Comparative Study of Knowledge of Urban and Rural Mothers about Neonatal Care

Objectives: The purpose of this study is to assess and compare the knowledge about the neonatal care among the mothers in urban and rural area in district Ajmer province of Rajasthan Materials and methods: Comparative randomized descriptive study was conducted among mothers who willingly gave consent to participate in the study. A structured questionnaire were framed and mothers were interviewed, the answers were recorded. To judge the knowledge score of the mothers closed ended questions having four alternatives were also framed. One mark was allocated for correct response. Results: Among 5800 deliveries, 400 mothers (205 mothers were Urban and 195 mothers were from Rural area) were randomly selected. Mothers with Antenatal check-up had knowledge score of 61% compared to 24% who had no regular antenatal checkup. Knowledge about “Exclusive Breastfeeding” was 84.39% and 68.20% urban mothers and rural mothers and regarding adequacy was 73.17% in Urban and 44.61% in rural mothers. Knowledge about Hygiene was 89.75% and 53.33% in Urban and rural mothers. Skin care and baby bath was 28.29% and 18.46% in Urban and Rural mothers respectively. Knowledge about danger signs was 81.95% and 60% in Urban and Rural mothers respectively. Knowledge regarding immunization at birth was 70.7% and 35.89% in Urban and Rural mothers respectively. Conclusions: Main factors affecting the knowledge score of the mothers about neonatal care were Educational status and Antenatal checkup. Knowledge about adequacy of breastfeeding, Immunization at birth, Danger signs, Temperature maintenance and hygiene was less in rural mothers as compared to urban mothers.

Mothers’ emotional expressivity in urban and rural societies: Salience and links with young adolescents’ emotional wellbeing and expressivity

This research aims to investigate the salience of mothers’ emotional expressivity and its links with adolescents’ emotional wellbeing and expressivity in an urban society endorsing more individualism and a rural society ascribing to more collectivism. By comparing Chinese urban (N = 283, M age = 14.13) and rural (N = 247, M age = 14.09) adolescents, this research found that urban mothers’ expression of positive-dominant and positive-submissive emotions (PD and PS) were more common while expression of negative-dominant (ND) emotions was less common than rural mothers’. PD and PS had significant links with urban and rural adolescents’ increased emotional expressivity and self-esteem, however, only significantly related to urban adolescents’ decreased depression but not with rural adolescents’. ND had significant links with both urban and rural adolescents’ expression of negative emotions, however, only significantly correlated with urban adolescents’ less level of self-esteem and rural adolescents’ more expression of positive emotions. No significant difference was found in the salience of urban and rural mothers’ expression of negative-submissive (NS) emotions, which positively related to both urban and rural adolescents’ depression and emotional expressivity. Moreover, we found that adolescents’ emotional wellbeing (i.e., self-esteem and depression) mediated the relationship between mothers’ emotional expressivity and adolescents’ expressivity in both societies. Overall, the study findings document that the salience of mothers’ emotional expressivity and its relations with adolescents’ emotional adjustment differ between urban and rural societies.

Urban bat pups take after their mothers and are bolder and faster learners than rural pups

Background Urbanization is rapidly changing our planet and animals that live in urban environments must quickly adjust their behavior. One of the most prevalent behavioral characteristics of urban dwelling animals is an increased level of risk-taking. Here, we aimed to reveal how urban fruitbats become risk-takers, and how they differ behaviorally from rural bats, studying both genetic and non-genetic factors that might play a role in the process. We assessed the personality of newborn pups from both rural and urban colonies before they acquired experience outdoors, examining risk-taking, exploration, and learning rates. Results Urban pups exhibited significantly higher risk-taking levels, they were faster learners, but less exploratory than their rural counterparts. A cross-fostering experiment revealed that pups were more similar to their adoptive mothers, thus suggesting a non-genetic mechanism and pointing towards a maternal effect. We moreover found that lactating urban mothers have higher cortisol levels in their milk, which could potentially explain the transmission of some personality traits from mother to pup. Conclusions Young bats seem to acquire environment suitable traits via post-birth non-genetic maternal effects. We offer a potential mechanism for how urban pups can acquire urban-suitable behavioral traits through hormonal transfer from their mothers.

