Perinatal sleep disruption and postpartum psychosis in bipolar disorder: Findings from the UK BDRN Pregnancy Study.

BACKGROUND: Women with bipolar disorder (BD) are at high risk of postpartum psychosis (PP). The factors that increase risk of PP among women with BD are not fully understood. Here, we examine whether sleep disruption in the perinatal period (poor sleep quality in late pregnancy and sleep deprivation related to childbirth) is associated with PP in a longitudinal study of pregnant women with BD. METHODS: Participants were 76 pregnant women with lifetime DSM-5 bipolar I disorder or schizoaffective-BD, followed from week 12 of pregnancy to 12 weeks postpartum. Demographics and lifetime psychopathology were assessed at baseline via semi-structured interview (Schedules for Clinical Assessment in Neuropsychiatry). Psychopathology and sleep disruption within the current perinatal period were assessed in the third trimester and at 12 weeks postpartum. Data were supplemented by clinician questionnaires and case-note review. RESULTS: After controlling for prophylactic use of mood stabilising medication, the loss of at least one complete night of sleep across labour/delivery was associated with five times the odds of experiencing PP compared to no or less than one night of sleep loss across labour/delivery (OR 5.19, 95 % CI 1.45-18.54; p = 0.011). Sleep quality in late pregnancy was not associated with PP, and perinatal sleep disruption was not associated with postpartum depression. LIMITATIONS: Lack of objective measures of sleep factors. CONCLUSIONS: In the context of other aetiological factors, severe sleep loss associated with childbirth/the immediate postpartum may act as a final trigger of PP. These findings could have important clinical implications for risk prediction and prevention of PP.

The predictive effect of mid-pregnancy sleep disorders on perinatal depression within women with or without depression in early pregnancy: A prospective cohort study.

BACKGROUND: To investigate the relationship between depression in early pregnancy and sleep quality in mid-pregnancy, and explore whether sleep disorders independently predicts depression across the perinatal period within women with or without depression in early pregnancy. METHODS: Data were collected at 7 time points from 12 weeks of pregnancy to 6 weeks postpartum. Multiple logistic regression and survival analysis were used to explore the relationship between sleep quality in mid-pregnancy and perinatal depression within women with or without depression in early pregnancy. RESULTS: 390 women were included. Women with depression in early pregnancy were more likely to have sleep disorders and perinatal depression. Women with sleep disorders had a higher risk of perinatal depression compared to women without sleep disorders in mid-pregnancy. Stratified analysis based on whether depressed at 12 weeks of pregnancy found that among women without depression, those with sleep disorders in mid-pregnancy were more likely to have subsequent perinatal depression and appeared earlier; whereas, among women with depression, mid-pregnancy sleep disorders was not a predictor of subsequent perinatal depression. LIMITATION: High rates of missed visits may lead to sample bias, with depression and sleep quality being assessed by self-report. CONCLUSIONS: Women with depression in early pregnancy are more likely to have sleep disorders in mid-pregnancy. There is a strong correlation between sleep quality in mid-pregnancy and perinatal depression among women without depression in early pregnancy. Routine screening and intervention for sleep disorders should be a priority in perinatal care to reduce the incidence of perinatal depression.

Effect of blastocyst development on hatching and embryo implantation.

The mammalian zygote, formed after a sperm fertilizes an egg, undergoes several rounds of mitosis and morphogenesis to form the blastocyst. During the peri-implantation period, the blastocyst hatches out of the zona pellucida (ZP) and invades the receptive uterine endometrium. This process promotes maternal-fetal dialogue at the physiological and molecular level, thereby initiating the implantation process. Blastocyst hatching is a consequence of elevated osmotic pressure due to active Na+/K+ ion transporter in the blastocyst cavity, as well as proteases produced by trophectoderm (TE) that hydrolyze the ZP. This review summarizes the process underpinning blastocyst hatching, such as the hatching schedule, the location of TEs during initial hatching out of the ZP, the molecules involved in blastocyst hatching, and how these processes affect implantation events. Additionally, we focus on identifying crucial molecules that may influence the quality of implantation and predict the outcome of embryo implantation. Further understanding the mechanism of these molecules may help us to improve the efficiency of Assisted reproductive technology (ART) in livestock breeding. This review provides insight into embryonic development, specifically during the short-term process of blastocyst hatching and its effects on the following implantation.

