Submit to IJERPH Review for IJERPH Propose a Special Issue

Journal Menu

Journal Browser

Improving Quality of Care for Women and Newborns

Print Special Issue Flyer
Special Issue Editors
Special Issue Information
Keywords
Published Papers

A special issue of International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health (ISSN 1660-4601). This special issue belongs to the section "Women's Health".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (7 March 2023) | Viewed by 16105

Share This Special Issue

Special Issue Editors

Prof. Dr. Ernesto González-Mesa

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor

Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, School of Medicine, University of Malaga, 29071 Malaga, Spain
Interests: Women's health; perinatology; quality assessment; maternal mortality; perinatal mortality

Prof. Dr. Daniel María Lubián López

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor

Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, School of Medicine, University of Cádiz, 11003 Cádiz, Spain
Interests: women' s health; perinatal mental health; biopsychosocial obstetrics and gynecology; quality of professional interaction

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The results of professional interventions must be evaluated globally, considering the improvement of patients' health, efficient use of available resources, and patients' satisfaction. It is well known that in situations where the needs and demands of the patients do not fit the biomedical model of disease, as frequently occurs in some obstetric and gynecological conditions, the relationship between healthcare providers and patients may become more difficult, and the quality-of-care parameters might be affected. In this regard, issues regarding obstetric care, perinatal mental health, and all the needs and demands of childbearing women, the clinical management of chronic pelvic floor pain, endometriosis, sexual disorders, or gynecological functional pathology frequently overcome the biomedical model, and a biopsychosocial approach has been claimed.

This Special Issue welcomes new protocols, novel treatments, and all proposals aimed at improving the quality of women and newborns' care.

Prof. Dr. Ernesto González-Mesa
Prof. Dr. Daniel María Lubián López
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2500 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

quality of professional interaction
obstetric care
labour management
high-risk pregnancy
homebirth
perinatal mental health
psychosomatic gynecology
professional education

Published Papers (5 papers)

Download All Papers

Order results

Result details

Show export options Show export options

Select all

Export citation of selected articles as:

Research

21 pages, 543 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Access to Maternity Protection and Potential Implications for Breastfeeding Practices of Domestic Workers in the Western Cape of South Africa

by Catherine Pereira-Kotze, Mieke Faber, Luke Kannemeyer and Tanya Doherty

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2023, 20(4), 2796; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph20042796 - 4 Feb 2023

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 2226

Abstract

Access to comprehensive maternity protection could contribute to improved breastfeeding practices for working women. Domestic workers are a vulnerable group. This study aimed to explore perceptions of and accessibility to maternity protection among domestic workers in the Western Cape, South Africa, and potential implications of maternity protection access for breastfeeding practices. This was a mixed-method cross-sectional study including a quantitative online survey with 4635 South African domestic workers and 13 individual in-depth interviews with domestic workers. Results from the online survey showed that domestic workers had inconsistent knowledge of maternity-protection entitlements. Data from individual in-depth interviews showed that most participants struggled to access all components of comprehensive maternity protection, with some entitlements being inconsistently and informally available. Most domestic workers were unfamiliar with the concept of breaks to breastfeed or express milk. Participants provided suggestions for improving domestic workers’ access to maternity protection. We conclude that improved access to all components of maternity protection would result in improved quality of care for women during pregnancy, around the time of childbirth and on return to work, and for their newborns, especially if an enabling environment for breastfeeding were created. Universal comprehensive maternity protection could contribute to improved care for all working women and their children. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Improving Quality of Care for Women and Newborns)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

10 pages, 515 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Social Support and Mental Health in the Postpartum Period in Times of SARS-CoV-2 Pandemic: Spanish Multicentre Cohort Study

by Maia Brik, Miguel Sandonis, Elena Rocio Horrillo Murillo, Rogelio Monfort Ortiz, Alexandra Arteaga Fernandez, Maria de Arriba, Sara Fernández, Nuria Iglesias Román, Gemma Parramon-Puig, Anna Suy, María Emilia Dip, Alfredo Perales Marin, Nerea Maiz, Josep Antoni Ramos-Quiroga and Elena Carreras

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2022, 19(23), 15445; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph192315445 - 22 Nov 2022

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1417

Abstract

Background: To explore the depression and anxiety symptoms in the postpartum period during the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic and to identify potential risk factors. Methods: A multicentre observational cohort study including 536 women was performed at three hospitals in Spain. The Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS), the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI) Scale, the Medical Outcomes Study Social Support Survey (MOS-SSS), and the Postpartum Bonding Questionnaire (PBQ) were assessed after birth. Depression (EPDS) and anxiety (STAI) symptoms were measured, and the cut-off scores were set at 10 and 13 for EPDS, and at 40 for STAI. Results: Regarding EPDS, 32.3% (95% CI, 28% to 36.5%) of women had a score ≥ 10, and 17.3% (95% CI, 13.9% to 20.7%) had a score ≥ 13. Women with an STAI score ≥ 40 accounted for 46.8% (95% CI, 42.3% to 51.2%). A lower level of social support (MOS-SSS), a fetal malformation diagnosis and a history of depression (p = 0.000, p = 0.019 and p = 0.043) were independent risk factors for postpartum depression. A lower level of social support and a history of mental health disorders (p = 0.000, p = 0.003) were independent risk factors for postpartum anxiety. Conclusion: During the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic, an increase in symptoms of anxiety and depression were observed during the postpartum period. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Improving Quality of Care for Women and Newborns)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

12 pages, 336 KiB

Open AccessArticle

A Participatory, Needs-Based Approach to Breastfeeding Training for Confinement Centres

by Siew Cheng Foong, Wai Cheng Foong, May Loong Tan, Jacqueline J. Ho and Amal Omer-Salim

