Relation between maternal body mass index and laboratory outcome in normal responder young patients undergoing intracytoplasmic sperm injection cycles

Background: A lot of studies conducted evaluating the effect of maternal weight on the In Vito Fertilization (IVF) cycles outcome, the results of these studies were conflicting. Methods: We conducted retrospective cohort study on young normal responding patients attending the clinic for fertility treatment. Patients divided in to three group according to their body mass index (BMI). All patients had intra cytoplasmic sperm injection cycle with antagonist protocol. The IVF laboratory outcome was calculated and compared between the three groups.Results: The intracytoplasmic sperm injection cycles laboratory outcome was evaluated in the three groups of patients. No significant difference was found between the laboratory out come in the three group.Conclusions: We concluded that in absence of sever major factor for infertility, maternal BMI has no effect on the laboratory outcome of intra cytoplasmic sperm injection cycles

Effect of Self-Care Guidelines on Knowledge and Practice of Pregnant Women with Gestational Diabetes Mellitus

Context: Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) is a kind of hyperglycemia and one of pregnancy's most common health problems. It affects 1%-28% of pregnancies worldwide, representing approximately 18 million births annually. It is considered a major cause of prenatal morbidity and mortality. Aim: The present study aims to construct and evaluate the effect of self-care guidelines on the knowledge and practice of pregnant women with gestational diabetes mellitus. Methods: Quasi-experimental (one group pre/post-test) design was utilized to achieve the aim of this study. The study subjects consisted of 200 pregnant women recruited from the antenatal clinic. The data collection tools include a structured interviewing questionnaire to assess the pregnant women's characteristics, obstetric history, and women’s knowledge regarding gestational diabetes mellitus. The second tool was women-reported self-care practice checklists of pregnant women with diabetes mellitus (pre/post-self-care guidelines). Results: A women's mean age of 29.7±5.8 and 1.97±0.91 was the mean gravidity. The majority (96%) of studied women had unsatisfactory knowledge, only 4% of them had satisfactory knowledge about GDM, and 95% of them had unsatisfactory practice about GDM. Only 5% of them had satisfactory practice about GDM before self-care guidelines implementation compared to 90% and 94% satisfactory knowledge and practice, respectively, with a highly statistically significant difference between the two phases (P<0.001). Conclusion: The study concluded a positive effect of the self-care guidelines in improving women's knowledge and self-care practices regarding GDM. The study recommended regular and continuous health educational programs to enhance women's knowledge and self-care practices regarding GDM with further application of self-care guidelines in different settings

Relation between maternal vitamin D level and in vitro-fertilization laboratory outcome in normal responding patients 35 years old or less

Background: Vitamin D relation to pregnancy outcome have been extensively studied and proved, but the relation between the vitamin D and fertility and fertility treatment especially in vitro-fertilization still a matter of debate.Methods: A retrospective cohort study in large IVF center in Abu Dhabi, UAE involved young normal responding patients aged 35 years old or less attending the clinic for IVF treatment. Patient were divided in to three groups according to the serum level of vitamin D. the IVF laboratory outcome was calculated and compared in the three groups.Results: We found that the prevalence of vitamin D in patients seeking fertility treatment especially IVF was significantly high. But on the other hand, and after analysing the results of the cycles laboratory out come in the three groups, we found that no significant difference that could be attributed to maternal level of vitamin D.Conclusions: The prevalence of vitamin D deficiency and insufficiency in infertile patients is significantly high but no significant effect of vitamin D deficiency on the IVF laboratory outcome

Maternal risk factors for posterior urethral valves

Introduction: Posterior urethral valves (PUV) is a congenital disorder causing an obstruction of the lower urinary tract that affects approximately 1 in 4,000 male live births. PUV is considered a multifactorial disorder, meaning that both genetic and environmental factors are involved in its development. We investigated maternal risk factors for PUV. Methods: We included 407 PUV patients and 814 controls matched on year of birth from the AGORA data- and biobank and three participating hospitals. Information on potential risk factors (family history of congenital anomalies of the kidney and urinary tract (CAKUT), season of conception, gravidity, subfertility, and conception using assisted reproductive techniques (ART), plus maternal age, body mass index, diabetes, hypertension, smoking, and use of alcohol and folic acid) was derived from maternal questionnaires. After multiple imputation, adjusted odds ratios (aORs) were estimated using conditional logistic regression corrected for minimally sufficient sets of confounders determined using directed acyclic graphs. Results: A positive family history and low maternal age (&lt;25 years) were associated with PUV development [aORs: 3.3 and 1.7 with 95% confidence intervals (95% CI) 1.4–7.7 and 1.0–2.8, respectively], whereas higher maternal age (&gt;35 years) was associated with a lower risk (aOR: 0.7 95% CI: 0.4–1.0). Maternal preexisting hypertension seemed to increase PUV risk (aOR: 2.1 95% CI: 0.9–5.1), while gestational hypertension seemed to decrease this risk (aOR: 0.6 95% CI: 0.3–1.0). Concerning use of ART, the aORs for the different techniques were all above one, but with very wide 95% CIs including one. None of the other factors studied were associated with PUV development. Conclusion: Our study showed that family history of CAKUT, low maternal age, and potentially preexisting hypertension were associated with PUV development, whereas higher maternal age and gestational hypertension seemed to be associated with a lower risk. Maternal age and hypertension as well as the possible role of ART in the development of PUV require further research.</p

