African Journal of Nursing and Midwifery

African Journal of Nursing and Midwifery ISSN: 2198-4638 Vol. 4 (7), pp. 645-650, August, 2016. © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Association between low gestational weight gain and low birth weight infant among pregnant women

Yuen Hung Tam^1* and Haruki Momofuko Fukuda^1,2

¹Department of Nursing, University of Tsukuba Hospital, Ibaraki, Japan.

²Faculty of Medicine, University of Tsukuba, Ibaraki, Japan.

E-mail: [email protected]

Accepted 10 July, 2016

Abstract

In Japan, many young women desire to be slim, contributing to an increase in the number of women with low gestational weight gain. This study aimed to clarify the association between low gestational weight gain and low birth weight infant, desire of pregnant women to be slim, self-efficacy, or quality of life (QOL). Subjects were Japanese women in their ≥24th week of pregnancy who visited four primary hospitals in Japan for prenatal checkups. We conducted a self-administered questionnaire survey of these women and later collected information on childbirth from medical records. Analysis of pre-pregnancy weight showed that 43 (16%) of 268 pregnant women were underweight. Gestational weight gain was insufficient in 172 (64%) women based on the IOM recommendation or in 35 (13%) women based on the guideline used in Japan. More than 50% of the women had a desire to be slim, and 16% were actually on a diet during the first trimester. Self-efficacy had no correlation to low gestational weight gain, whereas gestational weight gain of <10 kg was correlated with low birth weight infant (p <0.025) and poor physical QOL among the women (p<0.019). Research shows that Japanese pregnant women are likely to desire to be too slim, in addition to being a risk factor for infants with low birth weight. Low gestational weight gain is associated with poor physical QOL, but not self-efficacy in pregnant women. It is important for health providers to establish positive prenatal care that does not reinforce weight consciousness among Japanese pregnant women.

Key words: Maternal underweight, gestational weight gain, quality of life, low birth weight infant, desire to be slender.

African Journal of Nursing and Midwifery ISSN: 2198-4638 Vol. 4 (6), pp. 639-644, July, 2016. © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Clinical presentation investigating the effectiveness of different therapy for low back pain (LBP)

John Ho Chow¹*, Nicholas G. Chui¹, Aaron Wu Su² and Johnnie Alan Hung³

¹Institute of Textiles and Clothing, the Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hung Hom, Kowloon, Hong Kong.

²The Hong Kong Community College, the Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hung Hom, Kowloon, Hong Kong.

³Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, the Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, New Territories, Hong Kong

Accepted 12 June, 2016

Email: [email protected]

This study aims to review recently published clinical presentation on the effectiveness and impact of current therapy for low back pain (LBP) during pregnancy. This would help to build an information background and determine the necessity for future research on the development of an effective means for reducing pregnant low back pain.

Key words: Therapy, pregnant, low back pain, review.

African Journal of Nursing and Midwifery ISSN: 2198-4638 Vol. 4 (5), pp. 631-638, June, 2016.  © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Awareness of married men on vasectomy and its adoption in typical indigenous Nigerian communities

Adenuka M. Marcus*, Bolaji M. Abeeb and Adomola C. Babatunde

Department of Health Promotion and Education, Faculty of Public Health, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Oyo State, Nigeria.

E-mail: [email protected] 

Accepted 5 May, 2016

Abstract

Vasectomy is a method of family planning which is quite acceptable in many developed countries of the world. However, in most African countries, there are still existing barriers to its adoption by married men. This study was therefore designed to explore the antecedent factors related to the adoption of vasectomy among married men in eight (8) peri-urban communities of Ibadan, Nigeria. Four hundred and thirty one men selected using multi-stage sampling technique were interviewed in a household survey using the cross sectional study design. Mean age of the respondents was 44 ± 13.2 years, 13.5% of the respondents had reportedly heard about vasectomy, 30.8% considered it an unacceptable method of contraception while 16.2% see it as a sin against God. Barriers to the adoption of vasectomy included fear of the surgery and its side effects (26%), indifference to family planning (23%), its irreversibility (19%), personal beliefs (10%), lack of evidence that it works (8%), lack of awareness (7%), financial constraints (3%) and inadequate health system (2%). Only 29.7% had intention to adopt vasectomy as a means of birth control. Intention to adopt vasectomy was significantly associated with age (p<0.05). Awareness of vasectomy as a birth control method and intention to adopt it were low. Public enlightenment to provide correct and adequate information, education, and communication (IEC) using appropriate health promotion strategies aimed at increasing awareness and benefits of vasectomy are advocated.

