Thesis (M.P.H.)--University of Michigan, 1944.

Thesis (M.P.H.)--University of Michigan, 1944.

Thesis (M.P.H.)--University of Michigan, 1944.

Thesis (M.P.H.)--University of Michigan, 1944.

Thesis M. Med.(Family Medicine))University of Limpopo (Medunsa Campus), 2010. / The experience of child birth occurs in all cultures and is important for the continuation of a community. Beliefs related to pregnancy and child birth though usually harmless may at times be detrimental to the health and well being of women that may practice them. The adherence to such beliefs depends on the socio cultural background of individuals and the importance they place on their cultural practices. Aim and objectives The study aimed to explore the health beliefs regarding pregnancy and childbirth of women attending the antenatal clinic at Chawama Health Center in Lusaka Zambia. The main study objectives were to determine the demographic characteristics of the women and ascertain their beliefs regarding diet, behaviour and belief in the use of herbs during pregnancy, delivery and the post natal period. Methods A descriptive, cross-sectional survey was conducted. A 32 item questionnaire was administered to 294 women over a four week period by two research assistants, after obtaining informed consent. Results Results indicate that traditional beliefs were wide spread among the participants though few significant associations were demonstrated. Dietary beliefs that what is eaten could ix affect the progress of labor or the unborn child’s appearance or behaviour were popular. Negative behaviour such as quarrelling or infidelity was believed could lead to difficult labour or adverse outcomes. Herbs were generally believed to be useful for certain indications such as to assist labour or for ‘cleansing’ after miscarriage. Conclusion Health beliefs regarding pregnancy and child birth are an integral part of the community and to be discussed in order to have some influence on them. Continued dialogue is recommended though current clinic health education sessions and qualitative studies to explore other beliefs and myths that are arising out of new health concerns such as HIV.

Thesis (M.P.H.)--University of Michigan, 1945.

Thesis (M.S.P.H.)--University of Michigan, 1938.

Thesis (M.S.P.H.)--University of Michigan, 1938.

Thesis (M.P.H.)--University of Michigan, 1945.

The main objective of this thesis was to identify facilitators of strong maternal affective attachment bonds to children. First, a systematized review of the literature was conducted to gather and synthesize all the research over the last 25 years that has identified correlates and predictors of maternal affective attachment. The review found 26 articles relevant to the research question, and main findings from the existing literature were summarized. The main study of the thesis was built upon the findings of the review using data collected through an online survey of Canadian mothers. First, a latent profile analysis (LPA) was used to cluster mothers into maternal profiles based on their patterns of responses to measures of previously identified correlates and predictors of the maternal affective attachment; symptom distress related to symptoms of depression and anxiety, the dimensions of avoidance and anxiety in mothers’ adult romantic attachment, and mothers’ sense of parental efficacy and satisfaction in the maternal role. Then, a MANOVA was conducted to determine whether profile membership would account for a significant portion of the variance in the maternal affective attachment bond to children. Results indicated that maternal profiles characterized by lower symptom distress, lower romantic attachment avoidance and anxiety, and higher efficacy and satisfaction in the parental role reported higher affective attachment, and perceived more closeness and less conflict in their relationships with their children. The results of this thesis help to inform the scholarship of motherhood by identifying salient maternal experiences associated with positive family outcomes.