Association of Maternal and Child Health Programs

This quasi-experimental study investigated the effect of a structured childbirth education program on fear of childbirth (FOC) and childbirth self-efficacy (CBSE) among 160 Jordanian pregnant women. The study took place from June to August 2022, and the participants were split into two groups: an intervention group (n=80) and a control group (n=80). The intervention group received the education program, while the control group received routine care, which included standard prenatal assessments, nutritional supplementation, counseling, ultrasounds, and physical examinations. Data were collected using the Fear of Birth Scale (FOBS) and the Childbirth Self-Efficacy Inventory (CBSEI). Post-intervention analysis revealed that women in the intervention group had significantly lower fear of childbirth scores (M= 4.74, SD= 1.98) and higher childbirth self-efficacy scores (M= 7.93, SD= 1.49) compared to the control group (M= 8.00, SD= 1.52; p < .001 for FOC and M= 7.40, SD= 1.31; p = .018 for CBSE). These results show that the childbirth education program worked to lower fear of childbirth and raise self-efficacy, which supports its use in regular antenatal care.

Background: Early initiation of breastfeeding offers significant health benefits for both mothers and newborns. Aim: To assess postpartum women’s knowledge about the benefits of early initiation of breastfeeding on maternal health Methods: Design: descriptive cross-sectional research design was used. Setting: at post-partum ward – women health hospital- king Saud medical city-Riyadh-KSA Sample: A convenience sample of 300 postpartum were included in the study Tools: A Structured interview questionnaire was used for data collection which included personal characteristics, obstetric history, breastfeeding practices, and knowledge assessment about breastfeeding. Results: according to the study, 73% of the studied women are educated while 9% of them are illiterate, furthermore, 15% of them are employee while 85% are housewives, also 23% are primi-parous while 77% are multi-parous. only 16.7% demonstrated good knowledge, while 60.6% had poor knowledge about benefits of early breastfeeding initiation on mothers’ health, with statistically significant associated with educational level, occupation, and prior receipt of breastfeeding education Conclusion: Despite high exposure to information, more than half of the studied post-partum women had poor knowledge about early initiation of breastfeeding and its benefits on women’s health. Recommendations: Strengthening antenatal and postnatal educational interventions, particularly for less educated and first-time mothers, is recommended to promote optimal breastfeeding practices.

Purpose: Derivative chromosomes, resulting from complex structural rearrangements, pose significant challenges in prenatal diagnosis due to their unpredictable inheritance patterns and potential phenotypic consequences. This study evaluates the efficacy of multiple genetic technologies—including karyotyping, fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH), chromosomal microarray analysis (CMA), and next-generation sequencing (NGS)—in detecting and characterizing derivative chromosomes in prenatal samples. methodology: We analyzed 150 cases of suspected chromosomal abnormalities, comparing detection rates, resolution, and clinical utility across these methods. Results: Our findings demonstrate that integrated multi-technology approaches significantly improve diagnostic accuracy, with NGS-based structural variation analysis achieving the highest detection sensitivity (99.2%) for cryptic rearrangements. Conclusions: Additionally, long-read sequencing (PacBio/Oxford Nanopore) enabled precise breakpoint mapping in 92% of cases, facilitating more accurate genetic counseling. Clinically, this approach enhances risk assessment for fetal anomalies, guides pregnancy management, and improves parental counseling for recurrence risks.

