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The Latest Research on Maternal and Child Health
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The Latest Research on Maternal and Child Health

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

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (30 April 2023) | Viewed by 16030

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Radzisław Mierzyński

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Chair and Department of Obstetrics and Perinatology, Medical University of Lublin, 20-954 Lublin, Poland
Interests: maternal and fetal medicine; obesity; metabolic syndrome; adipokines; maternal nutrition; hypertension; preeclampsia; ultrasound in obstetrics; perinatal outcome
Dr. Elżbieta Poniedziałek-Czajkowska

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Obstetrics and Perinatology, Medical University of Lublin, Ul. Jaczewskiego 8, 20-954 Lublin, Poland
Interests: maternal and fetal medicine; obesity; metabolic syndrome; adipokines; hypertension; preeclampsia; preterm labor; obstetric emergency; perinatal outcome
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

We are honored to present the special issue entitled "The Latest Research on Maternal and Child Health". It aims to present high-quality scientific articles (original research articles or comprehensive/systematic review papers) presenting the latest achievements and research directions in the field of maternal-fetal medicine and neonatology.

Pregnancy is a unique period in which attention is focused simultaneously on two people, the mother and the developing baby. The health of the pregnant mother and the pre-pregnancy period is one of the necessary conditions for the proper development of the fetus and affects the further development of the child after birth. Complications of pregnancy can be divided into two main groups that overlap. The first group is chronic diseases such as hypertension, diabetes, and autoimmune diseases diagnosed before pregnancy. Their frequency increases due to the increasingly advanced age of pregnant women, and they are recognized as a risk factor for some of the complications typical of pregnancy, including preterm birth.

This group also includes intraamniotic infection, preeclampsia, placental abnormalities, or hemorrhages. The remarkable development of neonatology, inextricably linked with perinatal medicine, provides a good start in a future life for even the extremely premature babies or born with diseases of intrauterine origin. The currently observed impressive progress in perinatal medicine in the field of basic sciences enables to understand better the impact of maternal factors on the development of the fetus, and the development of clinical trials allows creating the optimal conditions for development for the fetus through the prevention and treatment of diseases in the mother.

In the hope of creating a multidisciplinary platform for scientific exchange, we invite all researchers interested in maternal, fetal, and newborn health to share their research results and their own clinical experience.

Dr. Radzisław Mierzyński
Dr. Elżbieta Poniedziałek-Czajkowska
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

  • preterm delivery
  • intraamniotic infection
  • preeclampsia
  • hypertension
  • metabolic syndrome
  • maternal health
  • prematurity
  • neonatal sepsis
  • respiratory distress syndrome
  • newborn central nervous system

Published Papers (5 papers)

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Research

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12 pages, 308 KiB  
Article
Heartbreak and Loneliness Due to Family Separations and Limited Visiting during COVID-19: A Qualitative Study
by Wai-King Tsui, Ka-Huen Yip and Yuk-Chiu Yip
Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2023, 20(2), 1633; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph20021633 - 16 Jan 2023
Cited by 5 | Viewed by 1405
Abstract
The COVID-19 pandemic has greatly impacted the healthcare system. In the pediatric unit, stress, uncertainty, and many unexpected challenges for many parents were frequently reported. Research has shown that parents had less contact with their children during the pandemic due to hospital restrictions. [...] Read more.
The COVID-19 pandemic has greatly impacted the healthcare system. In the pediatric unit, stress, uncertainty, and many unexpected challenges for many parents were frequently reported. Research has shown that parents had less contact with their children during the pandemic due to hospital restrictions. However, it is unknown how parents perceived their experiences in a pediatric unit. This study aimed to describe the lived experiences of parents who had a child in the pediatric unit during the pandemic. A qualitative descriptive approach was used to investigate parents’ experiences of having children admitted to the pediatric unit during the pandemic in Hong Kong. Eight Chinese parents participated in the interview. Three major themes emerged: (1) parents’ pediatric ward experiences during COVID-19 were emotionally isolating and overwhelming, (2) the family and family-centered care were disrupted, and (3) interactions with pediatric providers intensified or alleviated emotional distress. Integrating the above themes of experiences of emotional distress was the main characteristic of the parents’ experiences during the pandemic. Therefore, policymakers should understand the lived experiences of parents of children diagnosed with COVID-19 and should make prompt decisions to deal with both parental concerns and safety issues. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Latest Research on Maternal and Child Health)