Key words: Antecedent factors, vasectomy, married men, peri - urban communities.

African Journal of Nursing and Midwifery ISSN: 2198-4638 Vol. 4 (4), pp. 619-630, May, 2016.  © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Student nurses’ competence in applying bioscience to practice in South Africa

Desmond Oscar Bernard¹* and Alan Kevir Mark²

¹Western Cape College of Nursing, Cape Town, South Africa.

²Department of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, Division of Nursing and Midwifery; Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town, South Africa.

E-mail: [email protected]

Accepted 26 April, 2016

Abstract

Student nurses’ competence in applying bioscience to practice is under-researched in South Africa. This paper reports on two objectives of a longer study: (1) to describe final year nursing students’ self-reported depth of understanding of six bioscience subjects; and (2) their perceptions of relevance of the bioscience subjects to their practice using descriptions of personal critical incidents and picture interpretations of three nursing activities. A descriptive observational survey was employed using a self-administered questionnaire at one time point in a classroom in a nursing college in Cape Town, South Africa in 2013. A sample of 76/236 (32.2%) fourth year students participated. Results showed that the majority of responses (n=252/456, 55.3%) across six subjects indicated self-reported adequate understanding of bioscience, but deep understanding for anatomy (n=35, 46.1%), physiology (n=32, 42.1%) and pharmacology (n=30, 39.5%). Respondents self-rated their understanding of biophysics, biochemistry and microbiology as superficial (n=31, 40.8%; n=32, 42.1%; n=16, 21.1%) respectively. Most respondents considered anatomy, physiology and pharmacology to be relevant for practice and microbiology to some extent but not biophysics and biochemistry. Most respondents’ (23/56, 41.1%) descriptions of their interventions in clinical situations aligned with Akinsanya’s Bionursing Model level two (task specific) and none at task level four (personal and professional development). The mismatch between self-reported adequate knowledge and a task approach to practice may be ameliorated by a practice model to guide an undergraduate biosciences curriculum.

Key words: Bioscience, nursing, bionursing model, student nurse.

African Journal of Nursing and Midwifery ISSN: 2198-4638 Vol. 4 (3), pp. 613-618, April, 2016. © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Mother-to-child transmission prevention on pregnant women living with human immuno-deficiency virus (HIV) infection

Huosman D. Atiku*, Mohammed G. Musa and Dansuki Gregory Salmani 

Department of Nursing Science, University of Maiduguri, Borno State, Nigeria.

E-mail: [email protected]

Accepted 10 March, 2016

Abstract

Pregnant women living with human immuno-deficiency virus (HIV) infection are at risk of transmitting HIV to their babies. Most of this transmission occurs during pregnancy, labour and delivery and during breast feeding. The nurse/midwife as a change agent has an important role to play in ensuring prevention of mother to child transmission. Effective and efficient performance of this role by nurses is predicated on their adequate knowledge, attitude and practices. This study assessed the knowledge, attitude and practice of nurses in State Specialist Hospital Maiduguri towards the prevention of mother-to-child-transmission (PMTCT) of HIV. This is a descriptive cross sectional survey. A total sample of 50 nurses participated in the study and data was collected through a self-developed and validated questionnaire. Analysis was done manually; descriptive statistics of frequency count and percentages was used to answer research questions. The mean age of respondents was 40 ± 6.2 years. Many of the nurses had multiple sources of information on PMTCT; unfortunately multiple sources of information did not translate significantly to improved knowledge of the participants as shown by their low knowledge on PMTCT of HIV (65.7%). The study further reveals a general negativism in the attitudes (41.8%) of respondents towards prevention of mother to child transmission of HIV. Greater percentage of the respondents showed a discriminatory attitude towards pregnant women living with HIV/AIDS. The practice of PMTCT was generally very low (56.9%). This study demonstrates that nurses in State Specialist Hospital Maiduguri are inadequately informed on practical issues in the prevention of MTCT of HIV. They are therefore handicapped to play an effective role in this important aspect of prevention of HIV. Sensitization, capacity building and appropriate clinical settings remain indispensable assets for meaningful intervention results.

