| 1. |
- Druvefors, Emma, 1985-
(författare)
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Fertility in Inflammatory Bowel Disease
- 2023
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Doktorsavhandling (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- Inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD) often present in adolescence or early adulthood and is thus frequently diagnosed in men and women in their reproductive age. Previous population-based studies of fertility in patients with IBD are scarce.From the Swedish National Patient Register (NPR) all patients diagnosed with IBD of fertile age between 1964–2014 were identified. Statistics Sweden identified a matched reference cohort (ratio 1:5) from the general population matched for sex, age and place of birth. Children born were identified through the Medical Birth Register and the Swedish Multigeneration Register. For subgroup analyses information about medication was collected through Medical Drug Register and information about socioeconomic status from Longitudinal Integrated Database for Health Insurance and Labour Market Studies. From the SWedish Inflammatory Bowel disease quality REGister (SWIBREG) a cohort of women with UC who underwent colectomy 2000–2020 was identified. Demographic data from SWIBREG and information from a study specific questionnaire regarding reproductive history and voluntary childlessness were analysed.From the NPR 27,331 women and 29,104 men with IBD were identified, corresponding to 272,793 matched individuals.The fertility rate in women with IBD was 1.52 (standard deviation [SD] 1.22) births per 1000 person-years, compared with 1.62 (SD 1.28) (p <0.001) in the matched reference cohort. Fertility was negatively affected mainly in women with Crohn's disease (CD) and IBD-unclassified (IBD-U) and to a lesser extent in ulcerative colitis (UC). Disease activity, bowel resections and, in the case of CD, also perianal disease further adversely affected fertility. For women with UC and IBD-U, but not for women with CD, fertility improved throughout the study period. Contraceptive use was higher in female IBD patients, both before and after the diagnosis.In total 2,989 women underwent colectomy during the study period. Reconstruction with ileal pouch anal anastomosis (IPAA) and ileorectal anastomosis (IRA) was used to about the same extent in UC and IBD-U, although this was rare in CD. Compared with the matched reference cohort, women with IBD had lower fertility overall after colectomy (HR 0.65, CI 0.61–0.69), with least impact for operations that left the rectum intact (HR 0.79, CI 0.70–0.90). When the comparison was made within the group of patients undergoing colectomy, fertility in female patients remained nearly unaffected after IRA in all subtypes of IBD, but was impaired after IPAA, especially in UC (HR 0.67 CI 0.50–0.88), and after completion proctectomy in all subtypes of IBD (CD 0.61 CI 0.38–0.96), UC HR 0.65, CI 0.49–0.85 and IBD-U0.68, 0.55–0.85).The survey regarding reproductive behavior after colectomy was completed by 214 (73%) out of 294 eligible women identified in SWIBREG. The desire to have children was negatively affected by disease onset in 59% of the women, colectomy in 44% and by reconstruction in 37%. Altogether, 39% women with UC estimated that they chose to have fewer children in the end because of the disease, but only 10% expressed that the disease made them completely restrain from having children. On the contrary 37% of the women reported that they had experienced difficulties to conceive and 19% expressed that they could not conceive at all. Of the women undergoing reconstruction post colectomy, 37% reported that the choice of reconstruction method was influenced by their desire to have children. Difficulty conceiving was more commonly reported after reconstruction with IPAA (odds ratio [OR] 5.54) than IRA (OR 2.57).Men with IBD also had lower fertility rate compared with the matched reference population, although the impact on parity was limited; 1.28 (SD 1.27) versus 1.35 (SD 1.31) (p < 0.001). Fertility in men was nevertheless impaired in all IBD subtypes. The disease severity measured as order of hospital admissions (UC and IBD-U), intensity of medical treatment (CD), and bowel surgery (IBD-U) were further associated with impaired fertility in men. In the 3,771 men undergoing colectomy during the study period, fertility was only marginally (HR 0.89, CI 0.85–0.94) impaired, regardless of reconstruction.In conclusion, women with IBD have only slightly reduced fertility rates compared with the matched reference population with some exceptions. In non-surgically treated patients, the impact was most pronounced in female patients with CD. Women post colectomy have a particularly marked impact on fertility independent of IBD subtype. Bowel reconstruction with IPAA and proctectomy had a pronounced negative impact on fertility, while fertility was not further affected after IRA. More than half of the women with UC post colectomy reported that developing UC has affected their desire to have children, but difficulty to conceiving is also commonly reported. The impact of IBD in men was only minor.
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| 2. |
- Elenis, Evangelia
(författare)
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Genetic and epidemiological aspects of implantation defects : Studies on recurrent miscarriage, preeclampsia and oocyte donation
- 2016
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Doktorsavhandling (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- Implantation requires complex molecular and cellular events involving coagulation, angiogenesis and immunological processes that need to be well regulated for a pregnancy to establish and progress normally. The overall aim of this thesis was to study different models associated with atypical angiogenesis, impaired implantation and/or placentation, such as recurrent miscarriage (RM), oocyte donation (OD) and preeclampsia.Histidine-rich glycoprotein (HRG), a serum protein with angiogenic potential has been previously shown to have an impact on implantation and fertility. In two retrospective case-control studies, women suffering from RM (Study I) and gestational hypertensive disorders (GHD) (Study IV) have been compared to healthy control women, regarding carriership of HRG genotypes (HRG A1042G and C633T SNP, respectively). According to the findings of this thesis, heterozygous carriers of the HRG A1042G SNP suffer from RM more seldom than homozygous carriers (Study I). Additionally, the presence of the HRG 633T allele was associated with increased odds of GHD (GHD IV). Studies II and III comprised a national cohort of relatively young women with optimal health status conceiving singletons with donated oocytes versus autologous oocytes (spontaneously or via IVF). We explored differences in various obstetric (Study II) and neonatal (Study III) outcomes from the Swedish Medical Birth Register. Women conceiving with donated oocytes had a higher risk of GHD, induction of labor and cesarean section, as well as postpartum hemorrhage and retained placenta, when compared to autologously conceiving women. OD infants had higher odds of prematurity and lower birthweight and length when born preterm, compared to neonates from autologous oocytes. With regard to the indication of OD treatment, higher intervention but neverthelss favourable neonatal outcomes were observed in women with diminished ovarian reserve; the risk of GHD did not differ among OD recipients after adjustment.In conclusion, HRG genetic variation appears to contribute to placental dysfunction disorders. HRG is potential biomarker that may contribute in the prediction of the individual susceptibility for RM and GHD. Regarding OD in Sweden, the recipients-despite being of optimal age and health status- need careful preconceptional counselling and closer prenatal monitoring, mainly due to increased prevalence of hypertensive disorders and prematurity.