Review

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12 pages, 1247 KiB  
Review
Pregnancy in Patients with Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension in Light of New ESC Guidelines on Pulmonary Hypertension
by Karolina Barańska-Pawełczak, Celina Wojciechowska and Wojciech Jacheć
Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2023, 20(5), 4625; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph20054625 - 6 Mar 2023
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 2673
Abstract
Pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) is defined as an elevated mean pulmonary artery pressure (mPAP) of >20 mmHg together with a pulmonary arterial wedge pressure (PAWP) of ≤15 mmHg and pulmonary vascular resistance (PVR) of>2 Wood units (WU). Although the total mortality of pregnant [...] Read more.
Pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) is defined as an elevated mean pulmonary artery pressure (mPAP) of >20 mmHg together with a pulmonary arterial wedge pressure (PAWP) of ≤15 mmHg and pulmonary vascular resistance (PVR) of>2 Wood units (WU). Although the total mortality of pregnant women with PAH has decreased significantly in recent years and is reported to be around 12% in some databases, total mortality is still at an unacceptably high percentage. Moreover, some subgroups, such as patients with Eisenmenger’s syndrome, have a particularly high mortality rate of up to 36%. Pregnancy in patients with PAH is contraindicated; its appearance is an indication for a planned termination. Education of patients with PAH, including counseling on effective contraception, is essential. During pregnancy, blood volume, heart rate, and cardiac output increase, while PVR and systemic vascular resistance decrease. The hemostatic balance is shifted towards hypercoagulability. Among PAH-specific drugs, the use of inhaled or intravenous prostacyclins, phosphodiesterase inhibitors, and calcium channel blockers (in patients with preserved vasoreactivity) is acceptable. Endothelin receptor antagonists and riociguat are contraindicated. Childbirth can take place through either vaginal delivery or caesarean section; similarly, neuraxial and general anesthesia have proven indications. In a situation where all pharmacological options have been used in pregnant or postpartum patients in a serious condition, veno-arterial ECMO is a useful therapeutic option. For PAH patients who want to become mothers, an option that does not endanger their lives is adoption. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Latest Research on Maternal and Child Health)
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39 pages, 1856 KiB  
Review
Preeclampsia and Obesity—The Preventive Role of Exercise
by Elżbieta Poniedziałek-Czajkowska, Radzisław Mierzyński and Bożena Leszczyńska-Gorzelak
Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2023, 20(2), 1267; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph20021267 - 10 Jan 2023
Cited by 6 | Viewed by 4350
Abstract
Obesity is now recognized as a worldwide epidemic. An inadequate diet and reduced physical activity are acknowledged as the leading causes of excess body weight. Despite growing evidence that obesity is a risk factor for unsuccessful pregnancies, almost half of all women who [...] Read more.
Obesity is now recognized as a worldwide epidemic. An inadequate diet and reduced physical activity are acknowledged as the leading causes of excess body weight. Despite growing evidence that obesity is a risk factor for unsuccessful pregnancies, almost half of all women who become pregnant today are overweight or obese. Common complications of pregnancy in this group of women are preeclampsia and gestational hypertension. These conditions are also observed more frequently in women with excessive weight gain during pregnancy. Preeclampsia is one of the most serious pregnancy complications with an unpredictable course, which in its most severe forms, threatens the life and health of the mother and her baby. The early identification of the risk factors for preeclampsia development, including obesity, allows for the implementation of prophylaxis and a reduction in maternal and fetal complications risk. Additionally, preeclampsia and obesity are the recognized risk factors for developing cardiovascular disease in later life, so prophylaxis and treating obesity are paramount for their prevention. Thus, a proper diet and physical activity might play an essential role in the prophylaxis of preeclampsia in this group of women. Limiting weight gain during pregnancy and modifying the metabolic risk factors with regular physical exercise creates favorable metabolic conditions for pregnancy development and benefits the elements of the pathogenetic sequence for preeclampsia development. In addition, it is inexpensive, readily available and, in the absence of contraindications to its performance, safe for the mother and fetus. However, for this form of prevention to be effective, it should be applied early in pregnancy and, for overweight and obese women, proposed as an essential part of planning pregnancy. This paper aims to present the mechanisms of the development of hypertension in pregnancy in obese women and the importance of exercise in its prevention. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Latest Research on Maternal and Child Health)
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10 pages, 670 KiB  
Review
Pancreatitis in Pregnancy—Comprehensive Review
by Agnieszka Mądro
Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2022, 19(23), 16179; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph192316179 - 3 Dec 2022
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 3626
Abstract
Acute and chronic pancreatitis, until recently observed incidentally in pregnancy, has occurred much more frequently in the last 2–3 decades. Particularly severe complications for the mother and fetus may be a consequence of acute pancreatitis. Therefore, it is important to know more about [...] Read more.
Acute and chronic pancreatitis, until recently observed incidentally in pregnancy, has occurred much more frequently in the last 2–3 decades. Particularly severe complications for the mother and fetus may be a consequence of acute pancreatitis. Therefore, it is important to know more about the diagnostic and therapeutic possibilities of pancreatic diseases in the course of pregnancy. Epidemiology, causes, clinical characteristics, differential diagnosis, and complex management are presented in this review. Particular emphasis is on the prevention of acute pancreatitis (AP) through the proper diagnosis and treatment of cholelithiasis and hypertriglyceridemia, both before and during pregnancy. The most up-to-date reports and management strategies are presented. This publication contributes to a wide group of scientists and practitioners better understanding the discussed issues, and indicates the directions of research for the future. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Latest Research on Maternal and Child Health)
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Other

