Evaluating the effectiveness of empowerment-based education on empowerment and anxiety in nulliparous women

Background: Anxiety is the most common mental disorder during pregnancy which increases the risk of maternal postpartum depression and anxiety; According to investigations, pregnant women hypothesized that anxiety is a common factor that will improve spontaneously; they are not aware of its side effects on the fetus, baby, and pregnancy outcome, as a whole. Therefore, creating the opportunities of independence through interacting with environment and other people and gaining sustainable mental energy can empower this defect and turn pregnancy into something pleasant. As a result, present study was carried out to evaluate the effectiveness of empowerment-based education on empowerment and anxiety in nulliparous women. Methods: This clinical trial survey was performed on 70 nulliparous women of 20-24 weeks. Subjects were divided into two control and experimental groups of 35 members through random sampling. Both groups completed the demographic questionnaire, Pregnant Women Empowerment questionnaire, and Spielberger State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI) before intervention. Pregnant Women Empowerment questionnaire and Spielberger State-Trait Anxiety Inventory was completed again immediately and eight weeks after intervention by both groups. Data were analyzed by t test and Fisher's exact test through SPSS version 16. Significance level of 0.05 was considered. Results: There were no significant differences between control and experimental groups, with whole demographic variables. The results showed that the mean and standard deviation of anxiety in two groups of experimental and control before intervention were 16.78±90.91 and 16.29±89.14 which implies no significant difference (P > 0.05); however, post-intervention data analysis immediately and eight weeks after intervention showed a significant difference between two groups (P 0.05); however, post-intervention data analysis immediately and eight weeks after intervention showed a significant difference between two groups. (P < 0001) Conclusion: Empowerment-based education reduces the level of anxiety and increases empowerment of women during pregnancy; since this method is cheap, simple, and risk-free, it is highly recommended for nulliparous women

Effect of oral evening primrose capsules on ripening of the cervix in nulliparous Iranian pregnant women (A randomized trial)

Introduction: Ripening of the cervix and uterine contractions are two basic factors of a successful delivery. Lack of ripening of the cervix is considered to be one of the problems of delivery. Thus, the present research was designed to determine the effect of oral evening primrose capsules on the ripening of cervix in nulliparous women. Materials and methods: This research has been conducted with the triple-blind randomized trial method on 80 nulliparous women in the 40th week of pregnancy (6th day + 40 weeks) visiting the prenatal clinic Prenatal clinic Shahid Akbarabadi educational and medical center of Iran University of Medical Sciences in 2015. Samples were divided into two equal groups of medicine and placebo with the randomized allocation method. Each of the participants took a bottle containing 14 1000mg oral evening primrose capsules (2 capsules per day, each 12 twelve hours for a week) or the placebo containing 14 1000mg oral capsules of paraffin in similar bottles. Data collecting tools include: demographic specifications questionnaire and the form of the records of the examinations. Data was analyzed through statistical tests and SPSS software version 16 using descriptive inferential statistic. Findings: Similarity of the two groups in terms of individual specifications and Bishop Score before the intervention were reviewed in the two groups and no significant statistical difference was seen between the two groups. The mean of the Bishop score for those who had taken 10 or more capsules after the intervention did not show a statistically significant difference (p=0.110). Conclusion: Consumption of evening primrose did not show a considerable improvement in the score. It is recommended to do more comparative studies in this field in later weeks of pregnancy due to the conflicts of the studies

The Comparison of vaginal cream of mixing yogurt, honey and clotrimazole on symptoms of vaginal candidiasis

