Pregnant Healthcare Workers Research Articles

Stakeholders' Perceptions of Hospital-Based Early Childhood Parenting Education Services: A Thematic Analysis

BACKGROUND: Postnatal parental education is deficient yet necessary to enhance the implementation of evidence-based newborn care practices among families. Educating both mother and father is crucial for optimal childhood development, and interventions targeting families can improve childcare practices. Implementing these interventions through systematic policies and protocols in LMIC hospitals is essential. This study explores the perceptions of pregnant women, parents, and healthcare workers regarding parenting education in a tertiary care hospital in Karachi, Pakistan. METHODS: In a qualitative study conducted in a tertiary care hospital in Karachi, Pakistan, participants included pregnant women, parents, and healthcare workers. The study used in-depth interviews with purposively selected participants, consisting of two individuals from each category. Interviews were conducted using a prepared guide, and data collection was performed by trained staff. Interviews were conducted until data saturation was achieved. The interviews were conducted in Urdu, transcribed, and translated into English. Thematic analysis was carried out manually. RESULTS: The analysis of pregnant women's experiences identified themes of personal pregnancy experiences, support systems, and hospital facilities. Women discussed physical, emotional, and financial challenges during pregnancy. They valued support from family and physicians but expressed a need for better educational resources in hospitals. For parents with children under one-year-old, themes included personal experiences, hospital experiences, and educational resources. Parents faced emotional changes, financial challenges, and desired improved work-life balance. They appreciated outpatient care but found lacking in inpatient experiences, particularly in the NICU. Healthcare workers emphasized the role of parents, families, and hospitals, highlighting the importance of teaching and understanding family dynamics. Also suggested improvement in holistic approaches, mandatory educational programs, and integrating parenting readiness into primary care. CONCLUSION: Hospital-based postpartum parenting education enhance overall baby care. Expanding literature emphasizes the importance of high-quality parenting for lifelong development. Identifying efficient programs and resources to enhance parental abilities and foster positive child growth is increasingly important.

The oxymoron of working in a non-patient facing role as an internal medical trainee: the risk associated with COVID-19 moved pregnant healthcare workers off the frontline to other meaningful work

The oxymoron of working in a non-patient facing role as an internal medical trainee: the risk associated with COVID-19 moved pregnant healthcare workers off the frontline to other meaningful work

Sick leaves among healthy pregnant Croatian healthcare workers during the COVID-19 pandemic due to loopholes in the occupational safety system.

The aim of this study was to explore occupational safety in pregnant Croatian healthcare workers (HCWs) during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. To this end we composed an anonymous questionnaire that included pregnancy data, risk assessment and mitigation, and workplace intervention and distributed it to HCWs through social media of their groups and associations. The study includes a total of 173 respondents (71.1 % physicians, 19.7 % nurses, 9.2 % other HCWs) diagnosed with pregnancy in 2020 and 2021. Employers were notified about HCWs' pregnancy at the eighth (IQR 7.0-11.0) week of pregnancy, which delayed workplace risk assessment and mitigation beyond the first trimester. Only 19.6 % of the participants had the risk assessed and mitigated, mostly on their own initiative (76.5 %). After notifying employers about pregnancy, 37.0 % of participants opted for temporary work incapacity (TWI) due to "pregnancy complications" despite healthy pregnancy, 16.8 % were granted a pregnant worker's paid leave at the expense of the employer, while 5.8 % continued to work at the same workplace. Nurses used the TWI benefit more frequently than physicians (58.8 % vs 30.1 %, P=0.004). Our findings suggest that occupational safety of pregnant HCWs in Croatia lacks clear-cut and transparent strategies to protect pregnant HCWs, forcing them to misuse the healthcare system.

