Adult Mothers Research Articles

Correlates of maternal, newborn and child health services uptake, including male partner involvement: Baseline survey results from Bangladesh

ABSTRACT South Asia bears a substantial proportion of the global maternal mortality burden, with adolescents disproportionately affected. Bangladesh has one of the highest adolescent pregnancy rates in the world, with low utilisation of maternal newborn and child health (MNCH) services. This hampers the country’s efforts to achieve optimal health outcomes as envisioned by the Sustainable Development Goals. Male partner involvement is a recognised approach to optimise access to services and decision-making. In South Asia data on male involvement in MNCH service uptake is limited. Plan International’s Strengthening Health Outcomes for Women and Children was implemented across four districts in Bangladesh between 2016 and 2020 and aimed to address these issues. Study results (N = 1,724) found higher maternal education levels were associated with use of MNCH services. After controlling for maternal education, service uptake was associated with male partner support level and perceived joint decision-making. The positive association between male support level and MNCH scale was robust to stratification by maternal education level, and by age group (i.e. adolescent vs. adult mothers). These findings suggest that one path for achieving optimal MNCH outcomes might be through structural-level interventions centred on women, combined with components targeting male partners or male heads of households.

A Study to Assess the Level of Knowledge Regarding “Immunization among Mothers of Infant” in Selected Village at Kanchipuram District, Tamil Nadu, India

A study to assess the level of knowledge regarding immunization among mothers of infant in selected village.The objectives are To assess the existing level of knowledge of the mother of infant regarding immunization,to find out the association between the level of knowledge regarding immunization among mothers of infantat selected demographic variables. The sampling technique is Non probability convenient sampling techniquewith the sample of 30 mother of infant and questionnaires were formulated, structured questionnaires were usedto assess the knowledge. The variables were assessing the level of knowledge of adult women immunizationamong mothers of infant.

Prevalence and associated factors of postpartum depression among Afghan women: A phase-wise cross-sectional study in Rezaie maternal hospital in Herat province

Background: Postpartum depression (PPD) is a common mood disorder affecting about 10–15% of adult mothers annually. This study aimed to find the prevalence and associated factors of postpartum depression among women in Herat province in Afghanistan. Methods: Across-sectional study was conducted between 11 July 2021 and 15 September 15, 2021, among women who delivered a baby at Rezaie Maternal Hospital of Herat province (Afghanistan). A total of 242 women participated in the first phase of this study with a mean age of 25.40 ± 5.510. To assess the depression among participants, the Edinburg Postnatal Depression Scale was used. Results: Almost half the participants reported that it was their first labour (45.0%). In the first phase, nearly half of the participants were found to have depression (45.5%). In the second phase of this study, less than one in three participants had depression (30.7%). More than one in five participants changed from depression to normal (21.5%). Almost half of the participants remained the same in both phases of this study (47.8%). Conclusion: It is crucial to examine women's psychological health during the postnatal period to understand how we may assist women through targeted interventions based on their particular needs. Our study shows that the post-partum depression among women in Herat province of Afghanistan, decreases and factors such as educational level, number of family members, happening of bad event during the past month, and presence of physical illness have a direct impact on postpartum depression.

Early Identification of Risk at Postpartum Depression Among Primipara Adolescent Mother and Adult Mother: A Comparative Analysis

Introduction: Postpartum depression on porturition mother will cause big damage to mother, infant and family. The committed research shows that there is no clear result of depression if it connects to the age of mother during pregnancy, but that depression brings high result in postpartum periode. Purpose: The aim of research to know the difference between the risk of a occurence of postpartum depression to primipara adolescent mother and middle adulthood mother. Methods : this analitic survey with cross sectional approach. The sample size comprised 40 respondents with purposive sampling. Variable used on this study were demographical data as the dependent variables and independent variables who fulfilled inclusion criteria, and variable of confounding. After ensuring the distribution and normality of data, univarable analysis and bivariable analysis used unpaired statistic independent test t-test, multivariat analysis used multiple linear regression. Results : The primipara adolescent mother was risky to experience postpartum depression was 11 or 55,0% with average ±s.b 12,6±2,5 from 20 respondents, and primapara middle adulthood mother was not risky to experience postpartum depression was 17 or 85,0% with average ±s.b 6,6±3,4 from 20 respondents; pvalue<0,05 or 0,000<0,005; average difference CI95% 6,0 (4,0-7,9). Factor which dominated the occurence of postpartum depression was economy status and family support with pvalue 0,001<0,05, ANOVA test 0,000<0,05, and Rsquare 65,90%. Conclusion : The primipara adolescent mother was risky to experience the occurence of postpartum depression than primipara middle adulthood mother. From other variable, the factor which dominated the occurence of pospartum depression were economy status and family support.

