Disability-Related Disparities in Screening for Intimate Partner Violence During the Perinatal Period: A Population-Based Study.

Background: Persons with disabilities are at higher risk of experiencing intimate partner violence (IPV) during the perinatal period than persons without disabilities. Although screening for IPV during the perinatal period is recommended by many organizations, little is known about screening rates for IPV by disability status.

Methods: Our objective was to compare rates of IPV screening during the perinatal period among persons with and without disabilities in the United States.

Intimate partner violence: A clinical update.

Intimate partner violence (IPV) is a significant public health issue associated with substantial morbidity and mortality. NPs are ideally positioned to screen for and intervene in IPV, thereby mitigating the health risks IPV carries for women, infants, and young children. Safety planning and appropriate referrals to community-based resources are critical components of addressing IPV.

A Review of Factors that Serve to Protect Pregnant and Post-partum Women from Negative Outcomes Associated with Adverse Childhood Experiences.

Purpose: The objective of this review is to examine factors, during the perinatal period, that serve to protect women and infants from poor mental or physical outcomes most commonly associated with maternal adverse childhood experiences (ACEs).

Methods: The electronic databases of PubMed, Ovid MEDLINE, CINAHL and Web of Science were searched. The searches were conducted using the following mesh terms and keywords: ('adverse childhood experiences' or 'ACEs') and ('protective factor' or 'social support' or 'buffer' or 'resilience') and ('pregnan*' or 'prenatal' or 'postpartum' or 'maternal' or 'antenatal').

Composition of the maternal gastrointestinal microbiome as a predictor of neonatal birth weight.

Background: The biological mechanism by which the maternal gastrointestinal microbiota contributes to fetal growth and neonatal birth weight is currently unknown. The purpose of this study was to explore how the composition of the maternal microbiome in varying pre-gravid body mass index (BMI) groups are associated with neonatal birth weight adjusted for gestational age.

Methods: Retrospective, cross-sectional metagenomic analysis of bio-banked fecal swab biospecimens (n = 102) self-collected by participants in the late second trimester of pregnancy.

Screening for Partner Postpartum Depression: A Systematic Review.

Background: Postpartum depression is a significant mental health condition affecting an estimated 7% to 20% of women, with higher rates among individuals with increased risk factors. Most research on postpartum depression has focused on mothers, with less recognition of the mental health changes experienced by their partners. Research suggests almost 20% of partners may experience postpartum depression, yet our understanding is limited.

Experiences of racism and perinatal depression: Findings from the pregnancy risk assessment monitoring system, 2018.

Aim: To estimate the association between feeling upset by experiences of racism and self-reported depression during pregnancy among non-Hispanic Black women using a large population-based sample from the United States.

Design: We conducted a secondary analysis of nationally representative cross-sectional survey data with retrospective measures.

Methods: Analysis of Phase 8 (2018) data from the Pregnancy Risk Assessment Monitoring System survey included 7328 non-Hispanic Black respondents with a recent live birth from 11 states and New York City.

Association between microbial composition, diversity, and function of the maternal gastrointestinal microbiome with impaired glucose tolerance on the glucose challenge test.

Over the last two decades, the incidence of gestational diabetes (GDM) has almost doubled resulting in almost 9% of pregnant women diagnosed with GDM. Occurring more frequently than GDM is impaired glucose tolerance (IGT), also known as pre-diabetes, but it has been understudied during pregnancy resulting in a lack of clinical recommendations of maternal and fetal surveillance. The purpose of this retrospective, cross-sectional study was to examine the association between microbial diversity and function of the maternal microbiome with IGT while adjusting for confounding variables.

Metagenomic characterization of the maternal prenatal gastrointestinal microbiome by pregravid BMI.

Objective: The incidence of women entering into pregnancy with BMI indicating overweight or obesity is rising with concurrent increases in adverse complications such as gestational diabetes. Although several studies have examined the compositional changes to the microbiome across BMI classifications, there has been no investigation regarding changes in microbial function during pregnancy.

Methods: A total of 105 gastrointestinal microbiome biospecimens were used in this analysis.

Depressive symptoms during the perinatal period by disability status: Findings from the United States Pregnancy Risk Assessment Monitoring System.

Aims: The aim of the current study was to compare the prevalence of depressive symptoms during the perinatal period among respondents with a disability as compared to those without a disability.

Design: We conducted a secondary analysis of nationally representative data from the Pregnancy Risk Assessment Monitoring System data from 24 participating United States between 2018 and 2020.

Methods: A cross-sectional sample of 37,989 respondents provided data on disability, including difficulty in vision, hearing, ambulation, cognition, communication and self-care.

Health information seeking in the digital age: a national survey of women with disabilities.

Purpose: Access to high quality and accessible online health information (OHI) is critical for reducing disparities, overcoming barriers, and improving the health of women with disabilities. This study aimed to understand women with physical disabilities' use of the Internet to access OHI, most often searched health topics, perceived usefulness of OHI, and self-reported eHealth literacy and challenges in OHI seeking.

Methods: We conducted a national online survey with 508 women with physical disabilities who used the Internet.

A Review of Treatments and Clinical Guidelines for Perinatal Depression.

Perinatal depression occurs in approximately 1 in 7 women and is considered the most common complication of pregnancy and childbearing. Management of perinatal depression may include a combination of nonpharmacological and pharmacological therapies depending on the severity of symptoms, the stage of gestation, and maternal preference. Healthcare providers are recommended to review current guidelines and provide information to women during pregnancy and postpartum regarding the risks and benefits of nonpharmacological and pharmacological treatment options for perinatal depression.

