Maternal Experiences of Providing Skin to Skin Contact to their Preterm Infants in a Neonatal Intensive Care Unit in Jordan

Background: Skin-to-skin contact (SSC) has been known to improve the mother-infant attachment process with a variety of positive outcomes. Objectives: This qualitative study aimed at exploring the Jordanian mothers’ experiences in proving direct SSC to their preterm infants in one Jordanian NICU after the introduction of this care approach for the first time. Design and methods: A qualitative descriptive design using semi-structured interviews with a purposive sample of 10 Jordanian mothers who provided SSC to their preterm infants in a NICU. Results: Three themes emerged from the data analysis. The first described how SSC has the power of physical closeness, in which SSC created a change from anxiety to a serenity state, and a positive ‘back to the womb’ feeling for the mothers and their infants. The second theme described how SSC enhanced motherhood by promoting the mothers’ feelings as mothers, facilitating bonding, and promoting breastfeeding. The third theme identified was the barriers to providing SSC in Jordanian NICUs. Implications for nursing: SSC was found to have positive outcomes for both mothers and their neonates. SSC can enhance positive psychological (serenity and relaxation) and physiological (enhancing respiration of the neonates and promoting breastfeeding) outcomes. Ongoing support and counseling from the health care providers are essential to maximizing the benefits of SSC practice

Reflections on sex research among young Bedouin in Jordan: risks and limitations

Research about sexuality is characterised by silences and invisibilities. This is particularly evident in some Islamic Arab societies where discussion of sexuality in general is not encouraged and practices such as homosexuality or pre-marital sex are not acknowledged. This creates a barrier to carrying out sex research and also means that much of the research-based knowledge and methodologies developed in a Western setting may have limited applicability. This paper uses research recently carried out among Bedouin young women in Jordan to examine these limitations and the extent to which research approaches and findings from relatively liberal Western cultures are appropriate and relevant. Following a description of the cultural context in which the study took place, the paper identifies potential risks of conducting sex research in this setting and the research limitations related to this risk. Finally, it addresses the question of whether doing sex research has any value given these restrictions. © 2012 Copyright Taylor and Francis Group, LLC

Association of Religious Commitment and Tobacco Use Among Muslim Adolescents

The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between religious observance and tobacco use among a sample of Jordanian youth. Using multistage, random sampling, a cross-sectional survey of middle and high school students was conducted. Of the 950 Muslim students in the study, 32 % were daily tobacco users and 72 % prayed regularly. Frequency of praying was negatively associated with tobacco smoking. Religious observance was found to be strongly associated with tobacco smoking among Jordanian youth. Our results indicate that religion can be a culturally important tool in health professionals’ efforts for tobacco control

A comprehensive health effects assessment of the use of sanitizers and disinfectants during COVID-19 pandemic: a global survey

COVID-19 has affected all aspects of human life so far. From the outset of the pandemic, preventing the spread of COVID-19 through the observance of health protocols, especially the use of sanitizers and disinfectants was given more attention. Despite the effectiveness of disinfection chemicals in controlling and preventing COVID-19, there are critical concerns about their adverse effects on human health. This study aims to assess the health effects of sanitizers and disinfectants on a global scale. A total of 91,056 participants from 154 countries participated in this cross-sectional study. Information on the use of sanitizers and disinfectants and health was collected using an electronic questionnaire, which was translated into 26 languages via web-based platforms. The findings of this study suggest that detergents, alcohol-based substances, and chlorinated compounds emerged as the most prevalent chemical agents compared to other sanitizers and disinfectants examined. Most frequently reported health issues include skin effects and respiratory effects. The Chi-square test showed a significant association between chlorinated compounds (sodium hypochlorite and per-chlorine) with all possible health effects under investigation (p-value <0.001). Examination of risk factors based on multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that alcohols and alcohols-based materials were associated with skin effects (OR, 1.98; 95%CI, 1.87-2.09), per-chlorine was associated with eye effects (OR, 1.83; 95%CI, 1.74-1.93), and highly likely with itching and throat irritation (OR, 2.00; 95%CI, 1.90-2.11). Furthermore, formaldehyde was associated with a higher prevalence of neurological effects (OR, 2.17; 95%CI, 1.92-2.44). Furthermore, formaldehyde was associated with a higher prevalence of neurological effects (OR, 2.17; 95%CI, 1.92-2.44). The use of sodium hypochlorite and per-chlorine also had a high chance of having respiratory effects. The findings of the current study suggest that health authorities need to implement more awareness programs about the side effects of using sanitizers and disinfectants during viral epidemics especially when they are used or overused