Higher prevalence of childbirth related fear in foreign born pregnant women – Findings from a community sample in Sweden

Objective The aim of this study was to assess whether social vulnerability among foreign-born pregnant women living with HIV is associated with maternal viremia during pregnancy. Study Design This retrospective cohort study included all foreign-born pregnant women living with HIV who received prenatal care in a multidisciplinary prenatal clinic between 2009 and 2018. A licensed clinical social worker evaluated all women and kept detailed clinical records on immigration status and social support. Social vulnerability was defined as both living in the United States for less than 5 years and reporting no family or friends for support. The primary outcome was evidence of viral non-suppression after achievement of initial suppression. Secondary outcomes were the proportion of women who required > 12 weeks after starting antiretroviral therapy to achieve viral suppression, median time to first viral suppression (in weeks) after initiation of antiretroviral therapy, and the proportion who missed ≥ 5 doses of antiretroviral therapy. Bivariable analyses were performed. Results A total of 111 foreign-born women were eligible for analysis, of whom 25 (23%) were classified as socially vulnerable. Social and clinical characteristics of women diverged by social vulnerability categorization but no differences reached statistical significance. On bivariable analysis, socially-vulnerable women were at increased risk for needing > 12 weeks to achieve viral suppression (relative risk: 1.78, 95% confidence interval: 1.18–2.67), though there was no association with missing ≥ 5 doses of antiretroviral therapy or median time to viral suppression after initiation of antiretroviral therapy. Conclusion Among foreign-born, pregnant women living with HIV, markers of virologic control during pregnancy were noted to be worse among socially-vulnerable women. Insofar as maternal viremia is the predominant driver of perinatal transmission, closer clinical surveillance and support may be indicated in this population. Key Points

Download Full-text

Validation of the self-compassion scale in a community sample of Portuguese pregnant women

European Psychiatry ◽

10.1016/j.eurpsy.2016.01.598 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 33 (S1) ◽

pp. s238-s238 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

E. Bento ◽

S. Xavier ◽

J. Azevedo ◽

M. Marques ◽

V. Freitas ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Pregnant Women ◽

Factor Model ◽

Community Sample ◽

Perinatal Period ◽

The Self ◽

Common Humanity ◽

Internal Reliability ◽

Portuguese Version ◽

Self Compassion ◽

Compassion Scale

IntroductionIn recent years, researchers and clinicians have shown an increasing interest in self-compassion. Indeed, several studies have suggested that self-compassion is a positive factor for mental and physical health. The Self-Compassion Scale (SCS; Neff, 2003) has been widely used to assess six dimensions of self-compassion (self-kindness, self-judgment, common humanity, isolation, mindfulness and over-identification) among diverse populations. Recently, it has also been used in perinatal samples but its psychometric properties in pregnant women is still unexplored.ObjectiveThis study aims was to investigate the reliability and the validity of the SCS using Confirmatory Factor Analysis in a sample of Portuguese pregnant women.MethodsParticipants were 417 pregnant women with a mean age of 33 years old (SD = 4.74) in their second trimester of pregnancy (M = 17.26, SD = 4.78, weeks of gestation). Participants completed the Portuguese version of the SCS while waiting for the routine prenatal consultation in Maternity Hospital, Portugal.ResultsA was tested and results showed that the six-factor model had a good fit to the data (TLI = 0.93, CFI = 0.94, RMSEA = 0.06). The total SCS presented a good internal reliability (α = 0.91) and their subscales showed Cronbach's alphas ranging between adequate (α = 0.77) and good (α = 0.87).ConclusionsOverall, these findings suggest that the Portuguese version of the SCS is a valid and reliable measure to assess self-compassion among pregnant women. Thus, SCS could be useful in diverse settings in the perinatal period.Disclosure of interestThe authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.

