Egyptian Students' Experience of E-Maternity Course

Background: Egypt is facing a massive shortage in health care providers including nurses.  One of the Egyptian government strategies to overcome this problem is to increase students' intake at the existing nursing faculties as well as building additional nursing faculties in different governorates.  In such situation, there is an urgent need for e-learning, which is a means of alleviating the educational and health problems in Egypt. Responding to the rabid changes in the field of Information Technologies, an increasing interest in E-learning has emerged. In Egypt, little is known about the experience of introducing e learning in nursing education. Aim: This study aims to explore the Egyptian students' experience of E-maternity course. Methods: A Qualitative exploratory descriptive design was utilized using a phenomenological approach during the academic year 2012-2013.  Forty nine male and female students were selected through purposive sampling technique based o the following criteria: was having had a personal computer or laptop with an internet access and was agreed to share their views and experiences of the electronic course. Student feedback and focus group interviews were coded to develop an in-depth narrative data about students' experiences. Findings: E-learning was supported by positive students' feedback and reflections but still some students experienced some difficulties and challenges during their experiences of E-learning.  Indeed, as this study has shown, the main positive emerged themes were: convenience and sense of control, new teaching and learning method and self learning and interaction.  The second emerged theme was challenges and obstacles faced students who taught the online course.  Students' reflections were related to lack of electronic environment such as limited number of computers available, network problems, electronic management system, lack of technical support, and lack of computer skills.  Conclusion: Moving from teaching to learning is one of the policy makers' strategic objectives.  The use of e-learning would help students to acquire the learning outcomes.  E learning experience in nursing education can be improved; if the factors affecting the use of it were addressed in a correct manner. Recommendation: Corporation of e learning in nursing education should be guided both by governmental and institutional support. Key wards: E-learning, education, student's feedback.

A Novel Role for CSRP1 in a Lebanese Family with Congenital Cardiac Defects

Despite an obvious role for consanguinity in congenital heart disease (CHD), most studies fail to document a monogenic model of inheritance except for few cases. We hereby describe a first-degree cousins consanguineous Lebanese family with 7 conceived children: 2 died in utero of unknown causes, 3 have CHD, and 4 have polydactyly. The aim of the study is to unveil the genetic variant(s) causing these phenotypes using next generation sequencing (NGS) technology. Targeted exome sequencing identified a heterozygous duplication in CSRP1 which leads to a potential frameshift mutation at position 154 of the protein. This mutation is inherited from the father, and segregates only with the CHD phenotype. The in vitro characterization demonstrates that the mutation dramatically abrogates its transcriptional activity over cardiac promoters like NPPA. In addition, it differentially inhibits the physical association of CSRP1 with SRF, GATA4, and with the newly described partner herein TBX5. Whole exome sequencing failed to show any potential variant linked to polydactyly, but revealed a novel missense mutation in TRPS1. This mutation is inherited from the healthy mother, and segregating only with the cardiac phenotype. Both TRPS1 and CSRP1 physically interact, and the mutations in each abrogate their partnership. Our findings add fundamental knowledge into the molecular basis of CHD, and propose the di-genic model of inheritance as responsible for such malformations

Assessment of knowledge and practices of exclusive breastfeeding among rural women during the COVID-19 pandemic in Egypt: a cross sectional study

Abstract Background Worldwide exclusive breastfeeding is still recommended as a successful strategy even during the COVID -19 pandemic to lower infant morbidity and mortality. This study aimed to assess the knowledge and practices of exclusive breastfeeding among rural women during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted at EL-Morabeen Family Medicine Center in rural Damietta, Egypt among 178 lactating women who were chosen by using the purposive sampling technique. A developed structured questionnaire consisting of four parts was used to gather data from March to May 2022. Univariate analysis for descriptive data and bivariate analysis through the chi-square test were performed. Results The current study revealed that 73% of the studied rural women did not receive any breastfeeding counseling during antenatal visits and 61.2% of them believed that coronavirus was transmitted through breastmilk. Only 15.2% of them breastfed their infant exclusively for 6 months, 88.2% of mothers delayed breastfeeding initiation after delivery and 48.3% administered the prelacteal feeds. A total of 98.3% of rural women had never made skin-to-skin contact, and 79.2% of them had not been vaccinated against COVID-19. Additionally, a statistically significant association between good knowledge and practice with highly educated women aged 26–30 years, with a monthly income of 4000–6000 L.E was found. Furthermore, only 26.4% and 26.1% of rural women had good knowledge and practice scores respectively. Conclusion Suboptimal breastfeeding practices, such as delayed onset of breastfeeding, low percentages of exclusivity, early weaning, prelacteal feeding administration, and lack of skin-to-skin contact during the COVID -19 pandemic were prevalent among the studied rural mothers. Breastfeeding counseling for all pregnant women and implementation of evidence-based practices in the health care system, such as the early initiation of breastfeeding and skin-to-skin contact, are recommended

Helping from the heart : a feminist ethnography of Egyptian women's childbirth experiences

EThOS - Electronic Theses Online ServiceGBUnited Kingdo

'She would help me from the heart': an ethnography of Egyptian women in labour.

