Characteristics Of Women Research Articles

The Role of Women's Leadership Characteristics in Shaping Job Autonomy and Its Effects on Employee Innovation Performance

Research aims: This study investigates the impact of women's leadership traits on employee innovation performance and the role of job autonomy as an intermediary.Design/Methodology/Approach: This study used a quantitative approach with a cross-sectional design, focusing on micro-level analysis, with 323 employees from a Pekanbaru Public Health Center (Puskesmas) as the target population. One hundred seventy-five samples were obtained using Cluster Random Sampling, and the SEM statistical test and Smart PLS 4.0 software were utilized for quantitative analysis.Research findings: Women's characteristic leadership supports the creation and development of employee innovation performance. It will be better if the provision of work autonomy accompanies it.Theoretical Contribution/Originality: Developing a job autonomy theory covers procedural autonomy, soft skills, and decision-making. Scheduling autonomy includes time flexibility and technical tasks. Autonomy within job criteria is assessed through task priority, management, and performance.Practitioners/Policy Implications: The research highlights the importance of work autonomy in Pekanbaru Health Centers, highlighting the role of women's leadership characteristics and proving that women possess the same abilities as men, thereby supporting employee innovation performance.Research Limitations/Implications: The study suggests that future research could benefit from a longitudinal design to assess theory constructs over time, considering the limitations of cross-sectional designs and the limited sample size of Pekanbaru City Health Center employees, allowing for a more comprehensive analysis.

Prevalence and Characteristics of Women with Persistent LBP Postpartum

Background: Persistent low back pain (LBP) postpartum is a known phenomenon; however, the prevalence and characteristics thereof were unknown in South Africa. Objectives: This study determined the point prevalence and characteristics of women with persistent LBP postpartum. Methods: A cross-sectional quantitative design was used. Women over 18 years who gave birth more than six weeks prior to the study were included. Data were collected for both groups through physical measurements and questionnaires. Descriptive, correlational, and non-parametric statistical analysis was conducted. Results: 50 women participated in the study, and 22 (44%) presented with persistent LBP postpartum. The group with LBP experienced a higher level of disability (54.5% - moderate disability and 4.5% - severe disability) compared to the pain-free group. Postnatal depression was indicated in 40.9% of the LBP group and was statistically significantly and moderately positively associated with the presence of LBP (p=0.000; r=0.53). Regarding activity and participation levels, 59.1% of females with LBP postpartum had a moderate risk for chronicity, and 13.6% had a high risk. The LBP pain group differed significantly in terms of participation in physical activity (p=0.000) compared to the pain-free group. Conclusion: The results indicated a high point prevalence of LBP six or more weeks postpartum (44%). On impairment level, disability and postnatal depression experienced by women with LBP postpartum differed from the pain-free group. Participants who were pain-free were much more physically active than participants with LBP. The results from the study implied low levels of physical activity in the presence of LBP.

Effect of a psycho-awareness-training program on women's attitude and psychosomatic status post-abortion in Jazan, Saudi Arabia.

Abortion is a common medical procedure, and women who undergo it often experience negative psychological and physical effects. This study aimed to assess the effect of a psycho-awareness-training program on women's knowledge and psychosomatic status post-abortion in Jazan, Saudi Arabia. a one-group pre- and post-test quasi-experimental design was conducted among 135 eligible women post-abortion. Researchers used an Arabic questionnaire online survey containing items on women's characteristics, knowledge of abortion, and psychosomatic status post-abortion. The majority of the participants were married (95.6%) and had a university degree (58.5%). The total satisfactory knowledge increased significantly from 29.6% at baseline to 91% post-training (p =.000). The proportion of respondents exhibiting high scores on self-confidence and self-esteem decreased significantly, dropping from 47.4% at the baseline to 12.6% after the training. The program also decreased feelings of guilt, isolation, sleep disturbance, problems in married relationships, fear of society's view, and the absence of social support. The psycho-awareness-training program had a positive effect on women's knowledge of abortion and psychosomatic status post-abortion. The program improved self-confidence and self-esteem while decreasing negative psychological effects. This study emphasizes the importance of providing psychological support and education to women who undergo abortion.

