Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
R. Thapa, K. Nikolli, D. McMahon, S. Blakemore, S. Tamang, S. Bhatta, P. Gautam, R. Shrestha, R. Rajbhandari
Summary: Although progress has been made in maternal and newborn health in Nepal, the maternal mortality ratio (MMR) remains high. In order to improve the skills and knowledge of skilled birth attendants (SBA), the Ministry of Health and Population of Nepal launched an in-service SBA training program and a Follow-Up and Enhancement Program (FEP) in collaboration with the Nick Simons Institute (NSI) and National Health Training Center (NHTC) respectively. This study aims to assess the effectiveness of FEP.
Article
Obstetrics & Gynecology
Syed Sharaf Ahmed Chowdhury, Satyajit Kundu, Azaz Bin Sharif
Summary: Maternal and neonatal mortality is an important global public health issue. Skilled birth attendants (SBA) can significantly reduce these mortality rates. However, there is a lack of evidence regarding equality in SBA use across socioeconomic and geographic regions in Bangladesh. This study aims to estimate the trends and magnitude of inequality in SBA use in Bangladesh over the past two decades.
BMC PREGNANCY AND CHILDBIRTH
(2023)
Article
Obstetrics & Gynecology
Betregiorgis Zegeye, Bright Opoku Ahinkorah, Edward Kwabena Ameyaw, Eugene Budu, Abdul-Aziz Seidu, Comfort Z. Olorunsaiye, Sanni Yaya
Summary: Significant socioeconomic and geographic-related inequalities in skilled birth attendance and neonatal mortality rate exist in Guinea. However, these inequalities have been decreasing over time.
BMC PREGNANCY AND CHILDBIRTH
(2022)
Article
Obstetrics & Gynecology
Yordanos Gizachew Yeshitila, Peter Memah
Summary: The study revealed a significant association between husband's involvement in birth preparedness and complication readiness and the use of skilled birth attendants. It highlights the importance of designing husband's involvement programs that focus on enhancing activities inclusive of husbands in birth preparedness and complication education.
BMC PREGNANCY AND CHILDBIRTH
(2022)
Article
Medicine, General & Internal
Md. Mizanur Rahman, Hiroko Taniguchi, Raissa Shiyghan Nsashiyi, Rashedul Islam, Syed Riaz Mahmud, Shafiur Rahman, Jenny Jung, Shahjahan Khan
Summary: This article examines the coverage of delivery care services among adolescents in low- and middle-income countries, and highlights the inequalities and trends in delivery care services. The study finds that while more than three-quarters of LMICs are predicted to achieve 80% coverage by 2030, urban-rural and wealth-based inequalities persist.
Article
Obstetrics & Gynecology
Aseye Kpodotsi, Elizabeth Aku Baku, Jo Hunter Adams, Olufunke Alaba
Summary: The study found that women from rich households in Ghana are more likely to access skilled birth attendants during delivery, indicating a pro-rich utilization. Decomposition analysis revealed that household wealth index, educational level of both mother and husband/partner, area of residence, and mother's health insurance coverage were key contributing factors to the socioeconomic inequalities in accessing skilled birth attendants among Ghanaian women during childbirth.
BMC PREGNANCY AND CHILDBIRTH
(2021)
Article
Nursing
Lorretta Favour Chizomam Ntoimo, Friday Ehbodaghe Okonofua, Chioma Ekwo, Tosin Ojuolape Solanke, Brian Igboin, Wilson Imongan, Sanni Yaya
Summary: Data from the Nigeria Demographic and Health Survey show that many pregnant women in rural Nigeria prefer traditional birth attendants (TBAs) over skilled birth attendants (SBAs), contributing to a high maternal mortality rate. Efforts to address factors inhibiting the use of SBAs, such as costs and cultural practices, are crucial for promoting skilled birth attendance and reducing maternal mortality in rural Nigeria.
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Kwamena Sekyi Dickson
Summary: The study revealed significant associations between women empowerment, male involvement, women's education, antenatal care visits, partner's education, accessing medical help, and distance to health facilities with skilled birth attendance among women in rural Ghana. Efforts to increase skilled birth attendance in Ghana should focus on empowering women, involving men in maternal health issues, promoting women's education, and enhancing participation in antenatal care. Reviewing current policies, strategies, and services is necessary to improve maternal health conditions.
