Family Welfare Research Articles

Examining the Link Between Delivery Method, Sleep Quality, and Postpartum Depression: Insights from a Prospective Study

This study investigates the prevalence of postpartum depression (PPD) among 200 women who delivered at Government Women’s Hospital, Dharashiv, from October 2023 to March 2024. The findings reveal a half-year prevalence of PPD at 13% for vaginal deliveries and 26% for cesarean deliveries, resulting in a pooled prevalence of 22% in India. This figure is notably higher than the 12.9% reported in high-income countries and aligns with the 19.2% prevalence found in low- and middle-income nations. The study highlights the challenges faced by mothers in accessing adequate postpartum care, especially given the short hospital stays and low rates of follow-up visits, which contribute to undetected mental health issues. Urban mothers exhibited higher rates of PPD, potentially due to factors such as overcrowding and increased stress. The mean age of affected mothers was 28.05 years, with no significant associations found between PPD and socio-demographic variables like family type or maternal education. Notably, a prior history of depression was linked to higher prevalence rates. These findings underscore the urgent need for enhanced screening and intervention strategies for PPD in India, particularly for vulnerable populations, to improve maternal mental health outcomes and overall family well-being.

Investigating the impact of time allocation on family well-being in China

Investigating the impact of time allocation on family well-being in China

Factors Determining the Welfare of Family Circular Mobility of Labor from Nusa Penida in the Tourism Sector in Ubud

The main motivation for people to move from their area (rural) to urban is an economic motive. This motive developed due to economic inequality between regions. The most recommended condition is a rational consideration, where individuals mobilize to the city is the expectation of getting a job and earning a higher income than what is obtained in the village (Mantra, 1992). The purpose of this study is to determine the Determinants of Family Welfare of Circular Mobility Actors of Labor from Nusa Penida in the Tourism Sector in Ubud. The research method used is associative because it aims to find the influence of independent variables on one or more dependent variables. The results of the study concluded that: Employment status directly has a positive and significant effect on circular migrant remittances in Ubud District. Then skills, employment status and education level directly have a positive and insignificant effect on circular migrant remittances in Ubud District. Remitan has no positive and insignificant effect on circular migrant remittances in Ubud District.

Guest editorial: Women and Gulf Cities. The transformative impact of women influencing the architectural and urban developments of the gulf region

PurposeWith this special edition, “Women and Gulf Cities”, we collect scholarly contributions to the ongoing discourse on the impact of women on architectural and urban developments in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC).Design/methodology/approachThe discussions offered in this issue highlight the various implications, ranging from gender-inclusive urban planning, educational and professional development, sustainability and heritage to global frameworks of innovative and practical solutions for achieving inclusive and integrated urban practices that promote the full and equal participation of women in architecture and city-making.FindingsThe increasing involvement of women in these sectors play a pivotal part in their development and success. It can also be recognised as essential for promoting individual and family well-being, fostering social cohesion and driving economic development. Women play essential roles in sustainable solutions, evolving green economy and sustainable development. Moreover, collaborations initiated by women in the Arab region are instrumental in advancing sustainable development to pave the way towards a sustainable future.Originality/valueThis special edition offers a comprehensive exploration of various facets, ranging from gender-sensitive urban design (GSUD) to the educational and professional development of women in architecture and design, particularly in the Gulf region. The originality of this research lies in its focus on the multifaceted and integral role of women in shaping the architectural and urban landscape of the Gulf region, providing valuable insights into the challenges and opportunities for GSUD and the potential for creating more inclusive, equitable and sustainable built environments in the Gulf.

Non-alcohlic Fatty Liver Disease (NAFLD): Is it a Dormant Volcano or Tip of an Iceberg?

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), a major cause of chronic liver disease, is known to affect a quarter of the global adults. Natural history of NAFLD shows interindividual variation, traditionally it progresses from simple steatosis to steatohepatitis to fibrosis/cirrhosis and finally yet rarely to hepatocellular carcinoma. It is largely a lifestyle-related disease and is often labeled as the hepatic manifestation of metabolic syndrome. Both prevention and control of NAFLD include controlling risk factors (obesity, diabetes mellitus, hypertension and dyslipidemia), through lifestyle modification and medications. Drug therapy for NAFLD per se is still evolving and till date, no drugs are approved. It is clinically silent, especially in the early stages, and is a diagnosis of exclusion. Certain easily calculated indices can stratify cases into high or low risk for advanced fibrosis, thereby dictating appropriate monitoring and treatment measures. In addition to complications specific to liver disease in those who do progress to advanced fibrosis or cirrhosis, an increased risk of nonliver disease-related morbidity and mortality is also present. Challenges are manifold and include rising burden due to ever-growing epidemic of diabetes and obesity, low public awareness, fragmented healthcare, no approved drugs, and dearth of data on magnitude and epidemiology of the disease. The recent integration of NAFLD into the National Program for Prevention and Control of Non-Communicable Diseases (NPCDCS) by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare of India is a welcome step in this direction as the contributory factors are mostly the same for all diseases and controlling any one or all of them will have a desired impact on the prevalence of all the diseases under this program.

