The power of feedback.

The United Nations Children's Fund, or UNICEF, was originally created to provide relief for children in countries devastated by the destruction of World War II. After 1950, UNICEF turned to focus on general programs for the improvement of children's welfare worldwide, and in 1965, it was awarded the Nobel Prize for Peace for its humanitarian efforts. The organization concentrates on areas in which relatively small expenditures can have a significant impact on the lives of the most disadvantaged children in developing countries, such as the prevention and treatment of disease, child healthcare, malnutrition, illiteracy, and other welfare services.

The United Nations Children's Fund

Arthur Chickering is Distinguished Professor of Higher Education at Memphis State University. On leave from the Directorship of the Center for the Study of Higher Education at Memphis State, he is Visiting Professor at George Mason University. Zelda Gamson is a sociologist who holds appointments at the John W. McCormack Institute of Public Affairs at the University of Massachusetts-Boston and in the Center for the Study of Higher and Postsecondary Education at the University of Michigan.

Seven Principles for Good Practice in Undergraduate Education: Faculty Inventory. Institutional Inventory.

OBJECTIVE: To explore linkages between water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) and maternal and perinatal health via a conceptual approach and a scoping review. METHODS: We developed a conceptual framework iteratively, amalgamating three literature-based lenses. We then searched literature and identified risk factors potentially linked to maternal and perinatal health. We conducted a systematic scoping review for all chemical and biological WASH risk factors identified using text and MeSH terms, limiting results to systematic reviews or meta-analyses. The remaining 10 complex behavioural associations were not reviewed systematically. RESULTS: The main ways poor WASH could lead to adverse outcomes are via two non-exclusive categories: 1. 'In-water' associations: (a) Inorganic contaminants, and (b) 'water-system' related infections, (c) 'water-based' infections, and (d) 'water borne' infections. 2. 'Behaviour' associations: (e) Behaviours leading to water-washed infections, (f) Water-related insect-vector infections, and (g-i) Behaviours leading to non-infectious diseases/conditions. We added a gender inequality and a life course lens to the above framework to identify whether WASH affected health of mothers in particular, and acted beyond the immediate effects. This framework led us to identifying 77 risk mechanisms (67 chemical or biological factors and 10 complex behavioural factors) linking WASH to maternal and perinatal health outcomes. CONCLUSION: WASH affects the risk of adverse maternal and perinatal health outcomes; these exposures are multiple and overlapping and may be distant from the immediate health outcome. Much of the evidence is weak, based on observational studies and anecdotal evidence, with relatively few systematic reviews. New systematic reviews are required to assess the quality of existing evidence more rigorously, and primary research is required to investigate the magnitude of effects of particular WASH exposures on specific maternal and perinatal outcomes. Whilst major gaps exist, the evidence strongly suggests that poor WASH influences maternal and reproductive health outcomes to the extent that it should be considered in global and national strategies.

https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdf/10.1111/tmi.12439

Getting the basic rights - the role of water, sanitation and hygiene in maternal and reproductive health: a conceptual framework.

Aims
The aim of this study was to determine the effects of nursing preceptorship on the competence, job satisfaction, professional socialization and retention of new nurses.

Background
Although studies have focused on the effects of nursing preceptorship on new nurses’ competence and retention, a systematic review of the overall effects is lacking.

Design
A quantitative systematic review.

Data sources
Five English/Chinese databases were searched for original articles published before June 2015 and only six articles published between 2001–2014 were included in the final analysis.

Review methods
Joanna Briggs Methodology was used to process one randomization control trial, one quasi-experimental study and four observational studies. Two appraisers independently reviewed each study using the standardized critical appraisal tools from the Joanna Briggs Institute.

Results
The most adopted preceptorship was a fixed preceptor/preceptee model and one-on-one for 1–3-month duration. It showed that new nurses’ overall competence increased significantly due to preceptorship. Only a few studies explored the effects of preceptorship on the job satisfaction and professional socialization of new nurses. Clear conclusions regarding the effect of preceptorship on nurses’ retention rate could not be made because of inconsistent time points for calculation and a lack of control groups in the study design.

