Worldwide prevalence of maternal methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus colonization: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) infection during pregnancy can adversely influence the well-being of pregnant women, fetuses, and neonates. To our knowledge, there is no global data on the maternal prevalence of MRSA colonization. We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis to estimate the global and regional prevalence rates of MRSA colonization among pregnant women. We searched international databases (i.e., MEDLINE/PubMed, EMBASE, Scopus, Web of Science collection, and SciELO) for studies published from inception to March 10, 2022. Observational population-based studies reporting MRSA colonization among pregnant women were eligible to be included. We utilized the random-effects meta-analyses to compute the pooled prevalence estimates of maternal colonization across studies at 95% confidence intervals (CIs). The heterogeneity was assessed by I2 statistic and the Cochran's Q test. Subgroup and meta-regression analyses were used to adjust for potential sources of heterogeneity. The data source regarding maternal MRSA colonization included 55 studies from 24 countries and 110,654 pregnant women. The worldwide pooled prevalence for maternal MRSA colonization was 3.23% (95% CI, 2.40-4.17%), with the highest and lowest colonization rates for Africa (9.13%, 4.36-15.34%) and Europe (0.79%, 0.28-1.51%), respectively. We estimated that nearly 4.5 million pregnant women are colonized with MRSA worldwide. MRSA colonization rates were higher among black ethnicity, multiparous women, pregnant women with prior MRSA infection, women with lower personal hygiene, and those living in lower-income and human development indices countries or regions. MRSA colonizes substantial numbers of pregnant women worldwide, with varying prevalence rates in different regions; however, further investigations are needed to recognize regional differences. Our findings emphasized the need for prevention efforts against MRSA to reduce the health risks among women and newborns.

Sexual Quality of Life of Breast Cancer Survivors: A Cross-Sectional Study.

AIM: Sexual quality of life (SQL), one of the essential issues of sexual and reproductive health, negatively affects the overall quality of life. This study aimed to investigate the SQL of breast cancer survivors. METHODS: In this cross-sectional study, 410 breast cancer survivors were recruited in a two-stage sampling process. The quota sampling method was employed in the first stage, and convenience sampling was used in the second stage between December 2020 and September 2021. The data were collected using the sexual Quality of Life-Female, Female Sexual Function Index, Revised Religious Attitude. RESULTS: The mean age of the participants and the time since the disease diagnosis were 42.64 ± 6.02 years and 13.9 ± 4.80 months, respectively. The mean score of SQL was 66.65 ± 10.23 (95% Confidence Interval: 66.63-67.62). Multiple linear regression analysis showed that the SQL of breast cancer survivors was significantly correlated with their occupation (ß=0.12, P<0.008), education (ß=-0.23, P<0.001), their spouse's education (ß=0.16, P<0.001), belief in the sex initiation by the spouse (ß=0.23, P<0.001), fear of being hurt by sexual intercourse (ß=0.21 P < 0.001), receiving training about sexual relations (ß = 0.1, P < 0.049), lumpectomy (ß = 0.11, P < 0.001), sexual function (ß = 0.13 ß = 0.001), and religious attitude (ß = 0.27, P < 0.001). These factors explain 60% of the variance of the SQL score. CONCLUSION: Considering the various factors contributing to the SQL of breast cancer survivors can inform interventions targeted at improving the health status of these women.

Association between awareness of patient rights and patient's education, seeing bill, and age: a cross-sectional study.

BACKGROUND: Considering the controversial results of previous reports on awareness of bill of patients' rights in different regions, as well as the fact that no report is available on the awareness of patients of their rights in teaching hospitals of Sari, we conducted the present study. MATERIALS & METHODS: This is a cross-sectional Study conducted in teaching hospitals of Sari in 2011. The study population consisted of 336 patients recruited from 4 hospitals affiliated with Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences in Sari, through calculating the selection quota of each hospital. Data were collected through face-to-face interview on discharge, using a two-section questionnaire based on the bill of patient rights and with verified reliability and validity. Data analysis was accomplished on SPSS soft- ware version 10. RESULTS: 55.4% of patients were women and 44.6% were men. The patients' mean age was 40.93 ± 15.04 years and the mean length of stay was 4.6 ± 3.34 days. Most patients had elementary education (36%) or were illiterate (25%). The majority (63.4%) had not seen the bill of patients' rights. 58.9% had poor knowledge, 12% had intermediate knowledge, and 29.1% had good knowledge. As for the articles of the bill, the poorest awareness correlated to the 9th article (the right to participate or refrain from participating in research). We found a significant relationship between awareness of the bill, and the patient's education, seeing the bill, and age (p < 0.0005). CONCLUSION: The results of the present study indicate that patients are not sufficiently aware of their rights, and this problem requires comprehensive planning to be resolved.

Relationship between Revised Graduated Index (R-GINDEX) of prenatal care utilization & preterm labor and low birth weight.

Prenatal care refers to accurate and consistent performance of the principles important to maintain healthy pregnancy outcomes and also for mother and child health. One of the new indices to assess the adequacy of care is Revised Graduated Index of Prenatal Care Utilization (R-GINDEX).The study aims to assess the relationship between quantitative prenatal care factors and preterm labor and low birth weight using R-GINDEX. This historical cohort study has been conducted on 420 mothers during the first two years after delivery in 2010. The adequacy of care was calculated by R-GINDEX. Based on this index, participants have been divided into three care groups including inadequate, adequate and intensive care groups. A significant relationship has been found between R-GINDEX and preterm birth and low birth weight (P<0.05). Thus the probability of premature labor in inadequate care group (RR=3.93) and low birth weight (RR= 2.53) was higher than that of the adequate and intensive care group. The results showed that the quantity of prenatal care is effective in reducing preterm birth and low birth weight.

The effect of intermittent local heat and cold on labor pain and child birth outcome.

BACKGROUND: Labor pain is one of the severest pains that cause many women request cesarean section for fear of pain. Thus, controlling labor pain is a major concern of maternity care. Nowadays, interest in non-pharmacological pain relief methods has been increased because of their lower side effects. The effects of discrete heat and cold on decreasing labor pain have been reported but there was no evaluation of the effects of simultaneous heat and cold. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of intermittent heat and cold on pain severity and childbirth outcomes. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This study was a randomized controlled trial. Sixty-four nulliparous women with term, One fetus, and low-risk pregnancy were divided into the intervention (32 participants) and the control group (32 participants) by random allocation. Excluding criteria were: administration of pain relief drugs, skin disease in the field of intervention, fetal distress, bleeding, fever, and disagreement with participation in the study. Warm and cold packs were used intermittently on low back and lower abdomen during the first phase and on perineum during the second phase of labor. Pain intensity was assessed with Visual Analogue Scale. Descriptive statistic, chi square, and t-test were used for data analysis. RESULTS: There were no significant differences in demographic and midwifery characteristics and the baseline pain between two groups. The pain was significantly lower in intervention group during the first and second phases of labor. Duration of the first and third phases of labor was shorter in the case group. There were no significant differences in type of delivery, perineal laceration, oxytocin uptake, fetal heart rate, and APGAR between two groups. DISCUSSION: Local warming with intermittent cold pack can reduce labor pain without adverse effects on maternal and fetal outcomes. It is an inexpensive and simple method. CONCLUSION: Intermittent local heat and cold therapy is a no pharmalogical, safe and effective method to relief labor pain.