Happiness and associated factors amongst pregnant women in the United Arab Emirates:The Mutaba’ah Study

ObjectivePrenatal happiness and life satisfaction research are often over-shadowed by other pregnancy and birth outcomes. This analysis investigated the level of, and factors associated with happiness amongst pregnant women in the United Arab Emirates.MethodsBaseline cross-sectional data was analyzed from the Mutaba’ah Study, a large population-based prospective cohort study in the UAE. This analysis included all expectant mothers who completed the baseline self-administered questionnaire about sociodemographic and pregnancy-related information between May 2017 and July 2021. Happiness was assessed on a 10-point scale (1 = very unhappy; 10 = very happy). Regression models were used to evaluate the association between various factors and happiness.ResultsOverall, 9,350 pregnant women were included, and the majority (60.9%) reported a happiness score of ≥8 (median). Higher levels of social support, planned pregnancies and primi-gravidity were independently associated with higher odds of being happier; adjusted odds ratio (aOR (95% CI): 2.02 (1.71–2.38), 1.34 (1.22–1.47), and 1.41 (1.23–1.60), respectively. Women anxious about childbirth had lower odds of being happier (aOR: 0.58 (0.52–0.64).ConclusionSelf-reported happiness levels were high among pregnant women in the UAE. Health services enhancing social support and promoting well-being during pregnancy and childbirth may ensure continued happiness during pregnancy in the UAE

Happiness and associated factors amongst pregnant women in the United Arab Emirates:The Mutaba’ah Study

ObjectivePrenatal happiness and life satisfaction research are often over-shadowed by other pregnancy and birth outcomes. This analysis investigated the level of, and factors associated with happiness amongst pregnant women in the United Arab Emirates.MethodsBaseline cross-sectional data was analyzed from the Mutaba’ah Study, a large population-based prospective cohort study in the UAE. This analysis included all expectant mothers who completed the baseline self-administered questionnaire about sociodemographic and pregnancy-related information between May 2017 and July 2021. Happiness was assessed on a 10-point scale (1 = very unhappy; 10 = very happy). Regression models were used to evaluate the association between various factors and happiness.ResultsOverall, 9,350 pregnant women were included, and the majority (60.9%) reported a happiness score of ≥8 (median). Higher levels of social support, planned pregnancies and primi-gravidity were independently associated with higher odds of being happier; adjusted odds ratio (aOR (95% CI): 2.02 (1.71–2.38), 1.34 (1.22–1.47), and 1.41 (1.23–1.60), respectively. Women anxious about childbirth had lower odds of being happier (aOR: 0.58 (0.52–0.64).ConclusionSelf-reported happiness levels were high among pregnant women in the UAE. Health services enhancing social support and promoting well-being during pregnancy and childbirth may ensure continued happiness during pregnancy in the UAE

Antenatal Care Initiation Among Pregnant Women in the United Arab Emirates:The Mutaba'ah Study

Introduction: Antenatal care (ANC) provides monitoring and regular follow-up of maternal and fetal health during pregnancy. Women with appropriate ANC tend to have better delivery and birth outcomes. This study describes the patterns of ANC utilization and factors associated with appropriate ANC initiation in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) for the first time. Methods: Baseline cross-sectional data from pregnant women who participated in the Mutaba'ah—Mother and Child Health Study between May 2017 and January 2019 was analyzed. Participants were recruited during ANC visits and completed a self-administered questionnaire that collected socio-demographic and pregnancy-related information and assessed whether it was their first ANC appointment. Regression models assessed the relationship between socio-demographic and pregnancy-related variables and “appropriate” (≤ 4 months' gestation) vs. “late” ANC initiation (&gt;4 months' gestation). Results: At recruitment, 841 participants reported that it was their first ANC visit and half (50.2%) of these women were late initiating their ANC. Mothers who were more educated, had previous infertility treatment or previous miscarriages were all more likely to achieve appropriate ANC initiation [adjusted odds ratio (aOR): 1.66, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.05–2.62; aOR: 3.68, 95% CI: 1.50–9.04; aOR: 1.80, 95% CI: 1.16–2.79, respectively]. Women worrying about childbirth were less likely to achieve appropriate ANC initiation (aOR: 0.54, 95% CI: 0.34–0.85). Conclusion: Half of pregnant women in this study did not achieve the global consensus guidelines on appropriate ANC initiation. Interventions among less educated women and those with previous pregnancy complications and childbirth anxiety are recommended to ensure appropriate ANC initiation.</p

Antenatal Care Initiation Among Pregnant Women in the United Arab Emirates:The Mutaba'ah Study

Introduction: Antenatal care (ANC) provides monitoring and regular follow-up of maternal and fetal health during pregnancy. Women with appropriate ANC tend to have better delivery and birth outcomes. This study describes the patterns of ANC utilization and factors associated with appropriate ANC initiation in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) for the first time. Methods: Baseline cross-sectional data from pregnant women who participated in the Mutaba'ah—Mother and Child Health Study between May 2017 and January 2019 was analyzed. Participants were recruited during ANC visits and completed a self-administered questionnaire that collected socio-demographic and pregnancy-related information and assessed whether it was their first ANC appointment. Regression models assessed the relationship between socio-demographic and pregnancy-related variables and “appropriate” (≤ 4 months' gestation) vs. “late” ANC initiation (&gt;4 months' gestation). Results: At recruitment, 841 participants reported that it was their first ANC visit and half (50.2%) of these women were late initiating their ANC. Mothers who were more educated, had previous infertility treatment or previous miscarriages were all more likely to achieve appropriate ANC initiation [adjusted odds ratio (aOR): 1.66, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.05–2.62; aOR: 3.68, 95% CI: 1.50–9.04; aOR: 1.80, 95% CI: 1.16–2.79, respectively]. Women worrying about childbirth were less likely to achieve appropriate ANC initiation (aOR: 0.54, 95% CI: 0.34–0.85). Conclusion: Half of pregnant women in this study did not achieve the global consensus guidelines on appropriate ANC initiation. Interventions among less educated women and those with previous pregnancy complications and childbirth anxiety are recommended to ensure appropriate ANC initiation.</p

