Self-Perception of the Antecedents of Loneliness among New Mothers and Pregnant Women

2007 ◽  
Vol 100 (1) ◽  
pp. 231-243 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ami Rokach
Keyword(s):  
General Population ◽  
Pregnant Women ◽  
Intimate Relationships ◽  
First Year ◽  
Self Perception ◽  
New Mothers ◽  
Childbirth Experience ◽  
Social Marginality

This study examined the perceived causes of loneliness of pregnant women and mothers during the first year after childbirth experience. These were compared with the causes of loneliness of women in the general population. 91 pregnant women, 97 women during the first year following childbirth, and 208 women from the general population ( M age = 30.4, SD=10.4) answered a 29-item Loneliness Antecedents Questionnaire. In the questionnaire were 5 dimensions of sources of loneliness, namely, Personal Inadequacies, Developmental Deficits, Unfulfilling Intimate Relationships, Relocation/Significant Separation, and Social Marginality. Sources of loneliness were significantly different amongst the three groups. The differences were confined to the Personal Inadequacies, and the Relocation/Significant Separation subscales. In both, women from the general population had the highest mean subscale scores.

GIVING LIFE: LONELINESS, PREGNANCY AND MOTHERHOOD

2004 ◽  
Vol 32 (7) ◽  
pp. 691-702 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ami Rokach
Keyword(s):  
General Population ◽  
Pregnant Women ◽  
Emotional Distress ◽  
First Year ◽  
Childbirth Experience ◽  
Social Inadequacy ◽  
Item Questionnaire

This study examined the qualitative aspects of loneliness that pregnant women and mothers during the first year after childbirth experience. These were compared to the loneliness of women in the general population. Ninety-one pregnant women, 97 women during the first year following childbirth, and 208 women from the general population answered a 30-item questionnaire. The questionnaire comprised five qualitative dimensions of loneliness, namely Emotional distress, Social inadequacy and alienation, Growth and discovery, Interpersonal isolation, and Self-alienation. Although the literature indicates that pregnancy and motherhood are replete with loneliness, the present study found that those two groups had lower mean subscale scores than did women of the general population.

scholarly journals International survey on fear and childbirth experience in pregnancy and the postpartum period during the COVID-19 pandemic: study protocol

BMJ Open ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (8) ◽  
pp. e050132
Author(s):  
Kris Yuet-Wan Lok ◽  
Rachel Wai Tung Ko ◽  
Heidi Sze Lok Fan ◽  
Janet YH Wong ◽  
Edmond PH Choi ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Pregnant Women ◽  
Perinatal Care ◽  
Institutional Review Boards ◽  
New Mothers ◽  
Future Health ◽  
Pregnancy And Childbirth ◽  
Childbirth Experience ◽  
Institutional Review ◽  
The Face ◽  
Hospital Wards

IntroductionThe COVID-19 pandemic has caused unprecedented disruptions around the world. Adding to the existing stress surrounding pregnancy and childbirth, the threat of infection and social isolation policies may negatively impact pregnant women and new mothers. Literature on the effect of COVID-19 on fear during pregnancy and childbirth experience is limited. As the COVID-19 pandemic continues to affect the global population, it is important to understand how it has impacted pregnant women and new mothers’ experiences worldwide to inform perinatal care and interventions.Methods and analysisThis multicountry study involving China and Canada targets to recruit 1000 pregnant women and new mothers who gave birth since 2020 in each participating country. Participants will be recruited online in the local language through mothers’ groups, antenatal and postnatal clinics and hospital wards. All questionnaires will be completed online. Participants’ level of fear, depression and childbirth experience will be assessed along with other sociodemographic, medical and COVID-related measures. Regression models will be used to compare the outcomes among the participating countries.Ethics and disseminationThe study has been reviewed and approved by the institutional review boards of the participating countries. Findings will be disseminated in peer-reviewed journals and academic conferences. Results from this study may guide the formulation of future health guidelines and policies in the face of a pandemic.

scholarly journals Concentrations of perfluoroalkyl substances in foods and the dietary exposure among Taiwan general population and pregnant women

2018 ◽  
Vol 26 (3) ◽  
pp. 994-1004 ◽  
Author(s):  
Wen-Ling Chen ◽  
Fang-Yu Bai ◽  
Ying-Chia Chang ◽  
Pau-Chung Chen ◽  
Chia-Yang Chen
Keyword(s):  
General Population ◽  
Pregnant Women ◽  
Dietary Exposure ◽  
Perfluoroalkyl Substances

