Impact of individual and neighborhood social capital on the physical and mental health of pregnant women: the Japan Environment and Children’s Study (JECS)

Abstract Background Quality of life (QoL) is a multidimensional concept that is affected by various factors. According to the literature, social capital is one of the key determinants of QoL that improves the living conditions of the entire community. This study aimed to investigate the association between social capital and QoL in pregnant women. Methods This cross-sectional study included 240 pregnant women with a mean age of 27.98 years who were referred to healthcare centers in Qazvin, Iran. A two-stage random sampling method was used to select the health centers and participants. Social capital, QoL, demographic and obstetric characteristics were assessed. Results The mean scores of social capital, physical and mental dimensions of quality of life were 67.43, 70.2 and 71.88 respectively. All dimensions of social capital except for family and friends’ connection and tolerance of diversity had positive significant correlations with the physical and mental health dimensions of quality of life (r = 0.17 to 0.28 p < 0.05). A univariate regression model revealed that social capital had a significant association with both the physical health (B = 0.40, 95% CI: 0.19–0.61, p < 0.001) and mental health (B = 0 .44, 95% CI: 0.18–0.58, p < 0.001) dimensions of pregnant women’s quality of life. In the adjusted model, each unit increase of social capital increased pregnant women’s QoL in both the physical health and mental health dimensions. Conclusion Social capital has a significant association with women’s QoL during pregnancy. Therefore, QoL during pregnancy could be improved by considering physical, psychological and social components of their healthcare.

Download Full-text

The hidden burden of adolescent pregnancies in rural Sri Lanka; findings of the Rajarata Pregnancy Cohort

BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth ◽

10.1186/s12884-021-03977-1 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 21 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Thilini Chanchala Agampodi ◽

Nuwan Darshana Wickramasinghe ◽

Hemali Gayathri Jayakodi ◽

Gayani Shashikala Amarasinghe ◽

Janith Niwanthaka Warnasekara ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Sri Lanka ◽

Pregnant Women ◽

Adolescent Mothers ◽

Depression Scale ◽

Ultra Sound ◽

Physical And Mental Health ◽

Pregnancy Cohort ◽

Contraceptive Usage ◽

Adolescent Pregnancies

Abstract Background Adolescent fertility is a main indicator of the Sustainable Developmental Goal (SGD) three. Although Sri Lanka is exemplary in maternal health, the utilization of Sexual and Reproductive Health services (SRH) by adolescents is less documented. We describe the hidden burden, associated biological and psychosocial factors and utilization patterns of pre-conceptional services among pregnant adolescents in rural Sri Lanka. Methods The study is based on the baseline assessment of the Rajarata Pregnancy Cohort (RaPCo) in Anuradhapura. Pregnant women newly registered from July to September 2019 were recruited to the study. The period of gestation was confirmed during the second follow-up visit (around 25–28 weeks of gestation) using ultra sound scan data. A history, clinical examination, anthropometric measurements, blood investigations were conducted. Mental health status was assessed using the Edinburgh Postpartum Depression Scale (EPDS). Results Baseline data on gestation was completed by 3,367 pregnant women. Of them, 254 (7.5%) were adolescent pregnancies. Among the primigravida mothers (n = 1037), 22.4% (n = 233) were adolescent pregnancies. Maternal and paternal low education level, being unmarried, and less time since marriage were statistically significant factors associated with adolescent pregnancies (p < 0.05). Contraceptive usage before pregnancy, utilization of pre-conceptional health care services, planning pregnancy and consuming folic acid was significantly low among adolescents (p < 0.001). They also had low body mass index (p < 0.001) and low hemoglobin levels (p = 0.03). Adolescent mothers were less happy of being pregnant (p = 0.006) and had significantly higher levels of anxiety (p = 0.009). Conclusion One fifth of women in their first pregnancy in this study population are adolescents. Nulli-parous adolescents exert poor social stability and compromised physical and mental health effects. The underutilization and/or unavailability of SRH services is clearly associated with adolescent pregnancies.