Incidence of Adverse Maternal Outcomes Among Pregnant Health Care Workers [ID 2683462

INTRODUCTION: The objective of this study was to examine whether pregnant health care workers at are increased risk for adverse maternal outcomes in pregnancy. METHODS: A retrospective cohort study from 2008 to 2023 was conducted using TriNetX Research platform (de-identified patient data from a network of health care organizations) to identify pregnant health care workers. Using ICD codes, CPT codes, and LOINC codes, individuals were diagnosed with the presence or absence of the following conditions: fetal growth restriction, gestational diabetes mellitus, chronic hypertension, gestational hypertension, preeclampsia (with and without severe features), and postpartum depression. Descriptive statistics were used to analyze the data. The University of Texas Medical Branch IRB approved this study as minimal-risk research using data collected for routine clinical practice and waived the requirement for informed consent. RESULTS: Among 1,553,793 patients, 34,099 were health care workers. Health care workers had increased incidences for the following adverse maternal outcomes: diet-controlled gestational diabetes (12.88% versus 9.95%; P<.001), oral hypoglycemic agent-controlled gestational diabetes (1.56% versus 1.02%; P<.001), insulin-controlled gestational diabetes (2.88% versus 1.73%; P<.001), gestational hypertension (3.04% versus 2.73%; P<.001), and preeclampsia with severe features (5.95% versus 4.23%; P<.001). Health care workers were at decreased incidences for fetal growth restriction, preeclampsia without severe features, and postpartum hemorrhage. CONCLUSION: Given that health care workers are at increased risk of several adverse maternal outcomes, it may be important for providers to screen health care workers more frequently for these adverse outcomes. Additional studies will need to be conducted using current identifiable electronic medical records.

Evaluating Maternal Health Services Within the Reproductive, Maternal, Newborn, Child Health and Adolescents (RMNCH+A) Framework Amidst the COVID-19 Pandemic in Rural India: A Comprehensive Mixed-Methods Analysis.

Background Around half of the pregnant women in India do not receive full antenatal care. During the year 2020, routine health services were further affected by COVID-19. This study was conducted to assess the effect of the pandemic on the delivery/utilization of reproductive, maternal, newborn, child health, and adolescent(RMNCH+A) services. Methodology The study, conducted in Wardha district, Maharashtra, from July to December 2020, aimed to assess maternal health. In Wardha block, 200 pregnant and postnatal women were surveyed using a multistage sampling approach. Adequate knowledge was gauged through Mother and Child Protection Card comprehension. Health system data for April to December 2020 was compared with 2019 district-wide. In-depth interviews were conducted with beneficiaries, including pregnant and post-natal women and healthcare workers. The qualitative inquiries involved medical officers, supervisory staff, community health officers, an auxiliary nurse and midwife (ANMs), Taluka Health Officers, and focus group discussions with accredited social health activists (ASHA), Anganwadi workers (AWW), and Village Health Nutrition and Sanitation Committee members. Results Essential services were delivered to both antenatal and postpartum women, though family planning services and health education were the worst affected. Among the survey respondents, 75% of the post-partum women were not using any contraceptives. District-wide coverage of post-abortion/MTP contraception fell by around 90% as compared to the previous year. The most common difficulties faced by the respondents in availing of the services were related to finances and arranging transport to visit health facilities. Conclusion Learning from the current pandemic for system strengthening, adequate manpower, and planning to prevent disruption of essential services and promoting e-health and m-health initiatives may prevent such catastrophic events in the future from affecting the delivery of routine services.

Comparisons of Perceptions About Novel Respiratory Virus Vaccines Among Pregnant and Non-Pregnant Healthcare Workers

Comparisons of Perceptions About Novel Respiratory Virus Vaccines Among Pregnant and Non-Pregnant Healthcare Workers

