ABSTRACT
INTRODUCTION@#In the Philippines, several health policies have been tailored to promote breastfeeding. Statistics show that despite efforts, breastfeeding prevalence remains low. This study aims to determine the demographics and associated barriers and enablers of breastfeeding among mothers living in Metro Manila. @*METHODS@#The study used a cross-sectional analytical design through an online self-administered questionnaire on barriers and enablers answered by mothers between 15-49 years old, residing in Metro Manila.@*RESULTS@#A total of 761 responses were included in the fnal analysis. Only age was found to be signifcantly associated with the practice of breastfeeding. Barriers identifed were 1) seeing breastfeeding as timeconsuming, 2) development of sore or tender nipples, 3) previously failed breastfeeding attempts, 4) poor latching on, and 5) not enough breastmilk production. Enablers identifed were 1) seeing the practice as a good way to bond with the child, 2) presence of breastfeeding areas at work or school, 3) previous success in breastfeeding experience, 4) support from hospital staff or midwives, 5) having knowledge on whom to contact when challenged with breastfeeding, and 6) knowledge of the benefts of breastfeeding on infant and maternal health.@*CONCLUSION@#Barriers and enablers towards breastfeeding may be target points for improvement of interventions aiming to increase prevalence of breastfeeding among mothers in Metro Manila.
ABSTRACT
We present an ultrastructural study of the utilization of human amniotic membrane in the treatment of congenital abscence of the vagina in 10 patients. All patients were surgically treated with application of an amniotic membrane graft using the modifified McIndoe and Bannister technique. Sixty days after surgery, samples of the vaginal neoepithelium were collected for transmission electron microscopy analysis. The ultrastructural findings consisted of a lining of mature squamous epithelium indicating the occurrence of metaplasia of the amniotic epithelium into the vaginal epithelium. The cells were arranged in layers as in the normal vaginal epithelium, i.e., superficial, intermediate and deep layers. There were desmosomes and cytoplasmic intermediate cytokeratin filaments, as well as some remnant features of the previous amniotic epithelium. These findings suggest that human amniotic membrane is able to complete metaplasia into squamous cells but the mechanism of this cellular transformation is unknown.