| 1. |
- Mocumbi, Sibone
(författare)
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‘How good is good?’ : Studies of facility-based childbirth care in southern Mozambique, from the perspectives of women and health providers
- 2019
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Doktorsavhandling (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- Despite the large shift toward facility-based childbirths occurred during the last 15 years in several low resource settings, including in Mozambique, the burden of maternal mortality and morbidity remain considerable. Obstetric fistula is one of the most devastating of all maternal morbidities which still prevalent and is entirely avoidable.The aim of this thesis was to evaluate and explore the provision of childbirth care, focusing on obstetric fistula as one of its complications, in a rural Mozambican setting of high facility delivery rate.The four studies constituting this thesis were implemented in Maputo and Gaza provinces, southern Mozambique, between April 2016 and March 2017. We included 4385 women having given birth up to 12 months the study identified from a cohort of women of reproductive age (12-49 years). We identified women with constant urine leakage, assess them clinically, confirm the diagnosis and estimate the incidence of obstetric fistula. In-depth interviews with selected women with and without fistula (n=28), were used to describe the women’s experiences of maternal care and pinpoint those experiences that are unique to women with fistula. During the same cross-sectional survey (n=4385) we also assessed the women’s experiences of care and satisfaction with care during childbirth. We complemented the women’s survey with a survey among 175 health workers of the study area to assess their perception of their work context.The incidence of fistulae was 1.1 per recently pregnant women (95% CI 0.14-2.16). Delays in receiving definite care at referral hospitals despite having reached the primary health facility in time, were reported by the women who had fistulae. Women without fistula, blamed the fistula condition on women’s physiological and behavioural characteristics. Most (92.5%) of the 4358 women interviewed reported to be satisfied with care during childbirth and would recommend a family member to deliver in the same facility. Women who gave birth in primary level facilities tended to be more satisfied than those gave birth in hospitals, and presence of a companion had a positive influence on the satisfaction, irrespective of age, education and socio-economic background. Health workers rated highly the items on all dimensions of context when asked to evaluate their work context using the Context Assessment for Community Health (COACH) tool, although still above the scale midpoint, the organizational resources dimension had the lowest score.This thesis demonstrates a high incidence of obstetric fistula despite a high coverage of facility-based childbirths in a rural context where services are generally perceived as adequate by childbearing women and health providers. To reduce maternal morbidity by fistula, major interventions are needed to improve the quality of childbirth care, including complication recognition and decision-making for referral, health facility preparedness as well as to improve the health providers’ work environment.
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| 2. |
- Bergman, Lina, 1982-
(författare)
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Cerebral biomarkers in women with preeclampsia
- 2017
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Doktorsavhandling (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- Preeclampsia and eclampsia are among the most common causes of maternal and fetal mortality and morbidity worldwide. There are no reliable means to predict eclampsia or cerebral edema in women with preeclampsia and knowledge of the brain involvement in preeclampsia is still limited. S100B and neuron specific enolase (NSE) are two cerebral biomarkers of glial- and neuronal origin respectively. They are used as predictors for neurological outcome after traumatic brain injuries and cardiac arrest but have not yet been investigated in preeclampsia.This thesis is based on one longitudinal cohort study of pregnant women (n=469, Paper I and III), one cross sectional study of women with preeclampsia and women with normal pregnancies (n=53 and 58 respectively, Paper II and IV) and one experimental animal study of eclampsia (Paper V).In Paper I and III, plasma concentrations of S100B and NSE were investigated throughout pregnancy in women developing preeclampsia (n=16) and in women with normal pregnancies (n=36) in a nested case control study. Plasma concentrations were increased in women developing preeclampsia in gestational week 33 and 37 for S100B and in gestational week 37 for NSE compared to women with normal pregnancies.In Paper II and IV, increased plasma concentrations of S100B and NSE were confirmed among women with preeclampsia compared to women with normal pregnancies. Furthermore, increased plasma concentrations of S100B correlated to visual disturbances among women with preeclampsia (Paper II) and plasma concentrations of S100B and NSE remained increased among women with preeclampsia one year after delivery (Paper IV).In Paper V, an experimental rat model of preeclampsia and eclampsia demonstrated increased serum concentrations of S100B after seizures in normal pregnancy (n=5) and a tendency towards increased plasma concentrations of S100B in preeclampsia (n=5) compared to normal pregnancy (n=5) without seizures. Furthermore, after seizures, animals with magnesium sulphate treatment demonstrated increased serum concentrations of S100B and NSE compared to no treatment.In conclusion; plasma concentrations of S100B and NSE are increased in preeclampsia during late pregnancy and postpartum and S100B correlates to visual disturbances in women with preeclampsia. The findings are partly confirmed in an animal model of eclampsia.
