Birth Experience Among Black Women in the United States: A Qualitative Meta-Synthesis.

INTRODUCTION: There are striking disparities in perinatal health outcomes for Black women in the United States. Although the causes are multifactorial, research findings have increasingly identified social and structural determinants of health as contributors to perinatal disparities. Maltreatment during perinatal care, which is disproportionately experienced by Black women, may be one such contributor. Qualitative researchers have explored Black women's perinatal care experiences, but childbirth experience data has yet to be analyzed in-depth across studies. The aim of this meta-synthesis was to explore the birthing experience of Black women in the United States. METHODS: PubMed, Embase, PsycINFO, and CINAHL databases were searched. Inclusion criteria were qualitative research studies that included birth experience data shared by self-identified Black or African American women who had given birth in the United States. Exclusion criteria were reports that did not include rich qualitative data or only included experience data that did not specify the race of the participant (eg, data pooled for women of color). The search began February 2022 and ended June 2022. The Joanna Briggs Institute Critical Appraisal Checklist for Qualitative Research was used to appraise the research. Results were synthesized using content analysis. RESULTS: Fifteen studies met inclusion criteria. Main themes included (1) trust: being known and seen; (2) how race influences care; (3) preserving autonomy; and (4) birth as trauma. DISCUSSION: Fragmented care resulted in reports of poor birth experiences in several studies. Open communication and feeling known by perinatal care providers was influential in improving childbirth experiences among Black women; these themes are consistent with existing research. Further prospective research exploring relationships among these themes and perinatal outcomes is needed. Limitations of this report include the use of content analysis and meta-synthesis which may lose the granularity of the original reports; however, the aggregation of voices may provide valuable, transferable, actionable insight that can inform future supportive care interventions.

Healthcare practitioners' experiences and perspectives of music in perinatal care in Ireland: An exploratory survey.

INTRODUCTION: Evidence shows that music can promote the wellbeing of women and infants in the perinatal period. Ireland's National Maternity Strategy (2016-2026) suggests a holistic approach to woman's healthcare needs and music interventions are ideally placed as a non-pharmacological and cost-effective intervention to improve the quality of care offered to women and infants. This cross-sectional survey aimed to explore the healthcare practitioners' personal and professional experiences of using music therapeutically and its impact and barriers in practice. The survey also investigated practitioners' knowledge and attitudes towards the use of music as a therapeutic tool in perinatal care. METHODS: A novel online survey was developed and distributed through healthcare practitioners' electronic mailing lists, social media, Perinatal Mental Health staff App, and posters at the regional maternity hospital during 26th June and 26th October 2020. Survey items included demographics, personal and professional use of music, and perspectives on music intervention in perinatal care. RESULTS: Forty-six healthcare practitioners from across 11 professions were recruited and 42 were included in this study. 98 % of perinatal practitioners used music intentionally to support their wellbeing and 75 % referred to using music in their work. While 90 % found music beneficial in their practice, 15 % reported some negative effect. Around two-thirds of the respondents were familiar with the evidence on music and perinatal wellbeing and 95 % thought there was not enough guidance. 40 % considered music therapy an evidence-based practice and 81 % saw a role for music therapy in standard maternity service in Ireland. The qualitative feedback on how music was used personally and professionally, its' reported benefits, negative effects, and barriers are discussed. DISCUSSION: This study offers insights into how healthcare practitioners viewed and applied music in perinatal practice. The findings indicate high interest and positive experiences in using music as a therapeutic tool in perinatal care which highlights the need for more evidence and guidance.

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.

Patient-Defined Cultural Safety in Perinatal Interventions: A Qualitative Scoping Review.

Problem: Cultural safety is an approach to patient care designed to facilitate respect of patients' cultural needs and address inequities in care in culturally diverse situations. Background: Much literature considers culturally safe care during the perinatal period, yet little is known about how patients experience and understand cultural safety. This is despite patient-defined care being one of the definitions of cultural safety. Question Hypothesis or Aim: This scoping review investigates what is known from existing qualitative literature about patients' experience of cultural safety frameworks in perinatal interventions. Methods: A search for "cultural safety" OR "culturally safe" in PubMed, Ovid Medline, Ovid Embase, Cumulated Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature, Scopus, Scielo, and Latin America and the Caribbean Literature on Health Sciences returned 2233 results after deduplication. Title-abstract and full-text screenings were conducted to identify qualitative studies of cultural safety from perinatal patients' perspectives. Seven studies were included in the final analysis. Data were open coded using NVivo. Findings: Three themes were identified: (1) care that acknowledged that their lives were different from patients in the dominant culture, (2) receiving care in community, and (3) care providers who respected their choices and culturally specific knowledge. Discussion: This research shows how cultural safety intersects with other equity-based frameworks used in midwifery and obstetrics. Conclusion: Building on this research could lead to new protocols that address complex social and physical needs of marginalized people during the perinatal period.