COVID-19 during pregnancy: an overview of maternal characteristics, clinical symptoms, maternal and neonatal outcomes of 10,996 cases described in 15 countries

2020 ◽  
Vol 48 (9) ◽  
pp. 900-911 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ernesto Antonio Figueiro-Filho ◽  
Mark Yudin ◽  
Dan Farine
Keyword(s):  
General Population ◽  
Pregnant Women ◽  
Clinical Symptoms ◽  
Case Series ◽  
Perinatal Outcomes ◽  
Neonatal Outcomes ◽  
Eligibility Criteria ◽  
Maternal Characteristics ◽  
Th2 Immune Response ◽  
Maternal And Neonatal Outcomes

AbstractThe objective of this review was to identify the most significant studies reporting on COVID-19 during pregnancy and to provide an overview of SARS-CoV-2 infection in pregnant women and perinatal outcomes. Eligibility criteria included all reports, reviews; case series with more than 100 individuals and that reported at least three of the following: maternal characteristics, maternal COVID-19 clinical presentation, pregnancy outcomes, maternal outcomes and/or neonatal/perinatal outcomes. We included eight studies that met the inclusion criteria, representing 10,966 cases distributed in 15 countries around the world until July 20, 2020. The results of our review demonstrate that the maternal characteristics, clinical symptoms, maternal and neonatal outcomes almost 11,000 cases of COVID-19 and pregnancy described in 15 different countries are not worse or different from the general population. We suggest that pregnant women are not more affected by the respiratory complications of COVID-19, when compared to the outcomes described in the general population. We also suggest that the important gestational shift Th1-Th2 immune response, known as a potential contributor to the severity in cases of viral infections during pregnancy, are counter-regulated by the enhanced-pregnancy-induced ACE2-Ang-(1–7) axis. Moreover, the relatively small number of reported cases during pregnancy does not allow us to affirm that COVID-19 is more aggressive during pregnancy. Conversely, we also suggest, that down-regulation of ACE2 receptors induced by SARS-CoV-2 cell entry might have been detrimental in subjects with pre-existing ACE2 deficiency associated with pregnancy. This association might explain the worse perinatal outcomes described in the literature.

scholarly journals Stroke in systemic lupus erythematosus: a Swedish population-based cohort study

2017 ◽  
Vol 76 (9) ◽  
pp. 1544-1549 ◽  
Author(s):  
Elizabeth V Arkema ◽  
Elisabet Svenungsson ◽  
Mia Von Euler ◽  
Christopher Sjöwall ◽  
Julia F Simard
Keyword(s):  
Systemic Lupus Erythematosus ◽  
General Population ◽  
Ischaemic Stroke ◽  
Lupus Erythematosus ◽  
Haemorrhagic Stroke ◽  
Population Based ◽  
Incidence Rates ◽  
First Year ◽  
Systemic Lupus ◽  
Swedish Population

ObjectiveTo study the occurrence of ischaemic and haemorrhagic stroke in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) compared with the general population by age, sex and time since SLE diagnosisMethodsAdults with incident SLE were identified from the Swedish National Patient Register (NPR, n=3390) and general population comparators from the Total Population Register were matched on age, sex and county (n=16730). Individuals were followed prospectively until first of death, December 2013, emigration or incident stroke (identified from the NPR, Cause of Death Register and the Stroke Register). Incidence rates, rate differences and HR were estimated comparing SLE with non-SLE. Estimates were stratified by sex, age and time since diagnosis.ResultsWe observed 126 strokes in SLE and 304 in the general population. Individuals with SLE had a twofold increased rate of ischaemic stroke compared with the general population (HR 2.2; 95% CI 1.7 to 2.8). The HR for intracerebral haemorrhage was 1.4 (95% CI 0.7 to 2.8). There was effect modification by sex and age, with the highest HRs for females and individuals <50 years old. The HR for ischaemic stroke was highest in the first year of follow-up (3.7; 95% CI 2.1 to 6.5).ConclusionsThe relative risk of ischaemic stroke in SLE was more than doubled compared with the general population, and importantly, the highest relative risks were observed within the first year after SLE diagnosis. Thus, the first encounter with patients presents an opportunity for rheumatologists to screen for risk factors and intervene.

