Midwifery News and Research

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Modified MDQ effective for bipolar screening in pregnancy

A modified version of the Mood Disorder Questionnaire is an effective screening tool for bipolar disorder during pregnancy and the postpartum period, researchers report.

9 Nov 2012

Policymakers developing post-2015 development goals must listen to development workers

"My worry, as the high-level panel on post-2015 development goals meets this week, is that my voice -- and those of many others working at the sharp end of development -- won't ultimately have much influence," Francess Fornah, head of the school of midwifery in Makeni, Sierra Leone, writes in the Guardian's "Poverty Matters" blog.

3 Nov 2012

Nottingham experts identify risk factors associated with childhood obesity

High birth weight, rapid weight gain and having an overweight mother who smokes can all increase the risk of a baby becoming obese later in childhood, research by experts at The University of Nottingham has found.

30 Oct 2012

Collaborative care improves depression and anxiety outcomes

Collaborative care, a model that involves multiple clinicians working with a patient, significantly improves depression and anxiety outcomes compared to standard primary care treatment for up to two years, finds a new review by The Cochrane Library.

19 Oct 2012

New initiative aims to bolster human resources at medical schools in Rwanda

U.S. Global AIDS Coordinator Ambassador Eric Goosby is "expected to announce a new initiative between the U.S. government, the Rwandan Ministry of Health and 14 American medical schools at a press conference Monday in Kigali, Rwanda," the New York Times reports.

16 Oct 2012

MindChild receives FDA pre-market clearance for MERIDIAN non-invasive fetal heart monitor

MindChild Medical, Inc. today announced that it has received clearance for its Pre-Marketing Notification (510(k)) from the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for its MERIDIAN non-invasive fetal heart monitor.

26 Sep 2012

Women's eNews examines maternal health in Morocco

"Morocco has made great strides in improving maternal health in recent years, decreasing its maternal mortality ratio by over 60 percent since 1990," but "a wide maternal health gap" exists between women in urban and rural areas, where deliveries generally are attended by an experienced yet untrained family member, Women's eNews reports.

26 Sep 2012

Nurses can play a key role in feeding people and restoring their humanity in times of crisis

Nurses can play a key role in feeding people and restoring their humanity in times of great crisis and this was very evident during their little-known involvement in the liberation of Bergen-Belsen at the end of World War Two.

21 Sep 2012

New Cochrane Review: All countries should consider establishing proper home birth services

A new Cochrane Review concludes that all countries should consider establishing proper home birth services. They should also provide low-risk pregnant women with information enabling them to make an informed choice. The review has been prepared by senior researcher, statistician Ole Olsen, the Research Unit for General Practice, University of Copenhagen, and midwifery lecturer PhD Jette Aaroe Clausen.

20 Sep 2012

Inhaled pain relief effective in first labor stage

A Cochrane review shows that inhaled pain relief is more effective than no pain relief at all in reducing pain intensity during the first stage of labor, say researchers.

19 Sep 2012

Increasing perceived control may reduce risk of complications after acute coronary syndrome

Patients admitted to hospital with obstructed heart arteries were three times more likely to experience complications when they were in hospital if they felt they were not in control of their condition, according to research published in the October issue of the Journal of Advanced Nursing.

14 Sep 2012

Insufficient evidence to support effectiveness of black cohosh for menopausal symptoms

Although many women coping with hot flashes and other distressing symptoms of menopause have turned to black cohosh supplements as a treatment alternative, a new review by The Cochrane Library finds no evidence that the herb is effective.

14 Sep 2012

Inhaled analgesia appears to be effective in reducing pain intensity in first stage of labour

Inhaled pain relief appears to be effective in reducing pain intensity and in giving pain relief in the first stage of labour, say Cochrane researchers.

12 Sep 2012

Nurses, midwives can safely perform abortions, review of evidence suggests

"Abortions are just as safe when performed by trained nurse practitioners, midwives and physician assistants as when doctors do them, a new review of the evidence suggests," Reuters reports.

1 Sep 2012

Nigerian nursing, midwifery college seeks to train local health care workers

BBC News reports on a $15 million college in northern Nigeria's Jigawa state that is working to train nurses and midwives.

3 Aug 2012

Female stroke patients more affected in all quality of life domains than males

Having a stroke or mini stroke has a much more profound effect on women than men when it comes to their quality of life, according to research published in the August issue of the Journal of Clinical Nursing.

26 Jul 2012

VOA examines maternal mortality in South Sudan one year after independence

"A year after independence, South Sudan is still battling a lack of staff and resources as it tries to end its distinction of having the highest maternal mortality rate in the world," VOA News reports.

18 Jul 2012

Researchers examine YouTube database to find most viewed videos for nurses and nursing

The nursing profession needs to harness the power of the video-sharing website YouTube to promote a positive image of nurses, after research found that many of the top hits portray them in a derogatory way. That is the key finding of research published in the August issue of the Journal of Advanced Nursing.

17 Jul 2012

Opinion pieces address family planning issues on World Population Day

The London Summit on Family Planning took place Wednesday, July 11, also recognized as World Population Day. The goal of the summit was to raise money to improve access to family planning services to prevent maternal and child mortality. The following summaries describe opinion pieces that address these issues.

13 Jul 2012

Global initiative to improve quality of midwifery care

Researchers from across the world have joined forces to improve the quality of midwifery care and reduce maternal, newborn and infant mortality.

22 Jun 2012