Relationship between maternal-fetal attachment and mother-infant attachment behaviors in primiparous women referring to Mashhad health care centers

Mother-infant bonding and interactions after childbirth are shaped by maternal-fetal attachment during pregnancy. Although many studies have shown the positive correlation between maternal-fetal attachment and mother-infant attachment behaviors, some controversial studies have shown otherwise. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate the correlation between maternal-fetal attachment and mother-infant attachment behaviors in primiparous women.This descriptive correlational study was conducted on 100 primiparous women, referring to the selected heath care centers of Mashhad. Data were collected using Cranley's maternal-fetal attachment scale, Avant's mother-infant attachment tool, Edinburgh postnatal depression scale, and a demographic/obstetric questionnaire including demographic data, obstetric information, delivery outcomes, and postpartum data. Pregnant women with a gestational age of 35-41 weeks, who met the inclusion criteria, completed Cranley's questionnaire, as well as the demographic/obstetric questionnaire. Four and eight weeks after delivery, the subjects were asked to complete the Edinburgh questionnaire and postpartum information; then, they were asked to breastfeed their infants on a chair in a quiet place for 15 minutes. The researcher observed the mothers' behaviors toward their neonates. For data analysis, descriptive and analytical tests were performed, using SPSS version 16. There was a direct positive relationship between maternal-fetal attachment and mothers' emotional behaviors toward infants four and eight weeks after delivery. However, four and eight weeks after childbirth, no significant correlation was found between maternal-fetal attachment and mothers' caring behaviors. According to the findings, maternal-fetal attachment is one of the most important factors for mother-infant attachment. These findings could be applied for enriching mother-infant attachment behaviors during pregnancy

Relationship between occupational stress and work ability among midwives in Mashhad, Iran

Occupational stress is one of the key factors in reducing staff productivity in organizations with physical and psychological impacts on employees. Nursing and midwifery are among the most stressful professions. Therefore, this study aimed to determine the relationship between occupational stress and work ability of midwives in Mashhad, Iran in 2011. This cross-sectional study was carried on 123 midwives employed in the public hospitals and health centres in Mashhad, Iran using two-stage sampling method. Demographic and work-related data were obtained through a self-structured questionnaire. Occupational stress and work ability were measured using Occupational Stress Assessment Questionnaire [OSAQ] and Work Ability Index Questionnaire [WAIQ]. The statistical analysis was performed using student's t-test, One Way ANOVA, correlation coefficient, and linear regression model through SPSS statistical software [version 11.5]. The results showed that the mean score of occupational stress and work ability was 149 +/- 0.01 and 38.81 +/- 0.05, respectively. There was a negative correlation between job-related stress and work ability. Midwives with higher occupational stress experienced poorer work ability [P=0.021, r=-0.061]. Sever work stress is associated with reduced work ability. So it is recommended to eliminate or decrease occupational stress and increase work ability among Iranian midwives using preventive measures, although identification of sources of occupational stress seems necessary in order to adopt appropriate stress management strategies

[Relationship between prenatal attachment and duration of exclusive breast feeding in primiparous women]

Background and Aims: breastfeeding is the ideal food for infants during infancy. Maximize the benefits is exclusively breastfeeding. According to the downward of exclusive breastfeeding in our countries, the implementation of successful strategies in this field, has the particular importance. This study was conducted with aimed to determine the relationship between prenatal attachment and exclusive breastfeeding in primigravida women

Methods: this was a descriptive-correlational study which was conducted on 100 primigravida women at based on multi-stage sampling. Data were collected by infant feeding daily record form, maternal-fetal attachment and demographic, pregnancy, Edinburg depression, childbirth and postpartum questionnaires. Primgravida women with gestational age 35-41 weeks completed the Cranly attachment questionnaire and infant feeding daily record form during 8 weeks provided them after childbirth. At this time after completing postpartum and Edinburg depression questionnaires, infant feeding daily record forms have been collected and data were analyzed

Results: this study showed that there is a direct and significant statistical relationship between maternal-fetal attachment and duration of exclusive breast feeding during 4 and 8 weeks after childbirth

Conclusion: prenatal attachment is an important factor affecting the exclusive breast feeding and should be considered in the mother's mental health programs and training courses

Comparison of serum levels of tri-iodothyronine [T3], thyroxine [T4], and thyroid-stimulating hormone [TSH] in preeclampsia and normal pregnancy

The physiological changes in thyroid gland during pregnancy have been suggested as one of the pathophysiologic causes of preeclampsia. The aim of this study was comparison of serum levels of Tri-iodothyronine [T3], Thyroxine [T4], and Thyroid-Stimulating Hormone [TSH] in preeclampsia and normal pregnancy. In this case-control study, 40 normal pregnant women and 40 cases of preeclamsia in third trimester of pregnancy were evaluated. They were compared for serum levels of Free T3 [FT3], Free T4 [FT4] and TSH. The data was analyzed by SPSS software with the use of t-student, Chi-square, Independent sample T-test and Bivariate correlation test. P

[Relationship between job stress with menstrual bleeding pattern among midwives]

