Journal of Midwifery & Reproductive health
Volume:4 Issue: 2, Apr 2016

Modifications in learning systems based on the concepts of self-efficacy and self-esteem are among the suggested strategies to bridge the gap between knowledge and practice. The aim of this study was to compare the effect of two interactive educational workshops with or without standardized patients (SPs) on midwifery student's self-efficacy in providing sexual health counseling at Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran in 2014.
In this quasi-experimental study, 62 B.Sc. and M.Sc. students of midwifery at Mashhad School of Nursing and Midwifery were randomly divided into two groups. The groups were trained, using one of two interactive educational workshops (with or without SPs) on sexual health counseling (10 hours). Data were collected, using a demographic questionnaire and a self-efficacy assessment tool. For data analysis, paired and independent t-tests were performed, using SPSS version 16.
The mean scores of student's self-efficacy in providing sexual health counseling in the two groups were not significantly different at the beginning of the study (P=0.587), while two weeks after the intervention, the scores were significantly higher in students who participated in SP-based workshops (76.0±10.9 vs. 66.7±5.9, P Although both methods could promote student's self-efficacy, the impact of workshops with SPs was more significant. Therefore, integration of this training method in midwifery educational curricula is recommended.

Intimate partner violence (IPV) is a global public health issue leading to the death of many people every year. Experience of infertility profoundly affects the personal well-being of women. This study aimed to evaluate the prevalence and contributing factors of psychological IPV in infertile women referring to the infertility centers affiliated to Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences in Tehran, Iran in 2011.
This cross-sectional study was conducted on 410 infertile women selected via multistage sampling. Demographic data of infertile women (33 items) and their spouses (16 items) were collected. In addition, researcher-made IPV questionnaire (53 items) and general health questionnaire (GHQ) (28 items) were used. Data analysis was performed in SPSS V.16 using descriptive statistics (Chi-square, independent T-test, ANOVA, Pearson’s correlation-coefficient, and linear regression).
In total, 410 infertile women were enrolled in this study, 74.3% of whom were victims of psychological IPV. Results of linear regression analysis indicated that psychological IPV and GHQ had significant associations with the ethnicity and physical diseases of the spouses of infertile women (P According to the results of this study, rate of psychological IPV in infertile women was relatively high. Therefore, it is recommended that healthcare providers implement screening programs for the prevention of psychological IPV and the associated risk factors during infertility treatments. Such interventions could reduce the rate of psychological IPV and improve the general health of community.

AIDS is one of the major public health challenges all over the world. Perceived risk is a significant predictor of high-risk behaviors related to AIDS. Women constitute more than half of the HIV patients, and the rate of female sex workers with AIDS is more than the rest of female population. Therefore, the present study aimed to evaluate AIDS risk perception and its related factors in females with high-risk behaviors in Mashhad, Iran.
This descriptive study was performed on 58 women who were arrested on prostitution charges and imprisoned in Mashhad Vakil Abad Prison in 2013. The data were collected using self-designed questionnaires assessing knowledge regarding AIDS as well as sexual activities and also perceived risk of HIV questionnaire. One-way ANOVA, independent samples t-test, linear regression, and Chi-square tests were run, using SPSS version 16.
The mean score of HIV risk perception was 18.43±5.92, which was average. There was a significant relationship between the mean score of perceived risk of HIV and knowledge regarding AIDS (P=0.005), alcohol consumption (P=0.04), history of addiction (P=0.008), using contraceptive methods (P=0.01), condom use during intercourse (P=0.02), voluntary HIV testing (P=0.001), and follow-up of HIV test (P=0.009).
The findings of the present study revealed that knowledge, alcohol consumption, history of addiction, contraceptive methods, the rate of condom use during intercourse, as well as voluntary HIV testing and follow-up were associated with perceived risk of HIV infection. Therefore, taking the necessary steps towards health promotion through appropriate training and interventional approaches seems to be mandatory for reducing high-risk behaviors in populations with low risk perception.

Women experience various changes in their transition into motherhood and feel stressed while facing new challenges in this period. High levels of stress may prevent mothers from realizing their maternal role. In this study, we aimed to explore the effects of training on the stress of primiparous mothers.
In this quasi-experimental intervention, 100 pregnant women were divided into control (n=50) and intervention (n=50) groups in Tehran, Iran in 2013. The intervention group received routine care, along with planned training in three sessions. The data collection tools included a demographic questionnaire, a childbirth information questionnaire, and a bisectional stress questionnaire. The stress questionnaire was completed before training and six and twelve weeks postpartum. For data analysis, repeated measures ANOVA, Chi-square test, Fisher's exact test, and t-test were performed, using SPSS version 16.0.
Based on the findings, no significant difference was observed between the groups in terms of demographic characteristics. However, a meaningful difference was reported in mean stress scores between the two groups at six and twelve weeks postpartum
(P Considering the effects of training on stress relief, design and implementation of educational programs for pregnant women are recommended to reduce their stress and improve their health conditions.

