Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

Resilience And Prenatal Mental Health In Pakistan: A Qualitative Inquiry, Shireen Shehzad, David Arthur, An-Sofie Van Parys, Nicole Letourneau, Gail Wagnild, Shahirose Sadrudin Premji, Nargis Asad, Olivier Degomme

School of Nursing & Midwifery

Background: Women in Pakistan suffer from a high rate of depression. The stress of low-income, illiteracy, exposure to violence and living in a patriarchal society are predisposing vulnerabilities for depression, particularly during and following pregnancy. The resilience of an individual plays a significant role in promoting prenatal mental health, but this has yet to be thoroughly researched. In this article, our objective is to identify the core characteristics of resilience among pregnant women, which will then help us in developing an intervention.
Methods: The exploratory-descriptive study was conducted over 6 months in five different antenatal hospitals in Sindh, Pakistan. A …

Perceived Stress May Mediate The Relationship Between Antenatal Depressive Symptoms And Preterm Birth: A Pilot Observational Cohort Study, Sharifa Bashir Lalani, Aliyah Dosani, Ntonghanwah Forcheh, Shahirose Sadrudin Premji, Sana Siddiqui, Kiran Shaikh, Ayesha Mian, Ilona S Yim Ilona S Yim, Maternal-Infant Global Health Team (Might) Collaborators In Research

School of Nursing & Midwifery

Background: Screening for changes in pregnancy-related anxiety and depressive symptoms during pregnancy may further our understanding of the relationship between these two variables and preterm birth.
Objectives: To determine whether changes in pregnancy-related anxiety and depressive symptoms during pregnancy influence the risk of preterm birth among Pakistani women; explore whether perceived stress moderates or mediates this relationship, and examine the relationship between the various components of pregnancy-related anxiety and preterm birth.
Methods: A prospective cohort study design was used to recruit a diverse sample of 300 low-risk pregnant women from four centers of Aga Khan Hospital for Women and Children …

Gynaecological Morbidities Among Married Women And Husband's Behaviour: Evidence From A Community-Based Study, Tazeen Saeed Ali, Neelofar Sami, Adil Ali Saeed, Parveen Ali

School of Nursing & Midwifery

Aim: To determine the association between gynaecological morbidities and IPV among married women specifically, with attention to the attitudes of the husband and the degree of satisfaction in a marital relationship.
Design: Cross-sectional study design.
Methods: Data were collected using face-to-face interviews with married women aged 15-49 years, living in selected communities. Information was collected on demographic characteristics, gynaecological morbidities and IPV using a self-developed tool. Descriptive and inferential statistics were used to analyse the data.
Results: Logistic Regression showed a significant association between physical violence and burning micturition, increased urinary frequency, constant dribbling of urine, genital ulcers, lower abdominal …

Counting Stillbirths And Covid 19-There Has Never Been A More Urgent Time, Caroline S E. Homer, Susannah Hopkins Leisher, Neelam Aggarwa, Joseph Akuze, Delly Babona, Hannah Blencowe, John Bolgna, Richard Chawana, Aliki Christou, Rafat Jan

School of Nursing & Midwifery

No abstract provided.

Association Of Depression And Resilience With Fertility Quality Of Life Among Patients Presenting To The Infertility Centre For Treatment In Karachi, Pakistan, Shireen Shehzad Bhamani, Nida Zahid, Wajeeha Zahid, Salima Farooq, Saima Sachwani, Marilyn Chapman, Nargis Asad

School of Nursing & Midwifery

Background: In Pakistan there is a dire need to explore the quality of life in infertile males and females and its undesirable psychological outcomes. This, study aimed to compare the quality of life (QoL) of males and females visiting an infertility centre for treatment and to assess its association with resilience, depression, and other socio-demographic factors.
Methods: An Analytical Cross-Sectional study was conducted amongst infertile males and females at the Australian Concept Infertility Medical Centre (ACIMC), Karachi, Pakistan. The non-probability (purposive) sampling strategy was used to recruit the participants. The sample size was 668. Data was analysed using STATA version …

Infection Control In Labor And Delivery Room, Learning From The Small Hospital Based Project, Savera Aziz Ali, Sumera Aziz Ali

School of Nursing & Midwifery

Background: It has been estimated that around 36% of the neonatal deaths occur due to infection in the lower and middle income countries. Infection control is a more substantial area of concern, particularly in Labor and delivery room. Multiple factors can cause infection in the labor room, therefore it is important to assess various factors of maternal and neonatal infection. Hence we explored multiple factors through this project and developed the action plan to address those factors effectively.
Methods: During our Leadership and Management course, we conducted a project in Labor room pertaining to a prevalent issue. The whole process …

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

School of Nursing & Midwifery

No abstract provided.