Abstract MP47: Maternal Trimethylamine-n-oxide Is Associated With Risk Of Gestational Diabetes Mellitus In A Low-income, Urban, Multi-ethnic Population

Introduction: Trimethylamine-N-oxide (TMAO) is a metabolite influenced by gut microbiota composition and diet (e.g. eggs and red meat). While TMAO has been associated with type 2 diabetes in adults, it is still unclear whether TMAO is associated with risk of gestational diabetes (GDM). Results from the two case-control studies conducted on this topic in China were mixed, with one showing a U-shaped association and the other showing a linear association between TMAO and GDM. There is need to examine this association in a distinct population, in which the sources of TMAO may vary. Hypothesis: We hypothesized that higher TMAO concentration in both maternal and umbilical cord blood plasma (collected within 24-72 hours of birth) is associated with higher odds of GDM. Methods: We used data from the women in the Boston Birth Cohort (enrolled from 1998 to 2013) and fitted logistic regression models to examine the association of maternal and cord blood TMAO concentration with odds of GDM. TMAO was inversely normalized and was modeled in tertiles and as a continuous variable. GDM was diagnosed by a physician; women with pre-pregnancy diabetes were excluded from analyses. Final models were adjusted for covariates (see Table footnote). Results: Among our analytic sample (n=1405 participants), 1248 contributed maternal blood and 865 contributed cord blood. A total of 123 women developed GDM. Before and after adjustment for covariates, higher concentration of TMAO in maternal blood was associated with higher odds of GDM. After adjustment for potential confounders, the highest vs. lowest tertile of TMAO was associated with 1.75 times (95% CI 1.04, 2.96) the odds of GDM (Table). We found no association between cord blood TMAO and GDM (Table). Conclusion: In a population of predominantly low-income, urban mothers, higher maternal TMAO concentration measured in maternal blood (but not cord), was associated with higher odds of GDM. Our findings need to be replicated in prospective cohort studies that measure TMAO in early pregnancy.

Mental health of Urban Mothers (MUM) study: a multicentre randomised controlled trial, study protocol

IntroductionMental health disorders are common during pregnancy and the postnatal period and can have serious adverse effects on women and their children. The consequences for global mental health due to COVID-19 are likely to be significant and may have a long-term impact on the global burden of disease. Besides physical vulnerability, pregnant women are at increased risk of mental health problems such as anxiety, depression and post-traumatic stress disorder due to the consequences of social distancing. It can result in altered healthcare routines, less support from the family and friends, and in some cases, partners not being allowed to be present during prenatal visits, labour and delivery. Higher than expected, rates of perinatal anxiety and depression have been already reported during the pandemic. Pregnant women may also feel insecure and worried about the effects of COVID-19 on their unborn child if they get infected during pregnancy. Today, young urban women are used to using internet services frequently and efficiently. Therefore, providing mental health support to pregnant women via internet may be effective in ameliorating their anxiety/depression, reducing the risk of serious mental health disorders, and lead to improved maternal and perinatal outcomes.Overarching aimOur aim is to explore the effectiveness of a web-based psychosocial peer-to-peer support intervention in reducing the risk and severity of perinatal mental health disorders and preventing adverse pregnancy outcomes among pregnant women living in metropolitan urban settings.Methods and analysisWe plan to conduct a multicentre prospective randomised controlled trial, Mental health of Urban Mothers trial. Pregnant women living in large metropolitan cities will be recruited using internet-based application through non-profit organisations’ websites. The women who consent will be randomised to receive a web-based peer-to-peer support intervention or usual care. Data will be analysed to identify the effects of intervention on Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Score and Generalised Anxiety Disorder 7 scores as well as pregnancy outcomes. The impact of COVID-19 pandemic on maternal stress will be assesed using Impact Event Scale-R. Any differences in outcomes between cities will be addressed in subgroup analyses.Ethics and disseminationThe study will be conducted according to the principles of Good Clinical Practice and will follow the ethical principles of the Declaration of Helsinki. The study protocol has been approved by the ethical review board of Chinese University of Hong Kong (IRB number 2019-8170) and Shanghai Center for Women’s and Children’s Health (international review board (IRB) number 2020-F001-12). The results will be disseminated at national and international scientific conferences, published in peer-reviewed medical journals and spread to the public through social media, news outlets and podcasts.Trial registration numberNCT04363177; Trial sponsor Karolinska Institute, CLINTEC, Stockholm, Sweden.

Intimate Partner Violence and Material Hardship Among Urban Mothers

Using a longitudinal population-based sample ( n = 4,234), this study explored the association of intimate partner violence (IPV) with material hardship. We found that women who experienced IPV are substantially more likely to experience material hardship, even after controlling for a comprehensive set of static and time-varying characteristics, including material hardship at the prior wave and individual fixed effects. Associations were strongest for experiences of physical abuse (the least prevalent type of IPV) and controlling abuse (the most prevalent type of IPV) but were weaker for emotional abuse. Results suggest that IPV increases the probability of material hardship by 10-25%.