Determinants of Psychosocial Health Status in Pregnant and Postpartum Women Experiencing Earthquake in Turkey.

OBJECTIVE: It is well known that natural disasters such as earthquakes negatively affect physical and mental health by exposing people to excessive stress. The aim of this study was to investigate determinants of psychosocial health status among the pregnant and postpartum women who experienced earthquake in Türkiye. METHODS: Pregnant and postpartum women (n = 125) living in tent cities in the Kahramanmaras region formed the study sample. Data were collected between February 20 and 26, 2023, through face-to-face interviews. The instruments used for data collection were the Introductory Form, the Depression Anxiety Stress Scale, the Traumatic Childbirth Perception Scale, and the Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder-Short Scale. RESULTS: A moderate positive relationship was found between stress and posttraumatic stress and traumatic childbirth perception in pregnant and postpartum women, and a high positive relationship was found between anxiety and depression. A high level of relationship was found between anxiety and stress and depression. CONCLUSIONS: It is seen that the psychosocial health of pregnant and postpartum women, who belong to the risk group in the earthquake zone, is at high risk. Psychological support is urgently needed to preserve and improve their psychosocial health.

The Effect of Labor Dance on Traumatic Childbirth Perception and Comfort: A Randomized Controlled Study.

This study aims to evaluate the effect of labor dance on traumatic childbirth perception and comfort. This is a randomized controlled experimental study. The study was conducted with 120 primiparous pregnant women (60 in experiment group, 60 in control group). The pregnant women in the experiment group performed labor dance with the researcher midwife during the active phase of labor. The researcher implemented the Childbirth Comfort Questionnaire (CCQ) when the cervical dilation was 8 cm. The Postpartum Comfort Scale (PCS) and Traumatic Childbirth Perception Scale (TCPS) were implemented almost 2 hours after giving birth. The scores of the women in the experiment group in TCPS were significantly lower than those in the control group while their mean scores in CCQ and PCS were significantly higher. Labor dance contributed to the women's more positive childbirth experiences, perceptions of childbirth as less traumatic, and increased their comfort levels.

The relationship of prenatal attachment level to traumatic childbirth perception and posttraumatic stress in pregnancy.

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to investigate the relationship between the extent of prenatal attachment and traumatic childbirth perception (TCP) and posttraumatic stress. METHODS: A total of 308 pregnant women admitted to the Obstetrics and Gynecology Department during a period of 6 months were applied a Personal Information Form, the Prenatal Attachment Inventory, the Traumatic Childbirth Perception Scale, and the Posttraumatic Diagnostic Scale, Self-Report version. RESULTS: There was a negative correlation between TCP and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Traumatic stress decreased with increasing prenatal attachment. CONCLUSION: Consequently, a negative correlation was found between prenatal attachment and PTSD.

Are midwifery students ready for the COVID-19 vaccine? The decision to vaccinate and affecting factors.

AIM: This study aims to determine the decision of midwifery students, who are the midwives of the future, on getting the COVID-19 vaccine and affecting factors. METHOD: The sample of this online cross-sectional study consisted of 1879 midwifery students in Turkey. The data collection tools of the study included a sociodemographic data form, the Health Literacy Index, Perception of Causes of COVID-19 and Attitudes Toward the COVID-19 Vaccine Scale. Descriptive statistics, correlation and linear regression analyses were used in the analysis of the data. FINDINGS: Among the participants, 65.7% (1235) did not want to get the COVID-19 vaccine. In this study, those who found childhood vaccines beneficial among the students, those reporting positive attitudes toward vaccinations and those who listened to the recommendations of health-care workers had higher rates of not wanting to get the COVID-19 vaccine. It was found that the students' decisions to get the vaccine were not affected by their health literacy levels. However, their attitudes toward vaccination were negatively effective, and their perceptions of COVID-19 causes were positively effective. CONCLUSION: In our study, the midwifery students who perceived the cause of COVID-19 as a conspiracy did not want to be vaccinated. Midwifery students should move away from the perception of conspiracy, and they should be informed about COVID-19 with scientific facts.