Evaluation of the perinatal anxiety and its effect on delivery type in those who want to have a vaginal birth after a cesarean section.

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to investigate the level of perinatal anxiety in pregnant women who considered vaginal birth after a cesarean section (VBAC) and evaluate its effect on the type of delivery. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: The study was planned as single-centered and analytical. It was performed with pregnant women planning VBAC, reached via Google Forms between February 23 and August 17, 2022. An online form consisting of the Patient Information Form and the Perinatal Anxiety Screening Scale-Turkish version (PASS-TR) was applied to the participants. The type of delivery was questioned by phone call. RESULTS: Ages of 162 pregnant women ranged from 22 to 40 years (mean=31.08±3.75). 54.9% (n=89) had a gestational week of 37 or more. 83.3% (n=135) had a vaginal delivery, and 54.3% (n=88) had a score of >16 on PASS-TR. PASS-TR total and subscale scores were higher in patients with known gynecological diseases (p<0.001). The total score of PASS-TR was higher in those aged between 18-30 years (p=0.027). The total number of pregnancies was higher in those with a PASS-TR score of ≤16 (p=0.007). There was no statistically significant difference between the total and subscale scores of PASS-TR with the type of delivery after cesarean section. CONCLUSIONS: Perinatal anxiety was determined in 54.3% of the pregnant women planning VBAC, and 83.3% had a successful vaginal delivery. Age, low gravida, and the presence of gynecological diseases were risk factors for anxiety. There was no relationship between the type of delivery after cesarean section and perinatal anxiety.

Efecto del embarazo y el parto en la musculatura perineal de mujeres con obesidad. Un estudio de cohorte longitudinal / Effect of pregnancy and delivery on perineal musculature in obese women: A longitudinal cohort study

Objetivo: Evaluar la evolución de la musculatura perineal en mujeres primigestas afectas de obesidad (índice de masa corporal [IMC]≥30) y comparar dicha evolución con mujeres primigestas con un IMC en rango de normopeso. Método: Se realizó un estudio cohorte longitudinal prospectivo donde se estudió a las gestantes en 3 momentos: en semana 12 de gestación, la semana 34 de gestación y a las 12 semanas tras el parto. En estas consultas se realizó medición mediante perinometría para determinar el tono basal (TB), la fuerza máxima contráctil (FMax); y la fuerza ejercida (FE). Además, se utilizó el test de Oxford modificado (MOS). Para el estudio estadístico se utilizaron modelos estadísticos generales mixtos. Resultados: Se reclutaron al inicio 50 gestantes nulíparas (25 con IMC≥30 y 25 con IMC<25), concluyendo el estudio completo 39. Al inicio del embarazo el tono perineal basal fue de 4,62±0,24Newton (Nw) y descendió a 4,18±0,26Nw tras el parto. La capacidad contráctil fue de 5,56±0,79Nw en la semana 12 y aumento a 6,34±1,24Nw tras el parto. Al comparar la FCMax en la semana 12 en gestantes obesas vs. Normopeso se observan valores de 5,51±87Nw vs. 5,61±0,71Nw (p=0,941). Se observaron valores posparto 6,72±1,17Nw vs. 5,95±1,21Nw (p=0,024), superiores en la población con obesidad. Conclusiones: Existe una disminución significativa del tono basal que es contrarrestada con un aumento de la fuerza contráctil objetivable a las 12 semanas posparto. El organismo dispone de mecanismos compensadores que permiten la recuperación a partir de los 3 meses posparto existiendo una mayor fuerza muscular dentro de las pacientes con obesidad.(AU)

