http://localhost:8080/xmlui/handle/123456789/10748 2026-04-11T21:08:25Z http://localhost:8080/xmlui/handle/123456789/10767 Title: Understanding the relationship between the public sector healthcare workers and NGO-based HIV counsellors while providing HIV counselling and testing services to pregnant women: A Qualitative Study in Suva, Fiji Authors: Razzaq, Amina; Stephenson, Niamh; Raynes-Greenow, Camille; Travaglia, Joanne; Alam, Neeloy Ashraful Abstract: Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) counselling and testing plays a significant role in the prevention of mother-to-child transmission of HIV. HIV counselling and testing during pregnancy is an essential gateway for HIV prevention, timely treatment, and care services. Lack of proper counselling could jeopardise the quality of services. This paper aims to understand the relationship between the government employed hospital healthcare workers and the Non-Governmental Organisation based counsellors while providing HIV counselling and testing services to pregnant women attending antenatal clinic in one of the main hospitals in Suva, Fiji. Data were collected via individual, in-depth, interviews held in a single hospital and an associated reproductive health centre in Suva in April-May 2013. A total of 15 healthcare providers including doctors (n = 4), midwives (n = 5), nurses (n = 4), and counsellors (n = 2) were interviewed. The data were analysed using thematic analysis. Ethical approvals were obtained. We found that there was tension between the government employed hospital healthcare workers and the Non-Governmental Organisation based counsellors involved in the provision of HIV counselling and testing services to pregnant women. The predominant causes of tension were poor referral for HIV test counselling, long counselling time, lack of cooperation and conflict due to the differences in counselling approaches. Tension between the government employed hospital healthcare workers and the Non- Governmental Organisation based HIV counsellors appear to be the main challenge to effective provision of HIV test counselling services in the hospital. Ongoing tension between both groups could restrict healthcare workers abilities to provide quality HIV counselling services. Our findings would be useful in developing strategies to overcome tension amongst healthcare workers as it would be an imperative step in providing streamlined HIV counselling services to women attending antenatal clinic in Fiji. 2023-02-01T00:00:00Z http://localhost:8080/xmlui/handle/123456789/10764 Title: The impact of social media influencers on pregnancy, birth, and early parenting experiences: A systematic review. Authors: Cheea, Rachelle M.; Capper, Tanya S.; Muurlink, Olav T. Abstract: Background: Pregnant and new parents are increasingly engaging with social media. The impacts of engaging with social media ‘influencers’ and ‘bloggers’ during a time of heightened vulnerability to influence, in particular, merits exploration. Aim: To systematically review the literature to identify what is known about how following social media ‘influencers’ and ‘bloggers’ impacts pregnant and new parents’ experiences and decision-making. Methods: A search of CINAHL, World of Science, Medline, EMBASE and Google Scholar databases was undertaken in January 2023 to identify the literature focusing on the impacts of engaging with influencers or bloggers as pregnant or new parents. The reference lists of the included papers were hand-searched. Data were extracted from each paper, tabulated, and thematically analysed. The review was reported using the 2020 Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines. Findings: Seventeen papers met the inclusion criteria and were included in the final synthesis. Thematic analysis revealed four overarching themes, which were ‘sharing information’, ‘support’, ‘identity’, and ‘monetisation’. Discussion: Social media influencers provide a network of peers amongst whom discussions, supportive behaviours, and information sharing take place. However, concern arises around the potential for combative interactions, the risk for transmission of misinformation, and the potential impacts of following influencers who are also qualified health professionals. Conclusion: Existing research suggests that engaging with social media influencers can be both beneficial and harmful for pregnant and new parents. At the current time, it is unclear how exposure to the benefits or harm impacts personal experiences and decision-making. 