Breastfeeding Needs in Adolescent Mothers: A systematic review

Adolescent mothers face numerous challenges while breastfeeding. The purpose of the study was to assess the breastfeeding needs of adolescent mothers. Two researchers independently searched the databases Web of Science, PubMed, Scopus, Cochrane Library, SID, and Magiran. The initial search yielded 2290 studies, of which 41 were eventually included in this systematic review. Breastfeeding requirements of adolescent mothers were categorized into eight categories: 1. Social support from health care providers, partners, and families; 2. School support for breastfeeding mothers, 3. Receiving breastfeeding counseling based on cultural sensitivities, 4. Educational assistance from health providers for adolescent mothers' families 5. Changing harmful cultural values and judgments about adolescent mothers' breastfeeding, 6. Additional home or outpatient visits in the days following hospital discharge; 7. Peer support and peer counseling, 8. Economic needs.  To promote breastfeeding, policymakers and healthcare providers ought to devise specifically tailored programs and interventions to cater to the specific requirements of mothers. Keywords: Breastfeeding; Adolescent Mothers; Infant Feeding; Need; Qualitative Study

The Relationship between Sex Roles and Childbearing Motivation in Fertile Women, Iran

Introduction: This study was conducted to determine the relationship between sex role and women's childbearing motivation.Methods: In this study 841 married female participants lived in urban society of Mashhad were recruited based on a multistage sampling from a variety of settings. Data was gathered using Childbearing Questionnaire (CBQ) and brief form of Bem sex role questionnaire. Analyzed using Pearson correlation coefficient, multiple regression test and independent t-test.Results: Feminine sex role was in significant relationship with positive childbearing motivation (p=.001). Masculine sex role have no relationship with both childbearing motivations. ANOVA showed a difference between the motivations in four groups of participants divided based on sex role scores. LSD test shows that positive motivation in android (p=.013) and masculine (p=.012) groups were significantly less than feminine group. Negative childbearing motivations in feminine group was less than in UN-differentiate group (p=.014). Conclusion: Multiple regression analysis show that positive motivation was in relationship with the feminine sex role and reverse relationship with marriage age. Reproductive health policy makers and family planning counselors can apply study findings in order to plan perfect programs to direct proper fertility behaviors in the society

Young Women and Men's Attitude towards Childbearing

Background & aim: Attitude is taken into account as the most important determinant of behavior. However, the present knowledge considering opinions of the youths on the verge of marriage is not sufficient. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the attitudes towards childbearing in women and men on the verge of marriage attending health centers in Mashhad, Iran. Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted in 2016 on 170 women and 100 men referring to the premarital counseling centers. The participants were selected through convenience sampling method. The data were collected using the Childbearing Attitudes Scale and analyzed by descriptive statistics and independent t-test by the SPSS. Results: The mean scores of attitudes to childbearing in women and men were 164.03±21.62 and 158.86±24.91, respectively, with no significant difference (P=0.11).  The mean desired number of children was 2.23±1.01 in women and 2.14±0.9 in men. There were significant differences between the attitudes of women and men in terms of the impacts of childbirth on women’s body shape (P=0.01), childbearing as one of the purposes of human creation (P=0.04), and the relationship between the number of children and their upbringing quality (P=0.002). A significant relationship was found between the attitudes and ideal number of children (P=0.001). Conclusion: Attitudes towards childbearing among young adults on the verge of marriage were not so favorable. Consequently, it is essential to implement comprehensive training programs in order to enhance the positive views both in women and men towards childbearing

The Impact of a High-risk Sexual Behavior Prevention Program via Mobile Application on Sexual Knowledge and Attitude of Female Students

