In pregnant women, how does daily oral iron supplementation alone or in combination with folic acid affect maternal and infant outcomes?

2016 ◽  
Author(s):  
Juliana Ester Martin
2020 ◽  
Vol 20 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
P. Slade ◽  
K. Balling ◽  
K. Sheen ◽  
G. Houghton

Abstract Background Fear of childbirth is related to but not synonymous with general anxiety, and represents a superior predictor for maternal and infant outcomes. There is a need to improve the identification and provision of support for women experiencing high fear of childbirth. However it is uncertain as to whether existing measurement tools have appropriate content validity (i.e. cover the relevant domains within the construct), practical utility, and whether they are acceptable for use with a UK population. This study aimed to (1) identify the utility and acceptability of existing measures of fear of childbirth (FOC) with a small UK sample and (2) map the content of existing measures to the key concepts of fear of childbirth established by previous research. Methods Ten pregnant women; five with high and five with low fear of childbirth participated in a cognitive interview covering four most commonly used measures of fear of childbirth: 1. The Wijma Delivery Expectancy Questionnaire (WDEQ A), 2. The Oxford Worries about Labour Scale (OWLS), 3. The Slade-Pais Expectations of Childbirth Scale – fear subscale (SPECS) and 4. The Fear of Birth scale (FOBS). Each measure was also reviewed by participants for ease and clarity of understanding and acceptability. The measures were then reviewed against the key domains identified in the fear of childbirth literature to ascertain the adequacy of content validity of each measure. Interviews were analysed using thematic analysis for each scale item. Results All measures except the FOBS, included items that either women did not understand or, if where there was understanding the meanings were inconsistent across women. All measures demonstrated limited acceptability and content validity for the specific construct of FOC. Therefore, none of the measurement tools currently used within the UK met criteria for understanding, acceptability and content validity for measurement of FOC. Conclusions Findings emphasise a need to develop a specific fear of childbirth tool with good clarity which demonstrates appropriate content validity, and that is acceptable in presentation and length for pregnant women in a UK population.


2011 ◽  
Vol 56 (2) ◽  
pp. e63-e66 ◽  
Author(s):  
Patricia L Toro ◽  
Karen L Schneider ◽  
Rosalind J Carter ◽  
Elaine J Abrams ◽  
Wafaa M El-Sadr ◽  
...  

2008 ◽  
Vol 11 (6) ◽  
pp. 596-605 ◽  
Author(s):  
Binetou C Seck ◽  
Robert T Jackson

AbstractBackgroundCommunity iron supplementation programmes for pregnant women have lacked effectiveness, partly because of low compliance.ObjectiveTo determine factors that influence compliance among pregnant women in Senegal.DesignTwo hundred and twenty-one pregnant women, recruited from six health centres in Dakar during their first prenatal visit, were randomly assigned to receive either a prescription to purchase iron/folic acid tablets (control, n = 112) to be taken daily, according to official policy, or to receive free tablets (treatment, n = 109). Compliance was assessed 20 weeks after enrolment through interviews and pill count. Women with low or high compliance (<70% or ≥70%) were asked to explain what influenced their adherence to supplementation.ResultsOverall compliance was 69%; it was significantly higher in the treatment than in the control group (86% vs. 48%; P < 0.0001). Women with high compliance (58%) were motivated by: (1) the perception of improved health upon taking the tablets (treatment = 24%, control = 10%); (2) the insistence by midwives that they take the tablets; and (3) the mention that the tablets would improve health. Women with low compliance (42%) reported: (1) the experience of side-effects that they associated with the tablets (treatment = 13%, control = 14%); (2) misunderstanding that they needed to continue taking the tablets throughout pregnancy (treatment = 0%, control = 18%); and (3) forgetfulness.ConclusionCompliance with iron/folic acid supplementation in Senegal can be increased by providing women with clear instructions about tablet intake and educating them on the health benefits of the tablets.


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