Reframing the experience of childbirth: Black doula communication strategies and client responses during delivery hospitalization.

Doulas, or birth coaches, are said to be "changing the world, one birth at a time." Black doulas have been suggested to mitigate against lack of representation in obstetric care, limited identity acknowledgement and accommodation, and obstetric racism. However, scientific inquiry into the specific communication strategies and messages used by Black doulas to advocate for clients was non-existent in extant literature.

Understanding the Effects of Trauma Exposure, Life Stress, Intimate Partner Violence, and Depression on Sexually Transmitted Infection Risk in Post-Conflict Liberia.

In sub-Saharan Africa, sexually transmitted infections (STIs) are a public health concern. The impact of STIs are exacerbated in post-conflict low- and middle-income countries, such as Liberia, where exposure to traumatic events is prevalent and access to mental health services are limited. Following a syndemics framework, this study used regression analyses to explore the independent, additive, and multiplicative effects of four psychosocial conditions (exposure to war-related traumatic events, intimate partner violence [IPV], stressful life events, and depressive symptoms) on self-reported STIs.

Experiences With Work-Family Conflict, Breastfeeding, and Perinatal Mental Health Among Women Returning to Work After Giving Birth: A Mixed Methods Study.

Objective: This study aimed to examine working mothers' experiences with returning to work after giving birth, work-family conflict, breastfeeding, and mental health.

Methods: A sequential, mixed methods design was used to administer an online survey to capture job characteristics and perceptions of work-family conflict among first-time mothers in Georgia who gave birth within the previous year ( N = 26). Then, interviews were conducted to understand their experiences with returning to work, work-family conflict, breastfeeding, and mental health.

Measuring women's sexual autonomy: Development and preliminary validation of the women's sexual autonomy scale.

Background: Sexual autonomy is an influential component of sexual health risk reduction frameworks, but a universal assessment of sexual autonomy is currently lacking.

Objectives: This study develops and validates the Women's Sexual Autonomy scale (WSA), a comprehensive measure that captures women's perception of their sexual autonomy.

Design: Forty-one items were initially created based on current research and in consultation with sexual health experts.

The feasibility and acceptability of Project POWER: a mindfulness-infused, cognitive-behavioral group intervention to address mental and sexual health needs of young pregnant women in Liberia.

Background: Following 14 years of civil war in Liberia, war exposure, gender-based violence, and extreme poverty have been identified as key challenges affecting the mental and sexual health of young pregnant women and the health of their unborn children. Despite ongoing efforts to rebuild the country's healthcare infrastructure, empirical and culturally tailored interventions to address the consequences of war are severely limited. To address these concerns, we developed Project POWER (Progressing Our Well-being, Emotions, and Relationships), a mindfulness-infused, cognitive-behavioral intervention for young adult pregnant women.

Maternal stress and social support during Hurricane Florence.

In theoretical research on disaster vulnerability, access to resources is critical for optimal outcomes. Studying the impact of a hurricane on maternal stress can expand theories of disaster vulnerability. This is a cross-sectional mixed-methods prospective study of maternal stress during Hurricane Florence in the United States.

Sociodemographic disparities in preterm birth and low birthweight in the State of Georgia: Results from the 2017-2018 Pregnancy Risk Assessment Monitoring System.

Purpose: To update the overall prevalence of preterm birth (PTB) (<37 weeks gestation) and low birthweight (LBW) (<2,500 g) in the State of Georgia, including rural and urban counties.

Methods: A sample was drawn from the 2017-2018 Georgia Pregnancy Risk Assessment Monitoring System (PRAMS). In the complete-case data of singleton births (n=1,258), we estimated the weighted percentage prevalence of PTB, LBW, early/late PTB, and moderately/very LBW subcategories in association with maternal sociodemographic characteristics, and the prevalence stratified by rural/urban county of residence.

Identifying challenges and recommendations for advancing global mental health implementation research: A key informant study of the National Institute of Mental Health Scale-Up Hubs.