Objective: Evaluating the changes of the perineal muscles in primigravid women with obesity (BMI≥30) and to compare the progress with primigravid women in normal BMI range. Methods: A prospective longitudinal cohort study was carried out. The pregnant women were studied at three moments: at 12 weeks’ gestation, at 34 weeks’ gestation and at 12 weeks after delivery. During the ckeck-up, perinometric measurements were taken to determine basal tone (BT), maximum contractile force (FMax) and applied forced (AF). In addition, the Oxford test (MOS) was used. General statistical mixed models were used for the statistical study. Results: Fifty nulliparous pregnant women (25 with BMI≥30 and 25 with BMI<25) were recruited at the beginning of the study and 39 completed the entire study. Basal tone (BT) was 4.62±0.24 Nw at the beginning of pregnancy and decreased to 4.18±0.26 Nw after delivery. Contractile capacity was 5.56±0.79 Nw at week 12 and increased to 6.34±1.24 Nw after delivery. When comparing the FCMax at week 12 in obese vs. normal weight pregnant women, values of 5.51±87 Nw vs. 5.61±0.71 Nw were observed (P=.941). Postpartum values were 6.72±1.17 Nw vs. 5.95±1.21 Nw (P=.024), higher in the obese population. Conclusions: There is an increase in contractile strength (Fmax) at 12 weeks postpartum in order to counteract the significant decrease in basal tone (BT). The body has compensatory mechanisms that allow recovery after 3 months postpartum, with greater muscle strength in obese patients.(AU)

Análisis de la tasa de cesáreas en el Hospital Universitario Materno-Infantil La Paz de Madrid (2010-2018) a través de la clasificación de Robson / Analysis of the Caesarean section rate at the La Paz Maternal-Child University Hospital in Madrid (2010–2018) through the Robson classification

Introducción: La necesidad de racionalizar y optimizar el uso de las cesáreas es un reto internacional en salud pública. Para ello, la OMS recomienda el uso de la clasificación Robson, que permite comparar las tasas de cesárea en función del perfil materno-fetal. El objetivo de este trabajo es evaluar la tasa de cesárea en el Hospital Universitario Materno-Infantil La Paz de Madrid entre 2010 y 2018 por medio de la clasificación Robson. Material y métodos: La población analizada corresponde a los datos de los 41.037 partos registrados en el programa Obstetricia del Hospital Universitario Materno-Infantil La Paz de Madrid de 2010 a 2018. Por medio del programa SPSS, se evalúa el cambio temporal en a) el porcentaje de partos (vaginales y por cesárea) respecto al total de nacimientos, b) la tasa de cesárea respecto a los partos vaginales y c) la contribución relativa a la tasa global de cesárea. Resultados: Las más elevadas contribuciones parciales a la tasa global de cesárea correspondieron a nulíparas con parto inducido, con cesárea previa, nulíparas con parto espontáneo y con gestaciones múltiples. El grupo de las nulíparas con parto inducido fue el único que registró un aumento significativo de su contribución a la tasa total de cesárea (30,4% en 2018). Conclusiones: Los resultados de este trabajo indican que el reto en salud pública es seguir evaluando la relación entre inducción del parto y riesgo de cesárea intraparto, particularmente en mujeres nulíparas, el grupo que registra la más alta tasa relativa de cesárea y en aumento significativo.(AU)

Introduction: The need to rationalise and optimise the use of caesarean sections is an international public health challenge. To this end, the WHO recommends the use of the Robson classification, which allows comparison of caesarean section rates according to the maternal-fetal profile. The aim of this study is to evaluate the rate of caesarean section in the Hospital Universitario Materno-Infantil La Paz in Madrid between 2010 and 2018 using the Robson classification. Material and methods: The population analysed corresponds to data from the 41,037 deliveries registered in the Obstetrics programme of the Hospital Universitario Materno-Infantil La Paz of Madrid from 2010 to 2018. Using SPSS software, the temporal change in (a) the percentage of deliveries (vaginal and caesarean) with respect to total births, (b) the caesarean rate with respect to vaginal deliveries and (c) the relative contribution to the overall caesarean rate is evaluated. Results: The highest partial contributions to the overall caesarean section rate were made by nulliparous women with induced labour, previous caesarean section, nulliparous women with spontaneous labour and multiple gestations. The group of nulliparous with induced labour was the only one with a significant increase in its contribution to the overall caesarean section rate (30.4% in 2018). Conclusions: The results of this work indicate that the challenge in public health is to further assess the relationship between induction of labour and risk of intrapartum caesarean section, particularly in nulliparous women, the group with the highest and significantly increasing relative caesarean section rate.(AU)