Performative Facework During Graduate School: International Graduate Student Parents’ Navigation of Work and Family Precarities

This paper examined how international graduate student parents (IGSPs) engage in performative facework to deal with their non-normative parent identity in graduate schools in the United States. Participants engaged in sedimentary facework to perform the ideal graduate student face. IGSPs’ sedimentary facework perpetuated their own marginalization as they disciplined themselves to “hide the children” and avoid receiving “special favors.” Nevertheless, sedimentary facework provided face cover that enabled IGSPs to actually have children in practice. A few IGSPs worked with mentors who advocated work–family integration and engaged in subversive facework that disrupted the child-free norm of graduate students, thus cultivating the potential for individual resistance and structural change. Taking a feminist intersectional lens, we unveil how participants’ performances of the ideal graduate student face are entrenched in intersectional precarities to problematize the dominating workplace ideology privileging neoliberal productivity over personal and family well-being.

Understanding the complexity of decision-making for mothers of young children with ambulatory cerebral palsy: A qualitative phenomenological study.

To investigate non-clinical factors that affect health-related decision-making in mothers with young ambulatory children living with cerebral palsy (CP). Guided by phenomenology, we asked parents to describe early experiences of raising a young ambulatory child living with CP. Conversations were audio-recorded, transcribed, coded, and analysed using a qualitative inductive approach. Eighteen parents (all mothers) of 20 children participated. Five themes emerged related to decision-making, each influencing goal setting, prioritization, and health service use. Mothers had to balance both child and family well-being. Acceptance of their child's diagnosis and abilities changed over time, partially influenced by their child's emerging voice. Uncertainty arose when weighing multiple factors regarding child, family, and what the future held. Experiences were laden with system-level burdens related to underinsurance and care coordination. Themes regularly overlapped and persisted. Our findings highlight the complexity of the decision-making experienced by mothers of young ambulatory children living with CP. Probing this information can inform appropriate shared care planning that meets the preferences and circumstances of mothers and their families.

Social workers’ perspectives on anti-Black racism and parenting outcomes for incarcerated pregnant women with substance use histories

Summary Black women who use substances face significant barriers to accessing resources and parenting their children, largely as a result of interactions with the criminal legal, child welfare, and healthcare systems. While extensive literature has demonstrated how structural racism and punitive policy approaches underpin the operation and impact of these systems, minimal attention has been paid to how social workers approach child, maternal, and family well-being when interacting with clients who use substances and have been incarcerated. To address this gap, we conducted semi-structured qualitative interviews with 19 social workers practicing in jail/prison, community, and hospital settings across the United States. Findings Interviews identified the cyclical and intergenerational nature of harms perpetuated through criminal legal, child welfare, and healthcare systems. Participants described structural racism, inadequate resources (i.e., housing), and previous criminal legal and child welfare involvement as compounding barriers to an individual’s ability to parent and maintain recovery, particularly among Black families. Participants described the pervasiveness of structural racism but did not perceive themselves as active participants in perpetuating racist and oppressive structures. Applications Social workers engage with Black pregnant women who use substances across diverse practice settings and as such have the potential to both contribute to systemic harms and to champion interventions that target the root causes of inequity. Study findings support structural interventions that dismantle punitive systems and re-center the needs of Black communities, thereby supporting Black mothers in their fundamental right to parent their children.

Promoting Health for a vulnerable Family with Relationship Challenges. Exploring the Community Nurse's Role

Background: In today's dynamic social landscape, families often encounter a myriad of challenges that can impact their overall health and well-being. Among these challenges, relationship difficulties within the family unit stand out as a significant concern, with potential repercussions for the physical, emotional, and psychological health of its members. Aim: This case study article delves into the intricate dynamics of promoting health within a vulnerable family facing significant relationship challenges. The focus of this study is to explore the pivotal role of the community nurse in addressing the unique needs of such families. Materials and Methods: A qualitative research approach was employed to comprehensively investigate the experiences of a vulnerable family navigating relationship challenges. Data collection involved in-depth interviews, direct observations, and document analysis. Thematic analysis was used to extract meaningful patterns and insights from the collected data. Results: The findings underscored the crucial influence of the community nurse in fostering the health and well-being of the vulnerable family. Through tailored interventions, collaborative support, and sensitive communication, the community nurse played a pivotal role in addressing the family's relationship challenges and promoting their overall health. Conclusions: This study sheds light on the significance of the community nurse's involvement in enhancing the health outcomes of families facing relationship challenges. The role of the community nurse emerges as an essential component in fostering resilience and facilitating positive changes within the family unit.