BIOMED RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL
(2021)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Biresaw Wassihun, Yosef Alemayehu, Teklemariam Gultie, Beemnet Tekabe, Birhaneselasie Gebeyehu
Summary: This study revealed poor practice of non-pharmacological labor pain management in public health facilities in Southern Ethiopia. Having a favorable attitude, clinical experience of 5 years and above, being a midwife by profession, and having a satisfactory delivery room were significant predictors of good practice in non-pharmacological labor pain management. Efforts should be made by all healthcare facilities and relevant organizations to provide training for midwives in non-pharmacological labor pain management.
Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Mitsuaki Matsui, Yuko Saito, Rithy Po, Bunsreng Taing, Chamnan Nhek, Rathavy Tung, Yoko Masaki, Azusa Iwamoto
Summary: This study found that knowledge on delivery management among skilled birth attendants in first-line health services in Cambodia is low, with only 3% scoring above 90%. Factors significantly associated with higher scores include working in Kampong Cham province, younger age, and higher qualification. Previous training experience did not influence the knowledge level, and substantial proportions of misclassification of monitoring items during labour were found.
REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH
(2021)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Shikur Mohammed, Alemayehu Worku, Eshetu Girma
Summary: This study aimed to assess the effect of quality antenatal care service on maternal use of skilled birth attendant after any antenatal care visit. The results showed that women who received better quality ANC service were more likely to use skilled birth attendant compared to women who received low quality ANC service.
Article
Medicine, General & Internal
Dokuba Tex-Jack, Chinemerem Eleke
Summary: The study revealed that the episiotomy rate in a Nigerian university teaching hospital exceeded the global recommended standard, with a higher impact on first-time mothers. Some skilled birth attendants were unsure of evidence supporting routine episiotomy, while pregnant women generally expressed dissatisfaction with the procedure.
AFRICAN HEALTH SCIENCES
(2021)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Ruquia Noor, Farhana Shahid, Muhammad Zafar Iqbal Hydrie, Muhammad Imran, Syed Hassan Bin Usman Shah
Summary: The study found a low proportion of women well-prepared for childbirth and its complications, with factors such as antenatal care checkup, cost of ANC checkup, place of birth, awareness of serious warning signs during pregnancy, and awareness of serious warning signs during the postpartum period identified as significant predictors of BPCR.
Article
Geosciences, Multidisciplinary
Mandira Singh Shrestha, Min Bahadur Gurung, Vijay Ratan Khadgi, Nisha Wagle, Soumyadeep Banarjee, Ujol Sherchan, Binod Parajuli, Arabinda Mishra
Summary: This study highlights the importance of integrating socio-cultural aspects in flood early warning systems in Nepal to reach the most vulnerable populations. It emphasizes the need for co-designing warning messages with communities and tailoring them to diverse needs for effective dissemination and timely protective actions. Flood risk communication must consider the distinct social, economic, and political experiences of vulnerable communities in order to bridge the last mile in reaching them.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF DISASTER RISK REDUCTION
(2021)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Teklemariam Gultie, Zinash Tanto, Wubshet Estifanos, Negussie Boti, Barbora de Courten
Summary: The study in Kucha District, Gamo Zone, Ethiopia revealed low levels of husband involvement in birth preparedness and complication readiness. Higher educational level, frequent antenatal care visits, and living far from health facilities were significant factors associated with increased husband involvement in BPCR.
Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Hridaya Raj Devkota, Tula Ram Sijali, Ramji Bogati, Andrew Clarke, Pratik Adhikary, Rajendra Karkee
Summary: The study found varying degrees of correlation between Knowledge, Attitude, and Practice regarding COVID-19 among the general public in Nepal, which may increase as the pandemic evolves. Knowledge and level of education had positive associations with attitude and adherence to precautionary measures.
FRONTIERS IN PUBLIC HEALTH
(2021)
Article
Medicine, General & Internal
Rajendra Karkee, Kirti Man Tumbahangphe, Nashna Maharjan, Bharat Budhathoki, Dharma Manandhar
Summary: The study in Nepal revealed that primiparous women accounted for 45.2% of maternal deaths, with 30.6% coming from lower caste backgrounds. Private and public hospitals were the most common places of death.
Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Resham B. Khatri, Yibeltal Alemu, Melinda M. Protani, Rajendra Karkee, Jo Durham
Summary: The study examined inequities in coverage of maternal and newborn health services in Nepal using a novel composite indicator of intersectional (dis)advantages. Findings revealed that women with social disadvantages had lower health service coverage, highlighting the importance of targeting approaches to achieve universal coverage and improve health equity.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Kiran Acharya, Raj Kumar Subedi, Sushma Dahal, Rajendra Karkee
Summary: In Nepal, improving Basic Emergency Obstetric and Newborn Care (BEmONC) services requires increasing staff, extending service hours, and conducting periodic review of maternal and newborn deaths. Public hospitals have higher readiness scores compared to private hospitals and peripheral public health facilities.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Bikram Adhikari, Anup Ghimire, Nilambar Jha, Rajendra Karkee, Archana Shrestha, Roshan Dhakal, Aarju Niraula, Sangita Majhi, Antesh Kumar Pandit, Niroj Bhandari
Summary: The study found that the one-year prevalence of low back pain (LBP) among construction workers in Nepal was 52.0%. Factors associated with higher odds of LBP included female gender, living below poverty line, more than five years of work experience, and intermediate sleep quality. Majority of construction workers with LBP did not seek healthcare services or take any actions to prevent or manage LBP.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Sitasnu Dahal, Ram Bilakshan Sah, Surya Raj Niraula, Rajendra Karkee, Avaniendra Chakravartty
Summary: The study in Kathmandu revealed high prevalence of behavioral and metabolic risk factors among adults, with smoking, alcohol consumption, low intake of fruits and vegetables, low physical activity, overweight or obesity, and raised blood pressure being major concerns. Certain demographic factors such as gender, education level, employment status, and ethnicity were found to significantly impact the likelihood of developing these risk factors. Efforts should be made to tailor health promotion interventions specifically to the population at risk in order to reduce the burden of non-communicable diseases.
Editorial Material
Environmental Sciences
Colin Binns, Mi Kyung Lee, Lyn Wren
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Doan Thi Thuy Duong, Colin Binns, Andy Lee, Yun Zhao, Ngoc Minh Pham, Dinh Thi Phuong Hoa, Bui Thi Thu Ha
Summary: This study examines the relationship between exclusive breastfeeding intention and cesarean delivery. The findings suggest that mothers who intend to breastfeed exclusively are less likely to undergo cesarean section for nonmedical reasons. Therefore, educating mothers about breastfeeding could be an effective intervention to reduce cesarean section rates and improve maternal and child health.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH
(2022)
Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Resham B. Khatri, Jo Durham, Rajendra Karkee, Yibeltal Assefa
Summary: Utilization of essential maternity and newborn health interventions can improve the health of mothers and newborns. Despite increased access to routine MNH services in Nepal, some women have not received all recommended interventions. Women from advantaged ethnicities or with financial assets are more likely to receive optimal quality MNH services, while those speaking Maithili or with high birth order may receive poor quality services.
REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH
(2022)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Dipendra Singh Thakuri, Yamuna K. C. Singh, Rajendra Karkee, Resham B. Khatri
Summary: Muslim women in Nepal have satisfactory knowledge of modern contraceptive methods but have low utilization rates. Targeted interventions are needed to increase knowledge and uptake of contraceptives in the Muslim community, especially among socially disadvantaged women, those living in nuclear families, and those with poor knowledge of modern contraceptives.
Review
Environmental Sciences
Colin W. Binns, Mi Kyung Lee, Thi Thuy Duong Doan, Andy Lee, Minh Pham, Yun Zhao
Summary: The COVID-19 pandemic is the largest infectious disease epidemic since the 1918-19 influenza pandemic, with a death toll approaching that of the earlier epidemic. Available data and studies show that the clinical case rate is about 10% higher in females than in males in Asia, but the number of deaths is higher in males. Women are more likely to experience psychological effects during and after acute COVID-19 infections. Prolonged symptoms of acute infections have been reported. Further research is needed to measure and monitor COVID-19 incidence, develop better vaccines against new strains, and establish distribution systems for vaccines.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH
(2023)
Article
Obstetrics & Gynecology
Thi Thuy Duong Doan, Trung Chuyen Tran, Ngoc Minh Pham, Yun Zhao, Thi Phuong Hoa Dinh, Nguyen Xuan Hoai, Andy Lee, Colin Binns, Thi Thu Ha Bui
Summary: This study aimed to develop a mobile app to increase breastfeeding rates in Vietnamese women. Through literature review, formative research, and prototype testing, key features for the app were identified and relevant information and content were provided. The study also found that the app should be installed during pregnancy, and notifications about breastfeeding sent 2-3 times per week were effective.