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2022, 19(17), 10914; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph191710914 - 1 Sep 2022

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1553

Abstract

With a focus on traditional practices rather than evidence-based practices, breastfeeding support is sub-optimal in confinement centres (CCs). We used a participatory, needs-based approach to develop a training module for CC staff adopting Kern’s six-step approach as our conceptual framework. Of 46 identified CCs, 25 accepted our invitation to a dialogue aimed at establishing relationships and understanding their needs. An interactive training workshop was developed from the dialogue’s findings. The workshop, attended by 32 CCs (101 participants), was conducted four times over a four-month period. Questions raised by the participants reflected deficits in understanding breastfeeding concepts and erroneous cultural beliefs. Correct answers rose from 20% pre-test to 51% post-test. Post-workshop feedback showed that participants appreciated the safe environment to ask questions, raise concerns and correct misconceptions. An interview conducted 14 months later showed that while some CCs improved breastfeeding support, others made no change due to conflict between breastfeeding and traditional postnatal practices, which was aggravated by a lack of support due to the COVID-19 pandemic. A participatory approach established a trustful learning environment, helping CCs appreciate the value of learning and adopting new concepts. However, cultural perceptions take time to change, hence continuous training and support are vital for sustained changes. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Improving Quality of Care for Women and Newborns)

13 pages, 670 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Recording of Chronic Diseases and Adverse Obstetric Outcomes during Hospitalizations for a Delivery in the National Swiss Hospital Medical Statistics Dataset between 2012 and 2018: An Observational Cross-Sectional Study

by Carole A. Marxer, Marlene Rauch, Clementina Lang, Alice Panchaud, Christoph R. Meier and Julia Spoendlin

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2022, 19(13), 7922; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph19137922 - 28 Jun 2022

Viewed by 1506

Abstract

The prevalence of chronic diseases during pregnancy and adverse maternal obstetric outcomes in Switzerland has been insufficiently studied. Data sources, which reliably capture these events, are scarce. We conducted a nationwide observational cross-sectional study (2012–2018) using data from the Swiss Hospital Medical Statistics (MS) dataset. To quantify the recording of chronic diseases and adverse maternal obstetric outcomes during delivery in hospitals or birthing centers (delivery hospitalization), we identified women who delivered a singleton live-born infant. We quantified the prevalence of 23 maternal chronic diseases (ICD-10-GM) and compared results to a nationwide Danish registry study. We further quantified the prevalence of adverse maternal obstetric outcomes (ICD-10-GM/CHOP) during the delivery hospitalization and compared the results to existing literature from Western Europe. We identified 577,220 delivery hospitalizations, of which 4.99% had a record for ≥1 diagnosis of a chronic disease (versus 15.49% in Denmark). Moreover, 13 of 23 chronic diseases seemed to be substantially under-recorded (8 of those were >10-fold more frequent in the Danish study). The prevalence of three of the chronic diseases was similar in the two studies. The prevalence of adverse maternal obstetric outcomes was comparable to other European countries. Our results suggest that chronic diseases are under-recorded during delivery hospitalizations in the MS dataset, which may be due to specific coding guidelines and aspects regarding whether a disease generates billable effort for a hospital. Adverse maternal obstetric outcomes seemed to be more completely captured. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Improving Quality of Care for Women and Newborns)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

14 pages, 2825 KiB

Open AccessArticle

A Three-Step Procedure for Emergency Cerclage: Gestational and Neonatal Outcomes

by Manuel Gómez-Castellano, Lorena Sabonet-Morente, Ernesto González-Mesa and Jesús S. Jiménez-López

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2022, 19(5), 2636; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph19052636 - 24 Feb 2022

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 8700

Abstract

(1) Background: The objective of our prospective observational study was to evaluate a new technique for emergency cerclage, which was performed on a cohort of patients with cervical incompetence in the second trimester. (2) Methods: 26 pregnant women presented at 15 to 24 weeks of gestation with cervical dilatation and bursa prolapse. A new emergency cerclage was performed using a technique consisting of the first cerclage in a tobacco bag and a second occlusive cerclage located inferiorly to the first. The technique is concluded with the performance of a cervical cleisis when vaginal bag prolapse is present, and this overall procedure is called the three-step procedure for emergency cerclage (TSEC). (3) Results: To assess its effectiveness, we measured the latency from procedure to delivery, pregnancy duration, infant birth weight, and rate of premature amniorrhexis. The mean latency from procedure to delivery was 14 weeks + 6 days, the mean weight of newborns was 2550 g and the mean gestational age at delivery was 35 weeks. The neonatal survival rate was 95.8%. The rate of premature amniorrhexis (<34 weeks gestational age) was 8.3% (two cases) with successful perinatal outcomes. There were significant differences (p < 0.05) between groups. A multivariate regression model showed that the best variables for predicting the latency to delivery were the cervical dilatation at diagnosis, use of the three-step cerclage, cervical length after the procedure, and gestational age at diagnosis. (4) Conclusions: The excellent results obtained with the TSEC procedure in terms of the latency from the procedure to delivery, gestational age at delivery, birth weight, and having few reported complications highlight the importance of collecting new data on this promising novel procedure. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Improving Quality of Care for Women and Newborns)

► Show Figures

Journal Menu

Journal Browser

Improving Quality of Care for Women and Newborns

Share This Special Issue

Special Issue Editors

Special Issue Information

Keywords

Published Papers (5 papers)

Research

Further Information

Guidelines

MDPI Initiatives

Follow MDPI