Journal of women's health
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Journal of women's health · Jul 2019
The Impact of CenteringPregnancy Group Prenatal Care on Birth Outcomes in Medicaid Eligible Women.
Background: CenteringPregnancy group prenatal care (GPNC) has been shown to reduce rates of preterm birth (PTB). We evaluated the impact of GPNC on spontaneous PTB (sPTB) as a first step in exploring the possible mechanism by which GPNC may decrease rates of PTB. We also evaluated whether attending more than five GPNC sessions affected PTB risk and examined all differences by race/ethnicity. ⋯ Conclusion: Participation in GPNC demonstrated a decreased risk for sPTB, as well as other adverse birth outcomes. In addition, participation in more than five GPNC sessions demonstrated a decreased risk for adverse birth outcomes. Prospective longitudinal studies are needed to further explore mechanisms associated with these findings.
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Journal of women's health · Jul 2019
Evaluation of Maternal Functioning in Mothers of Infants Admitted to the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit.
Objective: Factors associated with maternal functioning in biological mothers whose infants were admitted to a Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) were identified as measured by a modified version of the Barkin Index of Maternal Functioning. Materials and Methods: This multivariable regression analysis explored sociodemographic and clinical data from 146 mother-infant dyads admitted to a Level III NICU between February 2015 and May 2016. Eligible dyads included: (1) adult biological mothers with singleton infants discharged home alive after NICU admission meeting criteria and (2) infants discharged home alive from the NICU with adult, biological mothers after a minimum 6-day admission. Results: Lower scores on the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (p < 0.0001), and an infant admission diagnosis of hypoglycemia (p = 0.0295) were significantly associated with higher levels of maternal functioning. Conclusions: The significant association between maternal functioning and depressive symptom score is corroborated by the literature. ⋯ The severity of other possible admission diagnoses may provide a partial explanation. We believe this is the first study suggesting a potential role between infant admission diagnosis and the level of maternal functioning.
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Journal of women's health · Jul 2019
Fecundity and Infertility Among Women with Disabilities in the United States.
Background: Knowledge of fecundity and infertility in women with a disability (WWD) is limited. This study aims to compare the fecundity and infertility experiences of women with a self-identified disability, in domains of sensory (hearing and vision loss), cognitive (difficulty concentrating, remembering, and making decisions), and physical (difficulty walking or climbing stairs) disabilities, with those without a self-identified disability. Materials and Methods: Cross-sectional survey data from the National Survey of Family Growth (NSFG), 2011-2015, were analyzed. ⋯ Women with a self-identified cognitive disability experienced significant decreases in fecundity (FHR = 0.56; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.30-0.88) when adjusting for age, education level, parity, living in a metropolitan area, and infertility services. Furthermore, the estimated proportion of infertile women without a disability was 0.38 (95% CI: 0.23-0.62) versus 0.51 (95% CI: 0.34-0.72) for women with a self-identified cognitive disability. Conclusions: Women with a self-identified cognitive disability experienced significant decreases in fecundity.
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Journal of women's health · Jul 2019
Influenza Vaccination Among Pregnant Women in the United States: Findings from the 2012-2016 National Health Interview Survey.
Background: The issue of suboptimal influenza vaccination coverage among pregnant women remains relevant. Our study aimed to explore the determinants and coverage of influenza vaccination among pregnant women in the United States using a nationally representative sample. Materials and Methods: This study was conducted with the 2012-2016 U. ⋯ Having a bachelor's degree increased the odds of getting an influenza vaccine compared to a high school diploma or less (2.086 [1.353-3.215]). Conclusions: Our study found that the influenza vaccination coverage among pregnant women remains suboptimal, and disparities may still exist across women with different sociodemographic and socioeconomic status. Clinicians should actively recommend influenza vaccination for pregnant women, and policy makers may consider developing interventions to improve the vaccination rate.
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Journal of women's health · Jul 2019
The Relationship Between Physician/Nurse Gender and Patients' Correct Identification of Health Care Professional Roles in the Emergency Department.
Background: A 2006 study of emergency medicine (EM) patients found male physicians were more often recognized as doctors that were female physicians. We sought to identify gender awareness of EM physicians and nurses by patients to see whether there has been a reduction in gender bias during the past 12 years. Materials and Methods: Before emergency department (ED) discharge or hospital admission, a convenience sample of 150 patients in an urban academic ED was anonymously surveyed to determine their awareness of the role of the health personnel involved in their care. Results: Our patients recognized male attending physicians as physicians 75.7% of the time and female attending physicians as physicians 58.1% of the time (p < 0.01). No differences were observed for resident physicians. Patients recognized male nurses as nurses 77.1% of the time, and female nurses as nurses 91.1% of the time (p < 0.01). Conclusions: These data indicate that patients continue to exhibit gender bias in the recognition of lead physicians and nurses.