The effect of interventions in vaginal birth on fear of childbirth: A multicentre study.

AIM: This cross-sectional multicentre study aimed to determine the effect of interventions during vaginal birth for fear of childbirth. METHODS: In this cross-sectional and analytical study, 852 women who had a vaginal birth between 2019 and 2020 were enrolled. Data were collected using the Descriptive Questionnaire and Wijma Birth Expectation/Experience Scale Version B. RESULTS: The mean total Wijma Birth Expectation/Experience Scale Version B score of the women was 97.00 ± 24.24, indicating severe and clinical levels of fear of childbirth. Moreover, 69.4% of the women had clinical, 18.6% had severe and 12% had moderate levels of fear of childbirth. During birth, women who had close supporters, who were allowed to move and who did not undergo amniotomy, enema, perineal shaving and electronic foetal monitoring had a low level of fear of childbirth. As the number of pregnant women in the labour room, frequency of vaginal examinations, duration of delivery/hour, severity of labour pain and negative perception of the approach of health professionals increased, the women's fear of childbirth increased. Fear of childbirth decreased as the frequency of antenatal follow-ups, number of births and satisfaction levels of the women increased (p < 0.05). Low income perception, irregular prenatal follow-up, severe labour pain and a long duration of labour were strong predictors of increased fear of childbirth. Increasing number of births, high birth satisfaction level and positive perception of the approach of health professionals were strong predictors of reduced fear of childbirth. CONCLUSIONS: The reduction of interventions in vaginal delivery and support from health care providers during delivery can be effective in reducing fear of childbirth.

Investigation of the Relationship Between Maternal Attachment and Breastfeeding Self-Efficacy and Affecting Factors in Turkish Sample.

PURPOSE: This research aimed to investigate the factors affecting the perception of mothers about breastfeeding self-efficacy and their maternal attachment between the fourth and eighth postnatal weeks and their relation. DESIGN AND METHODS: This research, which is descriptive, was conducted on 351 postpartum women between December 2017-2018. The study used the Mother Descriptive Information Form, Maternal Attachment Inventory (MAI), and the Short Form of the Breastfeeding Self-Efficacy Scale (BSES-SF). RESULTS: It was found that, mothers' mean scores on the BSES-SF and MAI were affected by their educational level, the status of regular health checkups during the last pregnancy, the number of visits for health checkups during the last pregnancy, the place where they held their babies, the status of breastfeeding previous babies, prenatal breastfeeding training, the status of finding their own breast milk sufficient, the time when they first breastfed the baby, the first food the baby received, the status of being willing to breastfeed, the status of having fatigue due to breastfeeding, the planned duration of breastfeeding, the status of using additional infant formula, and the status of having a close relative or friend also breastfeeding. It was also determined that there was a low positive relationship between breastfeeding self-efficacy and maternal attachment. CONCLUSIONS: The level of breastfeeding self-efficacy and maternal attachment status of mothers should be determined in the postpartum period, and health personnel should intervene on alterable factors that adversely affect breastfeeding self-efficacy and attachment status, especially in mothers at risk.

Investigation of factors affecting postpartum maternal weight retention: A cross-sectional study.

OBJECTIVE: To examine weight retention and affecting factors among 12-18 months postpartum women.. METHODS: The descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted from January 1 to June 30, 2012 at Gazikent 3rd Primary Health Care Centre, Izmir, Turkey, and comprised pregnant women registered with the centre in their 12-18 months postpartum phase. Data was collected using Mother Introduction Form and International Physical Activity Questionnaire-Short Form. SPSS 15 was used for data analysis. RESULTS: There were 239 women with a mean age of 30.81±4.59 years. Of the total, 182(76.2%) subjects had weight retention; 106(44.4%) having 0.5-5kg, and 49(20.6%) with 5.5-10 kg. Overall mean weight retention rate was 4.09±4.90kg (range: -9-27kg). Weight retention had significant correlations with chronic illness (p=0.037), having been educated about physical exercise during pregnancy (p=0.001), skipping meals (p=0.036), average pre-pregnancy weights (p=0.019), average pre-pregnancy body mass index (p=0.049), average weight gained during pregnancy (p=0.009), achieving weight gain during pregnancy as recommended by the Institute of Medicine guidelines (p=0.002), and mean physical activity score (p=0.006). CONCLUSIONS: Women should be monitored for their body mass index and weight in the postpartum period and during pregnancy.

