[Concerns of women with polycystic ovary syndrome: a qualitative study]

Polycystic ovary syndrome [PCOS] is one of the most common chronic endocrine disorders with a prevalence estimated to range between 4-25%, depending on the diagnostic criteria used. It has significant and diverse clinical consequences associated with reproductive, metabolic, psychological morbidity and some cancers. It is not clear how PCOS symptoms influences women's physical experiences and concerns. This qualitative study aimed to explain study the effects that life experiences and concerns women with polycystic ovary syndrome have. Twenty women, aged 18 to 39 years, diagnosed with PCOS were interviewed using semi-structured open interviews to reach data saturation. All the interviews were recorded and transcribed, and data were analysed using content analysis, with deductive and inductive methods. Four closely intertwined themes were disclosed: Physical consequences of PCOS, fear of the future, economic burden of disease and coming to terms with a chronic condition. The results of our study suggest that healthcare professionals working with PCOS patients should consider providing peer support groups as a means to alleviate patients concern and to promote self management activities like lifestyle modification. Ideally, support groups should be designed to meet the patients support needs and expectations, and should be evaluated regularly

[Effect of Depo-Provera on depression rate in the women referring to the health center of Babol city]

In the recent century, rapid growth of population is a threat to human life. Family planning has been of great benefit to family health. Thirteen million women in the world use Depo-Provera as a contraceptive method. Different studies have reported development of depression in Depo-Provera users, and some articles reported that they are ineffective on mood. Therefore assessment of Depo-Provera effects on mood is important. Depression in women can lead to physical, psychological and social reactions. Therefore we decided to assess the effect of Depo-Provera on depression rate in the health center of Babol City. This study was a Quazi-experimental study. 64 women completed a questionnaire consisted of demographic data before Depo-Provera injection and also Beck Standard Questionnaire before and 3 months after Depo-Provera injection at the health center of Babol City. For data analysis we used Wilcoxon and Fisher's exact tests. Mean score of depression symptoms before Depo-Provera injection was 6.50 +/- 8.2 but three month after injection it was 4.50 +/- 6.6 which had a significant difference [p=0.001]. Age, education, satisfaction of husband's job, husband's literacy, husband's aid at home, satisfaction with the marital life, family class, family income, child abortion history, outcome of recent pregnancy, satisfaction in relationship with parents in childhood, satisfaction in relationship with family members, support from the family and relatives, satisfaction in relationship with friends and worrisome events during the last year showed no significant relationship with depression before and after Depo-Provea injections. But satisfaction with husband's family [p=0.034] and history of depression [p=0.026] had a significant relationship with depression before loss of independency and depression before and after Depo-Provera injection [p=0.024, p=0.001]. The results of this study showed lack of deterioration of depression by Depo-Provera injections. Therefore appropriate consultation can lead to increased use of Depo-Provera

association between prenatal anxiety and spontaneous preterm birth and low birth weight

The effect of psychological factors on preterm delivery is still inconsistent. It was shown that psychological factors to increase maternal corticotrophin-releasing factor to play an important role in preterm delivery. This study was conducted to determine the effect of prenatal anxiety on spontaneous preterm delivery and low birth weight [LBW] in Babol, Northern Iran. 682 women with singleton pregnancies who were consecutively recruited between 20 and 28 weeks of gestation in Babol Health Care centers for prenatal care were enrolled. Women who had history of psychological and chronic diseases, pregnancy complications and taking medicine were excluded from the study. The gestational age was based on last menstrual period or ultrasound examination in first half of pregnancy. Anxiety was assessed using self-administered questionnaires: the Spielberger State-Trait Anxiety Inventory. The women were considered as case group with anxiety score >/= 45. The mean Spielberger state and trait anxiety in women with preterm delivery were respectively 42.7 +/- 10.8 and 52.9 +/- 3.9, but the mean Spielberger state and trait anxiety in women with term delivery were respectively 37.81 +/- 5.71 and 50.68 +/- 5.20. A significant association was found between scores for both Spielberger state anxiety and trait anxiety >/= 45 and preterm and LBW. A high score state anxiety [>/= 45] was significantly associated with an increase in preterm delivery. Screening for mental and psychological disorders among women in regular prenatal care is recommended

Maternal hematocrit status affecting pregnancy outcome

Low and high maternal hematocrit can influence outcome of pregnancy.Anemia is frequently observed during pregnancy. This study was performed to determine the maternal hematocrit status affecting pregnancy outcome in babol, northern Iran. The present cohort control study was conducted from Dec 2001 to Dec 2002 and comprised 609 randomly selected pregnant women who attended Yahyanejad Hospital for antenatal care and delivery. Women with hemoglobinopathies such as thalassemia were excluded from the study. Maternal characteristics including hematocrit values were recorded at the first antenatal care visit when 3ml blood collected from each woman was sent to the laboratory for CBC. Anemia marked by hematocrit<34% in the first trimester was associated with a significantly increasing risk of low birth weight [<2500 g] and preterm delievery which was indicated by the gestational age of less than 37 weeks. High hematocrit values [>40%] did not increase the risk of low birth weight or preterm delivery. The risk of low Apgar score, operative deliveries and admittance to the newborn intensive care unit [NICU] were significantly increased in women with high and low hematocrit. Thus pregnant women with abnormal hematocrit are at high risk and due awareness is required of how to prevent complication and dismal outcome of pregnancies by special clinical care

role of hygienic behavior in incidence of urinary tract infection among pregnant women referred to health center [Babol; 2002-2004]

The urinary tract infection [UTI] is a common problem in pregnant women. Since, UTI is caused by bacteria in the stool, hygienic behavior may affect the risk of contracting UTI. The purpose of this study was to determine the relationship between hygienic behavior and incidence of UTI in pregnant women. This case-control study was performed on 250 pregnant women from 2002-2004. One hundred pregnant women from five health centers of Babol University of Medical Sciences for prenatal care, with a diagnosis of UTI by means of positive urine culture [as case group] were compared with one hundred fifty pregnant women [as control group]. Both groups were matched according to age and social, economic, educational status and parity. Patients with recurrent UTI, chronic diseases like diabetis and sickle cell anemia and consumption of immuno suppressive and antibiotic drugs were excluded from this study. Data was analyzed by SPSS. P<0.05 was considered significant. Escherichia coli was the etiologic agent in 83% of cases. Odd ratio for any of the above variables were determined and risk factor for UTI were as follows: for sexual intercourse >/= 3 times per week [OR=5.62], recent urinary tract infection [OR= 3.27], washing of genital pre coitus [OR= 2.16], washing of genital post coitus [OR= 3.89], voiding post coitus [OR= 8.62], washing of genital from back to front [OR= 2.69]. Mean scoring hygienic behaviors in case and control group were 19.9 +/- 3.65 and 23.44 +/- 3.43, respectively. Hygienic habits and sexual behavior may play a significant role in the pregnant women with UTIs, with a positive bacterial urine culture, but evacuating of bladder after coitus was the most strongly associated variable