Nepal Family Cohort study: a study protocol.

Introduction: The Nepal Family Cohort study uses a life course epidemiological approach to collect comprehensive data on children's and their parents' environmental, behavioural and metabolic risk factors. These factors can affect the overall development of children to adulthood and the onset of specific diseases. Among the many risk factors, exposure to air pollution and lifestyle factors during childhood may impact lung development and function, leading to the early onset of respiratory diseases.

A Structural Equation Modelling Approach to Examine the Mediating Effect of Stress on Diet in Culturally Diverse Women of Childbearing Age.

: Stress has been shown to be associated with poor nutrition among young women. However, studies around the topic have major limitations in their methodologies and the role of confounding factors within this association remains unclear in the literature. : To investigate the associations between stress and dietary quality/patterns in a culturally diverse population of childbearing-aged women.

The prevalence of pain catastrophising in nulliparous women in Nepal; the importance for childbirth.

In Lower-Middle-Income-Countries women are encouraged to present at a birthing facility for skilled care, but attending early can be associated with additional harm. Women admitted in latent labour are more likely to receive a cascade of unnecessary interventions compared with those attending a birthing facility during active labour. One reason that women present early is pain, with higher rates of admission among those who pain catastrophise.

Let's talk early labour: The L-TEL randomised controlled trial.

Background: Women without complications have lower obstetric intervention if they remain at home in early labour but many women report dissatisfaction in doing this. Using self-efficacy theory as an underpinning framework, a web-based intervention was co-created with women who had previously used maternity services. The intervention provides early labour advice, alongside the videoed, real experiences of women.

The perfect birth: a content analysis of midwives' posts about birth on Instagram.

Background: There is limited research into how midwives use social media within their professional role. Small pilot studies have explored the introduction of social media into maternity practice and teaching but there is little evidence around how midwives use social media professionally. This is important as 89% of pregnant women turn to social media for advice during pregnancy, and how midwives use social media could be influencing women, their perception of birth and their decision making.

The Experience of Women From Underrepresented Groups With Urinary Incontinence: A Systematic Review.

Introduction: Urinary incontinence (UI) in women is a global public health issue. However, there is a limited understanding of the experience of women from underrepresented groups suffering from UI. The purpose of this systematic review was to examine current evidence regarding the experience of women with UI from these groups.

Could a decision support tool be the key to supporting choice for women regarding place of birth?

Objective: To assess the effectiveness of using an innovative decision aid, MyBirthplace, to facilitate shared decision-making regarding place of birth.

Design: A quasi-experimental study comparing pre-test and post-test responses from participants who had access to the intervention.

Setting: A large urban hospital in the south of England.

Effective communication: Core to promoting respectful maternity care for disabled women.

Objective: Previous research highlights that disabled women have less choice, control and respect of their dignity during pregnancy, childbirth and parenting. The experience of dignity and respect during pregnancy and childbirth for those with physical and sensory disability in the UK and Ireland is explored.

Design, Setting And Participants: Narrative, semi-structured telephone and Skype interviews were conducted with ten disabled women in the UK and Ireland.

Exploring pain characteristics in nulliparous women; A precursor to developing support for women in the latent phase of labour.

Background: Admission to hospital in the latent phase of labour is associated with a cascade of unnecessary intervention. Women who seek early hospital admission may have heightened fear and anxiety in relation to pain routed in their pre-pregnancy experiences.

Objective: To determine the prevalence of pain catastrophising in a healthy non-pregnant population and explore previous pain experiences and fear of childbirth as characteristics that might predict pain catastrophising.

Poor Dietary Quality and Patterns Are Associated with Higher Perceived Stress among Women of Reproductive Age in the UK.

The aim of this study was to investigate the association between stress and diet quality/patterns among women of reproductive age in UK. In total, 244 reproductive aged women participated in an online survey consisting of the European Prospective into Cancer and Nutrition food frequency questionnaire in addition to stress, depression, physical-activity, adiposity, and socioeconomic questions. An a-priori diet quality index was derived by assessing the adherence to Alternate Mediterranean Diet (aMD).

Slovenian midwifery professionalization: Perception of midwives and related health professions.

Introduction: This article presents research into the professionalization of midwifery in Slovenia. Since recognition by related occupations is important for professions, this comparative study asked doctors and nurses in Slovenia about their perceptions of the status of midwifery.