Teenage Pregnancies in Austria - an Epidemiological Study on Prevalence and Perinatal Outcome.

Introduction Even though teenage pregnancy rates have been declining in the last decades, their global prevalence is still high and shows country-specific discrepancies. Insufficient sexual education, poor availability of contraceptives and early marriage are some of the multifactorial causes for adolescent pregnancies. Very often teenage pregnancies are classified as high-risk pregnancies. Studies have found higher rates of peripartal complications, such as preterm birth, low birth weight or low fetal Apgar-Scores. The aim of this retrospective cohort study is to evaluate the prevalence of teenage pregnancies in Austria and to identify principal differences in maternal and neonatal outcome. Material and methods Data were collected from the Austrian Birth Registry between 01/2012 and 12/2020. A total of 751661 deliveries in Austria were documented. Obstetric, maternal and neonatal parameters were descriptively analyzed. Mothers were subclassified into two age groups: teenage mothers of 19 years and younger and adult mothers of 20 to 39 years of age. Results Newborns of teenage mothers were significantly smaller (49.98 ± 3.11 vs. 50.31 ± 3.16 cm, p < 0.001) and had a lower birth weight (3216 ± 564 vs. 3247 ± 576 g, p < 0.001) than newborns of adult mothers. The percentage of caesarean deliveries in the teenage group was significantly lower than in adult mothers (21.1 vs. 31.8%, p < 0.001). Newborns of teenage mothers had significantly higher rates of very low (< 4) and low (< 7) 5-minute Apgar scores (5-minute Apgar < 4: 0.75 vs. 0.54%, p = 0.004) (5-minute Apgar < 7: 1.77 vs. 1.37%, p = 0.001) and significantly lower arterial umbilical-cord pH (7.25 ± 0.08 vs. 7.26 ± 0.08, p < 0.001). Perinatal mortality was higher in the age group below 20 years (0.7 vs. 0.6%, p = 0.043). Conclusion The data of this study show significantly poorer outcomes in pregnancies of teenagers compared to adult women, even though the healthcare system in Austria is considered excellent. Future guideline recommendations should focus on important aspects of obstetric care in teenage mothers.

Adult Children's Education and Mothers' Psychological Well-Being: Do Adult Children's Problems Mediate This Relationship?

A growing body of literature documents a positive association between adult children's education and older parents' health, and existing studies have identified social support, social influence, and material transfers as factors linking adult children's education and various dimensions of older parents' health. The present study joins this literature by assessing adult children's problems as mechanisms that may underlie disparities in psychological well-being between mothers whose adult children have completed higher and lower levels of education. Using 2 waves of longitudinal data collected in 2001-2003 and 2008-2011 from 400 mothers aged 73-85 years at the second wave as part of the Within-Family Differences Study, we examine the role of adult children's problems in mediating the association between adult children's education and mothers' depressive symptoms. Mothers with children who completed post-high school education reported fewer depressive symptoms than mothers whose children all completed high school or less. We found evidence that this relationship was mediated by the proportion of adult children who have experienced physical and emotional problems in the last 5 years. This study underscores the importance of considering how resources and risks that affect well-being accumulate both across the life course and across generations. Providing education opportunities to younger generations and enhancing programs that address challenges that low-attaining children may face have the potential to help minimize socioeconomic disparities in psychological well-being among older adults.

Postpartum depression, social support and maternal self-efficacy between adolescent and adult mothers during the COVID-19 pandemic: A comparative cross-sectional study.