COVID-19 Vaccine Acceptance is associated with Vaccine Hesitancy, Perceived Risk and Previous Vaccination Experiences.

OBJECTIVE: This study examines the factors associated with the willingness to get the coronavirus vaccine among individuals aged 18 and above. METHODS: This cross-sectional study was conducted in Turkey. The participants aged 18 and older were recruited between December, 2020 and January, 2021 through conventional social media sites. Snowball sampling was used. An anonymous questionnaire consisted of demographics, vaccination experiences, and perceived risk of coronavirus disease. RESULTS: 1202 women and 651 men were included in the data analysis. Findings showed that demographics, vaccination experience, and perceived risk of getting COVID-19 were explained. 37% of the variance in people's willingness to get the COVID-19 vaccination was according to hierarchical logistic regression. Furthermore, increasing age, being male, acquiring positive information about COVID-19 vaccines, having a lower level of vaccine hesitancy, the high level of worry about COVID-19, and low level of perceptions of the possibility of becoming infected by the COVID-19 were the main predictors of COVID-19 vaccine willingness. CONCLUSIONS: Factors affecting adults' willingness to be inoculated with COVID-19 vaccines were related to demographics, vaccination experiences, and perceived risk of getting COVID-19. We recommend that public health authorities and practitioners should consider these multiple factors regarding vaccine confidence to achieve herd immunity.

Factors that affect the traumatic childbirth perceptions of midwifery and nursing students: The case of Turkey.

INTRODUCTION: Birth is a natural and joyful situation as well as a process that contains surprise situations that do not go well. Caregivers at birth are affected by this process. Especially when faced with difficult births, it can have an intense psychological effect and a perception of traumatic birth can occur. Although there is research about midwives on this subject, there are very few studies about students who are becoming midwives. The aim of this study was to determine the factors that affect the traumatic childbirth perceptions of midwifery and nursing students. METHODS: The study was carried out with 480 students of midwifery and nursing. The data were collected by using a Personal Information Form, the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale, Self-Efficacy Scale, Traumatic Childbirth Perception Scale, and State-Trait Anxiety Inventory. RESULTS: The traumatic childbirth perception levels were very low in 7.3% of the participants, low in 26.9%, moderate in 37.9%, high in 21.5% and very high in 6.9%. The regression analysis revealed a significant relationship between traumatic childbirth perceptions and the parameters of satisfaction with the department studied, fear of childbirth, defining childbirth as a difficult and painful process, and history of complicated birth in the family. There was also a significant relationship between traumatic childbirth perceptions and the parameters of trait anxiety and general self-esteem. CONCLUSIONS: Traumatic childbirth perceptions increased as the state and trait anxiety levels and self-esteem levels increased, while they decreased as the self-efficacy levels increased.

Traumatic childbirth perception during pregnancy and the postpartum period and its postnatal mental health outcomes: a prospective longitudinal study.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to determine the perception of traumatic childbirth during pregnancy and the postpartum period and the postnatal mental health outcomes of traumatic childbirth perception. METHODS: This descriptive-longitudinal study was conducted from December 2017 to June 2018 in Turkey. The study included 248 pregnant women who were in weeks 36-40 of their pregnancies. The pregnant women were administered the Scale of Traumatic Childbirth Perception(STCP) and the Health Anxiety Inventory. The women were administered the STCP and the Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scale three to six weeks after childbirth. RESULTS: Mean traumatic childbirth perception scores of pregnant women with high health anxiety were significantly higher (P=0.01).Traumatic childbirth perceptions of pregnant women who do not trust their ability and power and think that they cannot cope with labor pain were high (P=0.000). 21% of women had high perception of postpartum traumatic childbirth. The postpartum women with high levels of traumatic childbirth perception had significantly high levels of depression, anxiety and stress (P<0.001). CONCLUSIONS: The results show that the health anxiety experienced by women during pregnancy is related to their perception of traumatic childbirth.A traumatic childbirth experience affects the level of postpartum depression, anxiety, and stress.

The relationship of psychosocial well-being and social support with pregnant women's perceptions of traumatic childbirth.

