Thesis (M.Sc. (Nursing Science)) -- University of Limpopo, 2021 / Black South African women use herbal medicine during the intrapartum period. Research has proven that some herbal medicine may have a negative impact on both the mother and the fetus during labour and delivery. The aim of the study was to investigate the use of herbal medicine by pregnant women during the intrapartum period, at selected public hospitals in the Sekhukhune District, Limpopo, South Africa. The objectives of the study were to determine the use of herbal medicine by pregnant women during the intrapartum period and to develop a health education programme for communities around the Sekhukhune District, Limpopo, South Africa. Quantitative research method was used, and data were collected using selfdesigned questionnaire. Total of 192 respondents out of 370 population participated in the study. Simple random sampling was used. The questionnaire was piloted in a different setting to ensure reliability. Data were analysed using SPSS version 24. The outcome of the analysis was presented as frequencies and percentages in tables, pie charts and bar graphs. Ethical standards were adhered to throughout the study. One hundred and ninety-two (192) women were invited to participate in the study all of which were from surrounding areas. None of the women declined participation. A total of 192 post-partum women answered the questionnaires. Of the 192, 76% used herbal medicine during the intrapartum period. The mean age is 19 years. Mostly, those who are Sepedi speaking are dominant in the area (at 76%). Pregnant women commonly ingested herbal medicine to induce labour or during labour to accelerate delivery at 56%. The result highlighted that the prevalence of the use of herbal medicine during the intrapartum period was high among women in the Sekhukhune District. Therefore, healthcare professionals should have knowledge about herbal medicine used by pregnant women during the intrapartum period and educate them about the dangers and effects of the herbal medicines, both to the mother and the fetus.

Introduction: Early Childhood Caries (ECC) is a serious public health concern globally especially in developing countries like South Africa. The main source from which infants acquire the causative bacteria - Mutans Streptococci (MS) is their mothers. The mothers with high levels of MS have a greater chance of transmitting the bacteria, particularly if they are involved in practices such as tasting the infant’s food and/or sharing eating utensils. Current research indicates that dental public health programmes fail to prevent ECC because of late intervention. Objective: This study sought to determine the existing knowledge, attitudes and perceptions (KAP) of pregnant women about ECC in a population in Tshwane district, Gauteng province, South Africa and to compare these KAP across socio-economic groups (SES). Methodology: A cross-sectional analytical study involving consenting pregnant women recruited from selected private and public antenatal healthcare facilities in the Tshwane District area was conducted. This study involved the use of a validated self-administered structured questionnaire and an oral epidemiological clinical examination (modified by WHO Oral Health Assessment 1997 Guidelines). One calibrated examiner using a dental explorer and a mouth mirror under natural light carried out the oral examination. Data analysis included descriptive statistics, principal component analysis to obtain a composite score for participant’s attitude towards ECC; and chi-square and independent student’s T-test to compare different groups. Significance level was set at p<0.05. Results: Response rate was 88.9% (n=353). Respondents’ age ranged from 18-44years (Mean age=31years). Only 18.7% of the respondents had complete knowledge of the cause of dental caries i.e. both sugar (diet) and biologic agent (bacterial plaque) whilst over half of the respondents (55.5%) mentioned only one factor. The participants’ knowledge of the cause of ECC was significantly associated with SES. A few mothers-to-be (13.9%) believed in the caries transmission from mother to child. Reported mean age for the child’s first dental visit was 2 years and 8 months. Only a quarter of respondents received oral health education for their unborn child during the antenatal visits. The majority of the pregnant women (93.8%) expressed the desire to receive information during the antenatal visit. The participants’ attitudes towards ECC was significantly associated with SES. The caries prevalence of the pregnant women was high at 64.3%, with mean DMFT of 2.97(SD 3.20). High participant DMFT was significantly associated with reports of ‘rotten teeth’ in their other children. Only 19.3% mothers-to-be had visited a dental care provider in the last 6-months. Conclusion: The knowledge of the pregnant women studied on ECC is incomplete and limited, while their attitudes and perceptions towards ECC was satisfactory. Therefore there is a need for the integration of oral health education with maternal and child health activities in both antenatal and post-natal clinics. There is a need for the oral health professionals to collaborate with other health works to reduce the prevalence of ECC. / Dissertation (MSc Dent)--University of Pretoria, 2019. / Community Dentistry / MSc Dent / Unrestricted