Practice of Obstetric Analgesia in Maternity of Kinshasa City

Objective: The study was carried out to make an inventory of the practice of obstetrical analgesia in Kinshasa’s maternities. Methods: This is a transversal and multicenter study carried out from January 2017 to December 2018 in three maternity hospitals in Kinshasa where obstetric analgesia is regularly practiced. The collected data (women's characteristics, techniques used, complications and maternal satisfaction) were analyzed with SPSS 22.0 for p <0.05. Results: One hundred and twenty women were retained out of 4148 deliveries, i.e. 2.8%. The mean age was 31 ± 5.3 years. The majority of women (84.2%) had a university education. The primiparous represented 50.8% and at the beginning the average visual analogic scale was 9.1. Women were ASA I in 85.8% and all pregnancies were full term. Mean cervical dilation before analgesia was 4.5 ± 1.2 cm. Epidural analgesia (89.2%) was the most used technique using bupivacaine (93%) and fentanyl (60.3%). Spinal analgesia was used in 10%. The maintenance was done with the electric syringe pump in 80% and the analgesia was comfort in 86.7%. The mean dilation of the cervix before spinal analgesia was 7cm and 4cm for the epidural. Delivery was vaginal in 88.3% and cesarean section in 11.7% with failure to engage (50%) as the main indication. Arterial hypotension (8.3%) was the most frequent complication and 88.3% of the women declared themselves satisfied. Conclusion: Obstetric analgesia is practiced in Kinshasa, but still with a very low rate of achievement.

Cleavage Patterns of 9600 Embryos: The Importance of Irregular Cleavage.

This prospective, observational study investigated the incidence of irregular cleavage (IRC) among human embryos and its influence on IVF treatment outcomes. It included 1001 women who underwent 1976 assisted reproduction treatments during 2016-2021 in a single IVF clinic. Embryo morphokinetics were analyzed and evaluated for the association between IRC and women's characteristics, treatment characteristics, and pregnancy outcomes. The incidence of IRC was 17.5% (1689/9632 embryos). Of these, 85% of the embryos had one IRC, 15% had multiple IRC and 35% of IRC events occurred during the embryo's first cell cycle. IRC embryos were found to correlate with male factor (p = 0.01) and higher ICSI rate (p = 0.01). Age, BMI, parity, basal FSH level, stimulation protocol, and number of retrieved oocytes did not differ between groups. Embryos with early IRC or more than one IRC had lower blastulation rates (p = 0.01 for each). Fresh cycles with IRC embryos had a lower clinical pregnancy rate (p = 0.01) and embryos with early IRC had a lower live birth rate (p = 0.04) compared to embryos without IRC. Frozen transfer cycles of blastocyst embryos, with or without IRC, had comparable results. In conclusion, the number of abnormal cleavage events and their timing are important factors in the prognosis of the developing human embryo.

Factors influencing women’s decision choosing a public or private health facility for tuberculosis (TB) services: An analysis of Nepal demographic and health survey data 2016

BACKGROUND: Nepal is committed to providing reliable and free Tuberculosis (TB) services through public health facilities, but a considerable number of TB cases seek services from the private sector. There have been no previously published studies investigating factors that influence women's decision to choose a public or private health facility for TB services. Therefore, we aimed to examine how women's socio-demographic characteristics influence this decision. METHODS: We conducted an analysis using data from the Nepal Demographic and Health Survey (NDHS) 2016. The NDHS 2016 was a nationally representative cross-sectional study. A descriptive, bivariate and multivariate logistic regression method was used in the analysis. RESULTS: Overall, 88% of women chose a public health facility as their preferred place for the diagnosis and treatment of TB. Women having good TB knowledge (aOR: 1.90, 95% CI: 1.52-2.39), women aged 45-49 years (aOR: 3.98, CI: 2.68-5.91), and women living in the mountain region (aOR: 3.16, CI: 1.78-5.61) were more likely to prefer a public health facility. Women belonging to the richest category (aOR: 0.54, CI: 0.38-0.78), and being of Muslim (aOR: 0.42, CI: 0.28-0.64) were less likely to choose a public health facility for diagnosis and treatment of TB. CONCLUSION: This study indicates a considerable number of women have an insufficient level of access to quality TB services from a public health facility in Nepal. Inadequate TB knowledge, younger age, unemployment, and social stigma were all associated with women not preferring the public health facilities for the diagnosis and treatment of TB. We believe the findings of the analysis will help policy makers and program managers to fine-tune an intervention plan focusing on these women who are less likely to prefer public health facilities for TB services.

