Factors Influencing Abortion Decision-Making of Adolescents and Young Women: A Narrative Scoping Review.

INTRODUCTION: Globally, about half of all induced abortions have been estimated to be unsafe, which results in 13% of maternal deaths yearly. Of these induced abortions, 41% of unsafe abortions have been reported in young women who are dependent on their parents for their livelihood. They are often left in a vulnerable position and may have difficulty in making a decision regarding abortion. This study aimed to (1) characterize and map factors that influence abortion decision-making of adolescents and young women, and (2) identify the care and support that they need in their decision-making process. METHODS: We conducted a scoping review following the JBI method and PRISMA-ScR checklist. We comprehensively searched MEDLINE (PubMed), Embase, Cochrane Library, CINAHL, and PsycInfo, and hand searched publications in the Google Scholar database between November 2021 and October 2023. The search included all English language qualitative and mixed methods research articles published on the database up to October 2023 that included participants aged 10-24 years. The CASP checklist was used as a guide for the qualitative analysis. NVivo was used to synthesize the findings. RESULTS: There were 18 studies from 14 countries (N = 1543 young women) that met the inclusion criteria. Three domains and eleven categories were included as follows: personal (desire for self-realization and unwanted pregnancy), interpersonal (parental impact, reaction of partner, roles of peers and friends, existence of own child, and lack of support), and social circumstances (sexual crime, financial problem, limitation of choice, and underutilized healthcare services). Decision-making factors regarding abortions were also found across all three domains. CONCLUSION: The abortion decision-making of young women is influenced by various external factors regardless of country. Parents are especially influential and tend to force their daughters to make a decision. Young women experienced suffering, frustration, and lack of autonomy in making decisions based on their preference. This emphasizes the importance of autonomous decision-making. In this regard, healthcare services should be used. However, there are barriers to accessing these services. To improve such access, the following are required: staff training to provide adolescent and youth-friendly health services, counseling based on women's needs, counseling including the parents or guardians that is confidential and ethical, promotion of decision aids, and affordable accessible care.

Team-based learning in Indonesian midwifery education: Implementation research.

AIM: This study aims to implement team-based learning (TBL) and assess the impact on faculty members and students within midwifery education in Indonesia. METHODS: Proctor's Framework for Implementation Research serves as the guiding approach in investigating the role of implementation strategies in implementing TBL within the context of midwifery education. The RE-AIM (Reach, Efficacy, Adoption, Implementation, and Maintenance) framework was utilized to assess the outcome. RESULTS: In this study, the implementation of TBL has demonstrated significant reach, with broad participation among both faculty and students in two schools. The efficacy of TBL is evident through enhanced student knowledge, engagement and active learning. Adoption of TBL was observed in both schools, with faculty and students expressing interest and active participation. High levels of implementation fidelity were maintained, even though with challenges related to preparation and implementation. These findings suggest that TBL can be successfully integrated into midwifery education, with positive implications. Regarding maintenance, faculty members have expressed their intention to continue using TBL in various topics for future lectures. CONCLUSIONS: The implementation of TBL in Indonesian midwifery education has shown substantial reach and efficacy. Faculty and students are highly interested in adopting TBL for future use. Despite some implementation challenges, the study suggests that TBL can be effectively incorporated with minor adjustments, emphasizing its feasibility and potential impact. This research contributes to understanding TBL's applicability in various educational settings, especially in low-resource institutions.

A breast milk production model for achieving exclusive breastfeeding in low-risk primiparas who had vaginal births at 4 months postpartum: A prospective cohort study.