BACKGROUND: Vulvovaginal candidiasis is known as one of the most common fungal infection among women of reproductive age and considered as an important public health problem. In recent years, due to resistance to common antifungal medication, the use of traditional medicine of anti-fungal and herbal treatment increased. Therefore the objective of this study was to determine the effects of vaginal cream, mixture of yogurt and honey and comparing it with clotrimazole vaginal cream on symptoms of Vulvovaginal candidiasis in patients. METHODS: In this randomized, triple blind clinical trial of 70 non-pregnant women infected with Candidal vulvovaginitis were placed in two groups of Vaginal cream mixed of yogurt and honey recipients (N=35) and clotrimazole vaginal cream (N=35). Both groups were treated for 7 days. At the beginning of study, Clinical and laboratory signs and symptoms were registered 7 and 14 days after treatment by questionnaire, observation form and secretions culture results. Data by chi-square test, t test, McNemar tests were analyzed by SPSS version 21. Significance level of 0.05 was considered. RESULTS: The result of present study reveals the significant differences in symptom improvement of ' yogurt and honey, than clotrimazole group (P0.05) CONCLUSION: This study indicated that he therapeutic effects of vaginal cream, yogurt and honey is not only similar with clotrimazole vaginal cream but more effective in relieving some symptoms of vaginal candidiasis. Therefore, the use of this product can be suggested as an herbal remedy for candida infection treatment

The effect of slow-stroke back message on the anxiety levels of Iranian women on the first postpartum day

Background: Anxiety disorder is common during the postpartum period. Back massage relaxation techniques are one of the most important nonpharmacological interventions to prevent and control postpartum-related anxiety. Objectives: To determine the effectiveness of slow-stroke back massage on the anxiety levels of primiparous mothers in the first days after delivery. Materials and Methods: This single-blind controlled clinical trial consisted of 100 primiparous mothers with normal deliveries. The mothers were randomly allocated to interventional (n = 50) or control (n = 50) groups using binary blocks. Both groups were followed up just before, immediately after, and the morning after the intervention. Data were collected using a demographic questionnaire and Spielberger�s state anxiety inventory (STAI) questionnaire. Results: Themeanage of the mothers was 22 years. There were no significant between-group differences in age (P = 0.333), education (P = 0.427), and medication during labor and the postpartum period (P = 0.412). There was no statistically significant difference between the mean anxiety scores of the experimental (6.66±35.48) and control groups (9.05±37.42) before the intervention (P = 0.268). Immediately after the massage and the next morning, there was a significant between-group difference in the anxiety scores (P < 0.001). Conclusions: The findings demonstrate that slow-stroke back massage is a simple, inexpensive, noninvasive, and effective method to reduce the anxiety levels of primiparous women during the first postpartum day. © 2016, Iranian Red Crescent Medical Journal

Effect of Attachment Behaviors Training on Maternal Competence attainment in Nulliparous Adolescent Women

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Adolescent pregnancy is a public health issue that requires knowledge, motivation, and skills, and the lack of it leads to a deficiency in mother competence. The aim of this study was to determine the effect of attachment behaviors training on maternal role competence in nulliparous adolescent women. METHODS: This clinical trial study, was conducted on 73 nulliparous Adolescent women at 28-32 gestational age attending the Educational centers dependent on Iran University of Medical Sciences. They were randomly divided into intervention and control groups. Three sessions of group training were held for mothers of interventional groups regarding Fetal Attachment Behaviors (Including counting the movements of the fetus and registration it, imagining the appearance of the fetus, talking with the fetus, and etc.). The control group received usual care. The Parenting Sense of Competence Scale questionnaire (score range: 17-102) was completed and assessed before the intervention and 10 days after delivery. FINDINGS: There was no statistically significant difference between the groups before the intervention in terms of the total score of Parenting Sense of Competence. 10 days after delivery, the mean score of maternal competence was 60.86 ±9.75 and 44.44±12.99 which was significantly higher compared to the control group (p<0.001). CONCLUSION: The results of this study showed that attachment behaviors training is effective in obtaining the competence of adolescent mothers

The effect of holly Quran recitation on physiological responses of premature infant