Objective: This study explored perspectives of researchers working with the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) Scale-Up Hubs, consisting of research partnerships for scaling up mental health interventions in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), to: 1) identify common barriers to conducting impactful research on the implementation of evidence-based mental health services; and 2) provide recommendations to overcome these implementation challenges.

Methods: A sequential qualitative approach was employed. First, an open-ended survey was distributed to the 10 Scale-Up Hubs and NIMH program staff asking informants to identify challenges in conducting mental health implementation research in LMICs.

Youth Functioning and Organizational Success for West African Regional Development (Youth FORWARD): Study Protocol.

Background: This article describes the incorporation of an evidence-based mental health intervention, the Youth Readiness Intervention (YRI), into a youth entrepreneurship training program in Sierra Leone. A collaborative team approach (CTA) was used as the implementation strategy to address the human resource shortage and related challenges associated with capacity and access to care.

Methods: A cluster randomized quasi-experimental pilot trial (N=175) was conducted in one rural district of Sierra Leone.

Examining the Influence of Trauma Exposure on HIV Sexual Risk Between Men and Women in Post-Conflict Liberia.

The adverse impact of exposure to war-related traumatic events on mental health is well documented. Few studies, however, have focused on the impact of exposure to war-related traumatic events on HIV sexual risk behavior in post-conflict countries such as Liberia. We investigated whether exposure to war-related traumatic events was linked to HIV sexual risk behavior, and identified potential mediators of this relationship, including stressful life events, problematic alcohol use, and intimate partner violence (IPV) among women and men in Liberia.

Lifeline: A Qualitative Analysis of the Post Intervention Experiences of Human Trafficking Survivors and At-risk Women in Ghana.

: With the increasing number of assistance programs that target trafficking survivors around the globe, there is a need for documentation of evidence that can inform such programs. This paper examined and documented the post-intervention experiences of trafficked and vulnerable women who had received services at , a residential care facility in Ghana, West Africa.: The study employed a secondary qualitative analysis of in-depth, face-to face interviews with = 37 participants.

Trauma Exposure and Intimate Partner Violence Among Young Pregnant Women in Liberia.

Intimate partner violence (IPV) is a global threat to women's health and may be elevated among those exposed to traumatic events in post-conflict settings, such as Liberia. The purpose of this study was to examine potential mediators between lifetime exposure to traumatic events (i.e.

Investigating Intimate Partner Violence Victimization and Reproductive Coercion Victimization among Young Pregnant and Parenting Couples: a longitudinal study.

Objective: Intimate partner violence (IPV) victimization and reproductive coercion place young women at risk for poor health. However, very few studies have examined the associations between IPV victimization and reproductive coercion among young couples nor investigated these associations longitudinally.

Method: Data were collected during 2007-2011 from 296 pregnant adolescent and young couples enrolled in a prospective study.

A syndemic of psychosocial and mental health problems in Liberia: Examining the link to transactional sex among young pregnant women.

Transactional sex may be a driver of the rising HIV epidemic in Liberia, especially among young women. The goal of this study was to explore the independent and additive effects of psychosocial conditions on engagement in transactional sex among 191 pregnant women in Monrovia, Liberia. Between March and August 2016, women receiving prenatal services completed a cross-sectional structured questionnaire.

Reproductive coercion and prenatal distress among young pregnant women in Monrovia, Liberia.

Women who experience reproductive coercion are at risk for poor reproductive health, but no study has examined prenatal distress as a consequence. Using cross-sectional data of 195 pregnant women aged 18-30 in Monrovia, Liberia, we examined the association between reproductive coercion and prenatal distress. The prevalence of current reproductive coercion was 9%.

Examining relationships of intimate partner violence and food insecurity with HIV-related risk factors among young pregnant Liberian women.

Gender inequities place women at an increased risk for HIV acquisition, and this association may particularly disenfranchize young pregnant women. Intimate partner violence (IPV) and food insecurity may contribute to gender differences in power, thereby influencing HIV disparities between women and men. Factors influencing gender disparities in HIV are unique and country-specific within sub-Saharan Africa, yet these factors are understudied among women in Liberia.

Intimate Partner Violence, Sexual Autonomy and Postpartum STD Prevention Among Young Couples: A Mediation Analysis.

