Exploring South Asian women's perspectives and experiences of maternity care services: A qualitative evidence synthesis.

Background: The United Nations Women and other sources have highlighted the poor maternal and neonatal care experienced by South Asian women, emphasizing the need to understand the cultural factors and specific experiences that influence their health-seeking behavior. This understanding is crucial for achieving health equity and improving health outcomes for women and infants.

Objectives: This study aims to examine and synthesize qualitative evidence on the perspectives and experiences of South Asian women regarding maternity care services in destination countries.

The Influence of the Baby-Friendly Hospital Initiative and Maternity Care Practices on Breastfeeding Outcomes.

Background: The Baby-Friendly Hospital Initiative (BFHI) was launched in 1991 to promote breastfeeding through hospital policy. Researchers have reported breastfeeding improvements after hospitals became "Baby-Friendly." In Hong Kong, the first public hospital was designated as a Baby-Friendly Hospital in 2016.

Views and experiences of women, peer supporters and healthcare professionals on breastfeeding peer support: A systematic review of qualitative studies.

Objective: To examine and synthesise qualitative evidence of women's, peer supporters' and healthcare professionals' views and experiences of breastfeeding peer support.

Design: The Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) approach to systematic reviews of qualitative studies was followed. Seven databases: CINAHL, MEDLINE, EMBASE, PsycINFO, Scopus, Maternal & Infant Care, and Web of Science were searched.

Feasibility and Acceptability of an Online WhatsApp Support Group on Breastfeeding: Protocol for a Randomized Controlled Trial.

Background: Mobile health, the use of mobile technology in delivering health care, has been found to be effective in changing health behaviors, including improving breastfeeding practices in postpartum women. With the widespread use of smartphones and instant messaging apps in Hong Kong, instant messaging groups could be a useful channel for delivering breastfeeding peer support.

Objective: The aim of this paper is to study the feasibility and acceptability of an online instant messaging peer support group by trained peer counselors on improving breastfeeding outcome in primiparous women in Hong Kong.

Protocol of a systematic review and network meta-analysis for the prevention and treatment of perinatal depression.

Introduction: Perinatal depression is common and can often lead to adverse health outcomes for mother and child. Multiple pharmacological and non-pharmacological treatments have been evaluated against usual care or placebo controls in meta-analyses for preventing and treating perinatal depression compared. It is not yet established which of these candidate treatments might be the optimal approach for prevention or treatment.

International survey on fear and childbirth experience in pregnancy and the postpartum period during the COVID-19 pandemic: study protocol.

Introduction: The COVID-19 pandemic has caused unprecedented disruptions around the world. Adding to the existing stress surrounding pregnancy and childbirth, the threat of infection and social isolation policies may negatively impact pregnant women and new mothers. Literature on the effect of COVID-19 on fear during pregnancy and childbirth experience is limited.

International survey for assessing COVID-19's impact on fear and health: study protocol.

Introduction: COVID-19, caused by the SARS-CoV-2, has been one of the most highly contagious and rapidly spreading virus outbreak. The pandemic not only has catastrophic impacts on physical health and economy around the world, but also the psychological well-being of individuals, communities and society. The psychological and social impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic internationally have not been well described.

Feasibility, acceptability, and potential efficacy of an innovative postnatal home-based breastfeeding peer support programme in Hong Kong: a feasibility and pilot randomised controlled trial.

Background: As suggested by the World Health Organization, breastfeeding peer support is being introduced worldwide to support women's breastfeeding needs. Evidence has shown that when such support is offered to women, the duration and exclusivity of breastfeeding is increased. We developed an innovative home-based intervention to sustain exclusive breastfeeding in Hong Kong.

Low awareness of high sodium intake among older Chinese people.

Awareness is one of the first steps in a lifestyle modification process. Since older adults are at a higher risk of hypertension, maintaining low sodium intake is of utmost importance. Yet, it is uncertain if older adults have an awareness of their sodium intake.

Practices, predictors and consequences of expressed breast-milk feeding in healthy full-term infants.

Objective: To investigate the prevalence and predictors of expressed breast-milk feeding in healthy full-term infants and its association with total duration of breast-milk feeding.

Design: Prospective cohort study.

Setting: In-patient postnatal units of four public hospitals in Hong Kong.

Relationship between the Infant Feeding Preferences of Chinese Mothers' Immediate Social Network and Early Breastfeeding Cessation.

