PubMed Health⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

B Chalmers

Publications and source records attributed to B Chalmers.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed1995

Psychosomatic obstetrics in the countries of central and Eastern Europe.

Womens' experiences of pregnancy and birth in the countries of Central and Eastern Europe are explored in this paper. Most of these countries are in transition from a totalitarian system of government to that of democracy. The implications of this re-orientation are many. Not least of all are the changes taking place in health care systems in general, as well as in maternal-child health care in particular. This paper reviews the current state of some perinatal care systems in these countries. It is not a research paper: it reflects observations and recommendations arising from humanitarian aid service in these countries and from available literature.

Breast Feeding↗
PubMed1995

Companionship in labour: do the personality characteristics of labour supporters influence their effectiveness.

Recent research has revealed beneficial post-partum, psychosocial effects on the mother following labour which was accompanied by supportive companions. Whether these effects are obtained as a result of having companionship during labour or because of specific personality characteristics of the companions provided is important and is explored in this paper. Although findings revealed few differences in adjustment between women who were supported by different companions, some variability in the postpartum state anxiety and depression scores were noted which suggest that selection of an appropriate supporter is an important aspect of such programmes.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1994

What women say about their birth experiences: a cross-cultural study.

The reactions of 221 women to their place of delivery (state or private hospital), type of delivery (vaginal or Caesarean) and associated obstetrical interventions were explored by means of a structured interview conducted at 3 months postpartum. Women were randomly selected from the birth records of three cultural groups residing in the municiple area of Johannesburg, South Africa: White (n = 72), Indian (n = 79) and Mixed cultural origin (n = 78). The type of birth experienced by women differed in the cultural groups examined. While most women experienced positive emotional reactions to birth many also expressed a variety of negative reactions. The differences in care experienced by women in the present study reflect the impact of the two systems of care, private and state, that are available to women in South Africa.

Adult↗
PubMed1993

Postpartum depression and companionship in the clinical birth environment: a randomized, controlled study.

OBJECTIVE: Postpartum depression is a common feature of childbearing and is the cause of considerable morbidity. We have explored the possibility that clinically oriented care during labor may contribute to its occurrence. STUDY DESIGN: Of 189 nulliparous women laboring in a familiar community hospital, 92 were allocated by randomized, sealed envelopes to receive additional companionship from one of three volunteer labor companions recruited from the community. RESULTS: The group receiving support attained higher self-esteem scores and lower postpartum depression and anxiety ratings 6 weeks after delivery. CONCLUSION: In the clinical labor environment companionship modifies factors that contribute to the development of postnatal depression. We emphasize the importance of paying attention to the psychosocial environment in which labor takes place, to facilitate adaptation to parenthood.

Depression↗
PubMed1993

Social support in labor--a selective review.

Support during labor has been offered by a variety of different people, including fathers, professional medical staff, trained labor coaches and monitrices, untrained lay supporters and family and friends. A comparison of the various findings shows that support given by trained or lay untrained female supporters, who are not necessarily known to the laboring woman, yields the most extensive, methodologically sound, and consistently positive effects on obstetric and psychosocial outcomes. Although trained labor coaches have been shown to exert a positive effect on outcome, the results of doula support are the most impressive when both methodology and outcome effects are considered. Studies of father support have yielded contradictory findings, although women do appear to value their presence in most studies. Family and friends have not been shown to influence outcomes. Support from professional medical staff is rare, but when given, has, in some cases, had a positive effect. These findings are important for the field, since the use of lay supporters constitutes a low-cost preventive intervention. The inclusion of lay supportive women is also consistent with traditional practices in most countries in the world.

Cultural Characteristics↗
PubMed1993

Traditional Indian customs surrounding birth. A review.

Since 1960, only a few studies have been made of traditional customs surrounding birth in Indian culture. Very few of these have described customs followed by Indians in South Africa. A review of these publications is presented here. Customs described include religious, social and psychological aspects of behaviour in relation to conception, pregnancy, birth and the early months of parenthood.

