A Qualitative Description of Pregnancy-Related Social Support Experiences of Low-Income Women with Low Birth Weight Infants in the Midwestern United States.

Objective Low birth weight (LBW) is a significant health problem in the United States, and the incidence is higher in women with low socioeconomic status. Observational and epidemiological studies have revealed that social support reduces the risk of adverse pregnancy outcomes. However, the current literature lacks research regarding the perceived social support of pregnant women in relation to birth weight from a qualitative perspective.

Exclusive Breastfeeding Experiences among Mexican American Women.

Background: According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Hispanic breastfeeding mothers begin early formula supplementation at higher rates than other ethnic groups, which can lead to shorter breastfeeding duration and decreased exclusive breastfeeding. Acculturation, the process of adopting beliefs and behaviors of another culture, appears to influence breastfeeding practices of Hispanic women in the United States. Little is known about Mexican American mothers' formula use and exclusive breastfeeding within the context of acculturation.

Creating a Bridge of Understanding between Two Worlds: Community-Based Collaborative-Action Research with Sudanese Refugee Women.

Objective: To explore the process of partnership between university researchers, students, and South Sudanese refugee women to address the health challenges associated with their resettlement transition to the United States.

Design And Sample: This qualitative study used a community-based collaborative action research (CBCAR) framework in the design, collection, and analysis of the qualitative data. Twenty refugee women participated in this study.

Infected Lives: Lived Experiences of Young African American HIV-Positive Women.

This hermeneutic phenomenological study explored the lived experiences of young African American HIV-infected women. Eleven women between the ages of 21 and 35 participated. One pattern, Infected Lives, and three themes--Living Alone With HIV, Living With Unresolved Conflicts, and Living With Multiple Layers of Betrayal--emerged.

A randomized controlled trial of breastfeeding support and education for adolescent mothers.

Despite substantial evidence of maternal and infant benefits of breastfeeding, adolescent mothers initiate breastfeeding less often and maintain breastfeeding for shorter durations when compared to their adult counterparts. A randomized controlled trial drawing on the theory of planned behavior and developmental theory was conducted to determine if an education and counseling intervention provided by a lactation consultant-peer counselor team increased breastfeeding initiation and duration up to 6 months postpartum among adolescent mothers. Study participants ( N = 289) enrolled from multiple prenatal clinic and school settings, were 15 to 18 years old, and predominately African American, single, and primiparous.

Factors influencing mothers' abilities to engage in a comprehensive parenting intervention program.

Objective: This research identified the possible factors influencing the ability of mothers perceived to be at the highest risk for child maltreatment to engage in a home visitation program. This study holds significance to public health nursing since home visitation is an integral component of public health nursing practice, with engagement being essential for human interaction and thus nursing care to occur.

Design And Sample: A qualitative descriptive design was used to offer a thematic summary of the experiences of program engagement from the perspective of 4 home visitation coach interventionists from health-related fields and a small sample of purposefully selected mothers involved in a longitudinal prevention study.

Creating a curtain of protection: nurses' experiences of grief following patient death.

Purpose: To describe the lived experience of nurses surrounding the death of their patients.

Design: A qualitative phenomenologic approach was used for the interview and analysis framework. Methods to ensure trustworthiness and rigor were incorporated into the design.

Communication themes in families of children with chronic conditions.

This qualitative study identified communication themes among well siblings, parents, and others within families of children with chronic conditions. Semi-structured interviews of 30 parent-well sibling dyads were content analyzed from a larger study of families of children with chronic conditions. Four themes emerged: communication as a reflection of family roles and relationships, giving voice, staying connected, and struggling for normalcy.

Faculty-agency partnering for improved client outcomes.

Implications for practice and education include recognition of the value of clinical outcome studies to clinicians and administrators in clinical agencies, as well as to nursing education. This project provides an example of the opportunity for mutually beneficial education and practice partnerships. Faculty, staff, and students demonstrated their ability to use the basic model for outcome studies developed by the United Way of America (1996).