Changes to women's childbirth plans during the COVID-19 pandemic and posttraumatic stress symptoms: a cross-national study.

A considerable number of women giving birth during COVID-19 pandemic reported being concerned about changes to their childbirth plans and experiences due to imposed restrictions. Research prior to the pandemic suggests that women may be more at risk of post-traumatic stress symptoms (PTSS) due to unmet expectations of their childbirth plans. Therefore, this study aimed to examine if the mismatch between women's planned birth and actual birth experiences during COVID-19 was associated with women's postpartum PTSS. Women in the postpartum period (up to 6 months after birth) across 11 countries reported on childbirth experiences, mental health, COVID-19-related factors, and PTSS (PTSD checklist DSM-5 version) using self-report questionnaires (ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT04595123). More than half (64%) of the 3532 postpartum women included in the analysis reported changes to their childbirth plans. All changes were significantly associated with PTSS scores. Participants with one and two changes to their childbirth plans had a 12% and 38% increase, respectively, in PTSS scores compared to those with no changes (Exp(ß) = 1.12; 95% CI [1.06-1.19]; p < 0.001 and Exp(ß) = 1.38; 95% CI [1.29-1.48]; p < 0.001). In addition, the effect of having one change in the childbirth plan on PTSS scores was stronger in primigravida than in multigravida (Exp(ß) = 0.86; 95% CI [0.77-0.97]; p = 0.014). Changes to women's childbirth plans during the COVID-19 pandemic were common and associated with women's postpartum PTSS score. Developing health policies that protect women from the negative consequences of unexpected or unintended birth experiences is important for perinatal mental health.

Transporte aéreo e passageiros com deficiência auditiva: barreiras e facilitadores / Air transport and passengers with hearing impairments: barriers and facilitators

Este estudo teve como objetivo compreender as barreiras e facilitadores para a participação das pessoas com deficiência auditiva em viagens aéreas. Fundamentou-se na abordagem da ergonomia da atividade. Os dados foram coletados por meio de questionário, observações diretas durante as viagens e entrevistas de autoconfrontação com passageiros com deficiência auditiva. Constatou-se a existência de barreiras relacionadas a fatores sociais, como comunicação, e ambientais, como sinalização nos aeroportos. Entre os facilitadores das viagens destacaram-se a comunicação com trabalhadores que têm conhecimento da língua de sinais e legendas nos conteúdos de entretenimento a bordo. Este estudo espera dar visibilidade às experiências de viagens de passageiros com deficiência auditiva e, a partir disso, contribuir para a melhoria das condições e procedimentos do transporte aéreo e orientar a formação de pessoal visando prestar serviços adequados aos diversos passageiros

This study aims to understand the barriers and facilitators to the participation of persons with hearing disability in air travel. This study was based on the assumptions of activity-centered ergonomics. Data was collected by means of a questionnaire, direct observations during trips and self-confrontation interviews with passengers with hearing disability. The study findings include barriers related to social factors, such as communication, and environmental factors, such as airport signage. Air travel facilitators included communication in sign language with workers and closed-captioned in-flight entertainment for passengers. This study hopes to give visibility to travel experiences of passengers with hearing disability, and from that to contribute to the improvement of air transport conditions and procedures and to guide staff training aiming to provide adequate services to diverse passengers

Passageiros com deficiência visual no transporte aéreo: avaliação da acessibilidade em aeroportos / Passengers with visual disability in air transport: evaluation of airports' accessibility

Resumo Introdução Nas últimas décadas ocorreram mudanças no entendimento da deficiência e avanços no que tange aos direitos humanos das pessoas com deficiência. Apesar disso, estudos mostram que essas pessoas ainda encontram barreiras que restringem sua participação nos diversos contextos sociais, como o transporte aéreo. Objetivo Analisar as condições e procedimentos de acessibilidade em aeroportos brasileiros e compreender as experiências de viagem de pessoas com deficiência visual nas fases de pré-voo, embarque e desembarque. Método Pesquisa com abordagem quantitativa-qualitativa realizada a partir de observação participante em viagens aéreas, entrevista de autoconfrontação com passageiros com deficiência visual e verificação do cumprimento das regras sobre condições e procedimentos de acessibilidade por meio de checklists baseados na norma ABNT NBR-9050/2015 e na Resolução ANAC nº 280/2013. Resultados Participaram do estudo sete passageiros com deficiência visual, incluindo pessoas com cegueira ou com baixa visão, e 30 gerentes de base e supervisores vinculados a quatro companhias aéreas que operam no transporte aéreo doméstico brasileiro. Foram analisados 10 aeroportos, nos quais os passageiros vivenciaram dificuldades que se relacionam, principalmente, a inadequação, descontinuidade e insuficiência das informações e sinalizações, descumprimento e desconhecimento dos procedimentos relativos à acessibilidade, impropriedade da alocação de assentos preferenciais e do atendimento prestado aos passageiros. Conclusão O estudo evidenciou descumprimento das normas e resoluções relativas à acessibilidade além de problemas que afetam a orientação espacial, o deslocamento e a comunicação nas viagens aéreas. Espera-se contribuir para a transformação da acessibilidade nos aeroportos brasileiros, visando favorecer a participação das pessoas com deficiência nas viagens aéreas.

Abstract Introduction In the last decades, there have been changes in the understanding of disability and advances in the human rights of people with disabilities. Nevertheless, studies show that disabled people still encounter barriers which restrict their participation in various social contexts, such as air transportation. Objective To analyze accessibility conditions and procedures in Brazilian airports and to understand the travel experiences of people with visual impairment in the pre-flight, embarkation and disembarkation phases. Method Quantitative-qualitative research based on participant observation in air travel, auto-confrontation interview with visually impaired passengers, and verification of rules compliance of accessibility conditions and procedures through checklists based on ABNT NBR-9050/2015 and ANAC Resolution nº 280/2013. Results The participants were seven passengers with visual impairment, either blind or with low vision plus 30 managers and supervisors linked to four different airlines that operate in the Brazilian air transportation. Ten airports were analyzed, in which passengers experienced difficulties related, mainly, to the inadequacy, discontinuity and insufficiency of information and signage; noncompliance with and lack of knowledge of accessibility procedures; inappropriate allocation of preferential seats and attendance to passengers. Conclusion Besides evidencing the noncompliance with the norms and resolutions related to accessibility, the study also evidenced problems that affect the spatial orientation, the displacement and the communication in travels. Having all this compiled data, contributions to transformation of accessibility in Brazilian airports is expected, with a view to favoring the participation of people with disabilities in air travel.