Effect of Foot Refelexology on Preeclampsia

Purpose: This study was conducted to investigate the effect of foot reflexology on mean arterial blood pressure, Serum Cortisol level, proteinuria and quality of life in pregnant women suffering from mild preeclampsia. Subjects and Methods: Sixty mild preeclamptic pregnant women were selected randomly from Out Patient Clinic of Obstetrics Department in Minia University Hospital in Minia to participate in this study. Their ages were between 20-36 years old. Their body mass index less than 35 kg/m2. They were divided randomly into two equal groups (A &amp; B); Group A (control group): It comprised thirty pregnant women with mild preeclampsia who were treated by antihypertensive drugs only while group B (study group): It comprised thirty pregnant women with mild preeclampsia who were treated by antihypertensive drugs and foot reflexology sessions (25 minutes, 2 sessions weekly for 8 weeks). Assessment: Mean arterial blood pressure (MABP), Serum Cortisol level and proteinuria were assessed before and after treatment for all patients in both groups (A&amp;B), as well as quality of life was evaluated through World Health Organization quality of Life Questionnaire (WHOQOL). Results: revealed that, between groups; pretreatment, there was insignificant difference between both groups A &amp; B in MABP, serum cortisol level, proteinuria and WHOQOL questionnaire scores. While post treatment, there was significant difference between both groups A &amp;B in MABP, serum cortisol level, proteinuria and WHOQOL questionnaire scores [in favor of group B (more decrease in MABP, serum cortisol level and proteinuria; and more increase in WHOQOL questionnaire scores)]. Conclusion: Foot reflexology is an effective modality in decreasing MABP, serum cortisol level and proteinuria, as well as enhancing the quality of life of mild preeclamptic pregnant women

Health literacy among pregnant women in the United Arab Emirates:The Mutaba’ah study

Background: Health literacy is the degree to which individuals can obtain, process, understand, and communicate health-related information. Health literacy among pregnant women, in particular, may have a significant impact on maternal and child health. In the United Arab Emirates, no previous studies have been carried out to investigate the health literacy levels of pregnant women. Objective: This study aimed to investigate antenatal health literacy levels and identify associated factors among pregnant Emirati women in the United Arab Emirates. Design: This analysis was based on the baseline cross-sectional data for pregnant women participating in the prospective cohort Mutaba’ah Study, recruited between May 2017 and August 2022. Methods: Participants completed a self-administered questionnaire during their antenatal visits that collected sociodemographic and pregnancy-related information. Adequacy of health literacy was assessed using the BRIEF health literacy screening tool with adequate health literacy defined as a score ⩾ 17. Regression modeling investigated the association between the pregnant women characteristics with having adequate health literacy level (ability to read and comprehend most patient education materials). Results: A total of 2694 responses to the BRIEF health literacy screening tool were analyzed. Approximately, three-quarters (71.6%) of respondents showed adequate health literacy, followed by marginal (22.8%), and limited (5.6%) health literacy levels, respectively. Higher education levels (adjusted odds ratio (aOR) = 1.74, 95% confidence interval = 1.46–2.08), employment (adjusted odds ratio = 1.35, 95% confidence interval = 1.10–1.65), and adequate social support (adjusted odds ratio = 1.69, 95% confidence interval = 1.26–2.28) were associated with adequate health literacy levels. Participants who expressed worry about birth were less likely to have adequate literacy levels (adjusted odds ratio = 0.70, 95% confidence interval = 0.58–0.85). Conclusion: Nearly three-quarters of pregnant women have adequate health literacy. Nevertheless, measures including policies to sustain and enhance health literacy levels among all expectant mothers are required, with a specific focus on those having limited health literacy.</p

Comparative study between effectiveness of dermapen versus dermapen combined with topical ascorbic acid in treatment of stretch marks