BACKGROUND: This study aimed to investigate the thresholds of milk production for predicting the achievement of exclusive breastfeeding (EBF) at 4 months postpartum. METHODS: The inclusion criteria were singleton, low-risk primiparas, non-cesarean section, and healthy mothers and infants. Temporary feeding of artificial milk in the past was included. Women who could be judged to have intentionally used artificial milk were excluded from the analysis. Measurements of the 24-h milk production by test weights were obtained at early postpartum (days 3-4) and at 1 month postpartum. To predict the achievement of EBF at 4 months postpartum, the area under the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was calculated for early postpartum and 1 month milk production. RESULTS: There were 80 eligible participants analyzed. ROC analysis of milk production for achieving EBF at 4 months revealed an area under the curve (AUC) of 0.736 (95% CI: [0.625, 0.848]) for early postpartum and an AUC of 0.854 (95% CI: [0.772, 0.936]) for 1 month postpartum. The proposed thresholds are 102 g/day (higher sensitivity) and 161 g/day (higher specificity) at early postpartum, and 527 g/day (higher sensitivity) at 1 month postpartum. CONCLUSIONS: In low-risk primiparas, the milk production models at early postpartum and 1 month postpartum showed a high accuracy for predicting the achievement of EBF at 4 months postpartum. The present study indicates that even when formula milk is temporarily used, it is still possible to reach the goal of achieving EBF.

A longitudinal study of the association of epidural anesthesia and low-dose synthetic oxytocin regimens with breast milk supply and breastfeeding rates.

Breastfeeding is known to improve maternal and child health. However, epidural anesthesia (EDA) and synthetic oxytocin (synOT) are suggested to have negative effects on breastfeeding. In this study, we aimed to determine the effects of intrapartum synOT and EDA on breast milk supply, breastfeeding rates, and maternal salivary oxytocin levels. Women were recruited during pregnancy or after birth at a single hospital. Data were collected at 3 days postpartum (T1), 1 month postpartum (T2), and 4 months postpartum (T3) on 83 low-risk primiparous women who planned to breastfeed for at least 12 weeks postpartum to avoid dropouts from early discontinuance of breastfeeding. Women with cesarean section, twin pregnancy, premature neonates, and an Apgar score of < 7 at 5 min were excluded. Participants recorded their 24-h milk supply by test weights at 3 days and 1 month postpartum. Additionally, they filled out questionnaires assessing their breastfeeding level and lactogenesis stage II initiation. Salivary oxytocin levels were obtained at 3 days postpartum. Women who delivered using EDA had lower salivary oxytocin levels (P = .055, d = .442), breast milk supply in early postpartum (P = .025, d = .520) and at 1 month postpartum (P = .036, d = .483), and breastfeeding rates at 4 months postpartum (P = .037, V = .236) than women who did not deliver using EDA. There was no association between breastfeeding and the use of intrapartum synOT. In conclusion, this study showed that women who delivered using EDA had lower breast milk supply in the early postpartum period and breastfeeding rates at 4 months postpartum. It also revealed that using synOT at low doses during labor did not affect breastfeeding. Thus, women who deliver using EDA need support for increased breast milk supply in the early postpartum period.Trial registration: UMIN000037783 (Clinical Trials Registry of University Hospital Information Network).

Evaluation of knowledge related to competency of nurse educators after participating in international outreach seminar for continuing nursing education in Myanmar.

Background and aims: With the drastic changes brought about by the Fourth Industrial Revolution (Industry 4.0) to nursing science and education, public-private collaboration efforts have been crucial in improving skills using technology. Nurse educators are expected to expand their knowledge and develop skills both in clinical and educational institutions to be able to implement evidence-based practice and develop professional competency. This study aimed to evaluate the knowledge related to competency of nurse educators before and after participating in an international outreach seminar for continuing nursing education in Myanmar. Methods: We conducted an evaluation study to clarify the outcomes of an international outreach seminar before and after its implementation in Myanmar. The seminar focused on the development and improvement of nursing education, as well as research skills and knowledge of nurses. The two-day seminar was conducted at the University of Nursing, Mandalay in Myanmar on September 30, 2019 and October 1, 2019. Pre- and post-questionnaires were distributed before and after the seminar. Results: The seminar was attended by 60 participants who were affiliated with a university (41.7%), nursing school (8.3%), hospital (33.3%), and other institutions (16.7%). All the participants had 12.57 years of clinical experience on average. There was a significant increase in the total average score of knowledge from 31.08 (SD = 19.95) before the seminar to 44.15 (SD = 22.19) after the seminar (p = 0.002). Over 90% of the participants recognized changes in their self-efficacy as educators. Conclusions: The participants acquired valuable up-to-date knowledge related to competency of nurse educators after attending the two-day international outreach seminar. They became keenly aware of the changes in their self-efficacy as educators. To our knowledge, this is the first study in Myanmar to evaluate knowledge related to competency of nurse educators who attended this seminar for continuing nursing education. This seminar was conducted as a mutual collaborative undertaking based on a long academic relationship built on trust and years of partnership between our universities. The findings imply that it is important for low- and middle-income countries to maintain a continuous international collaboration to be able to promote and support professional growth, knowledge, competency, and self-efficacy of their nursing educators. Tweetable abstract: A two-day international outreach seminar on continuing education for clinical nurses and faculty members in Myanmar improved their knowledge related to competency and enhanced their recognition of changes in their self-efficacy as educators.

