Assessing the quality of reproductive health services

This paper offers a broad definition of quality of care and presents a comprehensive conceptual framework for the assessment of quality of reproductive health services and methodological approaches for its measurement. It presents three studies that were conducted between 1990 and 1991 by members of the regional Reproductive Health Working Group from Egypt, Jordan, and Tunisia. The studies provide examples of applications of the framework and its measurement using multiple data sources. Selected findings are presented to illustrate comparative results between countries. Based on the lessons learned from the studies, examples of reproductive health interventions that may improve the quality of care are presented

"Voices of Fear and Safety" Women's ambivalence towards breast cancer and breast health: a qualitative study from Jordan

Abstract Background: Breast cancer is the leading cause of cancer mortality among Jordanian women. Breast malignancies are detected at late stages as a result of deferred breast health-seeking behaviour. The aim of this study was to explore Jordanian women's views and perceptions about breast cancer and breast health. Methods: We performed an explorative qualitative study with purposive sampling. Ten focus groups were conducted consisting of 64 women (aged 20 to 65 years) with no previous history and no symptoms of breast cancer from four governorates in Jordan. The transcribed data was analysed using latent content analysis. Results: Three themes were constructed from the group discussions: a) Ambivalence in prioritizing own health; b) Feeling fear of breast cancer; and c) Feeling safe from breast cancer. The first theme was seen in women's prioritizing children and family needs and in their experiencing family and social support towards seeking breast health care. The second theme was building on women's perception of breast cancer as an incurable disease associated with suffering and death, their fear of the risk of diminished femininity, husband's rejection and social stigmatization, adding to their apprehensions about breast health examinations. The third theme emerged from the women's perceiving themselves as not being in the risk zone for breast cancer and in their accepting breast cancer as a test from God. In contrast, women also experienced comfort in acquiring breast health knowledge that soothed their fears and motivated them to seek early detection examinations. Conclusions: Women's ambivalence in prioritizing their own health and feelings of fear and safety could be better addressed by designing breast health interventions that emphasize the good prognosis for breast cancer when detected early, involve breast cancer survivors in breast health awareness campaigns and catalyse family support to encourage women to seek breast health care

"Voices of fear and safety". Women's ambivalence towards breast cancer and breast health : a qualitative study from Jordan

Background: Breast cancer is the leading cause of cancer mortality among Jordanian women. Breast malignancies are detected at late stages as a result of deferred breast health-seeking behaviour. The aim of this study was to explore Jordanian women's views and perceptions about breast cancer and breast health. Methods: We performed an explorative qualitative study with purposive sampling. Ten focus groups were conducted consisting of 64 women (aged 20 to 65 years) with no previous history and no symptoms of breast cancer from four governorates in Jordan. The transcribed data was analysed using latent content analysis. Results: Three themes were constructed from the group discussions: a) Ambivalence in prioritizing own health; b) Feeling fear of breast cancer; and c) Feeling safe from breast cancer. The first theme was seen in women's prioritizing children and family needs and in their experiencing family and social support towards seeking breast health care. The second theme was building on women's perception of breast cancer as an incurable disease associated with suffering and death, their fear of the risk of diminished femininity, husband's rejection and social stigmatization, adding to their apprehensions about breast health examinations. The third theme emerged from the women's perceiving themselves as not being in the risk zone for breast cancer and in their accepting breast cancer as a test from God. In contrast, women also experienced comfort in acquiring breast health knowledge that soothed their fears and motivated them to seek early detection examinations. Conclusions: Women's ambivalence in prioritizing their own health and feelings of fear and safety could be better addressed by designing breast health interventions that emphasize the good prognosis for breast cancer when detected early, involve breast cancer survivors in breast health awareness campaigns and catalyse family support to encourage women to seek breast health care

Knowledge of Jordanian women of reproductive age who underwent bariatric surgery and its effect on birth outcomes: A cross-sectional study

Objectives: This study aims at exploring the knowledge of women of reproductive age who underwent bariatric surgery in Jordan regarding its effect on birth outcomes. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted on 183 women (aged 15–49) who had undergone bariatric surgery at the Jordan University Hospital in Amman, Jordan, between 2016 and 2019, using telephone interviews with conveniently selected participants’ samples. The survey tool obtained data on women’s knowledge and other sociodemographic, obstetric health, and bariatric surgery information. Unfavorable birth outcomes include preterm delivery, small for gestational age, congenital abnormalities, low birth weight, and admission to the neonatal critical care unit. Results: More than half of the participants did not know about the possible unfavorable birth outcomes after bariatric surgery and related practice guidelines. This is shown in their median score of 3 (interquartile range: 2–4) out of a maximum possible score of 8. Women who had a good score (>4) had received counseling about unfavorable bariatric surgery outcomes from their surgeon ( p  < 0.013); those who had educational qualifications higher than secondary school ( p  < 0.001) as well as those who were employed ( p  < 0.008) and believed that the surgery would affect the newborn ( p  < 0.001). The median score was also unfavorably associated with the parity of the participants ( p  < 0.003). Conclusion: The extent of knowledge regarding the unfavorable birth outcome of bariatric surgery is low among women who underwent bariatric surgery at Jordan University Hospital in Jordan. Improving health literacy and information on bariatric surgery implications on pregnancy and birth outcomes amongst women of reproductive age is a recommendation from this study