THE ASSOCIATION BETWEEN SMOKING DURING PREGNANCY AND HYPERTENSIVE DISORDERS OF PREGNANCY : A SYSTEMATIC REVIEW

Background: Smoking is known to have an adverse effect on various health prognosis, and affects obstetric outcomes, such as stillbirth, preterm birth, and low birth weight during pregnancy. Conversely, the effect of smoking on hypertension during pregnancy is still unclear, with recent studies suggesting the effect differs by ethnicity. The aim: This study aims to show the association between smoking during pregnancy and hypertensive disorders of pregnancy. Methods: By comparing itself to the standards set by the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis (PRISMA) 2020, this study was able to show that it met all of the requirements. So, the experts were able to make sure that the study was as up-to-date as it was possible to be. For this search approach, publications that came out between 2013 and 2023 were taken into account. Several different online reference sources, like Pubmed and SagePub, were used to do this. It was decided not to take into account review pieces, works that had already been published, or works that were only half done. Result: In the PubMed database, the results of our search brought up 101 articles, whereas the results of our search on SagePub brought up 117 articles. The results of the search conducted for the last year of 2013 yielded a total 53 articles for PubMed and 70 articles for SagePub. The result from title screening, a total 11 articles for PubMed and 17 articles for SagePub. In the end, we compiled a total of 10 papers. We included five research that met the criteria. Conclusion: The association of maternal smoking during pregnancy with blood pressure and hypertension suggests that maternal smoking during pregnancy may have a long-term efect on children’s BP. Tis information should be transmitted to pregnant women and healthcare workers to decrease the risk of adverse cardio-metabolic outcomes.

Evaluation of Mental Health Status of the Pregnant Women Working in Hospitals During Covid-19 Era: A Cross-Sectional Study

Background: Many of women and pregnant women are front-line health care workers in the COVID-19 era and are worried about the possible impacts of COVID-19 on their fetus. Due to the pressure and high working load on the healthcare workers during the COVID-19 crisis, the healthcare workers were potentially at risk of different types of mental health disorders. Objective: We aimed to evaluate the correlation between mental health status and the level of COVID-19 related anxiety in pregnant healthcare workers in the COVID-19 era in Iran from August 2020 to December 2020. Methods: This cross-sectional study included 64 pregnant clinical residents, general physicians, nurses and other medical staff who worked in the hospitals in Iran, from August 2020 to December 2020 using an anonymous online survey available on Google Form platform. The online survey consisted of socio-demographic questions, pregnancy-related questions, and questions about medical/drug history. The Persian versions of General Health Questionnaire – 28 [GHQ-28], and Corona Disease Anxiety Scale [CDAS] were also filled by the participants. Results: The mean age and gestational age of the participants were 31.3±3.9 years, and 24.5±10.1 weeks respectively. Psychological problems were moderate [total score GHQ-28> 40] in 9.4% [n: 6] of the pregnant healthcare workers. The frequency of moderate/severe problems in the four subclasses, including somatic symptoms, anxiety/insomnia, social dysfunction, and depression were 9[14.1%], 25[39.0%], 7[10.9%], and 10[15.6%], respectively. According to CDAS, 26.5% of participants had moderate to severe COVID-19 related anxiety. COVID-19 related anxiety and its subclasses, physical and psychological, were significantly correlated with GHQ-28 total score and its subclasses, including somatic symptoms, anxiety/insomnia, social dysfunction, and depression among pregnant health care workers [P<0.01]. Conclusion: According to the results of the current study, over 25% of the pregnant health care workers have moderate to severe COVID-19 related anxiety; so, it is crucial for policymakers to focus on the mental health of the pregnant health care workers during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Viral Hepatitis in Pregnancy: ACOG Clinical Practice Guideline No. 6.

