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- Ericson, Jenny, 1976-
(författare)
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Breastfeeding in mothers of preterm infants : Prevalence and effects of support
- 2018
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Doktorsavhandling (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- The overall aim of this thesis was to describe the prevalence of breastfeeding in preterm infants and to evaluate the effectiveness and mother’s experiences of proactive person-centred telephone support after discharge. Furthermore, to describe the duration of breastfeeding and risks of ceasing breastfeeding up to 12 months. The first study, a register study with data from the Swedish Neonatal Quality register (SNQ), included breastfeeding data at discharge from 29 445 preterm infants born from 2004-2013. The results demonstrated that the prevalence of exclusive breastfeeding among preterm infants in Sweden decreased during the study period, especially among extremely preterm infants (<28 weeks). We also performed a multicentre randomised controlled trial (RCT) of 493 breastfeeding mothers of preterm infants discharged from six neonatal units in Sweden. The intervention consisted of a proactive breastfeeding telephone support system in which a breastfeeding support team called the mothers once everyday up to 14 days after discharge. The control group received reactive support; the mothers were invited to call the breastfeeding support team if they wanted to talk or ask any questions (i.e., usual care).The RCT demonstrated that the intervention did not affect exclusive breastfeeding at eight weeks after discharge (primary outcome) or up to 12 months. The proactive support did not affect maternal breastfeeding satisfaction, attachment, quality of life or method of feeding (secondary outcomes). However, parental stress was significantly reduced in mothers in the intervention group. Mothers in the intervention group were significantly more satisfied and involved in the support and felt empowered compared with mothers in the control group, who experienced reactive support as dual. Further findings showed that a lower maternal educational level, partial breastfeeding at discharge and longer stay in the neonatal unit increased the risk of ceasing breastfeeding during the first 12 months of postnatal age. In conclusion, the trend for exclusive breastfeeding at discharge in preterm infants is declining, which necessitates concern. The evaluated intervention of telephone support did not affect breastfeeding, in the short-or long-term. However, maternal stress was reduced and mothers were significantly more satisfied with the proactive support and felt empowered by the support.
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| 2. |
- Randell, Eva, 1960-
(författare)
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Adolescent boys’ health : managing emotions, masculinities and subjective social status
- 2016
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Doktorsavhandling (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- The health of adolescent boys is complex and surprisingly little is known about how adolescent boys perceive, conceptualise and experience their health. Thus, the overall aim of this thesis was to explore adolescent boys’ perceptions and experiences of health, emotions, masculinity and subjective social status (SSS).This thesis consists of a qualitative, a quantitative and a mixed methods study. The qualitative study aimed to explore how adolescent boys understand the concept of health and what they find important for its achievement. Furthermore, the adolescent boys’ views of masculinity, emotion management and their potential effects on wellbeing were explored. For this purpose, individual interviews were conducted with 33 adolescent boys aged 16-17 years. The quantitative study aimed to investigate the associations between pride, shame and health in adolescence. Data were collected through a cross-sectional postal survey with 705 adolescents. The purpose of the mixed methods study was to investigate associations between SSS in school, socioeconomic status (SES) and self-rated health (SRH), and to explore the concept of SSS in school. Cross-sectional data were combined with interview data in which the meaning of SSS was further explored. Individual interviews with 35 adolescents aged 17-18 years were conducted.In the qualitative study, data were analysed using Grounded Theory. In the quantitative study, statistical analyses (e.g., chi-square test and uni- and multivariable logistic regression analyses) were performed. In the mixed method study, a combination of statistical analyses and thematic network analysis was applied.The results showed that there was a complexity in how the adolescent boys viewed, experienced, dealt with and valued health. On a conceptual level, they perceived health as holistic but when dealing with difficult emotions, they were prone to separate the body from the mind. Thus, the adolescent boys experienced a difference between health as a concept and health as an experience (paper I). Concerning emotional orientation in masculinity, two main categories of masculine conceptions were identified: a gender-normative masculinity and a non-gender-normative masculinity (paper II). Gender-normative masculinity comprised two seemingly opposite emotional masculinity orientations, one towards toughness and the other towards sensitivity, both of which were highly influenced by contextual and situational group norms and demands, despite that their expressions are in contrast to each other. Non-gender-normative masculinity included an orientation towards sincerity, emphasising the personal values of the boys. Emotions were expressed more independently of peer group norms. The findings suggest that different masculinities and the expression of emotions are intricately intertwined and that managing emotions is vital for wellbeing. The present findings also showed that both shame and pride were significantly associated with SRH, and furthermore, that there seems to be a protective effect of experiencing pride for health (paper III). The results also demonstrated that SSS is strongly related to SRH, and high SRH is related to high SSS, and further that the positioning was done in a gendered space (paper IV).Results from all studies suggest that the emotional and relational aspects, as well as perceived SSS, were strongly related to SRH. Positive emotions, trustful relationships and having a sense of belonging were important factors for health and pride was an important emotion protecting health. Physical health, on the other hand, had a more subordinated value, but the body was experienced as an important tool to achieve health. Even though health was mainly perceived in a holistic manner by the boys, there were boys who were prone to dichotomise the health experience into a mind-body dualism when having to deal with difficult emotions.In conclusion, this thesis demonstrates that young, masculine health is largely experienced through emotions and relationships between individuals and their contexts affected by gendered practices. Health is to feel and function well in mind and body and to have trusting relationships. The results support theories on health as a social construction of interconnected processes. Having confidence in self-esteem, access to trustful relationships and the courage to resist traditional masculine norms while still reinforcing and maintaining social status are all conducive to good health. Researchers as well as professionals need to consider the complexity of adolescent boys’ health in which norms, values, relationships and gender form its social determinants. Those working with young boys should encourage them to integrate physical, social and emotional aspects of health into an interconnected and holistic experience.
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