Decúbito prono en el tercer trimestre del embarazo durante la era COVID-19: un abordaje transdisciplinar / Prone position in the third trimester of pregnancy during the COVID-19 era: A transdisciplinary approach

Existe evidencia muy limitada respecto del uso de la ventilación en decúbito prono como parte del tratamiento de un síndrome de distrés respiratorio agudo severo para pacientes en periodo de gestación. Actualmente las recomendaciones para el manejo ventilatorio invasivo en esta población son muy escasas y se basan en la extrapolación de las conclusiones obtenidas en estudios de pacientes no gestantes. La literatura disponible asevera que la anatomía y la fisiología de la gestante experimentan complejos cambios adaptativos que deben ser considerados durante el soporte ventilatorio invasivo y el prono. Con la ventilación en decúbito prono, los beneficios obtenidos para el binomio superan ampliamente a los eventuales riesgos. La programación adecuada del ventilador mecánico se correlaciona con un concepto claro y simple: la individualización del soporte. De todas maneras, la decisión del momento oportuno para la interrupción del embarazo debe fundamentarse con un adecuado juicio clínico multidisciplinario y además debe ser respaldado con una estricta monitorización fetal.(AU)

There is very limited evidence regarding the use of prone position as part of the treatment of severe acute respiratory distress syndrome in pregnant patients. Currently, recommendations for invasive ventilatory management in this population are very scarce and are based on the extrapolation of conclusions obtained in studies of non-pregnant patients. The available literature asserts that the anatomy and physiology of the pregnant woman undergoes complex adaptive changes that must be considered during invasive ventilatory support and prone position. With prone ventilation, the benefits obtained for the couple far outweigh the eventual risks. Adequate programming of the mechanical ventilator correlates with a clear and simple concept: individualization of support. In any case, the decision on the timing of termination of pregnancy should be based on adequate multidisciplinary clinical judgment and should be supported by strict monitoring of the product.(AU)

The long-term impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on financial insecurity in vulnerable families: Findings from the Born in Bradford Covid-19 longitudinal study.

There is growing recognition that the public health measures employed to control the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic had unintended consequences on socioeconomic security and health inequalities, having the greatest impact on the most vulnerable groups. This longitudinal study aims to explore the medium to long-term impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic and subsequent public health measures on financial security for families living in the deprived and ethnically diverse city of Bradford. We collected data at four time points before and during the pandemic from mothers who participated in one of two prospective birth cohort studies in Bradford. The findings demonstrate that the risk of experiencing financial insecurity rose sharply during the pandemic and has not returned to pre-COVID-19 baseline levels. Several individual characteristics were found to be possible predictors of financial insecurity, including homeowner status, free school meal eligibility and not working. Protective factors against financial insecurity include: living in more affluent areas; greater levels of educational attainment; and families with two or more adults in the household. Notably, families of Pakistani Heritage were found to have the greatest risk of experiencing financial insecurity throughout the pandemic. Furthermore, this study demonstrated that there were strong associations between financial insecurity and maternal health and wellbeing outcomes, with mothers experiencing financial insecurity being more likely to report unsatisfactory general health and clinically important symptoms of depression and anxiety. The findings of this study highlight that the impact of financial insecurity experienced by mothers and their families throughout the pandemic was severe, wide ranging and affected the most vulnerable. In the wake of the pandemic, the emerging cost of living and energy crisis emphasises the urgent need for policy makers to act to support vulnerable families to prevent further widening of existing health and social inequalities.

Philadelphia Department of Health Doula Support Program: Early Successes and Challenges of a Program Serving Birthing People Affected by Substance Use Disorder.

