Breast cancer screening beliefs questionnaire : psychometric properties of the Persian version

Background: Valid and reliable instruments are needed to assess such beliefs, attitudes, and knowledge. This study aimed to translate Breast Cancer Screening Beliefs Questionnaire into Persian and evaluate its psychometric properties among Iranian women. Methods: In this methodological study, the twelve-item Breast Cancer Screening Beliefs Questionnaire was translated into Persian and filled out by 1256 Iranian women. Face, content, convergent, and discriminant validity were evaluated and exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses were performed for construct validity evaluation. Reliability was also evaluated through calculating Cronbach’s alpha, McDonald’s omega, Average inter-item correlation, and test-retest intraclass correlation coefficient and finally, composite reliability was estimated. Results: Three factors were extracted in factor analysis which included screening attitude, screening knowledge and perception, and screening practice. These factors explained 55.71% of the total variance of breast cancer screening beliefs. This three-factor model was confirmed in confirmatory factor analysis based on model fit indices (PCFI = 0.703, PNFI = 0.697, CMIN/DF = 2.127, RMSEA = 0.30, GFI = 0.980, AGFI = 0.998, and CFI = 0.991). Convergent and discriminant validity were also confirmed. Composite reliability and test-retest intraclass correlation coefficient were more than 0.7. Conclusion: With a three-factor structure, the Persian Breast Cancer Screening Beliefs Questionnaire has acceptable validity and reliability and hence, can be used to evaluate Iranian women’s breast cancer screening beliefs

General health, economic status, and marriage duration as predictors of marital commitment during reproductive age among Iranian married women

Background: One of the important factors involved in a successful marriage during reproductive age is marital commitment. The aim of this study was to find which factors predict marital commitment during reproductive age in Iranian married women. Methods: This cross-sectional, population-based study was performed on married women. Adams and Jones' Dimensions of Commitment Inventory (DCI) were used to assess marital commitment. In addition, their current mental health was assessed using General Health Questionnaire (GHQ). The socioeconomic status of the participants was calculated based on household income, employment status, and education level. A total of 160 married women, who were between 15-49 years of age and were from six districts of Babol, were selected using a systematic random sampling method. Stepwise multiple regressions were used to determine the effect of independent variables on marital commitment. Results: The results of multiple regression showed that general health, the duration of marriage, and the economic status with standard beta coefficients of (-0.324), (-0.259), and (0.173) had the highest regression effect on marital commitment, respectively. These variables accounted for a total of 33% of the distribution of marital commitment. Conclusion: These findings suggest that general health, economic status, and the duration of marriage are predicable variables for marital commitment. It is necessary to emphasize the benefit of improving general health and economic status in increasing the degree of marital commitment, especially among women with longer duration of marriage

Effectiveness of Group Psychosexual Training for Marital Adjustment and Sexual Self-Efficacy of Infertile Women: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Objective: Infertility can be associated with unfavorable psychological consequences such as a sense of marital incompatibility and sexual inadequacy. To address these issues, this study aimed to assess the effectiveness of group psycho-sexual training in improving marital adjustment and sexual self-efficacy of infertile women. Method: A randomized controlled clinical trial (RCT) study was conducted in Babol, Iran, with 72 infertile women, randomly assigned to either the intervention group (n = 36) or the control group (n = 36). The intervention group underwent psychosexual training, while the control group received routine care. The Dyadic Adjustment Scale (DAS) and Sexual Self-Efficacy Scale (SSES) were used to assess their marital adjustment and sexual self-efficacy. Data analysis was performed using various tests, including the independent t-test, Chi-squared test, paired t-test, ANCOVA, and MANCOVA. Results: Most infertile women had moderate sexual self-efficacy (80%). The intervention group had a significantly better response to group psycho-sexual training compared to the control group. This intervention improved sexual self-efficacy and marital adjustment and its subscales including marital consensus, satisfaction, cohesion (P < 0.0001), and affectional expression (P < 0.001). The mean pre-to-post treatment scores of sexual self- efficacy, marital adjustment, and its subscales increased significantly in the intervention group, while no significant difference was observed in the control group (P < 0.0001). Conclusion: Based on the findings, it is recommended to provide educational services alongside the infertility treatment process for enhancing the quality of marital adjustment and promoting sexual self-efficacy

