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BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth Apr 2023The purpose of this review was to consider factors that influence the experiences of pregnancy and childbirth by fathers including migrant fathers.
OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this review was to consider factors that influence the experiences of pregnancy and childbirth by fathers including migrant fathers.
METHOD
A systematic review and narrative synthesis were conducted as per the PRISMA guidelines. The spider tool was used to build a search strategy which was used to conduct literature search in eight identified electronic databases: ASSIA, CINAHL, EMBASE, MEDLINE, PsycINFO, PUBMED, Sage and Scopus. Grey literature was searched through the King's Fund Library database, Ethos, The North Grey Literature Collection, Social Care Online and other charity websites such as the Refugee Council and Joseph Rowntree Foundation. The search was conducted across all the databases in the week commencing January 7, 2019, and restricted to studies published in the English language.
RESULTS
The search across all the eight electronic databases identified 2564 records, 13 records through grey literature databases/websites and an additional 23 records identified through hand-searching/forward citation. The number of records after duplicates were removed was 2229. Record screening based on titles and abstracts identified 69 records for full text screening. Dual screening of these full text records identified 12 full records from 12 separate studies, eight of which were qualitative studies, three of which were quantitative studies and one mixed method study.
FINDINGS
This review has revealed three main themes: influence of society and health professionals; adjustment to a new life of fatherhood; and involvement in maternity care. However, the literature has focused on non-migrant father's experiences of pregnancy and childbirth, with little attention paid to fathers who may be migrants.
KEY CONCLUSION AND IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE
This review has exposed a dearth of research on migrant fathers' experiences of pregnancy and childbirth in an era of increasing globalisation and migration between countries. Midwives and other health professionals should be alert to the needs of any father when providing maternity care. More research is needed which considers experiences of migrants and how choosing to move to a new country or being forced to move could influence migrant father's experiences and therefore their needs.
Topics: Male; Pregnancy; Female; Humans; Fathers; Maternal Health Services; Parturition; Delivery, Obstetric; Midwifery
PubMed: 37041486
DOI: 10.1186/s12884-023-05568-8 -
BMC Medicine Jul 2023Studies of women of European ancestry have shown that the average familial relative risk for first-degree relatives of women with breast cancer is approximately twofold,... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis
BACKGROUND
Studies of women of European ancestry have shown that the average familial relative risk for first-degree relatives of women with breast cancer is approximately twofold, but little is known for Asian women. We aimed to provide evidence for the association between family history and breast cancer risk for Asian women by systematically reviewing published literature.
METHODS
Studies reporting the familial relative risk of breast cancer for Asian women were searched in three online databases and complemented by a manual search. Odds ratios (ORs) for the association between family history and breast cancer risk were pooled across all included studies and by subgroups in terms of the type of family history, age, menopausal status and geographical region.
RESULTS
The pooled OR for women who have a first-degree relative with breast cancer was 2.46 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 2.03, 2.97). There was no evidence that the familial risk differed by the type of affected relative (mother versus sisters), the woman's age (< 50 years versus ≥ 50 years), menopausal status (pre versus post) and geographical region (East and Southeast Asia versus other regions) (all P > 0.3). The pooled ORs for women of Asian ancestry with a family history in any relative were similar for those living in non-Asian countries (2.26, 95% CI: 1.42, 3.59) compared with those living in Asian countries (2.18, 95% CI: 1.85, 2.58).
CONCLUSIONS
Family history of breast cancer is associated with an approximately twofold relative risk of breast cancer for Asian women, which is of similar magnitude to that observed for women of European ancestry. This implies that similar familial factors are implicated in breast cancer risk between women of European and Asian ancestries. Genetic factors are likely to play a substantial role in explaining the breast cancer familial risk for Asian women, as similar risks were observed across different living environments and cultures.
Topics: Female; Humans; Middle Aged; Breast Neoplasms; Risk Factors; Genetic Predisposition to Disease; Asia; Mothers; Case-Control Studies
PubMed: 37400822
DOI: 10.1186/s12916-023-02950-3 -
International Journal of Women's Health 2021This study aimed at reviewing identifying reasons for home delivery preference, determining the status of homebirth in Ethiopia, and identifying socio-demographic... (Review)
Review
OBJECTIVE
This study aimed at reviewing identifying reasons for home delivery preference, determining the status of homebirth in Ethiopia, and identifying socio-demographic factors predicting home delivery in Ethiopia.