Preterm delivery is one of the most important problems in pregnancy, as it is the primary cause of 75% of prenatal mortality and morbidities. This study aimed to determine the prevalence and risk factors for preterm delivery in Tehran, Iran.
In this cross-sectional study performed in eight random hospitals from five different regions of Tehran (North, South, West, East, and center), the prevalence of preterm delivery was evaluated and the most frequent risk factors were identified. Samples were divided into preterm delivery (n=140) and term delivery (n=100) groups. Questionnaires were completed through interviews with mothers and using patient records. To analyze the data, Chi-square test was run, using SPSS version 16.
About 13,281 deliveries were included in the study. The highest and lowest prevalence of preterm delivery were 6.30% and 0.77% in the North and East regions of Tehran, respectively. The overall prevalence of preterm delivery was 1.52% in Tehran. In the preterm group, age ≥35 years, pre-mature rupture of membranes, bleeding, gestational hypertension, history of preterm delivery and abortion, multiple pregnancy, and preeclampsia were significantly more frequent than the term delivery group.
Spontaneous preterm birth was one of the major causes of maternal and neonatal morbidity; therefore, identification of its risk factors would be beneficial.

Sexual health education is one of the responsibilities of healthcare workers at schools, which can reduce the risk of sexually transmitted diseases such as AIDS, unwanted pregnancy, abortion, substance abuse, sexual violence, and suicidal tendencies. This study aimed to investigate healthcare workers’ competence in sexual health education for female adolescents at schools.
This cross-sectional study was conducted on 300 healthcare workers, responsible for sexual health education at schools in 2015. A valid and reliable researcher-made questionnaire was completed by the healthcare workers in order to assess their competence in sexual health education at healthcare centers of Khuzestan, Iran. To assess the competence of the participants (i.e., knowledge, attitude, confidence, and performance), descriptive statistics were calculated for quantitative variables. Also, mean, standard deviation, frequency, and percentage were calculated for qualitative variables. Pearson’s correlation test was performed to assess the relationship between the subjects’ knowledge, attitude, confidence, and performance. Also, the association between demographic variables and participants’ knowledge, attitude, confidence, and performance was evaluated, using analysis of variance (ANOVA). Data were analyzed, using SPSS version 21.0.
Knowledge, attitude, and confidence of healthcare workers in sexual health education were desirable. However, the subjects showed a poor performance in teaching students the required skills to control their emotions, instincts, homosexual tendencies, and masturbation. There was a significant correlation between performance, attitude, and confidence, knowledge and attitude, performance and confidence, and confidence, performance, and attitude (P Despite the adequate knowledge, positive attitude, and confidence of healthcare workers, their performance on sexual health education, especially taboo topics, was unacceptable. To eradicate the adolescents’ problems in sexual health, it is necessary to conduct broad investigations to identify the underlying causes of healthcare workers’ weak performance in this context.

Several factors influence the choice of cesarean section and its increasing rate among pregnant women. It seems that sexual satisfaction after childbirth plays a pivotal role in the selection of delivery mode. This study aimed to describe the experiences of pregnant women regarding postnatal sexual concerns and delivery mode selection.
This conventional qualitative content analysis was based on the study by Graneheim & Lundman (2004). Sample population consisted of 18 pregnant women undergoing natural vaginal delivery (NVD) or elective cesarean section (CS) at term in three hospitals and two healthcare centers of Tehran, Iran. Data collection and analysis were performed concurrently, and interviews continued until data saturation was achieved.
In this study, the main extracted theme was “decision-making influenced by socio-cultural childbirth beliefs.” One of the main categories comprising the content of the interviews was “meeting the sexual satisfaction of spouse" with subcategories of “spouse dissatisfaction after NVD” and “preserved sexual satisfaction after CS.” The other category was "preserving the original shape of genital organs” with subcategories of “necessity of cosmetic surgery after NVD” and “maintaining an intact genital system after CS.”
According to the results of this study, sexual attitudes and beliefs in the Iranian society are essentially involved in women's preference of CS over NVD. Choice of CS by pregnant women is often influenced by the opinion of the spouse, family members, peers, and friends. Therefore, it is recommended that the knowledge of couples in this regard be enhanced through related educational programs.

Organizational citizenship behavior (OCB) is a voluntary, organizationally desirable action that is not part of the employee’s formal job requirements. Job satisfaction and stress can affect mental health of midwives, and investigating the relationship between these variables can improve the quality of healthcare services. This study, therefore, was conducted to identify the relationship between OCB, occupational stress, and job satisfaction in Iranian midwives.
This descriptive-correlational study was performed on 122 midwives working at healthcare centers of Mashhad, Iran, in 2014. The participants were chosen using a census approach. The tools for data collection included a demographic questionnaire, Podsakoff’s OCB Questionnaire, Minnesota Satisfaction Scale, and Karasek’s Job Content Questionnaire. Data analysis was carried out using Spearman and Pearson’s correlation, one-way ANOVA, and student t test were by SPSS version 20.
The mean age of the midwives was 38.46±7.22 years. OCB had a significant direct correlation with job satisfaction (r=0.223) and a significant negative correlation with job stress (r=-0.270)(P OCB had a significant direct correlation with job satisfaction and an inverse correlation with occupational stress.

Cervical ectopic pregnancy is a rare variant of ectopic pregnancy, and placenta percreta is a complex and dangerous condition; patients with these conditions are difficult to manage. In this study, we present a rare case of placenta percreta in cervical pregnancy.
Case report: A 32 -year-old woman with 19 weeks of gestation and gross hematuria was admitted to Qaem Hospital in February 2014. Abdominal sonography and magnetic resonance findings indicated percreta. Cystoscopy was performed, which demonstrated invasion of placenta into bladder mucosa. Surgery was planned due to severe hematuria, where cervical ectopic pregnancy with placenta percreta was found. Hysterectomy and partial cystectomy were performed, and to date, the patient is alive and healthy.
Placenta percreta with bladder invasion can cause hematuria during pregnancy and early diagnosis can help with successful treatment and management of bleeding.