International Journal of Women’s Health and Reproduction Sciences
Volume:11 Issue: 4, Oct 2023

The present study aimed to investigate the potential determining factors responsible for the mental health problems during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The databases including PubMed/MEDLINE, Web of Science, and Cochrane Library were searched for the required articles in February, 2021. The quality of the studies was determined based on the STROBE checklist.

A total of 31 articles were included in this systematic review. Stopped in-person prenatal care and using the phone for prenatal care were significantly associated with greater changes of anxiety during COVID-19. Parity, gestational age, and pregnancy complication were found to be statistically and significantly associated with anxiety. Social and family supports were specifically associated with reduced anxiety. Women with low body mass index (BMI) were detected to be more prone to developing depression and anxiety. While obesity had protective effects on depression, stress and anxiety, lower sleep quality, lower household income, lower physical health, and less physical activity were found associated with higher anxiety levels. Other significant factors related to mental health included employment status, employment status, marriage status, household size, educational level, ethnicity, knowledge score, marital life satisfaction, and fear of the COVID-19 infection.

Clinical, economic, and socio-demographic physical health were associated with mental health problem during COVID-19. Therefore, it was recommended that the potential determining factors should be further explored and identified in order to help protect people against mental health problems.

The study was conducted to examine the traditional and complementary practices used by women to increase breast milk and wean their children from breastfeeding.

This is a descriptive and cross-sectional study. The population consisted of 254 mothers aged 20-45 lived in Cyprus. Mothers who had breastfed and stopped breastfeeding were included in the study. The data were collected by using an introductory information form prepared based on the literature, about breastfeeding and weaning process. Descriptive statistics were used to assess the data.

64% of the participants started breastfeeding within the first hour of birth, 58% only breastfed for the first 6 months, and 16% breastfed for 24 months or more. Also women consumed mostly water and herbal tea (mostly fennel) and bulgur to increase breast milk.

Although it was determined that mothers did not use many traditional methods when weaning their children, it was a remarkable finding that weaning by talking to the child was used less. It is recommended that education and counselling services be increased in order to increase rates of exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months, and to follow evidence-based practices at the stages of increasing breast milk and weaning.

This study aimed to assess the level of breastfeeding (BF) knowledge and the prevalence of musculoskeletal disorders associated with BF among mothers.

The participants were given a questionnaire containing 20 questions regarding their knowledge of BF practices and the prevalence of musculoskeletal disorders. The responses were reported as mean, standard deviation (SD), number (n), frequencies (f), and percentages (%).

The study included 941 participants aged 18 to 49, with a median age of 31-35. Nearly half (47.9%; n = 451) of participants had no knowledge of the health advantages of BF. Furthermore, 82.6% (n = 777) of participants did not receive educational courses or information about childbirth during pregnancy or postnatal. Moreover, 42.7% (n = 402) reported BF-related musculoskeletal pain. The results showed that the least common information provided by doctors or other healthcare providers to mothers was that BF could reduce the risk of some types of cancer (13.6%; n = 128) and asthma and shortness of breath in children (14.1%; n = 133). The most common information was that breastfed children are at a lower risk of getting sick than formula-fed children (41.7%; n = 392).

The study showed a lack of knowledge regarding the benefits of BF and a high prevalence of musculoskeletal disorders among BF mothers in Saudi Arabia. We strongly recommend increasing the number of educational courses that provide knowledge and skills related to BF practices and appropriate positioning during BF.

Human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) and vitamin D (VD) deficiency are implicated in miscarriages. This study aims to determine the seroprevalence of CMV in miscarriage and investigate the effect of VD deficiency risks in pregnant women.

The study was conducted from February 2020 to April 2021. The study included 75 participants, with 50 women with recurrent miscarriages (the case group) and 25 healthy women (the control group), all of whom had abortions between the ages of 15 and 40.

The CMV IgM and IgG antibodies were seropositive at 6% and 98%, respectively. The CMV IgM and IgG prevalence among women with abortions were 0.4 ± 0.21 for IgM antibodies and 259.5 ± 169.9 for IgG antibodies at higher levels compared to the control group, which was 0.18 ± 0.07 for IgM antibodies and 98 ± 89.7 for IgG antibodies. The VD level was evaluated in the case group (7.1 ± 8.24) and the control group (25.5 ± 6.02) based on two age ranges: 28 (56%) in 15–27 years, and 22 (44%) in 28–36 years. On the other hand, the results for the control group were 15-27 years and 28-36 years, with 13 (52%) and 12 (48%), respectively.

CMV IgG positive was associated with younger ages because potential reproductive increases with age. Recurrent miscarriages have a strong relationship with VD deficiency. The greater the VD deficiency, the greater the risk for women with more than two abortions in a row

This experimental study aimed to explore the impact of anthocyanin on histopathological alterations and oxidative stress induced by ovarian torsion/detorsion in mature rats.

A total of 32 female Wistar rats were categorized into four groups: G1 (sham), G2 (ovarian torsion endured for 3 hours followed by detorsion), G3 (ovarian torsion persisted for 3 hours with prior administration of 100 mg/kg anthocyanin followed by detorsion), and G4 (received 100 mg/kg anthocyanin). After a reperfusion interval of 10 days, blood specimens were obtained for quantifying estrogen, testosterone, and oxidative stress markers in the plasma. Histomorphometric analysis was done to evaluate post-procedural tissue alterations.