METHODS
A systematic literature review regarding the status of homebirth, reasons why women preferred homebirth and socio-demographic determinants of home deliveries was performed using CINAHL, MEDLINE, Google Scholar and Maternity and Infant Care. Keywords and phrases such as home birth, home delivery, childbirth, prevalence, determinants, predictors, women and Ethiopia were included in the search.
RESULTS
A total of 10 studies were included in this review. The mean proportion of homebirth was 73.5%. Maternal age, ANC visits, maternal level of education, distance to facilities, and previous facility birth were significantly associated with homebirth. Perceived poor quality of service, distant location of facilities, homebirth as customary in the society and perceived normalness of labour were identified as reasons for choosing homebirth.
CONCLUSION
Despite the significance of skilled birth attendants in reducing maternal and newborn morbidity and mortality, unattended homebirth remains high. By identifying and addressing socio-demographic enablers of home deliveries, maternal health service uptake can be improved.
PubMed: 34785958
DOI: 10.2147/IJWH.S326293 -
Cureus Jan 2024Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) is one of the most common endocrine disorders to occur during pregnancy due to the increase in circulating human placental lactogen... (Review)
Review
Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) is one of the most common endocrine disorders to occur during pregnancy due to the increase in circulating human placental lactogen (hPL) and possible beta-cell sensitivity. While GDM can be managed either with diet and exercise or pharmacological interventions, it is associated with significant maternal and neonatal complications. Maternal complications include short- and long-term conditions such as pre-eclampsia, preterm birth, arrest of labor, future development of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), and cardiovascular disorders. Neonates can develop hypoglycemia and hypocalcemia and have a large gestational age (LGA). New research has also highlighted another possible long-term complication for both mothers and offspring, which is the development of cancer. Cancer has various types of progression, but most cause systemic symptoms leading to a reduced quality of life. Cancer can be terminal and can affect the majority of the population; thus, significant effort is being employed to try and reduce its occurrence. This systematic review was conducted with adherence to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines using PubMed, ScienceDirect, and ProQuest databases. Initially, 136,019 publications were identified. Through the screening process, a total of 27 publications were finalized within the scope of this paper. Most studies observing maternal cancer with a history of GDM found that there was an association between the increased risk of cancer and GDM. Specifically, these studies identified the association of GDM with breast, ovarian, cervical, and uterine cancer, as well as other non-reproductive organs such as the thyroid and pancreas. Cancer development in the offspring also presented an association with mothers who developed GDM. The most prevalent cancer evaluated was leukemia, and it was specifically associated with a maternal history of GDM. With the consistent rise in the incidence of cancer, any attempts to reduce its development are imperative to assess. While GDM is essentially a temporary condition that resolves following pregnancy in most patients, the possibility of contributing to future conditions years after its occurrence creates a sense of urgency and necessity to reduce the incidence of GDM. Researchers should be able to identify other unknown biomarkers that contribute to the development of cancer in mothers who experienced GDM as well as their infants.
PubMed: 38435884
DOI: 10.7759/cureus.53328 -
Obesity Reviews : An Official Journal... Nov 2020Causal evidence links modifiable maternal exposures during the periconceptional period with offspring obesity. The interconception period may be an important time to... (Review)
Review
Causal evidence links modifiable maternal exposures during the periconceptional period with offspring obesity. The interconception period may be an important time to intervene. We systematically identified studies examining change in modifiable maternal exposures between pregnancies and offspring adiposity. We searched for longitudinal studies published between 1990 and 2019, which included measurements taken on at least two occasions in the period from 1 year prior to the conception of the first birth to the time of the second birth, and which included a measure of adiposity in second, or higher order, siblings. Age, ethnicity and genetics were not considered modifiable; all other factors including length of the interpregnancy interval were. Eleven studies satisfied the inclusion criteria. Higher interpregnancy weight gain or loss, maternal smoking inception, mothers smoking in their first pregnancy and quitting, increasing the number of cigarettes smoked and longer interpregnancy intervals were positively associated with adiposity in second or higher order children. Vaginal birth after caesarean delivery was protective. Further research is needed to ascertain whether the risk of adiposity is fixed based on first pregnancy exposures or if interpregnancy change alters the risk for a subsequent child. This can inform the type and effectiveness of interventions for mothers prior to a subsequent pregnancy.