The purpose of this document is to describe the specific types of viral hepatitis, their implications during pregnancy, the risk of perinatal transmission, and issues related to both treatment and prevention of infection. Pregnant or postpartum women and individuals who screen positive for viral hepatitis infection. The onset of these conditions may have predated the perinatal period or may have occurred for the first time in pregnancy or the first year postpartum. This guideline was developed using an a priori protocol in conjunction with a writing team consisting of one specialist in obstetrics and gynecology appointed by the ACOG Committee on Clinical Practice Guidelines-Obstetrics and one external subject matter expert. ACOG medical librarians completed a comprehensive literature search for primary literature within Cochrane Library, Cochrane Collaboration Registry of Controlled Trials, EMBASE, PubMed, and MEDLINE. Studies that moved forward to the full-text screening stage were assessed by two authors from the writing team based on standardized inclusion and exclusion criteria. Included studies underwent quality assessment, and a modified GRADE (Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development, and Evaluation) evidence-to-decision framework was applied to interpret and translate the evidence into recommendation statements. This Clinical Practice Guideline includes recommendations on hepatitis B virus and hepatitis C virus screening in pregnancy; prepregnancy, antepartum, intrapartum, and postpartum management for patients with hepatitis B virus infection or hepatitis C virus infection; management of accidental and occupational exposure to hepatitis B virus or hepatitis C virus in pregnant health care workers; and hepatitis A virus and hepatitis B virus vaccination in pregnancy. Recommendations are classified by strength and evidence quality. Ungraded Good Practice Points are included to provide guidance when a formal recommendation could not be made because of inadequate or nonexistent evidence.

Occupational Safety of Pregnant Health Care Workers at the time of COVID-19

Abstract: Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) is probably the biggest international crisis in Worldwar- 2. Health care workers are any country’s biggest asset at the time of coronavirus pandemic. A pregnant health care worker involved in patient care may face multiple risks for herself and her foetus. This article briefly discusses the problems faced by pregnant health care staff and works out possible solutions for the same. Workplace health protection for herself and her unborn fetus is the right of all pregnant health care workers and a uniform policy ensuring the same is the need of the hour.

Hand hygiene for the prevention of infections in neonates.

Hand hygiene for the prevention of infections in neonates.

PD22-10 HOW SAFE ARE PREGNANT SURGEONS DURING PERCUTANEOUS NEPHROLITHOTOMY?

You have accessJournal of UrologyCME1 Apr 2023PD22-10 HOW SAFE ARE PREGNANT SURGEONS DURING PERCUTANEOUS NEPHROLITHOTOMY? Toby Clark, Kye Park, Nicole Mack, Cliff De Guzman, Matthew Buell, Akin S. Amasyali, Rose Leu, Kanha Shete, Ala'a Farkouh, Elizabeth Baldwin, and D. Duane Baldwin Toby ClarkToby Clark More articles by this author , Kye ParkKye Park More articles by this author , Nicole MackNicole Mack More articles by this author , Cliff De GuzmanCliff De Guzman More articles by this author , Matthew BuellMatthew Buell More articles by this author , Akin S. AmasyaliAkin S. Amasyali More articles by this author , Rose LeuRose Leu More articles by this author , Kanha SheteKanha Shete More articles by this author , Ala'a FarkouhAla'a Farkouh More articles by this author , Elizabeth BaldwinElizabeth Baldwin More articles by this author , and D. Duane BaldwinD. Duane Baldwin More articles by this author View All Author Informationhttps://doi.org/10.1097/JU.0000000000003295.10AboutPDF ToolsAdd to favoritesDownload CitationsTrack CitationsPermissionsReprints ShareFacebookLinked InTwitterEmail Abstract INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVE: There has been little study of radiation safety among pregnant healthcare workers, but current occupational recommendations limit fetal dose to 1 mSv. No prior study has investigated surgeon uterine radiation dose during percutaneous nephrolithotomy (PCNL). With the increased gender diversity in urology, understanding radiation exposure to the gravid uterus is essential. The purpose of this study was to determine surgeon uterine radiation dose during PCNL and the efficacy of radiation reduction techniques. METHODS: A coronally bisected cadaver, with an 8-week sized uterus, was positioned standing at bedside, similar to a surgeon performing PCNL. An ion chamber was placed behind the anterior wall of the uterus to measure radiation dose, while a second complete cadaver was positioned prone on the operating table, to produce scatter radiation. Three different methods for reducing uterine exposure were studied: pulsed fluoroscopy (1, 4, 8, 15, 30 pps), low dose (LD) fluoroscopy, and surgeon shielding (none, 0.35, 0.50, 0.70 mm lead equivalents). Using a conventional image intensifier C-arm, 20 trials were conducted for each of 40 comparison groups to determine dose/second. For calculations, PCNL exposure time was assumed to be 5 minutes and the case number prior to reaching the 1 mSv limit was determined. Statistical analysis was performed using the Wilcoxon test, and Kruskal Wallis with Dunn’s test. RESULTS: Decreasing pulse frequency from 30 to 1 pps resulted in a 96% dose reduction (p<0.001). Compared to automatic exposure control (AEC), low-dose settings decreased dose by 56% (p<0.001). Using continuous fluoroscopy with AEC and without shielding resulted in 0.086 mSv per PCNL to the uterus. Addition of a standard (0.35 mm) lead vest resulted in a 94% dose reduction (p<0.001). Compared to the 0.35 mm lead, the 0.50 and 0.70 mm lead vests reduced dose by 12% and 47%, respectively. At AEC (30 pps) with no lead and 0.35 mm lead, a surgeon could perform 12 and 189 PCNLs respectively, prior to reaching the 1 mSv limit. Using a 0.70 mm lead vest at LD and 1 pps, a pregnant surgeon could safely perform 11,700 PCNLs. CONCLUSIONS: Pregnant surgeons performing PCNL with conventional fluoroscopy settings and no lead could reach unsafe fetal exposure levels after 12 cases. In contrast, pregnant surgeons using low dose and pulsed fluoroscopy, together with lead shielding can practice in a high volume endourology setting without exceeding occupational dose limits. Surgeons, especially those considering pregnancy, are strongly encouraged to implement dose reduction strategies. Source of Funding: None © 2023 by American Urological Association Education and Research, Inc.FiguresReferencesRelatedDetails Volume 209Issue Supplement 4April 2023Page: e668 Advertisement Copyright & Permissions© 2023 by American Urological Association Education and Research, Inc.MetricsAuthor Information Toby Clark More articles by this author Kye Park More articles by this author Nicole Mack More articles by this author Cliff De Guzman More articles by this author Matthew Buell More articles by this author Akin S. Amasyali More articles by this author Rose Leu More articles by this author Kanha Shete More articles by this author Ala'a Farkouh More articles by this author Elizabeth Baldwin More articles by this author D. Duane Baldwin More articles by this author Expand All Advertisement PDF downloadLoading ...

