PURPOSE: This study aimed to examine the methods used by mothers during the weaning process and the reactions exhibited by children throughout this period. METHOD: This descriptive study was conducted with 296 mothers who had children aged 2–5 years at Kahramanmaraş Sütçü İmam University Health Practice and Research Hospital. Data were collected through face-to-face interviews using data collection forms developed by the researchers. The data were analyzed using descriptive statistics (frequency, percentage, mean, and standard deviation) in the SPSS 22 software program. RESULTS: The mean age of the participating mothers was 30.05 ± 5.25 years (range: 19–43). Of the participants, 35.8% reported weaning their children before the age of 2 years, and 37.5% reported abrupt weaning. Nearly half of the mothers (46.9%) stated that they used traditional methods during the weaning process, the most common of which was applying bitter or unpleasant substances to the nipple (57.5%). During the weaning process, 49% of the children experienced changes in sleep patterns, 60.5% had appetite changes, and 23.3% experienced physical complaints. In addition, the majority of children exhibited emotional and behavioral reactions such as crying, restlessness, clinging to their mother, anger, or withdrawal. CONCLUSION: This study showed that mothers used various weaning methods, with many preferring abrupt weaning. Weaning is not only a physiological process but also a psychosocial transition that triggers emotional, behavioral, and physical reactions in children. Thus, supporting gradual weaning methods and providing professional guidance for mothers are essential.
BACKGROUND: Extreme heat events are increasing due to climate change, with potential implications for maternal health, particularly in low-resource, hot-climate settings such as northern Nigeria. Evidence on heatwave effects in this context remains limited. AIM: This study assessed maternal outcomes during periods of varying heat exposure in selected hospitals in Kano Metropolis, Northwestern Nigeria. METHODS: A retrospective cross-sectional study was conducted using aggregated monthly hospital records from three referral hospitals over a 12-month period (November 2024 and October 2025). Months were categorized into heatwave (March–June) and non-heatwave (July–February) periods based on seasonal temperature patterns. Data on postpartum hemorrhage (PPH), pregnancy-induced hypertension (PIH), antepartum hemorrhage (APH), severe preeclampsia/eclampsia (SPE/E), spontaneous vaginal delivery (SVD), cesarean section (C/S), and maternal death (MD) were extracted using a validated checklist. Independent samples t tests compared mean monthly outcomes, and Poisson regression assessed associations between seasonal high-heat exposure and maternal outcomes. RESULTS: Most maternal outcomes did not differ significantly between heatwave and non-high-heat periods. However, C/S rates were significantly higher during heatwave months. Poisson regression analysis indicated that seasonal high-heat exposure was associated with a higher rate of cesarean delivery (incidence rate ratio = 1.40; 95% confidence interval [1.18, 1.66]; p < .001). No significant associations were observed for PPH, PIH, APH, SPE/E, SVD, or MD. CONCLUSION: Seasonal high-heat exposure was not associated with significant changes in most maternal outcomes at the studied hospitals, although C/S rates increased during high-heat periods. Strengthening climate-resilient maternal health care systems is essential as extreme temperature events become more frequent.
BACKGROUND: The COVID-19 pandemic has heightened pregnant women's fears regarding fetal well-being, contributing to varying levels of COVID-19 vaccine acceptance or hesitancy. Previous research highlighted the influential role of partners in pregnant women's decisions about medications and vaccinations. This study aims to investigate the extent to which fear of COVID-19 and perceived partner attitudes predict pregnant women's willingness to receive the COVID-19 vaccine.METHODS: Seventy-nine pregnant women participated in this cross-sectional survey study, and they completed the Fear of COVID-19 Scale and Attitudes Towards the COVID-19 Vaccine Scale and a demographic information form. Moderation analysis was conducted following the Baron and Kenny approach.RESULTS: Findings indicated that fear of COVID-19 alone was not associated with vaccine attitudes of pregnant women. However, perceived partner attitudes had a significant influence on women's own attitudes. Moreover, the interaction between fear of COVID-19 and perceived partner attitudes approached marginal significance in predicting pregnant women's vaccine attitudes. Specifically, pregnant women with a higher fear of COVID-19 reported more positive attitudes if they perceived their partners as supportive of vaccination. Conversely, those who perceived their partner as unsupportive reported negative vaccine attitudes, regardless of their level of fear of COVID-19.CONCLUSION: This study is the first to investigate the combined effects of COVID-19-related fear and perceived partner attitudes on vaccine acceptance among pregnant women. The findings underscore the importance of partner-inclusive education, counseling, and communication strategies in the decision-making process during pregnancy as well as interventions addressing both emotional and informational needs. Such approaches may provide more informed vaccine attitudes among pregnant women.