AIM: This study was conducted to investigate the correlation of psychosocial health and social support with traumatic birth perception in pregnant women. METHOD: The data of this descriptive epidemiological study were obtained from 461 pregnant women who visited a Family Health Center (FHC) between August 2018 and 2019. The data were collected by the face-to-face interview method, using a Participant Information Form, the Psychosocial Health Assessment in Pregnancy and Perceived Social Support and Traumatic Birth Perception Scales. RESULTS: Traumatic birth perception was negatively correlated with the Psychosocial Health in Pregnancy Scale and its subscales, as well as being negatively correlated with the Perceived Social Support Scale and its subscales. According to this result, it was determined that traumatic birth perception increases as psychosocial problems increase. As the perceived social support of pregnancy and spouse relationship, especially related to familial relationships, decreases, the perception of traumatic birth increases. CONCLUSION: According to the results of the study, psychosocial assessment and screening of social support status in pregnant women are recommended as part of the routine clinical practices of midwives and nurses. In this regard, support may be obtained from international practices and experience.

The Effect of Labor Comfort on Traumatic Childbirth Perception, Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, and Breastfeeding.

Objective: This study aims to examine the effect of labor comfort on traumatic childbirth perception, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and breastfeeding after the fourth postpartum week. Methods: This prospective longitudinal study was conducted between June 2019 and February 2020 in Turkey (n = 102). A personal information form and the Childbirth Comfort Questionnaire were administered to pregnant women with cervical dilatation of 5-8 cm in the delivery room. They were also administered the Traumatic Childbirth Perception Scale (TCPS), PTSD Scale, and Breastfeeding Self-Efficacy Scale twice, including 4 weeks and 3 months after childbirth. Additionally, the TCPS and PTSD Scale were reapplied 6 months after childbirth. Results: The prevalence of traumatic childbirth perceptions and PTSD at 4 weeks of the postpartum period was 68.6% and 59.8%, respectively. The multiple linear regression analysis revealed a significant relationship between physical labor comfort (p = 0.003), transcendence (p = 0.023), family history of labor difficulty (p = 0.027), and feelings about birth before labor begins (p = 0.005) and traumatic childbirth perceptions 4 weeks after childbirth. Additionally, there was a significant relationship between physical labor comfort (p = 0.001), psychospiritual labor comfort (p = 0.006), transcendence (p = 0.001), primiparity (p = 0.009), place of residence (p = 0.044), and traumatic childbirth perceptions (p < 0.001) and PTSD 4 weeks after childbirth. Physical labor comfort affected traumatic childbirth perceptions 3 and 6 months after childbirth (p < 0.05). Physical labor comfort affected breastfeeding self-efficacy 4 weeks and 3 months after childbirth (p < 0.05). A significant relationship was also found between high traumatic childbirth perception levels, high PTSD prevalence, and low breastfeeding self-efficacy 3 months after giving birth (p < 0.05). Conclusions: Puerperal women had high traumatic childbirth perception levels and PTSD prevalence. Low labor comfort increased traumatic childbirth perception and PTSD prevalence. There was a significant relationship between low labor comfort, high traumatic childbirth perception level, high PTSD prevalence, and low breastfeeding self-efficacy. Therefore, midwives should support pregnant women to increase labor comfort by using alternative methods. Thus, traumatic childbirth perception may decrease and breastfeeding self-efficacy may increase.

The effects of Psychoeducation on the Traumatic Perception of the Birth Phenomenon in women with Substance-use Disorders.

Objective: The present study evaluates the traumatic perception of the birth phenomenon in women with substance-use disorders (SUD) and to investigate the effects of psychoeducation on this perception. Material and Methods: The study was conducted between January and July 2017, and involved 60 women with SUD who were divided into two groups: intervention (n = 30) and control (n = 30). The study was carried out using the semi-experimental "pre-post test matched group model," and the Traumatic Perception of Birth Psychoeducation Program (TPBPP) was applied. Results: Traumatic birth perception was found to be decreased after TPBPP was applied in four modules to women with SUD. Conclusion: TPBPP is an effective psychoeducation model in the reduction of the traumatic perception of birth in women with SUD.