Factors influencing women’s decision choosing a public or private health facility for tuberculosis (TB) services: An analysis of Nepal demographic and health survey data 2016

BACKGROUND: Nepal is committed to providing reliable and free Tuberculosis (TB) services through public health facilities, but a considerable number of TB cases seek services from the private sector. There have been no previously published studies investigating factors that influence women's decision to choose a public or private health facility for TB services. Therefore, we aimed to examine how women's socio-demographic characteristics influence this decision. METHODS: We conducted an analysis using data from the Nepal Demographic and Health Survey (NDHS) 2016. The NDHS 2016 was a nationally representative cross-sectional study. A descriptive, bivariate and multivariate logistic regression method was used in the analysis. RESULTS: Overall, 88% of women chose a public health facility as their preferred place for the diagnosis and treatment of TB. Women having good TB knowledge (aOR: 1.90, 95% CI: 1.52-2.39), women aged 45-49 years (aOR: 3.98, CI: 2.68-5.91), and women living in the mountain region (aOR: 3.16, CI: 1.78-5.61) were more likely to prefer a public health facility. Women belonging to the richest category (aOR: 0.54, CI: 0.38-0.78), and being of Muslim (aOR: 0.42, CI: 0.28-0.64) were less likely to choose a public health facility for diagnosis and treatment of TB. CONCLUSION: This study indicates a considerable number of women have an insufficient level of access to quality TB services from a public health facility in Nepal. Inadequate TB knowledge, younger age, unemployment, and social stigma were all associated with women not preferring the public health facilities for the diagnosis and treatment of TB. We believe the findings of the analysis will help policy makers and program managers to fine-tune an intervention plan focusing on these women who are less likely to prefer public health facilities for TB services.

Can we predict peritoneal adhesions formation after cesarean delivery?

To examine demographic and obstetrical factors that are associated with adhesion formation following cesarean delivery. We conducted a population-based study that included all women over 18 years og age who underwent two cesarean deliveries between the years 1988 and 2016 in a large tertiary medical center. We excluded women with adhesions already diagnosed during the first cesarean delivery, history of other abdominal or pelvic surgery, history of pelvic infection or pelvic inflammatory disease, history of endometriosis and history of uterine Müllerian anomalies. In addition, women with a classical or T-shaped uterine incision, non-singleton pregnancies, and fetal chromosomal or structural abnormalities were excluded. During the study period, 32.6% (n = 2283) of women were diagnosed with peritoneal adhesions during the second cesarean delivery. Factors found to be significantly associated with peritoneal adhesions were maternal age 35 years or older at the first cesarean delivery, Bedouin Arab ethnicity, composite of intrapartum and postpartum infectious morbidity, and cesarean deliveries that were performed after the onset of labor. In contrast, having a previous vaginal birth was found to be protective. Our results suggest that a woman's characteristics at her first cesarean delivery and her obstetrical history may be predictive of the likelihood of adhesion formation.

Assessing the influence of digital technologies on antenatal care visits in Zimbabwe: insights from 2019 Zimbabwe Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey

Background and objectiveTo provide good health and well-being as established by the Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 3, access to digital technologies can act as conduits to achieve such progress in a population. As guided by the World Health Organization, antenatal care (ANC) attendance is one of the measures promoted to curtail the global health burden of maternal and infant mortality. ANC services are seldom utilized to their full potential in Zimbabwe. This study explores if any of the women's digital technology characteristics were associated with antenatal care visits. MethodsThe study analyzed population-based cross-sectional data with a subsample of 1 932 women aged 15‒49 years from the 2019 Zimbabwe Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey. Test of associations with chi-square test, bivariate, and multivariate multinomial logistic regression analyses were used to examine the predictors of adequate (4‒7) and optimal (≥ 8) ANC visits relative to undesirable (1‒3) antenatal care visits among women who had given births 2 years before the survey. ResultsThe results indicate that 64.5% (1246/1 932) of the women attained adequate ANC while about 9.8% (189/1 932) attained optimal ANC. Reading a newspaper/magazine at least once a week (odds ratio [OR] 1.73, β’ = 0.551, t = 2.030, P = 0.043) and watching television at least once a week (OR 1.72, β’ = 0.545, t = 2.454, P = 0.015), listening to the radio less than once a week (OR 1.28, β’ = 0.247, t = 1.750, P = 0.080), and owning a mobile phone (OR 1.48, β’ = 0.394, t = 3.020, P = 0.003) were positively associated with adequate ANC. Optimal ANC was significantly associated with women being able to read a newspaper at least once a week (OR 2.93, β’ = 1.074, t = 3.120, P = 0.002), listen to the radio less than once a week (OR 2.07, β’ = 0.73, t = 2.700, P = 0.007) and have ownership of a mobile phone (OR 1.88, β’ = 0.631, t = 2.620, P = 0.009). ConclusionAccess to a newspaper, radio, television, and mobile phone were important predictors of a woman's ability to achieve her ANC attendance. Policies to improve the knowledge of ANC packages can be facilitated using digital technology to achieve adequate and preferably optimal ANC in Zimbabwe. It is important to improve digital infrastructure to support digital technologies in providing ANC services.

Risk and protective factors for pregnancy-related urinary incontinence until 1 year postpartum: A cohort study using patient-reported outcome measures in Italy.

To investigate the epidemiology of pregnancy-related urinary incontinence (UI) and the related risk factors, focusing also on women's characteristics related to maternity pathway utilization. In this prospective cohort study, we used patient-reported data obtained from the systematic survey on the maternity pathway that all pregnant women in Tuscany, Italy, can join. We selected 8410 women who completed-between March 2019 and November 2022-all five follow-up questionnaires from the first trimester until 12 months postpartum, each including a UI-specific patient-reported outcome measure. We performed panel regression models to explore the related risk factors. Prevalence of UI was 4.4% at the first trimester, 23.7% at the third trimester, and 15.6%, 12.6%, and 12.4% at 3, 6, and 12 months postpartum. UI occurrence and severity were higher in older, overweight/obese, and unemployed women. High-risk pregnancy and discomfort during pregnancy were risk factors. Receiving a cesarean section reduced the risk, while spontaneous tears, episiotomy, and high birth weight increased it. Women who experienced delays in pregnancy examinations because of long waiting times and women who had planned pregnancy had a higher risk, while performing during-pregnancy pelvic-floor-muscle training was protective. Besides confirming the classic risk and protective factors for UI, we also found novel determinants related to the proper maternity pathway utilization.

Correlates of higher anxiety scores reported by women admitted for elective caesarean section

BackgroundAn elective caesarean section (CS) has been associated with high anxiety scores, and there are associations between higher anxiety scores and younger age, primigravidae, higher educational level, and previous experience with anaesthesia. In this study, the aim is to measure anxiety scores associated with an elective CS using two measuring scales and identify women's characteristics and obstetrics variables that are associated with higher scores. MethodsA cross-sectional study was conducted between Nov 15, 2019 and Nov 15, 2020. Women were included if they were 18 years of age or more, had viable pregnancies, and were admitted for an elective CS. Anxiety scores were measured on admission using the visual analogue scale for anxiety (VASA) and then the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI-Y). Associated factors were studied using logistic regression analyses. ResultsThree hundred women were recruited. Means (SD) for the participant's age and gestation age were 30.5 (5.7) years and 37.6 (1.4) weeks, respectively. Additionally, 29.3% of the participants having a CS were primigravidae and 62.3% were for maternal indications. Furthermore, 55%, 59%, and 61% of the women had scores above the means of VASA and STAI-S components 1 and 2, respectively.Variables that showed statistically significant associations with higher anxiety scores were that the woman's age was 25–34, the CS was for foetal indications, the choice of anaesthesia was general, and the source of information for the choice of anaesthesia was a layperson. ConclusionHigher anxiety scores are prevalent among women admitted for an elective CS. STAI-Y and VASA correlated well, and the short VASA may replace the lengthy STAI-Y in clinical practice. Identification of women with risk factors may help in implementing strategies to reduce anxiety.