To determine the rate and level of postpartum depression (PPD), as well as to examine and compare PPD, social support and maternal self-efficacy between adolescent and adult mothers at 8 weeks postpartum during the COVID-19 pandemic. Policy measures to reduce the rapid spread of COVID-19 have disrupted many aspects of life and decreased social connections, which negatively impacts psychological well-being of the general population. However, studies focused on the impact of COVID-19 on mental health and maternal self-efficacy in postpartum mothers, particularly adolescent mothers, are limited. A comparative cross-sectional study was carried out following the STROBE guidelines. An online questionnaire was administered from February to March 2021. Data were collected by the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS), the Postpartum Support Questionnaire (PSQ) and the Parenting Sense of Competence (PSOC) at 8 weeks postpartum. One-way MANOVA was used to analyse the data. Data from 63 adolescent mothers and 63 adult mothers were analysed. There were significant correlations between PPD, social support and maternal self-efficacy of the COVID-19 pandemic. Both adolescent and adult mothers had significantly negative impacts from the pandemic on mental health, social support and maternal self-efficacy. However, the adolescent mothers had higher rates of depressive symptoms (36.5% and 23.8%, respectively) as well as lower PSQ score (121.25 and 130.52, respectively) and PSOC scores (62.54 and 70.94, respectively) compared with adult mothers in the first 8 weeks postpartum during the pandemic. Adolescent mothers had a significantly higher rate of depressive symptoms and significantly lower social support and maternal self-efficacy scores compared to adult mothers at 8 weeks postpartum during the COVID-19 pandemic. Midwives or nurses should emphasize the negative mental health impacts during the COVID-19 situation and routinely screen for depressive symptoms, especially in adolescent mothers, which could help identify the at-risk mothers for developing PPD. Neither patients nor the public were directly involved in the study.

The Protective Gaze and the Ideology of the Endangered Child

The Protective Gaze and the Ideology of the Endangered Child Jason Middleton (bio) It might seem counterintuitive to begin a discussion of grown-up horror with a film paradigmatic of a horror cycle so indelibly associated with adolescent characters and audiences: John Carpenter's iconic slasher Halloween (1978).1 But I will suggest that the minimal presence of literal adults throughout the film facilitates a mode of cinematic vision I term the "protective gaze," which gives formal expression to a set of distinctively adult fears and anxieties about child endangerment that took hold during the period of the film's long theatrical run. I will then discuss the Black Mirror episode "Arkangel" (Jodie Foster, 2017) as exemplary of how some recent grown-up horror positions adult mothers as protagonists terrorized by a culture of parenting radically transformed since the 1970s and 1980s by the very fears of child endangerment that Halloween and other early slasher films allegorize. Carol Clover's influential analysis of the first slasher cycle called for viewers and critics to move beyond the "literal" onscreen gender of the characters toward a "figurative or functional analysis [that] begins with the processes of point of view and identification." 2 But in Clover's work and in most subsequent scholarship on [End Page 328] the slasher, where gender has been understood as figurative, the principal characters' age—their status as adolescents—has generally been taken literally. For Clover, the figurative liminal gender of the Final Girl and killer, respectively, works in tandem with the Final Girl's more literal liminal social and developmental status as an adolescent between childhood and adulthood. Taken together, these forms of liminality suggest the centrality of the presumed teenage male viewer for whom the Final Girl's life-and-death struggle with the killer symbolically represents the psychodrama of sexual maturation and gendered subject formation. Her phallicization in the final defeat of the killer stages the achievement of normative adult male heterosexuality. Offering a different perspective on the characters' status as youths, Adam Lowenstein historicizes Clover's Oedipal narrative, arguing that Laurie's age can be understood in the same figurative register as her gender. Lowenstein reads Halloween as historical allegory for the explosive American divorce rate between 1960 and 1980. He points out how the teens in the film actually figure childhood, or even adolescence, much less so than they do adulthood: "their place within the mise-en-scène aligns them with parents more than anything else."3 Parents are either absent or impotent in Halloween. We see Laurie's own parents only briefly at the start, when her father, a realtor trying to sell the long-abandoned Myers house, tasks Laurie with dropping off the keys. He thus unwittingly endangers her, as this errand is the first scene in the film to place her in Michael's sightline. Laurie's caregiving role as Tommy's babysitter casts her as the only competent parental figure in the film, but she is "simultaneously a child removed from her own parents."4 Michael in turn is both a demonized child and, symbolically, a punishing parent. In Lowenstein's reading, the film speaks to the "hypothetical teenage child of divorce" by offering Laurie and Michael's drawn-out union as a "sort of fantastic resolution" to the trauma of a broken home, "two parents who keep coming back together again, who seem destined for each other . . . or two children overcoming their divorce-induced fear of romantic relationships."5 For Lowenstein, the fluid and figurative age of the principal characters responds to the spike in the American divorce rate during the era of the film's production as well as the upheaval of the postwar nuclear family's dominant social status. But what links Clover's psychoanalytic interpretation to Lowenstein's allegorical, sociohistorical one is that in both cases Halloween and other slasher films of the time are seen to assuage anxieties attributed to an adolescent viewer. This essay argues that the liminality of both [End Page 329] Laurie's gender and her age positions her to represent the fears and anxieties of a parent or caregiver in this sociohistorical context. As scholars such as Robin Wood...