Background: Marriage is a bond between two people with different personalities. Emotional intelligence is closely linked to the ability to recognize, comprehend, and manage emotions, all of which have a significant impact on marriage quality. Aim of the study was to evaluate the effect of emotional intelligence educational program on marital satisfaction among women with polycystic ovary syndrome. Subjects and methods: Quasi-experimental research design (study –control) was applied. A purposive sample of 102 married women at the reproductive age (18-45) diagnosed with PCOs. The study conducted at the gynecological outpatient clinic at Women's Health Hospital, Assiut University. For data collection, three tools were used: a structure Interview questionnaire, couple satisfaction index (CSI-32) and emotional Intelligence tool. Results: the majority of women had satisfactory marital life in follow up of program, there was highly statistically significance difference between control and study group in post-test and follow up (p-value =0.003, 0.000) respectively following program implementation, positive correlation between marital satisfaction and emotional intelligence. Conclusion: the study concluded that the educational program about emotional intelligence have positive effect and effectively improving the woman's marital satisfaction. Recommendations: enhancing service training program in the field of emotional intelligence for women and nurses. Further research studies are needed to identify the gap in practices and fulfilling it.

U.S. maternal mortality rates are two to three times higher than other high-income countries, with most deaths occurring postpartum. Fragmented care, exacerbated by health insurance gaps and workforce shortages, underscores systemic deficiencies. Although patients' and clinicians' perspectives are well-documented, little is known about payors' and purchasers' perspectives. Given their influence in coverage decisions, payment rates, and service reimbursement, the objective was to explore their perspectives and identify challenges and opportunities in improving postpartum care in California, currently engaged in reshaping maternal health pathways. We conducted a qualitative study using semi-structured interviews with high-level administrators from major California health insurance providers and purchasers between June and October 2023. Participants, recruited through professional connections, were selected through purposive sampling based on their involvement in maternal and child health coverage decisions. A hybrid inductive-deductive approach was employed to identify major themes. Participants (n = 11) identified barriers including limited insurance coverage, lack of clinical provider incentives, reimbursement concerns, and misaligned measures and metrics. Opportunities to improve postpartum care focused on visit timing and frequency, alternative payment models, and improving continuity of care between birth and the transition to primary care. Insurance payors and purchasers identified postpartum care barriers and suggested solutions well-supported by the literature. These solutions-including reimagining global bundle payment models, updating Healthcare Effectiveness Data and Information Set measures, and promoting dyadic models-could address barriers, improve outcomes, and inform California's ongoing maternal health transformation and those happening around the United States.

Exposure to deleterious stressors in early life, such as poor nutrition, underlies most adult-onset chronic diseases. As rates of chronic disease continue to climb in the United States, a focus on good nutrition before and during pregnancy, lactation, and early childhood provides a potential opportunity to reverse this trend. This report provides an overview of nutrition investigations in pregnancy and early childhood and addresses racial disparities and health outcomes, current national guidelines, and barriers to achieving adequate nutrition in pregnant individuals and children. Current national policies and community interventions to improve nutrition, as well as the current state of nutrition education among healthcare professionals and students, are discussed. Major gaps in knowledge and implementation of nutrition practices during pregnancy and early childhood were identified and action goals were constructed. The action goals are intended to guide the development and implementation of critical nutritional strategies that bridge these gaps. Such goals create a national blueprint for improving the health of mothers and children by promoting long-term developmental outcomes that improve the overall health of the US population.

This article offers a thorough examination of the connection between contraceptive techniques and digital health technologies, clarifying their crucial roles in family planning and reproductive health. The introductory portion explores various contraceptive techniques, highlighting the significance of personalised decisions that take into account individual circumstances. The article explores a wide range of contraceptive alternatives, including barrier methods like condoms and modern Long-Acting Reversible Contraception (LARC) therapies. It acknowledges the impact of these options on making educated decisions about contraception. The article then transitions to the realm of "Digital Health," exploring the progression of telemedicine and its incorporation of artificial intelligence. The investigation spans several avenues via which digital health technologies are transforming the provision of healthcare, namely in the domain of sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR). The next sections analyse Digital Health Tools (DHTs) and its many manifestations, such as mobile apps, wearable devices, and internet platforms. These instruments are portrayed as catalysts for empowerment, offering knowledge, resources, and assistance pertaining to contraception. The article examines the advantages of digital health technology in improving understanding and compliance with contraceptives, while also analysing possible disadvantages such as difficulties in connecting different systems, fairness issues, and hazards to the privacy of data.