Intrauterine infection with the oral commensal anaerobe Fusobacterium nucleatum has been associated with adverse pregnancy outcomes. We have previously established a mouse model to study the mechanism of hematogenous F. nucleatum leading to fetal and neonatal death. Here, we report that Toll-like Receptor 4 (TLR4) from the maternal rather than paternal, and endothelial rather than hematopoietic cells mediate placental inflammation, especially the production of the proinflammatory cytokine interleukin-1 beta. Downstream of TLR4, a spatiotemporal pattern of the transcription factor NF-kB activation was observed spreading from the decidual endothelium to the surrounding spongiotrophoblasts within the first six hours of infection. Maternal TRIF, an adaptor protein downstream of TLR4 pathway, but not NLRP3, a cytosolic signaling receptor that constitutes inflammasome complex, mediated the fetal and neonatal death. In an effort to find a prophylactic preventive method against the detrimental birth outcome induced by F. nucleatum placental infection, omega-3 fatty acids were tested for their anti-inflammatory properties. Omega-3 oil supplementation in pregnant mice inhibited the transcription and release of inflammatory cytokines, prevented fetal and neonatal death, and also suppressed the proliferation of F. nucleatum in the placenta. Moreover, omega-3 supplementation was shown to enhance neutrophil recruitment to the site of infection. However, omega-3 supplementation did not protect the pregnancy from Listeria monocytogenes infection in vivo, despite the in vitro results where inflammation induced by both Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria were suppressed by omega-3 fatty acids. This study presents the first direct evidence of maternal, rather than fetal, signal leading to adverse pregnancy outcome, and suggests an exciting therapeutic potential of dietary omega-3 fatty acids.

This practicum intends to explore the motivational factors behind repeat abortions. The underlying assumptions of this study include: (1) women have abortions; (2) women have repeat abortions. Based on these assumptions, the two research questions are (1) are there significant factors in the causation of repeat abortions, and (2) what are the implications regarding the lack of information and service to women which have a direct relationship to repeat abortions.

This evaluation was undertaken because of an interest by the authors in the abortion program at the Medical School. Interest in the emotional status of patients receiving abortions was aroused while working in a field placement at the Medical School through the Portland State University School of Social Work. With the consent and assistance of the Obstetrics-Gynecology Department and the Director of Social Services, this study was initiated with the hope that it would be a step toward providing an over-all and continuing assessment of information about the women receiving abortions. The researchers’ particular area of interest concerned the characteristics of emotional depression as they relate to the abortion process. A decision was made that this study would concentrate on gathering data in relation to three aspects of the sample: To describe the sample through demographically terms and attitudes; To describe the amount of depression the women have prior to receiving the abortion; To determine if some circumstance or attitudes have a correlation with the amount of depression of the women.

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Thesis (Ph.D. (Psychology)) -- University of Limpopo, 2022 / The psychological impact of perinatal death in the form of bereavement has been widely researched especially from the western perspective. The aim of this study was to establish the help-seeking pathways by mothers bereaved through perinatal death from the African perspective. The qualitative research paradigm in particular the phenomenological approach was adopted for the study. Phenomenology is described as an approach that focuses on the study of the lived experiences of individuals within their world. The application of this approach included personal interviews of 20 mothers who have experienced perinatal death at Doctor George Mukhari hospital in Gauteng province. The aim was to establish the help-seeking pathways they adopted to relief their distress, in terms of how they managed their bereavement and the help that they sought to relief their emotional distress. The findings of the study indicated that mothers lacked knowledge about what precipitated the onset of sudden symptoms such as early rupture of membrane, bleeding, lack of foetal movement which finally led to perinatal death. This lack of knowledge led mothers to attribute the cause of perinatal death to various reasons and conclusions such as distance decay, bad roads that delayed their arrival timeously at the hospital for their babies to be saved. Some cited lack of sense of urgency from the medical personnel and shortage of staff, especially doctors. However, they perceived positive social support from their families, spouses and medical professionals as one of the factors that contributed to their level of calmness and ability to bear the pain of loss. However, participants sought alternative help to facilitate clear understanding about what could have caused their babies to die, also how to manage their grief and how to deal with their subsequent pregnancies. Most of the participants benefited from the various healing pathways they chose. There is a need for healthcare system and community support to be more responsive to the plight of bereaved mothers, in reducing the stigma and the self-blame by bereaved mothers by offering support through counseling center. The findings reaffirm that despite the great studies taken in reducing perinatal deaths, there is a need for collaboration between the modern healthcare system and the traditional healthcare practitioners. Furthermore, emphasis v is needed on the preventative measures and training of healthcare practitioners within the maternal and child healthcare system to further reduce the alarming increase of prenatal deaths

No description available.