Changes in Salivary Oxytocin Level of Term Pregnant Women after Aromatherapy Footbath for Spontaneous Labor Onset: A Non-Randomized Experimental Study.

BACKGROUND: Aromatherapy is usually used to stimulate labor. However, its specific physiological effects have been scarcely examined. We evaluated whether an aromatherapy footbath increases oxytocin levels in term pregnant women. METHODS: In this quasi-experimental study, low-risk term pregnant women in Japan underwent aromatherapy using a footbath (1) infused with clary sage and lavender essential oils, (2) infused with jasmine oil, or (3) with no infused oils (control group). The primary outcome was the salivary oxytocin level. The secondary outcomes were uterine contractions and cortisol levels. RESULTS: In the clary sage and lavender group (n = 28), the oxytocin level increased significantly after the footbath (p = 0.035). The jasmine group (n = 27) and control group (n = 27) exhibited trends toward a respective increase and decrease in the oxytocin level; however, the changes in the oxytocin levels between the clary sage and lavender group and the control group showed no significance difference. There were no significant differences in the changes in the uterine contractions and cortisol levels between the experiment and control groups. CONCLUSIONS: The changes in the oxytocin levels in the clary sage and lavender group did not differ significantly with those in the control group, possibly because of the small sample size. Further studies are required to examine the effects of repeated aromatherapy footbaths to stimulate labor.

Prevalence and associated factors of intimate partner violence against pregnant women in urban areas of Japan: a cross-sectional study.

BACKGROUND: Intimate partner violence (IPV) against pregnant women is associated with many negative maternal and fetal outcomes and is a common public health problem all over the world. However, the issue has not been fully explored in Japan. This study aimed to explore the prevalence and risk factors of IPV against pregnant women in urban areas of Japan. METHODS: This study was a secondary data analysis of a cross-sectional survey that was conducted on women beyond 34 weeks' gestation in five perinatal facilities in urban areas of Japan, from July to October 2015. The sample size was calculated to be 1230. The Violence Against Women Screen was used for IPV screening. Multiple logistic regression analysis was used to calculate the adjusted odds ratio (AOR) with 95% confidence interval (CI) for risks of IPV while adjusting for confounding factors. RESULTS: Of the 1346 women who participated in this study, 180 (13.4%) were identified as experiencing IPV. Compared to those who did not experience IPV (n = 1166 (86.6%)), women experiencing IPV had higher odds of being single mothers (AOR = 4.8; 95%CI: 2.0, 11.2), having lower household income (< 3 million yen, AOR = 2.6; 95%CI: 1.4, 4.6; ≥ 3 million yen and < 6 million yen, AOR = 1.9; 95%CI: 1.2, 2.9), having junior high school education background (AOR = 2.3; 95%CI: 1.0, 5.3) and being multipara (AOR = 1.6; 95%CI: 1.1, 2.4). CONCLUSIONS: 13.4%, or about one in seven women, experienced IPV while pregnant. This high proportion indicates the need for policy to address the issue of violence against pregnant women. There is an urgent need to build a system for the early detection of victims that offers appropriate support to prevent the recurrence of violence while encouraging victim recovery.