Job stress can interfere with endocrine function and result in dysfunctional menstrual bleeding patterns. The aim of this study was to assess the relationship between job stress with menstrual bleeding pattern among midwives. In this cross-sectional study, we recruited 150 midwives working in hospitals and health centers of Mashhad using two-stage sampling. Data were collected using a questionnaire including demographic characteristics, Karazek Job Content, a daily diary for menstrual periods to record duration and interval of periods, and the Higham Chart for recording the bleeding amount. The diary was completed for three menstrual periods. Collected data were analyzed using independent t-student, one way ANOVA, Mann-Whitney U, Chi-squared test, correlation test and linear regression in the SPSS-14. The findings showed that 21.3% of the midwives reported mild job stress, 19.3% had moderate stress and 59.3% reported severe job stress. Mean of the duration of the periods was 7.06 days, the mean interval of the periods was 27.9 days and the mean amount of bleeding was 79.72 cc. There was a significant relationship between job stress and the duration and interval of periods [P<0.001]. There was not any significant relationship between job stress with the amount of bleeding. Our study showed that job stress was related to menstrual bleeding patterns among midwives. It is necessary introduce strategies to decrease job stress and provide professional support for midwives

[Drug therapy for psychological disorders of patients with lichen planus: alongitudinal ordinal study]

In medical research, longitudinal studies are widely used to describe the disease process and effectiveness of treatment. In these studies individual outcomes are recorded in different sections. Many of the medical findings are characterized by ordinal scale. Because of the relationship between ordinal responses and the structure of longitudinal studies, special statistical methods are used. In this paper, we describe and compare different statistical methods, and recommend the most appropriate method to analyze the effect of drug therapy for psychologically disturbed patients with oral lichen planus. In this study, the data of a clinical trial on 45 patients with oral lichen planus conducted in Mashhad Dental School was used. The outcome was defined as an ordinal scale using cumulative logit link function. Data was analyzed by fixed and random effects model. The results showed that random effect models were more accurate than the fixed effects model. Time and mental disorder showed significant effects on both the random effects model and fixed effects model. Treatment had no significant effect on random effects model; while it exhibited a significant effect on the fixed effects model. To analyze longitudinal ordinal data, random effects model is recommended rather than fixed effect model

[Influence of various factors on Response to Streptokinase therapy for acute myocardial Infarction]

Prevalence of ischemic heart diseases, especially acute myocardial infarction and its incidence in lower age has increased and treatment during the acute phase of myocardial infarction plays an important role in the prognosis and quality of life. In our study, we aimed to evaluate the effects of streptokinase on treatment of acute myocardial infarction based on different variables. In our study, we evaluated patients with acute myocardial infarction who received streptokinase. Information obtained from patients based on patient examination, ECG findings [before and after drug administration] and the results of relevant laboratory tests, then entered in the relevant checklist. Criteria for response to drug were reduced chest pain with at least 50 percent reduction in ECG ST Elevation in electrocardiography taken 30 or 90 minutes after the Streptokinase therapy. Relation between age [P<0.001], LDL [0.001], diabetes mellitus [P=0. 01], location of MI [P=0.001], Killip Class [P<0.001], patients referring delay [P<0.001] and the effect of streptokinase were significant. While gender, hypertension, smoking, previous ischemic heart disease, time of symptoms onset and type of streptokinase didn't affect significantly the response to streptokinase. Considering our results, patients with acute MI less than 30 years and more than 80 years, diabetics, LDL more than 100mg/dl, extensive anterior MI, new LBBB, Killip Class 3 or 4 and delay of referring more than 12 hours predict poor response streptokinase, and may benefit more from early invasive strategy than thrombotic therapy

Beneficial antipsychotic effects of omega-3 fatty acids add-on therapy for the pharmacological management of patients with schizophrenia

It has been shown that serum and red blood cells-level of Omega-3 fatty acids are low in people with schizophrenia. Many studies have, therefore, attempted to explore the beneficial effects of these substances in the management of Schizophrenia. However, the outcomes of the previous studies have not been clear cut. The present study is an attempt to retest this hypothesis by eliminating some of the limitations of the previous studies. In a prospective double blind placebo-controlled clinical trial, 85 inpatients with schizophrenia randomly assigned to either risperidone plus Omega-3 or risperidone plus placebo. After a washout period, 44 patients received 2-8 mg/day of risperidone plus placebo and 43 patients received risperidone plus 3 gr/day of Omega-3 for 6 weeks. The treatment effect was calculated by Friedman, Mann Whitney and t test. There were no significant differences between groups in age, sex, education, duration of illness and the number of previous hospitalizations. There were no statistically significant differences in the scores of Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale between two groups at weeks 0, 3 and 6 and for the whole duration of the study. In our study, Omega-3 fatty acids had no superiority to placebo in reducing the positive and negative symptoms of schizophrenia. However, due to a short duration of our study, we recommend that more long term clinical trials are needed in order to develop a better understanding of the therapeutic effects of the Omega-3 fatty acids in the pharmacological management of schizophrenia