Theory-driven development of a mobile phone supported intervention for adolescents with perinatal depression

Purpose

This paper describes the design of a theory-informed pragmatic intervention for adolescent perinatal depression in primary care in Nigeria.

Methods

We conducted Focus Group Discussions (FGDs) among 17 adolescent mothers and 25 maternal health care providers with experience in the receipt and provision of care for perinatal depression. The Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research (CFIR) was used to systematically examine the barriers and facilitators affecting adolescent mothers' use of an existing intervention package for depression. The Theoretical Domain Framework (TDF) and the Capability, Opportunity, Motivation, Behaviour (COM-B) model were used to analyze the results of the data across the five CFIR domains.

Results

FGD analysis revealed that care providers lacked knowledge on approaches to engage young mothers in treatment. Young mothers had poor treatment engagement, low social support, and little interest in parenting. A main characteristic of the newly designed intervention is the inclusion of age-appropriate psychoeducation supported with weekly mobile phone calls, to address treatment engagement and parenting behaviours of young mothers. Also in the outer setting, low social support from relatives was addressed with education, “as need arises” phone calls, and the involvement of "neighborhood mothers”. In the inner settings, care providers’ behaviour is addressed with training to increase their capacity to engage young mothers in treatment.

Conclusion

A theory-based approach helped develop an age-appropriate intervention package targeting depression and parenting skills deficit among perinatal adolescents in primary maternal care and in which a pragmatic use of mobile phone was key.

     

Exploratory Efficacy of Calcium-Vitamin D Milk Fortification and Periodontal Therapy on Maternal Oral Health and Metabolic and Inflammatory Profile

In this 2 × 2 factorial, outcome-assessor blinded, feasibility randomised trial we explored the effect of a non-pharmaceutical multi-component intervention on periodontal health and metabolic and inflammatory profiles among pregnant women with periodontitis receiving prenatal care in a Brazilian public health centre. 69 pregnant women (gestational age ≤20 weeks, T0) were randomly allocated into four groups: (1) fortified sachet (vitamin D and calcium) and powdered milk plus periodontal therapy during pregnancy (early PT) (n = 17); (2) placebo sachet and powdered milk plus early PT (n = 15); (3) fortified sachet and powdered milk plus late PT (after delivery) (n = 19); (4) placebo sachet and powdered milk plus late PT (n = 18). Third trimester (T1) and 6–8 weeks postpartum (T2) exploratory outcomes included periodontal health (% sites with bleeding on probing (BOP)), glucose, insulin, C-Reactive Protein, serum calcium and vitamin D. The mean BOP was significantly reduced in the early PT groups, while BOP worsened in the late PT groups. No significant effect of fortification on BOP was observed. Changes in glucose levels and variation on birthweight did not differ among groups This feasibility trial provides preliminary evidence for estimating the minimum clinically important differences for selected maternal outcomes. A large-scale trial to evaluate the interventions’ clinical benefits and cost-effectiveness is warranted.     

Decoupling the Contribution of Surface Energy and Surface Area on the Cohesion of Pharmaceutical Powders

Pharmaceutical Research - Surface area and surface energy of pharmaceutical powders are affected by milling and may influence formulation, performance and handling. This study aims to decouple the...     

Rural-urban disparities in maternal immunization knowledge and childhood health-seeking behavior in Nigeria: a mixed method study

Background

Immunization and appropriate health-seeking behavior are effective strategies to reduce child deaths.

Objectives

To compare maternal knowledge about immunization, use of growth chart and childhood health-seeking behavior in rural and urban areas.

Methods

A cross-sectional comparative study done in Lagos, Nigeria. Questionnaire survey and focus group discussions were done. 300 respondents were selected by multi-stage sampling while discussants were purposively selected.

Results

Awareness of immunization was high but knowledge of vaccine preventable diseases (VPDs) was poor in both areas. Urban women utilized preventive services more; growth monitoring (p<0.001) and immunization (p<0.001) while higher proportions of rural women utilized nutritional counseling (p=0.005) and treatment of illness (p<0.001). Growth chart utilization was better in the urban areas (p<0.001). Increasing maternal education increased use of growth chart in both areas. Both groups of women use multiple treatment sources for children (more in urban), determined by cost, time, perceived severity of illness and type of ailment (urban) and peculiarity of illness (rural). There is a preference for orthodox care in the rural area.