scholarly journals Seroprevalence of toxoplasmosis in Vojvodina

2010 ◽  
Vol 138 (5-6) ◽  
pp. 333-336 ◽  
Author(s):  
Snezana Brkic ◽  
Gorana Gajski ◽  
Mirjana Bogavac ◽  
Daniela Maric ◽  
Vesna Turkulov ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Toxoplasma Gondii ◽  
General Population ◽  
Pregnant Women ◽  
Acute Infection ◽  
Clinical Manifestations ◽  
Congenital Toxoplasmosis ◽  
Reproductive Age ◽  
Female Population ◽  
Effective Measure ◽  
Female Patients

Introduction Toxoplasmosis is an acute infectious anthropozoonotic disease with mild asymptomatic clinical manifestations in immunocompetent persons and more severe in immunocompromised patients. Acute infection in pregnancy can result in severe congenital toxoplasmosis with severe sequels. Objective Aims of study were to detect Toxoplasma gondii seroprevalence in general population of Vojvodina, Serbia, differences between genders and determination of seroprevalence in women of reproductive age and pregnant women. Methods Our retrospective study was conducted from 2006 to 2008 including 625 immunocompetent patients, hospitalized or observed as outpatients at the Clinical Centre of Vojvodina, Novi Sad. We performed commercial ELISA kits SERION - ELISA classic test by VIRION for the presence of specific IgG and IgM antibodies. According to seroepidemiological aim of the study, our results were presented only in qualitative values. Results We observed 173 male and 452 female patients. Seroprevalence in general population of Vojvodina was 38.1%. In male population seroprevalence was 45.7%, and in female population it was 35.2%, the difference which was statistically significant (p<0.05). Seroprevalence increased with age and seroconversion was detected to occur in persons aged about 20 years. In all female patients, 353 (78.1%) were in reproductive age with seroprevalence of 30%. In 161 pregnant women seroprevalence was 31.7%. Conclusion In this study we screened actual seroepidemiological situation to Toxoplasma gondii in Vojvodina, thus giving a contribution to the continuous epidemiological screening done in this region and in the country. According to our results, almost 70% of women in reproductive age were sensitive to primary acute infection during further pregnancies, which is highly important for the prevention of congenital toxoplasmosis. Although not routinely conducted in many countries, routine serological testing to Toxoplasma gondii in pregnant women and their education about preventive measures against this infection could be an effective measure in the future.

scholarly journals Group versus individual antenatal and first year postpartum care: Study protocol for a multi-country cluster randomized controlled trial in Kenya and Nigeria

2019 ◽  
Vol 2 ◽  
pp. 56 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mark M. Kabue ◽  
Lindsay Grenier ◽  
Stephanie Suhowatsky ◽  
Jaiyeola Oyetunji ◽  
Emmanuel Ugwa ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Randomized Controlled Trial ◽  
Data Collection ◽  
Pregnant Women ◽  
Controlled Trial ◽  
Phase 1 ◽  
First Year ◽  
Phase 2 ◽  
Randomized Controlled ◽  
Cluster Randomized

Background: Antenatal care (ANC) in many low- and middle-income countries is under-utilized and of sub-optimal quality. Group ANC (G-ANC) is an intervention designed to improve the experience and provision of ANC for groups of women (cohorts) at similar stages of pregnancy. Methods: A two-arm, two-phase, cluster randomized controlled trial (cRCT) (non-blinded) is being conducted in Kenya and Nigeria. Public health facilities were matched and randomized to either standard individual ANC (control) or G-ANC (intervention) prior to enrollment. Participants include pregnant women attending first ANC at gestational age <24 weeks, health care providers, and sub-national health managers. Enrollment ended in June 2017 for both countries. In the intervention arm, pregnant women are assigned to cohorts at first ANC visit and receive subsequent care together during five meetings facilitated by a health care provider (Phase 1). After birth, the same cohorts meet four times over 12 months with their babies (Phase 2). Data collection was performed through surveys, clinical data extraction, focus group discussions, and in-depth interviews. Phase 1 data collection ended in January 2018 and Phase 2 concludes in November 2018. Intention-to-treat analysis will be used to evaluate primary outcomes for Phases 1 and 2: health facility delivery and use of a modern method of family planning at 12 months postpartum, respectively. Data analysis and reporting of results will be consistent with norms for cRCTs. General estimating equation models that account for clustering will be employed for primary outcome analyzes. Results: Overall 1,075 and 1,013 pregnant women were enrolled in Nigeria and Kenya, respectively. Final study results will be available in February 2019. Conclusions: This is the first cRCT on G-ANC in Africa. It is among the first to examine the effects of continuing group care through the first year postpartum. Registration: Pan African Clinical Trials Registry PACTR201706002254227 May 02, 2017

scholarly journals Prevalence of human immunodeficiency virus infection among primigravida, in Karnataka