Conclusions
Preceptorship can improve new nurses’ nursing competence; however, more studies are needed to ascertain its effects on new nurses’ retention rates, job satisfaction and professional socialization to promote nursing care quality and resolve nursing shortages.

The effects of nursing preceptorship on new nurses' competence, professional socialization, job satisfaction and retention: A systematic review.

Anemia during pregnancy is a global public health challenge facing the world today, especially in the developing countries. Anemia in pregnancy is an important contributor to maternal mortality/morbidity as well as to the low birth weight which in turn might contribute to increased percentage for infant mortality. Many epidemiological studies in the past have reported the problem in high magnitude. This review was conducted to identify the persistence of the problem in the South Asian countries during the last 5 years irrespective of iron supplementation as a measure to tackle this problem. Materials and methods: A review of all published literature related to prevalence of anemia for a period of 5 years (20072011) in South Asian countries was carried out. The online databases MEDLINE, CINAHL, Science Direct, Scopus, and Cochrane were used to identify relevant studies. Data from studies meeting inclusion/exclusion criteria were abstracted into a standardized form. Results: Eleven studies with a total of 1,93,131 pregnant women were included in the review. The maximum and minimum reported prevalence rates of anemia during pregnancy were 80 and 18% respectively. The maximum and minimum prevalence of severe anemia affecting pregnant women is 20 and 2.7%. The risk factors that are involved are young age, educational status and socioeconomic status, poor birth spacing and lack of compliance to iron and folic acid supplementation. Conclusion: Anemia is the most frequent maternal complication of pregnancy. All the 11 studies reviewed focused on assessing the prevalence of anemia during various stages of pregnancy. It shows anemia is prevalent from mild to severe degree with substantial variations across trimesters. The outcomes of these suggest prevalence of anemia is due to associated factors and lack of deficiency of vitamin B12, low BMI, infection with ascariasis, deficient dietary consumption of foods fortified with iron, low socioeconomic conditions and high parity.

/pdf/anemia-in-pregnancy-consequences-and-challenges-a-review-of-2eozhhicvl.pdf

Anemia in pregnancy-consequences and challenges: A review of literature

Urinary incontinence (UI) continues to affect millions of women worldwide and those living in resource poor settings seem to be more affected. The purpose of this study was to determine the prevalence of UI and factors associated with UI symptom severity (UISS) among women in a selected district in India. A cross-sectional design was used to collect data from a sample of 598 community dwelling women in the age range of 20 to 60 years. Data was collected using a questionnaire survey of participants who were found in their homes. The prevalence of UI was 33.8% and the majority of women had negative attitudes about the condition. For instance most women were in agreement with statements such as: UI cannot be prevented or cured (98%); women with UI are cursed (97%); women are not supposed to tell anyone about the problem (90%) and others. Of the 202 women with self-reported UI, the majority reported having moderate UISS (78%) and others rated the symptoms as mild (22%). The woman’s age at first birth (p<.01) was negatively associated with UISS, while the number of pregnancies (p<.01) and weight of the largest baby ever delivered (p<.01), were positively associated with UISS. The weight of the largest baby delivered had the strongest impact on predicting UISS. Many community dwelling women are suffering from UI at proportions which warrant significant public health consideration. Therefore public health programs to prevent UI or worsening of symptoms are required and should emphasize health education, because of the pervasive negative attitudes among affected and unaffected women. The predictors reported here can be used to priotize care for affected women and to encourage early uptake of health actions and behaviors that promote pelvic floor strengthening in at risk women who may be reluctant to disclose UI.