Unheard Voices of Pregnant Health Care Professionals during COVID-19 Pandemic? - A Qualitative Study.

Pregnant Health Care Professionals (HCPs), who serve as front-line warriors of COVID-19 will invariably experience a stressful pregnancy period. Ensuring their well-being during this COVID-19 pandemic period is a big challenge and guidelines or standard operating procedures (SOP) for the same are non-existent or are scarce. To explore the challenges and experiences of pregnant HCPs during the COVID-19 pandemic. A qualitative study was conducted among 19 pregnant HCPs (14 Doctors and 5 staff nurses) working in Pondicherry, who were selected using purposive sampling for in-depth interviews. After obtaining informed written consent, face-to-face interviews were conducted until the attainment of the point of saturation. Audio recordings of the interviews were transcribed in English. Transcripts were proofread and manually analyzed for content. Codes obtained from the analysis of transcripts were merged to form broad categories. The majority 15 (78.9%) of HCPs belonged to the clinical department and had work experience from 2-4 years. The mean age of the respondents was 29.4 ± 3.6 years. Four broad categories (of challenges), namely, Personnel level (Fear of infection in workplace, Inadequate antenatal care), Family level (Family pressure to quit job, Guilt of spreading the infection to family members), society level (Criticism by neighbor for working, Stigma), and work level challenges (Fear of losing the job, Uncomfortable work environment) emerged from the study. Challenges faced by the pregnant HCPs due to their nature of work remain by and large not addressed. Hence, specific guidelines or SOPs addressing these issues of pregnant health care workers and their swift and strict implementation are the need of the hour.

A Cross-Sectional Study to Assess Knowledge, Attitude, and Practices Towards COVID-19 Pandemic Amongst Pregnant Women and Healthcare Staff at a Periurban Teaching Hospital in Haryana.