2018 ◽  
Vol 5 (12) ◽  
pp. 5448
Author(s):  
Vani Srinivas ◽  
T. L. N. Prasad ◽  
Rajesh T. Patil ◽  
Sunil D. Khaparde
Keyword(s):  
Human Immunodeficiency Virus ◽  
General Population ◽  
Pregnant Women ◽  
Data Extraction ◽  
Demographic Data ◽  
Striking Difference ◽  
Hiv Status ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Immunodeficiency Virus ◽  
The Difference

Background: Karnataka is one of the six high human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) prevalent states in India. We estimated prevalence among primigravida attending antenatal clinics in Karnataka, assuming this as a proxy for HIV incidence level in the general population.Methods: We tried estimating prevalence among primigravida using cross sectional samples. Data was collected in structured data extraction sheet for the month of September 2011, from all Integrated and Counselling tested Centres (ICTCs) of Karnataka. All the pregnant women were tested as per national protocol. We analysed the basic demographic data, geographical distribution including HIV status of spouse of primigravida.Results: In September 2011, 87580, pregnant women were tested and 238 (0.26%) were found HIV positive of which, 95 (40%) were primigravida. Prevalence among primigravida, was 0.3%. The prevalence among primigravida was highest in Bagalkot (1.6%) district. In Yadgir, Kodagu and Udupi the prevalence was zero. The high prevalent blocks were Jamakhandi, Mudhol, Gokak, Hospet and Muddebihal. 73.7% spouse of positive primigravida were tested for HIV and among those tested, 87.1% were found HIV positive.Conclusions: There is striking difference in the prevalence of HIV among primigravida in different districts of Karnataka probably indicates the difference in effectiveness of preventive interventions in these districts and within blocks. The preventive programs should be reached out to the labourer's and farmers in the general population to prevent the new infections in the general population.

scholarly journals Fish Consumption and knowledge of Chemical Pollutants among a Sample of Women Who Recently Gave Birth in Tripoli, Libya

2020 ◽  
Vol 25 ◽  
pp. 39
Author(s):  
Thuraya A. Abuhlega ◽  
Huria M Maamar
Keyword(s):  
Pregnant Women ◽  
Unsaturated Fatty Acids ◽  
Sea Bream ◽  
Consumption Pattern ◽  
Omega 3 ◽  
New Mothers ◽  
Fish Products ◽  
Face To Face ◽  
Chemical Pollutants ◽  
Canned Fish

Fish and fish products are important sources of nutritional elements, especially iodine and unsaturated fatty acids (omega-3). These are essential for pregnant women and their embryos during a pregnancy period. However, women and their embryos may be exposed to chemical pollutants when they consume fish. Therefore, this study aimed to assess the consumption pattern of fish during pre-pregnancy, pregnancy and post-pregnancy periods, and explore the awareness on the chemical pollutants in fish among the women who recently gave birth in Tripoli city, Libya. This study targeted 370 women randomly in Tripoli city and collected data through a face to face questionnaire. The questionnaire consisted of three parts: characteristics of new mothers; consumption of fish, crustaceans, mollusks and canned fish; and knowledge on the importance and risks of eating fish and fish products. The results showed that eating fish, crustaceans, and mollusks once a month was the highest proportion in the three periods with a percentage of 38, 38 and 41%, respectively. Sardine, sea bream and mackerel were the most fish common consumed by new mothers during the three periods. More than half of the mothers did not change the pattern of their consumption of fish, crustaceans and/or mollusks during pregnancy as compared to the pre-pregnancy period and after the birth of their children as compared to the pregnancy period. The canned tuna was the most canned fish consumed by respondents (93%). More than half of mothers realized that eating fish is important for health in general and for pregnant women with a percentage of 58 and 59%, respectively. The results of this study showed that there was a great need to raise the awareness of new mothers about chemical pollutants in fish. Furthermore, effective programs should be adopted by the competent authorities to educate mothers about what types and amounts of fish they should consume during pregnancy and the types that should be avoided.

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