Topics: Adiposity; Adolescent; Adult; Birth Intervals; Body Mass Index; Child; Child, Preschool; Female; Humans; Infant; Male; Maternal Exposure; Obesity; Pregnancy; Risk Factors; Young Adult
PubMed: 32469161
DOI: 10.1111/obr.13048 -
Healthcare (Basel, Switzerland) May 2022The mother and infant form a unique bond, with maternal mental health affecting the interactions with the infant and infant behaviours impacting maternal mental health.... (Review)
Review
Efficacy of Direct or Indirect Use of Probiotics for the Improvement of Maternal Depression during Pregnancy and in the Postnatal Period: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.
The mother and infant form a unique bond, with maternal mental health affecting the interactions with the infant and infant behaviours impacting maternal mental health. One of the possible mechanisms influencing maternal mental health is the manipulation of the gut-brain axis by consuming probiotic supplements. Probiotics can also have an indirect influence on maternal mental health via the modulation of the infant microbiome and consequently improving the infant's health and thus, indirectly leading to an improvement in maternal mood. This systematic review evaluated the efficacy of probiotics on maternal mental health by searching for randomised controlled trials via international databases: Cochrane Library, PubMed, Scopus, ScienceDirect, and Web of Science until January 2022. A meta-analysis was performed using the Cochrane Collaboration methodology where possible. We found seven clinical trials that included the word probiotics and addressed maternal depression and/or anxiety. Of these, five trials investigated the influence of maternal probiotic supplementation on the gut-brain axis. Two trials investigated the indirect influence of probiotics on maternal depression via supplementation of probiotics by infants and subsequent influence on the crying of colicky infants. Meta-analysis of two studies of pregnant and postnatal women and two studies of infants consuming probiotics on the outcome of the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale for mothers showed no statistical difference. The findings indicate that maternal depression is very complex and is influenced by various bidirectional factors. One of the factors that can improve maternal mental health is probiotics, however, careful consideration must be given to correct strain selection as strain-specific effectiveness was observed. Further well-designed, robust clinical studies are warranted.
PubMed: 35742022
DOI: 10.3390/healthcare10060970 -
Pakistan Journal of Medical Sciences 2023This updated systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to assess maternal and fetal outcomes of pregnancies based on the Institute of Medicine (IOM) guidelines of... (Review)
Review
OBJECTIVE
This updated systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to assess maternal and fetal outcomes of pregnancies based on the Institute of Medicine (IOM) guidelines of gestational weight gain (GWG).
METHODS
PubMED, SCOPUS, EMBASE and Web of Science were searched up to 30 July 2022. All studies evaluating maternal and/or neonatal outcomes of twin pregnancies based on the IOM guidelines of gestational weight gain were included.
RESULTS
Twenty two studies were included. Mothers with twin pregnancies experiencing inadequate GWG showed higher incidence of gestational diabetes with the risk ratio (RR) 1.22 95% CI (0.95,1.57), p=0.0005, i2= 69% and premature rupture of membrane (PROM) with RR 1.14 95% CI (0.99, 1.30), p=0.07; i2=0% that coincided with higher rates of preterm birth, low birth weight, small for gestational age (SGA) and admission to NICU in neonates. Mothers with excessive GWG had higher risk of developing gestational hypertension with RR 1.59 95% CI (1.22, 2.07), p=0.0006, i2=75% and extremely preterm delivery (<32 weeks).
CONCLUSION
Within the limitations of this review, GWG was found to be a predictable risk factor for adverse maternal and neonatal outcomes of twin pregnancies.
PubMed: 37492328
DOI: 10.12669/pjms.39.4.7529 -
New Zealand maternity and midwifery services and the COVID-19 response: A systematic scoping review.Women and Birth : Journal of the... May 2022COVID-19 guidance from professional and health organisations created uncertainty leading to professional and personal stress impacting on midwives providing continuity... (Review)
Review
PROBLEM
COVID-19 guidance from professional and health organisations created uncertainty leading to professional and personal stress impacting on midwives providing continuity of care in New Zealand (NZ). The COVID-19 pandemic resulted in massive amounts of international and national information and guidance. This guidance was often conflicting and not suited to New Zealand midwifery.
AIM
To examine and map the national and international guidance and information provided to midwifery regarding COVID-19 and foreground learnt lessons for future similar crises.
METHODS
A systematic scoping review informed by Arksey and O'Malley's five-stage framework. A range of sources from grey and empirical literature was identified and 257 sources included.