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| 3. |
- Liffner, Susanne, 1974-
(författare)
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Infertility in Men in Relation to Their Birth Characteristics
- 2021
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Doktorsavhandling (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- Background: About 10-15 % of couples worldwide suffer from infertility, the inability to achieve a pregnancy after more than 12 months of unprotected intercourse. Causes can be related to female factors, male factors, or both. In about 20 % of the couples, the cause remains unexplained. Male factor infertility is based on semen sample evaluation and is defined as poor semen quantity or quality, preferably in two or more samples. When assisted reproductive technology (ART) is considered for a couple with male factor infertility, intra-cytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) where the sperm is injected into the oocyte, is often needed to achieve embryo development.Men born small for gestational age (SGA), with low birth weight (LBW, £2,5000g) and/or prematurely (before the 37th gestational week) do not become fathers as often as men born with appropriate size for gestational age (AGA) at term. The aims of the present thesis were to investigate if this lower likelihood to become a father for men born SGA, preterm, or with low birth weight could be related to an increased risk of male factor infertility, if ICSI and sperm donation more often were needed and if the chance of conceiving by ART was lower than in men born AGA. An additional aim was to investigate if sperm DNA damage was more common in men born SGA compared with men born with normal size for gestational age.Material and Methods: Paper I and II were based on retrospective case control studies on men becoming fathers by ART in study I, and infertile men, patients at the Centre of Reproductive Medicine, University Hospital, Linköping, Sweden (RMC), in study II. Paper III was based on a cohort study on all men born in Sweden between 1973 and 1993. All three studies used data from national registers held by the National Board of Health and Welfare and Statistics Sweden. Study III also used information from the Swedish National Quality Register of Assisted Reproduction.Paper IV was based on a case series study of sperm DNA fragmentation in infertile patients and sperm donors at RMC, where two different methods of measuring sperm DNA fragmentation were compared, Halosperm® (easier to perform) and Sperm Chromatin Structure Assay (reference method). Paper V was based on a cohort study of men undergoing ART at RMC. The proportion of sperm with DNA fragmentation was compared between men born SGA and men born AGA.Results and conclusions: Men becoming fathers after ART were more often born with low birth weight than men conceiving naturally. Men becoming fathers after ICSI, presuming a poor semen sample, were more often born SGA than men conceiving by conventional IVF, or conceiving without treatment. ICSI had to be performed in 63% of men born SGA but only in 45% of men born AGA. Men with male factor infertility were more often born SGA or with LBW than men with female factor infertility, or when the infertility was unexplained. The results after ART were not affected by birth weight or size at birth.The likelihood of becoming a father was lower for men born SGA or with LBW compared with men born with normal birth weight. These men were also more often single (never married or with a registered partner) and had a higher risk of being born with undescended testicles, which increases the risk of infertility. Men born SGA more often needed ICSI or sperm donation.The two different methods to analyse sperm DNA fragmentation had high correlation and agreement, and Halosperm® could be considered a reliable and more easily handled method in the clinical setting. The median proportion of sperm with DNA fragmentation were higher for men born SGA (16.6%) compared with men born AGA (6.4%). The result was not statistically significant as the absolute number of men born SGA was much smaller than expected in this sample of 550 men. Larger studies are needed to confirm the hypothesis that DNA fragmentation contributes to a lower likelihood to become a father in men born SGA.
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| 4. |
- Bladh, Marie
(författare)
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Birth Characteristics’ Impacton Future Reproduction and Morbidity Among Twins an dSingletons
- 2015
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Doktorsavhandling (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- Globally, in both developed and developing countries, the twinning rates have increased since the early 70’s. A large proportion of twins are born preterm and/or small-for-gestational-age (SGA) and/or with a low birth weight. Several studies have been performed on the long-term effect of these non-optimal birth characteristics on future reproductive performance and morbidity. Yet, most studies exclude twins or higher order pregnancies and thus the findings are based on singleton pregnancies only.The aim of the present thesis was therefore to investigate the impact of non-optimal birth characteristics in terms of preterm birth, small-for-gestational age, and low birth weight, on the reproductive pattern and morbidity among twins and singletons Furthermore, the present thesis attempted to establish whether twins and singletons were affected in the same manner.The studies included in this thesis are prospective population-based register studies, including all men and women, alive and living in Sweden at age 13, who were born between 1973 and 1983 (1,000,037 singletons and 16,561 twins) for the first three studies with follow-up till the end of 2006 and 2009. The last study included all men and women, alive and living in Sweden at age 13, who were born between 1973 and 1993 (2,051,479 singletons and 39,726 twins) with follow-up till the end of 2012.In general, twins were found less likely to reproduce between 13 and 33 years of age compared with singletons. Stratifying data by different birth characteristics, it was found that twins had a lower likelihood of reproducing on several different birth characteristics (appropriate-for-gestational-age, normal birth weight, low birth weight, term birth, preterm birth). However, twins born very preterm had an increased likelihood of reproducing compared with singletons born very preterm.Not taking birth characteristics into account, twinning was associated with a higher degree of hospitalization. However, accounting for the diverging birth characteristics this difference diminished and for some diagnoses the relationship was reversed such that twins were actually less likely to be hospitalized compared with singletons.In terms of the heritability of non-optimal birth characteristics singleton mothers born preterm were more predisposed to give birth to a child that was preterm while singleton mothers born SGA more often gave birth to a child either born preterm or SGA. Among twins this heritability was not as evident. The only difference observed was among twin mothers born SGA who were more likely to give birth to a child born SGA.In the extended cohort comprising those born between 1973 and 1993, male and female twins were found to be less likely to become parents compared with singletons. No difference was found among women in terms of having a second child, while male twins were more likely to have a second child compared with male singletons. It was also found that the likelihood of becoming a first-time parent and second-time parent was positively associated with the number of siblings.
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| 5. |
- Jarkman Björn, Gunilla, 1980-
(författare)
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Refugee Children and Families : Psychological Health, Brief Family Intervention and Ethical Aspects
- 2013
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Doktorsavhandling (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- Background: There are more than 45 million refugees and displaced people in the world. Children constitute almost half of the refugee population. It is an enormous challenge and a complex situation for refugee children and families escaping from their home country, to a new system of society to which they have to adapt and where they have to recapture a sense of coherence. This thesis focuses on the psychological health of younger refugee children before and after an intervention with family therapy sessions. The experiences and perceptions of refugee families who fled to Sweden as a result of the war in Bosnia and Herzegovina from 1992 to 1995 and who have permanent residence permits were explored. The ethical aspects of treatment of traumatized refugee children and families were also analysed.Aims: To investigate parent-child agreement on the psychological symptoms of the refugee children; to explore refugee children’s well-being before and after three sessions of family therapy; to explore, in more detail, the complexity of various family members’ experiences and perceptions of their life before the war, during the war and their escape, and in their new life in Sweden; and also to highlight ethical issues and conduct ethical analyses using basic ethical principles that take into account the varying perspectives of the actors involved with regard to the psychological treatment of refugee children and families.Methods: Data was collected using parental interviews and psychological assessments of children aged five to twelve years. In the first study, 13 children were assessed using the Erica Method and compared with a Swedish reference group consisting of 80 children. In the second study, the Erica Method assessments from before and after an intervention with brief family therapy were compared for ten out of those 13 children, complemented by parental interviews. Family therapy sessions were videotaped, and in the third study, the verbatim transcripts of nine family therapy sessions were analysed using a qualitative method with directed content analysis. Finally, the basic ethical principles in two case studies of teenage refugee children concerning psychological treatment were analysed taking into account the varying perspectives of the actors involved in the treatment.Results: Parents’ assessments of their children’s psychological health according to a symptom and behaviour interview did not correlate with the findings of the psychological assessments of children using the Erica Method. The majority of the parents were unaware of their children’s psychological problems, as identified in the psychological assessments. There was a higher rate of not-normal sandboxes (Erica Method) in this group of refugee children, compared to the Swedish reference group. A statistically significant number of cases had improved after a brief family therapy intervention when evaluated with Erica Method. Three main categories emerged from the analysis of the family therapy sessions: “Everyday life at home”, “Influence of war on everyday life”, and “The new life”. The three main categories were comprised of a total of ten subcategories: the family, work and school/preschool, the war, the escape, reflections, employment, health, relatives and friends, a limited future, and transition to the new life. A structured ethical analysis concerning the principles of autonomy, beneficence, non-maleficence, and justice is feasible and valuable when dealing with refugee children and families in clinical practice as well as in research.Conclusion: The findings from these studies show the importance of highlighting individual perspectives from the point of view of children, parents, and siblings in order to better understand the complexity of family systems. Family interventions could be beneficial for refugee children and families, even if the children do not present with overt psychological problems. Salutogenic perspectives facilitate the provision of support to refugee families. Such support helps refugee families to adapt to a new system of society and recapture a sense of coherence. In research as well as in treatment sessions, basic ethical principles, from the point of view of all actors involved, is recommended to be taken into consideration.