Download Full-text

Symptoms of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder in a Community Sample of Low-Income Pregnant Women

American Journal of Psychiatry ◽

10.1176/ajp.2006.163.5.881 ◽

2006 ◽

Vol 163 (5) ◽

pp. 881-884 ◽

Cited By ~ 32

Author(s):

Megan V. Smith ◽

Karalee Poschman ◽

Mary A. Cavaleri ◽

Heather B. Howell ◽

Kimberly A. Yonkers

Keyword(s):

Posttraumatic Stress Disorder ◽

Pregnant Women ◽

Posttraumatic Stress ◽

Low Income ◽

Stress Disorder ◽

Community Sample

Download Full-text

483: Social vulnerability among foreign-born pregnant women and maternal virologic control of HIV

American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology ◽

10.1016/j.ajog.2019.11.499 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 222 (1) ◽

pp. S316

Author(s):

Ashish Premkumar ◽

Lynn M. Yee ◽

Lia R. Benes ◽

Emily S. Miller

Keyword(s):

Pregnant Women ◽

Social Vulnerability ◽

Foreign Born ◽

Virologic Control

Download Full-text

Validation of the insomnia assessment scale – adapted in a community sample of portuguese pregnant women

European Psychiatry ◽

10.1016/j.eurpsy.2016.01.705 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 33 (S1) ◽

pp. s269-s269

Author(s):

M. Marques ◽

A.T. Pereira ◽

J. Azevedo ◽

S. Xavier ◽

E. Bento ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Pregnant Women ◽

Community Sample ◽

Reliability And Validity ◽

Principal Component ◽

Perinatal Period ◽

Assessment Scale ◽

Good Reliability ◽

Competing Interest ◽

Insomnia Symptoms ◽

Sleep Difficulties

IntroductionPregnancy is characterized by important changes in sleep and some of them (as insomnia) predict negative outcomes, like depression, through all the perinatal period. There are few Portuguese adapted and validated instruments assessing insomnia in pregnancy.ObjectiveTo validate the Insomnia Assessment Scale in a sample of Portuguese pregnant women.Methods419 pregnant women (mean age: 32.51 ± 4.759; weeks of gestation: 17.32 ± 4.803) answered the Insomnia Assessment Scale (IAS), constructed according to the DSM-V and the ICSD-3 criteria and presenting fourteen items: three evaluating insomnia symptoms (1 to 3); one assessing if sleep difficulties were present although there were adequate conditions to sleep (item 4); one assessing if sleep difficulties occurred three times/week (item 5); one evaluating if sleep was not restorative (item 6); three assessing daily impairment associated to insomnia symptoms (7 to 9); two assessing the use of prescribed and/or homemade medication (10 and 11); three excluding that sleep difficulties were not due to another sleep disorder, substance use, a physical condition or a mental disorder) (12 to 14).ResultsThe IAS Kuder-Richardson alpha was very good (α=0.85) and none of the items increased the alpha if removed. A principal component analysis revealed a three factors solution, explaining a variance/EV of 63,74%: F1/Insomnia symptoms (items 1 to 6) (EV 36.02%; α=0.81); F2/Daily impairment associated to insomnia symptoms (items 7 to 9) (EV 18.67%; α=0.79); F3/Differential diagnosis (items 12 to 14) (EV 8.38%; α=0.81).ConclusionsThe IAS adapted for Portuguese pregnant women presented good reliability and validity.Disclosure of interestThe authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.

Download Full-text

Validation of the Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scale–DASS-21 in a community sample of Portuguese pregnant women

European Psychiatry ◽

10.1016/j.eurpsy.2016.01.600 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 33 (S1) ◽

pp. s239-s239 ◽

Cited By ~ 6

Author(s):

S. Xavier ◽

E. Bento ◽

J. Azevedo ◽

M. Marques ◽

M.J. Soares ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Psychological Distress ◽