The histopathological observations revealed considerable degenerative modifications in the G2 group (subjected to torsion/ detorsion) compared to the other groups (P<0.001). Estrogen, glutathione peroxidase (GPX), and superoxide dismutase (SOD) levels displayed notable reduction in the G2 group; however, these levels were reinstated in the anthocyanin-treated groups. The level of malondialdehyde (MDA), an indicator of oxidative stress, surged during the ischemic phase (P<0.001).

Administration of anthocyanin led to a decline in MDA levels across the other groups. These findings collectively suggest that anthocyanin supplementation holds the potential to shield ovarian tissue against oxidative stress and structural damage incurred as a consequence of torsion/detorsion events.

The present research was conducted to evaluate the accuracy of cell-free fetal DNA (cffDNA) in diagnosing chromosomal abnormalities and measure consistency in diagnostic results between this assay and amniocentesis.

This retrospective observational study recruited pregnant women presenting for Down’s syndrome screening. These women underwent the nuchal translucency ultrasound and their serum levels of pregnancy-associated plasma protein A and free beta-human chorionic gonadotropin were measured based on the aim of the study. Amniocentesis was administered in subjects with high or uncertain risk for fetal chromosomal abnormalities and cffDNA testing or the quadruple screen test in those with moderate risk. The women diagnosed as high-risk cases in cffDNA testing also underwent amniocentesis to confirm their diagnosis.

Amniocentesis showed trisomy 21 as the most prevalent chromosomal abnormality in 66 (67.3%) cases, followed by trisomy 18 in 12 (12.2%) and trisomy 13 in 7 (7.1%). False-positive cffDNA results were obtained in 8 (8.2%) cases. The coefficient of agreement between these two tests was, however, obtained as 0.845 (P<0.0001), and their results were significantly correlated with each other (χ2=369, P<0.0001). Moreover, cffDNA was found to diagnose prenatal chromosomal abnormalities with a sensitivity of 100%, a specificity of 50%, a positive predictive value of 91.8%, and a negative predictive value of 100%.

Given the high sensitivity of cffDNA observed in diagnosing chromosomal abnormalities, this assay can play a key role as a non-invasive procedure in prenatal diagnoses.

Considering the low rate of exclusive breastfeeding in mothers using drugs and the role of behavioral intention as one of the effective factors on breastfeeding, the present study aimed to determine the impact of breastfeeding training based on the theory of planned behavior on the continuation of exclusive breastfeeding in drug-dependent mothers.

This clinical trial was performed in three hospitals of Mashhad in 2018. To this end, 52 drug-abusing mothers were randomly divided into experimental and control groups. The intervention protocol consisted of four separate training sessions with an emphasis on the theory of planned behavior. The follow-up process was performed 2 and 4 months after delivery, and the theory of planned behavior and breastfeeding continuity questionnaire was completed accordingly. Data were analyzed by the SPSS (version 16) using the independent t test and chi-square, Mann-Whitney, Friedman, and Wilcoxon tests.

Two months after delivery, 88.5% and 3.8% of mothers of the intervention and control groups performed exclusive breastfeeding while this rate was 65.4% and 0.0% four months after delivery, respectively. The results of the chi-square test showed a significant difference between the two groups at 2 and 4 months (P<0.001). Two months after delivery, the average score of maternal performance on the continuation of exclusive breastfeeding was 91.8±9.2 and 50.8±24.5 in the intervention and control group although it was 89.0±8.7 and 31.0±15.9 4 months after delivery, respectively. Based on the results of the Wilcoxon test, significant differences were found between the groups after 2 and 4 months (P<0.001). Eventually, the average score of all constructs of the planned behavior theory improved immediately after the intervention, and 2 and 4 months after delivery in the intervention group (P<0.001).

Thus, the implementation of breastfeeding training based on the theory of planned behavior is recommended for drugdependent mothers to continue exclusive breastfeeding.

To describe the management and treatment outcomes of cesarean scar pregnancies diagnosed in a tertiary care center.

This study retrospectively described all cases of cesarean scar pregnancy diagnosed and managed at a tertiary care center over a 3-year period. Maternal demographics, clinical presentation, treatment methods, and outcomes were all included in the analysis.

uring the study period, 5 cases of cesarean scar pregnancy were diagnosed and managed. The median gestational age at diagnosis was 8 weeks, and all fetuses had positive cardiac activity. All cases were initially treated with systemic intramuscular (IM) methotrexate (MTX), but only one case responded well due to fetal bradycardia present prior to treatment. One patient received further management with transvaginal intracardiac potassium chloride (KCL) injection, which resulted in maternal sepsis, hemorrhage, and ICU admission. The other 3 cases were managed by transabdominal intra-gestational sac MTX +/- KCL and showed good clinical response. Two of these cases required an interval dilation & curettage (D&C) due to persistent vaginal spotting with no complications.

It is recommended to avoid using systemic IM MTX as the first-line treatment for scar pregnancy unless the pregnancy is failing or non-viable. Intra-gestational sac treatment may cause persistent retained products of conception, leading to bothersome vaginal spotting. An interval ultrasound guided D&C appears to be safe for managing this complication, but the exact interval needs to be determined through further studies. Sepsis is a rare complication of invasive medical treatment, and close surveillance is advised.