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| 6. |
- Lindell Pettersson, Malin, 1979-
(författare)
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Women giving birth at an advanced age and their children : obstetric and neonatal outcomes, health and social support
- 2022
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Doktorsavhandling (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- Postponement of parenthood is an increasing trend in Western societies today. Delaying motherhood to a later time in life increases the use of assisted reproduction technology (ART), and the risk for adverse obstetric and neonatal outcomes. Along with postponement of motherhood, the number of women requesting treatment to become solo mothers has increased. The aim of the present thesis was to evaluate the obstetric outcomes and morbidity among mothers and their children, and the association of these outcomes with advanced maternal age, single status and the use of ART.Data from the Medical Birth Register (MBR) pertaining to pregnancy, childbirth and neonatal outcomes were retrieved. In total, 37,558 mothers aged ≥ 40 years formed the index group, which was divided into two subgroups, mothers 40-44 years of age and mothers aged ≥ 45, and compared to a control group of 71,472 mothers age ≤ 39 years (Study I). To investigate the mothers’ morbidity up to five years prior to, and up to five years after childbirth (study II), and their children’s morbidity up to five years of age (study III), data from the MBR and the National Patient Register (NPR) on Swedish women giving birth during 2007-2008 and their children were retrieved. The index group comprised 8203 mothers ≥ 40 years, and the control group comprised 15,569 mothers ≤ 39 years and their children. Diagnosis and number of inpatient and outpatient visits in hospital specialized care units were studied as well as mode of conception i.e., using ART or spontaneously conceived. Civil status, defined as single or cohabiting/married, was also investigated. In study IV, 207 single women accepted for treatment with donor sperm were compared with 256 cohabiting women treated with IVF with their own gametes. The women’s sociodemographic data, their descriptions of their social networks, as well as self-assessment of their social support were investigated through a questionnaire.The results showed an increased risk for an adverse pregnancy outcome in older mothers and the children were more often born preterm, with low birthweight or were small-for-gestational age. In addition, the older mothers had more often used ART, and were more likely to be single, to use less tobacco and to have a higher BMI compared to younger women. Also, the results indicated an increased risk for morbidity among older women, both before and after pregnancy, compared to the younger women. Women of both age groups who had used ART to conceive also had higher morbidity than women who conceived spontaneously. Among mothers and children, morbidity was significantly higher in both mother and child when the mother was single at the time of pregnancy. Children born to older mothers were more often diagnosed with conditions diagnosed in the perinatal period and with congenital malformations, deformations and chromosomal abnormalities compared with children born to younger mothers.Solo women who were to be treated with sperm donation were older compared to cohabiting women. Solo women more often had a higher level of education and full-time employment, and were in a profession with a higher salary compared with cohabiting women. Solo women expected to receive much help, primarily from a parent but also from friends.The significantly increased risk for adverse outcomes in pregnancy and childbirth associated with advanced maternal age and the diagnoses their children were more likely to receive during the first five years of life is perhaps small but will have an impact on the individual. Single parenthood is historically associated with social and economic disadvantages. The results are in part promising concerning the sociodemographic characteristics of solo-mothers-to-be and their high levels of perceived social support. However, the potential risk for long-term morbidity in children born to advanced aged mothers, in combination with maternal single civil status and use of ART, is important to follow closely to provide proper and adequate support and health care to these mothers and their children.
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| 7. |
- Vikström Eckevall, Josefin, 1984-
(författare)
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The influence of infertility and in vitro fertilization treatment on postpartum and long-term mental health in women
- 2016
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Doktorsavhandling (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- Introduction: It is estimated that about 10-15% of couples suffer from infertility, i.e. the inability to achieve a clinical pregnancy after at least one year of regular, unprotected intercourse and that between 2-5% of births are a result of in vitro fertilization (IVF) treatment. Infertility and its treatment can have adverse effects on psychological well-being. While previous studies on postpartum depression (PPD) in IVF women suffer some methodological issues, there are no published studies on the risk of postpartum psychosis (PPP) after IVF pregnancies. Long-term, most women adjust well emotionally after IVF treatment but some, especially the childless, still suffer negative consequences. Meanwhile, few studies have extended beyond the first decade after treatment. Some studies have found that the childless elderly have social networks of less support potential but most show that psychological well-being is not affected by parental status. None of the studies have focused on the oldest old (≥85 years) and many have excluded those who live in institutional care, thus the frailest.Objective: The overall aim of this thesis was to study postpartum mental health in women who have undergone IVF treatment, using psychiatric diagnoses as outcomes, while controlling for major PPD and PPP risk factors as well as to determine the influences of childlessness, infertility and IVF treatment on long-term mental health in women. Materials and methods: Studies I-II are register-based, case control studies of 3532 (I) and 10,412 (II) primiparous women included in the Swedish IVF register. A control group of 8,553 (I) and 18,624 (II) primiparous women with spontaneous conceptions was selected from the Medical Birth Register. The main outcomes were PPD and PPP diagnoses the 1st year postpartum collected from the National Patient Register. Studies III-IV are cross-sectional. Study III included 470 women who had undergone IVF treatment 20-23 years previously. The Symptom Checklist-90 was used to investigate self-reported mental health. The results were compared with those from a population-based study and by parental status group. Study IV included 496 85-year olds. Psychological well-being, living situation, demographics and social network was investigated through a questionnaire and an interview.Results: Study I-II: There were no differences between the IVF and control group in the risk of receiving a PPD or PPP diagnosis. Having previously been diagnosed with any psychiatric, an affective or personality disorder increased the risk of PPD while any previous psychiatric, psychotic, bipolar, depressive, anxiety or personality disorder diagnosis increased the risk of PPP. None of the women had committed suicide. Study III: The IVF women reported symptoms of higher intensity and were at increased risk of symptoms of depression, obsessive-compulsion and somatisation compared with the reference group. Childless women, compared with parents, reported a higher level of mental health problems as well as symptoms of depression and phobic anxiety. Study IV: No differences in psychological wellbeing, living situation or having friends close by were found across parental status groups. The childless 85-year olds were less likely to have relatives close by and to receive help.Discussion: This thesis indicates that the risk of receiving a PPD or PPP diagnosis from in- or outpatient psychiatric care or of committing suicide during the first year postpartum is not increased in women who have undergone IVF treatment. Any negative effects of infertility and its treatment might have been mitigated by the “healthy patient effect”; those who choose to enter treatment are generally psychologically robust. A history of mental illness is a major risk factor for PPD and PPP. The risk of some adverse symptoms of mental illness might be increased in women who have undergone IVF treatment twenty years previously, especially in those who have remained childless. The childless elderly appear to have social networks of less support potential but are not more likely to live in institutional care and do not experience more adverse effects on psychological well-being than the elderly who are parents.