INTERNATIONAL BREASTFEEDING JOURNAL
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Bikram Adhikari, Lisasha Poudel, Niroj Bhandari, Nabin Adhikari, Bhawana Shrestha, Bikram Poudel, Anupama Bishwokarma, Bihari Saran Kuikel, Dinesh Timalsena, Bandana Paneru, Minani Gurung, Pramesh Koju, Rajendra Karkee, Anup Ghimire
Summary: The construction industry in Nepal is one of the largest industries in the country, however, the physical and mental health of construction workers is often neglected. This study found high prevalence of depression, anxiety, and stress symptoms among construction workers in Kavre district, Nepal. Developing evidence-based and appropriate community-based mental health prevention programs among construction workers is recommended.
Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Rajendra Karkee, Minani Gurung, Lisasha Poudel, Chiranjivi Baral, Pratik Adhikary, K. C. Radheshyam Krishna, Sundip Gurung, Vasil Gajdadziev, Patrick Duigan, Montira Inkochasan, Kolitha Prabhash Wickramage, Ganesh Gurung
Summary: This study explores the management of health information of Nepalese labour migrants (NLMs). Stakeholders such as government agencies, non-governmental organizations, and government-approved private medical centers are involved in generating and maintaining the health data of NLMs. The current migrant health record keeping procedure in Nepal is fragmented, and there is a need to link the national health information system with premigration health assessment centers and develop a migrant health information management system.
GLOBALIZATION AND HEALTH
(2023)
Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Rajendra Karkee, Kirti Man Tumbahanghe, Alison Morgan, Nashna Maharjan, Bharat Budhathoki, Dharma S. Manandhar
Summary: Nepal made impressive progress in reducing maternal mortality until 2015, but progress has stagnated since its transition to a federation. Key informants identified weak implementation of policies despite their adequacy, and highlighted the need for tailored strategies based on the local context.
SEXUAL AND REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH MATTERS
(2022)
Article
Nursing
Khalood Al-abri, Dawn Edge, Christopher J. Armitage
Summary: This study examines changes in depressive symptoms throughout the perinatal period in a Middle Eastern cohort. The results show distinct groups of women experiencing perinatal depressive symptoms, influenced by various psychosocial and obstetric factors. In addition to known factors, the study also identifies the importance of family relationship quality. Further research is needed to develop appropriate interventions for these groups.
Article
Nursing
Twinkle Dogra, Kavita Khoiwal, Jaya Chaturvedi, Vikas Upadhyay, Suresh Lal Barnwal, Ajeet Singh Bhadoria, Poonam Singh
Summary: This study aimed to design and validate a yoga module for the mental health management of early postpartum mothers in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU). Through validation and testing, the study found that the yoga module had good content validity for NICU mothers' mental health.
Article
Nursing
Lucy C. Irvine, Georgia Chisnall, Cecilia Vindrola-Padros
Summary: The COVID-19 pandemic in England has resulted in significant changes to maternity services, including restrictions on birth partners, postnatal support, and women's rights. Interviews with women who gave birth during this period revealed that these restrictions had a profound negative impact on their emotional and physical wellbeing. Women were more concerned about giving birth alone than contracting COVID-19, and some sought private care or delayed seeking NHS services to have the birth experience they desired.
Review
Nursing
Jenny Roddy, Linda Mcgowan
Summary: Type 1 diabetes poses risks for pregnant individuals and their babies. How women with type 1 diabetes navigate the challenges and engage with healthcare professionals is crucial for maintaining good glycemic control. This review examines literature from the past decade and identifies key themes including the dominance of glycemic control, emphasis on risk, importance of social and peer support, care organization and communication, and the impact of technology. Women with type 1 diabetes value being treated as partners in their care and benefit from support from family, friends, and the diabetes community. Research on the impact of diabetes technologies and integrating peer support into current care is needed.
Article
Nursing
Rafael Vila-Candel, Desiree Mena-Tudela, Cristina Franco-Antonio, Jose Antonio Quesada, Francisco Javier Soriano-Vidal
Summary: This study aimed to assess the effectiveness of the mobile application LactApp (R) in increasing the 6-month postpartum breastfeeding rate. However, the findings showed that using LactApp (R) did not significantly increase the breastfeeding rate compared to standard care. Nevertheless, it did seem to reduce the rate of breastfeeding abandonment in the first 2 weeks postpartum.
Correction
Nursing
J. Scheele, H. W. Harmsen van der Vliet-Torij, E. M. Wingelaar-Loomans, M. J. B. M. Goumans
