Obstetrics and Gynecology Commons^™

A Preliminary Study Of Intergenerational Differences In Masxha Regarding Practice And Attitudes Towards Zulu Traditions During Pregnancy And Birth, Momoko Oyama

Independent Study Project (ISP) Collection

In the Zulu culture, several traditions and rituals are practiced during a woman’s pregnancy and perinatal period. However, as urbanization spreads and western influences strengthen, these rituals risk being lost. This project aims to capture existing knowledge of these traditions and to assess the intergenerational changes in practice and attitudes towards practicing the rituals.

Information on Zulu traditions practiced during a woman’s pregnancy and perinatal period was collected through two interviews and a focus group consisting of three elderly women in Masxha, a Black township in KwaZulu-Natal. Following the interviews and focus group, 32 Masxha residents were recruited to complete …

Important Strategies For Effective Family Planning Counseling, Savera Aziz Ali, Minaz Mawani, Gulshan Bano, Sumera Aziz Ali

School of Nursing & Midwifery

No abstract provided.

Maternal Healthcare In Eastern Uganda: The Three Delays, Mothers Making Empowered Choices, And Combatting Maternal Mortality, Emma Gier

Independent Study Project (ISP) Collection

Maternal and child health has been noted as an international concern and issue. While access to maternal healthcare has improved in Uganda since 2000, maternal mortality rates have remained high in the country as of 2015. However, maternal and child healthcare are inherently important in promoting sustainable and positive development. For that reason, I have explored maternal healthcare in Uganda’s Eastern region, specifically in Mbale Town and surrounding rural areas including Kween and Manafwa districts. Specifically I have looked at what factors influence women’s decision to give birth in a health centre or hospital, versus at home. I have also …

The Medicalization Of Childbirth Within The United States, Alexandria Gesing

Honors Theses

The World Bank rates the United States last amongst developed countries for maternal mortality, with 14 deaths per 100,000 live births compared to Canada and the Netherlands with 7 deaths per 100,000 live births, and the UK with 9 per 100,000 live births. This paper argues that these deaths are strongly linked to excessive use of Cesarean sections, resulting from increased access to technology, and explores the attendant medicalization of childbirth in the United States. Drawing on interviews with patients, midwives, and physicians, in addition to participant observation of hospitals and private practices within the Tristate area; I compare the …

Doulas Could Improve Foreign-Born Women’S Perinatal And Postpartum Satisfaction And Increase Health Providers’ Cultural Competency In A Multicultural Urban Area Of The United States., Crystal Kazik

International Development, Community and Environment (IDCE)

Doulas act as a cultural bridge between clients and providers through the support, advocacy, and education they provide. Unfortunately, migrant women may be at a disadvantage for accessing and benefiting from their services due to a variety of socioeconomic and cultural factors including predisposed ideas of care and structure based on experiences in native countries, language barriers, lower health literacy, and a lack of awareness and understanding from hospital/clinic staff.

A strategic multifaceted approach utilizing doulas, such as Boston Medical Center’s collaborative and culturally competent model, may greatly improve foreign-born women’s experience and satisfaction with healthcare when pregnant and giving …

Positive Deviance, Contraceptive Self-Efficacy And Social Desirability In Sexually Active Adolescent Females : A Mixed Methods Approach., Ashley D. Miller

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Unintended pregnancy is an issue that impacts women of all ages, ethnicities, and socioeconomic statuses. It also impacts the child that results and the society in which they live. In the United States, adolescents experience unintended pregnancy more than adolescents in other countries. The purpose of this dissertation was to explore the factors that contribute to successful contraceptive use among adolescent females (ages 13-18) seeking reproductive health services at a local family planning clinic. The theoretical framework of contraceptive self-efficacy (CSE) was used to frame this understanding. The exploration was conducted in three ways: a critical review of the literature …

The Effects Of Iron Deficiency Anemia And Iron Supplementation In Pregnancy, Anna J. Cox

Senior Honors Theses

Iron deficiency anemia (IDA) is a condition that occurs in both underdeveloped and developed countries worldwide. This disorder is diagnosed in an individual who presents the common signs and symptoms of anemia along with consistently low clinical markers of stored iron. Iron deficiency (ID) usually precedes a diagnosis of IDA as the insufficient amount of iron often goes undetected until one’s quality of life is diminished. Certain populations, such as women who are pregnant or of reproductive age, are particularly at risk for ID and the development of IDA. During pregnancy, the recommended dietary allowance (RDA) for iron is greater …

Breastfeeding Education For Fathers: An Intervention To Increase Breastfeeding Rates, Jill Marie Frisz

Evidence-Based Practice Project Reports

If every infant were breastfed within an hour of birth, exclusively breastfed until six months, and given breastmilk up to two years, almost 800,000 lives would be saved annually (who, 2014). Nationally, breastfeeding rates drop significantly from three to six months. A search of literature yielded significant evidence as fathers for facilitators to increase breastfeeding rates. The purpose of this evidence based practice (EBP) project was to determine the effects of best practice measures to educate fathers about breastfeeding to increase anytime breastfeeding rates. The social support theory and ACE Star model guided the literature search and implementation of this …