Updated Decision Aid Enabling Women to Choose between with or without Epidural Analgesia during Childbirth, and Confirmation of Validity.

BACKGROUND: The use of a decision aid for choosing whether to have or not have anesthesia during childbirth has been shown to increase both knowledge about birth and the proportion of women who made their own decisions compared with women who did not use a decision aid. Herein, we updated the first version of our decision aid into a second version and evaluated this updated decision aid. We evaluated the face validity and content appropriateness of the updated decision aid developed to enhance the ability of women to choose between childbirth with or without epidural analgesia. METHODS: This was a descriptive study based on a literature review of updated information for addition to the first version. PubMed and Cochrane Library were searched from 2003 to May 2021. Thereafter, obstetricians, anesthesiologists, and midwives were asked to respond to a questionnaire regarding the face validity and content appropriateness of the updated decision aid regarding whether it meets the IPDASi (Version 4.0) quality standards. RESULTS: One obstetrician, one anesthesiologist, and three midwives who had performed epidural anesthesia for at least three years responded to the questionnaire. The responses to the evaluation items of face validity (i.e., style and clarity) were positive. There were 38 specific comments regarding content appropriateness classified into seven categories: "addition or revision of text", "unification of expressions", "need for explanation/information", "lack of evidence", "potential to mislead", "questionable", and "structure". CONCLUSION: The face validity and content appropriateness of the updated decision aid was confirmed. The next step is evaluation of the updated decision aid by pregnant women who give birth.

Early initiation of breastfeeding up to six months among mothers after cesarean section or vaginal birth: A scoping review.

Background: Early initiation of breastfeeding is important for establishing continued breastfeeding. However, previous research report that cesarean section (C-section) may hinder early initiation of breastfeeding. Despite this, there is currently a lack of literature that examines the rates of breastfeeding after both cesarean section and vaginal birth globally. Research aims: The objective of this scoping review was to systematically assess the available literature on the rate of early initiation of breastfeeding within the first hour and exclusive breastfeeding up to 6 months after C-section and vaginal birth, as well as any other factors associated with initiation and exclusive breastfeeding. Methods: We adhered to the PRISMA extension guidelines for scoping reviews in conducting our review. In August 2022, we carried out an electronic database search on CINALH, PubMed, EMBASE, and Cochrane Library, and also manually searched the reference list. Results: A total of 55 articles were included in the scoping review. The majority of these studies found that mothers who delivered vaginally had higher rates of breastfeeding compared to those who underwent a C-section, at various time points such as breastfeeding initiation, hospital discharge, one month, three months, and six months postpartum. Notably, there was a significant difference in the rate of early initiation of breastfeeding between the two groups. However, at 3 and 6 months after delivery the gap of exclusive breastfeeding rate between C-section and vaginal delivery is narrow. Breastfeeding education, health care providers support, and mother and baby bonding are other factors associate with initiation and exclusive breastfeeding. Conclusions: The rate of breastfeeding initiation after C-section has remained low to date. This is due in part to insufficient knowledge about and support for breastfeeding from healthcare providers.

Oxytocin changes in women with emergency cesarean section: Association with maternal blues by delivery mode.

