African Journal of Nursing and Midwifery

African Journal of Nursing and Midwifery ISSN 2198-4638 Vol. 2 (6), pp. 326-337, August, 2015. © International Scholars Journals

Review

A systematic review of intervention programmes designed for the prevention of teenage pregnancy at the community, national or international levels

*Hendrik C. Hom, Jean Beyers Slabbert and Johann B. M

Department of Nursing Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Stellenbosch University, Stellenbosch, South Africa.

*Corresponding author’s E-mail: [email protected]

Accepted 16 July, 2015

Abstract

The review was aimed at carrying out a systematic review of intervention programmes that have been designed and implemented for the prevention of teenage pregnancy at either community, national or international levels. The review procedure was guided by the protocol described by the Centre for Review Dissemination. It was initiated by conducting a literature search for relevant papers that focussed on teenage pregnancy prevention. After the elimination of random and unrelated results, selected abstracts were downloaded and initially screened for inclusion or exclusion criteria in the study. From the preliminary screening based on the abstract, a total of 35 papers were provisionally selected. After further screening, a total of 20 articles and reports that meet the inclusion criteria were selected and analysed further. For each of the qualifying studies, information that relates to the demographics of the teenage participants, description of the programme, and the level of success of the intervention were extracted. The major stakeholders of the 20 published national and international intervention programmes were governments, NGOs, academics/educators, community, health workers, youth workers and parents. In all the studies, the etiology for the intervention were poverty, poor sex and relationship education, poor sexual health services, substance abuse, crime, poor family relations, gender inequities and school dropout. With the exception of two of the reports, all the interventions were considered successful. All interventions revealed the prevention level to be secondary while 13 of the intervention programmes used the top-bottom approach.Due to the negative, long-term consequences of teenage pregnancy and childbirths, the prevention of unplanned teenage pregnancy and childbirths is a vital contribution to the overall aim of enhancing teenagers’ reproductive health and fulfilment of potentials.

Keywords: Intervention programmes, prevention, teenage pregnancy, teenage childbearing.

African Journal of Nursing and Midwifery ISSN 2198-4638 Vol. 2 (7), pp. 419-424, September, 2015. © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Papers

The effects of the body mass index of women before pregnancy and gestational weight gain on newborn in Taiwan

*Yao G. Wang, Shang Zhu Teng, Qain X. I and Mao B. zhao

Department of Midwifery, Faculty of Health Sciences, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China.

*Corresponding author. E-mail: [email protected]

Accepted 19 August, 2015

Abstract

The aim of this retrospective study was to explore the effects of pre-pregnancy body mass index and gestational weight gain on neonatal birth weight in Taiwan. Study subjects included two hundred and sixty three women who delivered their babies at two local hospitals in southern Taiwan. Initial data included maternity records on age, parity, socio -economic status, body mass index (BMI), pregnancy weight gain, neonatal gender, and neonatal birth weight. The mean age of 263 women was 29.99 years (range 19 - 42) . The mean BMI was 21.19 kg/m² (range 16.22 - 32.05), and the mean pregnancy weight gain was 13.98 kg (range 3 - 33.5). The mean neonatal birth weight was 3192.57 gm (range 2120 - 4390). Mothers whose BMI was 24 - 27 had significantly higher neonatal birth weight than those mothers with a BMI > 27 and < 18.5) (F = 5.816, p = 0.001). After dividing the weight gain during pregnancy into four groups based on the recommendation of the Department of Health in Taiwan, our results show differences between maternal weight gain and neonatal body weight (F = 9.49, p < 0.001). Pregnant women with a weight gain less than 10 kg resulted in deliveries of neonates with lower birth weight (113.94, 237.62 and 332.58 gm) than those mothers who gained 10 - 14, 14 – 16 kg, and more than 16kg. Multiple regression models control for other maternal and neonatal characteristics were able to document, weight gain as being more strongly associated with neonatal birth weight than pre-pregnancy body mass index. Neonatal birth weight was not correlated with maternal working status, socio-economical status and was not differentiated between primipara and multipara status. Conclusively, pre-pregnancy BMI and prenatal weight gain are related to neonatal birth weight. These results suggest that the pre-pregnancy BMI and prenatal weight gain should be among the most important concerns for providers offering prenatal services. Hopefully these findings will serve as a useful reference for prenatal nurses and will reinforce health insurance departments’ efforts to ensure quality prenatal care.

Key words: Body mass index, pregnancy weight gain, neonatal birth weight.

African Journal of Nursing and Midwifery ISSN 2198-4638 Vol. 2 (6), pp. 261-265, August, 2015. © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

An evaluation of the efficiency of Nursing Students of Omar Al-Mukhtar University, Libya

*¹Saif Gaddafi, Mustafa G. A-Libi², Ibraham T. O². and Abu Belhadj¹

¹Department of Nursing Science, Faculty of Medicine, University of Tripoli, Tripoli, Libya.

