24 research outputs found
Chlamydial Infection
Chlamydial infection is one of the most common sexually transmitted infections worldwide, showing no decreasing trends in the incidence the last years. As a result, it presents a major burden of disease that impacts negatively people’s sexual and reproductive health and may result in adverse perinatal outcomes. The aim of the chapter is to offer today’s practitioners trustworthy guidance on the latest data in chlamydial infection. Thorough, up-to-date content on the epidemiology, pathophysiology, risk factors, clinical manifestations, diagnosis, treatment, prevention, prognosis and outcomes of infected infants, is presented. Data in children and adolescents that differ from infants, are also discussed. The chapter is organized consistently in order to help readers find information quickly and easily and thus, provide direct, optimal and evidence-based care to every pediatric patient
Frequency and Determinants of Breastfeeding in Greece: A Prospective Cohort Study during the COVID-19 Pandemic
Breastfeeding is considered to be the cornerstone of child health. In
Europe however, overall breastfeeding rates remain low. The present
study aimed at estimating the frequency of breastfeeding in Greece
during the COVID-19 pandemic period and comparing findings with the
latest national study in order to identify a potential impact of the
pandemic. Additionally, possible correlations of socio-cultural and
demographic characteristics with breastfeeding indicators were
investigated. This prospective cohort study included 847 women from five
tertiary maternity hospitals, between January and December 2020. Data
were collected by a structured questionnaire via interview during
hospitalization and via telephone in the first, third and sixth month
postpartum. Results showed that all breastfeeding indicators improved
over the last three years. Full breastfeeding reached 7.2%, contrary to
0.78% of the latest national study at six months postpartum.
Employment, marital status, educational level, mode of delivery, type of
maternity hospital, body mass index before pregnancy, previous
breastfeeding experience of the mother and infant’s birth weight
correlated significantly with breastfeeding indicators at different time
periods. The COVID-19 pandemic seems to have favorably influenced
breastfeeding initiation and duration in Greece due to lockdowns, home
confinement and teleworking
Frequency and Determinants of Breastfeeding in Greece: A Prospective Cohort Study during the COVID-19 Pandemic
Breastfeeding is considered to be the cornerstone of child health. In Europe however, overall breastfeeding rates remain low. The present study aimed at estimating the frequency of breastfeeding in Greece during the COVID-19 pandemic period and comparing findings with the latest national study in order to identify a potential impact of the pandemic. Additionally, possible correlations of socio-cultural and demographic characteristics with breastfeeding indicators were investigated. This prospective cohort study included 847 women from five tertiary maternity hospitals, between January and December 2020. Data were collected by a structured questionnaire via interview during hospitalization and via telephone in the first, third and sixth month postpartum. Results showed that all breastfeeding indicators improved over the last three years. Full breastfeeding reached 7.2%, contrary to 0.78% of the latest national study at six months postpartum. Employment, marital status, educational level, mode of delivery, type of maternity hospital, body mass index before pregnancy, previous breastfeeding experience of the mother and infant’s birth weight correlated significantly with breastfeeding indicators at different time periods. The COVID-19 pandemic seems to have favorably influenced breastfeeding initiation and duration in Greece due to lockdowns, home confinement and teleworking
Investigation of Healthcare Professionals’ Knowledge of Evidence-Based Clinical Practices for Preterm Neonatal Skin Care—A Pilot Study
Neonatal skin care practices are considered crucial for a neonate’s survival and are closely related to healthcare professionals’ (HPs) knowledge and skills in delivering scientifically valid neonatal care interventions. In this descriptive cross-sectional pilot study, conducted in 2022, we aimed to assess HPs’ basic theoretical knowledge of neonatal vernix caseosa, skin microbiota, and bathing as well as knowledge regarding evidence-based clinical practices (referred to as “clinical knowledge”) for preterm neonatal skin care. Eligible participants were neonatologists, pediatricians, obstetricians, midwives and nurses working in the Greek setting. The research instrument was an online questionnaire designed by the research team. Finally, 123 HPs took part in the study. The theoretical, clinical and total knowledge scores were all significantly associated with age, healthcare profession and the sources used for education. Participants’ theoretical and clinical knowledge scores were compared and found not to differ significantly (p = 0.566). A significant and positive correlation was found between theoretical and clinical knowledge scores. Thus, it is concluded that HPs should be updated with the latest evidence-based knowledge and clinical guidelines in order to provide neonatal skin care with high-quality standards
Exposure to active and passive smoking among Greek pregnant women
Introduction
Active smoking and exposure to passive smoke are responsible for numerous adverse pregnancy outcomes for women and their infants. The aim of this study was to explore the perceptions, attitudes, patterns of personal tobacco use and exposure to environmental smoke among a sample of pregnant women in Greece.
Material and Methods
A cross sectional survey was undertaken of 300 women identified from the perinatal care records of the Maternity Departments of two hospitals in Athens between February 2013 and May 2013. Data on active and passive maternal smoking status in the first, second, and third trimesters of pregnancy, fetal and neonatal tobacco related complications, exposure to environmental tobacco smoke during pregnancy, quit attempts, behaviors towards avoiding passive smoking and beliefs towards smoking cessation during pregnancy were collected using self-administered questionnaires on the 3rd postnatal day. Women also completed the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS).