BACKGROUND: Fear of childbirth is a multidimensional construct that shapes women's postpartum experiences. The Wijma Delivery Expectancy/Experience Questionnaire Version B (W-DEQ-B) is a widely used self-report instrument that quantifies postpartum fear of childbirth across cognitive and emotional domains. However, the factorial validity of its Czech version has not yet been examined.METHODS: In this cross-sectional study, 358 Czech women who had given birth within the previous 5 years completed the W-DEQ-B. To clarify its latent structure, we employed a split-sample strategy: exploratory factor analysis on one half of the data, followed by confirmatory factor analysis on the second half and on the full sample. Internal consistency for each factor was estimated with Cronbach's alpha.RESULTS: A six-factor model provided the best fit (comparative fit index = .96, Tucker-Lewis index = .95, and root-mean-square error of approximation = .05) and proved interpretable, comprising lack of self-confidence, concerns for the child, loneliness, lack of positive anticipation, negative appraisal, and fear. Internal consistency coefficients ranged from .80 to .86, indicating satisfactory reliability.CONCLUSIONS: The study offers initial evidence for the factorial validity and reliability of the Czech W-DEQ-B, identifying six distinct dimensions of childbirth-related fear. Because our focus was restricted to factor structure and internal consistency, further work should test additional psychometric qualities-such as convergent, predictive, and test-retest validity-in more diverse populations. Even so, the present findings lay a foundation for developing targeted, culturally attuned interventions that address the specific emotional facets of childbirth fear and support maternal mental health in the Czech context.
BACKGROUND: Obstetric racism (OR), as an intersection between institutional violence and medical racism, exposes inequalities of gender, race, and nationality, revealing the systematic discrimination faced by Black women during pregnancy, childbirth, and the postpartum period. These discriminatory practices are reflected in dehumanizing attitudes, negligence, and disregard for the needs of Black women, aggravating the impacts of obstetric violence.OBJECTIVE: This study explores the subjective experience of OR experienced by a Black Brazilian woman in the context of Portugal's National Health Service (NHS).METHODS: Based on an intersectional feminist epistemology and a social constructionist approach. The research, which is qualitative and exploratory, adopts a case study approach to understand complex social phenomena and their manifestation in the specific context of maternal care.RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: The results indicate that OR in the NHS manifests itself in various ways, jeopardizing access to adequate care and the experience of motherhood for Black women. The analysis highlights that the phenomenon goes beyond individual attitudes and is the result of colonial, historical, and cultural structures that perpetuate the marginalization of Black bodies, limiting access to equitable reproductive care. The study emphasizes the urgency of public policies and health practices that promote a more humanized and inclusive approach.
