Aim: To evaluate Home-based interventions to lower neonatal mortality rates in developing countries. Background: A developing country is a country that is lacking in the services and facilities enjoyed by people in developed countries, such as personally owned automobiles and homes with indoor plumbing and water-carried sewage disposal systems. The difference in resources compared to developed regions, has been evident to the correlation of the increase neonatal mortality rates. Method: An electronic, systematic review of four databases were used to retrieve 209 articles initially, later filtered to 42 articles utilized in this review. The following databases used are as listed: CINAHL Plus with Full Text; APA PsycInfo; Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews; and MEDLINE. Articles had to solely refer to developing regions and neonatal mortality. Key Issues: Developing countries continue to report the highest neonatal mortality rates. The leading etiologies for increased neonatal mortality rates (NMR) differ in these regions compared to developed countries. Causes and factors must be understood to allow for the appropriate interventions to be implemented in the plan of care. Conclusions: Home-based interventions and community care have shown to significantly aid in the reduction of neonatal mortality rates in developing countries. Evidence based studies have also concluded that interventions are often presented in packages. Packages targeting individual households with home-based intervention; packages improving communities with health workers; and packages aiming to strengthen the trust between facilities and communities via referrals and recommendations.

African American women are at a higher risk of experiencing maternal health complications than women of other races. Determining the factors that contribute to the severity of their maternal health complications can help bring awareness and exposure to the disparities among black women in maternal health. The purpose of this study was to explore the various elements that contribute to the high pregnancy mortality ratio and infant mortality ratio in black women and black infants. The secondary purpose was to determine the relationship between stereotypes about African American women as healthcare consumers and the disproportionate percentage of black women experiencing fatal maternal complications. A literature review examining the effects of physiological differences, external stressors, stigmas and stereotypes, and miscommunication with health care physicians was conducted from various online databases. Peer reviewed, research articles published in the English language from 1992-2020 that focused on factors during the prenatal and perinatal period that influenced the pregnancy-related mortality ratio were included for synthesis. Results from 14 studies that examined factors resulting in maternal health disparities in African American women were compared to determine accuracy and consistency with the data. The studies suggest that smaller pelvic structures, stigmas that label black women as over exaggerative, and distrust within African American communities with health care staff contribute to the different maternal outcomes in black women. Although the data remained consistent and proved there are similar factors that cause disparities in maternal care, many of the studies had small sample sizes indicating the need for further research on the subject.

No description available.

No description available.

Purpose: The purpose of this review is to assess maternal explanations for early breastfeeding cessation in economically developed countries. Study Design and Methods: The electromic databases EBSCO, CINAHL, Child Development & Adolescent Studies, PsycInfo, Health Source: Nursing/Academic Edition, Nursing and Allied Health; ProQuest databases: Family Health Database, Health and Medical Collection, Nursing and Allied Health, Psychology Database, and Public Health Databases were searched using the terms breastfeeding, cessation, stop, discontinuation, early weaning, quit∗, early termination, and six months. Inclusion criteria included infants born at least 37 weeks gestation, single birth, and infant birthweight > 2,500 g. Results: Initial literature search yielded 117 studies; 10 studies met inclusion criteria. The two most common reasons for early breastfeeding cessation were perceived inadequate milk supply and maternal breast or nipple pain. Conclusion: Research on maternal reasons for early breastfeeding cessation is limited. Reasons for early breastfeeding cessation are varied; however, the most common themes were perceived inadequate supply and breast or nipple pain. Nurses should tailor assessment of each breastfeeding mother-baby couplet and associated interventions based on these findings.