/pdf/self-reported-urinary-incontinence-and-factors-associated-4h1rke3nt0.pdf

Self-reported urinary incontinence and factors associated with symptom severity in community dwelling adult women: implications for women’s health promotion

Objectives: Breast cancer is one of the most common cancers and a leading cause of cancer-related mortality in women worldwide. Studies to detect the awareness of breast cancer among Arab women are few and point to a lack of breast cancer knowledge among females. Early detection of breast cancer plays a leading role in reducing mortality rates and improving prognosis. This study aims to assess the knowledge and awareness of breast cancer symptoms among Omani women. Method: A descriptive, cross-sectional survey design was carried out in Muscat, Oman. The study was conducted at three health centers and three shopping malls using convenience sampling. A total of 369 women consented to be part of the study and completed a questionnaire. Responses to the questionnaire were summed to give an overall knowledge score. Descriptive statistics were used to summarize the data, which was also analyzed statistically. Results: Among the total number of women 68 (19%) were calculated to have poor knowledge, 219 (59%) had average knowledge, 77 (21%) had good knowledge, and five (1%) had excellent knowledge on breast cancer. Among the variables, education status (p=0.002, p<0.050), and family history of breast cancer (p =0.000, p<0.010) was significantly related to a higher knowledge level. Conclusion: The study revealed that there was lack of awareness and knowledge on breast cancer symptoms among Omani women. Breast cancer awareness and early detection through regular breast screening is important to reduce the mortality and morbidity of the disease.

/pdf/what-do-omani-women-know-about-breast-cancer-symptoms-4gv77wkk9g.pdf

What do Omani Women know about Breast Cancer Symptoms

Objectives: This study aimed to determine the challenges encountered and strategies used by nurse preceptors to build effective professional relationships during the preceptorship of final year nursing students. Methods: This study was conducted in November 2012 at the College of Nursing in Sultan Qaboos University, Muscat, Oman. A qualitative research design consisting of focus group discussions was used to investigate the challenges that preceptors encounter and the strategies that they use to build effective relationships with preceptees. A total of 21 preceptors from Sultan Qaboos University Hospital participated in the study as part of a training workshop for nurse preceptors. The interviews were audio recorded, transcribed verbatim and thematically analysed. Results: The main challenges faced by preceptors included discrepancies in applying theory to practice; lack of trust; lack of time, and perceived lack of knowledge. The effective strategies identified by the preceptors to be used in building a healthy preceptor-preceptee relationship were proper orientation; effective communication; preparation for complex situations; appreciation and acknowledgment; positive feedback; assurance of support; spending time together; knowing preceptors personally; giving breaks, and encouraging self-commitment. Conclusion: Preceptors should be encouraged to identify challenges that hinder the building of effective relationships with preceptees early during their preceptorship. The incorporation of appropriate and evidenced-based strategies, such as those identified in this study, can transform the preceptorship experience into one that is fulfilling for both preceptors and preceptees. This may lead to greater job satisfaction, personal and professional growth as well as higher self-esteem levels for preceptors and the realisation of clinical objectives for preceptees.

/pdf/challenges-and-strategies-for-building-and-maintaining-meplva9ikk.pdf

Challenges and Strategies for Building and Maintaining Effective Preceptor-Preceptee Relationships among Nurses

A vaginal examination (VE) is an essential part of midwifery care, and is routinely performed when assessing the progress of labour. As evidence shows that during labour women may find VEs unpleasant, embarrassing and sometimes painful, the aim of this article is to review literature on the use of VEs during labour and to synthesise information from the available literature on how to provide an effective VE. The studies considered were retrieved from three databases (the Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature [CINAHL], SCOPUS and MEDLINE) using the following search terms: “VEs in labour”, “midwives and use of VEs” and “women experiences of VEs in labour”. The literature reviewed suggests that midwives are not careful about VEs. Therefore, a concerted effort is needed to pay attention to the frequency of VEs, the management of pain and distress, information-giving and the preferences of the patient, so that the patient can feel in control during a VE.

/pdf/improving-vaginal-examinations-performed-by-midwives-p32dxxj3cf.pdf

Vidya Seshan

Papers

Anemia in pregnancy-consequences and challenges: A review of literature

Self-reported urinary incontinence and factors associated with symptom severity in community dwelling adult women: implications for women’s health promotion

What do Omani Women know about Breast Cancer Symptoms

Challenges and Strategies for Building and Maintaining Effective Preceptor-Preceptee Relationships among Nurses

Improving vaginal examinations performed by midwives.