Postponement of Inheritance Distribution for Minangkabau Migrant Inheritors: A Study of Islamic Law

This research aimed to examine the practice of postponing inheritance distribution for Minangkabau migrant inheritors from Islamic law’s perspective and identify the contributing factors. The research employed a mixed-methods approach, combining field research and normative legal analysis. Subsequently, the collected data were analyzed qualitatively to describe the problem and address the research purposes. The results showed that postponing inheritance distribution contradicts the principles of Islamic law, which mandates that the division be carried out promptly after the testator’s death using fara’id. This delay is influenced by economic factors, customary practices that grant women a dominant role in inheritance and prioritize the preservation of high-level heirloom treasures, and the distance separating migrant inheritors from their hometowns. Nevertheless, some scholars permit postponement if it is based on considerations of family welfare, while others reject it by referring to the ijbari principle. Therefore, it is recommended that the government, Islamic scholars, Minangkabau indigenous people, and Muslim migrant inheritors enhance their understanding and awareness of Islamic inheritance law and play an active role in preventing and resolving the issue of postponed inheritance distribution, as preventing inheritors from their inheritance rights is unlawful (haram) and a major sin.

Arabic validation of the parental stress scale (PSS) in a population-based sample of Lebanese parents

ABSTRACT Background Parental stress significantly impacts the well-being of families, and necessitates culturally sensitive tools for its assessment. The Parental Stress Scale, widely used in diverse cultural settings, lacks a validated Arabic version suitable for the Lebanese context, where unique sociopolitical and economic factors might influence parental stress differently. This study aimed to translate, culturally adapt, and validate the scale in Arabic among a Lebanese sample Methods Following the Snowball sampling method, participants (n = 502) were adult Lebanese parents who answered demographic questions and completed the Arabic version of the Parental Stress Scale and the Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scale-8. Results Confirmatory Factor Analysis showed a two-factor model of the Parental Stress Scale (CFI = 0.956). We found adequate composite reliability for both the ‘Parental Stress’ (ω = 0.91/α = 0.91) and ‘Parental satisfaction’ (ω = 0.94/α = 0.94) subscales. Convergent validity and concurrent validity were demonstrated through positive correlations with measures of depression, anxiety and stress. Our translation of the scale was shown to be invariant across sexes, with fathers scoring significantly higher than mothers. Conclusion Our validated Arabic version of the Parental Stress Scale offers a culturally sensitive instrument for assessing parental stress in Lebanon. This tool enables healthcare providers and researchers to identify stressors affecting Lebanese families, facilitating the development of targeted interventions to support parental mental health.

Training and mentoring of Health Workers and Cadres of Bengkulu City Health Center in Monitoring The Growth and Development of Toddlers with The SDIDTK Application

Monitoring children's growth and development is one of the basic programs implemented by Community health center (Puskesmas) to ensure a healthy life and improve children's welfare. The Bengkulu City Health Office identified limited human resources and a lack of supporting tools as inhibiting factors in achieving SDIDTK service targets. The service was carried out through training on Growth and Development Monitoring with the Android-based SDIDTK Application and field assistance. The training was held on July 24-25, 2024 with 36 participants consisting of 17 health workers, 17 cadres from 17 health centers, and 2 staff from the Family Welfare Division of the Bengkulu City Health Office at the Campus 4 Hall of Bengkulu University. The results of the pre and post-test of the training showed that 94% of participants increased their knowledge. The results of the assessment of skills in using the application showed that 100% of participants were able to do as directed. SDIDTK Kit assistance was delivered to 17 Puskesmas with the signing of the Minutes by the Head of Service implementer and staff of the Health Division of the Bengkulu City Health Office. Field assistance was carried out for 2 weeks after the training in 17 Puskesmas working areas.

