Development and validation of a new tool to measure Iranian pregnant women's empowerment

Empowering pregnant women improves their health and reduces maternal mortality, but there is a lack of suitable tools to measure women's empowerment in some cultures. This study aimed to design and validate a questionnaire for measuring the dimensions of empowerment among Iranian pregnant women. After a literature review, and face and content validity testing, a 38-item questionnaire was developed and tested on a sample of 161 pregnant women. Factor analysis grouped the items into 3 subscales: educational empowerment [e.g. prenatal training], autonomy [e.g. financial independency and mental ability] and sociopolitical empowerment [e.g. involvement in social and political activities]. Criterion validity testing showed a strong positive correlation of the total scale and subscales scores with the Kameda and the Spritzer empowerment scales. Cronbach alpha was 0.92 for total empowerment. A total of 32 items remained in the Self-Structured Pregnancy Empowerment Questionnaire, which is a valid new tool to measure the dimensions of pregnant women's empowerment

[Relationship between psychosocial factors and marital satisfaction in infertile women]

Marital relationship among some infertile women is subject to increased vulnerability affecting their quality of life. Investigating the relationship between psychosocial factors and marital satisfaction in infertile women In this cross-sectional study 125 women with primary infertility who entered an IUI program were selected using purposive sampling. All participants filled out a questionnaire containing personal information, diagnostic, and treatment history. They were also subjected to psychological tests including Spiel Berger State-Trait Anxiety Inventory test, Marital Satisfaction Scale test, Self-esteem Inventory t test, and Cassidy Social Support Inventory test. Descriptive statistical test and Pearson correlation were used for statistical analysis. The mean score of state and trait anxiety, marital satisfaction, and self-esteem were 45.1 +/- 9.8, 45.6 +/- 9.1, 63.56 +/- 10.6, and 5.76 +/- 2.5, respectively. Factors such as age, education, job, income, length of marriage, duration of diagnosis, treatment period, infertility factor and also "state" anxiety showed no significant relationship with marital satisfaction. However, there was a reverse relationship between "trait" anxiety and marital satisfaction [r=0.248, p=0.003]. Moreover, a significant direct relationship was found between the self-esteem [r=0.328, p=0.0001], social support [r=0.283, p=0.001] and marital satisfaction. High trait anxiety, low self-esteem, and low social support, especially from spouse, can result in lower marital satisfaction which may be associated with specific dilemmas including disrupted sexual life and overall increased marital tensions

effect of one to one midwife support on labor pain

The birth is a stressful event. Under such a condition, anxiety and pain can cause harmful effects on mother, fetus and the labor process. Giving continuous support to mother under this stressful situation reduces the anxiety and pain and helps mother for better adaptation with this crisis. To determine the effect of continuous one-to-one midwife support on labor pain. This randomized controlled clinical trial was conducted in 17 Shahrivar hospital in Mashad; during a period between January 1999 to April 2000. Sixty-two healthy primigravid women with full term pregnancy were assigned in two groups. One-to-one midwife support consisted of the presence of a midwife during the first and the second stages of labor, who provided emotional support, physical comfort measures and instruction. Labor pain was measured with Visual Analogue Scale of pain [VAS]. Data were analyzed using T-student, ANOVA and Fisher tests. The labor pain score in the experimental group was significantly lower than control group at the first, second, third and the fourth hours following intervention in the first stage of labor. In the second stage, after deletion of intervening variable effect, the mean labor pain score was significantly lower in experimental than the control group. Also, increase in labor pain score from onset of intervention until the end of the first and second stages was lower in experimental than the control group[p<0.0001]. As the one-to-one midwife support reduced the labor pain, we suggest a continuous professional support by midwives for all women in labor

[Impact of cognitive behaviour therapy on anxiety level of primary infertile women undergoing IUI]

Infertility and its numerous treatment programs create crisis in infertile women's life and is a potent source of anxiety. Since cognitive behavioural therapy might be efficacious for emotional aspect of infertility, therefore we designed a study for evaluation of cognitive behaviour therapy effect on anxiety level in primary infertile women undergoing IUI in Montaserieh Infertility Research Center from May to August 2001. In this randomized controlled clinical trial 110 women with primary infertility that were undergoing IUI for first time randomly were allocated to two groups of experimental and control. In first visit for IUI treatment [beginning of study] state and trait anxiety of all subjects were measured by Spiel Berger anxiety inventory. The experimental group completed a cognitive behaviour therapy program including cognitive restructuring and relaxation for 12-13 days. Control group received only routine cares. State and trait anxiety were measured in 30 minutes before and after IUI for two groups. Findings showed that state and trait anxiety scores in beginning of study were not significantly different between two groups. But state anxiety scores during and end of study were significantly different which there was more decrease in experimental group. Trait anxiety score were not significantly different at the beginning, before and end of study. The mean of difference state anxiety at beginning and during study and beginning and end of study was significantly different and beginning and end of study in two groups. Also the mean of difference between trait anxiety at beginning and during study and beginning and end of study was significantly different in two groups, while the mean of difference between trait anxiety during and end of study was not significant. The results of study showed that cognitive behaviour therapy is effective in reduction of anxiety in women undergoing IUI treatment, so we recommend securing psychological well being in women undergoing infertility treatment