Knowledge and preference towards mode of delivery among pregnant women in the United Arab Emirates:The Mutaba’ah study

Background: The rate of cesarean section (CS) is growing in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). Pregnant women’s knowledge on the mode of delivery, factors associated with lack of adequate knowledge, and preference towards CS delivery were investigated. Methods: Baseline cross-sectional data from 1617 pregnant women who participated in the Mutaba’ah Study between September 2018 and March 2020 were analyzed. A self-administered questionnaire inquiring about demographic and maternal characteristics, ten knowledge-based statements about mode of delivery, and one question about preference towards mode of delivery was used. Knowledge on the mode of delivery was categorized into “adequate (total score 6–10)” or “lack of adequate (total score 0–5)” knowledge. Crude and multivariable models were used to identify factors associated with “lack of adequate” knowledge on the mode of delivery and factors associated with CS preference. Results: A total of 1303 (80.6%) pregnant women (mean age 30.6 ± 5.8 years) completed the questionnaire. The majority (57.1%) were ≥30 years old, in their third trimester (54.5%), and had at least one child (76.6%). In total, 20.8% underwent CS delivery in the previous pregnancy, and 9.4% preferred CS delivery for the current pregnancy. A total of 78.4% of pregnant women lacked adequate knowledge on the mode of delivery. The level of those who lacked adequate knowledge was similar across women in different pregnancy trimesters. Young women (18–24 years) (adjusted odds ratios (aOR), 3.07, 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.07–8.86) and women who had CS delivery in the previous pregnancy (aOR, 1.90, 95% CI, 1.06–3.40) were more likely to be classified with a lack of adequate knowledge. Age (aOR, 1.08, 95% CI, 1.02–1.14), employment (aOR, 1.96, 95% CI, 1.13–3.40), or previous CS delivery (aOR, 31.10, 95% CI, 17.71–55.73) were associated with a preference towards CS delivery. Conclusion: This study showed that pregnant women may not fully appreciate the health risks associated with different modes of delivery. Therefore, antenatal care appointments should include a balanced discussion on the potential benefits and harms associated with different delivery modes.</p

The long shadow of accumulating adverse childhood experiences on mental health in the United Arab Emirates:implications for policy and practice

Introduction: This study investigates the cumulative effects of adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) on adult depression, anxiety, and stress in Abu Dhabi, controlling for demographic factors, lifestyle, and known health and mental health diagnoses.Methods: Utilizing a cross-sectional design and self-report measures, the research aims to fill a critical gap in understanding the specific impacts of ACEs in the UAE. Based on a multi-site, cross-sectional community sample of 697 residents of Abu Dhabi.Results: The findings reveal significant variances in current screening values for depression, anxiety, and stress attributable to ACEs after controlling for demographic factors, lifestyle risk factors, and adult diagnoses of health and mental health conditions.Discussion: The results underline the lifelong impact of ACEs and reinforce the importance of early identification and intervention. In particular, the implications for policy and practice in understanding and mitigating ACEs long-term effects on mental health are considered.</p

A Novel Participatory Community Health Awareness Program in Abu Dhabi

Community-based intervention (CBI) programs promote lifestyle changes, modify risk factors, and substantially improve public health. Social mobilization and community involvement improve health outcomes, reduce health disparities, and improve access to care and services. Health intervention program evaluations are essential to provide evidence-based strategies that can enhance the design and implementation of successful health promotion programs. Interventions that enable the United Arab Emirates (UAE) community to change and modify unhealthy behaviors were the priority of the last decade and are the health authorities' objectives. The Department of Health Abu Dhabi launched a wellness program to enable the community to adopt healthy behaviors. The Public Health Ambassadors program is a community-based health intervention program under the Abu Dhabi Public Health Centre, inaugurated in 2019. This paper describes the Public Health Ambassadors CBI conducted in Abu Dhabi. The implementation science framework was used to develop the intervention. The Public Health Ambassadors is one of the UAE's earliest and most successful CBIs. The program can be used as a model to encourage more health promotion interventions in the country and the region. The role of the program was highlighted during the COVID-19 pandemic. Voluntary community participation and social responsibilities are essential competencies promoted by this program.publishersversionepub_ahead_of_prin

A person-centered examination of adverse childhood experiences and associated distal health, mental health, and behavioral outcomes in the United Arab Emirates

BackgroundAn increasing body of evidence highlights the utility of examining adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) utilizing person-centered analytical approaches, particularly for understanding the organization and co-occurrence of ACEs, and their contributions to risk, vulnerability, and the development of intervention efforts.MethodsIn the first study of its kind, this paper uses Latent Class Analysis, to assess ACEs among a large community sample in Abu Dhabi, capital city of the United Arab Emirates, by examining patterns of ACEs and their associated impact on health, mental health, behavioral risk, and adult psychological function in a cross-sectional sample of 922 members of the Abu Dhabi community.ResultsFindings support a 3-class solution, representing low-to-no ACEs, Household ACEs, and Violence ACEs among this sample, with variability in the age, sex, and nationality status reflected across classes. ACE categories notably differentiated later adult risk for a suite of diagnoses of health and mental health disorders, risk for elevated screening values for depression, anxiety and stress, and a range of adult risk-related behaviors.ConclusionThese findings are considered in line with the extant literature and form the basis of considerable public health policy and intervention planning in Abu Dhabi, the United Arab Emirates, and the Arab region