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10 pages, 306 KiB  
Brief Report
Experiences of Preconception Counseling among Pregnant Women with Preexisting Diabetes: Opportunities to Improve Patient-Centered Care
by Cassondra J. Marshall, Lindsay Parham, Erin Hubbard and Roxanna A. Irani
Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2023, 20(4), 2908; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph20042908 - 7 Feb 2023
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1539
Abstract
Available research suggests that patients with diabetes do not regularly receive preconception counseling, but information on patients’ experiences of counseling is scant. We conducted a qualitative study involving semi-structured interviews with 22 patients between October 2020 and February 2021. Pregnant patients with preexisting [...] Read more.
Available research suggests that patients with diabetes do not regularly receive preconception counseling, but information on patients’ experiences of counseling is scant. We conducted a qualitative study involving semi-structured interviews with 22 patients between October 2020 and February 2021. Pregnant patients with preexisting diabetes were recruited from a specialty diabetes and pregnancy clinic at a large academic medical center in Northern California. Interviews were transcribed, coded, and analyzed using an inductive and deductive content analysis approach. A total of 27% reported they did not have any pregnancy-related discussions with a health care provider before pregnancy. Of those that did, many sought out counseling; this was often connected to how “planned” the pregnancy was. Few participants, nearly all with type 1 diabetes, reported having a formal preconception care visit. Participants described receiving information mostly about the risks associated with diabetes and pregnancy. While participants who sought out counseling generally reported their providers were supportive of their desire for pregnancy, there were a few exceptions, notably all among patients with type 2 diabetes. The varied experiences of participants indicate gaps in the delivery of pre-pregnancy counseling to patients with diabetes and suggest counseling may vary based on diabetes type. There are opportunities to improve the patient-centeredness of counseling. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Latest Research on Maternal and Child Health)
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