Traditional practices used by infertile women in Turkey

AYAZ S. & YAMAN EFE S. (2010) Traditional practices used by infertile women in Turkey. International Nursing Review 57 , 383–387 Background: Numerous traditional methods are used in the treatment of infertility around the world. Aim: To identify the traditional practices of infertile women using one clinic in Ankara, Turkey. Design and Methods: The population comprised all women (5700) who attended one infertility outpatient clinic in 2007. The sample was calculated using sample calculation formula and 410 women were included in the study. The survey method was used for data collection. Findings: Of the responding women, 27.3% had tried a traditional practice, and 67.8% who tried traditional practices used an herbal mixture. The reason for the women's use of a traditional practice was ‘hope’ (66.9%), and 15.2% of them had experienced an adverse effect related with traditional practice. Maternal education level, perceived economic status, duration of marriage all significantly affected the use of traditional practices (P < 0.05). The women who had received unsuccessful medical treatment for infertility and who had experienced side effects after medical treatment had a higher rate of use of traditional practice (P < 0.05). Conclusions: Almost one in three of the women who responded to the questionnaire had tried traditional methods, and some experienced adverse effects related to the practice. For couples with infertility problems, educational programmes and consultation services should be organized with respect to their traditional culture. Women should be informed about the hazards of traditional practices and avoidance of harmful practices, and continuous emotional support must be provided for infertile couples. In the future, nursing staff should play a much larger role in these supportive services.     

Persistent and new-onset daytime sleepiness in pregnant women: A prospective observational cohort study

BackgroundDaytime sleepiness is a frequent complaint in women during pregnancy. It has also been linked to negative obstetric consequences. Although high prevalence of excessive daytime sleepiness throughout pregnancy is well-documented, neither the causes of persistent daytime sleepiness nor new-onset daytime sleepiness during pregnancy have been investigated. Identifying predictive factors may play an important role in the management of daytime sleepiness in pregnant women and improve prenatal care and maternal-fetal outcomes.ObjectivesTo examine first-trimester maternal characteristics associated with the persistence and new-onset daytime sleepiness in pregnant women.DesignA longitudinal, prospective cohort design.SettingOne medical center in Taipei, Taiwan and participating women’s homes.ParticipantsA total of 204 pregnant women.MethodsFirst-trimester pregnant women recruited from an outpatient obstetric clinic at a medical center provided socio-demographic and health information, wore an actigraphy monitor for 7 days, and completed sleep, mood, and daytime sleepiness questionnaires. Data were collected again when the women were in the second and third trimester.ResultsThirty-one (15.2%) women experienced excessive daytime sleepiness that persisted across all three trimesters. Nulliparous women and women who snored in the first trimester were 2.28 and 2.10 times more at risk of being classified of persistent daytime sleepiness than multiparous women and women who did not snore in the first trimester, respectively. Thirty-one (15.2%) women developed new-onset daytime sleepiness with advancing gestation. Women were more likely to develop new-onset daytime sleepiness if they worked longer hours per week (OR = 1.04, p < 0.001), if they reported snoring (OR = 6.75, p < 0.001), and if they had elevated depressive symptoms in the first trimester of pregnancy (OR = 1.09, p = 0.01).ConclusionsSnoring in the first trimester is involved in both the persistence and new-onset of daytime sleepiness with elevated depressive symptoms related to new-onset daytime sleepiness in pregnant women. Findings suggest that intervention strategies for alleviating daytime sleepiness in pregnant women should focus on managing snoring and symptoms of depression in early trimesters with special attention to nulliparous and employed women.     

Marrying modern health practices and technology with traditional practices: issues for the African continent

One of the main sessions at the 2001 22nd Quadrennial Congress of the International Council of Nurses in Denmark explored the harnessing of modern health technologies for contemporary health care. The session theme of 'marrying the old and the new' is particularly important in societies where modern medicine and technology coexist with traditional approaches to health care; in this instance, its coexistence with traditional medicine in African societies. This coexistence has not been easy for many African countries. For some, overt exclusion from health care systems through prohibitive legislation has become the order of the day for traditional practitioners. On the other hand, there has been an increasing interest in traditional practices among modern health practitioners and a willingness to collaborate. Similarly, traditional practitioners are slowly beginning to incorporate aspects of modern medicine into their practice; notably the use of science and technology. This report describes the interface of modern medicine and technologies with traditional approaches to health care. Benefits and concerns raised by genetic, information, solar and environmental technologies at this interface, are discussed. Selected traditions and the challenges these bring to the practice arena, research, education and policy, are presented together with suggestions to reconcile old and new.     