Download Full-text

Perceptions, Uses of, and Interests in Complementary Health Care Approaches in Depressed Pregnant Women

Journal of Evidence-Based Complementary & Alternative Medicine ◽

10.1177/2156587216641829 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 22 (1) ◽

pp. 81-95 ◽

Cited By ~ 10

Author(s):

Jennifer Matthews ◽

Jennifer L. Huberty ◽

Jenn A. Leiferman ◽

Darya McClain ◽

Linda K. Larkey

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Pregnant Women ◽

Lifestyle Behaviors ◽

Health And Wellness ◽

Physical And Mental Health ◽

Unhealthy Lifestyle ◽

Complementary Health Approaches ◽

Increased Risk ◽

Women’S Perceptions ◽

Study Participants

Depression affects up to 23% of pregnant women and is associated with adverse physical/mental health outcomes for both the mother and baby. Depressed pregnant women may be more likely to engage in unhealthy lifestyle behaviors that contribute to an increased risk for chronic disease. Little is known regarding depressed pregnant women’s perceptions, uses of, and interests in complementary health approaches. Study participants (mean age 28.7 ± 6.8; n = 1032) included pregnant women ≥8 weeks gestation who responded to a survey assessing physical and mental health and wellness practices. Of those completing the survey, depressed pregnant women (n = 272) had significantly higher levels of anxiety ( P < .001) and stress ( P < .001) and had poorer sleep quality ( P < .001), mindfulness ( P < .001), and social support ( P < .001) compared to nondepressed pregnant women (n = 760). A majority (84%) of depressed pregnant women would consider using a complementary health approach for weight and/or stress management during pregnancy, and more than 50% were interested in yoga.

Download Full-text

Does social capital interact with economic hardships in influencing older adults’ health? A study from China

International Journal for Equity in Health ◽

10.1186/s12939-021-01542-y ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 20 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Lijuan Gu ◽

Yang Cheng ◽

David R. Phillips ◽

Mark Rosenberg ◽

Linsheng Yang ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Older Adults ◽

Social Capital ◽

Older People ◽

Social Participation ◽

Interaction Effect ◽

Economic Capital ◽

Physical And Mental Health ◽

Neighborhood Cohesion ◽

Reported Health

Abstract Background The importance of social and economic capital as predictors of health is widely documented, yet the complexity of interactions between them and effects on older people’s health is still unclear. Combining the material and psychosocial explanations of health, this study explores the potential interactions between social and economic capital in influencing older adults’ health in urban and rural China. Methods Using data from the China Family Panel Survey, physical and mental health in 2018 were regressed on social and economic capital indicators in 2016, controlling for sociodemographic characteristics of 3535 respondents aged 65 and older. Rothman’s synergy index was calculated to investigate potential interaction effects. Results Economic hardships were significantly related to both self-reported health and mental health. Neighborhood cohesion and social participation were significantly associated with mental health for all, bonding trust was significantly associated with mental health for urban older people. We found no significant associations between social capital components and self-reported health. There was an interaction effect between low neighborhood cohesion and economic hardships, and between low social participation and economic hardships, creating an increased burden of poor mental health. The interaction effect between low bonding trust and economic hardships on mental health was apparent only among urban older people. Conclusions Geographical settings are important factors in the complexity between social and economic capital in affecting older health. Intervention efforts directed towards reducing simultaneously multiple dimensions of deprivation, such as poverty, social exclusion, social isolation, could be helpful in improving older people’s health. In materially deprived places, policies to promote health equity by improving social capital but without eliminating poverty may be less effective.

Download Full-text

The Hidden Burden of Adolescent Pregnancies in Rural Sri Lanka; Findings of The Rajarata Pregnancy Cohort

10.21203/rs.3.rs-154478/v1 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Thilini Chanchala Agampodi ◽

Nuwan Darshana Wickramasinghe ◽

Hemali Gayathri Jayakodi ◽

Gayani Shashikala Amarasinghe ◽

Janith Niwanthaka Warnasekara ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Sri Lanka ◽