Methods: A questionnaire survey was conducted with 300 Slovenian midwives, 666 nurses and 416 obstetricians.

Male involvement in promotion of safe motherhood in low- and middle-income countries: A scoping review.

Background: Maternal health programmes that focus on the woman alone are limiting in LMICs as pregnant women often relate to maternity services through a complex social web that reflects power struggles within the kinship and the community.

Methods: A scoping review was conducted to explore the rationale for male involvement in maternal health in LMICs. This review was guided by the question: What is the current state of knowledge regarding the inclusion of men in maternal health services in LMICs? The literature search was conducted using mySearch, Bournemouth University`s iteration of the EBSCO Discovery Service (EDS) tool.

Identifying the factors that influence midwives' perineal practice at the time of birth in the United Kingdom.

Objective: The Obstetric Anal Sphincter Injuries (OASI) Care Bundle is designed to reduce the incidence of obstetric anal sphincter injuries. However, introducing behavioural change requires an understanding of current practice. This study aims to establish midwives practise at the time of birth, and the factors that influence this.

Escalation triggers and expected responses in obstetric early warning systems used in UK consultant-led maternity units.

Background: The use of obstetric early warning systems (OEWS) are recommended as an adjunct to reduce maternal morbidity and mortality. The aim of this review was to document the variation in OEWS trigger thresholds and the quality of information included within accompanying escalation protocols.

Methods: A review of OEWS charts and escalation policies across consultant-led maternity units in the UK (n = 147) was conducted.

Validation of the European Prospective Investigation into Cancer (EPIC) FFQ for use among adults in Lebanon.

Objective: To validate the European Prospective Investigation into Cancer (EPIC) FFQ in Lebanon.

Design: Validation of the EPIC FFQ was done against three 24-h recalls (24-HR). Unadjusted and energy-adjusted correlations, Bland-Altman plots and weighed kappa statistics were used to assess the agreement between the two methods.

Midwives' views towards women using mHealth and eHealth to self-monitor their pregnancy: A systematic review of the literature.

Introduction: There are many mobile telephone apps to help women self-monitor aspects of pregnancy and maternal health. This literature review aims to understand midwives' perspectives on women self-monitoring their pregnancy using eHealth and mHealth, and establish gaps in research.

Methods: MEDLINE, PubMed, Scopus, CINAHL and PsycINFO were systematically searched on midwifery, eHealth/mHealth and perspectives.

A Priori and a Posteriori Dietary Patterns in Women of Childbearing Age in the UK.

Poor diet quality is a major cause of maternal obesity. We aimed to investigate a priori and a-posteriori derived dietary patterns in childbearing-aged women in UK. An online survey assessed food intake, physical activity (PA), anthropometry and socio-demographics.

Perceived stress and diet quality in women of reproductive age: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: Poor diet quality is associated with obesity-related morbidity and mortality. Psychological stress can increase unhealthy dietary choices, but evidence pertinent to women of reproductive age remains unclear. This paper systematically reviewed the literature to determine the association between psychological stress and diet quality in women of reproductive age.

Evaluation of a health promotion intervention associated with birthing centres in rural Nepal.

Introduction: Birthing centres (BC) in Nepal are mostly situated in rural areas and provide care for women without complications. However, they are often bypassed by women and their role in providing good quality maternity services is overlooked. This study evaluated an intervention to increase access and utilisation of perinatal care facilities in community settings.

The initiation of labour at term gestation: Physiology and practice implications.

Little is known about the physiology of labour onset at term, and there is a debate about what signs and symptoms should be used to define it. In low resource settings, particularly for remote and rural communities, delay in recognising labour onset may mean a delay in seeking a skilled birth attendant. This chapter presents the most recent evidence about the physiology of labour onset, including the complex neuro-hormonal, biophysical, psychological and emotional factors that contribute.

Exploring the Perceived Barriers to Following a Mediterranean Style Diet in Childbearing Age: A Qualitative Study.

A considerable amount of research has focused on interventions in pregnancy to promote health in current and future generations. This has yielded inconsistent results and focus has turned towards improving health in the preconception period. Promotion of healthy dietary patterns similar to a Mediterranean diet in the preconception years has been suggested as a dietary strategy to prevent maternal obesity and optimize offspring health.