The objective is to assess knowledge, attitude, and practices towards the COVID-19 pandemic amongst pregnant women and healthcare staff at a periurban teaching hospital in Haryana, India. This was a single centre questionnaire-based cross-sectional analysis regardingCOVID-19which was conducted at a periurban teaching hospital in Haryana, India, amongst 300 participants which included pregnant women and healthcare staff involved in managing them. They were assessed for demographic details and KAP scores (knowledge-14 questions, attitude-9 questions, and practice-14 questions). Analysis of data was done using IBM Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) version 25.0. Participants in the present study had an overall adequate mean score of knowledge (22.54 ± 5.22) and were following correct practices (mean score 23.91 ± 6.72) to prevent COVID-19. The overall correlation of knowledge and practice also shows a positive correlation (0.939, p=<0.0001). This study demonstrated that the majority of the pregnant women andhealthcare workers involved in the management of pregnant women had adequate knowledge and a positive attitude towards tackling COVID-19. They were following correct practices and taking necessary steps for the prevention of the disease. They had adequate knowledge regarding vaccination for pregnant females.

Relationship between occupational hazards and Adverse pregnancy outcome in health care workers in Gonabad University of Medical Sciences

Introduction: Reproductive disorders are mentioned as one of the ten main diseases and work-related injuries and working in the health care field may affect pregnancy and its complications .The aim of this study was to observe the adverse consequences of pregnancy between female health care workers in relation to Occupational risk factors&#x0D; Methods and Materials: This cross-sectional study was performed on 153 female healthcare workers of Gonabad University of Medical Sciences Retrospectively during 2017-2020 who were selected by a Simple random sampling method. Data were collected through a checklist of women Health Care Workers. Data analysis was performed using Descriptive statistics methods, Chi-Square, Mann–Whitney U test with spss 22 at a significant level less than 0.05.&#x0D; Results: The frequency of pregnancy complications in female employees was 37.9%. Frequency of Premature labor 9.8%, abortion at 3.9%, and low birth weight at 6.5%, intrauterine growth restriction 4.6%, spotting and bleeding 25.5%, and pre-eclampsia 2% was reported. There was a significant association between some occupational hazards such as stress (P=0.04), exposure to anesthetic gas (P=0.015), prolonged standing (P=0.035), shift work (P=0.039), and workplace (P=0.012) with pregnancy complications. There was significant relationship between exposure to anesthetic gas with preterm labor (P=0.015) and Hours of work with low birth weight (P=0.013) and also significant relationship between shift work (P=0.039), long-standing (P=0.035) and workplace (P=0.012) with spotting and bleeding.&#x0D; Conclusion: Our study showed that some job characteristics and occupational hazards in health care workers affect the mother and the fetus and increase the risk of some pregnancy complications. Therefore, the support of pregnant health care workers in their work environment and the development of appropriate solutions in this regard must be taken into consideration by relevant organizations.

Seroprevalence of hepatitis B virus surface antigen (HBsAg) in Egypt (2000–2022): a systematic review with meta-analysis