Poor birth outcomes are associated with illicit drug use during pregnancy. While prenatal cigarette exposure has similar effects, cessation of illicit drug use during pregnancy is often prioritized over cessation of smoking. The study goal was to examine the impact of pregnancy tobacco use, relative to use of illicit drugs, on birth outcomes. Women were recruited at entry to prenatal care, with background and substance use information collected during pregnancy. Urine drug screens were performed during pregnancy, and the final sample (n = 265) was restricted to infants who also had biologic drug testing at delivery. Participants were classified by pregnancy drug use: no drugs/no cigarettes, no drugs/cigarette use, illicit drugs/no cigarettes, and illicit drugs/cigarette use. Groups differed significantly on infant birthweight, but not gestational age at delivery after control for confounders including background and medical factors. Among women who smoked, the adjusted mean birthweight gain was 163 g for those not using hard illicit drugs, while marijuana use had no effect on birth weight beyond the effect of smoking cigarettes. Women who used hard illicit drugs and did not smoke had an adjusted mean birthweight gain of 317 g over smokers. Finally, women who refrained from hard illicit drugs and smoking had a birthweight gain of 352 g. Among substance using pregnant women, smoking cessation may have a greater impact on birthweight than eliminating illicit drug use. Intervention efforts should stress that smoking cessation is at least as important to improving pregnancy outcomes as abstaining from illicit drug use.

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No description available.

Objective: Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a multidimensional endocrine disorder and the leading female infertility. PCOS is characterized as a clustering of clinical concerns, which include hyperandrogenism, obesity, and menstrual abnormalities/infertility. These characteristics were examined with regard to their impact on women's psychosocial concerns and health related quality of life. Design: Cross-sectional, correlational Setting: Private endocrinology practice in the rural Southeastern U.S. Participants: The study sample consisted of 126 women with PCOS. Methods: Convenience sampling yielded 126 subjects who met the diagnosis for PCOS, underwent laboratory testing and physical assessment, completed psychological and quality of life survey instruments and were included in data analysis. Results: Results of multiple regression analyses, controlling for demographic covariates, were completed on markers of hyperandrogenism, obesity and current fertility intent. Findings revealed hirsutism was significantly related to increased symptoms of anxiety and somatization and decreased quality of life among women with PCOS, while elevated androgen levels were significantly related to decreased quality of life. Current fertility intent significantly impacted symptoms related to interpersonal sensitivity, anxiety, psychoticism, and the global symptom severity index. Specifically, women not currently trying to conceive had higher levels of these psychological symptom outcomes. Conclusion/Implications for nursing practice: Women with PCOS are at elevated risk for psychological distress, and psychological symptoms appear to increase with increasing severity of PCOS symptoms. Women not currently trying to conceive appear to be at higher risk for psychological distress and lower quality of life.

Objective: Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a multidimensional endocrine disorder and the leading female infertility. PCOS is characterized as a clustering of clinical concerns, which include hyperandrogenism, obesity, and menstrual abnormalities/infertility. These characteristics were examined with regard to their impact on women's psychosocial concerns and health related quality of life. Design: Cross-sectional, correlational Setting: Private endocrinology practice in the rural Southeastern U.S. Participants: The study sample consisted of 126 women with PCOS. Methods: Convenience sampling yielded 126 subjects who met the diagnosis for PCOS, underwent laboratory testing and physical assessment, completed psychological and quality of life survey instruments and were included in data analysis. Results: Results of multiple regression analyses, controlling for demographic covariates, were completed on markers of hyperandrogenism, obesity and current fertility intent. Findings revealed hirsutism was significantly related to increased symptoms of anxiety and somatization and decreased quality of life among women with PCOS, while elevated androgen levels were significantly related to decreased quality of life. Current fertility intent significantly impacted symptoms related to interpersonal sensitivity, anxiety, psychoticism, and the global symptom severity index. Specifically, women not currently trying to conceive had higher levels of these psychological symptom outcomes. Conclusion/Implications for nursing practice: Women with PCOS are at elevated risk for psychological distress, and psychological symptoms appear to increase with increasing severity of PCOS symptoms. Women not currently trying to conceive appear to be at higher risk for psychological distress and lower quality of life.