Results
Of 300 women recruited to the study 48 % reported tobacco use during the first trimester of pregnancy. Amongst participants who were tobacco users, 83.3 % reported making an attempt to quit but less than half (45.1 %) were successful. Among women who continued to smoke during pregnancy the majority (55.8 %) reported that they felt unable to quit, and 9.3 % reported that they considered smoking cessation was not an important health issue for them. Participants who continued to smoke during pregnancy were more likely to report fetal (χ2 = 11.41; df = 5; p < 0.05) and newborn complications (χ2 = 6.41; df = 2; p < 0.05), including preterm birth and low birth weight. Participants who reported that their partners were smokers were more likely to smoke throughout their pregnancy (χ2 = 14.62; df = 1; p < 0.001). High rates of second-hand smoke exposure were reported among both smoking and non-smoking women. Pregnant smokers had significantly higher levels of postnatal depressive and anxiety symptomatology, as measured using the EPDS, than non-smokers.
Conclusions
Of 300 women recruited to the study 48 % reported tobacco use during the first trimester of pregnancy. Amongst participants who were tobacco users, 83.3 % reported making an attempt to quit but less than half (45.1 %) were successful. Among women who continued to smoke during pregnancy the majority (55.8 %) reported that they felt unable to quit, and 9.3 % reported that they considered smoking cessation was not an important health issue for them. Participants who continued to smoke during pregnancy were more likely to report fetal (χ2 = 11.41; df = 5; p < 0.05) and newborn complications (χ2 = 6.41; df = 2; p < 0.05), including preterm birth and low birth weight. Participants who reported that their partners were smokers were more likely to smoke throughout their pregnancy (χ2 = 14.62; df = 1; p < 0.001). High rates of second-hand smoke exposure were reported among both smoking and non-smoking women. Pregnant smokers had significantly higher levels of postnatal depressive and anxiety symptomatology, as measured using the EPDS, than non-smokers
Reliability and Validity of the Greek Version of the Iowa Infant Feeding Attitude Scale Among Pregnant Women.
INTRODUCTION: A modifiable factor related to breastfeeding is breastfeeding attitudes. The Iowa Infant Feeding Attitude Scale (IIFAS) is used to evaluate this factor. Although the breastfeeding rates in Greece are declined there is not available any validated instrument to evaluate infant feeding attitudes. AIM: to determine the psychometric properties of the Greek adaptation of the IIFAS in a sample of pregnant women. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Pregnant women (N=203) from a University Hospital in Athens, Greece, were administered the Greek version of the IIFAS, while being in hospital, and their infant feeding mode at six months postpartum was recorded by telephone. The reliability of the scale was assessed by using corrected item-total correlations and Cronbach's alpha. Construct validity of the scale was assessed by using confirmatory factor analysis and predictive validity by using t-tests. Multiple linear regression analyses in a stepwise method (p for removal was set at 0.1 and p for entry was set at .05) was performed in order to find variables independently associated with IIFAS total score. RESULTS: The mean IIFAS score was 70.0 (SD=7.6). The corrected item-total correlation ranged from 0.22 to 0.51. Cronbach's alpha was equal to 0.71. The confirmatory factor analysis indicated an adequate fit of the one-factor model. Concerning the predictive validity of IIFAS it was significant for breastfeeding at six months. The mean IIFAS score was significantly greater (p=0.001) for women that had exclusive breastfeeding at six months (mean (SD): 68.4(6.6)) as compared with those that did not (mean (SD): 64.0(7.5)). Higher IIFAS scores were found in older women, with higher educational level and in those that had breastfed children in their social environment. CONCLUSION: The Greek version of the IIFAS demonstrated satisfying reliability and validity for measuring women's infant feeding attitudes in the Greek context. Also, the results of the present study provide further evidence of the international applicability of the IIFAS
Serum glial fibrillary acidic protein as a biomarker of brain injury in premature neonates
Neonatal brain injury (NBI) is a serious adverse outcome of prematurity.
Early detection of high risk premature neonates to develop NBI is not
currently feasible. The predictive value of many biomarkers has been
tested, but none is used in clinical practice. The purpose of this study
was to determine the levels and predictive value of serum glial
fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) in a prospective longitudinal
case-control study during the first 3 days of life in premature neonates
(<34 weeks of gestation) that later developed either intraventricular
hemorrhage or periventricular leukomalacia. Each case (n=29) was matched
according to birth weight and gestational age to one neonate with normal
head ultrasound scans. No significant differences in GFAP levels were
observed between the groups. Nevertheless, neonates with brain injury
presented more frequently with GFAP levels above the lowest detection
limit (0.056 ng/ml) and this trend was significantly different during
all 3 days. Thus, the effectiveness of GFAP as an early biomarker of NBI
in premature neonates seems to be limited