AIM: The World Health Organization has highlighted the prevalence of congenital anomalies or genetic diseases in 2%-5% of all live births and recommended prenatal genetic screening during pregnancy. Understanding the prenatal screening and diagnostic tests performed during pregnancy is crucial to making informed decisions. This study aimed to investigate the genetic literacy of pregnant individuals and the affecting factors. METHODS: A descriptive, cross-sectional study was conducted with 260 pregnant individuals. Research data were collected using the "Individual Introduction Form" and the "Genetic Literacy and Comprehension (GLAC) Measure" to assess the participants' understanding of genetic concepts. A p value <.05 is considered statistically significant. RESULTS: Participants' GLAC mean knowledge scores were found to be 5.30 +/- 1.38. Participants were mostly familiar with the abnormality term (6.01 +/- 1.57) and least familiar with the sporadic (1.83 +/- 1.49) and variation (3.33 +/- 1.98) terms. "A genetic disease that occurs without a family history is considered sporadic," was the less-known question by the participants. There was a statistically significant difference between employment, parity, and GLAC familiarity scale scores (p < .001). A statistically significant difference was found between educational level and GLAC familiarity and knowledge scale scores (p < .001). CONCLUSIONS: We found that pregnant individuals have knowledge deficits regarding genetic terms, and some socioeconomic factors affected their genetic literacy levels. Further studies are needed to understand the effect of genetic literacy levels on pregnant individuals' understanding of genetic information regarding prenatal genetic tests.
OBJECTIVE: The relationship between self-confidence and maternal attachment during the postpartum period is critical to both the infant's healthy development and the mother's psychosocial adjustment. This study aimed to evaluate the association between mothers' self-confidence levels and maternal attachment during the postpartum period. METHOD: The study employed a descriptive and correlational design. A purposive sampling method was used in the study, and 147 mothers who were between 1 and 4 months postpartum, over the age of 18 years, able to communicate in Turkish and competent to fill out an online survey were included in the study. The data collection tools included the Descriptive Information Form, the Karitane Parenting Confidence Scale (KPCS), and the Maternal Attachment Inventory (MAI). The collected data were processed and analyzed using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences for Windows, version 24.0. RESULTS: The participants' mean total KPCS score was 35.95 +/- 4.39, and the mean MAI score was 92.71 +/- 5.34. No statistically significant association was found between maternal attachment and parental confidence levels (p > .05). Additionally, no significant differences were observed between participants' sociodemographic characteristics and their scale scores (p > .05). CONCLUSIONS: The findings suggest that maternal confidence and attachment, although both essential components of postpartum adjustment, function as independent constructs influenced by different psychological and contextual mechanisms. Understanding these dimensions separately may provide insights for developing targeted interventions to support mothers in the early postpartum period.
OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to translate and culturally validate the Physiological Practices Observation (PPO) tool into Italian version (PPO-ITA) to enable systematic observation of midwifery care practices that support physiological labor and birth in Italy. Given the high medicalization of childbirth in Italy, the availability of a culturally adapted tool is essential for evaluating and improving midwifery-led care. METHODS: The translation and adaptation process followed the five-step methodology proposed by Sousa and Rojjanasrirat: forward translation, synthesis, back translation, second synthesis, and cognitive debriefing. Two bilingual translators conducted independent forward and backward translations. A multidisciplinary expert panel reviewed discrepancies and ensured conceptual equivalence. Twelve Italian-speaking midwives participated in cognitive debriefing to assess clarity and content validity. Feedback informed revisions to produce the final PPO-ITA version. RESULTS: The translation process revealed challenges in conveying midwifery-specific concepts such as "advocates" and "praising," which lack direct Italian equivalents. Inclusive language (donna/persona assistita) was adopted to reflect evolving gender awareness. Cognitive debriefing led to the revision of Domain 6, aligning it with Italian national guidelines on postpartum care. One item was removed and another revised, resulting in a final tool comprising 7 domains and 30 items. CONCLUSIONS: The PPO-ITA tool is a culturally adapted, linguistically validated instrument suitable for observing midwifery practices in Italy. It preserves the conceptual integrity of the original PPO while reflecting local clinical and cultural contexts. Its implementation may enhance research on physiological childbirth and support evidence-based midwifery care in diverse Italian settings.
