African Journal of Nursing and Midwifery

African Journal of Nursing and Midwifery ISSN 2198-4638 Vol. 2 (6), pp. 282-289, August, 2015. © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Mothers' awareness of their children's needs during illness at Al-Mosheir hospital in Sakaka city, Saudi Arabia

*¹Mohamoud E. Alexandria, Yasser M. Idris², Mohammed Arafat² and Zaki J. Fathy¹

¹Department of Tropical Hygiene and Public Health, Sinai University, Cairo, Egypt.

²Department of Pediatric Nursing, Al-Azhar University, Cairo, Egypt.

*Corresponding Author. E-mail: [email protected]

Accepted 23 July, 2015

Abstract

A large number of children suffering from pneumonia fail to reach health facilities well in the appropriate time because their mothers fail to recognize seriousness of their illness. Early recognition of symptoms of pneumonia by mothers and their participation in effective case management of pneumonia may reduce childhood mortality. This study assesses mothers' learning needs regarding pneumonia among children less than five years. A descriptive study were conducted on 160 mothers with their children under five years of age attending Al-Mosheir hospital in Sakaka city, Saudi Arabia. Data was collected using interview questionnaire covering Sociodemographic criteria of the mothers and multiple questions that cover mothers knowledge and perception about pneumonia. It was found that more than half (51.1%) of mothers who had children suffer from pneumonia their age were between 20-29 years. 75% of mothers have good level of knowledge and (94.1%) of their children have got pneumonia, as well as (64.3%) of mothers have fair level of perception and (97.1%) of their children have got pneumonia. There was a significant association between level of mothers' knowledge, perception and occurrence of pneumonia among their children this study concluded that mothers have good knowledge and fair perception regarding pneumonia among their children attending hospital. In spite of this, the recurrence of pneumonia among children was noticeable especially with young age mothers.

Keywords: Pneumonia, mother's learning needs, Saudi Arabia.

African Journal of Nursing and Midwifery ISSN 2198-4638 Vol. 2 (6), pp. 187-193, June, 2015. © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

The prevalence of pregnancy-specific anxiety across the three trimesters of pregnancy, postnatal period and its relationship with labour outcomes

*¹Rakesh Madhuri, Nita Jinnah², Muhammed Abdullah and Mukesh Mistry²

¹Department of Maternal and Child Health Nursing, School of Nursing, University of Mumbai, Mumbai, India.

²Department of Maternal and Child Health Nursing College of Nursing, University of Delhi, New Delhi, India.

E-mail: [email protected]

Accepted 18 May, 2015

Abstract

Pregnancy-specific anxiety is a key predictor of unfavorable labour outcomes; very few studies have explored pregnancy-specific anxiety as opposed to general anxiety. To determine the prevalence of pregnancy-specific anxiety across the three trimesters of pregnancy and postnatal period and to relate anxiety with labour outcomes. With ethical approval, a prospective cohort study was conducted among 500 low risk pregnant women of 18-35 years, in Kerala-India from 2004 - 2005. Anxiety measured using State Trait Anxiety Inventory and Pregnancy-Specific Anxiety Inventory and labour outcomes noted. A U-pattern display of pregnancy specific anxiety was reported across trimesters of pregnancy with highest anxiety among nulliparous childbearing women (M=134.40). Unfavorable labour outcomes such as prolonged labour, preterm labour, low birth weight and unplanned caesarean sections were associated with high pregnancy - specific anxiety. The findings suggest that pregnancy anxiety is a core predictor of many adverse labour outcomes. A routine screening of pregnancy anxiety needs to be integrated into prenatal care. Specific interventions to minimize adverse labour outcomes could be a future research area.

Keywords: Prenatal care; anxiety; depression; pregnancy outcome; pregnancy anxiety

African Journal of Nursing and Midwifery ISSN 2198-4638 Vol. 2 (6), pp. 326-337, August, 2015. © International Scholars Journals

Review

A systematic review of intervention programmes designed for the prevention of teenage pregnancy at the community, national or international levels

*Hendrik C. Hom, Jean Beyers Slabbert and Johann B. M

Department of Nursing Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Stellenbosch University, Stellenbosch, South Africa.

