Lived Traumatic Childbirth Experiences of Newly Delivered Mothers Admitted to the Postpartum Ward: a Phenomenological Study

Introduction: Childbirth is a stressful event in every woman's life, leading to traumatic deliveries in half of the cases. This study aimed at describing mothers’ lived experiences which make them perceive their childbirth as traumatic. Methods: In this descriptive phenomenological study, based on the DSM-V-A criteria, 32 mothers who had perceptions of a traumatic event during their labor and delivery were explored through semi-structured interviews, and the collected data were analyzed using the Colaizzi’s method. Results: Four main themes could be extracted from the experiences of the mothers. The first theme was sensational and emotional experiences followed by clinical experiences, legal experiences and human dignity, and environmental experiences. The sensational and emotional experiences included four main categories (anxiety, fear, sorrow, anger). The theme of clinical experiences included two main categories (avoidable and unavoidable childbirth complications). The theme of legal experiences and human dignity included two main categories (non-observance of the charter of patient rights, and non-observance of human rights). The theme of environmental experiences also included two main categories (lack of proper supervision and management). Conclusion: To prevent traumatic childbirth and its negative effects, different psychological aspects of childbirth need to be identified

Effect of Lifestyle on Psychological Well-Being and Severity of Menopausal Symptoms in Women during Premenopausal Period

Subject: The premenopausal period is a variable time range in the last years of women's fertility period, which is associated with contrasting physical and mental symptoms in different women. This study was designed to determine the relationship between lifestyle and physical and psychological symptoms of this duration in women. Method: This descriptive-analytic study was performed on 400 women referring to Shahroud health centers during the premenopausal period in 1396. Cluster sampling was done. The instruments used included demographic information questionnaire, lifestyle questionnaire (LSQ), Keys and Gyarmo well-being scale, and Hayman's MRS Menopause Scale. Data were analyzed by SPSS-24 software. Descriptive characteristics were reported using central and dispersion statistical indicators and frequency distribution: Pearson correlation test, t-test, and one way ANOVA were used. The general linear regression model was used to control conflicting variables. Results: The mean age of women was 46.5 ± 2.8 years. 43.8% of women report severe hot flushes. The results of Pearson correlation coefficient showed a significant and positive correlation between the total score of lifestyle with psychological well-being, the severity of menopausal symptoms, and education level (p <0.001). Conclusion: Healthy lifestyle affects the psychological well-being and decreases the severity of menopausal symptoms during premenopausal women, and appropriate education and counseling are essential in this regard. Keywords: Lifestyle, Premenopausal, Psychological Well-Being, Menopause

Study of the Relationship between Awareness of Reproductive Health and Self- Esteem Level in the Students of Shahroud University of Medical Sciences

Background: Adolescents are weakly aware of reproductive health issues. Regarding the high importance of reproductive health and self-esteem level, this study aims at determining the relationship between the awareness of reproductive health and self-esteem. Methods: The population of this cross-sectional study, was the first-semester students who entered into Shahroud University of medical sciences in January 2017. The demographic information, Cooper Smith scale for self-esteem and reproductive health researcher-made scale, were completed by the students. SPSS v16 software and T-test and Chi-square statistical tests were used in analyzing the data. Results: 105 students participated in the study. The average age of students was 20.2 ±1.8. The average score of reproductive health scale was 51.48±16.24, and the average score for self-esteem questions was 32.91±13.0. There was no statistical difference between male and female groups. There was a significant relationship between the awareness of reproductive health and self-esteem level (r=0.25 and P=0.001). conclusions: In the current research, there was a significant relationship between the awareness of reproductive health and self-esteem level. It is suggested that the youth receive more education on reproductive health because this can lead to mental health, in addition to physical health

Study of the Relationship between Awareness of Reproductive Health and Self- Esteem Level in the Students of Shahroud University of Medical Sciences

Background: Adolescents are weakly aware of reproductive health issues. Regarding the high importance of reproductive health and self-esteem level, this study aims at determining the relationship between the awareness of reproductive health and self-esteem. Methods: The population of this cross-sectional study, was the first-semester students who entered into Shahroud University of medical sciences in January 2017. The demographic information, Cooper Smith scale for self-esteem and reproductive health researcher-made scale, were completed by the students. SPSS v16 software and T-test and Chi-square statistical tests were used in analyzing the data. Results: 105 students participated in the study. The average age of students was 20.2 ±1.8. The average score of reproductive health scale was 51.48±16.24, and the average score for self-esteem questions was 32.91±13.0. There was no statistical difference between male and female groups. There was a significant relationship between the awareness of reproductive health and self-esteem level (r=0.25 and P=0.001). conclusions: In the current research, there was a significant relationship between the awareness of reproductive health and self-esteem level. It is suggested that the youth receive more education on reproductive health because this can lead to mental health, in addition to physical health