The Relationship of Mother's Pregnancy at A Young Age with The Emotional Development of Children Aged 3-5 Years Old in The Kebomas Health Center

Background: The percentage of emotional and behavioral disorders in preschool age children is quite high, namely 34.10%. One of the factors that affect the emotional development of children is the age of the mother when she was pregnant. Results and Methods: This study aims to determine the relationship between pregnancy at a young age and the emotional development of children aged 3-5 years. This study uses a historical cohort design. The research subjects were all pregnant women who were pregnant in 2017-2018 in the working area of ​​the Kebomas Health Center. The sample of this study amounted to 74 respondents. The independent variable, namely the emotional development of children, was measured using a questionnaire. The dependent variable, namely maternal age was measured using a questionnaire. External variables, namely the number of children, gender, mother and father's education, parenting, and income were measured using a questionnaire. The analysis used is chi square and multiple logistic regression. Conclusion: The results show that there is a relationship between pregnancy at a young age and the emotional development of children aged 3-5 years. Children aged 3-5 years who are born to mothers who are pregnant at a young age and have an 80% chance of experiencing emotional development disorders compared to adult mothers. Suggestions for adolescents, families, and health workers to pay attention to age during pregnancy so that they can avoid emotional disturbances for children aged 3-5 years by making a pregnancy program after 20-35 years.

Attitudes and perceptions of mothers towards childhood vaccination in Greece: lessons to improve the childhood COVID-19 vaccination acceptance.

BackgroundMaternal attitudes and beliefs have been shown to influence childhood vaccination coverage, resulting in under-vaccination, non-vaccination, and vaccination delay. This study aimed to investigate the mothers' attitudes and perceptions about vaccination for their children in Greece.MethodsThis was an online cross-sectional study, conducted from 4 April to 8 June 2020. A self-administered questionnaire was used to collect information about mothers' and their children's socio-demographic characteristics, previous vaccination behavior, and mothers' attitudes and perceptions about childhood vaccination. Participants included adult mothers with at least one minor child.ResultsOne thousand eight hundred eighty-five mothers participated, with the majority (91.7%) believing in the usefulness of vaccines and that vaccines protect children from serious and life-threatening diseases. A larger percentage of mothers with higher educational attainment agreed/absolutely agreed that all vaccinations provided by the National Vaccination Program must be offered to their children (91.6%) (p = 0.02) and that vaccines protect children from serious and life-threatening diseases (92.9%) (p = 0.01). Significant more married/in cohabitation and not single-parent mothers agreed that vaccines are safe (53.5% and 53.4%, respectively). There were also several significant associations between maternal attitudes toward childhood vaccination and previous maternal vaccination practices [(e.g., adherence to recommended vaccination dosages (all p-values < 0.01), vaccination delays (all p-values < 0.05), and vaccination during pregnancy (all p-values < 0.01)].ConclusionMaternal attitudes and perceptions toward childhood vaccination are significantly influenced by sociodemographic factors and maternal vaccination practices. Revealing those is essential for public health officials in developing future strategies to improve childhood vaccination coverage and acceptance of new vaccines such as the COVID-19 vaccine.

The Relationship of Adolescent Motherhood to the Macronutrient Content of Breast Milk.

Objective: Breast milk is the best nutrient for newborns due to its rich dietary content, immunological factors, ease of accessibility, and affordability. Given the fact that adolescent birth rate in Turkey is high, this study examines the effects of adolescent motherhood with regard to macronutrient contents in breast milk. Study Design: We collected colostrum samples from mothers staying at our hospital. Gestational ages were ≥37 weeks. Demographic characteristics of the patients were registered. The MIRIS (Mid-Infrared Human Milk Analyzer) device was operated to analyze breast milk, adopting a spectroscopy method for measurements. Protein, fat, carbohydrate, and energy levels of the hindmilk samples were measured; thus, study groups were compared. Results: The study included 224 mothers, of whom 49 were adolescents and 125 were adults. Maternal weight and maternal body mass index, weight gain during pregnancy, mode of delivery and gestational age, as well as birth weight and gender of the infants were similar. As breast milk contents were compared, we found out that fat content levels in the colostrum of adolescent mothers were significantly higher, with respect to the other group. Protein and carbohydrate levels were lower in adolescents, even if they were not statistically significant. There was no difference between the groups in terms of energy levels. Conclusion: Adolescent motherhood may have negative influences on infant welfare. However, in terms of breast milk content quality, adult mothers are not superior to adolescents.