OBJECTIVE: The research aimed to analyze the characteristics of perineal pain after vaginal delivery and explore its influencing factors. MATERIALS AND METHODS: It is a cross-sectional study. The pelvic clock and pain visual analog scale were used to assess the point characteristics of perineal pain among parturients, and regression analysis was used to explore the influencing factors. RESULTS: A total of 268 parturients completed the investigation. The degree of perineal edema was the influencing factor of perineal pain at point 0 (c2 = 9.671, OR = 3.776), point 2 (c2 = 11.421, OR = 3.776), point 4 (c2 = .706, OR = 2.025), point 7 (c2 = 6.257, OR = 7.888), point 9 (c2 = 5.944, OR = 2.126), and point 10 (c2 = 5.944, OR = 2.126). CONCLUSIONS: Postpartum perineal pain is not confined to the perineal wound area but often presents as a multi-site pain pattern. Effective management of perineal pain after vaginal delivery is crucial, as it helps prevent and treat perineal discomfort, shortens the second stage of labor, reduces the incidence of episiotomy and perineal tears, alleviates perineal edema, and supports the selection of appropriate birthing positions.
OBJECTIVE: Preterm birth is a serious issue in the medical world that can affect the family, especially the mother, both mentally and physically. Even babies need to go through so many short-and long-term health complications and need to suffer throughout their lives. Utmost, it can lead to the loss of life. Early identification of preterm birth can help doctors improve the critical condition or may help their efforts to stop that premature delivery. Hence, research and studies toward the early identification of preterm delivery are very crucial. Different data, such as images, blood samples, clinical data, and omic-scale data, can be used in the identification of various diseases and other disease-related studies. Even though other data can do a reasonable job in this research, molecular data could do a better job as they carry most information related to a human. METHODS: This study compares the performance difference between transcriptome and epigenome data in the prediction of preterm birth. As it is very difficult to get these data from an unborn baby, data obtained from the mother are used. It starts with feature selection using mutual information. Twenty features are selected from each dataset and used separately with six different classification algorithms. RESULTS: Comparing the performance between models shows that transcriptome data give a better prediction accuracy using the K-nearest neighbor classification algorithm, with the accuracy value of 0.96 (+/- 0.07). CONCLUSIONS: This study shows that transcriptome data from the mother can be used in the prediction of preterm birth.
BACKGROUND: The U.S. government recently prioritized including doulas in the perinatal workforce to help improve outcomes. Despite federal support, reticence among institutional leaders and discord between clinical staff and doulas present barriers to collaboration and policy implementation. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to examine barriers and opportunities for doula integration by analyzing clinicians' characterizations of doula-related "disruption." We aimed to investigate the potential role of doulas in mitigating systemic pressures on clinicians and institutions to promote interprofessional understanding and allyship. METHODS: To achieve this, we triangulated ethnographic data with in-depth interviews and the existing literature. FINDINGS: Disruption of the maternity care status quo was a primary theme across our data, describing how doulas and clinicians can disrupt routinized practices-often to improve care. Undesirable forms of doula disruption included clinician displacement, unsettling of clinical workflow, out-of-scope care, and conflict arising when advocating for clients' choices. In contrast, participants also described doulas disrupting routinized practices in ways that bridge and compensate for systemic gaps in care with positive implications for patients, clinicians, and institutions; these positive implications have been largely overlooked. CONCLUSIONS: Disruption of routinized care can be a productive practice through which doulas and clinicians work together to provide a viable solution to systemic challenges, ultimately improving care experiences and outcomes. Recognizing doulas' potential to support conditions that relieve pressures faced by institutions and providers could encourage clinicians and hospital leadership to integrate doulas as allied perinatal care team members, thus contributing to improved clinical and psychosocial outcomes for birthing families and clinicians.
BACKGROUND: Cesarean delivery is a widely practiced obstetric surgery associated with blood loss. Different measures were described to decrease perioperative blood loss. Tranexamic acid proved effective in decreasing blood loss among women undergoing cesarean delivery. This study aimed to evaluate the difference between two dose regimens of tranexamic acid on blood loss among women undergoing cesarean delivery. METHODS: This randomized clinical trial was conducted at the operating theater of Suez Canal University Hospital from August 20, 2022, to February 23, 2023. We recruited women undergoing cesarean delivery after matching particular inclusion and exclusion criteria. These women received 10 mg/kg (group 1) or 20 mg/kg (group 2) of tranexamic acid before the skin incision. The primary objective was the amount of blood loss between both groups. RESULTS: The general characteristics of the patients in the two groups were comparable but for body mass index (BMI). There was no discernible difference in the perioperative blood loss between both groups (p value .123). Five patients in group 1 (received 10 mg/kg tranexamic acid) and two patients in Nausea was significantly higher in group 1, 22 (32.8%), compared with 13 (19.4%) in group 2 (p value .077). None of the participants developed thromboembolic complications. Linear regression analysis revealed no significant factors associated with high bleeding risk except BMI. CONCLUSION: There was no difference between the two doses in perioperative blood loss among women undergoing cesarean delivery.