Background & aim: The prevalence of high-risk sexual behaviors among different social groups has been considered as a serious health-related threat in recent years. Given the importance of raising awareness and health among the youth and preventing high-risk behaviors, the present study was conducted to investigate the effect of a high-risk sexual behavior prevention program via mobile application on sexual knowledge and attitude in undergraduate female students. Methods: This quasi-experimental study was conducted among two groups of female students with a pretest-posttest design. A total number of 200 undergraduate eligible female students of Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran were recruited in 2016. The subjects were randomly assigned to an intervention group receiving education through a mobile application (N=100) and a control group (N=100). To collect data a self-structured demographic questionnaire as well as sexual knowledge and attitude questionnaires were used. In the intervention group, the participants received a prevention program through a mobile application. Knowledge and attitude towards high-risk sexual behaviors were assessed and compared before and two weeks after the intervention. To analyze the data, paired t-test, independent t-test, Mann-Whitney U test, Wilcoxon signed-rank test, and Chi-square test were run in SPSS, version 16. Results: The mean scores of sexual knowledge and attitude after education increased compared to the pre-intervention stage (p0.05). Conclusion: The study results reflected the favorable effect of education via mobile application. The implementation of high-risk sexual behavior prevention programs using mobile applications could enhance sexual knowledge and attitude in students and promote community healt

Effect of Breast Oketani-massage on Neonatal Weight Gain: A Randomized Controlled Clinical Trial

Background: The most important factor affecting weight gain after birth is the type and mode of neonatal feeding. The most suitable nutrition is exclusive breastfeeding. However, breastfeeding can be accompanied with some difficulties, such as breast engorgement, which results in neonatal feeding complications. Breast Oketani-massage therapy is proposed as a treatment for breast engorgement. Aim: This study aimed to determine the effect of breast Oketani-massage therapy on neonatal weight gain among lactating women with breast engorgement. Method: This randomized controlled clinical trial was conducted on 100 postpartum (i.e., on the first five days of childbirth) women admitted to the Midwifery Clinic and Gynecology and Obstetric Department of Imam Reza Hospital, Mashhad, Iran, due to breast engorgement from August to November 2016. The subjects were divided into two groups, namely Oketani massage and routine care training, through random block allocation. The data were collected regarding neonatal weight gain before and after the intervention and analyzed in SPSS (version 20) using repeated measures ANOVA. Results: The results revealed no significant difference between the two groups in terms of neonatal weight gain on within days 1-5 day before the intervention (P=0.17). However, a statically significant difference was observed between the two groups in this regard 14 and 28 days post-intervention (

Emotional and Cognitive Experiences of Pregnant Women Following Prenatal Diagnosis of Fetal Anomalies: A Qualitative Study in Iran

Background: Pregnant women are often ill-prepared for the health of their unborn child in the case of abnormal findings, and experience several difficulties following the detection of fetal anomalies. Therefore, this study was conducted to explore the emotional and cognitive experiences of pregnant women following prenatal diagnosis of fetal anomalies in Mashhad, Iran. Methods: This qualitative conventional content analysis study was designed through two referral centers for fetal anomaly. The data were collected from April 2017 to January 2018 in Mashhad (Iran) through individual semi-structured in-depth interviews, from 25 pregnant women with a prenatal diagnosis of fetal anomalies. Results: Four categories and 10 subcategories emerged. Category one, grief reactions during the time of diagnosis, contained two subcategories: shocked and panicked, and distressed and disbelieved.Category two, perinatal loss through a pregnancy termination, contained four subcategories: guilt and shame during pregnancy termination, loss of their expected child, suffering and emotional distress process, and unmet needs by health professionals. Category three, fears of recurrence in future pregnancies, had two subcategories: worried about inadequate prenatal care in the future pregnancies and worried about abnormal fetus in next pregnancies. Finally, Category four, a dilemma between hope and worries contained two subcategories: hope for normality and worried about future. Conclusion: It is important to monitor emotional reactions of women following prenatal anomaly diagnosis. So, training clinicians and health-care professionals for proper response to grief reaction in post therapeutic abortion is essential

A Systematic Overview of Reviews on the Efficacy of Complementary and Alternative Medicine in Erectile Dysfunction