Custodial and perinatal care patterns of women who received prenatal care while incarcerated in the Arkansas state prison system, 2014-2019.

BACKGROUND: The extraordinary growth in women's incarceration over the past several decades has resulted in calls for expansion of research into their unique needs and experiences, including those related to pregnancy and perinatal care. However, while research into the health outcomes of women who are incarcerated while pregnant has grown, research on women's custodial and perinatal care patterns has remained nearly non-existent. Here, we sought to describe (1) the characteristics of the population of women who came to be incarcerated in a state prison system during pregnancy and (2) the characteristics of women's custodial and perinatal care patterns during and after incarceration. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective chart review of the population of women who received perinatal care while incarcerated in the Arkansas state prison system over a 5-year period from June 2014 to May 2019. Electronic medical records and state prison records were merged to form our study population. Data were from 212 women (Mage = 28.4 years; 75.0% non-Latina White) with a singleton pregnancy who received at least one obstetric care visit while incarcerated. RESULTS: Drug-related convictions were the most common crimes leading to women's incarceration while pregnant, and violent crime convictions were rare. Nearly half (43.4%) of women who gave birth in custody did so within 90 days of admission and the great majority (80.4%) released within 1-year of giving birth, including 13.3% who released within 30 days. DISCUSSION: The frequency with which women who became incarcerated while pregnant released from prison either prior to or shortly after giving birth was a striking, novel finding of this study given the implications for perinatal care disruption among a high-risk population and the harms of forced separation from infants within hours of birth. CONCLUSIONS: Diversionary programs for pregnant women convicted of crimes, particularly in states without current access, are urgently needed and should be a priority for future policy work.

Traumatic perinatal events and educational needs of labor and delivery room nurses in Korea: a cross-sectional survey.

PURPOSE: The present study investigated experiences of traumatic perinatal events, the provision of related education, and educational needs of nurses working in the labor and delivery room (LDR). METHODS: Nurses working in the LDRs of six institutions and two nurse portal sites were invited to participate in the survey, delivered on paper or online. The data were collected from October 1 to November 25, 2022. Data from 129 nurses were analyzed using frequency, the chi-square test, the Fisher exact test, the t-test, and analysis of variance. RESULTS: Virtually all participants (98.6%) reported having experienced at least one traumatic perinatal event (dystocia, postpartum hemorrhage, neonatal congenital anomalies, severe maternal or neonatal injury, stillbirth, and maternal or neonatal death) while working in the LDR. The most shocking traumatic perinatal event experienced was the maternal or neonatal death (40.3%), but 24.8% of participants did not recall ever receiving education on the topic. About 63% of participants experienced traumatic perinatal events within a year of working in the LDR. The average score for education needs regarding traumatic perinatal events was 3.67±0.37 out of 4, and participants preferred simulation education as the most effective educational method. CONCLUSION: Since most of the participants had experienced various traumatic perinatal events in the early stages of working in the LDR and expressed a high level of need for education on traumatic perinatal events, it is necessary to provide more effective stimulation education programs in the early period of work in the LDR.

Postpartum long-acting reversible contraceptive adoption after a statewide initiative.