Backgound: Stria distensea is considered a destress for the women. Weight gain,family history of stretch marks,steroid use and pregnancy are considered the most common causes of its existance. Striae distensea treatment is considered a challenge, there are different methods in treatment of stria, but till now no single treatment is considered the best treatment for it.Objective: This study aimed to evaluate and compare the effect of dermapen alone and dermapen combined with topical ascorbic acid in treatment of striae distensae.Patients and methods: This study was conducted on 45 patients with stretch marks. Stretch marks treatment in each patient was divided into 2 groups. First group of stretch marks (right side) was treated with dermapen only: 3 sessions with 4 weeks interval. Second group (left side) was treated with dermapen combined with topical ascorbic acid with the same number of sessions.Result: Our study revealed the effectiveness of both methods in treatment of stretch marks, but also it showed a difference in clinical improvement among the two groups concerning change in Manchester Scar Scale (MSS) score after treatment in favor of using dermapen with topical ascorbic acid, which gave better result than using dermapen alone.Conclusion: The current study concluded that combination of vitamin C and dermapen is promising therapeutic modality with better satisfaction compared to dermapen alone in terms of stretch marks treatment with no adverse events

Child rearing workplace policy for working mothers: A scoping review

Introduction: Straddling work and childcare harms working moms' health, potentially their children too. To address this, child rearing workplace policies are needed. These would promote work-life balance and ensure both mothers' and children's well-being, ultimately protecting pregnant and parenting women at work. Objective: This study aims to explore the gaps between available child rearing workplace policy for working mothers and the implementation on the field while taking its implications into account. Methods: We reviewed literature from PubMed electronic database. Predefined keywords were developed and chosen. Relevant articles were filtered according to the inclusion and exclusion criteria. Furthermore, all articles were reviewed independently and those that match were included and charted through Microsoft Excel based on each articles’ characteristics. Results: There are 13 workplace policies related to childcare for working mothers in the included articles. The most common policy was paid maternity leave. Other frequently mentioned policies included lactation support and facilities, flexible work arrangements, and daycare facilities. All policies have different implementation rates and implications to both working mothers and their children. Conclusion: Supportive child rearing policies at work benefit everyone: employers, employees, and their families, leading to a better nutritional and health status, hence increase overall quality of life

Global, regional, and national levels and causes of maternal mortality during 1990–2013: a systematic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2013

BackgroundThe fifth Millennium Development Goal (MDG 5) established the goal of a 75% reduction in the maternal mortality ratio (MMR; number of maternal deaths per 100,000 livebirths) between 1990 and 2015. We aimed to measure levels and track trends in maternal mortality, the key causes contributing to maternal death, and timing of maternal death with respect to delivery.MethodsWe used robust statistical methods including the Cause of Death Ensemble model (CODEm) to analyse a database of data for 7065 site-years and estimate the number of maternal deaths from all causes in 188 countries between 1990 and 2013. We estimated the number of pregnancy-related deaths caused by HIV on the basis of a systematic review of the relative risk of dying during pregnancy for HIV-positive women compared with HIV-negative women. We also estimated the fraction of these deaths aggravated by pregnancy on the basis of a systematic review. To estimate the numbers of maternal deaths due to nine different causes, we identified 61 sources from a systematic review and 943 site-years of vital registration data. We also did a systematic review of reports about the timing of maternal death, identifying 142 sources to use in our analysis. We developed estimates for each country for 1990-2013 using Bayesian meta-regression. We estimated 95% uncertainty intervals (UIs) for all values.Findings292,982 (95% UI 261,017-327,792) maternal deaths occurred in 2013, compared with 376,034 (343,483-407,574) in 1990. The global annual rate of change in the MMR was -0·3% (-1·1 to 0·6) from 1990 to 2003, and -2·7% (-3·9 to -1·5) from 2003 to 2013, with evidence of continued acceleration. MMRs reduced consistently in south, east, and southeast Asia between 1990 and 2013, but maternal deaths increased in much of sub-Saharan Africa during the 1990s. 2070 (1290-2866) maternal deaths were related to HIV in 2013, 0·4% (0·2-0·6) of the global total. MMR was highest in the oldest age groups in both 1990 and 2013. In 2013, most deaths occurred intrapartum or postpartum. Causes varied by region and between 1990 and 2013. We recorded substantial variation in the MMR by country in 2013, from 956·8 (685·1-1262·8) in South Sudan to 2·4 (1·6-3·6) in Iceland.InterpretationGlobal rates of change suggest that only 16 countries will achieve the MDG 5 target by 2015. Accelerated reductions since the Millennium Declaration in 2000 coincide with increased development assistance for maternal, newborn, and child health. Setting of targets and associated interventions for after 2015 will need careful consideration of regions that are making slow progress, such as west and central Africa.FundingBill &amp; Melinda Gates Foundation