Conclusions

Knowledge of VPDs was poor and multiple treatment sources were common among rural and urban women. Education is vital to improve immunization knowledge and health-seeking behavior in both areas.     

Reexpansion pulmonary oedema as a complication of pleural drainage

One hundred and one (6%) of 1,678 patient studied had bilateral reexpansion pulmonary oedema(RPO). On the whole, one thousand, seven hundred and seventy nine (1,779) pleural spaces were studied, fifteen pleural spaces (0.8%), with mean age of 23 +/- 4.5 years had RPO. Among these 15 patients with RPO, the mean period of lung collapse before pneumothorax (PThx) was evacuated was 31.8 +/- 21.8 days and for hydrothorax (HThx) was 31.3 +/- 30.1 days; for 15 patients without RPO (controls), matched for age and sex, the mean period of lung collapse before CTTD was 7.5 +/- 4.1 days and 5.4 +/- 1.3 days respectively for PThx and HThx. The differences in the period of lung collapse among patients with RPO and those without, for each pleural disease was statistically significant (P < 0.03). Volume of pleural fluid drained before RPO was noticed was 2196 +/- 1103 mls, for the 15 matched patients without RPO (controls), it was 1060 +/- 115 mls (p < 0.05). Volume of pleural fluid drained among the patients with SR (Severe response), MR (mild to moderate response) and RD (radiological diagnosis) did not correlate with severity of response. We conclude that prevention of RPO is the desired goal in the management of pleural effusion or Pneumothorax. RPO is commonest among young patients who have had lung collapse for 7 or more days. In these circumstances RPO is prevented, its incidence and severity reduced by methods of gradual evacuation of PThx or pleural fluid drainage.     

Bronchiectasis consequent upon prolonged foreign body retention

OBJECTIVE: To review our experience with bronchiectasis complicating prolonged endobronchial retention of foreign bodies (FB) among patients with a history of aspiration of FB seen between 1975 and 1998. DESIGN: A retrospective review of clinical data of consecutive patients with a history of aspiration of FB treated during the time of study. SETTING: The Cardiothoracic Unit of the University College Hospital, Ibadan, directly serves a population of about 40 to 60 million in the South Western Nigeria and the community clinics. SUBJECTS: All patients with a history of FB aspiration (or suggestive of FB aspiration) from whom patients with prolonged FB retention were selected. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Patients with a relevant history or chronic respiratory symptoms had their clinical examination findings, plain chest radiographic (or/and bronchographic) findings, treatment modalities and outcome studied. RESULTS: Sixteen patients among 203 patients who had tracheobronchial foreign bodies removed had this complication. The mean age at presentation was 13.0 +/- 17.3 years. Twelve patients (75%) retained inorganic materials and in four patients (25%) it was organic. The period of retention ranged between 4.8 to 108 months (mean 17.0 +/- 22.6 months). Main presenting symptoms were: productive cough, 16 patients; pyrexia, seven patients; combination of chest pain, fever and copious sputum, five patients. In none of the patients was the history of aspiration of FB definitely elicited before commencement of treatment. Symptoms were worst among patients who retained inorganic materials. All of the patients had bronchoscopy but retrieval of FB by this means was successful in one patient (6.3%). Six patients (37.5%) had thoracotomy and bronchotomy; nine patients had bronchotomy and lung resection [seven (77.8%) lobectomies, one (11.1%) pneumonectomy and one (11.1%) segmentectomy] as the definitive treatment. The one patient who had brochoscopic retrieval subsequently had lobectomy to control symptoms of bronchiectasis. Five out of six (83.3%) who had bronchotomy had persistent symptoms of bronchiectasis. All the nine (56.3%) who had lung resection remained asymptomatic at follow up. There was one mortality (6.3%) in the series--a 75 year old who died from poorly controlled Diabetes mellitus. CONCLUSION: Prevention of aspiration of FB is better than cure. In every medically treated child with persistent cough with or without a history of aspirated FB, the possibility of retained FB should be borne in mind.