Nutritional status of infants born to young mothers in Narok county, Kenya

The purpose of this study was to assess breastfeeding practices and determine their association with nutrition status among infants born to adolescent mothers in Transmara West, Narok County. Adolescents’ motherhood remains a challenge because they are unprepared for childcare, putting their infants at risk of malnutrition. In order to prevent the occurrence of common illnesses, infants should be fed according to WHO recommendations. However, research on dietary practices and the health of infants belonging to young mothers is scarce in Kenya. Most of the mothers were between 16 to 17 years, with the youngest mother being 14 years old. Breastfeeding practices were as follows; early initiation within one hour was (62.2%, exclusive breastfeeding was (50.0%) and continued breastfeeding at 12 months was (5.5%). Malnutrition levels were 17.1 per cent, 22.0 per cent and 22.0 per cent for wasting, stunting and underweight, respectively. The study did not establish any significant relationship between exclusive breastfeeding and the nutrition status of the infants. Similar research should be replicated especially to compare the nutrition status of infants of adult mothers with that of young mothers in the same study area.

Positive parenting, parenting stress, and child self-regulation patterns differ across maternal demographic risk.

We examined relations between positive parenting, parenting stress, and children's regulatory abilities across infancy and early childhood. First-time mothers and their infants (N = 682) were recruited prenatally. Mothers belonged to one of three potential demographic risk groups: adolescent mothers (AM), adult low-educated mothers (LEM), and adult high-educated mothers (HEM). Parent-child interactions were observed in the home and scored for positive parenting (at 4, 8, and 18 months) and child self-regulation (at 4, 8, 18, and 30 months). Parenting stress was measured by questionnaire at 6, 12, and 24 months. A multigroup cross-lagged panel model indicated different patterns of effects for adolescent and adult mothers: for AM, positive parenting and parenting stress were related early in infancy, but no relations emerged with regulation until 18 months. For LEM, parenting related to regulation only at later ages, and for HEM, positive parenting, parenting stress, and regulation were associated early in the infant's life but not later. Differing patterns of influence indicate, perhaps, the importance of considering demographic risk and timing of parenting in childhood in relation to child regulatory outcomes. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2022 APA, all rights reserved).

Using Iconicity in Two-Tier Grammar Test for Adult Learners: A Cognitive Linguistic Approach

Learning a foreign language is quite challenging, especially for adults (mothers) at Tambak Lorok Semarang. Their mental space about how to arrange sentences in English cannot be separated from how they arrange sentences in Bahasa Indonesia. Thus, a test is designed in order to facilitate the learners' understanding of the concept of arranging sentences in English well. The aims of this study are to investigate how the learners arrange sentences from Bahasa Indonesia to English and what their basic pattern is for the formation of the sentences. The second is to present an appropriate test for them to measure their understanding in terms of arranging sentences in the target language. Since the test has not been tested yet, the writer used 3 steps of the Research and Design Method by Borg and Gall (2003): Research and Information Collecting, Planning, and Developing a Preliminary Form of Product. There were ten questions in the two-tier grammar test. The writer used descriptive analysis to explain the result. The result shows that the learners arrange the sentences based on Bahasa Indonesia's rules. For the test, the questions on the first-tier use icons or pictures related to the optional answer. The second tier contains the reason why they chose the first tier.

Negative emotions and personal well-being among incarcerated filicide mothers in Rwanda.