Culture↗
PubMed1993

Adherence to traditional Indian customs surrounding birth.

Customs traditionally followed by Indian women during pregnancy, birth and early parenthood have been documented. An exploratory investigation of the extent to which some of these traditional beliefs, customs and practices are currently adhered to was undertaken by interviewing Indian mothers living in Johannesburg and its environs about 3 months after delivery. Results indicate that while some traditional customs are still adhered to by most Indian women, others are not so strictly followed. Since most customs relate to activities conducted at home rather than while in hospital for delivery, medical care would not be expected to influence their practice.

Adult↗
PubMed1990

Working while breast feeding among coloured women.

The influence of a wide variety of factors on infants' feeding patterns has frequently been reported. Of growing interest is the role played by economic issues in determining the duration of breast feeding. The present study describes the attitudes toward, beliefs about, and practices in relation to working while breast feeding amongst 220 'Coloured' (of mixed ethnic origin) women. Breast feeding rates are initially high but drop rapidly about the time mothers return to work. Approximately two-thirds of the women studied returned to work in the post partum period. Most report that breast feeding and working are incompatible.

Adult↗
PubMed1989

Factors influencing breast-feeding in an urban community.

In an attempt to answer the question of what influences mothers' decisions on how to feed their babies, a questionnaire was administered to 200 mothers when their babies were approximately 1 year of age. The questions covered a wide variety of factors, including socio-economic, educational, housing and family details, employment, ante- and perinatal experiences, maternal beliefs, support systems and actual feeding practices. Those mothers who had breast-fed their babies for longer than 36 weeks were compared with those who had stopped before 12 weeks. The most important factors distinguishing the two groups, as decided by stepwise regression analysis, were the beliefs that breast-feeding helps teething and does not make the baby irritable; also female babies were more likely to be breast-fed and the postnatal income of the mother was important. It is believed that these factors, together with the other, less statistically significant differences, should be used when formulating breast-feeding promotion strategies. The importance of income, and therefore of employment, underlines the necessity for legislation requiring large-scale employers of women to provide crèches and breast-feeding breaks for female staff.

Attitude↗
PubMed1988

Infant feeding in an urban community.

Two hundred randomly selected mothers were interviewed approximately 1 year post-partum to establish how they had fed their babies and the number of attacks of gastro-enteritis these infants had had; 129 of the babies were examined, primarily for their nutritional status. The majority of mothers (97%) began by breast-feeding and 50% were still doing so at 20 weeks. By 4 weeks 20% had introduced formula feeds. Although some mothers introduced solids very early, the overall pattern was very similar to UK data. The infants' mean weight and length compared well with the 50th centile on the Boston Growth Chart. Infants on prolonged breast-feeding were no better off nutritionally than those in whom breast-feeding was stopped before 12 weeks. It could not be demonstrated that prolonged breast-feeding in this community protected infants against gastro-enteritis, probably because few babies were exclusively breast-fed.

Breast Feeding↗
PubMed1987

Changing views regarding some delivery customs among Pedi women.

Knowledge of traditional practices surrounding childbirth was examined in Pedi women due to deliver in urban or rural hospitals or clinics. Results suggest that on the whole these women are fairly unfamiliar with traditional practices regarding the placenta, amniotic fluid and membranes or blood lost during delivery. In addition the majority of women expressed a preference for the supine delivery position as opposed to an upright stance.

Black or African American↗
PubMed1987

The father's role in labour--views of Pedi women.

Western women tend to favour the presence of their husbands during delivery. Traditional black customs, in contrast, place strong taboos on the male's involvement in birth. This article reports on the views of Pedi women delivering in hospitals or clinics towards their partners' presence at delivery. In all, 171 Pedi women were interviewed in urban and rural environments. Results suggest that most of these women still subscribe to the traditional role of the male at delivery, while a few are in favour of his presence. It is suggested that the reasons underlying this changing view be further explored.

Adolescent↗