Introduction: Women with emergency cesarean section (CS) have presumed effects of an unscheduled surgery on their salivary oxytocin (OXT) level and psychological state. This study aimed to measure changes in the salivary OXT levels of women with emergency CS and change in the OXT levels by delivery mode, and to investigate the association between changes in OXT levels and maternity blues. Methods: We used a longitudinal observational study. The eligibility criteria were primipara pregnant women who were planning to have vaginal delivery. The salivary OXT levels of women were measured at 36 weeks gestation, 38 weeks gestation, 1 day postpartum, and 5 days after childbirth. Maternity blues was diagnosed using the Maternity Blues Scale (13 items), 'Fatigue after Childbirth' was diagnosed using the Visual Analogue Scale (0-100), and the subjective symptoms of fatigue was diagnosed using the Jikaku-sho shirabe. The three groups ("Without EA", "With EA", and "Emergency CS") were analyzed separately. The changes in the oxytocin levels of women with emergency CS at four time points were analyzed by using a repeated measure analysis of variance. Results: The mean OXT levels of women with emergency CS (n = 6) were significantly lower at 5 days after childbirth than at 36 weeks gestation, 38 weeks gestation, and 1 day postpartum. There was a significant middle correlation between changes in the mean maternity blues scores between 1 day and 5 days, and the mean changes in OXT levels from 38 weeks gestation to 5 days after childbirth. Conclusion: It could be assumed that women with emergency cesarean section may be affected psychologically by the unplanned method of delivery. In the present study, it was not possible to analyze this association because of the small sample size; however, it is possible to clarify predictors as the sample size accumulates in the future.

Effectiveness of an Early Skin-to-Skin Contact Program for Pregnant Women with Cesarean Section: A Quasi-Experimental Trial.

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to clarify the effectiveness of early skin-to-skin contact (SSC) after a cesarean section (CS) program. METHODS: An "early SSC after CS" program was implemented at a tertiary care hospital in Tanzania. A non-equivalent group design was used. A questionnaire was used to collect data on exclusive breastfeeding, breastfeeding intention, Birth Satisfaction Scale-Revised Indicator (BSS-RI) score, perioperative pain with a visual analogue scale, and infant hospitalization for infectious diseases and diarrhea at 2-3 days postpartum. Follow-up surveys were conducted until 4 months postpartum regarding exclusive breastfeeding, breastfeeding intention, and hospitalization of the infants. RESULTS: This study involved 172 parturient women who underwent CS, with 86 in the intervention group and 86 in the control group. The exclusive breastfeeding rates at 4 months postpartum were 57 (76.0%) in the intervention group and 58 (76.3%) in the control group, with no significant difference. The BSS-RI score was higher in the intervention group (7.91, range 4-12, SD 2.42) than in the control group (7.18, range 3-12, SD 2.02) (p = 0.007) for women who underwent emergency CS. The survival probability for infants hospitalized owing to infectious diseases, and diarrhea was significantly higher in the intervention group (98.5%) than in the control group (88.3%) (χ2 = 5.231, p = 0.022) for multiparas. CONCLUSION: The early SSC after CS program showed a positive effect on the birth satisfaction of women undergoing emergency CS. It also reduced the incidence of infants hospitalized owing to infectious diseases and diarrhea for multiparas.

Women's experiences of breastfeeding after a cesarean section: A meta-synthesis.

AIM: The World Health Organization and United Nations Children's Fund recommend the early initiation of breastfeeding within the first hour postpartum for successful exclusive breastfeeding. However, cesarean section is a risk factor for unsuccessful early initiation of breastfeeding. Herein, we aim to explore women's experiences of breastfeeding after a cesarean section. METHODS: We used the Joanna Briggs Institute framework in this meta-synthesis. We searched articles published from 1990 to 2022 on PubMed, CINAHL, Cochrane library, PsycInfo, and EMBASE to identify qualitative studies on women's experiences of breastfeeding after a cesarean section. We used the Critical Appraisal Skills Programme checklist for qualitative studies to assess the quality of the included studies. RESULTS: Seven qualitative studies from five countries met the inclusion criteria, representing the views of 194 women who underwent cesarean sections. Six new categories were integrated into the women's experiences of breastfeeding after a cesarean section as follows: (i) Perceived values of breastfeeding, (ii) Emotional vulnerability in breastfeeding, (iii) Physical difficulties in breastfeeding, (iv) Inconvenient conditions in breastfeeding, (v) Inadequate resources for breastfeeding, and (vi) Support systems to enable breastfeeding. CONCLUSIONS: We provide evidence showing that knowledge of the specific breastfeeding mechanism and provision of the most appropriate postsurgical care by healthcare providers just after a cesarean section can reduce the barriers to post-cesarean breastfeeding. Moreover, effective hospital policies and family support can result in the initiation of positive breastfeeding outcomes. Future studies that consider the cultural aspects of breastfeeding practice may generate additional insights into providing optimal postpartum care.