Despite the tremendous evidence of the harmful effects of maternal filicide on the lives of offenders, there is a scarcity on studies of their negative emotions and personal wellbeing especially in sub-Saharan Africa. Thus, this study was primarily aimed at assessing the prevalence of negative emotions experienced by filicide mothers and how they were associated with personal wellbeing in Rwanda. With an institutional-based cross-sectional study design, we measured the symptoms of anxiety, anger, shame, guilt, depression and personal well-being in a convenient sample of 55 filicidal mothers (mean age = 26.69; SD = 6.88) who were incarcerated in Nyarugenge prison. SPSS (version 24) was used to compute descriptive, Pearson correlation, independent t-test and regression analyses. The results indicated that the rates of shame were (100%), guilt (98.2%), anxiety (92.7%), depression (92.7%), low happiness and satisfaction with life (81.8%), and anger was (76.4%) in the current sample. Based on age category, there was no significant difference in anger scores, depression, guilt, shame and personal well-being scores between young and adult filicide mothers (p>.05). Young filicide mothers (M = 14.55, SD = 4.03), on the other hand, had higher anxiety scores than adult filicide mothers (M = 11.57, SD = 4.72), t = 2.52, p = .015. Finally, anxiety (β = -.507, t = -3.478, p = .001) and age (β = -.335, t = -2.685, p < .001) were negatively associated with personal well-being. The results emerged from this study highlight that filicide mothers experience substantial negative emotions and poor personal wellbeing regardless of their age category. However, poor personal wellbeing was associated with anxiety and age. Based on these results, mental health professionals should examine their mental state with respect to negative emotions and initiate programs that decrease the emotions as well as increase personal well-being.

PEMANTAUAN KASUS PENYEBARAN COVID-19 BERBASIS WEBSITE MENGGUNAKAN FRAMEWORK REACT JS DAN API

The world has been attacked by the pandemic of coronavirus, starts from 2019 until this day, 2022. Coronavirus was detected in Indonesia started from 2020, specifically on March, 2020. The coronavirus or severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is the virus which attacks human’s respiratory system. It is also known as COVID-19. The virus may cause mild illnesses of human’s respiratory system, severe lung infections, and even death. Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is categorized as the new infectious disease to human. The virus attacks anyone, such as elderly, adult, children, toddler, pregnant women, and breastfeeding mothers. Utilization of information technology that continues to develop can be felt in various fields. Such as the fields of education, government, health, social culture and so on. Information about COVID-19 is always needed by the people of Indonesia, even abroad. Utilization of this website-based technology can help the public in obtaining up to date information. Website application built using React JS framework and API. According to the problems experienced now, a website was created to monitor and provide accessible information to the public regarding the spread of COVID-19 virus cases in Indonesia and the entire world as well. People could approach the website called Covices which was created in programming languages, such as React Js and API.

ARE ADVERSE NEONATAL OUTCOMES MORE FREQUENT IN ADOLESCENT PREGNANCIES?

Adolescent pregnancy is a complex issue since it has been associated to adverse fetal and maternal outcomes. Method: This is a cross-sectional analytical study, having as a data source the medical records of pregnant women at a reference maternity hospital, located in the northeast of Brazil. Data was collected on maternal age, gestational age at delivery, birth weight, type of delivery, 1- and 5-minute Apgar scores less than 7, and fetal deaths. For the analysis of data, two groups were distinguished according to age: 1) girls aged 13-19 years old, and 2) women aged 20-34 years old. Results: A total of 1642 pregnant women’s medical records were included in this study, 28.1% belonged to adolescent mothers, and 71.9% to adult mothers. In the comparison between groups, there were significantly more cesarean deliveries to mothers aged 20-34 years (p&lt;.001); and a significantly higher proportion of preterm deliveries in the group of adolescent mothers (p=.0239). The other study variables did not present statistical significance. Conclusions: Adolescent mothers are at higher odds of preterm birth, and since this factor is associated short- and long-term adverse outcomes for the neonate, there is a need to prioritize this age group in prenatal care.

Obstetric and perinatal outcomes of teenage pregnant women: a retrospective study

Background: teenage pregnancy is a worldwide social problem. The aim of this study is to provide more data for a better understanding of the possible maternal and foetal risks associated with teenage pregnancies.&#x0D; Methods: the hospital records of all pregnant women, aged between 14 and 19, from the obstetric registers of the Policlinico Umberto I Hospital in Rome, between 2000 and 2010, have been completely reviewed (n=184). For each pregnant woman socio-demographic characteristics, obstetric history, pregnancy and birth outcomes were also determined. Our results were compared with a control group composed of 150 primigravida adult women aged 20-29 years who delivered at the Policlinico Umberto I Hospital in Rome in the same period.&#x0D; Results: the mean age ± SD of the study group was 17.9 ± 1.2, while that of the control group was 25.4 ± 2.4. The control group had a significantly lower risk of preterm delivery (p=0.000). The rate of low birth weight babies born to the young mothers was significantly higher than that of babies born to the adult mothers (p=0.036). The study group had a lower risk of instrumental delivery and a higher proportion of spontaneous delivery (p=0.000). Finally, we observed a statistically significant difference of the APGAR score at the fifth minute between the two groups (p=0.004).&#x0D; Conclusions: our results seemed to confirm the outcomes of previous studies for adolescent pregnant women, mainly regarding the increased risks of preterm deliveries and low birth weight babies, the higher incidence of spontaneous vaginal delivery and the lower incidence of instrumental delivery.