Family Planning Practice by Patterns of Marriage in the North of Iran

Background: The fertility experience in Iran suggests that the family planning programs had an effective role in the fertility reduction. This study aimed to specify patterns of marriage in Iran and especially in a northern city of Iran and to investigate the association between patterns of marriage and contraceptive use before first pregnancy and current contraceptive use. Methods: In this cross-sectional study, following the implementation of an expert panel in order to investigate marriage patterns, 880 women aged 15-49 yr old, were selected by multistage cluster sampling and completed the "reproductive practices" questionnaire in Babol City, northern Iran, in 2013. The data were analyzed using IBM SPSS ver.16 and descriptive and analytical parameters. Results: There are three patterns of marriage in the northern part of Iran: Traditional, Mixed and Modern marriage and between different patterns there is no statistically significant difference in the contraceptive use. Conclusion: According to the lack of significant relationship between patterns of marriage and the contraceptives use, which is one of the proximate determinants of fertility, the policy makers should pay attention to other determinants of fertility in order to manage the problems and implications of population decline in the country

Effects of olive oil sitz bath on improvement of perineal injury after delivery

Introduction: Episiotomy is one of the common surgeries in the world with few complication and perineal pain. Since the olive oil has antiseptic and healing effects, this study was performed to evaluate the effects of olive oil sitz bath on improvement of perineal injury after delivery.Materials and Methods: This double blind clinical trial was carried out on 60 selected eligible women who they had mediolateral episiotomy or perineal tear grade 1 and 2. Following repairing episiotomy, the subjects were randomly allocated into two groups: the Study group was undergone care by olive oil sitz bath and the control group by distilled water sitz bath for 10 days. Data were collected through demographic data, REEDA scale and visual analog scale of pain. Results: There was a significant difference between the study and control group with regards to pain severity after 5 and 10 days (p<0.05), wound redness after 5days (p<0.0001) and redness (p<0.000), edema (p<0.05) 10 days after delivery. Any case of ecchymosis, discharge and approximation (distance between the wound edges) was not observed in the olive group but those signs were observed in the control group. However, this difference was not statistically significant.Conclusion: This study suggests that olive oil to be added to routine water sitz bath for post-episiotomy car

The Effect of Prenatal Group Education on Knowledge, Attitude and Selection of Delivery Type in Primiparous Women

Introduction: Lack of knowledge about choosing delivery type in mothers, is one of the reasons for the increase in the number of cesarean section. Therefore, this study was performed to determine the effect of prenatal group education on knowledge, attitude and delivery type selection in primiparous women who referred to Qaemshahr Health Care Center. Methods: In this quasi-experimental study, 170 primiparous women who had no limitation for having normal delivery were selected. The sampling was multistage and purposeful. Data gathering tool was a questionnaire. Education was started at the 27th week of gestational age and continued to the end of pregnancy in regular intervals. The questionnaires were filled by study samples before and after education as pre-test and post-test). Data was analyzed by SPSS software using descriptive statistics, t-test, Vilcoxon, and Z tests. Results: A significant difference was observed in women's knowledge and attitude, before and after education. Normal delivery was women's preferable choice before and after education, but, following up their performance, showed that only 57.6% chose normal delivery in practice. In fact, 61.8% of women before and 80.6% of them after education, chose normal delivery. Conclusion: Prenatal education is effective in reducing the rate of caesarean section. It is recommended to provide more facilities regarding different methods of low-pain deliveries and also educate labor room staffs for normal delivery

Health-promoting lifestyle in mothers with vaginal childbirth and cesarean section in the postpartum period

Abstract Background In the postpartum period, there are numerous changes in the physical and psychological dimensions of women, which reduce the quality of life of women. The aim of this study was to compare the health-promoting lifestyle of mothers with vaginal delivery and cesarean delivery in the postpartum period. Methods This cross-sectional study was conducted on 77 pregnant women who had delivered vaginal or by cesarean section at Shohadaye Behshahr Hospital and were selected based on inclusion criteria. If the women were willing to participate in the study, a demographic questionnaire was completed, and the telephone numbers of the subjects were recorded so that the Porsline health-promoting lifestyle questionnaire could be sent to them. Data were analyzed with SPSS 22 using the T test, chi-square test and Repeated Measure ANOVA. Results There was no difference in the average score of health-promoting lifestyle and its dimensions between the two groups of vaginal delivery and cesarean section at two and six weeks after delivery. However, in both groups, the total score of health-promoting lifestyle decreased significantly over time (P < 0.001). Conclusions There was no difference in health-promoting lifestyle between mothers with vaginal and mothers with cesarean delivery at two weeks and six weeks after delivery. This requires more attention from policy makers to make vaginal childbirth more convenient, and by reducing complications after vaginal childbirth, they can improve women’s healthy lifestyles and, in turn, families. Also, it seems that the other variables apart from the method of delivery should be considered, and it is necessary to distinguish these variables such as routine episiotomy in order to prevent the decrease in the level of health-promoting behaviors among women during puerperium period