Effective Interventions To Reduce The Increase In Elective Cesarean Sections In Low Risk Women, Kimberly Kelsey, Crystal Hunter, Brianna-Kirsten Tan, Sara Shea, Heather Holland, Sasha Riley, Mary Uy, Tenzin Tsomo, Fasha Ruys-Solorzano, Dolma Tso

Student Research Posters

According to the Annals of Family Medicine, the amount of babies born via cesarean section has increased from 4.5% in 1965 to 26.1% in 2002 and nearly 40% of all cesarean sections are repeats. After an extensive literature review, results showed that patients need to be educated about the risks and benefits of vaginal delivery and cesarean delivery. It was also found that there needs to be policy changes to decrease the amount of cesarean sections done and increase the labor and delivery support without using interventions. Further study should be focused on morbidity and mortality very low birth weight …

The Changing Roles And Reputations Of Dais In Rural Uttarakhand: An Investigation Into The Maternal Health Services Of Villages In Okhalkanda Block In Nainital, Jenna Davis

Independent Study Project (ISP) Collection

The dai, once a prominent figure in Indian maternal health, now faces marginalization as the government of India adopts the goal of universal institutional delivery. Under pressure from international discourse that Skilled Birth Attendants (SBAs) were more effective at lowering Maternal Mortality Rate (MMR) than Traditional Birth Attendants (TBAs) like dais (World Health Organization), dai training was discontinued and left in the hands of NGOs, while concurrently women and ASHAs were monetarily incentivized for every institutional birth (Park, 419). Yet in rural, isolated, or hilly areas like Okhalakanda block in Uttarakhand, institutional delivery is a long way from universal—only …

Pelvic Floor Muscle Training In Management Of Postpartum Pelvic Floor Dysfunctions: A Literature Review, Rebecca S. Tanner

Honors Undergraduate Theses

Women can face a wide range of pelvic floor dysfunctions following pregnancy, ranging from urinary incontinence to pelvic pain. Unfortunately, these problems are not routinely checked for in postpartum check-ups and women do not always bring it to the physician’s attention. Strengthening of the pelvic floor muscles may be able to help women prevent these disorders and improve these women’s lifestyles.

The purpose of this thesis was to review and analyze different trials to determine if different pelvic floor dysfunctions (urinary incontinence, sexual dysfunction, and pelvic girdle pain) can be treated using pelvic floor muscle training in the postpartum. After …

Barriers To Exclusive Breastfeeding Among Mothers During The First Four Weeks Postpartum, Jessy V. Thomas

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

According to the World Health Organization, breastfeeding is natural and the most effective way of nourishment to feed infants and young children to ensure child health and survival. Currently, the World Health Organization, the American Academy of Pediatrics, and other health organizations recommend exclusive breastfeeding during the first 6 months of life. Although exclusive breastfeeding has been shown to reduce the occurrence of adverse health outcomes to the infant and mother, the duration of exclusive breastfeeding remains relatively low in the United States. The theory of planned behavior was used as a theoretical framework for this study. The purpose of …

Education Intervention Of Preconception Screening In Primary Care, Tracy Schuler

Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) Projects

Problem: The risk of a poor pregnancy outcome among women of reproductive age in Providence, Rhode Island is indicated by the high rates of unintended pregnancies, low multivitamin use prior to pregnancy, obesity, and smoking. Although recommended, health professionals often fail to routinely screen and educate women of reproductive age for preconception risk factors. Purpose: Evaluate the efficacy of an educational intervention on preconception risk factors, lifestyle modifications, and current screening recommendations; and introduce a preconception tool and education sheet among a population of health care providers. Method: Preconception health material and a modified preconception screening tool …

Promoting Shared Decision Making Through Patient Education Of Labor Inductions, Lenora W.Y. Low

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The induction of labor is medically indicated for many conditions in which delivering the baby outweighs the risk of continuing the pregnancy. Patients admitted for the induction of labor require adequate information to actively participate in decision making that affects their plan of care. The purpose of this quality improvement project was to improve the quality of healthcare delivery and promote patient engagement by providing consistent education using a teaching tool. The project question addressed the impact of a labor-induction teaching tool on improving patient education, participation, and overall satisfaction. The Plan-Do-Study-Act (PDSA) model was used to plan, implement, and …

Breastfeeding Education For Women With Diabetes, Pregnancy-Induced Hypertension And Multiple Gestations, Oluwapelumi Adefunmike Adeboyejo

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Breastfeeding is considered a public health concern due to increased maternal/infant mortality and morbidity rates associated with persistent low rates in breastfeeding. Providing early breastfeeding education for women with diabetic, pregnancy-induced hypertension and multiple gestations can result in higher persistence rates and a decrease in maternal and infant mortality and morbidity rates. This quality improvement project provided early prenatal breastfeeding education for women with diabetes, pregnancy-induce hypertension and multiple gestations at a private clinic in Long Beach, Southern California. Evidence-based literature reviews were conducted through CINAHL and Medline (2009-2014). The descriptive study used for the project was made up questionnaires …