Background & aim: This systematic overview of reviews on complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) was performed to summarize the clinical efficacy of this approach in the treatment of erectile dysfunction (ED) and assess methodological quality of the included reviews. Methods: A comprehensive search was performed to find the systematic reviews and meta-analyses on CAM interventions (e.g., acupuncture, saffron, yohimbine, and ginseng) for ED treatment, published until October 2017. To this end, we searched the international databases, including PubMed, Scopus, and Cochrane, as well as Iranian databases, such as SID, IranMedex, and Magiran. The assessment of the methodological quality of the included systematic reviews was accomplished using the AMSTAR scale. Results: The searching process led to the inclusion of five systematic reviews examining CAM therapies, including acupuncture, saffron, Yohimbine, and ginseng. The methodological quality of the retrieved reviews was at a favorable level. Positive results were found for the administration of yohimbine, saffron, and ginseng as treatment agents for ED. However, there was insufficient evidence regarding the effect of acupuncture on this health problem. Major methodological defects included the use of a grey literature search, likelihood of publication bias, and conflicts of interests. Conclusion: As the findings indicated, CAM appeared to be an effective treatment for ED. However, it is essential to conduct further studies on the safety and value of CAM for the management of this condition

A Systematic Review of Instruments Measuring Family and Social Support of Breastfeeding Mothers

Background: Due to the low rate of breastfeeding among working mothers and support of interventions to increase the duration of breastfeeding, this systematic review conducted to evaluate psychometric properties of instruments measured mother’s perception of Breastfeeding Support. Materials and Methods: The search was carried in English language databases including Medline (via PubMed), Scopus, Cochran library and Web of Science since inception to March 2018 regarding published studies evaluating the psychometric properties of the Breastfeeding Self-Efficacy. The COSMIN checklist was used to assess the quality of related studies. Results Authors of Perceived Breastfeeding Support Assessment Tool’ (PBSAT) suggested that instrument seem to should be two factors "workplace environmental support for breast-feeding working mother" and "the available social environmental support for working mothers". Total Cronbach's alpha was 0.85. In exclusive breastfeeding social support (EBFSS) instrument, based on exploratory factor analysis, 16 items grouped into three factors "instrumental", "emotional" and "informational factors" accounted 66% of total variance. EFA were followed by confirmatory factors analysis showed Modified model was partially fitted to the data. In the Workplace Breastfeeding Support Scale (WBSS), EFA identified four dimensions of breastfeeding support at workplace. These four factors labeled "technical support", "breastfeeding-friendly environment", "facility support" and "peer support". Cronbach’s alpha was 0.77 and split-half reliability was r=0.86. In Employee Perceptions of Breastfeeding Support Questionnaire (EPBS-Q), data scaled by the Multidimensional Random Coefficients Multinomial Logit Model. A two-dimensional model (company polices/work culture and manager and her co-workers) were emerged. Cronbach’s alpha was excellent (almost 0.90). Conclusion: Four instruments found to assess breastfeeding was valid and reliable to measure breast feeding in social and workplaces

The relationship between childbearing motivations with fertility preferences and actual child number in reproductive-age women in Mashhad, Iran

INTRODUCTION: Motivation is directly involved in women's childbearing decision. Considering the lack of information about reproductive-age women's childbearing motivations with preferences and actual child number in Iran, this study was conducted to determine the relationship between childbearing motivations with the fertility preferences and actual child number of reproductive-age women. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The participants in this descriptive–correlational study were 844 reproductive-age women (aged 15–49 years) who were married for the first time and came from a wide range of areas in Mashhad. Multistage and convenience samplings were applied and the data were collected using Miller's childbearing motivation and fertility preferences and actual child number questionnaire. RESULTS: The results of the study reveal that positive- and negative-childbearing motivation were correlated with preferences (P < 0.001) but were not correlated with actual child number. Furthermore, the interactional variable derived by a combination of positive and negative motivations showed a significant relationship with the ideal and actual child number (P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Childbearing motivations affect the fertility preferences in reproductive-age women but do not appear to have any influence on the actual child number. Furthermore, the interactional variables affect the ideal and actual child number