Pregnant Women ◽

Adolescent Mothers ◽

Depression Scale ◽

Ultra Sound ◽

Physical And Mental Health ◽

Pregnancy Cohort ◽

Contraceptive Usage ◽

Adolescent Pregnancies

Abstract BackgroundAdolescent fertility is a main indicator of the Sustainable Developmental Goal (SGD) three. Although Sri Lanka is exemplary in maternal health the utilization of Sexual and Reproductive Health services (SRH) by adolescents is less documented. We describe the hidden burden, associated biological and psychosocial factors and utilization patterns of pre-conceptional services among pregnant adolescents in rural Sri Lanka. MethodsThe study is based on the baseline assessment of the Rajarata Pregnancy Cohort (RaPCo) in Anuradhapura. Pregnant women newly registered from July to September 2019 were recruited to the study. The period of gestation was confirmed during the second follow-up visit (around 25-28 weeks of gestation) using ultra sound scan data. A history, clinical examination, anthropometric measurements, blood investigations were conducted. Mental health status was assessed using the Edinburgh Postpartum Depression Scale (EPDS). ResultsBaseline data on gestation was completed by 3,367 pregnant women. Of them, 253 (7.5%) were adolescent pregnancies. Among the primiparous mothers (n=1037), 22.4% (n=232) were adolescent pregnancies. Maternal and paternal low education level, being unmarried, and less time since marriage were statistically significant factors associated with adolescent pregnancies (p<0.05). Contraceptive usage before pregnancy, utilization of pre-conceptional health care services, planning pregnancy and consuming folic acid was significantly low among adolescents (p<0.001). They also had low body mass index (p<0.001) and low hemoglobin levels (p<0.03). Adolescent mothers were less happy of being pregnant (p<0.006) and had significantly higher levels of anxiety (p<0.009).ConclusionOne fifth of women in their first pregnancy in this study population are adolescents. Primi-parous adolescents exert poor social stability and compromised physical and mental health effects. The underutilization and/or unavailability of SRH services is clearly associated with adolescent pregnancies.

Download Full-text

O5-5.3 Physical and mental health, social relationships, social capital, and happiness among Japanese older adults

Journal of Epidemiology & Community Health ◽

10.1136/jech.2011.142976b.60 ◽

2011 ◽

Vol 65 (Suppl 1) ◽

pp. A55-A55

Author(s):

H. Imai ◽

N. Kondo ◽

K. Kondo

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Older Adults ◽

Social Capital ◽

Social Relationships ◽

Physical And Mental Health ◽

Japanese Older Adults

Download Full-text

Pregnant women’s psychological state and influence factors: anxiety, and depression during COVID-19 outbreak

Journal of Perinatal Medicine ◽

10.1515/jpm-2020-0541 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 0 (0) ◽

Author(s):

Yuming Cao ◽

Juan Liu ◽

Yuanzhen Zhang ◽

Yating Li ◽

Zhenlie Chen ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Pregnant Women ◽

Influence Factors ◽

Psychological Status ◽

Psychological State ◽

The Internet ◽

Fetal Malformation ◽

Physical And Mental Health ◽

Factors Affecting ◽

Adverse Pregnancy

Abstract Objectives The outbreak of COVID-19 affects both physical and mental health of pregnant women. This study focuses on their psychological status, and analyzes the main factors affecting their emotions of pregnant women so as to provide guidance for psychological counseling and social intervention during epidemics. Methods Multiple researchers distributed a questionnaire online via the Internet. Pregnant women volunteered, and the questionnaire was automatically collected in the background. Results The 298 valid questionnaires recovered showed that 82 cases of pregnant women were in states of anxiety, accounting for 27.51%, of which 78.05% were mild (82 cases), 19.51% were moderate (16 cases), and 2.44% were severe (2 cases). Moreover, 31.21% of pregnant women were in states of depression (93 cases), of which 52.69% were mild (49 cases), 40.86% were moderate (38 cases), and 6.45% were severe (6 cases). The risk factors for states of anxiety or depression were fear of fetal malformation or genetic disease, history of adverse pregnancy, can’t do routine prenatal examination, and insufficient support and care from husbands and families. Besides, 16 cases had sought psychological help during the epidemic, among whom 62.50% (10 cases) experienced anxiety, 68.75% (11 cases) had depression. Conclusions During the outbreak of COVID-19, obstetricians may take use of the Internet, based on the advantages in epidemic prevention, controlling health education, and popularizing science. In addition, husbands and family members should provide greater care for pregnant women, to protect their mental health during public health incidents.