A Decision Aid for Postpartum Adolescent Family Planning: A Quasi-Experimental Study in Tanzania.

BACKGROUND: We evaluated the effects of our postpartum Green Star family planning decision aid on the decisional conflict, knowledge, satisfaction, and uptake of long-acting reversible contraception among pregnant adolescents in Tanzania. METHODS: We used a facility-based pre-post quasi-experimental design. The intervention arm received routine family planning counseling and the decision aid. The control received only routine family planning counseling. The primary outcome was the change in decisional conflict measured using the validated decision conflict scale (DCS). The secondary outcomes were knowledge, satisfaction, and contraception uptake. RESULTS: We recruited 66 pregnant adolescents, and 62 completed this study. The intervention group had a lower mean score difference in the DCS than in the control (intervention: -24.7 vs. control: -11.6, p < 0.001). The mean score difference in knowledge was significantly higher in the intervention than in the control (intervention: 4.53 vs. control: 2.0, p < 0.001). The mean score of satisfaction was significantly higher in the intervention than in the control (intervention: 100 vs. control: 55.8, p < 0.001). Contraceptive uptake was significantly higher in the intervention [29 (45.3%)] than in the control [13 (20.3%)] (p < 0.001). CONCLUSION: The decision aid demonstrated positive applicability and affordability for pregnant adolescents in Tanzania.

Clinical trial of a birth and parenting planning program for women diagnosed with fetal anomalies: A feasibility study.

AIM: We assessed the feasibility of the Birth and Parenting Planning (BPPing) program we developed to support women diagnosed with fetal anomalies. METHODS: We conducted a feasibility study using a quasi-experimental, post-test only, non-equivalent groups design. We assessed feasibility from four aspects: (1) Demand: birth plan submitting rate (primary outcome); (2) Acceptability: woman's satisfaction of care scale (SATISFACTION) and Visual Analog Scale for care satisfaction; (3) Preliminary efficacy: women's recognition of being able to express and share her hopes scale (HOPES); and (4) Safety: obstetric/neonatal outcomes and frequency of women's referral to a psychological counselor. Fisher's exact test and Mann-Whitney U-test were used for data analysis. RESULTS: We enrolled 62 women with fetal anomalies attending a perinatal medical center for antenatal check-ups. Of these, 51 women (median age: 34 years) received either the BPPing program (intervention group: n = 25) or the usual care (control group: n = 26). The birth plan submitting rates were 96% (intervention group, 24/25) and 7.7% (control group, 2/26). The intervention group had a significantly higher total score on HOPES at postpartum (U = 441.5, p = 0.027). Upon subgroup analysis based on parity, in the intervention group only, the multiparas had a higher score on the SATISFACTION item, "I would recommend the care I received to someone in a similar situation". There were no adverse events in either group. CONCLUSION: The BPPing program was feasible in supporting women diagnosed with fetal anomalies in terms of demand, acceptability, preliminary efficacy, and safety.

Traumatic stress experienced by Japanese midwives and its relation to burnout and work engagement.

AIMS: The purpose of this study was to: (1) clarify the traumatic stress experienced by Japanese midwives using the Traumatic Stress Scale for Midwives (TSSM); (2) identify the traumatic stress experience with the highest frequency and greatest impact; and (3) clarify the relationship of the frequency and impact of the traumatic stress experience with burnout and work engagement. METHODS: A quantitative exploratory study was conducted using a self-administered questionnaire. The target midwives were those employed in hospitals, clinics, and midwifery centers throughout Japan. RESULTS: TSSM item 7 "Disregarded oneself when providing care" showed the highest average frequency score (1.70, SD = 0.8). TSSM item 2 "Experience of intrauterine fetal death" showed the highest average impact score (2.84, SD = 1.2). There was a significant difference in the average scores of frequency and impact of traumatic stress by current workplace, marital status, and living with family members. There was no significant difference in the average scores of frequency and impact of traumatic stress by midwife educational background. The frequency and impact of traumatic stress showed a positive correlation with burnout, but a negative correlation with work engagement. CONCLUSIONS: TSSM is a valid measure to determine traumatic stress. It correlated with burnout and work engagement. TSSM may be used to prevent turnover. Additional research to understand traumatic stress is needed.