Pregnant Women ◽

Community Sample ◽

Perinatal Period ◽

Good Reliability ◽

Stress Scale ◽

Two Factors ◽

Competing Interest ◽

Pearson Correlations ◽

Postpartum Depression Screening Scale

IntroductionThe Depressive Anxiety and Stress Scale (DASS-21; Antony et al., 1998) had been widely used to measure psychological distress among clinical and non-clinical populations, including in Portugal (Pais-Ribeiro et al., 2004). Although DASS-21 has been considered useful to evaluate psychological distress in the perinatal period, studies reporting on its psychometrics are scarce (Brunton et al., 2015).ObjectiveTo investigate the psychometric properties of the DASS-21 in a Portuguese sample of pregnant women.MethodsFour hundred and twenty-seven pregnant women (mean age: 32.56 ± 4.785 years) in their second trimester of pregnancy (17.34 ± 4.790 weeks of gestation) completed the Portuguese versions of DASS-21 and of Postpartum Depression Screening Scale (PDSS-24; Pereira et al., 2013).ResultsThe DASS-21 Cronbach's alpha was “very good” (a = 0.92). Following the Kaiser and the Cattel Scree Plot criteria, two factorial structures were explored. Three factors structure (explained variance/EV = 57.18%): F1-stress (included 8 items; α = 0.89); F2-Anxiety (7 items; α = 0.79); F3-Depression (6 items; α = 0.82). In the two factors structure (EV = 50.96), the Stress and Anxiety items load in the same factor (F1: 15 items; α = 0.91) and the F2 is composed of the Depression items (F2: 6 items; α = 0.82). Pearson correlations between DASS-21 total and dimensional scores and the PDSS-24 scores were all significant, positive and moderate to high (@.50).ConclusionsThe Portuguese version of DASS-21 has good reliability, construct and concurrent validity when used with pregnant women. Its factorial structure significantly overlaps with the original, with only one item loading in another factor. DASS-21 could be very useful in diverse settings in the perinatal period.Disclosure of interestThe authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.

Download Full-text

Dietary intake in pregnant women in a Spanish Mediterranean area: as good as it is supposed to be?

Public Health Nutrition ◽

10.1017/s1368980012003643 ◽

2012 ◽

Vol 16 (8) ◽

pp. 1379-1389 ◽

Cited By ~ 17

Author(s):

Clara L Rodríguez-Bernal ◽

Rosa Ramón ◽

Joan Quiles ◽

Mario Murcia ◽

Eva M Navarrete-Muñoz ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Fatty Acids ◽

Dietary Intake ◽

Pregnant Women ◽

Vegetable Intake ◽

First Trimester ◽

Dietary Guidelines ◽

Institute Of Medicine ◽

Foreign Born ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Total Fat

AbstractObjectiveTo assess food and nutrient intakes and compliance with nutritional recommendations in pregnant women according to selected sociodemographic characteristics.DesignCross-sectional study based on data from the INMA-Valencia cohort (Spain), which recruited pregnant women between 2004 and 2005. Information on maternal sociodemographics and anthropometry was collected. Dietary intake was assessed through an FFQ. Intakes of foods were compared with Spanish food-based dietary guidelines. Intake inadequacy for nutrients was assessed using the Dietary Reference Intakes of the US Institute of Medicine.SettingValencia, Spain.SubjectsWe studied 822 pregnant women who had information on dietary intake during their first trimester of pregnancy.ResultsMore than 50 % of pregnant women did not meet the guidelines for cereals and legumes; reported intakes of carbohydrates, n-3 and n-6 fatty acids were below recommendations and exceeded the total fat intake according to dietary references. Dietary inadequacy for folate, Fe and vitamin E ranged from 99 % to 68 %. Vegetable intake was related to age only. Younger and less educated women showed lower intakes of protein and n-3 fatty acids and higher intakes of trans-fatty acids as well as greater inadequacy for micronutrients. Spanish women reported lower intakes of fruit and carbohydrates and higher intakes of protein, total fat, SFA, MUFA and n-3 fatty acids compared with their foreign-born counterparts.ConclusionsWomen in the studied area have inadequate intakes of several nutrients relevant during pregnancy. Age, education and country of origin are factors significantly related to dietary intake and adequacy.

Download Full-text