Compliance with the World Health Organization's 2016 prenatal care contact recommendation reduces the incidence rate of adverse birth outcomes among pregnant women in northern Ghana.

Children born with adverse birth outcomes (ABOs) have a greater risk of mortality, stunting, and poor cognitive development. In 2016, the World Health Organization (WHO) recommended at least eight antenatal care (ANC) contacts before delivery for a healthy mother and baby. We examined the association between compliance with this recommendation and the risk of ABOs, such as low birthweight (LBW) and preterm birth (PTB), in the Tamale Metropolitan Area of the northern region of Ghana. We conducted a cross-sectional study in the Tamale Metropolis of the northern region of Ghana. We analysed a systematic random sample of 402 postnatal women aged 15-49 drawn from five public health facilities. We gathered information electronically on their birth outcomes, specifically their birthweight and gestation at delivery, using a structured questionnaire. Information on women's background characteristics, including the number of ANC contacts made before delivery, was also collected. The association between the number of ANC contacts and ABOs was investigated using regression models. We found that 37.6% (95% CI: 32.9, 42.4) of our sample had at least eight ANC contacts before delivery. We estimated that 18.9% of babies were born prematurely and 9.0% were born LBW. ABOs were found in 22.9% (95% CI: 19.0, 27.3) of babies. A minimum of eight ANC contacts before delivery reduced the risk of ABOs (adjusted IRR = 0.43; 95% CI: 0.25, 0.73), PTB (AOR = 0.28; 95% CI: 0.14, 0.58), and LBW (AOR = 0.36; 95% CI: 0.14, 0.91). In the current study's setting, about a quarter of newborns have ABOs, jeopardising their survival, health, and development. Compliance with at least eight ANC contacts prior to birth was associated with a reduced incidence rate ratio of ABOs. However, less than four out of every ten pregnant women make at least eight ANC contacts before delivery. Efforts are needed to increase coverage of eight contacts among pregnant women before delivery to reduce the risk of ABOs in the study setting.

Relationship Between Women's Characteristics With Cervic Cancer Incidence

In Indonesia, every year more than 15,000 cases of cervical cancer are detected, and around 8,000 cases of them die. The incidence of cervical cancer in Indonesia in 2011 reached 100 per 100,000 population per year. To determine the relationship between female characteristics and the incidence of cervical cancer in patients in the gynecology room of the Gatot Soebroto Army Hospital in 2022. This research is a quantitative study with a case control design using primary data with a sample of 58 patients on the 2nd floor of the gynecology room. The sampling technique uses random sampling. Data analysis using univariate and bivariate using chi square. The variables associated with the incidence of cervical cancer were HPV vaccination (p=0.002), early detection of cervical cancer (p=0.003), history of smoking (p=0.009), history of vaginal discharge (p=0.014) and age at first sexual intercourse (p=0.004) with the incidence of cervical cancer, while variables that had no relationship were history of contraception (0.738). There is a relationship between HPV vaccination, early detection of cervical cancer, history of smoking, history of vaginal discharge and age at first sexual intercourse with the incidence of cervical cancer. It is expected to increase women's knowledge about the factors associated with the incidence of cervical cancer.