The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on contraceptive methods, abortion, and unintended pregnancy: a cross-sectional study

Background and Aim By creating an international emergency, the COVID-19 pandemic may have led to compromised reproductive health care, including family planning services, and thus increased unintended pregnancies and unsafe abortions. This study was conducted to compare methods of contraception, abortion, and unintended pregnancies in those served by the health centers of Babol city in Iran, both before and during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods A cross-sectional study was conducted including 425 participants registered to the health centers of Babol city, Mazandaran province, Iran. Using a multi-stage method, 6 urban health centers and 10 rural centers were selected for inclusion. Proportional allocation method was used for sampling those who met the inclusion criteria. A questionnaire was used to collect data in relation to individual characteristics and reproductive behaviors via 6 questions focused upon methods and preparation of contraception, number and type of abortions, and number and causes of unintended pregnancy from July to November 2021. The data were analyzed using SPSS software version 26. Significance level was considered to be p \u3c 0.05 in all tests. Results Most participants aged between 20 and 29 years old had a diploma level of education, were housewives and lived in the city. Prior to the pandemic, 32.0% used modern contraceptive methods and 31.6% used these during the pandemic. No change in the combination of contraceptive methods used was observed between these two periods. Approximately two-thirds used the withdrawal method in both periods. The majority of participants in both periods purchased their contraceptives from a pharmacy. Unintended pregnancy increased from 20.4% prior to the pandemic to 25.4% during the pandemic. Abortions increased from 19.1% prior to the pandemic to 20.9% during the pandemic, although these findings were not found to be statistically significant. Contraceptive methods had a statistically significant relationship with age, education, spouse’s education, spouse’s occupation, and place of residence. The number of unintended pregnancies had a significant relationship with age, the educational level of both participants and their spouses and socio-economic status, and the number of abortions had a statistically significant relationship with the age and education level of the spouse (p \u3e 0.05). Conclusion Despite there being no change in contraceptive methods compared to the pre-pandemic period, an increase in the number of unintended pregnancies, abortions and illegal abortions was observed. This may be indicative of an unmet need for family planning services during the COVID-19 pandemic

Comparing reproductive intentions before and during the COVID-19 pandemic: a cross-sectional study

Abstract Background and Aim Reproductive behaviors and intentions are affected by several factors, including the COVID-19 pandemic crisis. This study was conducted with the aim of comparing the intention to reproduce and its causes in Iran during the period prior to and during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods This descriptive-comparative study included 425 cisgender women from 6 urban health centers and 10 rural centers in Babol city, Mazandaran province, Iran. Urban and rural health centers were selected using a multi-stage approach with proportional allocation. A questionnaire was used to collect data in relation to individual characteristics and reproductive intentions. Results Most participants aged between 20 and 29 years had a diploma level of education, were housewives and lived in the city. The intention to reproduce decreased from 11.4% before the pandemic to 5.4% during the pandemic (p = 0.006). The most common reason for wanting to have children prior to the pandemic was not having children (54.2%). During the pandemic, a desire to reach the ideal number of children was the most common reason to want to have children (59.1%), though no statistically significant difference was observed between the two periods (p = 0.303). The most common reason for not wanting to have children in both periods was having enough children already (45.2% before and 40.9% during the pandemic). The reasons for not wanting to have children had a statistically significant difference between the two periods (p < 0.001). Reproductive intentions had a statistically significant relationship with the variables of age (p < 0.001), the education level of both participants (p < 0.001) and spouses (p = 0.006), occupation (p = 0.004), and socio-economic status (p < 0.001). Conclusion Despite restrictions and lockdowns, the COVID-19 pandemic had a negative impact on people’s desire to reproduce in this context. Economic problems caused by the sanctions which increased during the COVID-19 crisis may be one of the reasons for a reduction in people’s intentions to become parents. Future research could usefully investigate whether this decrease in the desire to reproduce will lead to significant changes in population level and future birth rates