Introduction: During recent years, despite remarkable advances in medicine and survival rates of premature infants, they still suffer from neurological disability and abnormal development. Based on theories, complementary cares are necessary for growth and development in preterm infants, and neurobehavioral function provide by appropriate infant stimulations. The aim of this research is to study the effects of holly Quran recitation on physiological responses in premature infants. Materials and methods: In a randomized control trail and double blind study, from August through September 2009, 120 premature infants who admitted to the NICU of Shahid Akbarabadi hospital, Tehran and had inclusion criteria of this study, were randomly assigned to two groups: control group and holly Quran recitation group, and observed for three dependent variables; oxygen saturation levels, heart rate, respiration rate. Holly Quran recitation was including 20 minutes recitation of Yusuf Quranic chapters, by Shahhat Mohammad Anvar sound that was played for experimental group via headphone on the morning shift. The volume range was 50-60 db. Two groups were observed for physiological responses from 10 minutes before to 10 minutes after intervention by monitor, and recorded numerous before and 10,20,30 minutes after beginning of intervention, were used to analysis. Results: Our results showed that the mean of respiratory and heart rate significantly decreased and oxygen saturation levels increased in Quran group as compared to the basic measurement and this changes continued to 10 minutes after intervention (P<0.001). The mean change of three variables in the end of intervention and after 10 minutes was Significantly different between two groups (P<0.001). Conclusion: Holly Quran recitation can be used as a complementary and supportive care to improve of physiologic state in premature infant; because it affects on the physiological responses in premature infants comprising oxygen saturation level, respiration and heart rate

Episiotomy discomforts relief using cold gel pads in primiparaus Iranian women (a comparative study)

Abstract: Episiotomy is the most common perineal surgical in obstetric and midwifery. Application of Cooling devices is a new approach in pain relief but the pain related to episiotomy is typically treated with oral analgesic medications. This clinical trial involved 60 qualified primiparaus women admitted for labor in Kamali Hospital inKaraj, Iran. They were randomly allocated into two groups: cases (using Gel pads) and control (receiving the hospital routine). The participant's pain and discomforts were recorded on the VAS and REEDA scales, respectively. Pain was evaluated 4, 12 h and 5 days after episiotomy. The obtained data were analyzed in SPSS 14 using independent t-test and chi-square. There were statistically difference in pain intensity scores of 2 groups in 4 h (p = 0.014), 12 h (p = 0.002) and 5 days (p = 0.000) after episiotomy. The REEDA score was significantly low in the experimental group (Gel pads group) at 5 days after episiotomy (p = 0.000). This study application of cold gel pads instead of betadine for episiotomy wound care. © Medwell Journals, 2011

Folic acid supplementation in postmenopausal women with hot flushes: phase III randomised double-blind placebo-controlled trial

Objective To assess whether folic acid supplementation ameliorates hot flushes. Design Double-blind, placebo-controlled randomised trial. Setting Nine hospitals in England. Population Postmenopausal women experiencing ≥50 hot flushes weekly. Methods Women (n = 164) were randomly assigned in a 1:1 ratio to receive folic acid 5 mg tablet or placebo daily for 12 weeks. Participants recorded frequency and severity of hot flushes in a Sloan Diary daily and completed Greene Climacteric and Utian Quality of Life (UQoL) Scales at 4-week intervals. Main outcome measures The change in daily Hot Flush Score at week 12 from randomisation based on Sloan Diary Composite Score B calculation. Results Data of 143 (87%) women were available for the primary outcome. The mean change (SD) in Hot Flush Score at week 12 was −6.98 (10.30) and −4.57 (9.46) for folic acid and placebo group, respectively. The difference between groups in the mean change was −2.41 (95% CI −5.68 to 0.87) (P = 0.149) and in the adjusted mean change −2.61 (95% CI −5.72 to 0.49) (P = 0.098). Analysis of secondary outcomes indicated an increased benefit in the folic acid group regarding changes in total and emotional UQoL scores at week 8 when compared with placebo. The difference in the mean change from baseline was 5.22 (95% CI 1.16–9.28) and 1.88 (95% CI 0.23–3.52) for total and emotional score, respectively. Conclusions The study was not able to demonstrate that folic acid had a statistically significant greater benefit in reducing Hot Flush Score over 12 weeks in postmenopausal women when compared with placebo. Tweetable abstract Folic acid may ameliorate hot flushes in postmenopausal women but confirmation is required from a larger study