Childbearing Trajectories in a West African Setting: A Sequence Analysis Approach

The lagging fertility transition in West Africa has important repercussions for global population growth but remains poorly understood. Inspired by Caldwell and colleagues' fertility transition framework, as well as by subsequent research, we examine diversity in women's holistic childbearing trajectories in Niakhar, Senegal, between the early 1960s and 2018 using a sequence analysis approach. We evaluate the prevalence of different trajectories, their contribution to overall fertility levels, and their association with women's socioeconomic and cultural characteristics. Four trajectories were observed: “high fertility,” “delayed entry,” “truncated,” and “short.” While the high fertility trajectory was most prevalent across cohorts, delayed entry grew in importance. The high fertility trajectory was more common among women born between 1960 and 1969 and was followed less often by divorced women and those from polygynous households. Women with primary education and those from higher status groups were more likely to experience delayed entry. The truncated trajectory was associated with lack of economic wealth, polygynous households, and caste membership. A short trajectory was related to lack of agropastoral wealth, divorce, and possibly secondary sterility. Our study advances knowledge on fertility transitions in Niakhar—and Sahelian West African contexts more generally—by showing the diversity of childbearing trajectories within high fertility regional contexts.

Digital Breast Tomosynthesis versus Digital Mammography Screening Performance on Successive Screening Rounds from the Breast Cancer Surveillance Consortium.

Background Prior cross-sectional studies have observed that breast cancer screening with digital breast tomosynthesis (DBT) has a lower recall rate and higher cancer detection rate compared with digital mammography (DM). Purpose To evaluate breast cancer screening outcomes with DBT versus DM on successive screening rounds. Materials and Methods In this retrospective cohort study, data from 58 breast imaging facilities in the Breast Cancer Surveillance Consortium were collected. Analysis included women aged 40-79 years undergoing DBT or DM screening from 2011 to 2020. Absolute differences in screening outcomes by modality and screening round were estimated during the study period by using generalized estimating equations with marginal standardization to adjust for differences in women's risk characteristics across modality and round. Results A total of 523 485 DBT examinations (mean age of women, 58.7 years ± 9.7 [SD]) and 1 008 123 DM examinations (mean age, 58.4 years ± 9.8) among 504 863 women were evaluated. DBT and DM recall rates decreased with successive screening round, but absolute recall rates in each round were significantly lower with DBT versus DM (round 1 difference, -3.3% [95% CI: -4.6, -2.1] [P < .001]; round 2 difference, -1.8% [95% CI: -2.9, -0.7] [P = .003]; round 3 or above difference, -1.2% [95% CI: -2.4, -0.1] [P = .03]). DBT had significantly higher cancer detection (difference, 0.6 per 1000 examinations [95% CI: 0.2, 1.1]; P = .009) compared with DM only for round 3 and above. There were no significant differences in interval cancer rate (round 1 difference, 0.00 per 1000 examinations [95% CI: -0.24, 0.30] [P = .96]; round 2 or above difference, 0.04 [95% CI: -0.19, 0.31] [P = .76]) or total advanced cancer rate (round 1 difference, 0.00 per 1000 examinations [95% CI: -0.15, 0.19] [P = .94]; round 2 or above difference, -0.06 [95% CI: -0.18, 0.11] [P = .43]). Conclusion DBT had lower recall rates and could help detect more cancers than DM across three screening rounds, with no difference in interval or advanced cancer rates. © RSNA, 2023 Supplemental material is available for this article. See also the editorial by Skaane in this issue.

경력단절여성의 기업가정신이 창업의도에 미치는 영향

A decrease in the economically active population is expected in South Korea due to the aging population and low birth rate. The importance of women's economic activities should be emphasized because of the positive economic effects the women's workforce can bring to the whole country and society. Hence, more policies that can actively introduce economically inactive women into the labor market should be implemented. Creating new businesses should be considered as an alternative solution for career-interrupted women. The Act on Support for Women's Enterprises was enacted to help women improve their economic activities and status by helping them to create a business and supporting women's enterprises. However, despite the government's various policies, the number of career-interrupted women entrepreneurs is lower than that of other developed countries. Therefore, more active support methods seem to be required. In this study, the subject of the study was specified to be career-interrupted women since the focus of this thesis is to find ways to increase women's economic activities and revitalize women's entrepreneurship. Through this, this thesis aims to find implications for creating an entrepreneurial ecosystem for career-interrupted women. Firstly, the research verifies whether the entrepreneurship of female entrepreneurs affects business intention. Secondly, the research portrays how the relationship between entrepreneurship and entrepreneurial intention is influenced by social support. Thirdly, the research examines if and how the government and local government’s policy to support women’s entrepreneurship influences the relationship between entrepreneurship and entrepreneurial intention. As a result of the research the thesis shows that the innovation initiative factor was significant in the effect of entrepreneurship on entrepreneurial intention. Second, as to whether there was a moderating effect of social support in the relationship between entrepreneurship and entrepreneurial intention, emotional support showed a moderating effect on innovation initiative and evaluation support on risk sensitivity. Third, looking at the moderating effect of government support projects between entrepreneurship and entrepreneurial intention, both funding and physical infrastructure support showed a moderating effect. The implications of the research are to develop educational programs that take into account women's characteristics, effective and diverse government support policies, and continuous research on women's entrepreneurship in order to increase the economic activity of career interrupted women and lay the foundation for finding ways to promote entrepreneurship.