Effect of Lifestyle on Psychological Well-Being and Severity of Menopausal Symptoms in Women during Premenopausal Period

Subject: The premenopausal period is a variable time range in the last years of women's fertility period, which is associated with contrasting physical and mental symptoms in different women. This study was designed to determine the relationship between lifestyle and physical and psychological symptoms of this duration in women. Method: This descriptive-analytic study was performed on 400 women referring to Shahroud health centers during the premenopausal period in 1396. Cluster sampling was done. The instruments used included demographic information questionnaire, lifestyle questionnaire (LSQ), Keys and Gyarmo well-being scale, and Hayman's MRS Menopause Scale. Data were analyzed by SPSS-24 software. Descriptive characteristics were reported using central and dispersion statistical indicators and frequency distribution: Pearson correlation test, t-test, and one way ANOVA were used. The general linear regression model was used to control conflicting variables. Results: The mean age of women was 46.5 ± 2.8 years. 43.8% of women report severe hot flushes. The results of Pearson correlation coefficient showed a significant and positive correlation between the total score of lifestyle with psychological well-being, the severity of menopausal symptoms, and education level (p <0.001). Conclusion: Healthy lifestyle affects the psychological well-being and decreases the severity of menopausal symptoms during premenopausal women, and appropriate education and counseling are essential in this regard. Keywords: Lifestyle, Premenopausal, Psychological Well-Being, Menopause

Prevalence and Risk Factors of Low Birth Weight in Shahroud; 2013-2015

Background : One of the most important causes of neonatal death is their Low Birth Weight (less than 2500 grams). Low Birth Weight has a lot of risk factors. Low birth weight will cause physical, mental, and growth problems in the future. In respect to importance of the issue, this study aimed to determine the prevalence rate and risk factors of LBW (Low Birth Weight) in Shahroud, Iran.  Methods: In a cross-sectional research, all mothers who had given birth at Bahar Hospital from 2013 to 2015 entered to the study. The information of the mothers and neonates were extracted from their records. Data were analyzed using SPSS v16 and t-test and chi-square tests. Results: 6677 mothers were enrolled in the study. The mean age of mothers was 27.20±5.43. %4.8of newborn babies had weights equal or less than 2500 grams. There was a significant relation between low birth weight and the mothers who were under 18 years, maternal addiction, and type of delivery (p value= 0.001).Also, there was a significant relationbetween Preterm labor and prevalence of Low Birth Weight, and the need to revive and hospitalization of baby in NICU (p value= 0.001). Conclusions: The infants' health is one of the main factors determining the quality of Health Services in a community. Since the rate of LBW is stillhigh, and this matter leads to a lot of problems for both family and society; preventive actions are recommended

Prevalence and Risk Factors of Low Birth Weight in Shahroud; 2013-2015

Background : One of the most important causes of neonatal death is their Low Birth Weight (less than 2500 grams). Low Birth Weight has a lot of risk factors. Low birth weight will cause physical, mental, and growth problems in the future. In respect to importance of the issue, this study aimed to determine the prevalence rate and risk factors of LBW (Low Birth Weight) in Shahroud, Iran.  Methods: In a cross-sectional research, all mothers who had given birth at Bahar Hospital from 2013 to 2015 entered to the study. The information of the mothers and neonates were extracted from their records. Data were analyzed using SPSS v16 and t-test and chi-square tests. Results: 6677 mothers were enrolled in the study. The mean age of mothers was 27.20±5.43. %4.8of newborn babies had weights equal or less than 2500 grams. There was a significant relation between low birth weight and the mothers who were under 18 years, maternal addiction, and type of delivery (p value= 0.001).Also, there was a significant relationbetween Preterm labor and prevalence of Low Birth Weight, and the need to revive and hospitalization of baby in NICU (p value= 0.001). Conclusions: The infants' health is one of the main factors determining the quality of Health Services in a community. Since the rate of LBW is stillhigh, and this matter leads to a lot of problems for both family and society; preventive actions are recommended

The Effect of Cognitive-Behavioral Counseling on Maternal-Fetal Attachment among Pregnant Women with Unwanted Pregnancy: A Randomized Clinical Trial