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| 8. |
- Agnafors, Sara, 1981-
(författare)
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A Biopsychosocial and Long Term Perspective on Child Behavioral Problems : Impact of Risk and Resilience
- 2016
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Doktorsavhandling (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- Mental health has become a prominent issue in society. Yet, much remains unknown about the etiology of psychiatric disorders. The aim of the present thesis was to investigate the association between biological, psychological and social factors of risk and resilience and behavioral problems in a birth cohort of Swedish children. 1723 mothers and their children were followed from birth to the age of 12 as part of the South East Sweden Birth Cohort Study (the SESBiC study). Information was gathered through register data, standardized questionnaires and DNA samples.In study I, stability of maternal symptoms of depression and the impact on child behavior at age 12 were investigated. The prevalence of depressive symptoms was found to be 12.0 % postpartum. Symptoms of postpartum depression significantly increased the risk for subsequent depressive symptoms 12 years later in women. Children whose mothers reported concurrent symptoms of depression and anxiety had an increased risk for both internalizing and externalizing problems at age 12, but no long term effect on child behavior was seen for postpartum depressive symptoms. The greatest risk was seen for children whose mothers reported symptoms of depression on both occasions. In study II, the impact of gene-environment interaction of 5-HTTLPR and BDNF Val66Met and experience of life events together with symptoms of maternal depression and anxiety on child behavior at age 12 was studied. A main effect of 5-HTTLPR was noticed, but no geneenvironment effects were shown. Similarly to study I, concurrent symptoms of maternal depression and anxiety were an important predictor of child behavioral problems. A high degree of psychosocial stress around childbirth was found to have long lasting detrimental effects on child behavior, increasing the risk for internalizing problems at age 12. Study III investigated the impact of geneenvironment interactions of 5-HTTLPR and BDNF Val66Met and life events together with symptoms of maternal depression and birth characteristics on behavioral problems at age 3. Symptoms of postpartum depression were found to predict internalizing as well as externalizing problems in children three years later. Child experience of life events was a stable predictor of behavioral problems across the scales similar to sociodemographic factors such as parental immigration status and unemployment. No gene-environment interaction effects of 5-HTTLPR or BDNF Val66Met were shown. Study IV used the risk factors identified in studies I-III to investigate factors of resilience to behavioral problems at age 12. The l/l genotype of 5-HTTLPR was associated with a lower risk for behavioral problems at age 12, especially for children facing low adversity. Good social functioning was found to be a general resource factor, independent of the level of risk, while an easy temperament was associated with resilience for children with a high degree of adversity. However, effect sizes were small.In summary, the results from the present thesis emphasize the importance of maternal mental health and sociodemographic factors for child mental health at ages 3 and 12, which must be taken into account in clinical settings. Moreover, it adds to the null-findings of the gene-environment effect of 5-HTTLPR and BDNF Val66Met on behavioral problems in children, but indicates a main effect of 5-HTTLPR on internalizing symptoms at age 12.
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| 9. |
- Kassymova, Gulnara, 1972-
(författare)
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The impact of postoperative telephone follow-up contacts on recovery after benign hysterectomy : with emphasis on health-related quality of life, postoperative symptoms, and health economics
- 2023
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Doktorsavhandling (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- BackgroundThe course of a postoperative recovery is important for both patient and healthcare services. Efforts to expedite and improve recovery in a safe and cost-effective manner are therefore highly desirable from the perspective of both parties. Telephone follow-up (TFU) has been suggested as a way to improve postoperative recovery and reduce the burden of the healthcare service. This thesis intends to investigate these issues. The overall purpose of the thesis was twofold: to evaluate the effects of nurse-led TFU contacts on the recovery after benign hysterectomy, and to make a health economic analysis of TFU. The specific aims of the thesis were a) to evaluate whether TFU, particularly when combined with structured-oriented coaching, facilitated postoperative recovery in terms of health-related quality of life (HRQoL), the duration of sick leave, and the occurrence of unplanned telephone contacts (uTCs) and unplanned visits (uVs) in the postoperative period, b) to determine if the TFUs affected postoperative symptoms and the consumption of analgesics, c) to analyze whether symptoms of anxiety and depression, and low stress-coping capacity had an impact on the effect of TFU on recovery and the occurrence of uTCs and uVs, and d) to provide a health economic evaluation of the TFU from the healthcare and societal perspectives. By addressing these aims, the intention of the thesis was to contribute with important knowledge to the existing sparse body of science concerning clinical outcomes after nurse-led TFUs and their impact on recovery outcomes after benign hysterectomy. Material and methodsA four-armed, semi-blinded, randomized controlled trial was conducted at the departments of obstetrics and gynecology in five public hospitals in the southeast health region of Sweden from October 2011 to May 2017. The study comprised 487 women between 18 and 60 years old who underwent abdominal or vaginal hysterectomy for benign gynecological conditions. The treatments to be investigated were different nurse-led TFU models and consisted of four groups: Group A had no planned follow-up contact with the healthcare service after discharge (control group); Group B had one planned, structured TFU session with the research nurse (RN) on the day after discharge; Group C had a planned, structured TFU session with the RN on the day after discharge and then once weekly for six weeks; and Group D had a planned, structured, oriented coaching TFU session with the RN on the day after discharge and then once weekly for six weeks. The specific content of the TFUs in Groups B and C, as well as the oriented coaching TFU model in Group D, were outlined in the study. Demographic and clinical data relevant to the study were collected prospectively. Sick leave duration, analgesic consumption, uTC, and uV were recorded from discharge until the six-week follow-up visit with the RN. HRQoL was measured by means of the EuroQoL-5 Dimension with three levels and the Short Form Health Survey with 36 items. Psychological distress was evaluated using the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale and the Stress-Coping Inventory. Postoperative symptoms were assessed using the Swedish Postoperative Symptoms Questionnaire. The health economics were evaluated using a cost minimization analysis. The estimation of hospital costs was based on the principles of the Cost Per Patient (CPP) method and the prices from the CPP list for 2022 from the University Hospital in Linköping were applied. ResultsRegardless of the TFU model, women achieved baseline levels of HRQoL four weeks after surgery and no difference was seen between the intervention groups in the trajectory of recovery of HRQoL. The duration of sick leave was similar across all intervention groups, ranging from 26.8 to 28.1 days. There were no significant differences in the trajectory of the intensity of postoperative symptoms or analgesic consumption between the intervention groups. Approximately 46% of the women had uTC and 45% had uV. The oriented coaching TFU was associated with a 33% lower occurrence of uTC compared with other TFU models. Women who had uTC reported higher levels of pain intensity and sum scores of postoperative symptoms, especially when the uTC was followed by a uV. Symptoms of depression, anxiety, and low stress coping capacity did not affect the effects of the TFU models on recovery trajectories, although there were strong associations between symptoms of anxiety, depression and low stress-coping capacity and all recovery measures. In addition, uTCs were more frequent among women with anxiety. The total costs per patient more than doubled in the groups with repeated TFUs compared with the group with no TFU. The coaching TFU group had lower costs for informal care. ConclusionsNurse-led TFU after benign hysterectomy in the form used in the present study did not expedite or improve the postoperative recovery concerning HRQoL, sick leave duration postoperative symptoms, or analgesic consumption. However, nurse-led TFU with structured coaching reduced the occurrence of uTC to healthcare providers, but not uVs. Symptoms of anxiety increased the occurrence of uTC and pain seemed to be a significant cause of both uTCs and uVs, The effect of the TFU on the recovery did not seem to be affected by the psychological state of proneness to anxiety, depression, or low stress-coping capacity. Nurse-led TFUs were cost-driving for the healthcare systems and can be seen as an inefficient use of healthcare resources.