Intimate partner violence during the perinatal period by disability status: Findings from a United States population-based analysis.

Aims: The aim of the current study was to compare the prevalence of intimate partner violence (IPV) during the perinatal period among respondents with self-reported disability compared with those without a disability.

Design: We conducted a secondary analysis of nationally representative data from the Pregnancy Risk Assessment Monitoring System data from 24 participating United States between 2018 and 2020.

Methods: A cross-sectional sample of 43,837 respondents provided data on disability, including difficulty in vision, hearing, ambulation, cognition, communication and self-care.

Longitudinal Impact of the myPlan App on Health and Safety Among College Women Experiencing Partner Violence.

The objective of this study was to examine differences in change over time in health and safety outcomes among female college students randomized to myPlan, a tailored safety planning app, or usual web-based safety planning resources. Three hundred forty-six women (175 intervention, 171 control) from 41 colleges/universities in Oregon and Maryland completed surveys at baseline, 6- and 12-months from July 2015 to October 2017. Generalized estimating equations were used to test group differences across time.

Perceptions of barriers to effective family planning services among women with disabilities.

Background: Women with disabilities have the same rights as women without disabilities to prevent unintended pregnancy, yet little is known about their experiences in accessing family planning methods.

Objective: This qualitative descriptive study explored perceptions of barriers to effective family planning services among women with disabilities.

Method: Semi-structured, open-ended interviews were conducted with 31 women with diverse disabilities as part of a larger study investigating risks and facilitators of unintended pregnancy among women with disabilities across the United States.

Gut microbiota composition is associated with newborn functional brain connectivity and behavioral temperament.

The gut microbiome appears to play an important role in human health and disease. However, only little is known about how variability in the gut microbiome contributes to individual differences during early and sensitive stages of brain and behavioral development. The current study examined the link between gut microbiome, brain, and behavior in newborn infants (N = 63; M [age] = 25 days).

Promotion of Maternal-Infant Mental Health and Trauma-Informed Care During the COVID-19 Pandemic.

The COVID-19 pandemic has led to disruptions in health care in the perinatal period and women's childbirth experiences. Organizations that represent health care professionals have responded with general practice guidelines for pregnant women, but limited attention has been devoted to mental health in the perinatal period during a pandemic. Evidence suggests that in this context, significant psychological distress may have the potential for long-term psychological harm for mothers and infants.

A pilot study of a group-based perinatal depression intervention on reducing depressive symptoms and improving maternal-fetal attachment and maternal sensitivity.

To conduct a pilot study of a group-based perinatal depression intervention, the Mothers and Babies Course, on depressive symptomatology, maternal-fetal attachment, and maternal sensitivity, 60 pregnant women with moderate to severe depressive symptomatology were randomized to a 6-week intervention or usual care group at their initial prenatal care visit. Measures of depressive symptomatology and maternal-fetal attachment were collected at baseline and 36 weeks gestation. At 12 weeks postpartum, participants completed a measure of depressive symptomatology, and an objective measure of maternal sensitivity was collected.

The association between legalization of recreational marijuana use and birth outcomes in Colorado and Washington state.

Objective: To identify trends in birth outcomes that may be associated with legalization of recreational marijuana which occurred in 2013 using vital records from Colorado and Washington states for the period of 2008-2016.

Methods: Data were from birth certificates of live births (between 22 and 44 weeks gestation) of which there were 576,369 singleton births included for Colorado and 771,547 for Washington State. Outcomes included preterm birth defined as <37 completed weeks of gestation; small for gestational age (SGA) defined using <10th percentile birthweight z-score; and birth prevalence of congenital anomalies defined using a variable from the birth certificate that indicated any major defect.

Healthcare Providers' Experiences with Gaps, Barriers, and Facilitators Faced by Family Caregivers of Children with Respiratory Diseases.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to identify healthcare providers' experiences of the gaps in the healthcare system, barriers to obtaining care, and facilitators that promoted safe, quality care for family caregivers of children with respiratory diseases.

Design And Methods: A qualitative, descriptive design was used with 13 pediatric healthcare providers.

Findings: Gaps included themes of 1) fragmented healthcare system and 2) lack of asthma management knowledge.

Cardiovascular Risk and Outcomes in Women Who Have Experienced Intimate Partner Violence: An Integrative Review.

Background: Cardiovascular disease (CVD) and intimate partner violence (IPV) are 2 major chronic problems that prevalently affect women's health and quality of life in the United States. However, whether female IPV survivors are at risk for developing adverse cardiovascular outcomes has not been clearly understood.

Objective: This integrative review was conducted to bridge the literature gap by examining cardiovascular health in female adults with a history of IPV experience.

Unwanted Sexual Experiences in University Settings: Survivors' Perspectives on Effective Prevention and Intervention Strategies.

Unwanted sexual incidents on university campuses pose significant public health and safety risks for students. This study explored survivors' perspectives on secondary prevention of campus sexual assault and effective strategies for intervention programs for unwanted sexual incidents in university settings. Twenty-seven student survivors of unwanted sexual experiences participated in semi-structured in-depth interviews.

Intimate partner violence, reproductive coercion, and unintended pregnancy in women with disabilities.

Background: Women with disabilities experience higher rates of intimate partner violence (IPV) than the general population. Reproductive coercion, a type of intimate partner violence, is associated with an increased risk of unintended pregnancy (UIP), yet little is known about this relationship among women with disabilities.

Objective: This qualitative descriptive study explored perspectives of women with disabilities who had experienced an UIP as a result of reproductive coercion.