孕产妇围产期服务需求的调查分析

目的了解孕产妇围产期的服务需求。方法在2008年6—8月便利抽取全国7个省,2个直辖市中29家医院2436名孕妇,在产后3—5d即将出院时填写一般资料及自行设计的孕产妇围产期服务需求量表。结果孕产妇围产期服务需求反映在生理需求、心理需求、环境和设备需求及服务需求4个纬度,多数需求条目得分大于3分,处于需要至极需要之间。结论产科护理人员应从孕产妇生理、心理、环境和设备及服务需求4个方面了解孕产妇围产期的需求状况．以便根据孕妇的意愿制订切实可行的服务计划,使围产期保健工作更加深入地开展。     

Cross-sectional and longitudinal associations between sleep and health-related quality of life in pregnant women: A prospective observational study

BackgroundSleep disturbances are common in women, especially during pregnancy. Previous studies have confirmed the importance of sleep disturbances as a risk factor of adverse pregnancy outcomes and the need for screening and treatment of inadequate sleep. These reports, however, did not examine health-related quality of life which may be affected by sleep long before adverse clinical consequences are detectable in women during pregnancy.ObjectivesTo examine the cross-sectional and longitudinal association between sleep and health-related quality of life in pregnant women.DesignA prospective observational study.SettingA university-affiliated hospital in Taiwan and participants’ homes.ParticipantsA total of 164 pregnant women completed questionnaires and wore a wrist actigraphy monitor for 7 days each trimester.MethodsObjective sleep was measured by actigraphy, subjective sleep was measured by the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index, and health-related quality of life was measured using the SF-12v2 questionnaire across three trimesters. Multiple linear regression analyses were performed to evaluate the cross-sectional and longitudinal associations between sleep and health-related quality of life.ResultsSixty-four (39.0%) women consistently had an average sleep efficiency < 85% by actigraphy and 40 (24.4%) had a Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index global score > 5 in all three trimesters. Cross-sectionally, more actigraphic daytime sleep (p = 0.04) and better subjective sleep quality (p < 0.01) were associated with better physical health-related quality of life in first-trimester pregnant women. Better actigraphic sleep efficiency (p = 0.04) and better subjective sleep quality (p < 0.01) were associated with better mental health-related quality of life in second-trimester pregnant women. Longer actigraphic total nighttime sleep (p < 0.01) and better subjective sleep quality (p < 0.01) were associated with better mental health-related quality of life in third-trimester pregnant women. Longitudinally, first-trimester actigraphic total nighttime sleep (p < 0.05) and subjective sleep quality (p < 0.01) predicted mental health-related quality of life in the second and third trimester.ConclusionsSleep disturbances are a highly prevalent and persistent problem in pregnant women. Adequate sleep is essential for women at all pregnancy stages and improving nocturnal sleep quantity and quality in early gestation is of utmost importance for an optimal health-related quality of life later in pregnancy.     

Jordanian women: perceptions and practices of first-time pregnancy

A woman's child-bearing encounter is an experience that reflects the cultural beliefs and practices of the society. The purpose of this study was to describe the perceptions and practices of urban, low socioeconomic, Jordanian women (aged 18-30 years) in relation to their pregnancy career. An opportunistic sample consisting of 67 Muslim first-time pregnant women who followed up antenatal care at two maternity-care centres in East Amman was selected. A qualitative approach, including ethnographic semistructured interview, participant observation data from the households and clinics and oblique interviewing in random conversations initiated by the primigravidae, was conducted over 18 months. Women gave elaborative accounts of their pregnancy and childbirth expectations in narrative, phenomenological forms. Qualitative data analysis was performed concurrently with data collection, revealing the essential themes of immediacy of pregnancy; familial support and changing networks, especially for the after-birth period; fear of pain and medical interventions, all emphasizing the traditional and religious perceptions and practices in a familial context.     

中国孕妇、育龄妇女铁缺乏症患病率调查

目的　调查我国孕妇、育龄妇女铁减少 (ID)、缺铁性贫血 (IDA)及铁缺乏症 (ID IDA)患病率。方法　采用分层抽样的方法 ,以全国 15个省 ,2 6个市县为调查点 ,随机抽取 35 91例孕妇、372 1例育龄妇女为调查对象 ,检测末梢血血红蛋白浓度、锌原卟啉、血清铁蛋白等指标。结果　孕妇ID、IDA、铁缺乏症患病率分别为 4 2 .6 %、19.1%、6 1.7% ;育龄妇女ID、IDA、铁缺乏症患病率分别为34.4 %、15 .1%、4 9.5 %。孕妇ID、IDA、铁缺乏症患病率显著高于育龄妇女 (P <0 .0 1)。早孕ID、IDA、铁缺乏症患病率分别为 39.9%、9.6 %、4 9.5 % ;中孕ID、IDA、铁缺乏症患病率分别为 38.8%、19 .8%、5 8.6 % ;晚孕ID、IDA、铁缺乏症患病率分别为 5 1.6 %、33.8%、85 .4 %。不同孕期孕妇IDA、铁缺乏症患病率差异有显著性 (P <0 .0 1)。晚孕ID患病率显著高于早、中孕 (P <0 .0 1) ,但早、中孕之间差异无显著性 (P >0 .0 5 )。农村早孕ID、IDA患病率为 36 .1%、12 .2 % ,IDA者Hb 99.3± 8.0 g/L ;城市早孕ID、IDA患病率为 4 1.9%、8.2 % ,IDA者Hb 10 1.7± 6 .7g/L。农村育龄妇女ID、IDA患病率为 32 .4 %、17.4 %、IDA者Hb 10 5 .9± 11.8g/L ;城市育龄妇女ID、IDA患病率为 35 .6 %、13.8%、IDA者Hb 10 9.9± 8.8g/L。城市早孕     