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| 10. |
- Tordön, Rikard, Doktorand, 1969-
(författare)
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Health, Experienced Support and School Performance among Children in Out-of-home care
- 2020
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Doktorsavhandling (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- Children in out-of-home care (OHC) have higher risks for developing poorer health and school achievement, being subjected to more abuse experiences, as well as negative long-term outcomes related to occupational performance, socioeconomic status, addiction, and criminality. Research related to OHC children is fragmented and the effects of interventions are under-studied.This thesis aimed to explore health, abuse, support, and preconditions for school among children in OHC and to assess changes after an intervention targeting foster children’s school performance.Paper I compared OHC pupils in last year high school to non-OHC peers in a national survey with 5 839 pupils. The study showed that risks of abuse and poor mental health are evident for adolescents in out-of-home care. Also, results indicated a lower disclosure rate of sexual abuse, particularly to police or social services.Paper II compared OHC pupils to peers in birth parent care by analyzing responses in four consecutive year surveys in a regional sample comprising 23 798 pupils in 8th-year compulsory and 2nd-year high school. Responses from the 311 pupils in OHC showed poorer outcomes than did birth-parent care peers in perceived satisfaction with social life and relations, trust to other persons in different relations, abuse experiences online, and sense of security in the school and at home. These results also applied when compared to a subset of pupils living with a single birth parent.Paper III analyzed prospective test and questionnaire data of intelligence, adaptive behavior, mathematics, literacy skills, and psychosocial wellbeing from 856 children in foster care. Results revealed poorer preconditions for school performance of between 0.5 and 1.0 standard deviations below age-standardized norms. The analysis also provided results regarding different intelligence domains, where working memory showed the lowest scores while perceptual functioning were close to norms. Boys generally scored poorer than girls except in mathematics.Paper IV explored the effects of a school-based intervention, Skolfam, on a subset of Paper III cohort (n= 475). Results showed improved skills in higher-order cognitive executive functions such as reading comprehension, sentence chains, mathematics, and intelligence. For less complex cognitive functions, affective functioning or psychosocial symptoms, no improvements were seen, except for reduced hyperactivity.Conclusion: The studies confirm that children in OHC have poorer mental health, are less satisfied with social life, have more adverse experiences both online and in real life and have poorer preconditions for school performance than do non-OHC peers. Importantly, Skolfam intervention can partially enhance preconditions for school performance. Further studies on longitudinal risk, with a design to identify specific protective factors, development of school-related competencies and ways to support OHC children in school are needed.
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| 11. |
- Borneskog, Catrin, 1963-
(författare)
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Same, same but different : lesbian couples undergoing sperm donation
- 2013
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Doktorsavhandling (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- Introduction: The desire to have children and form a family is for many people central for life fulfilment and the desire does not differ by sexual orientation. Due a series of societal changes during the last decade, today we see a lesbian baby boom. Planned lesbian families are a relatively new group of patients and parents in reproductive health care, yet little is known about psychological wellbeing during the transition to parenthood in these families. Aim: The overall aim of this thesis was to fill a gap of knowledge about the psychological aspects of undergoing treatment with donated sperm, at the time of pregnancy and during early parenthood that affect lesbian couples forming a family. Method: This is a multicentre study comprising all 7 university clinics that perform gamete donation. The study includes lesbian couples undergoing treatment with donated sperm and heterosexual couples undergoing IVF treatment with their own gametes. Participants were recruited consecutively during 2005 and 2008. 165 lesbian couples and 151 heterosexual couples participated in the study. Participants responded questionnaires at three time points (T); time point 1 (T1) at the commencement of treatment, (T2) after the first round of treatment, around 2 month after T1 and (T3) 12-18 months after first treatment when a presumptive child had reached 1 year. Data was analysed with statistical methodology. Results: Lesbian couples reported an all over high satisfaction with relationship quality, good psychological wellbeing and low parenting stress. Heterosexual couples also reported good satisfaction with relationship quality, however somewhat lower than the lesbian couples. Parenting stress in the heterosexual couples was similar to the lesbian couples. A strong association was found between high relationship satisfaction and low parenting stress. Conclusions: Lesbian couples forming a family through sperm donation treatment are satisfied with their relationships, they report a good psychological health and experiences of low parenting stress.
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| 12. |
- Claesson, Ing-Marie, 1953-
(författare)
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Weight gain restriction for obese pregnant women : An Intervention study
- 2010
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Doktorsavhandling (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- Introduction: Obesity is a growing global public health problem and is as prevalent among pregnant women as in the general population. It is well known that obese women have an increased risk for several complications during pregnancy and delivery and this is also true for the neonate. Excessive gestational weight gain among obese women seems to further increase these risks for adverse outcomes. It has not been known up to the time of this study whether a behavioral intervention program designed for obese pregnant women could result in a reduction of gestational weight gain.Aim: The overall aim of the present thesis was to study the effect of an intervention program designed to control weight gain among obese pregnant women during pregnancy and to then observe the outcomes of their pregnancies. In addition we wanted to learn if this behavioral intervention program could result in a weight gain of less than seven kilograms.Material and methods: The intervention group consisted of 155 obese (BMI >30 kg/m2) pregnant women at the antenatal care clinic (ANC) in Linköping; the control group consisted of 193 obese pregnant women in two other cities. The women in the intervention group were offered, in addition to regular care at the ANC, motivational interviewing in weekly visits to support them in making this behavioral change. They were also offered aqua aerobic class once or twice a week. The women in the control group attended the routine antenatal program in their respective ANCs. Outcome measures were: weight in kg, pregnancy-, delivery and neonatal outcomes, prevalence of anxiety- and depressive symptoms and attitudes and experiences of participating in an intervention program.Results: The women in the intervention group had a significantly lower gestational weight gain and also had a lower postnatal weight than the women in the control group. The percentage of women in the intervention group who gained <7 kg was greater than the percentage in the control group. There were no differences between the two groups in pregnancy-, delivery- and neonatal outcomes. In addition, there was no difference in prevalence of symptoms of anxiety and depressions between the intervention- and control group and the gestational weight gain did not have any effect on symptoms of depression or anxiety. The women in the intervention group with gestational weight gain <7 kg, weighed less at the two years follow-up than the women in the control group. Most of the women who participated in the intervention program expressed positive attitudes and were positive towards their experiences with the intervention program and their efforts to manage the gestational weight gain.Conclusion: The intervention program was effective in controlling weight gain during pregnan-cy and did not change the pregnancy, delivery or neonatal outcomes or the prevalence of anxie-ty- and depressive symptoms. The group with a gestational weight gain <7 kg showed the same distribution of complications as the group with a higher weight gain. The intervention program seems to influence the development of weight in a positive direction up to two years after childbirth. The women were also satisfied with their participation in the intervention program.
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| 13. |
- Höglund, Berit, 1955-
(författare)
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Pregnancy, Childbirth and Midwifery Care among Women with Intellectual Disability in Sweden : Epidemiological and Descriptive Studies
- 2012
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Doktorsavhandling (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- The overall aim of this thesis was to investigate pregnancy and childbirth in women with intellectual disability (ID), in Sweden, the health of their newborns and midwifery care for these women. Two register studies and two descriptive studies are included. Pregnancy and birth outcomes as well as data on the newborns’ health were examined by linking data from the National Patient Register and the Medical Birth Register (I-II). The women’s experience of pregnancy and delivery was investigated with repeated interviews (III). Midwives’ knowledge of, experience of and attitudes towards pregnancy and childbirth in women with ID were evaluated with questionnaires (IV). Mothers with ID were more often teenagers, smoked more during pregnancy and had more Caesarean Sections. Their children had a higher proportion of pre-term births, were small-for-gestational-age, stillborn or died in the perinatal period. The women with ID struggled to attain motherhood and feared to lose custody of the child. The pregnancy was seen as a happy event, even though relatives did not always approve. Parent education was considered important, but not adequately adapted to their needs. The birth process was overwhelming and difficult to understand, but the child was welcomed with warm feelings, and breastfeeding was natural. Midwives stated it was different to care for women with ID and requested additional knowledge. The majority of midwives affirmed that women with ID could not manage the mother role satisfactorily, and one-third expressed that women with ID should refrain from having children. A majority of the midwives considered that the children should grow up with the parents with support from family and society, but one out of five stated that the children should grow up in foster care.Conclusion: Women with ID and their children should be considered as risk groups in pregnancy and childbirth. Professionals in maternity services need to elucidate their knowledge and skills for counselling and supporting this particular group of pregnant women in pre-, intra- and post-partum care.