Download Full-text

Exercise during pregnancy: a comparative review of guidelines

Journal of Perinatal Medicine ◽

10.1515/jpm-2019-0419 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 48 (6) ◽

pp. 519-525

Author(s):

Ioannis Tsakiridis ◽

Dimitra Rafailia Bakaloudi ◽

Artemis Christina Oikonomidou ◽

Themistoklis Dagklis ◽

Michail Chourdakis

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Pregnant Woman ◽

Pregnant Women ◽

Physical Activities ◽

Physical And Mental Health ◽

Comparative Review ◽

Zealand College ◽

Exercise In Pregnancy ◽

Exercise During Pregnancy ◽

In Pregnancy

AbstractExercise during pregnancy may be beneficial provided that there are no contraindications. The aim of this study was to summarize and compare recommendations regarding exercise in pregnancy. Thus, a comparative descriptive review was conducted and included guidelines by the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, the Society of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists of Canada and the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists. All compared guidelines recommend that pregnant women without contraindications should undertake physical activities regularly, however, the type of workout performed should be adjusted based on the previous exercise experience and the physical condition of each pregnant woman. A variation among the reviewed guidelines was identified on appropriate and inappropriate activities and on indications to interrupt exercise. To summarize, the adoption of an international up-to-date consensus regarding appropriate exercise during pregnancy may be beneficial in ensuring the safety of the pregnant women while promoting their physical and mental health.

Download Full-text

The Effects of Yoga Exercise Intervention on Physical and Mental Health in Pregnant Women

Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise ◽

10.1249/01.mss.0000494299.99524.fe ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 46 ◽

pp. 375

Author(s):

City C. Hsieh ◽

Hsiao-Ling Huang ◽

Shu-Ching Tung ◽

Ling-Li Wang ◽

Chien-Ming Tsao

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Pregnant Women ◽

Exercise Intervention ◽

Physical And Mental Health

Download Full-text

Determinants of ETS exposure in a sample of Slovak pregnant women

Reviews on Environmental Health ◽

10.1515/reveh-2016-0029 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 32 (1-2) ◽

pp. 201-205 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Ľubica Argalášová ◽

Ľudmila Ševčíková ◽

Jana Jurkovičová ◽

Jana Babjaková ◽

Etela Janeková ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Pregnant Women ◽

Multivariate Analyses ◽

Short Form ◽

Total Sample ◽

Physical And Mental Health ◽

Medical Outcomes ◽

Important Argument ◽

Mental And Physical Health

Abstract Environmental tobacco smoke (ETS) is one of the greatest and the most frequent environmental toxic exposures presenting a high risk to children and to their mothers as well. The aim of the study was to find determinants of the household ETS in the sample of pregnant women living in the household with smokers and to assess their physical and mental health. The survey was distributed to women being seen for follow-up at the obstetric/gynecology departments in hospitals and at gynecological out-patient departments in Bratislava, Slovakia. The medical outcomes short form-12 (SF-12) was included to quantify the mental and physical health of mothers. From the total sample of 617 women, 35.5% (219) were pregnant, 88.6% of them (194) non-smokers, 27.8% (54) lived with a smoking partner, the average mental component summary (MCS) score was 50.8±9.1 and physical component summary (PCS) score was 41.6±10.3. The average age was 31.3±5.1 years. In the sample of 309 non-pregnant non-smoking mothers 23% (71) lived with a smoking partner; the average age was 31.7±4.8 years. The average PCS score was 47.8±8.7 and MCS score 49.1±9. Non-smoking, pregnant women living with a smoker have fewer years of education (p=0.0003) and lower MCS scores (48.50±9.8) (p=0.03). Non-smoking, non-pregnant women living with a smoker are older (p=0.0042), with lower income (p=0.0145), have fewer years of education (p=0.002) and lower PCS score (45±9.1) (p=0.0056). Multivariate analyses revealed the decrease of MCS score in pregnant women and the decrease of PCS score in non-pregnant women living with a smoker. Our results show that living with a smoker is independently associated with worse physical and mental health in a selected sample of Slovak women, which represents an important argument for intervention in families.

Download Full-text