Qualitative Study of Married Women’s Perception on the Meaning of Sexual-Marital Activity

Introduction: Sexual intercourse is not a biological process, but it is an experience emerged in combined interpersonal, intrapersonal, and cultural contexts. This study aimed to deeply explore and clarify married women’s perception on the meaning of sexual-marital activity. Method: This qualitative study was carried out on 65 married women aged 16-60 years attending prenatal care, family planning, and gynecology clinics in an educational hospital in Rasht City, Iran, during 2012-2013. Data were collected through 9 focus group discussions. Participants were recruited using purposive sampling method and maximum variation. All interviews were continued until the data saturation was achieved. Data analysis was done based on Graneheim and Lundman conventional content analysis approach. Results: Four main categories and several sub-categories were extracted from the data. The main categories included “the role of sexual sensation and perception on sex”, “intrapersonal and interpersonal sexual challenges”, “lack of knowledge vs. knowledge”, and “sexual self-sacrifice (task-oriented sexual activity)”. Conclusion: According to this study, married women’s perception on the meaning of sexual-marital activity has been clearly identified. On one hand, participants expressed a dynamic meaning of sexual-marital activity. On the other hand, their interpretations emerged a new meaning of sexual activity as task-oriented or responsibility-centered of sexual activity. Keywords: Sexual intercourse, Sexual behavior, Female, Marriage, Qualitative researc

The Outcome of Surgical Versus Conservative Management in Old Patients With Traumatic Brain Injury

Background and Aim: It is still unclear whether the surgical or conservative approach has the best recovery and the least adverse outcomes after the treatment of patients with traumatic brain injury (TBI), especially the elderly. The use of invasive versus conservative therapies in elderly patients with TBI is controversial, and the current brain surgery procedures for the elderly require further evaluation. Methods and Materials/Patients: In this retrospective cohort study, the medical records of 238 patients with TBI (119 surgical patients and 119 patients treated with conservative methods) over the age of 65 were reviewed. The patients were compared for the degree of recovery indicated by the Glasgow outcome score (GOS) and postoperative complications. Results: No difference was found in the primary Glasgow coma scale (GCS) between surgical and conservative approaches, but after two treatment protocols, the assessment of GCS and GOS showed a significant difference between the two groups; however, after adjusting baseline parameters in a multivariable logistic regression model, the difference between the two groups in CGS and recovery state turned to insignificance. There was no difference between surgical and conservative management in the post-treatment sequels, including contusion, hydrocephalus, myocardial infarction, pulmonary infection, and death. However, the recurrence of hematoma was significantly higher in those who were treated by the conservative method even after multivariate regression modeling. Conclusion: In TBI patients aged over 65 years, surgical management can result in more favorable outcomes compared with the conservative approach

Comparing maternal breastfeeding self-efficacy during first week and sixth week postpartum

Introduction: The ideal nourishment for the first 12 months of a child’s life comes from breastfeeding its mother’s milk, and maternal self-efficacy is one factor which affects breastfeeding duration. Therefore, the present study aimed to compare the maternal breastfeeding self-efficacy during the first week and sixth-week postpartum. Methods: This descriptive, analytical study was conducted on 767 women referring to the Family Health Research Center of Rasht in 2014. Mothers were selected through continuous sampling. For data collection, we used demographic questionnaires, and Dennis breastfeeding self-efficacy scale. For data analysis, Chi-square, Mann-Whitney U, Pearson’s correlation coefficient and multiple regression were performed using SPSS version 19. Results: In this study, most mothers had scores compatible with moderate self-efficacy in the first week, and in the sixth week had high self-efficacy for breastfeeding. There was a significant relationship between breastfeeding self-efficacy (BSE) score and employment status (p<0.0001). Also, we found significant BSE score differences between primiparous and multiparous women (p<0.001). Conclusion: Results of the study indicate that breastfeeding duration increases the breastfeeding self-efficacy levels. So, Developing and implementing appropriate approaches are needed to improve breastfeeding duration in mothers