OBJECTIVES: To examine the effects of a comprehensive, multiyear (2015-2020) statewide contraceptive access intervention in Delaware on the contraceptive initiation of postpartum Medicaid patients. The program aimed to increase access to all contraceptives, including long-acting reversible contraceptives (LARC). The program included interventions specifically targeting postpartum patients (Medicaid payment reform and hospital-based immediate postpartum (IPP) LARC training) and interventions in outpatient settings (provider training and operational supports). DATA SOURCES AND STUDY SETTING: We used Medicaid claims data between 2012 and 2019, from Delaware and Maryland (a comparison state), to identify births and postpartum contraceptive methods up to 60 days postpartum among patients aged 15-44 years who were covered in a full-benefit eligibility category. STUDY DESIGN: Using difference-in-differences, we assessed changes in LARC, tubal ligation, and short-acting methods (oral contraceptive, injectable, patch/ring). LARC rates were assessed at 60 days after delivery and on an immediate postpartum basis. Other methods were only assessed at 60 days. Analyses were conducted separately for an early-adopting high-capacity hospital (that delivers approximately half of all Medicaid financed births) and for all other later-adopting hospitals in the state. DATA COLLECTION/EXTRACTION METHODS: Data were extracted from administrative claims. PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: The program increased postpartum LARC insertions by 60 days after delivery by 11.7 percentage points (95% CI: 10.7, 12.8) in the early-adopting hospital and 6.9 percentage points (95% CI: 4.8, 5.9) in later-adopting hospitals. Increases in IPP versus outpatient LARC drove the change, but we did not find evidence that IPP crowded-out outpatient LARC services. We observed decreases in short-acting methods, suggesting substitution between methods, but the share of patients with any method increased at the early-adopting hospital (5.2 percentage points; 95% CI: 3.5, 6.9) and was not statistically significantly different at the later-adopting hospitals. CONCLUSIONS: Direct reimbursement for IPP LARC, in combination with provider training, had a meaningful impact on the share of Medicaid-enrolled postpartum women with LARC claims.

Barriers and opportunities for health service access among fathers: A review of empirical evidence.

ISSUE ADDRESSED: Engagement with health supports benefits the whole family, yet few health services report successful engagement of fathers. Our aim was to describe available evidence on barriers and opportunities relevant to health system access for fathers. METHODS: Scoping reviews were conducted seeking empirical evidence from (1) Australian studies and (2) international literature reviews. RESULTS: A total of 52 Australian studies and 44 international reviews were included. The most commonly reported barriers were at the health service level, related to an exclusionary health service focus on mothers. These included both 'surface' factors (e.g., appointment times limited to traditional employment hours) and 'deep' factors, in which health service policies perpetuate traditional gender norms of mothers as 'caregivers' and fathers as 'supporters' or 'providers'. Such barriers were reported consistently, including but not limited to fathers from First Nations or culturally diverse backgrounds, those at risk of poor mental health, experiencing perinatal loss or other adverse pregnancy and birth events, and caring for children with illness, neurodevelopmental or behavioural problems. Opportunities for father engagement include offering father-specific resources and support, facilitating health professionals' confidence and training in working with fathers, and 'gateway consultations', including engaging fathers via appointments for mothers or infants. Ideally, top-down policies should support fathers as infant caregivers in a family-based approach. CONCLUSIONS: Although barriers and opportunities exist at individual and cultural levels, health services hold the key to improved engagement of fathers. SO WHAT?: Evidence-based, innovative strategies, informed by fathers' needs and healthy masculinities, are needed to engage fathers in health services.

[Advanced maternal age as a risk factor for adverse maternal and perinatal outcomes] / Edad materna avanzada como factor de riesgo de resultados adversos maternos y perinatales.

Introduction: A progressive increase in the age of women at first pregnancy is observed, a situation that has been associated with a greater risk of adverse maternal and perinatal effects. Objective: The aim of this study was to describe the characteristics and the maternal and perinatal outcomes of nulliparas of 40 years and older and compare them with those of nulliparas under 40. Study design: This was a retrospective cohort analysis of a database of pregnancy population who had attended their deliveries in a private university hospital. Results: An association was observed between maternal age ≥ 40 with the maternal compound adverse outcome (OR 1,3; 95% CI: 1,1-1,6), gestational diabetes (OR 3,6; 95% CI: 1,80-3,7), hypertensive disorders/preeclampsia (OR 2,2; 95% CI: 1,6-3,1) and postpartum hemorrhage (4,7; 95% CI: 1,2-16,3), with advanced maternal age persisting as an independent risk factor for the maternal compound adverse outcome (OR 1,3; 95% CI: 1,1 -1,6) and the perinatal compound adverse outcome (OR 1,40; 95% CI: 1,2-1,7) in the multivariate analysis. A higher rate of preterm birth was observed in the group of older nulliparas (OR 1,6; 95% CI: 1,3-2,0) with a higher requirement for admission to NICU for their newborns (OR 1,3; 95% CI: 1,0-1,8). Conclusions: Women with advanced maternal age constitute a high-risk population, whose attention and follow-up would require a differential approach aiming to improve maternal and perinatal outcomes.

