Kangaroo Mother Care (KMC) supports parents' role at the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). To enhance parents' provision of KMC, it is essential to obtain knowledge of what parents perceive as supportive factors and barriers regarding their opportunities to perform KMC. Aim: To identify factors that parents of preterm infants perceived as supportive factors or barriers for their performance of

Aim. This article is a report on a descriptive study of fathers' experiences of providing their preterm infants with Kangaroo Mother Care. Background. During neonatal intensive care, fathers describe the incubator as a barrier and the separation from their infant as stressful. Fathers consider it important to be close to the infant, and performing Kangaroo Mother Care makes them feel an important

Background: Women's fears and attitudes to childbirth may influence the maternity care they receive and the outcomes of birth. This study aimed to develop profiles of women according to their attitudes regarding birth and their levels of childbirth related fear. The association of these profiles with mode and outcomes of birth was explored.Methods: Prospective longitudinal cohort design with self

Background: the rate of caesarean in Australia is twice that of Sweden. Little is known about women's attitudes towards birth in countries where the caesarean rate is high compared to those where normal birth is a more common event. Objectives: to compare attitudes and beliefs towards birth in a sample of Australian and Swedish women in mid-pregnancy. Participants: women from rural towns in mid Sw

Background: While attending birth mostly has a positive impact on becoming a father, it has also been described as including feelings of discomfort and is more demanding than expected. Objective: The objective was to explore Swedish fathers' birth experiences, and factors associated with a less-positive birth experience. Methods: Mixed methods including quantitative and qualitative data were used.

Aims To identify areas in need of quality improvement by investigating inpatients' perceptions of quality of care, and to identify differences in perceptions of care related to patient gender, age and type of admission. Background Nursing managers play an important role in the development of high-quality care. Methods Quality of care was assessed using the Quality from the Patients' Perspective (Q

Background: Around 1015% of women suffer from depressive illness during pregnancy or the first year postpartum. Depression during pregnancy constitutes a risk for prenatal stress and preterm birth. No validated screening instrument for detecting depression during pregnancy was available in Swedish. Aims: We aimed to validate the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) against DSM-IV criteria f

The objective of this study was to investigate prospective fathers' preferences for caesarean section and associated factors. Data were collected by means of a questionnaire given in mid-pregnancy to 1105 fathers-to-be in northern Sweden. In total, 6.4% of fathers preferred a caesarean section. The factors associated with a preference for caesarean section were a wish to plan the date of the baby'

Background: Cesarean section performed in the absence of medical indication is of concern in many countries, but studies focusing on its prevalence are inconclusive. The objective of this study was, first, to describe the prevalence of cesarean section without medical reason in terms of the diagnostic code listed in the Swedish Medical Birth Register, and to assess its contribution to the general

Objective: intimate partner violence is a significant health problem. Fear of retaliation and shame may prevent women from telling anyone about the violence. This study investigated the prevalence of disclosure and police reporting of intimate partner violence during the first year postpartum. Design: a prospective longitudinal Swedish cohort study based on information from 2563 women who answered

Background: Social support is important during pregnancy and childbirth and the partner is usually the main source of support. Lack of partner support is associated with less emotional well-being and discontinuation of breastfeeding. Research problem: The purpose of the study was to investigate the proportion of women dissatisfied with partner support in early pregnancy, and to identify risk facto

Background: The first sexual intercourse after childbirth may be challenging for women, especially if the birth resulted in injuries in the genital area. The purpose of this study was to investigate whether or not tears in the vagina, perineum, sphincter ani, or rectum hindered sexual intercourse during the year after childbirth. Methods: We obtained information from 2,490 women in a population-ba

We investigated the prevalence of postnatal depressive mood in a national Swedish sample, together with factors associated with depressed mood postpartum only as opposed to having depressed mood both in early pregnancy and postpartum. Swedish-speaking women booked for antenatal care during a chosen period of three recruitment weeks were invited and 3293 (72%) agreed to participate in the study. Of

Background: Depression and other psychiatric disorders during pregnancy and postpartum is an important health problem, especially if the symptoms are recurrent or sustained. Methods: All Swedish speaking women attending their first antenatal care visit during three predestined weeks were invited to participate. Depressive symptoms were evaluated using the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS

Background: To be hit by one's intimate partner during the first year after childbirth may affect a woman's health and ability to take care of her newborn. The purpose of this study was to document the prevalence and indicators in early pregnancy of a woman being hit by her partner during the year after childbirth. Method: Information was collected by a postal questionnaire in early pregnancy and

Background: A woman's dissatisfaction with the experience of labor and birth may affect her emotional well-being and willingness to have another baby. The aim of this study was to investigate the prevalence and risk factors of a negative birth experience in a national sample. Methods: A longitudinal cohort study of 2541 women recruited from all antenatal clinics in Sweden during 3 weeks spread ove

Objective: To investigate how many women wish to have a caesarean section when asked in early pregnancy, and to identify background variables associated with such a wish. Design: National survey. Setting: Swedish antenatal clinics. Population: 3283 Swedish-speaking women booked for antenatal care, at approximately 600 Swedish antenatal clinics, during three weeks spread over one year (1999-2000).

Research on the development of preterm infant feeding behavior has focused mainly on bottlefeeding, using invasive methods or observations by professionals. In this study, a clinical method for observing breastfeeding was developed in collaboration between observers and mothers for the purpose of enabling neonatal personnel and mothers to describe developmental stages in preterm infant breastfeedi