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| 3. |
- Gunnarsdóttir, Jóhanna, 1978-
(författare)
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Epidemiological Studies of Preeclampsia : Maternal & Offspring Perspectives
- 2017
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Doktorsavhandling (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- Preeclampsia is a placental-related disorder characterized by generalized endothelial activation. Vascular predisposition is associated with the occurrence of preeclampsia and the recurrence risk is substantial. Onset of preeclampsia is preceded by placental hypo-perfusion, and placental over-production of vasoconstrictive agents might explain symptoms such as hypertension and proteinuria. Preeclampsia is associated with the birth of small-for-gestational-age (SGA) infants. The trajectory of postnatal growth in SGA-born children is described as catch-up, but it is unclear whether prenatal preeclampsia is independently associated with postnatal growth.The objectives were: firstly, to study the association between partner change and prior miscarriages on the occurrence of preeclampsia and SGA; secondly, to study postnatal growth in children prenatally exposed to preeclampsia; and thirdly, to address the association between blood pressure (BP) changes during pregnancy and risks of preeclampsia and SGA.Population-based cohort studies were performed with information from the following registers: Swedish Medical Birth Register, Uppsala Mother and Child Database and Stockholm-Gotland Obstetric Database. Associations were estimated with logistic and linear regression analyses, with adjustments for maternal characteristics, including body mass index, pre-gestational diseases and socioeconomic factors.The results were, firstly, that partner change was associated with preeclampsia and SGA birth in the second pregnancy but depended on the outcome of the first pregnancy, and that a history of recurrent miscarriages was associated with increased risks of preeclampsia and SGA. Secondly, prenatal exposure to preeclampsia was associated with increased offspring growth in height during the first five years. This association was also seen in children born with normal birth weight for gestational age. Thirdly, pre-hypertension in late gestation and elevated diastolic BP from early to mid-gestation were both associated with SGA birth. Further, women with pre-hypertension in early gestation without lowered diastolic BP until mid-gestation seemed to represent a risk group for preeclampsia.To conclude, the importance of previous pregnancy outcomes in the antenatal risk evaluation was highlighted. Secondly, the results imply that postnatal growth trajectory is related to maternal preeclampsia, in addition to SGA. Thirdly, the association between BP changes within a normal range and SGA may challenge the clinical cut-off for hypertension in pregnancy.
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| 4. |
- Liljeström, Lena, 1977-
(författare)
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Birth asphyxia : Fetal scalp blood sampling and risk factors for hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy
- 2018
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Doktorsavhandling (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- Preventing birth asphyxia is a major challenge in delivery care. The aims of this thesis were to evaluate fetal scalp blood sampling (FBS) and explore risk factors for moderate to severe neonatal hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy (HIE).In a study of 241 deliveries monitored by FBS, a discrepancy between pH and lactate (one abnormal and one normal value) was common (55%) in combined FBS. We found that the frequency of operative deliveries for fetal distress (ODFD) was lower when both pH and lactate were analysed in FBS compared with analysis of only pH or lactate, without affecting neonatal outcome. (Study I)In a questionnaire study, women (n = 51) monitored by FBS generally tolerated the test well. Women without epidural, with higher body mass index (BMI), and with less cervical dilatation had higher pain ratings compared with their counterparts. The obstetricians that performed the test generally experienced the test as easy to perform, but more complicated with high maternal BMI, less cervical dilatation, and higher station of the fetal head. (Study II)In a national cohort of 692 428 live births ≥ 36 weeks, risk factors for moderate to severe HIE were identified. We found a linear association between increasing maternal BMI and decreasing maternal height and risk of HIE. Compared with non-short (≥156 cm) and normal weight (BMI<25 kg/m2) women, short and overweight women had a threefold risk of HIE. (Study III)Obstetric emergencies occurred in 29% of HIE cases, more commonly in parous (37%) than in nulliparous (21%) women. Among nulliparous women, shoulder dystocia was most common, with the strongest association to HIE. In parous women without previous caesarean, shoulder dystocia was most common, but placental abruption had the strongest association to HIE. Among parous women with previous caesarean, uterine rupture was the most prevalent, with the strongest association to HIE. (Study IV)Conclusions: Combined FBS might decrease the frequency of ODFD. FBS is well tolerated in women and generally uncomplicated for the obstetrician to perform. Women with short stature and overweight have increased risk of having an infant with HIE. Obstetric emergencies are common underlying causes of HIE, especially in parous women.
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| 5. |
- Hess Engström, Andrea
(författare)
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Internet-based treatment for vulvodynia
- 2022
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Doktorsavhandling (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- Localized provoked vulvodynia is the most common cause of sexual pain and most often affects women between 20 and 30 years old. The etiology of provoked vulvodynia remains unclear, but an interplay of biomedical and psychosocial mechanisms is believed to contribute to the onset. The choice of treatment for provoked vulvodynia depends on locally available resources. Internet interventions can reach patients in distant geographical areas and may thus promote equal access to healthcare services. A few studies have investigated the effects of cognitive behavioral therapy on provoked vulvodynia. However, there appear to be no studies of the effects of an internet intervention using an acceptance and commitment therapy approach, also called third-wave cognitive behavioral therapy, for women with provoked vulvodynia.The aim of this thesis was to investigate the effects and patient experiences of a guided internet-based intervention for women with provoked vulvodynia during the waiting period for clinical treatment. All four studies included in this thesis were tied to a multicenter randomized controlled study: the EMBLA study. Participants were randomized to a six-week guided internet intervention or a waiting list before treatment as usual. Pain during intercourse, other pain-related variables, and pain acceptance were variables used to assess the effects of the intervention. Later, interviews were carried out with participants to ascertain their experiences of this internet-based treatment. Lastly, health-related quality of life and healthcare utilization were assessed to obtain a health economic evaluation of the intervention. Internet-based treatment had a positive effect on pain during intercourse and pain acceptance, but the results should be interpreted with caution due to the small sample size. This form of treatment was perceived as credible and helpful for managing provoked vulvodynia, but some difficulties related to the internet-based treatment were also reported. The intervention contributed to meaningful clinical effects at low costs per patient, indicating that internet-based treatment is not inferior to the standard of care. Internet-based treatment may serve as a complement to regular care, especially for patients living in geographical locations with low access to specialized care or where there are long waiting lists to initiate treatment.
