Gender Transformative Interventions for Perinatal Mental Health in Low and Middle Income Countries-A Scoping Review.

Perinatal mental health problems are linked to poor outcomes for mothers, babies and families. In the context of Low and Middle Income Countries (LMIC), a leading risk factor is gender disparity. Addressing gender disparity, by involving fathers, mothers in law and other family members can significantly improve perinatal and maternal healthcare, including risk factors for poor perinatal mental health such as domestic violence and poor social support. This highlights the need to develop and implement gender-transformative (GT) interventions that seek to engage with men and reduce or overcome gender-based constraints. This scoping review aimed to highlight existing gender transformative interventions from LMIC that specifically aimed to address perinatal mental health (partner violence, anxiety or depression and partner support) and identify components of the intervention that were found to be useful and acceptable. This review follows the five-stage Arksey and O'Malley framework and the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses extension for Scoping Reviews (PRISMA-ScR) checklist. Six papers that met the inclusion criteria were included in the review (four from Africa and two from Asia). Common components of gender transformative interventions across studies included couple-based interventions and discussion groups. Gender inequity and related factors are a strong risk for poor perinatal mental health and the dearth of studies highlights the strong need for better evidence of GT interventions in this area.

Exploring challenges and support structures of mothers with children with Autism Spectrum Disorder in the United Arab Emirates.

BACKGROUND: Mothers with children with ASD, often being primary caregivers, experience high levels of parenting stress and hold essential information about their children's wellbeing. There is however lack of information about their experiences in the UAE. AIMS: The study aims to explore challenges and support structures of mothers with children with ASD in the UAE. METHODS AND PROCEDURES: 17 expat mothers (Age range = 33-58 years) with a child with ASD were interviewed about their experiences with diagnoses, therapeutic interventions, support networks, and the pandemic. OUTCOMES AND RESULTS: Thematic analysis showed that initially most mothers struggled with accessing information to seek correct diagnoses, admission in mainstream international schools with typically developing children, and finding appropriate therapeutic services. Several mothers narrated experiences of not receiving optimum support from their partners, feeling rejected from extended family members, and facing hardships during the pandemic. Majority however appeared to be extremely satisfied with support groups where they felt heard and exchanged experience-based information crucial for children's wellbeing. CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS: Findings highlight the need for the government to facilitate centralized channels of information for expat parents with children with developmental disabilities, formalizing more support groups for mothers in the UAE, and increasing knowledge about autism to decrease biases.

Religious factors affecting death anxiety in older adults practicing Hinduism.

The aim of the study was to examine the influence of religion on death anxiety in older adults (N = 105) practicing Hinduism and visiting the Kumbh pilgrimage. Standardized questionnaires and brief interviews were administered in participants' native language. Pilgrims with higher religiosity had lower death anxiety compared to pilgrims with lower religiosity. Greater belief in the cycle of rebirth, an increased presence of meaning in life, and less continued search of meaning in life were significantly associated with lower death anxiety. The findings provide support for incorporating religious and spiritual awareness for older adults in community health settings.

A Laboratory Session to Prepare Pharmacy Students to Manage the Opioid Crisis Situation.

Objective. To educate third-year pharmacy students about the role of pharmacists in the opioid crisis and measure their knowledge, confidence, and attitudes towards opioids and opioid overdose. Methods. All third-year students (n=130) enrolled in a Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD) degree program participated in opioid overdose and naloxone education and training followed by a three-part laboratory session that included mock naloxone counseling, case-based discussion of the Prescription Drug Monitoring Program (PDMP), and equianalgesic opioid dose conversion scenarios. A pre- and post-assessment focused on the individual's clinical knowledge, confidence, and attitudes about opioid overdose management and naloxone use was administered before and after the laboratory session to evaluate the student's baseline understanding and experience compared to learning gains from the session. An evaluation of the laboratory session was also conducted. Results. Upon completion, 99% percent of students rated the opioid laboratory as excellent (59%) or good (40%). Students believed the laboratory was stimulating (93%), relevant to pharmacy practice (96%), and contributed to their professional development (97%), and that the information provided was at an appropriate level (98%). Knowledge-based assessments improved in the areas of PDMP timely reporting, differentiating between naloxone devices, and naloxone administration technique. Student attitudes toward managing opioid overdoses improved on a majority of items. The majority of students agreed they had enough information to help them manage an opioid overdose (88.5%) and denied the need for additional training (61.5%). Conclusion. An active-learning laboratory helped to improve pharmacy students' knowledge, confidence, and attitudes with regard to opioids and the use of naloxone to treat a patient who has overdosed.

Gaps in OTC Labeling: Potentially Inappropriate Medications for Older Adults.

As the number of available over-the-counter (OTC) products increases, many older adults are taking health care into their own hands. It is particularly important that the labeling provided with these products is precise, leading to their effective use, especially by older adults. Suboptimally designed medication labels can increase the risk of consumption errors and adverse drug interactions among seniors. This study evaluated whether the warning labels on potentially inappropriate OTC medications are consistent with evidencebased criteria for potentially inappropriate prescribing in older adults. Future action could be taken by the Food and Drug Administration to improve labeling policies.