This article reports an ethnographic study of the intrapartum care of women who were expecting normal births in an Egyptian hospital. The study involved observations of labouring women, and interviews with them shortly after they had given birth. The data were synthesised into three themes: the epistemology of hospital care, characterised by ‘technical touch’; women's experience of hospital childbirth, which was contrasted unfavourably with home birth experiences; and women's epistemology of birth, which was characterised by ‘helping from the heart’. This latter concept expresses the participants’ preferred way of doing birth. We describe the impact of the paradigm clash experienced by these women, and propose an approach to the provision of childbirth care in Egypt and beyond which combines the clinical safety of evidence based and experientially developed technical skills with the emotional safety of trusting, respectful, loving relationships. We have termed this ‘skilled help from the heart’

'She would help me from the heart': An ethnography of Egyptian women in labour

This article reports an ethnographic study of the intrapartum care of women who were expecting normal births in an Egyptian hospital. The study involved observations of labouring women, and interviews with them shortly after they had given birth. The data were synthesised into three themes: the epistemology of hospital care, characterised by 'technical touch'; women's experience of hospital childbirth, which was contrasted unfavourably with home birth experiences; and women's epistemology of birth, which was characterised by 'helping from the heart'. This latter concept expresses the participants' preferred way of doing birth. We describe the impact of the paradigm clash experienced by these women, and propose an approach to the provision of childbirth care in Egypt and beyond which combines the clinical safety of evidence based and experientially developed technical skills with the emotional safety of trusting, respectful, loving relationships. We have termed this 'skilled help from the heart'.Childbirth care Hospital/home birth Egypt

Effect of Implementing A Birth Plan on Womens' Childbirth Experiences and Maternal & Neonatal Outcomes

Childbirth satisfaction represents a sense of feeling good about one's birth. It is thought to result from having a sense of control, having expectations met, feeling empowered, confident and supported. The aim of this study was to implement a birth plan and evaluate its effect on womens' childbirth experiences and maternal, neonatal outcomes. A quasi experimental design was utilized. Sitting: antenatal clinic, labor ward at Mansoura university hospital. Participants: included (GI) 37 caregivers and (GII) 260 pregnant woman divided into an(130) intervention who received care as birth plan during birth and (130)control  group who received routine care. Tools: a structured interview questionnaire included 3 parts; demographic data, childbirth expectations fulfillments and childbirth satisfaction data, semi structured interview with nurses and physician, observation check list to assess maternal & neonatal outcomes. Results: the intervention group had a statistically higher degree of positive childbirth experiences and improved labor outcomes than that of the control group (p<0,001). Conclusion: women who receive care with birth plan during her birth are more satisfied than those who not. Keywords: Birth plan, Expectations, Childbirth Satisfaction, Childbirth Outcomes

The Effect of Aromatherapy Abdominal Massage on Alleviating Menstrual Pain in Nursing Students: A Prospective Randomized Cross-Over Study

Dysmenorrhea is a common cause of sickness absenteeism from both classes and work. This study investigated the effect of aromatherapy massage on a group of nursing students who are suffering of primary dysmenorrhea. A randomized blind clinical trial of crossover design was used. In the first treatment phase, group 1 () received aromatherapy abdominal massage once daily for seven days prior to menstruation using the essential oils (cinnamon, clove, rose, and lavender in a base of almond oil). Group 2 () received the same intervention but with placebo oil (almond oil). In the second treatment phase, the two groups switched to alternate regimen. Level and duration of pain and the amount of menstrual bleeding were evaluated at the baseline and after each treatment phase. During both treatment phases, the level and duration of menstrual pain and the amount of menstrual bleeding were significantly lower in the aromatherapy group than in the placebo group. These results suggests that aromatherapy is effective in alleviating menstrual pain, its duration and excessive menstrual bleeding. Aromatherapy can be provided as a nonpharmacological pain relief measure and as a part of nursing care given to girls suffering of dysmenorrhea, or excessive menstrual bleeding