健康促进模式在护理实践中的应用

对健康促进模式的理论和实践进行综述,分析Pender健康促进模式的理论框架和具体内涵,并归纳国内外对慢性疾病人群、社区一般人群、老年人、妇女及青少年的健康促进行为的调查结果,显示健康促进模式及其相应的健康促进量表在护理实践中广泛应用,同时也指出,国内对健康促进模式的研究和应用尚处于起步阶段,有待社区和临床护理人员进一步认识和发展。     

Lifestyle intervention to prevent gestational diabetes mellitus and adverse maternal outcomes among pregnant women at high risk for gestational diabetes mellitus

ObjectiveWe assessed the effects of a lifestyle intervention on gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) incidence and risk of adverse maternal outcomes among pregnant women at high risk for GDM.MethodsFrom July to December 2018, we enrolled 1822 eligible pregnant women; of these, 304 had at least one risk factor for GDM. Participants were randomly allocated to the intervention or control group. Usual prenatal care was offered to both groups; the intervention group also received individually modified education on diet, physical activity, and weight control. The GDM diagnosis was based on an oral glucose tolerance test at 24–28 gestational weeks. Multivariate logistic regression was used to evaluate the effects of the lifestyle intervention on risk of GDM and adverse maternal outcomes.ResultsA total of 281 women (139 in the intervention group and 142 controls) were included. Incidences of GDM and adverse maternal outcomes were all significantly lower in the intervention than in the control group. Multivariate logistic regression indicated that women in the intervention group had a lower risk of GDM and adverse maternal outcomes, after adjusting potential confounding factors.ConclusionThe present lifestyle intervention was associated with lower risks of GDM and adverse maternal outcomes.     

Symptom distress of Jordanian patients with cancer receiving chemotherapy

The purpose of this study was to explore the prevalence of symptom distress among Jordanian patients with cancer who are receiving chemotherapy. A total of 112 patients with cancer were evaluated using the Distress Thermometer and clinical symptom problem list, and Demographic and Clinical Characteristic Data Sheet. Patients in the sample were mostly female, and recently diagnosed with cancer during the past 6 months, with a variety of types of cancer with breast cancer being the most common. Patients reported several symptoms with nausea, fatigue, anorexia and daily activity disorder being reported most frequently. Most of the patients (71%) reported distress at a clinically significant level. Distress was correlated with clinical characteristics as treatment number and time. Problems in the areas of family relationships, emotional functioning and physical functioning were associated with higher reports of distress. Identification of the presence of distress is the first step towards referral and treatment of the symptoms that may contribute to the distress of the patient with cancer.     

Competence assessment of nursing graduates of Jordanian universities

This cross‐sectional survey assessed the level of competence of nursing graduates of Jordanian universities (2001–2004 cohorts) in relation to the type of university, sex, hospital type, and working area. A convenience sample (n = 258) of full‐time nurses (6 months–4 years' experience) was selected from public, private, and teaching hospitals. A specifically designed tool with a rating scale of 1–5 was used to evaluate the nurses' competence in five nursing competencies (management, professionalism, problem‐solving, nursing process, and knowledge of basic skills). The findings showed a satisfactory competency level with no significant differences related to the type of university or sex. General ward nurses scored significantly better than those in intensive care units in relation to management, professionalism, and nursing process, while the teaching hospital nurses showed significantly better performance in professionalism and management skills than did the nurses in the other two sectors. We recommend that nurse recruitment policies should consider individual competencies rather than innate characteristics in their selection of employees.     

妊娠中晚期心电图临床分析

目的对妊娠中、晚期与年轻女性体检组进行对比,探讨异常心电图发生的比率及其原因。方法选择近3年来本院产前检查妇女,分别随机采取妊娠中期心电图2136例(A组)、妊娠晚期妇女心电图2098例(B组);对照组为同期本院体检的年轻女性2182例(C组),常规心电图检查,观察三组异常心电图的发生率。结果各组心电图异常总次数分别为A组:971次,B组:1332次,C组:612次。ST改变、窦性心动过速、早搏的发生率B组>A组>C组;短P-R间期各组发生率:B组较A组及C组发生率高。结论妊娠晚期异常心电图比例最高,大部分应属于生理改变引起的短暂异常,分娩后可恢复正常。