The influence of financial technology, personality traits, and financial literacy on financial attitude, personal saving orientation, and family financial planning, moderated by financial quotient among naval families. “A study of Hera naval base, Timor-Leste”

Family financial planning is becoming more and more crucial, particularly in military environments where certain challenges can affect financial habits. The study looks at moderating role of financial quotient on the correlation between financial technology, personality traits, and financial literacy and family financial planning of naval families at Naval Base Hera. Although certain factors of financial behaviour have been studied before, how these factors are interrelated within military families is still unclear. This research seeks to fill this gap by employing a causal explanatory research method that analyze sources from 248 married Navy personnel through using a structural equation modeling (SEM) approach with Smart PLS. The findings paint a picture that where Fintech influences the financial behaviours of individuals and families, such traits for personality and financial literacy inform their attitudes and ever financial planning. Posted here, it is revealed that financial quotients have a moderate influence on the results of family financial planning. Thus, this research highlights the need to design and implement financial education interventions that incorporate technology support and improve the financial literacy of naval officers with policy implication for the authorities as well as other denominations in the teaching of financial education. This research fills this gap making a positive contribution in the understanding of financial management in military environment hence contributing to the informing of policies that foster better financial stability and well-being of families of soldiers serving in the navy.

Work-life Balance: An Essential Capability for Social Workers’ Well-being in Free State, South Africa

Social workers in South Africa and internationally promote the welfare of individuals, families, groups, and communities by attending to their social issues and needs. The advancement of this goal is intricately connected to professionals’ well-being. Drawing on qualitative interviews conducted in one of South Africa’s provinces, the Free State, and deploying the capability approach and work-family border theory, this study examines social workers’ conceptualisation of their well-being and the significance of a work-life balance in attaining well-being. It explores the many challenges faced by social workers in sustaining a balance between their personal and professional lives. A purposive sample of 18 participants consisting of eight practising social workers and ten student social workers was selected. Data was collected through individual semi-structured interviews. The findings from the study suggest that social workers understand their well-being in quite broad terms. Besides their physical and mental health, they conceive their well-being with regard to the satisfaction that comes with the accomplishment of various professional (work) and private (life) functionings. They, for instance, cherish growing as professionals, being effective helpers, having control and autonomy over their work, being supported by organisational structures, and having ample time for their private lives and families. However, in South Africa, working conditions characterised by a lack of resources, high caseloads, and poor salaries cause work-life imbalance and interfere with the achievement of social workers’ valued life goals and overall well-being.

Contextual Factors Predictive of Social-Emotional Functioning Among Children of Mothers With and Without Low Intellectual Functioning

This study used Future of Families Child and Wellbeing Study data to examine community, family, and maternal predictors of social-emotional outcomes for kindergarten-aged children of mothers with and without low intellectual functioning. Multivariate analysis of variance and multivariate regression explored relationships between maternal intellectual functioning, covariates, and outcomes. As poverty was an important covariate, predictive of outcomes, marginal analysis was used to understand the interaction between poverty and intellectual functioning on each of the outcomes. Children whose mothers had low intellectual functioning had poorer outcomes than their peers regarding positive, anxious/depressed, and withdrawn behaviors regardless of poverty level. This research supports prioritizing these children for early social-emotional education as they enter elementary school, as well as prioritizing their families for supportive interventions in community-based settings.

Pemberdayaan Masyarakat Melalui Inovasi Produk Lokal Studi Kasus: Pengelolaan Buah Sawo Menjadi Bolu Kukus di Desa Kaligelang

The sapodilla fruit, as a tropical fruit rich in nutrients, holds significant economic potential in Kaligelang Village, Pemalang Regency. Despite producing high-quality fruit, the utilization of sapodilla in this village is still limited to direct sales without further processing. This study aims to enhance the knowledge and skills of the members of the PKK (Family Welfare Program) in processing sapodilla into steamed cake (bolu kukus) as an innovative value-added product. A processing demonstration was conducted on September 20, 2024, with 32 participants involved. The research method utilized pre-test and post-test questionnaires, which were analyzed using N Gain Score to measure the effectiveness of the training. The results showed an average increase of 23.69 points in participants' knowledge scores, with an average N Gain Score of 0.43, categorized as moderate. The findings indicate that this program not only enhances participants' knowledge but also has the potential to strengthen the local economy through the development of sapodilla-based small and medium enterprises (UMKM).