PURPOSE: Maternal substance use and deaths due to overdoses are increasing nationwide. Evidence suggests that the rate of resumed substance use, and fatal and non-fatal overdose is greatest in the first year after birth, particularly around six months postpartum, compared to other parts of the perinatal period. Doula care has been linked to improvements in perinatal health and outcomes. DESCRIPTION: In response to the opioid epidemic, the Philadelphia Department of Public Health developed and implemented the Doula Support Program (DSP), with a focus on one year of postpartum care for birthing people with a substance use disorder (SUD). In this paper, we describe the program and its formation and report on the early challenges and successes of the program implementation, based on information we received from program founders and managers in a group interview. ASSESSMENT: Early successes of the program include partnering with local community-based programs to recruit and retain doulas, supplementing traditional doula education with perinatal SUD-specific trainings, and maximizing client referrals by collaborating with local organizations and treatment centers that serve birthing people with SUD. Client retention, however, has proven to be challenging, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic. CONCLUSION: The DSP continues to grow, and lessons learned will facilitate program improvements. The goal of this paper is to outline the development and launch of the DSP and to act as a model for other state and local health departments interested in providing doula care for birthing people with SUD.

An invisible caregiver for visibly older parents: Experiences of (young) adults shared as comments to newspaper articles on advanced age parenthood.

At the centre of the debate on advanced age parenthood are concerns for the offspring's well-being. In the few empirical studies available, researchers found that children born to older parents show similar or better cognitive, behavioural and psychosocial outcomes compared to children born to younger parents. Most of these studies examining the children's perspective are quantitative. This study qualitatively examined the experiences presented by (young) adults who identified as born to older parents offered in response to a selection of newspaper articles on the topic. Performing inductive thematic analysis, we found that positive experiences were often presented as a way to contradict prejudices about advanced age parenthood. Other comments described the visual representation of the older parents' age as an attribute that created difference and, in some cases, social distance from peers and the outside world in general. Central to the negative experiences was a contrast between the visibility of being a child of older parents and the invisibility of caring for them. Moreover, in a majority of the latter comments, the commenters' caregiving experiences combined with the social network's notable lack of understanding and support regarding the caregiving responsibilities were described as adversely affecting their lives. These findings provide more insight into the experiences of (young) adults born to advanced age parents and their potential needs.

[Morbidity and mortality of mare and foal following dystocia - a literature review]. / Morbidität und Mortalität von Stute und Fohlen nach Dystokie ­ eine Literaturübersicht.

Dystocia represents a life-threatening condition for mare and foal. Morbidity and mortality rates due to a difficult birth, as well as the influence on fertility of the mare were analyzed, based on a review of publications. This was aggravated by the fact that no standardized diagnostic code was used and that most publications do not clearly describe how extensively the examinations were performed beforehand. Retentio secundinarum is the most common complication caused by dystocia. Other complications are injuries to the soft birth canal and the colon. These occur more frequently after surgical obstetrics than following assisted vaginal deliveries. Performing a fetotomy increases the risk of injury to the birth canal. After a caesarean section, the risk for retained placenta increases significantly. In order to evaluate the possibility of medical progress over time, mortality rates of mare and foal were investigated and divided in surgical and conservative obstetrics within the period of 1970-1990 and 1991-2021. The average maternal mortality rate following caesarean section amounted to 18% in the time period between 1970 and 1990 and 14% between the years from 1991-2021. After fetotomy, the two determined mortality rates amounted to 29% and 10% for the time between 1970 and 1990. In the period 1991-2021, the rate varies between 4% and 44% with an average mortality rate of 14%. Following controlled vaginal delivery, the average mortality rate is 9%. Literary sources were however only available for the current time period and range between 6% and 29%. The morbidity and mortality rate of foals is very high. Following caesarean section on average 53% of foals are dead on delivery, with a range of 13-79% in case reports from the years 1991-2021. The number of dead foals in the context of conservative obstetrics is of a similar scale. Postnatal foal diseases are largely due to intrapartum hypoxia during dystocia and obstetric injury. In consequence of a difficult delivery, mares experience reduced fertility. In numerous cases this however may be compensated by pausing from further breeding in the same year. The number of cases evaluated in this context however remains too small to advocate any recommendations for breeding following incidents of dystocia.