Introducción: Se observa un progresivo aumento en la edad de las mujeres al primer embarazo, situación que se ha asociado con mayor riesgo de efectos maternos y perinatales adversos. Objetivo: Describir las características y los resultados maternos y perinatales de nulíparas de 40 años y mayores y compararlos con los de nulíparas menores de 40. Material y métodos: Cohorte retrospectiva de embarazos que atendieron su parto en un hospital privado universitario mediante revisión de registros. Diseño: Se observó asociación entre la edad materna ≥ 40 con el resultado adverso compuesto materno (OR 1.3; IC 95%: 1,1-1,6), DBT g (OR 3,6; IC 95%: 1,8-3,7), enfermedad hipertensiva/PE (OR 2,2; IC 95%: 1,6-3,1) y hemorragia postparto (4,7; IC 95%: 1,2-16.3), persistiendo la edad avanzada como factor de riesgo independiente para el resultado adverso compuesto materno (OR 1,3; IC 95%: 1,1-1,6) y perinatal (OR 1,4; IC 95%: 1,2-1,7) en el análisis multivariado. Se observó mayor tasa de parto pretérmino en el grupo de nulíparas añosas (OR 1,6; IC 95%: 1,3-2,0) con mayor requerimiento de ingreso a UCIN para sus recién nacidos (OR 1,3; IC 95%: 1,0-1,8). Conclusiones: Las mujeres con edad materna avanzada constituyen una población de alto riesgo, cuya atención y seguimiento requeriría un enfoque diferencial que tenga como objetivo mejorar los resultados maternos y perinatales.

Childbirth experiences of women with a history of physical, sexual, and child abuse: a cross-sectional study of 2,575 Russian women.

BACKGROUND: A substantial number of women who subsequently become pregnant and give birth have a history of physical, sexual, and/or child abuse. This study investigated the associations of these types of traumas and their cumulative effect with childbirth experiences, namely, mode of birth, maternal and child complications during pregnancy/childbirth, preterm birth, medical procedures, and obstetric violence during labour. METHODS: A group of Russian women (n = 2,575) who gave birth within the previous 12 months, completed a web-based survey, where they provided demographic information, details about their childbirth experiences, and a history of trauma. RESULTS: Women with any type of past abuse were at higher risk for maternal complications during pregnancy/childbirth (exp(ß) < 0.73, p < 0.010 for all). More specific to the type of trauma were associations of physical abuse with caesarean birth, child abuse with complications during pregnancy/childbirth for the baby, and physical and child abuse with obstetric violence (exp(ß) < 0.54, p < 0.022 for all). There was a cumulative effect of trauma for all the outcomes except for medical procedures during childbirth and preterm birth. CONCLUSION: This study provides insights into potential different individual effects of physical, sexual, and/or child abuse as well as their cumulative impact on the childbirth experiences. The robust findings about maternal complications during pregnancy/childbirth and obstetric violence highlight the importance of trauma-informed care, supportive policies, and interventions to create safe and empowering birthing environments that prioritise patient autonomy, dignity, and respectful communication.

Translation and psychometric testing of the Chinese version of the Perinatal Missed Care Survey.

Objective: This study aimed to translate and evaluate the psychometric properties of the Perinatal Missed Care Survey in China. Methods: The Perinatal Missed Care Survey was translated according to the guidelines of the cross-cultural debugging scale recommended by the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons Evidence-Based Medicine Committee, including forward translation, back translation, cultural adaption, and content validation, and its Chinese version was used in a cross-sectional study conducted from February to April in 2023. A total of 491 midwives from 14 different level hospitals in southwest China were recruited through a convenience sampling method. The discrimination ability of the items was tested through item analysis, and construct validity was assessed through exploratory factory and confirmatory factor analyses. The content validity index and Cronbach's α coefficients evaluated content validity and reliability, respectively. Results: The Chinese version's item-total correlation coefficients ranged from 0.641 to 0.866 in part A and from 0.644 to 0.819 in part B (P < 0.001). Parts A and B's scale-level content validity indexes were 0.95, and the item-level content validity indexes were from 0.86 to 1.00. The three common factors of part A (necessary care, basic care, and postnatal care) and part B (communication, labor resources, and material resources) were extracted, accounting for 70.186% and 71.984% of the total variance, respectively. Confirmatory factor analysis indicated that the good fit of the three-factor models was acceptable. The Cronbach's α coefficients were 0.968 (part A) and 0.940 (part B). Conclusion: The Chinese version of the Perinatal Missed Care Survey is a reliable and valid instrument for assessing nursing care missed by midwives during labor and birth and the reasons it was missed. Studies with large sample sizes are needed to verify the instrument's applicability in China.