Prevalence and Associated Factors with Attending Antenatal Care in Akre City, Iraq

Background and Objectives: Antenatal care is essential for protecting the health of women and their unborn children. Antenatal care utilization is a key intervention in problem detection and treatment, promoting health-seeking behavior, and preparing pregnant women for birth. The present study aimed to investigate the prevalence and associated factors that affect attending and utilizing antenatal care in primary health care centers among pregnant women in Akre city. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted in the Maternity Hospital of Akre City from November 21 to February 21, 2022. Data were collected through interviews with 400 women who attended the hospital for delivery and via a questionnaire constructed for the study. The questionnaire included women's socio-demographic characteristics, socio-economic status, obstetrical and reproductive history, and factors affecting antenatal care. Frequency, percentage, and chi-square tests were used to analyze the data. Result: The rate of attending antennal care was 20%. The study findings showed a statistically significant association between attending antenatal care in the last pregnancy with residency, type of family, parity, and previous mode of delivery. Conclusion: The prevalence of women who attend antenatal care is few. Effective media and providing special health care in primary health care centers and services are required to improve the level of awareness of pregnant women for utilizing antenatal care

Maternal depressiveness and infant growth outcomes: Findings from the MAASTHI cohort study in India

ObjectiveThe study aims to examine the association between depressiveness in mothers on infant obesity and stunting at one year of age. MethodsWe enrolled 4829 pregnant women, followed them up at public health facilities in Bengaluru for one year after birth. We collected information on women's sociodemographic characteristics, obstetric history, depressive symptoms during pregnancy and delivery within 48 h. We took infant anthropometric measurements at birth and one year. We used chi-square tests, and calculated an unadjusted odds ratio using univariate logistic regression. We used multivariate logistic regression to examine the association between maternal depressiveness, childhood adiposity, and stunting. ResultsWe found that the prevalence of depressiveness was 31.8% in mothers who delivered in public health facilities in Bengaluru. Infants born to mothers with depressiveness at birth had 3.9 times higher odds of having larger waist circumference than infants born to mothers with no depressiveness (AOR: 3.96, 95% Confidence Interval: 1.24,12.58) and 1.9 times higher odds of having a larger sum of skinfold thickness (AOR: 1.99, 95% CI: 1.18,3.38). Additionally, we found that infants born to mothers with depressiveness at birth had 1.7 times higher odds of stunting than infants born to mothers with no depressiveness (AOR: 1.72; 95%CI: 1.22,2.43) after adjusting for confounders. ConclusionOur study highlights a high prevalence of depressiveness among mothers seeking antenatal care at a public hospital is associated with an increased risk of infant adiposity and stunting at one year. Further research is needed to understand the underlying mechanisms and identify effective interventions.

Efficacy of early intrauterine balloon tamponade for immediate postpartum hemorrhage after vaginal delivery: a randomized clinical trial