FINDINGS
Four categories were identified and discussed: (1) guidance for provision of maternity care in the community; (2) guidance for provision of primary labour and birth care; (3) Guidance for midwifery care to women/wāhine with confirmed/suspected COVID-19 infection, including screening processes and management of neonates of infected women/wāhine (4) Guidance for midwives on protecting self and own families and whānau (extended family) from COVID-19 exposure.
CONCLUSION
Guidance was mainly targeted and tailored for hospital-based services. This was at odds with the NZ context, where primary continuity of care underpins practice. It is evident that those providing continuity of care constantly needed to navigate an evolving situation to mitigate interruptions and restrictions to midwifery care, often without fully knowing the personal risk to themselves and their own families. A key message is the need for a single source of evidence-based guidance, regularly updated and timestamped to show where advice changes over time.
Topics: COVID-19; Female; Humans; Infant, Newborn; Maternal Health Services; Midwifery; New Zealand; Pandemics; Pregnancy
PubMed: 34215539
DOI: 10.1016/j.wombi.2021.05.008 -
PloS One 2023The postpartum period is critical for maternal health status after childbirth. The traditional Chinese postpartum confinement practice, "doing-the-month", is considered...
BACKGROUND
The postpartum period is critical for maternal health status after childbirth. The traditional Chinese postpartum confinement practice, "doing-the-month", is considered especially effective in helping mothers recover during the postpartum period. However, research has not provided evidence to confirm its benefits. Postpartum depression is a common postpartum disease that seriously threatens maternal health. The systematic review aims to explore the association between "doing-the-month" and postpartum depression in the Chinese female population and to provide a scientific foundation for evidence-based postpartum maternal care.
METHODS
Five databases (PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, Scopus, Cochrane, PsycINFO, and Web of Science) were searched according to the protocol (INPALSY202320102). The JBI assessment tool was used to assess the quality of the included studies.
RESULTS
Sixteen quantitative studies from China and Chinese female immigrants in other countries, including 15 cross-sectional studies and 1 randomized controlled study, were identified. Four studies indicated that "doing-the-month" rituals reduced postpartum depression risk while 2 studies showed opposite results; 10 studies did not show a significant association between "doing-the-month" practices and postpartum depression.
CONCLUSION
There is conflicting evidence regarding the association between "doing-the-month" and the likelihood of developing postpartum depression. Some studies have explored the impact of family ties, particular rituals, and specific stressors during the postpartum period on the occurrence of postpartum depression in Chinese women. According to current research, "doing-the-month" practice failed to show a significant protective effect on postpartum depression in the Chinese maternal population. Evidence-based medical health education for the Chinese postpartum female community is urgently needed.
Topics: Female; Humans; Pregnancy; Cross-Sectional Studies; Depression, Postpartum; East Asian People; Mothers; Postpartum Period; Postnatal Care
PubMed: 37903136
DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0293667 -
Nutrients Mar 2023: Mounting evidence suggests that maternal obesity and gestational weight gain (GWG) may increase the risk of cancer in their offspring; however, results are... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis Review
: Mounting evidence suggests that maternal obesity and gestational weight gain (GWG) may increase the risk of cancer in their offspring; however, results are inconsistent. The purpose of this research is to determine the association between maternal body mass index (BMI) and GWG and the risk of cancer in offspring through a systematic and comprehensive meta-analysis. : A systematic literature search of several databases was conducted on 1 October 2022 to identify relevant studies. The quality of the included studies was evaluated using the Newcastle-Ottawa scale. The overall risk estimates were pooled using a random-effects meta-analysis. : Twenty-two studies with more than 8 million participants were included. An increased risk of total cancer was found in offspring whose mothers had a high GWG (odds ratio [OR]: 1.10; 95% CI: 1.01-1.19; : 0.040) but not in offspring whose mothers had a low GWG (OR: 1.06; 95% CI: 0.96-1.17; : 0.030), when compared with offspring whose mothers had a suitable GWG. In addition, no statistically significant association was found between maternal underweight (OR: 1.05; 95% CI: 0.97-1.13; : 0.630), overweight/obesity (OR: 1.07; 95% CI: 0.99-1.16; : 0.020), and risk of total cancer in offspring. : Our study proposes evidence that maternal BMI and GWG may be associated with the risk of cancer in offspring, although statistical significance was found only for high GWG. Further well-designed research is required to clarify the potential relevance of maternal BMI and GWG on offspring cancer, especially for specific cancers.
Topics: Humans; Female; Pregnancy; Body Mass Index; Gestational Weight Gain; Obesity; Overweight; Neoplasms
PubMed: 37049442
DOI: 10.3390/nu15071601