2023-02-01T00:00:00Z http://localhost:8080/xmlui/handle/123456789/10761 Title: The impact of COVID-19 on breastfeeding rates: An international cross-sectional study Authors: Ganho-Ávila, Ana; Guiomar, Raquel; Sobral, Mónica; Pacheco, Francisca; Caparros-Gonzalez, Rafael A.; Diaz-Louzao, Carla Abstract: Background: Breastfeeding promotes children’s health and is associated with positive effects to maternal physical and mental health. Uncertainties regarding SARS-CoV-2 transmission led to worries experienced by women and health professionals which impacted breastfeeding plans. We aimed to investigate the impact of self-reported and country-specific factors on breastfeeding rates during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: This study is part of a broader international prospective cohort study about the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on perinatal mental health (Riseup-PPD-COVID-19). We analysed data from 5612 women, across 12 countries. Potential covariates of breastfeeding (sociodemographic, perinatal, physical/mental health, professional perinatal care, changes in healthcare due to the pandemic, COVID-19 related, breastfeeding support, governmental containment measures and countries’ inequality levels) were studied by Generalized Linear Mixed-Effects Models. Results: A model encompassing all covariates of interest explained 24% of the variance of breastfeeding rates across countries (first six months postpartum). Overall, first child (β = -0.27), age of the child (β = -0.29), preterm birth (β = -0.52), admission to the neonatal/pediatric care (β = -0.44), lack of breastfeeding support (β = -0.18), current psychiatric treatment (β = -0.69) and inequality (β = -0.71) were negatively associated with breastfeeding (p < .001). Access to postnatal support groups was positively associated with breastfeeding (β = 0.59; p < .001). In countries with low-inequality, governmental measures to contain virus transmission had a deleterious effect on breastfeeding (β = -0.16; p < .05) while access to maternity leave protected breastfeeding (β = 0.50; p < .001). Discussion: This study shows that mother’s COVID-19 diagnosis and changes in healthcare and birth/postnatal plans did not influence breastfeeding rates. Virtual support groups help women manage breastfeeding, particularly when their experiencing a first child and for those under psychiatric treatment. The complex associations between covariates and breastfeeding vary across countries, suggesting the need to define context-specific measures to support breastfeeding. 2023-02-01T00:00:00Z http://localhost:8080/xmlui/handle/123456789/10758 Title: The barriers and needs of transgender men in pregnancy and childbirth: A qualitative interview study Authors: Amesfoort, J.E. van; Rooij, F.B. van; Painter, R.C.; Berg, A.W. Valkenburg-van den; Kreukels, B.P.C.; Steensma, T.D. Abstract: Objective: Transgender and gender diverse individuals are individuals whose gender identity differs from their sex assigned at birth. The discordance between gender identity and sex assignment may cause significant psychological distress: gender dysphoria. Transgender individuals may choose to undergo genderaffirming hormone treatment or surgery, but some decide to (temporarily) refrain from surgery and gender affirming hormone treatment and hence retain the possibility to become pregnant. Pregnancy may enhance feelings of gender dysphoria and isolation. To improve perinatal care for transgender individuals and their health care providers, we conducted interviews to explore the needs and barriers of transgender men in family planning, pregnancy, childbirth, puerperium and perinatal care. Design: In this qualitative study five in-depth semi-structured interviews were conducted with Dutch transgender men who had given birth while identifying on the transmasculine spectrum. The interviews were conducted online through a video remote-conferencing software program (n=4) or live (n=1). Interviews were transcribed verbatim. An inductive approach was used to find patterns and collect data from the participants’ narratives and constant comparative method was adapted in analysing the interviews. Measurements and findings: The experiences of transgender men regarding the preconception period, pregnancy and puerperium and with perinatal care varied widely. Though all participants expressed overall positive experiences, their narratives emphasized they had to overcome substantial hurdles pursuing pregnancy. For instance the necessity to prioritise becoming pregnant over gender transitioning, lack of support by healthcare providers and increased gender dysphoria and isolation during pregnancy Key conclusions: Since pregnancy in transgender men enhances feelings of gender dysphoria, transgender men comprise a vulnerable group in perinatal care. Health care providers are perceived as feeling unaccustomed for the care of transgender patients, as they are perceived to often lack the right tools and knowledge to provide adequate care. Our findings help strengthen the foundation of insight in the needs and hurdles of transgender men pursuing pregnancy and therefore may guide health care providers to provide equitable perinatal care, and emphasize the necessity of patient-centred gender-inclusive perinatal care. A guideline including the option for consultation of an expertise center is advised to facilitate patient-centered gender-inclusive perinatal care. 2023-01-01T00:00:00Z