Food Choices And Practices During Pregnancy Of Immigrant Women With High-Risk Pregnancies In Canada: A Pilot Study, Gina M A. Higginbottom, Helen Vallianatos, Joan Forgeron, Donna Gibbons, Fabiana Mamede, Rubina Barolia

School of Nursing & Midwifery

Background: Immigrant women may be regarded as a vulnerable population with respect to access and navigation of maternity care services. They may encounter difficulties when accessing culturally safe and appropriate maternity care, which may be further exacerbated by language difficulties and discriminatory practices or attitudes. The project aimed to understand ethnocultural food and health practices and how these intersect in a particular social context of cultural adaptation and adjustment in order to improve the care-giving capacities of health practitioners working in multicultural perinatal clinics.
Methods: This four-phase study employed a case study design allowing for multiple means of data collection …

Unmet Need For Contraception And Unintended Pregnancies Among Women Of Reproductive Age Group: A Situation Analysis, Sumera Aziz Ali, Savera Aziz Ali

School of Nursing & Midwifery

Each year approximately 210 million pregnancies occur worldwide and more than one-third (75 to 80 million) of these are unintended, more than half of these (46 million) unintended pregnancies undergo unsafe abortions. In Pakistan 16% of the births are reported to be unwanted and if the unwanted fertility is eliminated, total fertility in Pakistan would be 3.1 births per woman. Total demand for family planning in Pakistan is 55%, while the contraceptive prevalence rate is 35% and unmet need for family planning is 20%. Reasons for unmet need and unintended pregnancy include lack of permission, fear of side effects, poor …

Perinatal Distress In Women In Low- And Middle-Income Countries: Allostatic Load As A Framework To Examine The Effect Of Perinatal Distress On Preterm Birth And Infant Health, Shahirose Sadrudin Premji

School of Nursing & Midwifery

In low- and middle-income countries (LMIC), determinants of women's and children's health are complex and differential vulnerability may exist to risk factors of perinatal distress and preterm birth. We examined the contribution of maternal perinatal distress on preterm birth and infant health in terms of infant survival and mother-infant interaction. A critical narrative and interpretive literature review was conducted. Peer-reviewed electronic databases (MEDLINE, Embase, Global Health, CINHAL), grey literature, and reference lists were searched, followed by a consultation exercise. The literature was predominantly from high-income countries. We identify determinants of perinatal distress and explicate changes in the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis, sympathetic, …

The Relationship Between Prenatal Stress, Depression, Cortisol And Preterm Birth: A Review, Kiran Shaikh, Shahirose Premji, Khurshid Khowaja, Suzanne Tough, Ambreen Kazi, Shaneela Khowaj

School of Nursing & Midwifery

Preterm birth is one of the most common adverse pregnancy outcomes. Maternal risk factors such as stress and depression have been associated with preterm birth. Preterm infants are at a higher risk of poor growth and neuro developmental outcomes. The objective of this paper is to examine the relationship between maternal stress, depression, cortisol level, and preterm birth. Preterm birth is one of the most common adverse pregnancy outcomes with a global prevalence of 9.6% and one of the major contributors to infant mortality and morbidity. The association between psychosocial stress and preterm birth, although examined for more than 25 …

The Association Between Parity, Infant Gender, Higher Level Of Paternal Education And Preterm Birth In Pakistan: A Cohort Study, Kiran Shaikh, Shahirose Sadrudin Premji, Marianne S. Rose, Ambreen Kazi, Shaneela Khowaja, Suzanne Tough

School of Nursing & Midwifery

Background:

High rates of antenatal depression and preterm birth have been reported in Pakistan. Self reported maternal stress and depression have been associated with preterm birth, however findings are inconsistent. Cortisol is a biological marker of stress and depression, and its measurement may assist in understanding the influence of self reported maternal stress and depression on preterm birth.

Methods:

In a prospective cohort study pregnant women between 28 to 30 weeks of gestation from the Aga Khan Hospital for Women and Children completed the A-Z Stress Scale and the Centre for Epidemiology Studies Depression Scale to assess stress and depression …