Best practice recommendations for the integration of trauma-informed approaches in maternal mental health care within the context of perinatal trauma and loss: A systematic review of current guidance.

PURPOSE: The National Health Service (NHS) in England plans to increase accessibility to evidence-based, trauma-informed psychological care for women in the perinatal period. Therefore, this systematic review aimed to 1) synthesise current guidance from clinical guidelines, policy documents, and care standards on trauma-informed approaches to care in maternal mental health settings within the context of pregnancy-related trauma and 2) to offer recommendations informing the implementation and evaluation of this type of care. METHODS: Nine electronic databases were searched and screened. Data were extracted and analysed using narrative synthesis. Included records were quality-assessed. RESULTS: After screening 1095 identified records, 11 records were included. The findings were synthesised into eight recommendations: 1) screening for trauma, 2) access to care, 3) clear and sensitive communication, 4) consistency and continuity of care, 5) offering individualised care whilst recognising diversity, 6) collaboration between women, families, and services, 7) care provider training to enhance skills and knowledge, and 8) supervision and peer support for care providers. CONCLUSIONS: The findings of this review are highly relevant given the current development, delivery, and evaluation of specific maternal mental health services, particularly in the United Kingdom, but also with the increase in perinatal mental health provision more globally.

Capabilities of perinatal healthcare institutions in primary and tertiary care of low birth weight infants in the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina: a cross-sectional multicentric study.

Introduction: Providing adequate healthcare for premature infants is an important issue in perinatal medicine. The aim of this study is to assess the level of the perinatal healthcare institution (PHI) where the newborns were delivered and the possibilities of transporting them to the cantons of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina. The authors also aimed to examine the overall survival of low birth-weight infants (LBWI) in the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina and to compare the survival of newborns according to the PHI where they were born and the PHI where they were treated. Materials and methods: This cross-sectional study included newborns of both sexes that were born in the maternity wards in 10 cantons of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina with a gestational age between 22 and 42 weeks, and a birth weight less than 2500 g. Result: From the PHI of the first and second level, 159 newborns were referred to the third level. A total of 159/669 (23.7%) were referred from a second level PHI to a third level PHI, and 127/669 (l8.9%) LBWI were definitely taken care of. A total of 513/669 (76.8%) LBWI were definitely taken care of in the third level PHI. Out of a total of 159 LBWI referred from other PHI, only 31 (19.5%) LBWI were transported in less than 4 h, and 128 (80.5%) newborns were admitted to the third level PHI within 4 h of birth (P<0.0001). In second level PHI, most LBWI died in the first 12 h after birth, while in third level PHI, 69.2% of LBWI died after 1 week of life. Conclusion: Based on world experience and assessment of the situation in Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina, it is necessary to take measures to improve perinatal care and its regional organization.

Maternal satisfaction with group care: a systematic review.

OBJECTIVE: This review examined the quantitative relationship between group care and overall maternal satisfaction compared with standard individual care. DATA SOURCES: We searched CINAHL, Clinical Trials, The Cochrane Library, PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science databases from the beginning of 2003 through June 2023. STUDY ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA: We included studies that reported the association between overall maternal satisfaction and centering-based perinatal care where the control group was standard individual care. We included randomized and observational designs. METHODS: Screening and independent data extraction were carried out by 4 researchers. We extracted data on study characteristics, population, design, intervention characteristics, satisfaction measurement, and outcome. Quality assessment was performed using the Cochrane tools for Clinical Trials (RoB2) and observational studies (ROBINS-I). We summarized the study, intervention, and satisfaction measurement characteristics. We presented the effect estimates of each study descriptively using a forest plot without performing an overall meta-analysis. Meta-analysis could not be performed because of variations in study designs and methods used to measure satisfaction. We presented studies reporting mean values and odds ratios in 2 separate plots. The presentation of studies in forest plots was organized by type of study design. RESULTS: A total of 7685 women participated in the studies included in the review. We found that most studies (ie, 17/20) report higher satisfaction with group care than standard individual care. Some of the noted results are lower satisfaction with group care in both studies in Sweden and 1 of the 2 studies from Canada. Higher satisfaction was present in 14 of 15 studies reporting CenteringPregnancy, Group Antenatal Care (1 study), and Adapted CenteringPregnancy (1 study). Although indicative of higher maternal satisfaction, the results are often based on statistically insignificant effect estimates with wide confidence intervals derived from small sample sizes. CONCLUSION: The evidence confirms higher maternal satisfaction with group care than with standard care. This likely reflects group care methodology, which combines clinical assessment, facilitated health promotion discussion, and community-building opportunities. This evidence will be helpful for the implementation of group care globally.