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| 6. |
- Ugarte Guevara, William J., 1979-
(författare)
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Averting HIV and AIDS epidemic in Nicaragua : Studies of prevalence, knowledge, attitudes, and behavior
- 2012
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Doktorsavhandling (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- The overall aim of this thesis was to obtain an understanding of the dynamics of the HIV epidemic by estimating prevalence and exploring the relationship between HIV-related knowledge, attitudes, behavior, and HIV status in Nicaragua. Structured questionnaires were administered to adults from a health and demographic surveillance system in León, Nicaragua (Papers I–III). In-depth interviews and a survey were conducted among men who have sex with men (MSM, Paper IV). Blood sampling for HIV was carried out among 2,204 men and women (Paper I). Bivariate and multivariate analyses, including adjusted prevalence ratio (Papers I, II, IV), factor analysis, Cronbach’s alpha, and hierarchical regression analysis (Paper III) were performed. Thematic analysis was used with qualitative data (Paper IV).The prevalence of HIV in the general population was 0.35% (95% CI, 0.17–0.73). Those who have taken a HIV test were more likely to be females, younger, living in an urban setting, have a higher level of education, be married or cohabiting, and have no religious affiliation. HIV-related knowledge was lower among members of the general population than among MSM. Unprotected sex was reported more times with regular partners than with casual partners. Findings suggested that consistency of condom use and emotional attachment (steady relations) were inversely related. Stigma and discrimination were reported high in the general population; they appeared to be negatively associated with HIV-related knowledge, self-perception of HIV risk, HIV testing, and willingness to disclose HIV status in the event of being HIV-positive. Findings demonstrated an increasing tolerance towards same-sex attractions. MSM have a better understanding of HIV transmission than men and women of the general population. Although seven out of ten MSM and six out of ten women were concerned about becoming infected with HIV, inconsistent condom use was common.This study confirmed that Nicaragua has a low prevalence but high risk for HIV infection and transmission. Results underscore that social, behavioral, and cultural factors contribute to retard progress in achieving the Millennium Development Goals on reducing gender inequality and combating HIV/AIDS. Addressing these challenges depends not only on successful behavior change interventions, but requires a culturally gender-appropriate strategy.
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| 7. |
- Eckerdal, Patricia, 1972-
(författare)
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Perinatal Complications: Associations with Postpartum depressive symptoms and Neuroticism
- 2018
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Doktorsavhandling (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- Even though most pregnancies and deliveries are uncomplicated, still fifteen percent of all women in developed countries suffer pregnancy-related complications. The aim of this thesis was to explore the associations between perinatal complications and perinatal maternal health, with emphasis on postpartum depressive symptoms (PPDS) and neuroticism taking into account potential confounding or mediating factors such as history of depression, antenatal depressive symptoms and delivery experience.In the first study (n=446), the association between heavy postpartum haemorrhage and PPDS at six weeks postpartum was delineated by using path-analysis in order to provide insight into the complex mediating roles of several consequences of postpartum haemorrhage. There was no direct association between postpartum haemorrhage and PPDS, only an indirect one via anaemia at discharge and negative delivery experience.The second study (n=3888) examined the association of mode of delivery with PPDS at 6 weeks postpartum. The results indicate that the association between elective caesarean section and PPDS is highly confounded by history of depression and fear of delivery, while emergency caesarean section and vacuum extraction increase odds for PPDS by leading to postpartum complications and negative delivery experience.The third study (n=1503) investigated the association between the use of epidural analgesia during delivery and PPDS. A positive association in the crude analysis was no longer present after adjustment for sociodemographic, psychosocial and obstetrical variables, indicating that pain relief through epidural analgesia is not likely to affect risk for PPDS.In the last study (n=1969), the association between neuroticism and perinatal complications was explored. Neuroticism was not associated with adverse perinatal outcomes, except for gestational diabetes mellitus. The association, however, became statistically non-significant after adjusting for psychiatric morbidity.In summary, the current studies do no find evidence for a direct association between perinatal complications and postpartum depressive symptoms or neuroticism. However, several important mediators have been identified, among which postpartum anaemia and negative delivery experience deserve special attention. Also, earlier psychiatric history needs to be addressed as an important confounder.
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