Pregnant Turkish women with low income: their anxiety, health-promoting lifestyles, and related factors.

This paper presents anxiety levels, health-promoting lifestyles and related factors among pregnant Turkish women with low income. A descriptive correlation and cross-sectional study was conducted at a state maternity hospital in Western Turkey. The paper reports on the data (n = 195) from the Spielberg State and Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI), the Health-Promoting Lifestyle Profile (HPLP) and a sociodemographic questionnaire. The average HPLP score was low (mean 2.57, SD 0.42). The average STAI score was high (40.67 ± 9.48; 46.40 ± 8.09, respectively). A significant relation was detected between the trait anxiety, state anxiety, antenatal visit, perception of social support, living environment, family type and HPLP (P < 0.05). A moderately negative relation was detected between the mean STAI and HPLP scores. The findings indicate information and data should be provided for service planning and community care to support pregnant Turkish women with low income in communities.

Spontaneous vaginal delivery or caesarean section? What do Turkish women think?

The aim of this study was to describe women's feelings, attitudes and beliefs about different modes of childbirth. A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted at the obstetrics clinics of Ege University and Dr Ekrem Hayri Ustundag Obstetrics and Gynaecology Hospital in Izmir, Turkey. Three-hundred forty-two women who had given birth via spontaneous vaginal delivery (SVD) or caesarean section (C/S) between June and December 2009 voluntarily agreed to participate. Fifty-seven per cent of participants were aged 20-24. Sixty per cent of the women (n = 205) had undergone C/S during their last delivery; among these women, the birth method of 90% (n = 185) was decided by their doctors, whereas the remaining 10% (n = 20) made the decision themselves or with their partners. Sixty-three per cent (n = 250) of women who underwent C/S said that if they gave birth again, they would prefer to deliver via SVD. Eighty-eight per cent (n = 300) of women wanted the legal right to choose their birth method. Although the rate of C/S was high, most women stated that if given the choice, they would prefer a SVD if they had another child.

Pregnant women's use of the internet in relation to their pregnancy in Izmir, Turkey.

This descriptive and cross-sectional study was conducted in order to determine the extent of internet use by pregnant women to gain information about their pregnancy. The research was conducted in two hospitals in Izmir, Turkey between August and October 2009, after written permission had been obtained. The research sample consisted of 185 pregnant women in at least the 28th week of pregnancy, who accepted to take part in the study. Forty-five percent of the pregnant women had used the internet to obtain information at least once during their pregnancy, and the most researched topics were fetal development, nutrition in pregnancy and the stages of birth. There is a significant difference between the age group, educational level, work status and number of pregnancies and the usage of internet among pregnant women. The women gave the information on the internet 7.13 ± 1.54 out of 10 points for correctness and dependability. Fifty-one percent of the pregnant women stated that they shared the information which they had obtained on the internet with health professionals. About half of the women in the study had used the internet to obtain information on pregnancy, birth and the fetus under various headings.

Attitudes towards family planning among women seeking induced abortion in Izmir, Turkey.

OBJECTIVES: To assess contraceptive knowledge, use of emergency contraception (EC) and the motives of women seeking induced abortion. METHODS: A descriptive and cross-sectional study conducted at the T. C. Izmir Dr. Hayri Ekrem Ustundag Gynaecology and Maternity Hospital and the Izmir Ataturk Research and Teaching Hospital, Turkey. The research sample consisted of 440 women who requested an abortion between January and May 2010, and voluntarily agreed to participate. RESULTS: Sixty-two percent of the women became pregnant while using family planning (FP) methods. The contraceptive used by 42% was the condom, and 45% believed that they had become pregnant because of improper use of the contraceptive. Ninety-three percent had never used EC. Thirty-seven percent wanted their pregnancy terminated because they did not want another child, whereas 26% viewed induced abortion as a method of FP. Sixty-nine percent of the women received FP counselling from health professionals, and 80% found the information provided adequate. CONCLUSION: The women assessed were insufficiently knowledgeable about FP in general and EC in particular. Many had become pregnant as a result of inaccurate information.