Women's experiences with hypertensive disorders of pregnancy from a national referral hospital in Tanzania: A qualitative study.

AIM: This study aimed to explore the experiences among postpartum women with hypertensive disorders of pregnancy, from pregnancy to admission at a referral hospital in Tanzania. METHODS: This was a descriptive cross-sectional design with purposive sampling. Data were collected from semi-structured in-depth interviews with postpartum women diagnosed with hypertensive disorders and who were admitted to the maternity ward of Muhimbili National Hospital. Data were analyzed using NVivo software for qualitative content analysis. RESULTS: Fourteen women participated in interviews. Half were primipara and two-thirds had over four antenatal visits. Data analysis yielded four categories and 27 sub-categories. The four categories were: "I'm shocked; I thought I was normal," "The treatment journey," "What health care providers did and did not teach me," "I have a risky future; I hope health care providers can help me." CONCLUSION: Women regarded themselves going from being normal to having a risk through the process of experiencing their treatments. They did not expect to be admitted or referred to a major hospital and while they demanded more information and education, they also expressed appreciation for their health care providers. Education during pregnancy addressing their needs and level of understanding is recommended for improvement of early detection and access to the health service.

Hopes expressed in birth plans by women diagnosed with fetal anomalies: a qualitative study in Japan.

BACKGROUND: Recent advances in prenatal screening and diagnosis have resulted in an increasing number of women receiving a diagnosis of fetal anomalies. In this study, we aimed to clarify the hopes for childbirth and parenting of women diagnosed with fetal anomalies and to suggest a family-centered care tailored for this situation in perinatal settings. METHODS: A descriptive qualitative study was performed. We recruited women diagnosed with fetal anomalies who were over 22 years old, beyond 22 weeks of gestation, and had scheduled pregnancy and delivery management at a tertiary perinatal medical center specializing in neonatal and pediatric care in a metropolitan area of Japan from April 2019 to December 2019. Women who were willing to participate received support from a midwife to create birth plans. Data were collected from the documented birth plans submitted by 24 women and analyzed using content analysis. RESULTS: We identified three themes of women's hopes based on the descriptions of the submitted birth plans: (1) Hopes as women who are expecting childbirth, (2) Hopes as mothers of a baby, (3) Hopes of being involved in the family needs. Several distinctive hopes were clarified in the context of the women's challenging situations. In describing their hopes, the women were neither overoptimistic or overstated their actual situations, nor caused embarrassment to the healthcare providers. The importance of supporting their involvement in baby matters in the way each family wants also emerged. However, several barriers to fulfilling the women's hopes were identified including the babies' conditions and hospital regulations against family visits or presence. CONCLUSION: All three themes identified in the study provide important insights for analyzing more deeply ways of implementing a family-centered care for women diagnosed with fetal anomalies in perinatal settings. To improve women's engagement in decision-making as a team member, women's hopes should be treated with dignity and respect, and included in the perinatal care of women with abnormal fetuses. Further research is needed to improve the inclusion of women's hopes in their care in clinical settings. TRIAL REGISTRATION: UMIN Clinical Trials Registry: UMIN000033622 (First registration date: 03/08/2018).

Benefits and issues of education program for nurse-midwives on milk expression care for preterm mothers in postpartum period.

