, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: While S. agalactiae strains in non-pregnant adults retain sensitivity to ß-lactam antibiotics, the elevated resistance to erythromycin, clindamycin, levofloxacin, and tetracycline is concerning. Given the growing elderly population worldwide, the burden of S. agalactiae infections is significant. Continuous surveillance of serotype distribution and antibiotic resistance patterns is imperative for targeted prevention and therapeutic strategies.

Psychological status of pregnant women during the omicron pandemic outbreak in China.

BACKGROUND: Pregnant women faced great challenges and psychological and physiological changes of varying degrees during the omicron epidemic outbreak. It is important to recognize the potential impact of these challenges on the mental health of pregnant women and to provide appropriate resources and support to mitigate their effects. METHOD: By using the convenience sampling approach, a total of 401 pregnant women from two hospitals of different grades in two cities were included in the survey. The cross-sectional survey was conducted by basic characteristics, Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD-7), Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9), Insomnia Severity Index (ISI) and self-made questionnaire. RESULTS: Insomnia affected 207 participants (51.6%), depression affected 160 participants (39.9%) and anxiety affected 151 participants (37.7%). Moreover, pregnant women in provincial capital city were more likely to experience anxiety, depression and insomnia than those in county-level city (P < 0.01). Pregnant women's anxiety, depression and insomnia were positively correlated with the severity of COVID-19 infection (P < 0.05). However, COVID-19 infection had no appreciable impact on maternal demand for termination of pregnancy and cesarean section (P > 0.05). CONCLUSION: Pregnant women frequently suffer from anxiety disorder, depression and insomnia as a result of the omicron pandemic in China. During this period, the community and medical professionals should provide more psychological counseling, conduct health education and offer virtual prenatal care to pregnant women (particularly in the provincial capital city).

Perspectives of pregnant women on the utilisation of a maternity waiting home near Onandjokwe Lutheran Hospital in Oshikoto Region, Namibia.

BACKGROUND:  Despite the efforts of Namibia's Ministry of Health and Social Services to build maternity waiting homes (MWHs), few pregnant women make use of them. Long distances among the general population in Namibia limit the utilisation of MWHs. Little research has investigated what factors are limiting the use of these facilities despite the urgent need for them. The aim of this study thus was to explore and describe the perspectives of pregnant women on the utilisation of the MWHs near Onandjokwe Lutheran Hospital in Oshikoto Region. METHODS:  A qualitative, exploratory, descriptive and contextual design was employed. The accessible population in this study comprised 18 participants who were selected for the study using a purposive sampling technique. RESULTS:  Participants reported numerous barriers to visiting MWHs in Namibia, including an inadequate number of rooms, theft, food scarcity and the effects of poverty on the living conditions of the MWH users. Enablers visiting MWHs included the safe delivery of babies by skilled staff, reduced transport costs, access to timely management of labour complications and affordable accommodation. CONCLUSION:  The study revealed that a number of barriers must be overcome before the desired number of women take advantage of MWHs. Multiple factors act as constraints to their use, including inadequate number of rooms, theft, food scarcity and the long distance between patients' homes and MWH services.Contribution: The study's findings can be used to develop targeted interventions and strategies that can be used by MWH providers to address the identified barriers.

Oral health knowledge, literacy and behavior of pregnant women: a qualitative study in a northeastern province of Thailand.

BACKGROUND: Pregnancy is a unique period of women's lives, and oral health is an important public health indicator during this period. Pregnant women have increased vulnerability to oral health problems. The study aimed to describe oral health knowledge, literacy and behavior of pregnant women in a northeastern province of Thailand. METHODS: A descriptive study was used. Twenty pregnant women who attended antenatal care clinics of eight public hospitals in the province were recruited by use of purposive sampling. They participated voluntarily in individual interview. The Health Belief Model was used as conception framework. All data were transcribed and subjected to content analysis. RESULTS: Five categories emerged: Misbelief and lack of knowledge, Oral health problems and dental care seeking, Oral health information from different persons, Self-care management of oral health, and Fear of and anxiety towards dental treatment. The findings showed that low knowledge of need for treatment, little importance to oral health and low priority of dental needs affect the demand for dental care. Fear of and anxiety towards dental treatment were the results of negative past experiences of neglecting dental care. Some women perceived health benefits of practicing self-care of oral health during pregnancy. CONCLUSION: The findings help to better understand the oral health issues of pregnant women and provide baseline information for oral health promotion. Such promotion and culturally appropriate care should be integrated in maternal health education classes.