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| 14. |
- Isaksson, Stina
(författare)
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The child’s best interest : Perspectives of gamete recipients and donors
- 2015
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Doktorsavhandling (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- Background: An increasing number of couples turn to treatment with oocyte or sperm donation, but there is limited knowledge regarding the consequences of these treatments in a program using identifiable donors. Aim: The overall aim was to study information-sharing among heterosexual couples following identity-release gamete donation. A further aim was to study donors’ attitudes towards future contact with donation offspring. Methods: The four studies were part of The Swedish Study on Gamete Donation; a prospective, longitudinal study of donors and recipients of donated oocytes and sperm. Study I and II had a quantitative approach with recipients of donated oocytes or sperm participating through questionnaires at start of treatment, two months after the first treatment and when their child was 1-4 years old. Study III was a qualitative interview study with 30 parents following sperm donation with school-aged children. Study IV had a quantitative approach with oocyte and sperm donors participating through questionnaires 5-8 years post-donation. Results: Study I revealed that the recipients of donated gametes in general were open about their treatment with the people around them and supported disclosure to offspring regarding his/her genetic origin. Study II reported that most of those who became parents following donor conception intended to share information about the donation with their offspring and some had already started the information-sharing process with their young child. Study III described information sharing with the offspring to be a process of several levels, revealing various amounts of information about the way of conception. The parent was seen to be the owner of the process and moving the process forward with different aspects and the reactions of the offspring serving as driving or impeding forces of the process. Study IV reported that a majority of the gamete donors seem to have a positive or neutral attitude towards a future meeting with a donation offspring. Conclusion: The present thesis suggests that there is a trend towards more openness among recipients of donated gametes in Sweden. It also points out that most recipients and donors within the Swedish gamete donation programme acknowledge the child’s right to his/her genetic origin and have the best interest of the child in mind.
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| 15. |
- Kastbom, Åsa A., 1971-
(författare)
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Sexual behaviour, debut and identity among Swedish Schoolchildren
- 2015
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Doktorsavhandling (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- Background: Sexual behaviour among schoolchildren and adolescents is a sparsely researched area and there are delicate methodological obstacles and ethical concerns when conducting such research. Still it is a subject that engages both parents and professionals. A sexualized behaviour or an early sexual debut (younger than 14 years) can be a sign of sexual abuse. It is therefore of importance to describe what is common and what is uncommon sexual behaviour among children and what the consequences of an early or a late sexual debut may be for the individual upon reaching late adolescence. Adolescents who identify themselves as lesbian, gay or bisexual (LGB) are also a group that needs further attention and research since they are often described as having a lower quality of life and more often experience child abuse than heterosexual teens.Aims: The research leading to this thesis had four goals: 1) to elucidate the sexual behaviour of children between the ages of 7 and 13 as observed by their parents, 2) to investigate the relationship between an early sexual debut (before 14 years of age) and socio-demographic data, sexual experience, health, experience of child abuse and behaviour at 18-years-of-age, 3) to explore associations with no sexual debut (no oral, vaginal or anal sex) at the age of 18, and 4) to describe the relationship between sexual identification and socio-demographic background data, sexual behaviour, health and health behaviour, experiences of child sexual and/or physical abuse and present behaviour among Swedish adolescents.Methods: The parents of 418 children answered questionnaires about their child’s behaviour, both general and sexual, and a sample of 3432 Swedish high school students completed a survey about sexuality, health and abuse at the age of 18. In addition, 362 members of the Swedish Federation for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Rights (RFSL) completed the same survey at a mean age of 21.4 years.Results: Most of the sexual behaviours among the schoolchildren were common, and in part related to, or varied with, age and gender. A small number of sexual behaviours often referred to as sexualised or problematic behaviours (for example, kissing adults with the tongue, imitating intercourse, masturbating in public, and touching other children’s genitals with the mouth) were found to be very unusual or not reported by any parent in this normative group of Swedish children. Among the adolescents, an early debut (younger than 14 years of age) correlated positively with number of partners, experience of oral and anal sex, smoking, drug and alcohol use and antisocial behaviour, such as being violent, lying, stealing and running away from home. Girls with an early sexual debut had significantly more experience of sexual abuse while boys with an early sexual debut were more likely to have a weak sense of coherence, low self-esteem and poor mental health, together with experience of sexual abuse, selling sex and physical abuse. A multiple logistic regression model showed that a number of antisocial acts and health behaviours remained significant, but early sexual debut did not increase the risk of psychiatric symptoms, low self-esteem or low sense of coherence at 18-years-of-age. Just under a quarter (24.6%) of the 3,380 adolescents had not had their sexual debut (no oral, anal or vaginal sex by the age of 18). There was a positive correlation between not debuting sexually at age 18 and a number of factors such as: being more likely to have caring fathers; parents born outside Europe; low sexual desire; lower pornography consumption; lower alcohol and tobacco consumption; less antisocial behavior and fewer experiences of sexual abuse than 18 year olds who had already made their sexua debut. Adolescents with a minority sexual identity more often described their relationship with their parents as based on low care and high overprotection than did their heterosexual peers. The minority adolescents used alcohol and drugs to a significantly higher degree than the heterosexual adolescents. Multivariate analysis showed a positive correlation between a minority sexual identity and experience of anal sex, higher sexual lust, experience of sexual abuse, physical abuse and sexual exploitation. It was more than twice as common to have experience of penetrating sexual abuse and physical abuse with a sexual minority identity.Conclusions: Behaviours usually referred to as sexualised and problematic are uncommon among children at 7-13 years of age. Professionals and should give a child showing a sexualised behaviour special attention and investigate the reasons for the behaviour. Early sexual debut seems to be associated with problematic behaviours during later adolescence, indicating the fact that the early debut for some children is associated with an increased vulnerability, which has to be addressed. Family socio-demographics such as family stability and/or cultural status matter when it comes to time of sexual debut. Personality also seems to matter and further studies are needed to investigate if there is any correlation between personality traits and late sexual debut. Adolescents with no sexual debut at 18 years of age reported fewer antisocial acts, were less likely to smoke and drink alcohol, had less sexual desire and less experience of sexual abuse. Young people with a sexual minority identity (homo- and bisexual) could be seen to have a lower quality of life compared to heterosexual peers and studies need to be done to further explore possible reasons. They have a higher risk of having experience of sexual and physical abuse compared to heterosexual adolescents. Professionals need to be more aware of this group’s additional vulnerability including the increased risk of child abuse and offer different forms of support.
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| 16. |
- Kernell, Kristina
(författare)
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Cardiac disease in pregnancy and consequences for reproductive outcomes, comorbidity and survival
- 2017
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Doktorsavhandling (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- BackgroundAdvances in medical treatment during the last 50 years have resulted in more individuals with congenital heart disease (CHD) and Marfan syndrome reaching childbearing age. The substantial physiological changes during pregnancy result in a high-risk situation, and pregnancy is a major concern in women with these conditions.AimsTo describe the socio-demographic characteristics, birth characteristics and reproductive patterns of individuals with CHD and women with Marfan syndrome.To investigate obstetric and neonatal outcomes in the firstborn children of individuals with CHD and women with Marfan syndrome.To study long-term cardiovascular outcomes after childbirth in women with Marfan´syndrome.MethodsThe studies are population-based register studies. The study population in the first paper included all women born between 1973 and 1983 who were alive and resident in Sweden at the age of 13 (494 692 women, of whom 2 216 were women with CHD). In the second paper, the same definition of the study population was chosen, except that it involved all men born between 1973 and 1983 (522 216 men, of whom 2 689 men with CHD). The third and fourth papers involved a study population of all Swedish women born between 1973 and 1993 who were still living in Sweden at age 13. This population consisted of 1 017 538 women, 273 of whom had been diagnosed with Marfan syndrome.Results and conclusionsThe individuals studied were more often born preterm, and were small-for-gestational age babies. They were more likely to have been born by cesarean section. In women with CHD, these characteristics were repeated in their firstborn children. No increased risks were found in children of men with CHD or in children of women with Marfan syndrome. There was no increased risk of aortic dissection in women with Marfan syndrome during pregnancy compared to women with Marfan syndrome who did not give birth. Higher frequencies of cardiac arrhythmia and valvular heart disease were found after childbirth in women with Marfan syndrome. Pregnancy in women with CHD is a high-risk situation associated with increased risk of adverse neonatal outcomes for the expected child. Pregnancy in women without CHD, but where the father has CHD is not so associated with increased risk of adverse obstetric or neonatal outcomes. Pregnancy in women with Marfan syndrome is not associated with adverse outcomes for the expected child.
