The Baby Care Scale: A Psychometric Study With Fathers During Pregnancy and the Postpartum Period

The Baby Care Scale (BCS) was designed to assess the involvement of father in infant care during pregnancy and the postpartum period. This study aimed to examine the psychometric characteristics of the BCS – antenatal (BCS-AN) and BCS – postnatal (BCS-PN) versions. A sample of 100 primiparous fathers completed the BCS-AN and/or the BCS-PN and self-reported the measures of anxiety and depressive symptoms and of father–infant emotional involvement during pregnancy and the postpartum period, respectively. Good internal consistency was found for both the BCS-AN and the BCS-PN. A two-factor model was found for both versions of the instrument: (1) household tasks and (2) infant care tasks. The BCS-AN and BCS-PN subscales revealed good internal consistency. Higher scores on the BCS-AN predicted higher scores on the BCS-PN. Significant associations were found among the BCS (BCS-AN and BCS-PN), depressive and anxiety symptoms, and father–infant emotional involvement, revealing good criterion validity. This study suggested that both the BCS-AN and the BCS-PN are reliable multidimensional self-report measures that assess the involvement of father in infant care during pregnancy and the postpartum period.

OVERVIEW OF IMMEDIATE NEW-BORN CHECK-UP

There's proof from maternity hospital-based settings in developing countries that newborn resuscitation education of the staff diminishes new-born deaths from inborn associated events, such as neonatal asphyxia (by 30%), with potential saving 93,700 neonates globally per year by investigating missed attendance of birth clinics or maternity hospitals, together with (up to 192,000) new-born at 90% scope, as it was considering the impact on intrapartum-related neonatal passings. In an arrangement to realize a higher reduction in intrapartum-related newborn passing's, preterm delivery and intrapartum death, a compelling obstetric plan is considered as the most vital intercession and this ought to be complemented with prompt infant care and resuscitation. There is expanding venture in obstetric care, yet to be coordinated by viable execution and supportability of quick infant care and essential newborn resuscitation. Within the private settings, prompt basic care at birth is essential and accessible, even though evaluated by specialists to be of low effects (10% on before delivery and on stillbirths associated with newborn passings). private hospital settingsbased newborn revival may minimise all the reasons of newborn and before delivery deaths, but available information is critical and controversial to directly gauge an effect size from the prove. Future researches ought to endeavour to address impediments distinguished here especially in terms of intercession definitions, plan, comparative control group, outcome identification and subdivision of reasons of stillbirths and neonatal passings. Whereas the available types of evidence for incitement at delivery and neonatal revival are low, mostly since they are regarded as a plan of care, there is adequate and consistent prove of effect. However, such fundamental care stays irregular particularly for the global 60 million home births. Disentangled preparing plan, and effective protocol, low price hardware are presently ac

Renewed Attention Needed for Prevention of Sudden Unexpected Death in Infancy in the Netherlands

Background: The incidence of sudden unexpected death in infancy (SUDI), which includes sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS), has declined in developed countries since the 1980s, including the Netherlands. To identify improvement opportunities in SUDI prevention, we monitored the adherence of parents to the prevention advice on infant care habits over the past 20 years, especially in relation to the SUDI incidence over time. Potential changes in parental adherence between the latest surveys are of specific interest, as these indicate where current focus is needed.Methods: Description of the prevalence of infant care factors related to the risk of SUDI, assessed from five Dutch national surveys from 1999 to 2017 among parents of infants under 12 months, and analysis of the potential differences in these prevalences between the two latest surveys in 2010/11 and 2017 with a z-test.Results: Supine sleeping position decreased from the highest prevalence of 92% in 2010/11, to 83% in 2017. Sleep sack use has increased to 55%, the highest prevalence up to now. Avoiding a duvet has remained reasonably stable since 2002/03 and now 95% of parents do not use a duvet. The prevalence of room-sharing, without sharing the bed, increased from 14% in 1999 to the highest prevalence in 2017 (31%). However, also bed-sharing almost doubled from 5.6% in 2010/11 to 10% in 2017. Breastfeeding decreased between 1999 and 2010/11, but increased from 34% in 2010/11 to 42% in 2017. An increased prevalence of mothers who abstained from smoking during pregnancy, as well as both parents not smoking, was observed, although mostly higher educated parents showed this beneficial behavior.Discussion and Conclusion: Much has already been achieved first by decreasing prone sleeping since the 80's, and subsequently promoting supine as the safest sleep position. The decrease in duvet use and smoking, and an increase in breastfeeding have also had impact. Indications of a recent decreased prevalence of the supine sleeping position and higher prevalence of bed-sharing might relate to the slightly increasing SUDI incidence in the Netherlands. Renewed attention for prevention of SUDI and specific advice targeting high-risk groups is needed. Modern, picture driven information via internet is recommended.

Maternal Informal Learning Experiences that Shape Parenting Practices

Objective: Current understanding of the linkage between maternal education and parenting practices has largely been informed using a narrow definition of educational attainment—the highest level of education an individual has completed. However, the proximal processes that shape parenting, including informal learning experiences, are also important to understand. Less is known about the informal learning experiences that shape parenting decisions and practices. To this end, we conducted a qualitative inquiry about the informal learning experiences of mothers of children ages 3–4 years with the specific goal of understanding how maternal informal learning experiences shape parenting decisions and practices. Design: We conducted interviews with 53 mothers from across the United States who had previously participated in a randomized controlled trial (RCT) of an intervention targeting infant care practices. We recruited a purposive sample of mothers chosen to maximize diversity across educational attainment and adherence to infant care practices targeted in the RCT. Using a grounded theory approach, data were analyzed using an iterative process for organizing codes and themes that mothers identified as informal learning experiences. Results: We identified seven themes representing distinct types of maternal informal learning experiences that impact parenting practices, including: (1) experiential learning during childhood; (2) experiential learning during adulthood; (3) interpersonal interactions including via social media; (4) experiences with non-interactive media sources; (5) informal trainings; (6) beliefs; and (7) current circumstances. Conclusions: Multiple informal learning experiences inform the parenting decisions and practices of mothers with varying levels of formal educational attainment.

“Agents of Change” in Maternal and Infant Care: Matronas, Parteras, and Public Health in Bolivia, 1950s–1970s

In the 1950s and 1960s young women could study to become obstetric midwives (matronas) at two Bolivian universities. After the 1952 Bolivian Revolution, public health officials saw matronas' work in mining areas and rural public health programs as part of the government's effort to assimilate Indigenous Bolivians into a mestizo national culture, by reforming Indigenous mothers and eliminating demand for Andean midwives (parteras). By the 1970s, a military dictatorship had replaced the revolutionary government, and nursing schools had replaced midwifery programs. The last cohort of matronas now found jobs in public health offering trainings to parteras. Based on oral histories of matronas and parteras, this article examines these women's personal experiences with midwifery and public health. It argues that matronas and parteras shaped public maternal and infant care programs and contributed to the persistence of multiple forms of childbirth assistance in Bolivia.