Context: The transition to parenthood is a stressful time for young couples and can put them at risk for acquiring STDs. Mechanisms underlying this risk-particularly, intimate partner violence (IPV) and sexual autonomy-have not been well studied.

Methods: Between 2007 and 2011, a prospective cohort study of the relationships and health of pregnant adolescents and their male partners recruited 296 couples at four hospital-based obstetrics and gynecology clinics in the U.

"Think Like a Man": How Sexual Cultural Scripting and Masculinity Influence Changes in Men's Use of Intimate Partner Violence.

The purpose of the study was to (a) explore the relationship between sexual cultural scripting and traditional masculine norms on changes in intimate partner violence (IPV) perpetration, and (b) examine traditional masculine norms as an effect modifier among young heterosexual men. This study is a secondary data analysis of a prospective cohort study of 119 young heterosexual men who were followed for 6 months. The adjusted logistic regression results revealed that sexual cultural scripting norms were associated with an increased odds of emotional IPV perpetration and traditional masculine norms were associated with an increased odds of physical IPV perpetration in the past 6 months.

Risk Factors for and Consequences of Substance Use in Post-Conflict Liberia: A Qualitative Study.

Substance use has a significant impact on post-conflict populations; however, little is known about this critical issue in Liberia. This study examined the current risk factors for and consequences of substance use in Monrovia, Liberia. In-depth interviews were conducted with 20 substance users and 21 key informants.

Who Is at Risk for Intimate Partner Violence Victimization: Using Latent Class Analysis to Explore Interpersonal Polyvictimization and Polyperpetration Among Pregnant Young Couples.

The purpose of our study was (a) to use latent class analyses to identify subgroups of interpersonal polyvictimization and polyperpetration among young pregnant couples and (b) examine actor-partner effects of latent classes on current intimate partner violence (IPV) victimization. Data were collected from 296 pregnant young couples recruited at obstetrics and gynecology clinics. A 3-latent class model emerged for women: Polyvictim-Polyperpetrator, Nonvictim-Nonperpetrator, and Community and Prior IPV Victim.

(S)He's Gotta Have It: Emotion Regulation, Emotional Expression, and Sexual Risk Behavior in Emerging Adult Couples.

Emotion regulation and emotional expression may be important factors which contribute to sexual risk behavior among emerging adults, yet research exploring their relation is limited. Further, the influence of a romantic partner is unclear. The current study aims to a) investigate association between emotional difficulties and sexual risk behavior (e.

Exploring Trajectories and Predictors of Depressive Symptoms Among Young Couples During Their Transition to Parenthood.

Objectives Young parents may be particularly vulnerable to poor mental health during the postpartum period. Little research exists, however, to adequately describe trajectories of depressive symptoms during their transition to parenthood, particularly among young fathers. Therefore, we aim to explore trajectories of depressive symptoms from pregnancy through 1 year postpartum among young expectant mothers and their partners.

Psychological and relational correlates of intimate partner violence profiles among pregnant adolescent couples.

We sought to identify relationship and individual psychological factors that related to four profiles of intimate partner violence (IPV) among pregnant adolescent couples: no IPV, male IPV victim only, female IPV victim only, mutual IPV, and how associations differ by sex. Using data from a longitudinal study of pregnant adolescents and partners (n = 291 couples), we used a multivariate profile analysis using multivariate analysis of covariance with between and within-subjects effects to compare IPV groups and sex on relationship and psychological factors. Analyses were conducted at the couple level, with IPV groups as a between-subjects couple level variable and sex as a within-subjects variable that allowed us to model and compare the outcomes of both partners while controlling for the correlated nature of the data.

Intimate partner violence, power, and equity among adolescent parents: relation to child outcomes and parenting.

Intimate partner violence (IPV) victimization and perpetration and power imbalances in parenting partners may result in poor outcomes for parents and children. Previous work in this area has focused on the maternal experiences, neglecting to examine paternal effects. The present study aimed to elucidate the role of IPV, power, and equity in parenting and child outcomes in an urban sample of adolescent parents.