مجله زنان مامائی و نازائی ایران
سال هفدهم شماره 114 (هفته چهارم شهریور 1393)

Birth asphyxia is a serious health condition، requiring prenatal care. Determination of predisposing risk factors for asphyxia is important in the prevention، diagnosis، and treatment of this condition. However، limited research has been conducted in this regard. Therefore، this study aimed to investigate the relationship between maternal complications and prognosis in infants with birth asphyxia.

This cross-sectional study was conducted on 346 eligible postpartum women at Mashhad Ghaem Hospital in 2006-2013. Data collection tool، data registry forms، and interview forms were used to analyze pregnancy-related and childbirth data. The infants were divided into two groups with and without asphyxia. For a more detailed comparison، the number of infants in both groups were considered equal and asphyxia associated with problems during pregnancy were compared in the two groups. Independent t-test، Chi-square، and ANOVA were performed، using SPSS version 11. 5. P-value less than 0. 05 was considered statistically significant.

Of 346 women surveyed in this study، 168 (48. 55%) subjects gave birth to asphyxic newborns and 178 (51. 44%) subjects delivered healthy newborns (without asphyxia). The difference in pregnancy complications was significant between the two groups (P<0. 001). Overall، 40 (16. 46%) women with asphyxic newborns and 85 (34. 97%) women with healthy newborns underwent vaginal delivery (P<0. 001). Also، 43 (27. 21%) mothers with asphyxic newborns and 3 (1. 89%) women with healthy newborns experienced significant pregnancy-related complications (P<0. 001). Moreover، 10 (6. 45%) women with asphyxic newborns had complications during delivery، while mothers with healthy newborns experienced no such complications (P<0. 001).

As the results indicated، there is a direct relationship between maternal complications (during pregnancy or delivery) and the outcome of neonatal asphyxia. Therefore، more attention needs to be paid to prenatal and childbirth care.

Human is a decision maker and his/her every action is triggered by different motivations. Motivation is directly involved in one’s childbearing decision. Considering the lack of information about young couples’ childbearing motivations and preferences in our country، this study was conducted to determine the relationship between fertility motivations and preferences in couples referring to premarital counseling clinics at Mashhad healthcare centers in 2013. In this descriptive، analytical study، 450 couples، referring to healthcare centers providing premarital counseling، were selected via convenience sampling. Data were collected using Miller’s Fertility Preferences and Childbearing Questionnaire. The gathered data were analyzed using Pearson’s correlation and independent t-test. As the results indicated، positive childbearing motivation like the traditional view was significantly correlated with childbearing desires and ideal number of children (P<0. 001); however، it was inversely associated with the preferred time for childbearing (P<0. 001). Also، negative childbearing motivation like Fear of being parents was not significantly associated with fertility preferences (P>0. 001). The findings of this study indicated that positive childbearing motivations are significantly correlated with childbearing desires and the ideal number of children.

Menopause is a physiological event which can have physical، mental، and social consequences for women and affect their quality of life. This study aimed to assess the efficacy of aerobic exercise in women’s quality of life during premenopausal and postmenopausal periods. This randomized controlled trial was conducted on 54 healthy، married، premenopausal and postmenopausal women، aged 45-60 years، in Kaleibar city in 2013. The participants were randomly allocated into two groups of 27 subjects. The intervention group followed an exercise program including walking three times per week for 12 weeks. The control group received no interventions. Quality of life was assessed by the menopause quality of life questionnaire (MENQOL)، recorded at baseline and 8 and 12 weeks after the intervention. Lower scores indicate better quality of life and less severe symptoms of menopause. For data analysis، Kolmogorov-Smirnov test، Chi-square، and repeated measures ANOVA were performed، using SPSS version 18. P-value less than 0. 05 was considered statistically significant. By controlling MENQOL score before the intervention، the mean total score of MENQOL in the intervention group was significantly lower than that of the control group after 8 [adjusted mean difference: −7. 8 (95% confidence interval: −13. 7 to −1. 9)] and 12 weeks [−12. 9 (−17. 8 to −7. 9)]. Scores of psychosocial and physical domains were significantly lower in the intervention group، compared to the control group 8 and 12 weeks after the intervention; a similar finding was obtained regarding the vasomotor domain 12 weeks after the intervention (P<0. 05). However، there was no significant difference in sexual domain between the two groups (P=0. 46). As the results indicated، moderate-intensity aerobic exercise improves quality of life in premenopausal and postmenopausal women.