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| 17. |
- Lilliecreutz, Caroline
(författare)
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Blood-and Injection Phobia in Pregnancy : Epidemiological, Biological and Treatment aspects
- 2010
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Doktorsavhandling (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- Introduction: Blood- and injection phobia is an anxiety disorder with a prevalence of approximately 3-5% in the general population. The etiology is often a combination of genetic factors and a conditioning experience. The symptoms of blood- and injection phobia are dizziness, confusion, nausea, epigastria discomfort, anxiety and sometimes panic attacks when receiving injections, seeing blood or having a blood sample taken. Unique for this specific phobia is the high probability of fainting when the phobic situation is encountered if there is no possibility to escape or to avoid the stimuli.During pregnancy and labor, women with blood- and injection phobia are exposed to most of their fears and they therefore find themselves in anxiety-ridden situations. Stress and anxiety during pregnancy is known to be risk factors for adverse obstetric and neonatal outcomes. Studies have shown an altered hypothalamic-adrenal-pituitary axis in women with stress or/and anxiety during pregnancy and increased cortisol concentrations can imply negative consequences for the unborn child. Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is known to be effective in treating specific phobias such as blood- and injection phobia.Aim: The prevalence, obstetric and neonatal consequences, impact on the hypothalamic adrenal-pituitary axis and treatment aspects of blood- and injection phobia in a pregnant population have not been investigated before. The aims of this thesis were to study each of these phenomena.Material and methods: During 2005 a total of 1606 pregnant women were approached at their first visit in an antenatal care clinic in the southeast region in Sweden. They were asked to complete the “Injection Phobia Scale-Anxiety” questionnaire. All women who scored ≥ 20 on the “Injection Phobia Scale-Anxiety” questionnaire (N=347), were interviewed and either diagnosed for blood- and injection phobia or dismissed. In total, 110 women were diagnosed as having blood- and injection phobia. Among the women who scored <20 on the “Injection Phobia Scale-Anxiety” questionnaire, 220 women were randomly stratified for age and parity as a control group. The women in the study population answered questionnaires in gestational week 25, 36 and postpartum concerning symptoms of blood- and injection phobia, depression and anxiety. Samples of cortisol in the saliva were collected in the morning and evening in gestational week 25 and 36 in both groups of pregnant women. The medical records from the antenatal care visits, the delivery and postpartum check-up was used to collect data of importance. A treatment study was conducted using a two session cognitive behavioral therapy in a group of pregnant woman with blood- and injection phobia.Results: The prevalence of blood- and injection phobia is 7 % in a pregnant population. Pregnant women with blood- and injection phobia stated more often a fear of childbirth (p<0.001) and were more frequently delivered by elective cesarean section (p=0.032). The incidence of having a baby diagnosed with a complication (p=0.001) was also higher among these women. The women with blood- and injection phobia had increased cortisol concentrations in the saliva compared to the healthy controls (p=0.014). A two-session CBT in group for pregnant women with blood- and injection phobia reduced phobic (p<0.001) anxiety (p<0.001) and depressive (p<0.001) symptoms during pregnancy.Conclusions: Blood- and injection phobia during pregnancy is rather common. Pregnant women with blood- and injection phobia are more likely to be delivered by elective cesarean section and having a baby born with a complication compared to women not suffering from this specific phobia. Untreated blood- and injection phobia during pregnancy increases salivary cortisol concentrations indicating an altered hypothalamic-adrenal-pituitary axis during these weeks of pregnancy. To enhance psychological well being in pregnant women with blood- and injection phobia a two-session program providing CBT for groups of pregnant women is valuable and produces stable results for at least 3 months after delivery.
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| 18. |
- Ekholm Selling, Katarina, 1976-
(författare)
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Birth-characteristics, hospitalisations, and childbearing : Epidemiological studies based on Swedish register data
- 2007
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Doktorsavhandling (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- In the past decades there has been an improvement in the medical treatment of children born preterm or with reduced foetal growth. This has resulted in a much higher survival rate of these children, but also in a higher number of surviving children with chronic conditions. These changes have, in turn, increased interest in investigating the connection between birth-characteristics and outcomes in later life. The overall aim of the present thesis was to study the relations between birth-characteristics, subsequent hospitalisations, and childbearing by means of data available in Swedish population-based registries.The study population in this thesis consisted of women (and men in Paper III) born in 1973-75 according to the Medical Birth Register and the Total Population Register. Information available in other registries, such as the Hospital Discharge Register, was obtained by individual record linkage.In Paper I, 148,281 women, alive and living in Sweden at 13 years of age, were included. Of the women, 4.1% were born preterm and 5.4% were born small for gestational age, and approximately 30% of all women had given birth between 13 and 27 years of age. We found that reduced foetal growth and possibly preterm birth were related to the likelihood of giving birth during the study period. The intergenerational effects of preterm birth and reduced foetal growth were investigated in Paper II and the study population consisted of 38,720 mother-offspring pairs. An intergenerational effect of reduced foetal growth was found, and reduced foetal growth in the mother also increased the risk for preterm birth in the child.Paper III was concerned with 304,275 men and women living in Sweden at 13 years of age. Of these men and women, 30% were hospitalised during adolescence and early adulthood (i.e. between 12 and 23 years of age). We found that men and women born small for gestational age or preterm were more likely to be hospitalised, and that those born small for gestational age seemed to be more at risk compared to those born preterm. Finally, in Paper IV, the relation between hospitalisations during adolescence and the likelihood of giving birth was studied in 142,998 women living in Sweden at 20 years of age. We found that a majority of the causes of hospitalisation during adolescence were positively connected to the likelihood of giving birth between 20 and 27 years of age. The relations presented in Papers I-IV were evident although socio-economic characteristics were adjusted for.
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| 19. |
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| 20. |
- Kerstis, Birgitta, 1963-
(författare)
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Depressive Symptoms among Mothers and Fathers in Early Parenthood
- 2015
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Doktorsavhandling (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- Aims: The overall aims were to study depressive symptoms among mothers and fathers in early parenthood and how depressive symptoms are related to dyadic consensus (DCS), sense of coherence (SOC), perceiving of the child temperament, separation within the couple and bonding to the infant.Methods: Study I-III was based on the BiT-study, a longitudinal project where 393 couples answered 3 questionnaires including instruments measuring DCS at one week after childbirth, depressive symptoms at 3 months and parental stress at 18 months after childbirth. Study IV was based on the UPPSAT-study, a population based cohort project, where 727 couples answered questionnaires measuring depressive symptoms at 6 weeks and 6 months after childbirth, and impaired bonding at 6 months after childbirth.Results: In the BiT-study, 17.7% of the mothers and 8.7% of the fathers scored depressive symptoms at 3 months after childbirth, using the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) cut-off of ≥10. There was an association between depressive symptoms and less consensus (DCS), and the parents partly differed regarding which areas of their relationship they perceived that they disagreed about. Parents with depressive symptoms had a poorer SOC and perceived their child as more difficult than parents without depressive symptoms. Among the couples, 20% were separated 6-8 years after childbirth. Separation was associated with less dyadic consensus, more depressive symptoms and parental stress. In the UPPSAT-study, 15.3% of the mothers and 5.1% of the fathers scored depressive symptoms 6 weeks after childbirth, using the EPDS cut-off of ≥10. Further, there was an association between impaired bonding at 6 months and the parents’ depressive symptoms, as well as experience of deteriorated relationship with the spouse.Conclusions and clinical implications: Health professionals need the knowledge that depressive symptoms are common in both mother and fathers in early parenthood. It is also important to understand how depressive symptoms are associated to dyadic consensus, SOC, separation and impaired bonding in order to optimize conditions for the whole family. This knowledge is also important for the public, so those who are pregnant and new parents as well as the society are aware that there might be problems in early parenthood as depressive symptoms.