Background and aims: Breastfeeding is important for preterm mothers and infants. However, evidence-based practice and standardized education remain inadequate. To implement evidence-based practice, continuous education is mandatory for nurse-midwives. We previously implemented our developed education program on early essential milk expression care for preterm mothers among Japanese nurse-midwives. Herein, we aimed to assess the effects of our education program on nurse-midwives' knowledge of milk expression care for preterm mothers in terms of changes in their correct answer rates for 20 specific knowledge items before and after the education program implementation. We also aimed to identify program-related issues from nurse-midwives' comments to improve the program. Methods: We conducted a secondary analysis of our previous data and surveyed the knowledge of 36 nurse-midwives who received a similar face-to-face education program on milk expression care for mothers three months before (Pre-1), just before (Pre-2), just after (Post-1), and three months after (Post-2) the program. We obtained their comments at Post-2 and identified issues for program improvement. Results: The knowledge items, in which the correct answer rates of Post-1 were significantly higher than those of Pre-2, were Verification of the motivation and intent, Benefits of breastfeeding for mothers and infants, Milk volume on the fourth day and at around the second week after birth, Lactogenesis stage 3, Autocrine control, Time between birth and the initiation of milk expression, Early initiation of milk expression, Frequent milk expression, and Duration of pumping. The issues identified were practical training, knowledge retention, and misunderstanding knowledge. Conclusions: Nurse-midwives' unacquired knowledge of milk expression care for preterm mothers was effectively supplemented by the education program. Pre-education knowledge items with low correct answer rates must be strengthened during in-service education. Practical training, knowledge retention, and misunderstanding knowledge can be improved.

Effects of prenatal group program in rural Tanzania: A quasi-experimental study.

AIM: This study conducted in rural Tanzania examined the effects of a midwife-led prenatal group program on: (1) improvement of knowledge of the physiological symptoms of pregnancy; (2) promotion of pregnancy-related empowerment; (3) enhancement of intention to self-care behaviors for safer childbirth; and (4) gaining satisfaction with antenatal care visits. METHODS: This work was a quasi-experimental study with a control group using a pre-post study design conducted in two district hospitals in Tanzania. Data were collected from 108 analyzed pregnant women from the prenatal group program (n = 54) and control program (n = 54) using questionnaires before (baseline) and after (endline) the program. The program consisted of lecture, sharing, and review sessions. The control program consisted of the same lectures. The contents of both programs included physiological symptoms of pregnancy and self-care behaviors. The primary outcome was knowledge of common symptoms of pregnancy. The secondary outcomes were Pregnancy-Related Empowerment Scale score, intention to self-care behaviors, and satisfaction. RESULTS: The primary outcome of knowledge of common symptoms of pregnancy was significantly increased in the intervention group compared with the control group (t = 2.677, p = .009). The secondary outcome of one of the Pregnancy-Related Empowerment Scale statements about midwife's respectful attitude toward women's decision was significantly increased in the intervention group compared with the control group (U = 2.076, p = .038). CONCLUSIONS: The interventional prenatal group program during pregnancy was effective in increasing knowledge of common symptoms of pregnancy and in identifying favorable midwife connectedness.

Effects of web-based learning for nurses on their care for pregnant women with hiesho (sensitivity of hands or feet to cold): A randomized controlled trial.

AIM: Hiesho is a condition characterized by having a cold sensation in the hands or feet (i.e., sensitivity of the hands or feet to cold). This condition is common among Japanese women and is an important health problem. In this study, we aimed to evaluate a hiesho intervention program for nurses called "Preventing Hiesho: Intervention Program for Educating Nurses" in terms of its effectiveness in improving the knowledge and perceptions of nurses about the importance of hiesho care. METHODS: A total of 130 nurses from Japanese hospitals and clinics providing prenatal care participated in our randomized controlled trial. Sixty-eight nurses participated in the "Preventing Hiesho: Intervention Program for Educating Nurses" for 2 weeks (intervention group). Sixty-two nurses received a pamphlet on hiesho care (control group). The responses of the participants to the questionnaire survey were collected by postal mail. An intention-to-treat analysis of the results was conducted. RESULTS: One week after the implementation of the web-based learning program, the scores of knowledge and perceptions of the importance of administering hiesho care were significantly higher in the intervention group than in the control group. CONCLUSIONS: A 2-week web-based learning program for educating nurses on preventing hiesho significantly improved their knowledge and perceptions of the importance of hiesho care.