Evaluation of the telemedical health care network "SAFE BIRTH" for pregnant women at risk, premature and sick newborns and their families: study protocol of a cluster-randomized controlled stepped-wedge trial.

BACKGROUND: The Perinatal Center of the University Hospital Carl Gustav Carus Dresden has initiated the telemedical healthcare network "SAFE BIRTH" to coordinate and improve specialized care in non-metropolitan regions for pregnant women and newborns. The network incorporates five intervention bundles (IB): (1) Multi-professional, inter-disciplinary prenatal care plan; (2) Neonatal resuscitation; (3) Neonatal antibiotic stewardship; (4) Inter-facility transfer of premature and sick newborns; (5) Psycho-social support for parents. We evaluate if the network improves care close to home for pregnant women, premature and sick newborns. METHODS: To evaluate the complex healthcare intervention "SAFE BIRTH" we will conduct a cluster-randomized controlled stepped-wedge trial in five prenatal medical outpatient offices and eight non-metropolitan hospitals in Saxony, Germany. The offices and hospitals will be randomly allocated to five respectively eight sequential steps over a 30-month period to implement the telemedical IB. We define one specific primary process outcome for each IB (for instance IB#1: "Proportion of patients with inclusion criterion IB#1 who have a prenatal care plan and psychosocial counseling within one week"). We estimated a separate multilevel logistic regression model for each primary process outcome using the intervention status as a regressor (control or intervention group). Across all IB, a total of 1,541 and 1,417 pregnant women or newborns need to be included in the intervention and control group, respectively, for a power above 80% for small to medium intervention effects for all five hypothesis tests. Additionally, we will assess job satisfaction and sense of safety of health professionals caring for newborns (questionnaire survey) and we will assess families' satisfaction, resilience, quality of life and depressive, anxiety and stress symptoms (questionnaire surveys). We will also evaluate the cost-effectiveness of "SAFE BIRTH" (statutory health insurance routine data, process data) and barriers to its implementation (semi-structured interviews). We use multilevel regression models adjusting for relevant confounders (e.g. socioeconomic status, age, place of residence), as well as descriptive analyses and qualitative content analyses. DISCUSSION: If the telemedical healthcare network "SAFE BIRTH" proves to be effective and cost-efficient, strategies for its translation into routine care should be developed. TRIAL REGISTRATION: German clinical trials register. DRKS-ID: DRKS00031482.

Continuity of Clinician Type and Intrapartum Experiences During the Perinatal Period in California.

INTRODUCTION: Continuity of care with an individual clinician is associated with increased satisfaction and better outcomes. Continuity of clinician type (ie, obstetrician-gynecologist or midwife) may also impact care experiences; however, it is unknown how common it is to experience discontinuity of clinician type and what its implications are for the birth experience. We aimed to identify characteristics associated with having a different clinician type for prenatal care than for birth and to compare intrapartum experiences by continuity of clinician type. METHODS: For this cross-sectional study, data were from the 2017 Listening to Mothers in California survey. The analytic sample was limited to individuals with vaginal births who had midwifery or obstetrician-gynecologist prenatal care (N = 1384). Bivariate and multivariate analysis examined characteristics of individuals by continuity of clinician type. We then examined associations of clinician type continuity with intrapartum care experiences. RESULTS: Overall, 74.4% of individuals had the same type of clinician for prenatal care and birth. Of individuals with midwifery prenatal care, 45.1% had a different birth clinician type, whereas 23.5% of individuals who had obstetrician-gynecologist prenatal care had a different birth clinician type. Continuity of clinician type was positively associated with having had a choice of perinatal care clinician. There were no statistically significant associations between clinician type continuity and intrapartum care experiences. DISCUSSION: Findings suggest individuals with midwifery prenatal care frequently have a different type of clinician attend their birth, even among those with vaginal births. Further research should examine the impact of multiple dimensions of continuity of care on perinatal care quality.

