Birth related PTSD and its association with the mother-infant relationship: A meta-analysis

Objective: There is a growing body of research showing that birth related posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms may impact the mother-infant relationship. The present study assessed the strength of the association between birth related PTSD symptoms and the mother-infant relationship. Method: A total of twelve studies (5,572 participants) were included based on database searches using PubMed, EBSCO and ProQuest. Results: The findings showed that greater levels of birth related PTSD symptoms were associated with poorer mother-infant relationship, r = − 0.36, 95% CI: [− 0.43 - − 0.28], random effects model. The outcomes appeared to be heterogeneous (Q(11) = 81.63, p Conclusions: The results indicated that birth related PTSD symptoms are negatively associated with the motherinfant relationship. Further investigation into the prevention of birth related trauma is suggested. Improving birthing experiences for mothers is likely to contribute to improved infant mental health, thereby reducing overall social and economic costs

An internationally standardized species identification test for use on suspected seized rhinoceros horn in the illegal wildlife trade

Published by Elsevier Ireland Ltd. This is an open access article under the CC BY-NC-ND license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/BY-NC-ND/4.0/).Rhinoceros (rhino) numbers have dwindled substantially over the past century. As a result, three of the five species are now considered to be critically endangered, one species is vulnerable and one species is near-threatened. Poaching has increased dramatically over the past decade due to a growing demand for rhino horn products, primarily in Asia. Improved wildlife forensic techniques, such as validated tests for species identification of seized horns, are critical to aid current enforcement and prosecution efforts and provide a deterrent to future rhino horn trafficking. Here, we present an internationally standardized species identification test based on a 230 base pair cytochrome-b region. This test improves on previous nested PCR protocols and can be used for the discrimination of samples with <20 pg of template DNA, thus suitable for DNA extracted from horn products. The assay was designed to amplify water buffalo samples, a common ‘rhino horn’ substitute, but to exclude human DNA, a common contaminant. Phylogenetic analyses using this partial cytochrome-b region resolved the five extant rhino species. Testing successfully returned a sequence and correct identification for all of the known rhino horn samples and vouchered rhino samples from museum and zoo collections, and provided species level identification for 47 out of 52 unknown samples from seizures. Validation and standardization was carried out across five different laboratories, in four different countries, demonstrating it to be an effective and reproducible test, robust to inter laboratory variation in equipment and consumables (such as PCR reagents). This is one of the first species identification tests to be internationally standardized to produce data for evidential proceedings and the first published validated test for rhinos, one of the flagship species groups of the illegal wildlife trade and for which forensic tools are urgently required. This study serves as a model for how species identification tests should be standardized and disseminated for wildlife forensic testing

A multiplex marker set for microsatellite typing and sexing of sooty terns Onychoprion fuscatus

OBJECTIVES: Seabirds have suffered dramatic population declines in recent decades with one such species being the sooty tern Onychoprion fuscatus. An urgent call to re-assess their conservation status has been made given that some populations, such as the one on Ascension Island, South Atlantic, have declined by over 80% in three generations. Little is known about their population genetics, which would aid conservation management through understanding ecological processes and vulnerability to environmental change. We developed a multiplex microsatellite marker set for sooty terns including sex-typing markers to assist population genetics studies. RESULTS: Fifty microsatellite loci were isolated and tested in 23 individuals from Ascension Island. Thirty-one were polymorphic and displayed between 4 and 20 alleles. Three loci were Z-linked and two autosomal loci deviated from Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium. The remaining 26 autosomal loci together with three sex-typing makers were optimised in seven polymerase chain reaction plexes. These 26 highly polymorphic markers will be useful for understanding genetic structure of the Ascension Island population and the species as a whole. Combining these with recently developed microsatellite markers isolated from Indian Ocean birds will allow for assessment of global population structure and genetic diversity

‘Academic Freedom and World Class Universities: A virtuous circle?

Using empirical data from over 1500 respondents (drawn from across the UK) to a survey on academic freedom, and the Times Higher’s World University Rankings, this paper is a comparative assessment of the relationship between professed levels of defacto protection for academic freedom by teaching and research staff in individual UK universities, and their institution’s excellence, as evinced by world university rankings. The study reveals that normative protection for academic freedom is strongest in Russell Group universities and weakest in post-1992 institutions. Additionally, the professed level of protection for academic freedom reported by respondents to the survey is shown to have a positive relationship with the World Rankings’ positions of their institutions. Furthermore, the study considers whether academic freedom may be a prerequisite for, or defining characteristic of, a world-class university. Finally, the paper assesses the possible policy implications of this research for universities and their leaders, and higher educational policy makers, within the UK and beyond, seeking to improve the Times Higher’s World Ranking positions of their institutions