OBJECTIVE: Perineal trauma, particularly obstetric anal sphincter injuries (OASIS), results in significant maternal morbidity, including increased blood loss, perineal pain, sexual dysfunction, and bowel and/or bladder dysfunction. The use of oil on the perineum in the second stage of labor has not been well studied. We aimed to evaluate the effect of mineral oil on reducing perineal laceration incidence and severity. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective cohort study of nulliparous patients undergoing vaginal delivery between January 1, 2018, and December 31, 2020, at an academic medical center. Administration of mineral oil to the perineum during the second stage of labor was identified through pharmacy logs. The primary outcome was the rate of genital tract laceration. Univariate analyses and multivariate regression were performed using Stata Standard Edition. RESULTS: Of 1,171 patients, 250 (21.3%) received mineral oil. When controlling for episiotomy, patients who received mineral oil had similar rates to those who did not receive oil of any genital tract laceration (92.5% vs. 89.9%, p = .261), any anterior laceration (26.9% vs. 29.6%, p = .449), and any posterior laceration (86.3% vs. 81.1%, p = .076). Patients who received mineral oil had significantly higher rates of OASIS (11.3% vs. 6.7%, p = .024). CONCLUSION: The use of mineral oil in the second stage of labor does not reduce genital tract laceration incidence or severity. This study demonstrates the need to utilize evidence-based obstetric guidelines and continue investigating strategies to reduce severe genital tract injury.
BACKGROUND: Postpartum stress jeopardizes maternal well-being and infant development. The Maternal Postpartum Stress Scale (MPSS) was translated into Czech (CZ-MPSS) and its psychometric properties examined in mothers within 12 months postpartum. METHODS: An online cross-sectional survey recruited 478 Czech-speaking women up to 12 months after childbirth (mean age, 31.2 +/- 4.4 years). Participants completed the CZ-MPSS, Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale, and Social Support Survey Instrument. Internal consistency (Cronbach's alpha, McDonald's omega t), confirmatory and exploratory factor analyses, divergent validity, and known-groups contrasts were calculated. RESULTS: The CZ-MPSS showed strong internal consistency (alpha = .88). The original three-factor structure fitted poorly (comparative fit index [CFI] = .69, root-mean-squared error of approximation [RMSEA] = .12), whereas an exploratory nine-factor solution achieved excellent fit (CFI = .99, RMSEA = .01). Divergent validity was supported by a moderate negative correlation with perceived social support (r = -.47). Total stress was modestly higher in first-time mothers, after emergency cesarean section, and when infant health problems were present. CONCLUSIONS: The CZ-MPSS offers a reliable, valid, and clinically sensitive measure of postpartum stress for Czech mothers. Ongoing longitudinal research will further refine its factor stability and help calibrate practical cut-off scores for widespread application.