Maternal multimorbidity - experiences of women seeking asylum during pregnancy and after childbirth: a qualitative study.

BACKGROUND: Many women seeking asylum during pregnancy and after childbirth have ill-health but detection and assessment of all physical, psychological, and social health needs (maternal multimorbidity) are often difficult as part of routine maternity care. Healthcare providers are key for the early identification and management of vulnerable pregnant women who have additional physical, psychological, and social health needs. We sought to explore the impact of the asylum-seeking process, understanding of wellbeing, expressed health needs (in terms of maternal multimorbidity), and the experiences of maternity care of women seeking asylum during pregnancy and after childbirth in Liverpool, United Kingdom. Enabling factors and barriers to access woman-centred care were also explored. METHODS: Key informant interviews (n = 10) and one focus group discussion (n = 4) were conducted with women attending a non-profit charitable pregnancy support group. Transcribed interviews were coded by topic and then grouped into categories. Thematic framework analysis was undertaken to identify emerging themes. RESULTS: The asylum-seeking process negatively impacted women making them feel anxious and depressed with little control or choice over their future. Women reported feeling stressed regarding poor standard of accommodation, low income, dispersal and the uncertainty of their asylum application outcome. Wellbeing during pregnancy and after childbirth was understood to be multifactorial and women understood that their physical health needs were interlinked and negatively impacted by complex psychological and social factors. Women reported that their expectations of maternity services were often exceeded, but information giving, and the use of language interpreters needed to be improved. Women expressed the need for more psychological and social support throughout pregnancy and after childbirth. CONCLUSIONS: A multidisciplinary team, with links and effective referral pathways to maternal mental health and social services, are necessary for women seeking asylum, to ensure a more integrated, comprehensive assessment of maternal multimorbidity and to provide maternity care in a way that meets all health needs.

New Persistent Opioid Use After Childbirth.

OBJECTIVE: To examine factors associated with new persistent opioid use after childbirth. METHODS: We conducted a population-based cohort study of individuals who initiated opioid therapy within 7 days of discharge from hospital after delivery between September 1, 2013, and September 30, 2021. The primary outcome was new persistent opioid use , which was defined as one or more prescriptions for an opioid within 90 days of the first postpartum prescription and one or more subsequent opioid prescriptions in the 91-365 days afterward. We used multivariable logistic regression to assess patient-, pregnancy-, and prescription-related factors associated with new persistent opioid use after delivery. RESULTS: We identified 118,694 unique deliveries after which opioids were initiated, including 99,399 cesarean (83.7%) and 19,295 vaginal (16.3%) deliveries. Among mothers who initiated an opioid after delivery, 1,282 (10.8/1,000 deliveries) met our definition of new persistent opioid use in the subsequent year. Rates of new persistent opioid use were appreciably higher after vaginal (16.0/1,000) compared with cesarean (9.8/1,000) deliveries. Each additional 30 morphine milligram equivalents in the initial opioid prescription was associated with an increased risk of new persistent use after cesarean (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] 1.06, 95% CI 1.04-1.08) and vaginal (aOR 1.05, 95% CI 1.02-1.08) delivery. A concomitant benzodiazepine prescription after cesarean delivery was associated with a markedly increased risk of persistent opioid use (aOR 2.69, 95% CI 1.60-4.52). CONCLUSION: Among people who filled an opioid prescription after delivery, about 1% displayed evidence of persistent opioid use in the subsequent year. Initial prescriptions for large quantities of opioids and a concurrent benzodiazepine prescription may be important modifiable risk factors to prevent new persistent opioid use after delivery.

Implementing maternal and newborn health quality of care standards in healthcare facilities to improve the adoption of respectful maternity care in Bangladesh, Ghana and Tanzania: a controlled before and after study.

