Factors conditioning pain control and reduction in post-cesarean section parturients: a cross-sectional study.

BACKGROUND: Pain experienced by women in the perinatal period constitutes a complex and multifaceted phenomenon. The aim of the study was to assess conditions of pain locus of control and pain reduction in post-cesarean section parturients. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A cross-sectional quantitative study with convenience sampling was performed among 175 hospitalized post-cesarean section women in hospitals in Eastern Poland in accordance with the Strengthening the Reporting of Observational studies in Epidemiology (STROBE) statement. A self-design questionnaire regarding general information and obstetrics/gynaecology medical interview, The Pain Coping Strategies Questionnaire (CSQ) and The Beliefs about Pain Control Questionnaire (BPCQ) were used. The inclusion criteria were as follows (1) age of ⩾18 years old; (2) cesarean section (CS); (3) period from the 13th hour to the end of the 72nd hour after the procedure; and (4) informed consent. The data was analyzed with IBM SPSS Statistics. RESULTS: Internal locus of control (M = 14.02) was provided the highest value by the parturients and followed by chance events (M = 12.61) and doctors' power (M = 12.18). Dominant coping with pain strategies in the post-cesarean parturients were coping self-statements (M = 19.06), praying or hoping (M = 18.86). The parturients assessed their pain coping (M = 3.31) strategies along with pain reduction (M = 3.35) at the moderate level. Higher pain control was correlated with cognitive pain coping strategies (ß = 0.305; t = 4.632; p < 0.001), internal pain control ß = 0.191; t = 2.894; p = 0.004), cesarean section planning (ß = -0.240; t = -3.496; p = 0.001) and past medical history of CS (ß = 0.240; t = 3.481; p = 0.001). The skill of reduction of pain was positively associated with cognitive pain coping strategies (ß = 0.266; t = 3.665; p < 0.001) and being in subsequent pregnancy (ß = 0.147; t = 2.022; p = 0.045). Catastrophizing and hoping were related to lower competences of coping with pain (B = - 0.033, SE = 0.012, ß = - 0.206, T = -2.861). CONCLUSIONS: The study allowed for identification and better comprehension of factors conditioning pain control and pain reduction in parturients after the cesarean section. Furthermore, a stronger belief that pain can be dealt with is found in the parturients characterized by cognitive pain coping strategies and internal pain locus of control. The skill of reduction of pain is related to cognitive coping strategy and procreation status.

Satisfaction with the life of Polish women experiencing domestic violence.

Introduction: Domestic violence against a woman, inflicted by her husband/partner, disrupts the socially recognized model of partnership and family life and endangers the health and life of the victim. The aim of the study was to assess the level of satisfaction with the life of Polish women experiencing domestic violence and compare it to results of women not experiencing domestic violence. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted on a convenience sample of 610 Polish women divided in two groups: victims of domestic violence (Group 1, n = 305) and women not experiencing domestic violence (Group 2, n = 305). Results and Conclusions: Most Polish women experiencing domestic violence are characterized by low life satisfaction. The mean value of life satisfaction in Group 1 was 13.78, SD = 4.88, significantly lower when compared to Group 2 (M = 21.04, SD = 5.61). Their satisfaction with life is related, among other things, to the form of violence inflicted upon them by their husband/partner. Abused women with low life satisfaction are most often victims of psychological violence. The most common cause is the perpetrator's addiction to alcohol and/or drugs. Assessment of their life satisfaction is unrelated to help-seeking and to the occurrence of violence in their family home in the past.

Attitudes of Teenage Mothers towards Pregnancy and Childbirth.

The problem of early motherhood is still a serious medical and social problem in many countries around the world. The aim of this study was to analyze the attitudes of teenage mothers towards pregnancy and childbirth. A retrospective cross-sectional study was conducted with the use of an original questionnaire containing a test to measure attitudes on a five-point Likert scale and a Life Orientation Test-Revised (LOT-R) to assess dispositional optimism. The study involved 308 teenage mothers between 13 and 19 years of age. Attitudes of teenage mothers towards pregnancy and childbirth were more often positive (90.6%) than negative (9.4%). Sociodemographic features determining the attitudes of teenage mothers towards both their pregnancy and childbirth included their age, marital status, current occupation, and main source of income. The type of attitude adopted by teenage mothers towards pregnancy and childbirth was significantly related to the level of their dispositional optimism.