Background: The relationship between support from members of a mother's social network and breastfeeding continuation is receiving increased attention.

Objectives: The objectives of this study were to describe the infant feeding preferences of Chinese mothers' immediate social network and to examine the association between these preferences and early breastfeeding cessation.

Methods: In total, 1172 mother-infant pairs were recruited from 4 public hospitals in Hong Kong and followed prospectively for 12 months or until breastfeeding stopped.

Interventions to increase the uptake of seasonal influenza vaccination among pregnant women: A systematic review.

Background: Pregnant women and their infants under 6 months of age infected with influenza have a high risk of serious morbidity and mortality. Influenza vaccine during pregnancy offers 3-for-1 benefits to pregnant women, fetuses and newborn infants. Current vaccination uptake rates during pregnancy, however, are often lower than other high-risk groups and the general population.

Predictors of breastfeeding initiation in Hong Kong and Mainland China born mothers.

Background: In recent years there has been a steady influx of immigrants into Hong Kong from Mainland China, where breastfeeding patterns differ. Studies in other regions have found substantial differences in breastfeeding rates between native-born and immigrant mothers. The purpose of this study was to examine factors associated with breastfeeding initiation in Hong Kong born and Mainland China born mothers living in Hong Kong.

Effect on Baby-Friendly Hospital Steps When Hospitals Implement a Policy to Pay for Infant Formula.

Background: The Baby-Friendly Hospital Initiative requires hospitals to pay market price for infant formula. No studies have specifically examined the effect of hospitals paying for infant formula on breastfeeding mothers' exposure to Baby-Friendly steps.

Objectives: To investigate the effect of hospitals implementing a policy of paying for infant formula on new mothers' exposure to Baby-Friendly steps and examine the effect of exposure to Baby-Friendly steps on breastfeeding rates.

Group versus Individual Professional Antenatal Breastfeeding Education for Extending Breastfeeding Duration and Exclusivity: A Systematic Review.

Although breastfeeding initiation rates have increased substantially in many developed countries over the past several decades, breastfeeding duration and exclusivity remain suboptimal. In the antenatal period, both group and individual education interventions have been implemented to improve breastfeeding. The purpose of this review was to compare the effectiveness of group and individual antenatal professional education on breastfeeding exclusivity and duration.

Effect of a hospital policy of not accepting free infant formula on in-hospital formula supplementation rates and breast-feeding duration.

Objective: To investigate the effect of public hospitals in Hong Kong not accepting free infant formula from manufacturers on in-hospital formula supplementation rates and breast-feeding duration.

Design: Prospective cohort study.

Setting: In-patient postnatal units of four public hospitals in Hong Kong.

Food additives and behavior in 8- to 9-year-old children in Hong Kong: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial.

Objectives: To test the individual effect of artificial food colorings (AFCs) and a preservative on the behavior of the general Chinese population.

Method: One hundred thirty children (70 boys and 60 girls) in Hong Kong with a mean age of 8.64 years were enlisted to the study with a within-subject crossover between AFCs, a preservative (sodium benzoate), and a placebo capsule.

Nutritionist's variation in counseling style and the effect on weight change of patients attending a community based lifestyle modification program.

Information concerning the nature of nutritionist-patient relationships is very limited. This qualitative and quantitative study examined nutritionist's skills, attributes, and beliefs towards nutrition counseling during a lifestyle modification intervention program, and whether this affected the patient's weight outcome. 24 nutrition consultations were observed during the program and the nutritionists were interviewed for their perception on practice (n = 4).

Clients' experiences of a community based lifestyle modification program: a qualitative study.

There is little information about how clients attending lifestyle modification programs view the outcomes. This qualitative study examined the clients' experience of a community based lifestyle modification program in Hong Kong. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 25 clients attending the program.

Glycaemic index and glycaemic load values of a selection of popular foods consumed in Hong Kong.

The objective of the present paper is to provide glycaemic index (GI) and glycaemic load (GL) values for a variety of foods that are commonly consumed in Hong Kong and expand on the international GI table of Chinese foods. Fasted healthy subjects were given 50 g of available carbohydrate servings of a glucose reference, which was tested twice, and test foods of various brands of noodles (n 5), instant cereals (n 3) and breads (n 2), which were tested once, on separate occasions. For each test food, tests were repeated in ten healthy subjects.