The relationship between social support and adolescent mothers' interactions with their infants: a meta-analysis.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this meta-analysis was to statistically summarize the results of independent quantitative studies regarding the relationship between social support and adolescent mothers' interactions with their infants. DATA SOURCES: The following sources were selected from 1980 to 1999: citations from bibliographies of previously located articles, dissertations abstracts, the Social Sciences Citation Indexes, and researchers at a regional conference; online sources used were CINHAL, MEDLINE, ERIC, Psych Lit, and Social Work Abstracts. STUDY SELECTION: Of a potential sample of 31 studies, 14 were excluded because they did not meet the sampling criteria, and 4 were deleted as outliers. The final sample consisted of 13 studies. DATA EXTRACTION: Each study was coded for methodologic and substantive variables, including quality indicators. DATA SYNTHESIS: Most of the studies were cross sectional in design and used a variety of measures. Together, the studies included a sample of 823 mothers. CONCLUSIONS: A medium effect size and a significant relationship between social support of adolescent mothers and their interactions with their infants were established. No difference was found in the relationship when support was provided by the family or through a network.

The Female Sexuality Questionnaire: instrument development.

The purpose of this study was to develop and validate a measure of female sexuality, the Female Sexuality Questionnaire (FSQ). A survey design was employed for the study. The sample included 262 adult women ages 18 to 81 (M = 32). Five hundred questionnaires were distributed to a diverse female population representing multiple geographic areas in the U.S. and Canada. Participants were healthy (as per self-report), sexually active and engaged in an intimate relationship. The majority of the sample was premenopausal. Item stems for the FSQ were developed based on the literature and the domain-referenced approach for item generation. A pool of 70 items generated to represent 6 theoretical domains of female sexuality: Reproduction, Beliefs, Intimacy, Body Image, Physical Responsiveness, and Satisfaction were subjected to systematic review by a panel of experts. A 5-point self-report response scale was appended to the 54 items surviving judges' reviews (criterion validity index of 91.3 for the pool of retained items). Data screening and item analysis was performed and yielded 13 items which were removed prior to principal factor analysis (PFA) resulting in a sample of 218 subjects and 41 items. The PFA with quartrimax rotation resulted in a 5-factor solution. Four of the five were consistent with the hypothesized domains of Satisfaction, Physical Responsiveness, Beliefs, and Body Image. The fifth factor suggested an association with Intimacy, and was renamed Relationships. The hypothesized domain of Reproduction was not supported. Twelve items failed to load on any of the factors. Recommendations for alternations of the final version of the FSQ are based upon the empirical results of the item analysis and PFA.

Integrating cultural values, beliefs, and customs into pregnancy and postpartum care: lessons learned from a Hawaiian public health nursing project.

Determining the elements of culturally competent health care is an important goal for nurses. This goal is particularly integral in efforts to design better preventive health care strategies for pregnant and postpartum women from multiple cultural and ethnic backgrounds. Learning about the values, beliefs, and customs surrounding health among the targeted groups is essential, but integrating this knowledge into the actual health care services delivery system is more difficult. The success of a prenatal and postpartum program developed for native Hawaiian, Filipino, and Japanese women in Hawaii has been attributed to the attention on training, direct care giving, and program monitoring participation by local cultural and ethnic healers and neighborhood leaders living in the community, with coordination by public health nurses. This article profiles central design elements with examples of specific interventions used in the Malama Na Wahine or Caring for Pregnant Women program to illustrate a unique approach to the delivery of culturally competent care.

A model for professional nursing in organizations: the Rainbow.

This paper presents a model of professional nursing in organizations that provides cohesive direction to the development of patterns that shape how nursing is structured in an organization. Such cohesive direction can foster integration between the practice and the discipline components of nursing. The model can influence the structure of nursing on a macro level within the organization and on a micro level by influencing patterns of nursing care delivery. A set of values, assumptions, dimensions, constructs, principles and propositions have been identified and brought together in this model. As a framework, it can be used to shape the structures and processes that contribute to professional nursing excellence in practice settings.

Early Postpartum Discharge: Implications for Canadian program development.

Early postpartum discharge (EPD) programs could soon become normative for low-risk women in Canada. To meet new mothers' health care, educational, and psychosocial needs, EPD programs must reflect a deeper understanding of the immediate postpartum period. Structured teaching in hospital must be replaced by a fluid, individualistic approach to mother-infant care. Family physicians can play a vital role.