INTRODUCTION: Many women worldwide cannot access respectful maternity care (RMC). We assessed the effect of implementing maternal and newborn health (MNH) quality of care standards on RMC measures. METHODS: We used a facility-based controlled before and after design in 43 healthcare facilities in Bangladesh, Ghana and Tanzania. Interviews with women and health workers and observations of labour and childbirth were used for data collection. We estimated difference-in-differences to compare changes in RMC measures over time between groups. RESULTS: 1827 women and 818 health workers were interviewed, and 1512 observations were performed. In Bangladesh, MNH quality of care standards reduced physical abuse (DiD -5.2;-9.0 to -1.4). The standards increased RMC training (DiD 59.0; 33.4 to 84.6) and the availability of policies and procedures for both addressing patient concerns (DiD 46.0; 4.7 to 87.4) and identifying/reporting abuse (DiD 45.9; 19.9 to 71.8). The control facilities showed greater improvements in communicating the delivery plan (DiD -33.8; -62.9 to -4.6). Other measures improved in both groups, except for satisfaction with hygiene. In Ghana, the intervention improved women's experiences. Providers allowed women to ask questions and express concerns (DiD 37.5; 5.9 to 69.0), considered concerns (DiD 14.9; 4.9 to 24.9), reduced verbal abuse (DiD -8.0; -12.1 to -3.8) and physical abuse (DiD -5.2; -11.4 to -0.9). More women reported they would choose the facility for another delivery (DiD 17.5; 5.5 to 29.4). In Tanzania, women in the intervention facilities reported improvements in privacy (DiD 24.2; 0.2 to 48.3). No other significant differences were observed due to improvements in both groups. CONCLUSION: Institutionalising care standards and creating an enabling environment for quality MNH care is feasible in low and middle-income countries and may facilitate the adoption of RMC.

Trends and risk of recurrent preterm birth in pregnancy cohorts in rural Bangladesh, 1990-2019.

INTRODUCTION: A history of preterm birth reportedly increases the risk of subsequent preterm birth. This association has primarily been studied in high-income countries and not in low-income settings in transition with rapidly descending preterm birth figures. We evaluated the population-based trends of preterm births and recurrent preterm births and the risk of preterm birth recurrence in the second pregnancy based on prospectively studied pregnancy cohorts over three decades in Matlab, Bangladesh. METHODS: A population-based cohort included 72 160 live births from 1990 to 2019. We calculated preterm birth and recurrent preterm birth trends. We assessed the odds of preterm birth recurrence based on a subsample of 14 567 women with live-born singletons in their first and second pregnancies. We used logistic regression and presented the associations by OR with a 95% CI. RESULTS: The proportion of preterm births decreased from 25% in 1990 to 13% in 2019. The recurrent preterm births had a similar, falling pattern from 7.4% to 3.1% across the same period, contributing 27% of the total number of preterm births in the population. The odds of second pregnancy preterm birth were doubled (OR 2.18; 95% CI 1.96 to 2.43) in women with preterm birth compared with the women with term birth in their first pregnancies, remaining similar over the study period. The lower the gestational age at the first birth, the higher the odds of preterm birth in the subsequent pregnancy (test for trend p<0.001). CONCLUSION: In this rural Bangladeshi setting, recurrent preterm births contributed a sizeable proportion of the total number of preterm births at the population level. The increased risk of recurrence remained similar across three decades when the total proportion of preterm births was reduced from 25% to 13%.

Experiences of Impacted Foetal Head: Findings from a Pragmatic Focus Group Study of Mothers and Midwives.

