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Pregnancy and Health in the Newborn

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 November 2018) | Viewed by 12117

Special Issue Editors


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Guest Editor
1. Research Group in Social and Nutritional Epidemiology, Pharmacoepidemiology and Public Health, Department of Preventive Medicine and Public Health, Food Sciences, Toxicology and Forensic Medicine, Faculty of Pharmacy, Universitat de València, Av. Vicent Andrés Estelles s/n, Burjassot, 46100 Valencia, Spain
2. Biomedical Research Center in Epidemiology and Public Health Network (CIBERESP), Carlos III Health Institute, Av. Monforte de Lemos 3-5 Pabellón 11 Planta 0, 28029 Madrid, Spain
Interests: environmental epidemiology; human health; environmental pollution; epidemiological studies; biostatistics
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
1. Department of Preventive Medicine and Public Health, Food Science, Toxicology and Forensic Medicine, Universitat de Valencia, 46100 Burjassot, Spain
2. Center for Biomedical Research Network Epidemiology and Public Health, (CIBERESP), 28029 Madrid, Spain
Interests: epidemiology; public health; preventive medicine; cancer; nutrition; maternal and fetal health
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Early identification of newborns at risk for possible future major health complications is the first step to effective health promotion and intervention. To make this identification possible and most effective, risk factors the mother may be exposed to during pregnancy must be identified and proper intervention applied when necessary during this especially sensitive time period of development. Intervention at the earliest possible time is crucial for long term health outcomes, however, there still exists a belief that interventions over the antenatal period have less impact than those provided around the time of birth for the long-term health of newborns. Risk factors prior to birth can be subdivided according to timing, duration, dosage of exposure, and mode of action. These variables determine which tissues are affected and to what extent in the newborn. Current risk factor screening is limited to the presence of clinical features and exposure such as alcohol and drugs. This Special Issue will focus on identifying risk factors for major health complications in newborns present during pregnancy and on appropriate management. New prevention and treatment strategies that are consequent upon the accurate identification of those newborns at risk will also be considered, as will wider societal implications.

Authors are encouraged to submit original research articles aimed to widen the current knowledge on this field. Submissions of hypotheses, opinions and commentaries are also welcome.

Prof. Dr. María M. Morales Suárez-Varela
Prof. Dr. Agustin Llopis
Guest Editors

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Keywords

  • pregnancy
  • newborn
  • prenatal care
  • prenatal exposures
  • lifestyle factors
  • diet

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Published Papers (3 papers)