Prevalence, risk factors and perceptions of caregivers on burns among children under 5 years in Kisenyi slum, Kampala, Uganda

BackgroundGlobally, burn related deaths are disproportionately higher among children below 5 years of age compared to other age groups. Although rarely fatal, most burns in this group occur within homes specifically in kitchens. This study assessed the prevalence, risk factors and perceptions of caregivers regarding burns among children under 5 years in an urban slum in Kampala, Uganda.MethodsThe study used an analytic cross-sectional design with quantitative and qualitative techniques. Quantitative data were collected using a structured questionnaire and observational checklist, while qualitative data involved use of a key informant interview guide. A total of 426 children were involved in the study, while 6 key informants namely an adult mother, teenage mother, community health worker, health practitioner, father and local leader were interviewed. A modified Poisson regression model was used to determine the correlates of burn injuries, prevalence rate ratios and 95% confidence intervals, while thematic analysis was used for qualitative data.ResultsThe prevalence of burns among under-fives was 32%, highest among those aged 24 to 35 months (39%), and least in those below 12 months (10%). Children with single parents (adj PR = 1.56 95% CI 1.07–2.29) and those from households in the middle and least poor wealth quintile (adj.PR = 1.72; 95% CI 1.02–2.89 and adj.PR = 1.77; 95% CI 1.02–3.05, respectively) were more likely to get burns compared to their counterparts in other quintiles. In households where flammables were safely stored, children were less likely to suffer from burn injuries (adj.PR = 0.61; 95% CI 0.44–0.83). Congestion, negligence of caregivers, and use of charcoal stoves/open cooking were the commonest determinants of burns. Although many caregivers offered first aid to burn patients, inadequate knowledge of proper care was noted. Crawling children were perceived as being at highest risk of burns.ConclusionThe prevalence of burns among children under 5 years was high, with several household hazards identified. Health education, household modification and applicable public health law enforcement are recommended to reduce hazards and minimise burn risks among children.

Infant and Young Child Feeding Perceptions and Practices Among Caregivers Living in Three Districts in the Central Region of Ghana

ObjectivesThis qualitative study sought to understand caregiver practices related to exclusive breastfeeding (EBF), meal frequency, diet diversity, and responsive feeding in rural communities in Ghana. MethodsFifty-two audio-taped in-depth interviews were conducted in local dialects with caregivers (teen and adult mothers, fathers, and grandmothers) of children younger than 1-year-old living in three districts in Ghana’s Central Region. Recordings were translated, transcribed into English, then read and coded independently by two authors. Consensus was reached on emerging domains and themes, and a final codebook was developed. ResultsCaregivers were knowledgeable about EBF and complementary feeding recommendations. However, preliminary findings showed that non-adherence to EBF was common. Water was fed to address perceived thirst and/or to soothe persistent crying. Perceived readiness for complementary foods was tied to the belief that, by 3–6 months, breastmilk could not satisfy hunger. From the sixth month, infants were fed at least three times, including night feeds, and perceived to be capable of eating any family foods if home prepared soft and not spicy. Caregivers understood that local proteins such as pounded dried fish could be added to soups and stews while egg yolk could be added to porridge. Responsive and non-responsive feeding practices emerged. Meals were fed using spoons, cups, and bowls, and caregivers constantly engaged and interacted with the child (cooing) to encourage eating. Caregivers were aware that introducing new foods may require several tries before acceptance and recommended patience and encouragement when offering new foods. Caregivers typically used time of day and incessant crying to recognize hunger, not knowing how to identify subtle hunger cues. Some misperceptions about early foods centered around illness, especially stomach aches and diarrhea, and how those might be a result of late night feeding or sugary foods/snacks. ConclusionsGaps were seen between caregiver knowledge of feeding recommendations and some infant and young child (IYCF) perceptions/practice. Caregivers in this population may benefit from targeted IYCF counseling to facilitate optimal caregiver practices. Funding SourcesThis study was funded by UNICEF-Ghana.