Many questions remain about the appropriate use of intrauterine balloon devices in postpartum hemorrhage after vaginal delivery refractory to first-line uterotonics. Available data suggest that early use of intrauterine balloon tamponade might be beneficial. This study aimed to compare the effect of intrauterine balloon tamponade used in combination with second-line uterotonics vs intrauterine balloon tamponade used after the failure of second-line uterotonic treatment on the rate of severe postpartum hemorrhage in women with postpartum hemorrhage after vaginal delivery refractory to first-line uterotonics. This multicenter, randomized, controlled, parallel-group, nonblinded trial was conducted at 18 hospitals and enrolled 403 women who had just given birth vaginally at 35 to 42 weeks of gestation. The inclusion criteria were a postpartum hemorrhage refractory to first-line uterotonics (oxytocin) and requiring a second-line uterotonic treatment with sulprostone (E1 prostaglandin). In the study group, the sulprostone infusion was combined with intrauterine tamponade by an ebb balloon performed within 15 minutes of randomization. In the control group, the sulprostone infusion was started alone within 15 minutes of randomization, and if bleeding persisted 30 minutes after the start of sulprostone infusion, intrauterine tamponade using the ebb balloon was performed. In both groups, if the bleeding persisted 30 minutes after the insertion of the balloon, an emergency radiological or surgical invasive procedure was performed. The primary outcome was the proportion of women who either received ≥3 units of packed red blood cells or had a calculated peripartum blood loss of >1000 mL. The prespecified secondary outcomes were the proportions of women who had a calculated blood loss of ≥1500 mL, any transfusion, an invasive procedure and women who were transferred to the intensive care unit. The analysis of the primary outcome with the triangular test was performed sequentially throughout the trial period. At the eighth interim analysis, the independent data monitoring committee concluded that the incidence of the primary outcome did not differ between the 2 groups and stopped inclusions. After 11 women were excluded because they met an exclusion criterion or withdrew their consent, 199 and 193 women remained in the study and control groups, respectively, for the intention-to-treat analysis. The women's baseline characteristics were similar in both groups. Peripartum hematocrit level change, which was needed for the calculation of the primary outcome, was missing for 4 women in the study group and 2 women in the control group. The primary outcome occurred in 131 of 195 women (67.2%) in the study group and 142 of 191 women (74.3%) in the control group (risk ratio, 0.90; 95% confidence interval, 0.79-1.03). The groups did not differ substantially for rates of calculated peripartum blood loss pf ≥1500 mL, any transfusion, invasive procedure, and admission to an intensive care unit. Endometritis occurred in 5 women (2.7%) in the study group and none in the control group (P=.06). The early use of intrauterine balloon tamponade did not reduce the incidence of severe postpartum hemorrhage compared with its use after the failure of second-line uterotonic treatment and before recourse to invasive procedures.

Incidence and outcomes of uterine rupture in women with unscarred, preterm or prelabour uteri: data from the international network of obstetric survey systems.

Analysis of atypical cases of uterine rupture, namely, uterine rupture occurring in unscarred, preterm or prelabour uteri. Descriptive multi-country population-based study. Ten high-income countries within the International Network of Obstetric Survey Systems. Women with unscarred, preterm or prelabour ruptured uteri. We merged prospectively collected individual patient data in ten population-based studies of women with complete uterine rupture. In this analysis, we focused on women with uterine rupture of unscarred, preterm or prelabour ruptured uteri. Incidence, women's characteristics, presentation and maternal and perinatal outcome. We identified 357 atypical uterine ruptures in 3 064 923 women giving birth. Estimated incidence was 0.2 per 10 000 women (95% CI 0.2-0.3) in the unscarred uteri, 0.5 (95% CI 0.5-0.6) in the preterm uteri, 0.7 (95% CI 0.6-0.8) in the prelabour uteri, and 0.5 (95% CI 0.4-0.5) in the group with no previous caesarean. Atypical uterine rupture resulted in peripartum hysterectomy in 66 women (18.5%, 95% CI 14.3-23.5%), three maternal deaths (0.84%, 95% CI 0.17-2.5%) and perinatal death in 62 infants (19.7%, 95% CI 15.1-25.3%). Uterine rupture in preterm, prelabour or unscarred uteri are extremely uncommon but were associated with severe maternal and perinatal outcome. We found a mix of risk factors in unscarred uteri, most preterm uterine ruptures occurred in caesarean-scarred uteri and most prelabour uterine ruptures in 'otherwise' scarred uteri. This study may increase awareness among clinicians and raise suspicion of the possibility of uterine rupture under these less expected conditions.