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Research

11 pages, 331 KiB  
Article
Perceived Stress as a Predictor of Partnership Relation Quality in Polish Mothers of Preterm-Born Children
by Mariola Bidzan and Karolina Lutkiewicz
Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2019, 16(3), 355; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph16030355 - 27 Jan 2019
Cited by 7 | Viewed by 3212
Abstract
The aim of the study was to identify whether perceived stress and significant life changes are related with partnership relation quality in mothers of preterm-born children. The study group consisted of 260 women, who gave a preterm birth. In most cases the delivery [...] Read more.
The aim of the study was to identify whether perceived stress and significant life changes are related with partnership relation quality in mothers of preterm-born children. The study group consisted of 260 women, who gave a preterm birth. In most cases the delivery took place in the 34–36th week of pregnancy. The research consisted of two phases. Phase 1 was carried out in the Department of Obstetrics at the Medical University of Gdansk in the neonatal period (2–3 days after birth). Phase 2 was carried out in the place of residence of the mother and child during early childhood (24–30th month of the child’s life). The following research tools were used in the first phase of the research project: Analysis of nursing and medical reports, an interview questionnaire and psychological interview, The Perceived Stress Questionnaire (PSQ) (Lavenstein, the Polish version, after Plopa, 2008), The Recent Life Changes Questionnaire (RLCQ) (Rahe and Holmes, 1975), the Polish version, after Terelak 1995), and the Dyadic Adjustment Scale (DAS) (Spanier, 1976, the Polish version, after Cieślak, 1989). In the second phase of the study the respondents were once again examined using the DAS. It was shown that stress is related to partnership relationship quality and of all its components, except cohesion. The findings demonstrated that important life events are associated with a couple’s emotional expression in the neonatal period. Stressful life events do not correlate with relationship quality. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Pregnancy and Health in the Newborn)
12 pages, 569 KiB  
Article
Acquiring Knowledge about the Use of a Newly Developed Electronic Fetal Heart Rate Monitor: A Qualitative Study Among Birth Attendants in Tanzania
by Sara Rivenes Lafontan, Johanne Sundby, Hussein L. Kidanto, Columba K. Mbekenga and Hege L. Ersdal
Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2018, 15(12), 2863; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph15122863 - 14 Dec 2018
Cited by 9 | Viewed by 3478
Abstract
In an effort to reduce newborn mortality, a newly developed strap-on electronic fetal heart rate monitor was introduced at several health facilities in Tanzania in 2015. Training sessions were organized to teach staff how to use the device in clinical settings. This study [...] Read more.
In an effort to reduce newborn mortality, a newly developed strap-on electronic fetal heart rate monitor was introduced at several health facilities in Tanzania in 2015. Training sessions were organized to teach staff how to use the device in clinical settings. This study explores skilled birth attendants’ perceptions and experiences acquiring and transferring knowledge about the use of the monitor, also called Moyo. Knowledge about this learning process is crucial to further improve training programs and ensure correct, long-term use. Five Focus group discussions (FGDs) were carried out with doctors and nurse-midwives, who were using the monitor in the labor ward at two health facilities in Tanzania. The FGDs were analyzed using qualitative content analysis. The study revealed that the participants experienced the training about the device as useful but inadequate. Due to high turnover, a frequently mentioned challenge was that many of the birth attendants who were responsible for training others, were no longer working in the labor ward. Many participants expressed a need for refresher trainings, more practical exercises and more theory on labor management. The study highlights the need for frequent trainings sessions over time with focus on increasing overall knowledge in labor management to ensure correct use of the monitor over time. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Pregnancy and Health in the Newborn)
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18 pages, 1736 KiB  
Article
Estimation of Neonatal Intestinal Perforation Associated with Necrotizing Enterocolitis by Machine Learning Reveals New Key Factors
by Claudine Irles, Gabriela González-Pérez, Sandra Carrera Muiños, Carolina Michel Macias, César Sánchez Gómez, Anahid Martínez-Zepeda, Guadalupe Cordero González and Estibalitz Laresgoiti Servitje
Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2018, 15(11), 2509; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph15112509 - 9 Nov 2018
Cited by 34 | Viewed by 4758
Abstract
Intestinal perforation (IP) associated with necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) is one of the leading causes of mortality in premature neonates; with major nutritional and neurodevelopmental sequelae. Since predicting which neonates will develop perforation is still challenging; clinicians might benefit considerably with an early diagnosis [...] Read more.
Intestinal perforation (IP) associated with necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) is one of the leading causes of mortality in premature neonates; with major nutritional and neurodevelopmental sequelae. Since predicting which neonates will develop perforation is still challenging; clinicians might benefit considerably with an early diagnosis tool and the identification of critical factors. The aim of this study was to forecast IP related to NEC and to investigate the predictive quality of variables; based on a machine learning-based technique. The Back-propagation neural network was used to train and test the models with a dataset constructed from medical records of the NICU; with birth and hospitalization maternal and neonatal clinical; feeding and laboratory parameters; as input variables. The outcome of the models was diagnosis: (1) IP associated with NEC; (2) NEC or (3) control (neither IP nor NEC). Models accurately estimated IP with good performances; the regression coefficients between the experimental and predicted data were R2 > 0.97. Critical variables for IP prediction were identified: neonatal platelets and neutrophils; orotracheal intubation; birth weight; sex; arterial blood gas parameters (pCO2 and HCO3); gestational age; use of fortifier; patent ductus arteriosus; maternal age and maternal morbidity. These models may allow quality improvement in medical practice. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Pregnancy and Health in the Newborn)
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