Background: Unwanted pregnancy is an event bringing about adverse effects on the mother, the baby and, ultimately, on the whole family. The establishment and enhancement of maternal-fetal attachment play a role in the promotion of emotional communication between the mother and the child in the future. This study aimed at investigating the effect of cognitive-behavioral counseling on maternal-fetal attachment among pregnant women with unwanted pregnancy. Methods: In this randomized clinical trial, 60 eligible pregnant women with unwanted pregnancy and gestational age of 22-28 weeks who had referred to healthcare centers in Mashhad, a city in the northeast of Iran, were selected and they were through random block  assignment divided into two groups of counseling with the cognitive-behavioral approach (n = 30) and the control group (n = 30). In addition to the routine pregnancy care, the cognitive-behavioral counseling group received 4 group counseling sessions on a weekly basis, while the control group only received the routine pregnancy care from healthcare providers. Maternal-fetal attachment before and after intervention in the two groups was assessed through Cranley’s Maternal-Fetal Attachment Scale. Comparison of mean scores within and between the two groups was performed using SPSS 21 through independent and paired t-tests. Results:  At the end of the study and after the intervention, the mean scores of maternal-fetal attachment in the intervention and control groups were  94.06±11.73 and 80.16 ± 10.09, respectively, and the difference between the groups was significant. Although the difference between the mean scores of each group at the beginning and the end of the study was significant, this difference between the two groups was also noticeable (21.56 ± 12.16 versus 7.40 ± 12.39) and statistically significant . Conclusion: Cognitive-behavioral counseling can be effective in enhancing the maternal-fetal attachment in unwanted pregnancies; therefore, it is recommended to be integrated into pregnant women's healthcare programs

Effect of sexual enrichment program on the sexual satisfaction of pregnant women in Iran: A randomized clinical trial

Background: To improve the sexual satisfaction of pregnant women, there needs to be a culturally appropriate sex education program. This study aimed at determining the effectiveness of a sexual enrichment program on the sexual satisfaction of pregnant women. Methods: This single-blind randomized clinical trial was conducted on 61 pregnant women aged 18 to 35 years old with low-risk pregnancies and gestational ages of 14 to 32 weeks, who had referred to three healthcare centers in Mashhad. The participants were randomly assigned to two groups of control (n = 31) and intervention (n = 30) based on a table of blocks of four. The intervention group, in addition to receiving routine pregnancy training, participated in six one-hour sessions of a sexual enrichment program held on a weekly basis, while the control group received only the routine pregnancy healthcare. Larson's sexual satisfaction questionnaire was used to assess the sexual satisfaction of pregnant women prior to the study and two weeks after the intervention. Comparison of mean scores between and within the two groups was performed using SPSS software (version 21) using independent and paired t-tests. Results: After the intervention, there was a significant difference between the mean sexual satisfaction scores of the two groups (p = 0.02). Comparison of the differences between the mean sexual satisfaction scores of the intervention group before and after the intervention indicated a significant change (p = 0.009), while in case of the control group this change was not significant (p = 0.46). Conclusion: A sexual enrichment program can be effective in improving the sexual satisfaction of pregnant mothers. Keywords: Sexual satisfaction, Pregnant women, Sexual enrichment program, Clinical tria

Effect of Epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG) on cell proliferation inhibition and apoptosis induction in lymphoblastic leukemia cell line

Introduction: Acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) is one of the malignant proliferations of lymphoid cells in the early stages of differentiation and accounts for &frac34; of all cases of childhood leukemia. Available treatment cannot completely treat this disease. Epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG) is a polyphenolic compounds in the green tea that has demonstrated to have anticancer and antimitotic properties. The purpose of the present study was the evaluation of the effect of EGCG on the proliferation inhibition and apoptosis induction in a lymphoblastic leukemia cell line. Methods: Jurkat cell line was cultured in standard condition and in different concentrations of EGCG (0-100 micromolar) for 24, 48 and 72 hours. Cell viability was measured by MTS assay. Apoptosis induction was assessed by annexin V-FITC and flow cytometry analysis. Results: The MTS assay revealed that EGCG has decreased cell viability with a time and dose dependent manner. The level of cell apoptosis in all used concentrations of EGCG (50, 70 and 100 &mu;m) was higher than control group (71, 40 and 31 respectively vs. 8) and reached to significant level at 100 &mu;m concentration. Conclusion: The study indicated that EGCG is effective on proliferation inhibition and apoptotic induction in Jurkat lymphoblastic cell line. Therefore, the study of the mechanism of apoptosis induction could be a step of progress toward target therapy which might be considered in the future studies.</p