*Corresponding author’s E-mail: [email protected]

Accepted 16 July, 2015

Abstract

The review was aimed at carrying out a systematic review of intervention programmes that have been designed and implemented for the prevention of teenage pregnancy at either community, national or international levels. The review procedure was guided by the protocol described by the Centre for Review Dissemination. It was initiated by conducting a literature search for relevant papers that focussed on teenage pregnancy prevention. After the elimination of random and unrelated results, selected abstracts were downloaded and initially screened for inclusion or exclusion criteria in the study. From the preliminary screening based on the abstract, a total of 35 papers were provisionally selected. After further screening, a total of 20 articles and reports that meet the inclusion criteria were selected and analysed further. For each of the qualifying studies, information that relates to the demographics of the teenage participants, description of the programme, and the level of success of the intervention were extracted. The major stakeholders of the 20 published national and international intervention programmes were governments, NGOs, academics/educators, community, health workers, youth workers and parents. In all the studies, the etiology for the intervention were poverty, poor sex and relationship education, poor sexual health services, substance abuse, crime, poor family relations, gender inequities and school dropout. With the exception of two of the reports, all the interventions were considered successful. All interventions revealed the prevention level to be secondary while 13 of the intervention programmes used the top-bottom approach.Due to the negative, long-term consequences of teenage pregnancy and childbirths, the prevention of unplanned teenage pregnancy and childbirths is a vital contribution to the overall aim of enhancing teenagers’ reproductive health and fulfilment of potentials.

Keywords: Intervention programmes, prevention, teenage pregnancy, teenage childbearing.

African Journal of Nursing and Midwifery ISSN 2198-4638 Vol. 2 (7), pp. 419-424, September, 2015. © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Papers

The effects of the body mass index of women before pregnancy and gestational weight gain on newborn in Taiwan

*Yao G. Wang, Shang Zhu Teng, Qain X. I and Mao B. zhao

Department of Midwifery, Faculty of Health Sciences, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China.

*Corresponding author. E-mail: [email protected]

Accepted 19 August, 2015

Abstract

The aim of this retrospective study was to explore the effects of pre-pregnancy body mass index and gestational weight gain on neonatal birth weight in Taiwan. Study subjects included two hundred and sixty three women who delivered their babies at two local hospitals in southern Taiwan. Initial data included maternity records on age, parity, socio -economic status, body mass index (BMI), pregnancy weight gain, neonatal gender, and neonatal birth weight. The mean age of 263 women was 29.99 years (range 19 - 42) . The mean BMI was 21.19 kg/m² (range 16.22 - 32.05), and the mean pregnancy weight gain was 13.98 kg (range 3 - 33.5). The mean neonatal birth weight was 3192.57 gm (range 2120 - 4390). Mothers whose BMI was 24 - 27 had significantly higher neonatal birth weight than those mothers with a BMI > 27 and < 18.5) (F = 5.816, p = 0.001). After dividing the weight gain during pregnancy into four groups based on the recommendation of the Department of Health in Taiwan, our results show differences between maternal weight gain and neonatal body weight (F = 9.49, p < 0.001). Pregnant women with a weight gain less than 10 kg resulted in deliveries of neonates with lower birth weight (113.94, 237.62 and 332.58 gm) than those mothers who gained 10 - 14, 14 – 16 kg, and more than 16kg. Multiple regression models control for other maternal and neonatal characteristics were able to document, weight gain as being more strongly associated with neonatal birth weight than pre-pregnancy body mass index. Neonatal birth weight was not correlated with maternal working status, socio-economical status and was not differentiated between primipara and multipara status. Conclusively, pre-pregnancy BMI and prenatal weight gain are related to neonatal birth weight. These results suggest that the pre-pregnancy BMI and prenatal weight gain should be among the most important concerns for providers offering prenatal services. Hopefully these findings will serve as a useful reference for prenatal nurses and will reinforce health insurance departments’ efforts to ensure quality prenatal care.

Key words: Body mass index, pregnancy weight gain, neonatal birth weight.