BACKGROUND: The dominant biomedical narrative on pain relief interventions-such as epidurals- as being "safe" often overshadows the lived experiences of women's perceptions and experiences of technology in childbirth. Although medicalized reproduction is the norm globally, some women value "natural" childbirth, while many use epidural analgesia. OBJECTIVE: This study explores how the perspectives of Malay/Muslim women in Singapore on epidural are shaped by biomedical authoritative knowledge, traditional knowledge, and lived knowledge. METHODS: Qualitative interviews were done with 35 self-identified Malay/Muslim middle class, and working-class women in Singapore, a high-resource setting. Data collection utilized snowball purposive sampling for a heterogeneous sample. All participants signed institutional review board-approved consent forms. Narrative analysis was applied to identify themes, and grounded theory analysis was applied to ensure data saturation. FINDINGS: Personal experiences with epidural use and health care workers, and anecdotal evidence from other women influence women's perceptions of epidural. Generally, Malay/Muslim women use lived knowledge to emphasize the medical risks associated with epidural. CONCLUSIONS: There are nuances to agency and values surrounding childbirth in a medicalized context. Conceptual approaches that focus only on affluent women or low-resource settings fail to fully explain the experiences of diverse groups.
AIM: Physical activity is essential for well-being across the lifespan, yet it tends to decrease during pregnancy and remains low postpartum. While digital health interventions have shown success in perinatal care, their effectiveness in promoting postpartum physical activity remains uncertain. The aim was to assess the effectiveness of a 6-week online exercise program (intervention) on self-assessed physical activity and quality of life of postpartum women. DESIGN: A quasi-experimental, pre-and posttest design without a control group was used. The participants (n = 144) took part in an intervention that aimed to strengthen the core and pelvic floor muscles in order to enhance recovery and well-being after pregnancy and childbirth. METHODS: Data were collected with e-questionnaires at the baseline, immediately after, and 6 months after the intervention. The outcomes assessed were physical activity (International Physical Activity Questionnaire Short Form) and quality of life (World Health Organization Quality of Life-Brief). RESULTS: After the intervention, the amount of physical activity increased while sitting time decreased. A statistically significant increase in mean scores was found in the physical health domain of quality of life. Six months after the intervention, the amount of physical activity increased, and sitting time decreased compared with the baseline. Statistically significant changes in the quality of life domains' mean scores were not found 6 months after the intervention. CONCLUSION: This intervention seems to be effective in increasing postpartum women's physical activity, and it can be recommended. However, if the goal is to enhance the overall quality of life, some other interventions and actions must be considered as well.
BACKGROUND: The rates of incarceration among women are increasing worldwide. With many being of childbearing age, a significant number are pregnant upon admission to prison and give birth while in custody. Incarceration is associated with high-risk pregnancies due to the myriad of complex physiological and psychosocial issues commonly experienced by these women. This highlights the importance of maternity care providers, including midwives’ cognizance of the unique needs of incarcerated women and awareness of opportunities to provide health care interventions during incarceration. At present, little is known about how midwifery students are prepared to take on this key role and within what context. OBJECTIVE: To explore and evaluate peer-reviewed literature that identifies how midwifery students are educated (prepared) for placement/employment with incarcerated women and within what context. METHODS: CINAHL (within which MIDIRS is indexed), Emcare, Medline, and Scopus databases were searched for published literature (2012–2024) reporting on student midwives’ education impacting their ability to care for incarcerated women. A modified version of the Whittemore and Knafl framework was used to undertake the integrative review. FINDINGS: Of the 311 articles retrieved, only one met the inclusion criteria: A pilot project in Queensland, Australia, where midwifery students offered one-to-one support to incarcerated pregnant women, emphasized a woman-centered approach. This article offered insight into learning opportunities for students within the penal system. CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS: This review highlights a major gap in understanding how students are educated (prepared) for placement/employment to care for incarcerated women and within what context. Two hypotheses are proposed. Multicenter (inter)national curriculum mapping is required before broadening midwifery education to prepare students to work in this neglected area. Additional research including the voices of all stakeholders is required to increase our understanding in this area of education has the potential to impact the quality and safety of caring for this vulnerable group of women.