Efficient detection of data entry errors in large-scale public health surveys: an unsupervised machine learning approach

Data entry errors in large-scale public health surveys can undermine the effectiveness of data-driven interventions. Therefore, identifying these data entry errors is crucial for public health experts. In large-scale public health surveys, manually verifying the accuracy of every data point by domain experts is nearly impossible. This study evaluates unsupervised machine learning algorithms for detecting these errors, focusing on the 'weight' parameter in the Annual Health Survey (AHS) dataset. The AHS, conducted by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India, in collaboration with the Registrar General of India, is a large-scale, stratified, household-level survey targeting maternal and child health across nine states in India. The dataset is freely available on the Open Government Data (OGD) Platform of India for public health research. In this study, five algorithms—DBSCAN, K-Means, Gaussian Mixture Model (GMM), Isolation Forest (IF), and One-Class SVM (1C-SVM) were applied to detect erroneous data entries. The evaluation process involved comprehensive preprocessing and feature engineering to optimize detection capabilities. Performance metrics such as precision, recall, accuracy, false anomaly, and missed anomaly rates were used to assess each algorithm. Among these, DBSCAN demonstrated superior performance, achieving a recall of 94.7% and a precision of 81.9%, making it highly effective for this task. The findings underscore the potential of unsupervised machine learning in automating the detection of data entry errors, thereby improving the integrity of public health data. This research contributes to the advancement of precision public health, supporting more accurate and reliable evidence-based decision-making and policy formulation.

NURSING SCIENCE TREND, CURRENT AND CHALLENGES IN ETHIOPIA: A NARRATIVE REVIEW EVIDENCE FROM RECENT LITERATURE AND POLICIES

Abstract Nursing is a profession dedicated to promoting and maintaining the health and well-being of individuals, families, and communities. In Ethiopia, the nursing profession has undergone significant changes in recent years, with the number of nurses increasing and the profession becoming more professionalized. However, there are still significant challenges facing the nursing profession in Ethiopia, such as the shortage of nurses, poor working conditions, and lack of education and training. The review begins by providing an overview of the nursing profession, including its history, scope of practice, and education and training requirements. The review then discusses the trends in nursing in Ethiopia, such as the increasing number of nurses with bachelor's degrees and the growing specialization of nurses. Finally, the review discusses the challenges facing the nursing profession in Ethiopia and provides recommendations for addressing these challenges. The review concludes by highlighting the importance of the nursing profession in Ethiopia and the need to address the challenges facing the profession in order to ensure that Ethiopia has a sufficient number of well-trained nurses to meet the needs of its population.

Training on producing eucalyptus and betel leaf oil for dengue fever prevention

Dengue Hemorrhagic Fever (DHF) remains a significant public health issue in Indonesia and is endemic in nearly all provinces. The mortality rate from DHF continues to rise each year. To address this, health education on dengue fever prevention is essential. One preventive measure involves the use of natural ingredients. Betel leaves, in particular, can kill mosquito larvae due to the toxic substances they contain, which are especially harmful to mosquito larvae. Therefore, community service activities are necessary to raise awareness and provide practical solutions. This activity was conducted in Jetis Village, Sukoharjo, targeting 30 women in the Family Welfare Program (PKK) from the local community. The implementation included the preparation of pre-tests and post-tests, as well as training sessions. The questionnaire used in this activity assessed participants' skills through a pretest, followed by training in making eucalyptus and betel leaf oil, and concluded with a post-test. The results showed a significant improvement in the participants' skills, with most moving from "moderately competent" to "competent," as indicated by a P-value of 0.001. It can be concluded that the oil-making training effectively improved the skills of the PKK women.

Hysterectomy across Different Occupational Groups of Women in India: A Cross-sectional Study

Abstract Aims and Objective: The paper aims to examine the prevalence of hysterectomy amongst 451,853 women aged 25–49 years by different occupation groups in India and seek to identify associated factors. It is a cross-sectional study using bivariate and multivariate analyses. Materials and Methods: Data available in the public domain from the fourth round of the National Family Health Survey, conducted pan-India including both rural and urban areas during 2015–2016 by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India, are used. Descriptive statistical analyses were performed to investigate hysterectomy prevalence across various states and union territories and other independent variables in India. Further, two binary logistic regression models were run to examine the determinants of hysterectomy where the dependent variable had undergone hysterectomy and not undergone hysterectomy. Results: The result revealed that about five in every 100 Indian women had undergone hysterectomy. Excessive menstrual bleeding was the most common underlying condition for undergoing hysterectomy amongst all occupation groups. The prevalence was found to be the highest amongst agricultural women workers who are 32% (odds ratio = 1.320; confidence interval: 1.209–1.440) significantly more likely to undergo hysterectomy compared to other occupation groups. Conclusion: These results raise questions about poor access to quality healthcare services particularly for sexual and reproductive health amongst women working in the agricultural sector.