Key words: Prevention of mother-to-child-transmission (PMTCT), knowledge, attitude, practice, Maiduguri.

African Journal of Nursing and Midwifery ISSN: 2198-4638 Vol. 4 (2), pp. 603-612, March, 2016.© International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Birth preparation practices and recognition of danger signs among pregnant women in Ethiopia

Berhanu D. Isaac¹*, Birtukan D. Dego² and Zeresnary R. Baruch² 

¹Harara Health Science College, Harrai Region, Ethiopia.

²Nursing Department, College of public Health and Medical Sciences, Jimma University, Ethiopia.

E-mail: [email protected]

Accepted 7 February, 2016

Abstract

Key elements of the birth plan package include recognition of danger signs. Although there are some studies on birth preparedness and complication readiness in Ethiopia; most of them studied women attending antenatal care. Moreover, there is no data on the eastern part of the country where the culture is more liberal and cash crop is the mainstay of the livelihood. This study explored the association between knowledge of obstetric danger signs and birth preparedness among pregnant women in rural communities. A cross sectional community based study was conducted in Dere Teyara District (Woreda) of Rural Harari Region in the Eastern Ethiopia from March to May, 2013. The sample size was determined using formula for estimation of single population proportion. A total of 436 pregnant women were selected using simple random sampling technique. A pre tested interviewer administered structured questionnaire was used to collect relevant data. The data were coded and entered into and analyzed using SPSS for windows version 20. Multivariable logistic regression analyses were used to isolated independent predictors of good birth preparedness. Out of 423 respondents, 42.8% (181/423) of the pregnant women had good birth preparedness. A total of 28.6, 28.6 and 40.9% had good knowledge on obstetrical danger sign during pregnancy, delivery and post-partum period, respectively. The main danger signs during pregnancy mentioned were vaginal bleeding (75.5%) and severe headache (68.8%), while severe vaginal bleeding (81.1%) and prolonged labor (39.2%) were mentioned to be danger signs during delivery. Severe vaginal bleeding (68.3%) and swollen hands/face during the postpartum period (44.7%) were stated to be danger signs in the post partum period. On multivariable logistic regression model, women who had literate husbands were 2.8 times more likely to have good preparedness (adjusted odds ratio (AOR)=2.83; 95% confidence interval (CI)=1.423, 5.655). Literate mothers were 2.46 times more likely to be birth prepared (AOR=2.46; 95% CI= 1.09, 5.57). Likewise, women who started the first antenatal visit before four months of pregnancy were 15.5 times more likely to have good birth preparedness (AOR=15.50; 95% CI=3.713, 64.67). It was also observed that, women who had two or more ANC visits were nearly twice as likely to have good birth preparedness (AOR=1.96; 95% CI=1.13, 3.41). Women with good knowledge on obstetric danger signs during pregnancy (AOR=2.517; 95% CI=1.39, 4.55) and postnatal period (AOR=2.245; 95% CI=1.26, 3.97) were also more likely to be birth prepared than those without this knowledge. Antenatal care attendance, knowledge about obstetric danger signs and literacy status of the woman and her husband were strong predictors of birth preparedness practices. The findings imply the need for behavior change communication on obstetric danger signs and the importance early initiation of ANC follow up, especially to illiterate women to reduce maternal mortality. 

Key word: Birth preparedness, complication readiness, birth.