Sexual activity, knowledge and contraceptive usage by gender among university students in Turkey.

OBJECTIVE: To assess sexual activity and contraceptive knowledge and practice by gender among university students. METHODS: Descriptive and cross-sectional study conducted at Ege University, Turkey, with 1000 volunteering students. Data collection was stopped when 500 students of each gender had participated. RESULTS: Of the surveyed students, 50.3% (27.4% female, 73.2% male) reported having had sexual intercourse; the mean age at first sexual intercourse was 18.4 years for girls and 16.9 years for boys. We found that 44.5% of female and 30.6% of male students failed to use contraception at their first coitus, whereas 2.2% of female and 13.7% of male students failed to do so at their most recent intercourse. The rate of condom usage for students' first sexual encounter was 50.1% (35.8% female, 55.5% male) and was 67.8% (70.1% female, 66.9% male) at their most recent intercourse. Abortion was mentioned by 43.9% of female and 39.2% of male students as a method of preventing pregnancy after unprotected coitus. CONCLUSION: Male Turkish students had started sexual relations at a younger age but had less often unprotected first sex than female students.

Protection from cancer and early diagnosis applications in Izmir, Turkey: a pilot study.

Research was planned as a descriptive and cross-sectional study in order to explore knowledge and practices of individuals residing in the Bornova District about protection from and early diagnosis of cancer. The individuals residing in the Bornova District in Izmir constituted the population of research. A total of 195 persons, who were selected by convenience sampling method, participated in the study. Results show that 89.2% of the individuals knew what cancer was, 50.3% were alcohol consumers, 45.6% knew the relationship between cancer and being overweight, and 41.5% were exercising regularly. Of the individuals enrolled, 75.4% knew that some ingredients in ready-made foods contain substances causing cancer, but only 10.8% paid attention to the ingredients while buying a food, and 26.7% did not pay any attention at all. Of the women, 53.9% knew how to do breast self-examination and 29.2% thought that to have pap smear performed regularly was essential for protection from cancer. Although 14.2% of the men knew how to do testis examination, 76.4% did not know the importance of testis examination. A statistically significant correlation was found between the research participants who knew what cancer was and those who knew the signs of cancer (chi2 = 8.077, SD = 1, P = .004 < .05). The levels of knowledge and practices related to protection from and early diagnosis of cancer among the individuals enrolled in the research were not sufficient.

Preventing and terminating unwanted pregnancies in Turkey.

PURPOSE: To determine the methods used to prevent pregnancy by women seeking abortion of unwanted pregnancy, their knowledge and use of emergency contraception, and reasons for wanting the abortion. DESIGN: The sample was 144 randomly selected women, who requested abortion for termination of their pregnancies at two hospitals in Izmir, Turkey, during the study period. METHODS: A questionnaire was completed by the researcher in face-to-face interviews. FINDINGS: In this sample 43.8% had had previous abortions; 77.1% used some method of family planning; 7.0% used emergency contraceptives. The methods selected after unprotected sexual intercourse by these women included vaginal douche (37.5%), waiting to see whether the menstrual cycle would begin (27.0%), going to a hospital or maternal-child health center (24.3%), and two other alternatives (4.2%). One-fifth of the women said that, if they get pregnant again, they will have another abortion. CONCLUSIONS: The number of unwanted pregnancies is high and many women seek abortions as a birth control method. Women in this sample needed information about effective methods for preventing pregnancy.

Peer education project on breast self-examination in Izmir, Turkey.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this research was to assess undergraduate female student knowledge related to the Peer Education Method and Breast Self-Examination (BSE), to encourage them to refer for screening with certain intervals and to teach them the means of utilizing the health services. DESIGN: The subjects comprised 160 undergraduate female students who were selected by simple random sampling and who accepted to participate. METHODS: A survey form, which was prepared under the direction of relative literature by the researcher four 3rd graders of Ege University School of Nursing, was applied to female students. The data collected were assessed after being coded. FINDINGS: The numbers of undergraduate female students performing BSE regularly and their information levels related to the symptoms of breast cancer were found to be very low, but their mean scores for performing BSE after training given by peer guides were increased and the peer group training was found to be effective. CONCLUSIONS: From the results we conclude that the training guide was appropriate for transmitting information to university students for peer group education purposes.