Effect of antenatal class attendance on fear of childbirth and antenatal stress

ABSTRACT OBJECTIVE To assess the effect of attending antenatal classes on fear of childbirth and antenatal stress in nulliparous pregnant women. METHODS A total of 133 nulliparous pregnant women participated in the study, which had a quasi-experimental design. Data were collected by a descriptive data form, the Wijma Delivery Expectancy/Experience Questionnaire, and the Antenatal Perceived Stress Inventory (APSI). RESULTS A significant correlation was found between antenatal class attendance and having a high schooling level and an intended pregnancy (p < 0.05). The mean fear of childbirth score of pregnant women was 85.50 ± 19.41 before the training and 76.32 ± 20.52 after the training, and the difference between these scores was significant (p < 0.01). Fear of childbirth score were not significantly different between the intervention group and the control group. The mean APSI score of pregnant women in the intervention group was 22.32 ± 6.12 before the training and 21.79 ± 5.97 after the training. However, this difference was not statistically significant (p = 0.70). CONCLUSION The fear of childbirth score decreased significantly in the intervention group after the training.

Risk factors and relationship between screening periodicity and risk of cervical cancer among nurses and midwives. A cross-sectional study

ABSTRACT BACKGROUND: If nurses and midwives undergo cervical cancer screening regularly, they can become role models for other women regarding this screening. OBJECTIVES: The aims here were (i) to determine factors associated with undergoing cervical cancer screening; and (ii) to examine the association of cervical cancer screening periodicity with cervical cancer risk levels among nurses and midwives. DESIGN AND SETTING: Cross-sectional study in a public hospital. METHODS: 466 nurses and midwives participated in this study. The relationships between undergoing Pap smear screening and sociodemographic characteristics, cervical cancer risk factors, perception of cervical cancer risk and calculated cervical cancer risk levels were examined. Cervical cancer risk levels were determined using the "Your Disease Risk" assessment tool (Washington University). RESULTS: 35% of the nurses and midwives had undergone Pap smear testing at least once in their lifetimes. The odds of having undergone Pap smear testing were higher among smokers (odds ratio, OR: 2.08; 95% confidence interval, CI: 1.24-3.48) and among those who perceived their risk of cervical cancer to be high (OR: 3.60; 95% CI: 1.36-9.51). The frequency of undergoing Pap smear testing at least once in a lifetime was higher among primiparae (OR: 17.99; 95% CI: 6.36-50.84) and secundiparae (OR: 41.53; 95% CI: 15.01-114.91) than among nulliparae. No relationship was found between Pap smear test periodicity and calculated risk level. CONCLUSION: There is a need to assess motivational barriers that might lead to low levels of Pap smear screening among nurses and midwives who are role models for women regarding cervical cancer prevention.

Developing an educational program for fourth-year students at Balikesir University’s school of health, department of midwifery, to learn and practice antenatal skills.

Background: The objective of this study is to develop an educational program to improve the antenatal care practice skills of fourth-year students in the midwifery department at Balikesir University’s school of health. Methods: The control group included 39 students who had taken public healthcare courses in the 2009-2010 academic year. The intervention group consisted of 40 students who had taken the same courses in the 2010-2011 academic year. The study’s dependent variable was the skill level; its independent variable was the educational program. The data evaluation guide feedback form was collected. The students’ scores for prenatal care were analyzed using the Mann-Whitney U test. Results: The study found that midwives in the control group, which did not receive the educational program, did not apply some of the steps in prenatal health care, such as examining the bellies of pregnant women, measuring their folic acid, assessing laboratory tests and providing them with information about their examinations. In addition, there were other skills in prenatal health care and communication that this group either never applied or applied only after being reminded. However, almost all of the midwives in the intervention group were found to have used communication skills effectively and to have completed prenatal healthcare in the proper order and in a highly qualified manner. Conclusion: The educational program developed for midwife education and practice has been successful and effective. Almost all of the people in the control group have fully applied their healthcare follow-up skills.