Mental health of clinic-attending Syrian refugee women in Jordan: associations between social ecological risks factors and mental health symptoms

Background The mental health of refugee women is often affected by multiple risk factors in their social ecology. Assessing these risk factors is foundational in determining potential areas for intervention. We used the social ecological model to examine risk factors associated with self-reported mental health symptoms among clinic-attending Syrian refugee women in Jordan. We hypothesize that individual (older age, unmarried, have more children under 18, difficulty reading/writing with ease), interpersonal (intimate partner violence [IPV]), community and societal level risk factors (greater number of postmigration stressors), will be associated with depression, anxiety, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms. Methods We surveyed 507 women using a cross-sectional clinic-based systematic sampling approach between April and November 2018. We used multivariable regressions to examine associations between different risk factors in the social ecology on depression, anxiety, and PTSD. Additional multivariable regressions explored associations between specific postmigration stressors and mental health conditions. Results We found rates of depression among our sample to be 62.92%; anxiety 57.46%; and PTSD 66.21%. Our hypothesis was partially supported. At the individual level, age was directly associated with anxiety (aOR 1.04, 95% CI [1.02, 1.06]) and PTSD (aOR 1.03, 95% CI [1.01, 1.06]), while marriage decreased odds for depression (aOR 0.41, 95% CI [0.19, 0.92]) and PTSD (aOR 0.36, 95% CI [0.15, 0.87]). IPV was associated with depression (aOR 2.78, 95% CI [1.72, 4.47]); anxiety (aOR 3.30, 95% CI [2.06, 5.27]); and PTSD (aOR 5.49, 95% CI [3.09, 9.76]). Each additional community and societal risk factor (postmigration stressor) increased the odds for depression (aOR 1.32, 95% CI [1.22, 1.42]), anxiety (aOR 1.28, 95% CI [1.19, 1.39]), and PTSD (aOR 1.46, 95% CI [1.33, 1.60]). Conclusion Understanding social ecological risk factors associated with mental health conditions of Syrian refugee women is vital to addressing their mental health needs. IPV and postmigration stressors are consistently impactful with all mental health conditions. IPV resulted in the largest odds increase for all mental health conditions. Multilevel interventions are needed to address mental health risk factors at multiple levels of the social ecology

Home visits to improve breast health knowledge and screening practices in a less privileged area in Jordan

BACKGROUND: Breast cancer is the most common cancer afflicting women in Jordan. This study aimed to assess the effects of an educational intervention through home visits, including offering free mammography screening vouchers, on changing women's breast health knowledge and screening practices for early detection of breast cancer in a less privileged area in Jordan. METHODS: Two thousand four hundred breast health awareness home visits were conducted and 2363 women aged 20-79 years (median: 41) answered a pre-test interview-administrated questionnaire to assess their breast health knowledge and practices at the baseline. After a home-based educational session, 625 women aged 40 years or older were referred to free mammography screening. Five hundred and ninety six homes were revisited six months later and out of these 593 women participated in a post-test. The women's retained breast health knowledge, the changes in their reported breast health practices and their usage of the free mammography voucher, were assessed. RESULTS: The mean knowledge score increased significantly (p &lt; 0.001) from 11.4 in the pre-test to 15.7 in the post-test (maximum score: 16). At the six month follow-up the post-test showed significant (p &lt; 0.001) improvement in women's perceived breast self-examination (BSE) knowledge, reported BSE practice and mammography screening. Out of 625 women that received a voucher for free mammography screening 73% attended the mammography unit, while only two women without a voucher went for mammography screening at the assigned unit. Women who received a follow-up visit were more likely to use the free mammography voucher compared to those who were not followed-up (83% vs. 67%; p &lt; 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Home visits by local community outreach workers that incorporated education about breast cancer and breast health in addition to offering free mammography screening vouchers were effective in improving women's breast health knowledge and practices in a less privileged area in Jordan

"Would a man smell a rose then throw it away?" Jordanian men's perspectives on women's breast cancer and breast health

Background: Breast cancer is the most common malignancy afflicting women, and the most common cancer overall in Jordan. A woman's decision to go for screening is influenced by her social support network. This study aims to explore Jordanian men's individual and contextual perspectives on women's breast cancer and their own role in the breast health of the females within their families. Methods: An explorative qualitative design was used to purposively recruit 24 married men aged 27 to 65 years (median 43 years) from four governorates in Jordan. Data in the form of interviews transcriptions was subjected to qualitative content analysis. Results: Three themes were identified: a) Supporting one's wife; b) Marital needs and obligations; c) Constrained by a culture of destiny and shame. The first theme was built on men's feelings of responsibility for the family's health and well-being, their experiences of encouraging their wives to seek health care and their providing counselling and instrumental support. The second theme emerged from men's views about other men's rejection of a wife inflicted by breast cancer, their own perceptions of diminished femininity due to mastectomy and their own concerns about protecting the family from the hereditary risk of breast cancer. The third theme was seen in men's perception of breast cancer as an inevitable act of God that is far away from one's own family, in associating breast cancer with improper behaviour and in their readiness to face the culture of Eib (shame). Conclusions: Jordanian men perceive themselves as having a vital role in supporting, guiding and encouraging their wives to follow breast cancer early detection recommendations. Breast health awareness campaigns could involve husbands to capitalize on family support