INTRODUCTION: We aimed to explore the lived experiences of caesarean birth complicated by impaction of the foetal head, for mothers and midwives. METHODS: A pragmatic, qualitative, focus group study of mixed-participants was conducted, face-to-face. They were postpartum women (n = 4), midwives (n = 4), and a postpartum midwife (n = 1) who had experience of either providing care for impacted foetal head, and/or had experienced it during their own labour, in Fife, United Kingdom. Data were transcribed and were analysed using template analysis. RESULTS: Three main themes emerged through analysis: (i) current knowledge of impacted foetal head; (ii) current management of impacted foetal head; and (iii) experiences and outcomes of impacted foetal head. Each theme was made up of various initial codes when data were analysed inductively. Finally, each theme could be overlaid onto the three core principles of the Tydeman Tube: (1) to improve outcomes for mother and baby in the second stage of labour; (2) to reduce the risk of trauma to mother and baby in complicated births; and (3) to increase respectful care for women in labour; thus allowing for a neat analytic template. CONCLUSION: A lack of consensus regarding definition, management, and training were highlighted by the midwives. Women anticipated caesarean birth in late labour as straightforward and were therefore unaware of this potential complication. Women and midwives would welcome any new device to facilitate delivery of the impacted foetal head (IFH) as long as it is fully evaluated prior to widespread introduction. Women were not averse to being part of this evaluation process.

A log-binomial Bayesian geoadditive semiparametric analysis of geographical inequalities in caesarean births in Ghana.

BACKGROUND: Caesarean section is a clinical intervention aimed to save the lives of women and their newborns. In Ghana, studies have reported inequalities in use among women of different socioeconomic backgrounds. However, geographical differentials at the district level where health interventions are implemented, have not been systematically studied. This study examined geographical inequalities in caesarean births at the district level in Ghana. The study investigated how pregnancy complications and birth risks, access to health care and affluence correlate with geographical inequalities in caesarean section uptake. METHODS: The data for the analysis was derived from the 2017 Ghana Maternal Health Survey. The log-binomial Bayesian Geoadditive Semiparametric regression technique was used to examine the extent of geographical clustering in caesarean births at the district level and their spatial correlates. RESULTS: In Ghana, 16.0% (95% CI = 15.3, 16.8) of births were via caesarean section. Geospatial analysis revealed a strong spatial dependence in caesarean births, with a clear north-south divide. Low frequencies of caesarean births were observed among districts in the northern part of the country, while those in the south had high frequencies. The predominant factor associated with the spatial differentials was affluence rather than pregnancy complications and birth risk and access to care. CONCLUSIONS: Strong geographical inequalities in caesarean births exist in Ghana. Targeted and locally relevant interventions including health education and policy support are required at the district level to address the overuse and underuse of caesarean sections, to correspond to the World Health Organisation recommended optimal threshold of 10% to 15%.

Intrapartum care measures and indicators for monitoring the implementation of WHO recommendations for a positive childbirth experience: a scoping review.

OBJECTIVE: We aimed to identify all available studies describing measures or indicators used to monitor 41 intrapartum care practices described in the 2018 WHO intrapartum care recommendations, with a view to informing development of standardised measurement of implementing these recommendations. DESIGN: Systematic scoping review. METHODS: We conducted a scoping review to identify studies reporting measures of intrapartum care published between 1 January 2000 and 28 June 2021. Primary and secondary outcome measures included study characteristics (publication year, journal, country and World Bank classification) and intrapartum care measure characteristics (definition, numerator, denominator, measurement level and measurement approach). We searched MEDLINE, EMBASE, CINAHL, Cochrane Library, the Maternity and Infant Care Database, Global Index Medicus and grey literature using structured search terms related to included recommendations, focusing on respectful and supportive care, and clinical practices performed throughout labour and birth. The measures identified were classified by the WHO recommendation and their characteristics reported. RESULTS: We identified 150 studies which described 1331 intrapartum care measures. These measures corresponded to 35 of the 41 included WHO recommendations, and represented all domains of the WHO recommendations (care throughout labour and birth, first stage of labour, second stage of labour, third stage of labour). A total of 40.1% (534 of 1331 measures) of measures were related to respectful maternity care. Most studies used a questionnaire or survey measurement approach (522 of 1331 measures, 39.2%). CONCLUSION: This scoping review presents a database of existing intrapartum care measures used to monitor the quality of intrapartum care globally. There is no clear consensus on a core set of measures for evaluating the practice of the WHO's intrapartum care recommendations. This review provides a foundation to support the development of a core set of internationally standardised intrapartum care measures for the WHO intrapartum care recommendations, highlighting key areas requiring consensus and validation, and measure development.