Midwifery
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to explore the prevalence of intimate partner abuse during pregnancy and to examine the effect and cumulative effects of different types of intimate partner abuse on health-related quality of life. ⋯ the relatively poor health-related quality of life of the abused women highlights the necessity of developing a checklist or a structured questionnaire that will assist in the detection of different types and combinations of intimate partner abuse, and that will be helpful in the development of more effective preventive interventions or programmes.
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to investigate the relationship between adherence to six of the Baby Friendly Hospital Initiative (BFHI) Ten steps to successful breast feeding and the duration of breast feeding in first-time mothers. ⋯ socio-demographic and cultural factors may be more important determinants of the duration of breast feeding than some of the very specific hospital practices targeted in the Ten steps to successful breast feeding. From a public health perspective, we may influence the duration of breast feeding through better post-discharge support services, or through interventions that improve attitudes to breast feeding in specific socio-cultural and economic groups.
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to investigate factors associated with having a caesarean section, with special emphasis on women's preferences in early pregnancy. ⋯ a woman's own preference about caesarean section was associated with the subsequent mode of delivery. Asking women about their preference regarding mode of delivery in early pregnancy may increase the opportunity to provide adequate support and possibly also to reduce the caesarean section rate.