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| 21. |
- Leijon, Ingemar, 1942-, et al.
(författare)
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God prognos för unga vuxna med mycket låg födelsevikt [Follow-up study of very low birthweight children in Sweden at the age of 27-28]
- 2020
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Ingår i: Läkartidningen. - Stockholm, Sweden : Sveriges Läkarförbund. - 0023-7205 .- 1652-7518. ; 117
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Studies show that very low birthweight can be an important risk factor for mental problems, disturbed fertility and neuroendocrine dysregulation. In a regional long-term study 56 of 86 adult individuals 27 to 28 years of age with a very low birthweight were compared with normal birthweight controls. Analyses of self-reported mental health, socio-demographic factors, sex hormone levels, and hair cortisol levels showed no significant differences between the groups. However, in order to analyse subgroups with different risk factors from the newborn period or children with a variety of social background factors, larger patient groups are needed.
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| 22. |
- Leijon, Ingemar, 1942-, et al.
(författare)
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Self-reported mental health and cortisol activity at 27-28 years of age in individuals born with very low birthweight
- 2020
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Ingår i: Acta Paediatrica. - : Wiley-Blackwell Publishing Inc.. - 0803-5253 .- 1651-2227. ; 109:5, s. 948-958
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- AimTo assess mental health outcomes of very low birthweight (VLBW, <1500 g) subjects to adulthood and to examine salivary cortisol and hair cortisol levels and their relation to birth characteristics and mental health.MethodsA Swedish regional cohort of 56 VLBW subjects and 55 full‐term controls were assessed at the ages 27‐28 with adult self‐reported scales and the mean of 2 days diurnal salivary cortisol and hair cortisol. The cohorts had been assessed at 15 years of age with youth self‐reported scales.ResultsThere were no differences between the groups in youth self‐reported scales and adult self‐reported scores. The 24 participating VLBW girls scored lower on youth self‐reported scales externalising and total problem scores than the control girls. In adulthood, the 21 participating VLBW women had significantly higher morning concentrations of salivary cortisol than control women, P = .014. No significant associations were found between cortisol concentrations and adult self‐reported scales internalising, externalising and total scores.ConclusionSelf‐reported mental health in VLBW subjects was comparable with normal birthweight controls indicating a satisfying transition from adolescence to adulthood. VLBW females had higher morning salivary cortisol concentrations, suggesting a gender difference. We found no correlations between cortisol and mental health.
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| 23. |
- Martinez, Cristina A., et al.
(författare)
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Prenatal stress, anxiety and depression alter transcripts, proteins and pathways associated with immune responses at the maternal-fetal interface
- 2022
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Ingår i: Biology of Reproduction. - : Oxford University Press. - 0006-3363 .- 1529-7268. ; 106:3, s. 449-462
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- During pregnancy, the immune system is modified to allow developmental tolerance of the semi-allogeneic fetus and placenta to term. Pregnant women suffering from stress, anxiety, and depression show dysfunctions of their immune system that may be responsible for fetal and/or newborn disorders, provided that placental gene regulation is compromised. The present study explored the effects of maternal chronic self-perceived stress, anxiety, and depression during pregnancy on the expression of immune-related genes and pathways in term placenta. Pregnancies were clinically monitored with the Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI) and Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS). A cutoff threshold for BAI/EPDS of 10 divided patients into two groups: Index group (>10, n = 11) and a Control group (<10, n = 11), whose placentae were sampled at delivery. The placental samples were subjected to RNA-Sequencing, demonstrating that stress, anxiety, and depression during pregnancy induced a major downregulation of placental transcripts related to immune processes such as T-cell regulation, interleukin and cytokine signaling, or innate immune responses. Expression differences of main immune-related genes, such as CD46, CD15, CD8 alpha & beta ILR7 alpha, and CCR4 among others, were found in the Index group (P < 0.05). Moreover, the key immune-like pathway involved in humoral and cellular immunity named "Primary immunodeficiency" was significantly downregulated in the Index group compared with Controls. Our results show that mechanisms ruling immune system functions are compromised at the maternal-fetal interface following self-perceived depressive symptoms and anxiety during pregnancy. These findings may help unveil mechanisms ruling the impact of maternal psychiatric symptoms and lead to new prevention/intervention strategies in complicated pregnancies. Summary Sentence Mechanisms ruling immune system functions are compromised at the maternal-fetal interface following self-perceived depressive symptoms and anxiety during pregnancy.
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| 24. |
- Möller, Louise, 1989-
(författare)
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Health, obstetric outcomes and reproduction in women with vulvar pain or primary fear of childbirth
- 2019
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Doktorsavhandling (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- Fear of childbirth (FOC) is common and affects approximately 5-20 % of all pregnant women. FOC is associated with giving birth by caesarean section on maternal request (CSMR). The rate of caesarean sections (CS) and CSMR has increased during the last decades. To decrease these women’s fear, the rate of CSMR and to promote a more positive birth experience, many treatments for FOC have been evaluated. In Sweden, the treatment is individualized and given by obstetricians, midwives, psychologists or psychotherapists in the specialist care.Women with FOC suffer more often from psychiatric illness and rate their general health as less good, which is important to consider when counselling these women and deciding on mode of delivery. Little is known about the long term obstetric and reproductive outcomes for women with FOC. Therefore, the aim of the studies on which this thesis is based was to compare psychiatric care before and after childbirth in women giving birth by CSMR to women giving birth by other modes of delivery and to follow the subsequent obstetric and reproductive outcomes in women receiving counselling for FOC in their first childbirth. Furthermore, we hypothesized that women with localized provoked vulvodynia (LPV) and/or vaginismus might fear vaginal childbirth and little is known about their reproduction and obstetric outcomes which is why we investigated the parity and obstetric outcomes in women diagnosed with LPV/vaginismus before first childbirth.Based on data linked from several Swedish National registers, the prevalence of psychiatric in- and outpatient care before (paper I) and after first childbirth (paper II) was compared in primiparae giving birth by CSMR to primiparae giving birth by other modes of delivery. The prevalence of psychiatric disorders was found to be significantly higher in women giving birth by CSMR, indicating a severe burden of psychiatric illness in these women.In paper III, also based on data from several Swedish National registers, a diagnosis of LPV/vaginismus before childbirth was shown to decrease the odds of giving birth. When giving birth these women had an increased risk of CS, especially CSMR. This could possibly indicate FOC in these women. Further, women with vaginismus had an increased risk of pelvic floor injuries.Paper IV was a follow-up study of women who received counselling for FOC in their first pregnancy leading to parturition. It was based on data from medical records and a questionnaire. The women were followed 7-14 years after their first childbirth. Women treated for FOC more often gave birth by CS, rated their first birth experience as less positive and more often required counselling for FOC in their subsequent pregnancies compared to women without FOC in their first pregnancy. There were no significant differences in the rate of complications during pregnancy and childbirth compared to the other women. Women treated for FOC less often gave birth more than twice. Despite being given counselling and being exposed to childbirth almost one in five women felt fearful towards childbirth 7-14 years after the first childbirth.In conclusion, women with FOC are a vulnerable group suffering from a significant burden of psychiatric illness. FOC is not easily treated; many women require counselling in subsequent pregnancies and many still fear childbirth after the childbearing years. Furthermore, LPV/vaginismus is a risk factor for giving birth by CSMR, possibly indicating FOC, and these women are less likely to give birth. Our study shows it is important not only to address sexual function in these women but reproductive function as well. Further studies are needed to establish how to optimize their care regarding fertility, antenatal, obstetric and post-partum care.
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