[ comparison of postpartum depression among low-risk-pregnant women with emotion- and problem-focused coping strategies]

Postpartum depression is one of most important health problems in women. This study was performed with the purpose of comparing the frequency of postpartum depression in pregnant women with emotion and problem-focused coping strategies. This study was conducted as a prospective cohort study on 200 pregnant women with stress [low and high levels]. The samples were pregnant women referred to all health-treatment, centers of Ardabil, which were selected using a multi-stage sampling method; and according to coping strategy, they were divided into two groups: emotion-focused and problem-focused. Low-risk pregnant women completed questionnaires about demographic characteristics, perceived stress, and Billings and Moos coping strategies in the 38[th] to 42[th]week of their pregnancy, and completed the Edinburgh depression scale in the 3[th]to 4[th]weeks after childbirth. Data were analyzed using chi 2 and t tests. p<0.05 considered significant. In this study, 170 participant women [85%] used emotion-focused strategy and 30 women [15%] used problem-focused strategy. Frequency of postpartum depression was 6.7% in the problem-focused group and 8.2% in the emotion-focused group. There was no significant difference in the frequency of postpartum depression between women with the problem- and emotion-focused strategies. Relative risk for postpartum depression was 1.2 times more among the women used emotion-focused strategy than women used problem-focused strategy [p<0.05]. According to the results of this study, there was no significant relationship between postpartum depression and the two emotion-focused and problem-focused coping strategies. This can be due to high influence of postpartum specific endocrine factors in the etiology of this type of depression compared to other depressions

Evaluation of sexual attitude and sexual function in menopausal age; a population based cross-sectional study

Menopause and its physical, hormonal and psychosocial changes could affect women's sexual function. There are controversial results regarding relationship between sexual attitudes and function. We aimed to evaluate sexual attitudes and sexual function among Iranian menopausal age women. This population based cross-sectional study was carried out on 225 menopausal women, aged 45-65 years. Based on a self-made questionnaire data were collected about women's socio-demographic characteristics, attitudes regarding sexuality and sexual function. Data were analyzed using SPSS and sexual function was compared between three groups of women who had positive, medium and negative attitudes regarding sexuality. The mean age of women was 53.11 +/- 4.56 years. Seventy percent of them had at least one sexual problem. Feeling of dyspareunia was significantly different between three categories of attitudes regarding sexuality [p=0.03]. Comparing data obtained on their attitudes, sexual desire, orgasm and dyspareunia demonstrated significant differences [p=0.03, 0.04, and 0.04 respectively]. Attitude regarding sexual function has a great impact on sexual activity of postmenopausal women that need to be considered in their health care programming

Association between infertile women's anxiety with art success rates

Anxiety increases blood cortisol and prolactin concentrations which may lead to infertility, but in contrast lower anxiety levels may help natural fertility. However, there is not much evidence that lower anxiety levels may lead to higher success rates in Assisted Reproductive Techniques [ART] among infertile women. This study aimed to determine the association between infertile women's anxiety and ART success rates. This cohort study was done on 180 infertile women who enrolled as candidates for ART. The cases were recruited in their last visit before starting the treatment cycle by quota sampling in two select infertility treatment centers in Tehran, Iran. The individuals' anxiety was assessed by using State and Trait Anxiety Inventories. They were allocated to high and low anxiety groups according to the achieved scores of 20-49 and 50-80, respectively. A positive pregnancy test was considered the criterion for treatment success. The individuals' state and trait anxiety scores were 47.33 +/- 10.6 and 43.89 +/- 9.8, respectively. Nineteen [10.6%] out of 180 women became pregnant. Pregnancy rates in the group with high and low levels of state anxiety were 11.1% and 10.1% and in groups with high and low levels of trait anxiety they were 14.5% and 9%, respectively. Pregnancy rates between high and low state or trait anxieties were not significantly different [p>0.05]. There were no relationship between infertile women's state and trait anxiety status with assisted reproductive technology outcomes. The results of this study can ensure infertile women that their anxiety would not affect their treatment success rates, although counseling and reducing infertile women's anxiety are necessary to improve their quality of life

[Quality of midwifery care in labor and delivery wards of selected Kordestan medical science university hospitals]

To assess quality of provided care in labor and delivery units of two selected Kordestan Medical Science University hospitals. This was a descriptive study to assess quality of provided care to 96 women with normal pregnancy, which were recruited using quota sampling, using two checklists for observation of care procedure and structure as well as a questionnaire to assess clients' satisfaction. Data was analyzed by SPSS 11.5. Midwifery care was provided in different phases of labor, with following mean percentage of compatibility with optimal situation; first phase of labor [71.4%], second phase of labor [63.03%], third phase of labor [80.63%] and first 2 hours after labor [70.50%]. The lowest scores were related to the domains of "emotional support", "Hand wash" and "assessment of vital signs". Development of instructions for care, or promotion of partograph use for continuous monitoring and evaluation of quality of care by managers; increasing midwifery personnel; providing facilities for accompanied person to improve quality of emotional care; can lead to quality improvement, and finally clients health and satisfaction