Antenatal Depression and the Experiences of Australian Women in the Maternity System during the COVID-19 Pandemic

The mitigation efforts of COVID-19 have led to significant changes to the delivery of routine healthcare globally. In Australia, the way maternal health services have been delivered since the beginning of the pandemic has also changed. Maternity care and support are known to influence maternal mental health. One hundred and eighty-eight English-speaking pregnant women residing in Australia were recruited using social media advertising between September and November 2020 as part of a larger study. Participants were aged between 19 and 42 (M = 31.05, SD = 4.68). Compared with previous Australian prevalence rates of around 7% for antenatal depression, rates in this study were 15.9% overall and 19% for those in Melbourne. Antenatal depression was positively associated with COVID-19 distress in relation to having a baby during a COVID-19 outbreak r(186) = 0.30,

The Impact of COVID-19 Related Distress on Antenatal Depression in Australia

Globally, the impact of COVID-19 on mental health has been significant. Pregnant women are known to be a vulnerable population in relation to mental health. In Australia, there was an unprecedented demand during the pandemic for mental health services, including services for pregnant women. Maternal mental health has unique and enduring features that can significantly shape a child's overall development and poor maternal mental health can have considerable social and economic costs. This cross-sectional study evaluated symptoms of antenatal depression and COVID-19-related distress in a sample of two hundred and sixty-nine pregnant women residing in Australia aged between 20 and 43 (M = 31.79, SD = 4.58), as part of a larger study. Social media advertising was used to recruit participants between September 2020 and November 2021. Prevalence rates for antenatal depression were found to be higher in this study (16.4%) compared with previous Australian prevalence rates (7%). COVID-19 distress in relation to having a baby during a COVID-19 outbreak significantly predicted symptoms of antenatal depression, B = 1.46,

Antenatal Depression and the Impact of COVID-19 Mitigation Efforts in Australia

The mitigation efforts of COVID-19 have led to significant changes to the delivery of routine healthcare globally. In Australia, the way maternal health services have been delivered since the beginning of the pandemic has also changed. Maternity care and support are known to influence maternal mental health. One hundred and eighty-eight English speaking pregnant women residing in Australia were recruited using social media advertising between September and November 2020 as part of a larger study. Participants were aged between 19 and 42 (M = 31.05, SD = 4.68). Compared with previous Australian prevalence rates of around 7% for antenatal depression, rates in this study were 15.9% overall and 19% for those in Melbourne. It is suggested that increased vigilance with screening and assessment will be required to identify and support this cohort of mothers who are not coping

Exploring individual characteristics as predictors of birth trauma and the influence of traumatic birth on mother-infant bonding

Objective: To investigate predictors of birth trauma and the subsequent impact on mother-infant relationship quality, and to explore what women felt they needed to be different about their births to further understand the problem. Method: One hundred and forty-two pregnant women residing in Australia aged between 19 and 42 years (M = 31.24, SD = 4.70) were recruited using social media advertising. A multimethod approach, using qualitative and quantitative analyses was employed. Results: High extraversion significantly predicted greater birth trauma. There was a significant relationship between birth trauma and poorer mother-infant relationship quality. Thematic analysis of responses from women who reported a desire for a different or improved birth experience generated four themes: 1) Less intrusive intervention, 2) Better communication, 3) Access to more supportive intervention, and 4) Better post birth care. Conclusion: The findings highlight the importance of supporting women's choices during birth by promoting informed and respectful person-centred care. Postnatally, screening and assessment of women should go beyond mood screening and include assessment of the woman’s response to her birth experience

Birth related PTSD and mother-infant bonding: a meta-analysis

Objective: There is a growing body of research showing that birth related posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms may impact the mother-infant relationship. The present study assessed the strength of the association between birth related PTSD symptoms and the mother-infant relationship. Method: A total of twelve studies (5,572 participants) were included based on database searches using PubMed, EBSCO and ProQuest. Results: The findings showed that greater levels of birth related PTSD symptoms were associated with poorer mother-infant relationship, r = -.36, 95% CI: [-.43 - -.28], random effects model. The outcomes appeared to be heterogeneous (Q(11) = 81.63, p &lt; .001, tau² = .0123, I² = 80.73%), despite all outcomes being in the same direction as the overall outcome. Conclusions: The results indicated that birth related PTSD symptoms negatively impact the mother-infant relationship. Further investigation into the prevention of birth related trauma is suggested. Improving birthing experiences for mothers is likely to contribute to improved infant mental health, thereby reducing overall social and economic costs