BackgroundHepatitis B infection seriously threatens global public health, especially in developing nations. Despite several investigations on HBV incidence, the national pooled prevalence remains unknown, particularly in populations at-risk at whom interventions should be primarily aimed.MethodsA comprehensive literature search of the following databases: Medline [PubMed], Scopus, Google Scholar, and Web of Science was conducted following the PRISMA guidelines. I-squared and Cochran's Q were used to measure the heterogeneity between the studies. Publications that matched the following were included: Primary studies published in Egypt from 2000 to 2022 reported HBV prevalence based on HBsAg. We excluded any studies that were not performed on Egyptians or that were performed on patients suspected of acute viral hepatitis or studies focusing on occult hepatitis or vaccination evaluation studies, or national surveys.ResultsThe systematic review included 68 eligible studies reporting a total of 82 incidences of HBV infection based on hepatitis B surface antigen with a total sample size of 862,037. The pooled national prevalence among studies was estimated to be 3.67% [95% CI; 3: 4.39]. Children under 20 with a history of HBV vaccination during infancy had the lowest prevalence of 0.69%. The pooled prevalence of HBV infection among pregnant women, blood donors, and healthcare workers was 2.95%, 1.8%, and 1.1%, respectively. While patients with hemolytic anemia and hemodialysis patients, patients with malignancies, HCC patients, and chronic liver disease patients had the highest prevalences at 6.34%, 25.5%, 18.6%, and 34%, respectively. Studies reporting HBV prevalence in urban settings compared to rural settings revealed a similar HBV prevalence of 2.43% and 2.15%, respectively. Studies comparing HBV prevalence in males and females revealed a higher prevalence among males (3.75%) than females (2.2%).ConclusionIn Egypt, hepatitis B infection is a significant public health issue. The blocking of mother-to-infant hepatitis B transmission, the scaling up of the scope of the existing vaccination program, and implementing new strategies, including screen-and-treat, may reduce the prevalence of the disease.

Knowledge, attitudes, and practices towards seasonal influenza vaccination among pregnant women and healthcare workers: A cross-sectional survey in Afghanistan.

Despite recommendation by the World Health Organization (WHO), influenza vaccination coverage among high-risk groups remains suboptimal in Afghanistan. This study aims to document the knowledge, attitudes, and practices of seasonal influenza vaccine uptake among two priority groups, pregnant women (PWs) and healthcare workers (HCWs). This cross-sectional study enrolled PWs and HCWs in Kabul, Afghanistan, from September to December 2021. Data on vaccine intention and uptake, knowledge, and attitudes towards vaccination were collected. Simple linear regression was used to predict the impact of sociodemographic characteristics on the KAP score. A total of 420 PWs were enrolled in Afghanistan. The majority (89%) of these women had never heard of the influenza vaccine but 76% intended to receive the vaccine. Of the 220 HCWs enrolled, 88% were unvaccinated. Accessibility and cost were factors which encouraged vaccination among HCWs. Fear of side effects and affordability were identified as key barriers. HCWs reported high level of vaccine intention (93%). PWs aged under 18 years (β: 6.5, P = 0.004), between 18 and 24 years (β: 2.9, P = 0.014), currently employed (β: 5.8, P = 0.004), and vaccinated against COVID-19 (β: 2.8, P = 0.01) were likely to have a higher attitude score. Among HCWs, being female was a predictor for poor vaccination practice (β: -1.33, P < 0.001) whereas being vaccinated against COVID-19 was a predictor for higher practice score (β: 2.4, P < 0.001). To increase influenza vaccination coverage among priority groups, efforts should be made to address issues such as lack of knowledge, limited availability, and cost barriers.

Diphtheria, tetanus, and pertussis immunity among healthcare professionals and pregnant women in the Moscow region, Russian federation: A preliminary cross-sectional study.

Despite more than 50 years of primary immunization against diphtheria, pertussis, and tetanus in Russia, complicated illnesses, including fatal ones, still occur. The goal of this preliminary cross-sectional study is to see how well pregnant women and healthcare workers are protected against diphtheria, pertussis, and tetanus. The required sample size (pregnant women and healthcare professionals, as well as pregnant women of two age categories) for this preliminary cross-sectional study was calculated using a confidence value of 0.95 and a probability of 0.05. The required number of participants in each group calculated sample size must be at least 59 people. In the Moscow region (Solnechnogorsk city, Russia), a cross-sectional study of pregnant patients and healthcare professionals interacting with children regularly as part of their job from numerous medical organizations was conducted in the year 2021 (n = 655). Antibodies to diphtheria, tetanus, and pertussis toxoids and microorganisms were measured using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The STATISTICA and IBM SPSS Statistics 26.0 were used to process the study results statistically. Descriptive statistics methods, the Mann-Whitney U-test, discriminant analysis with the stepwise selection and analysis of ROC-curves were applied. IgG against diphtheria was found in 99.5% of pregnant women, tetanus in 91.5%, and pertussis in only 36.5%. According to the results of the discriminant analysis, the value of IgG to pertussis is linked to the value of IgA to pertussis and the gestational periods. Immunity to diphtheria was discovered in 99.1% of medical personnel, tetanus in 96.9%, and pertussis in 43.9%, no significant variations with age. When comparing the levels of immunity of pregnant women and healthcare professionals, it was shown that healthcare workers have greater levels of immunity against diphtheria and tetanus. The novel contribution of this study is that it will reveal the proportion of those vulnerable to pertussis, diphtheria, and tetanus among health workers and pregnant women in all age groups under the current national immunization program in Russia. Considering the data obtained from the preliminary cross-sectional study, we believe that it is necessary to conduct a full-scale study on a larger sample and, based on that, make certain changes to the national immunization program in Russia.

Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder During the COVID-19 Pandemic Process: A Narrative Review.

This study aimed to review all empirical contributions published between March 2020 and June 2022, addressing the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on obsessive-compulsive disorder in adults. We searched the literature in PubMed, Google Scholar, and Web of Science. A total of 543 articles were scanned and 73 full-text articles were identified. Reviews, comments, letters to the editor, and case reports (except case series) were excluded. It was determined that 42 articles met the inclusion criteria, 6 studies involving only children and adolescents were excluded, and 36 were decided on their suitability for our study. The analysis determined that COVID-19 had an impact on obsessive-compulsive disorder. Characteristics such as liability for harm and unacceptable thoughts influenced the symptoms as well as contamination and washing. Some studies showed an increase in the severity of obsessive-compulsive symptoms, while some reported no worsening but improvement with treatment and follow-up. While some reported variations in outcomes related to sociodemographic characteristics and subtypes, some focused on the risk of suicide. There were also studies conducted on special groups such as pregnant women or healthcare workers. The results were controversial. While available data contain more information on worsening obsessive-compulsive disorder symptoms, data on the status of patients under treatment were scarce. There were not enough studies evaluating follow-up results. Influencing factors such as sociodemographic characteristics, subtypes, comorbid conditions, treatment, and support did not seem to have been adequately addressed.

"Maternal Vaccination Greatly Depends on Your Trust in the Healthcare System": A Qualitative Study on the Acceptability of Maternal Vaccines among Pregnant Women and Healthcare Workers in Barcelona, Spain.

The World Health Organization (WHO) identified vaccine hesitancy as one of the top 10 threats to global health in 2019. Health promotion and education have been seen to improve knowledge and uptake of vaccinations in pregnancy. This qualitative study was conducted based on phenomenology, a methodological approach to understand first-hand experiences, and grounded theory, an inductive approach to analyse data, where theoretical generalisations emerge. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews with pregnant women attending antenatal care services and healthcare workers (HCWs) in Barcelona, Spain. Interviews were audio-recorded, transcribed, and coded, and notes were taken. Inductive thematic analysis was performed, and data were manually coded. Pertussis was reported as the most trusted vaccine among pregnant women due to its long-standing background as a recommended vaccine in pregnancy. The influenza vaccine was regarded as less important since it was perceived to cause mild disease. The COVID-19 vaccine was the least trustworthy for pregnant women due to uncertainties about effectiveness, health effects in the mid- and long-term, the fast development of the vaccine mRNA technology, and the perceptions of limited data on vaccine safety. However, the necessity to be vaccinated was justified by pregnant women due to the exceptional circumstances of the COVID-19 pandemic. The recommendations provided by HCW and the established relationship between the HCW, particularly midwives, and pregnant women were the main factors affecting decision-making. The role of mass media was perceived as key to helping provide reliable messages about the need for vaccines during pregnancy. Overall, vaccines administered during pregnancy were perceived as great tools associated with better health and improved quality of life. Pregnancy was envisioned as a vulnerable period in women's lives that required risk-benefits assessments for decision-making about maternal vaccinations. A holistic approach involving the community and society was considered crucial for health education regarding maternal vaccines in support of the work conducted by HCWs.