Is oral consumption of dates (Phoenix dactylifera L. fruit) in the peripartum period effective and safe integrative care to facilitate childbirth and improve perinatal outcomes: a comprehensive revised systematic review and dose-response meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: Recent reviews have reported inconclusive results regarding the usefulness of consuming dates (Phoenix dactylifera L. fruit) in the peripartum period. Hence, this updated systematic review with meta-analysis sought to investigate the efficacy and safety of this integrated intervention in facilitating childbirth and improving perinatal outcomes. METHODS: Eight data sources were searched comprehensively from their inception until April 30, 2023. Parallel-group randomized and non-randomized controlled trials published in any language were included if conducted during peripartum (i.e., third trimester of pregnancy, late pregnancy, labor, or postpartum) to assess standard care plus oral consumption of dates versus standard care alone or combined with other alternative interventions. The Cochrane Collaboration's Risk of Bias (RoB) assessment tools and the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development, and Evaluation (GRADE) were employed to evaluate the potential RoB and the overall quality of the evidence, respectively. Sufficient data were pooled by a random-effect approach utilizing Stata software. RESULTS: Of 2,460 records in the initial search, 48 studies reported in 55 publications were included. Data were insufficient for meta-analysis regarding fetal, neonatal, or infant outcomes; nonetheless, most outcomes were not substantially different between dates consumer and standard care groups. However, meta-analyses revealed that dates consumption in late pregnancy significantly shortened the length of gestation and labor, except for the second labor stage; declined the need for labor induction; accelerated spontaneity of delivery; raised cervical dilatation (CD) upon admission, Bishop score, and frequency of spontaneous vaginal delivery. The dates intake in labor also significantly reduced labor duration, except for the third labor stage, and increased CD two hours post-intervention. Moreover, the intervention during postpartum significantly boosted the breast milk quantity and reduced post-delivery hemorrhage. Likewise, dates supplementation in the third trimester of pregnancy significantly increased maternal hemoglobin levels. The overall evidence quality was also unacceptable, and RoB was high in most studies. Furthermore, the intervention's safety was recorded only in four trials. CONCLUSION: More well-designed investigations are required to robustly support consuming dates during peripartum as effective and safe integrated care. TRIAL REGISTRATION: PROSPERO Registration No: CRD42023399626.

Critical Changes in the Maternal Health Landscape: Community Care, Doulas, and Coverage.

In this commentary, we present an overview of the accelerating trend toward community-based models for pregnancy care. Doula services, as part of community care programs, are the major target for new coverage changes. Obstetric professionals who include community care providers in their treatment plans can benefit from these local resources in the prenatal, birthing, and postpartum stages of patient management. Including community care programs may help achieve goals of improving health outcomes and health equity.

Research procedure acceptability through women during pregnancy and postpartum: A pilot study.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the feasibility and relevancy of a systematic data collection process in characterizing factors influencing research acceptability through women during pregnancy and early postpartum. METHODS: A pilot prospective observational crossover unicentric study was conducted in Est France. All the women (except language barrier and intensive care transfer) were called upon to complete a survey (33 questions). The primary endpoints were the participation rate and the completeness of the information. The secondary endpoint was the participants' sociodemographic background and preferences regarding research (bivariate analysis, P value <0.20). RESULTS: Within the research period (February 23-March 8, 114 childbirths), 105 women fitting the criteria were called upon for the survey. The participation rate and completeness were high. The participation rate was 93% with six lost to follow-up, and one refusal. The global filling rate was 95%. We highlighted two plausible variables of interests for research participation: women age older (P value 0.119) and level of education (P value 0.176). A sufficient cooling-off period, the commitment of women's health providers, and the possibility to accede research results might favor women's involvement. Acceptability would appear to be decreasing when the protocol implied fetal or neonatal data collection (compared to maternal data), unless research led to a better therapeutic option. CONCLUSION: The data collection process is highly feasible and provide consistent data. Larger-scale output obtention should enhance the conception and rollout of projects, first by calculating sample size based on potentials for recruitments adjusted to populations, characteristics and second by fitting the experimental design to women's expectations.