BACKGROUND: Pregnancy-specific physical activity is crucial for maternal and fetal health, offering weight management, reduced gestational diabetes risk, and improved cardiovascular and mental health. Digital health technologies, like smartphone-based exercise applications, can promote physical activity. OBJECTIVE: The study evaluated the efficacy of a smartphone-based exercise management application in boosting physical activity levels among pregnant women in Indonesia. METHODS: A quasi-experimental study was conducted with 240 pregnant women in their second trimester, divided equally into intervention and control groups. The intervention group received a smartphone app for exercise plans and motivation, while the control group received standard antenatal care. Physical activity levels were measured using the Pregnancy Physical Activity Questionnaire at baseline, 5 weeks, and 9 weeks. Data were analyzed using repeated measures analysis of variance and Generalized Estimating Equations (GEE). RESULTS: The intervention group had a substantial increase in mean physical activity ratings from T0 (190.8 ± 12.05) to T2 (210.4 ± 22.91), with an effect size (Cohen’s d) of .48 ( p < .001). The control group’s scores decreased from T0 (195.1 ± 14.02) to T2 (182.7 ± 16.21), with an effect size of .31 ( p = .001). GEE analysis showed substantial interaction effects between group and time ( p < .001), indicating the intervention’s effectiveness in increasing physical activity and reducing reductions in the control group. CONCLUSION: The study reveals that smartphone-based exercise management apps can significantly boost physical activity levels among pregnant women in Indonesia, underscoring the significance of digital interventions in overcoming physical activity barriers and enhancing maternal and fetal health outcomes.
PURPOSE: One of the factors affecting mother–infant attachment is spiritual well-being. The aim of this study is to determine the relationship between mother–infant attachment, spiritual well-being, and death anxiety in postpartum women. METHODS: A descriptive and correlational design was used in the study, which was conducted between May and July 2023. The sample consisted of 526 subjects who volunteered to participate in the research and were selected using the sampling formula for a known population. Data were collected using a personal information form, the spiritual well-being scale, the mother–infant attachment scale, and the death anxiety scale. Mann–Whitney U test, Kruskal–Wallis test, Spearman correlation analysis, and linear regression analysis were employed in the analysis of the data. RESULTS: The mean scores of postpartum women on the mother–infant attachment scale, the spiritual well-being scale, and the death anxiety scale were 23.69 ± 1.18, 106.60 ± 9.28, and 27.93 ± 17.48, respectively. There was no statistically significant relationship between the mean scale scores ( p > .05). It was determined that factors affecting mother–infant attachment were the number of prenatal care received and breastfeeding time, spiritual well-being was affected by the person giving support for infant care, and death anxiety was impacted by family type, the status of communication with the spouse, and the first time the infant was held ( p < .05). CONCLUSION: It was determined that participants’ mother–infant attachment and spiritual well-being scores were high but that their fear of death scores were low.
BACKGROUND: The number of lesbian, bisexual, transgender, and/or queer (LBTQ) individuals seeking antenatal care is increasing, but their unique experiences during pregnancy and childbirth are still underresearched. Childbirth self-efficacy is defined as confidence in coping with labor and birth, and includes outcome expectancy (the belief that a behavior will achieve a desired outcome) and efficacy expectancy (the belief in one’s ability to perform that behavior). This study aimed to investigate childbirth self-efficacy in pregnant LBTQ individuals and its correlation with fear of childbirth, mental health, and quality of life. METHODS: Data for this cross-sectional study were collected in Sweden from February 2019 to May 2021. A total of 134 participants (80 birth parents and 54 nonbirth parents) completed the survey consisting of sociodemographic questions and validated instruments such as the Childbirth Self-Efficacy Inventory, Wijma Delivery Expectancy Questionnaire, Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, and EuroQol Five Dimension. RESULTS: Results showed that the outcome expectancy scores were higher than the efficacy expectancy scores for both birth parents and nonbirth parents, but with no significant differences between groups. For birth parents, outcome expectancy positively correlated with quality of life, while efficacy expectancy correlated negatively with anxiety and fear of childbirth and positively with quality of life. For nonbirth parents, outcome expectancy correlated negatively with fear of childbirth. Individuals who had previously given birth, or had been present at a birth, had lower outcome expectancy compared with those without such experiences. CONCLUSIONS: The findings suggest that LBTQ individuals have a higher risk of low efficacy expectancy, emphasizing the need for targeted interventions to enhance that specific part of self-efficacy in this population.
