Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

Maternal Postnatal Depressive Symptoms And Its Effects On Infant Bonding, Tammy Nguyen

Nursing | Senior Theses

The objective of this thesis is to gain insight on precipitating factors that increase postpartum mother’s depressive symptoms, including stress and anxiety, and how attachment is influenced. Maternal-infant bonding is defined as the emotional relationship and interaction between mother and infant. Postnatal depressive symptoms typically are under-diagnosed due to a lack of education and the stigma of believing that the effects are “normal” consequences of motherhood. Those affected may not seek professional help. Unrealistic expectations about bonding with their infants can have a negative mental health impact on mothers and influence infants’ behaviors. High expectations of needing to be a …

The Effects Of Loud Nicu Environments On Premature Infants And Interventions To Help Minimize Noise, Elsy Gramajo

Nursing | Senior Theses

Noise in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) often exceeds recommended safe noise levels and has been found to have negative effects on premature infants and their health. Some of these effects can be changes in their heart rate, respiratory rate, and sleep patterns. In addition, negative effects, such as hearing loss, can cause permanent damage that impact children's long-term development. A preterm infant is an infant born before 37 weeks’ gestation. Being born prematurely comes with its own problems and many risks. Attempting to survive in an environment that causes more stress is not healing. Understanding the effects of …

Medically Accurate Evidence-Based Sex Education And Abstinence-Only Sex Education: Impact On Teen Pregnancies In The United States, Nicole Chiu

Nursing | Senior Theses

The U.S. has funded abstinence-only programs to combat pregnancy rates for a long time. With numerous factors contributing to teen pregnancies, there have been a lot of ways that people have decided to try to decrease the number of teen pregnancies. For example, schools have either decided that they intend to fully educate their teenage students using medically accurate evidence-based sex education or come from a more conservative approach and give abstinence-only education. The objective of this investigation is to identify whether evidence-based sex education or abstinence-only sex education is more effective at combating teen pregnancy and abortion rates. This …

Kangaroo Care Education For Low Socioeconomic Status Families In The Neonatal Intensive Care Unit., Joara Peterson

Nursing | Senior Theses

The early contact between mother and baby is known as skin-to-skin, also referred to as “kangaroo care” (KC). It involves placing the baby on the mother’s chest as soon as it is appropriate (Thompson et al., 1979). This interaction was primarily for bonding but many researchers have discovered additional benefits. There is significant correlation between kangaroo care and weight gain (especially for low birth weight infants), as well as body temperature and heart rate regulation, which reduces the risk of medical complications. It also decreases levels of stress in mothers and babies by lowering the release of cortisol hormone (Mohammadi …

The Relationship Between Self-Efficacy And Informed Decision-Making On Primiparous Women During The Birthing Process, Morgan R. Fillipo

Nursing | Senior Theses

Childbirth is a very intense and vulnerable experience, especially for first-time mothers. Across the globe, the prevalence of traumatic and unsatisfying births has become an increasingly troublesome issue for women. There is extensive evidence of maltreatment, and a large portion of the problem has to do with the client’s medical team. To combat this dilemma, the best course of action would be to prepare women for this possibility by increasing the client’s self-efficacy and decision-making abilities. Self-efficacy, also known as confidence in one’s skills, is an important trait to have when it comes to patients being able to advocate for …

What Impact Does The Ability To Access Healthcare Have On Maternal Outcomes In Africa?, Helena Harris

Nursing | Senior Theses

Background: Maternal mortality rates reflect health inequities in access to obstetric care in some parts of the world including many African countries. Geographical barriers and limited number of skilled human resources have put women in rural areas at a significantly higher risk of maternal mortality.

Research Question: What impact does the ability to access healthcare have on maternal outcomes in African rural areas compared to urban cities?

Methods: A literature review was performed of credible databases. Six articles were reviewed extensively highlighting the purpose, strengths, and limitations of each study. Refer to Appendix A for the literature review table.

Findings: …

Benefits Of Rooming-In On Infants With Neonatal Opioid Withdrawal Syndrome, Emma Ricioli

Nursing | Senior Theses

Neonatal opioid withdrawal syndrome (NOWS) is a significant public health concern, affecting infants born to mothers who use opioids during pregnancy. Those exposed in-utero exhibit numerous signs of withdrawal after delivery including tremors, gastrointestinal distress, inconsolability, and poor feeding. Typical treatment for infants suffering from NOWS included direct admission to the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) for close observation and pharmacological interventions. However, NICU stays can interfere with bonding and breastfeeding. They can also lead to increased lengths of stay, higher costs, and more invasive pharmacological treatments. These infants typically do not have any other concerning health issues besides NOWS …