²Department of Nursing Science, Faculty of Medicine, Sabha University, Sabha, Libya,

Email: [email protected]

Accepted 20 July, 2015

Abstract

The physical assessment self-efficacy of 73 BS Nursing students of Omar Al-Mukhtar University (Libya) was evaluated following a nine-day training on cephalocaudal examination using a self-assessment tool that was constructed by the authors (Cronbach's α = 0.972). A comparative descriptive design was employed. This study was undertaken to determine self-efficacy variability among different year levels, student ranks and areas of specialization. The study revealed an over-all high level of self-efficacy in performing this essential nursing skill. Although variability was noted in performing specific steps, no significant differences were found in all the three variables examined. This research provided valuable information that was used by faculty in enhancing instruction for specific groups of students and for specific aspects of adult physical assessment.

Keywords: Self-efficacy, physical assessment, nursing process, clinical instruction, nursing education.

African Journal of Nursing and Midwifery ISSN 2198-4638 Vol. 2 (6), pp. 181-186, June, 2015.  © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

A study of the connection between self-esteem and self-care agency in hysterectomy patients

*¹Ahmet Çetin İzgören, Uğur F. Şerif¹ and İsmet OKur Doğan²

¹Faculty of Nursing, Department of Gynecologic and Obstetrical Nursing, Hacettepe University, Ankara, Turkey.

²Faculty of Nursing, Department of Gynecologic and Obstetrical Nursing, Gazi University, Ankara, Turkey.

E-mail: [email protected]

Accepted 18 May, 2015

Abstract

This descriptive study was performed in order to determine the connection between the self-esteem and self-care agency of women who underwent hysterectomy. The study was performed 2010 in the largest Obstetrics and Children's Health Research and Training Hospital in the eastern side of Istanbul. The sample size was total of 120 women were contacted. In their 2nd day after the operation, the women filled out the Patient Information Form, the Cooper smith Self-Esteem Inventory, and the Self-Care Agency scale. The findings were evaluated with under the SPSS program. The average self-esteem score of the women was found to be 59.93±7.03, their average self-care agency score was found to be 80.31±8.78, and a positive significant relationship was found between their self-esteem and self-care agency levels (p<0.01). Among the nursing care goals to be planned for women who underwent hysterectomy, raising the levels of self-esteem and addressing the lack of self-care agency are important in order to ensure that the women gain back their independent self-care activities in the shortest time in the post-operative period. Thus, patients may become less affected by the physiological and psychological effects of the surgery, and participate in their self-care in the highest levels possible.

Keywords: Hysterectomy, Self-esteem, Self-Care.

African Journal of Nursing and Midwifery ISSN 2198-4638 Vol. 2 (7), pp. 403-412, September, 2015. © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

A study of maternal birth outcomes and birth experiences of low-risk women in the Netherlands in different sized midwifery practices

*Gordon J. Darwin, James Conan Nyerere and Marcus John Barrie

Department of Community Health Nursing, Faculty of Nursing, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, Scotland.

Corresponding Authors. E-mail: [email protected]

Accepted 14 August, 2015

Abstract

To examine maternal birth outcomes and birth experiences of low-risk women in the Netherlands in different sized midwifery practices. Descriptive study was using postal questionnaires six weeks after the estimated due date. Women were recruited from urban, semi-rural and rural areas from small-sized practices (1-2 midwives), medium-sized practices (3-4 midwives) or large-sized practices (5 or more). 718 Dutch speaking women with uncomplicated pregnancies, a representative sample of women in 143 midwifery practices in the Netherlands who had given birth in the period between 20 April and 20 May 2007. Distribution of place of birth categories and intervention categories, birth experience, woman-midwife relationship and presence of own midwife after referral. Data were analyzed with Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS). Women in practices with a maximum of two midwives were significantly more likely to experience lower rates of referral, interventions in general and specifically pain relief by means of pethidine, CTG registration and unplanned caesarean sections. Women with a maximum of two midwives were significantly more likely to know their midwife or midwives and were more frequently supported by their own midwife after referral in comparison to women in practices with more than two midwives. The presence of the woman’s own midwife added value to the birth experience. Women with a maximum of two midwives had higher levels of a positive birth experience than women in practices with more than two midwives. Midwifery practices with a maximum of two midwives contribute to non-interventionist birth and a positive birth experience. Awareness of the study results and further study is recommended to discuss re-organisation of care in order to achieve significant reductions on referral and interventions during childbirth and positive maternal birth experiences.

Key words: Midwifery, birth interventions, referral, practice size.