Vera Walburg

Acceptability of psychotherapy and antidepressants for postnatal depression among newly delivered mothers

Although some studies suggest the efficacy of psychotherapy or antidepressant drugs for postnatal depression, their acceptability has not been extensively studied. Four hundred and five women consecutively admitted in obstetrical clinics were questioned about acceptability of treatments for postnatal depression using a repeated measures design after delivery, during their stay at the clinic. Mothers completed questionnaires assessing the degree of acceptability of different therapies for postnatal depression before and after receiving information about the current knowledge on antidepressant for postnatal depression and breastfeeding. The different therapies proposed were: psychotherapy by consultation, psychotherapy by home visits and antidepressant medication. The acceptability of antidepressants was significantly lower than either mode of psychotherapy before information was presented about the effects of antidepressants on breastmilk and significantly more so again after the information was given to mothers.

Influence of mother's perceptions on the choice to breastfeed or bottle‐feed: perceptions and feeding choice

The aim of the study was to evaluate what perceptions predicted feeding choice. A questionnaire assessing the degree of agreement with statements about the advantages and disadvantages of breastfeeding or bottle‐feeding was developed from analysis of qualitative interviews. Two hundred and twenty‐five mothers completed this questionnaire after delivery and indicated the feeding method they chose. Exploratory factorial analyses extracted 10 factors, which were entered in regression analyses predicting the choice of a feeding method. Three factors were significant predictors of the choice of the feeding method : ‘breastfeeding physiological advantages for mothers’, ‘fear of dependency’ and ‘moral reasoning’. The former factor was the only factor that positively predicted breastfeeding, whereas the latter two positively predicted bottle‐feeding. Possible implications to education and prevention are discussed.

Breast feeding initiation and duration: comparison of French and German mothers

BACKGROUND approximately 56% of babies in France are breast fed at birth compared with approximately 91% in Germany. Few studies have compared these neighbouring countries despite the similarities in their social systems. OBJECTIVES to compare breast-feeding initiation and duration from birth to 3 months post partum between French and German mothers, as well as reasons for breast-feeding cessation in the first 3 months. DESIGN mothers were contacted twice during the study: immediately after childbirth and at 3 months post partum. PARTICIPANTS 126 French mothers were recruited during their maternity stay in hospital, and 80 German women were recruited by their midwives and contacted via regular mail. All women were primiparous. METHODS breast-feeding rates at birth and 3 months post partum were collected and compared. In addition, reasons for breast-feeding cessation in the first 3 months were explored and analysed. RESULTS 96% of German women initiated breast feeding at birth and 83% were still breast feeding at 3 months post partum. In comparison, 67% of French women initiated breast feeding at birth and 34% were still breast feeding at 3 months post partum. CONCLUSION there is a need for postnatal follow-up care for French mothers who breast feed. Follow-up care available for German mothers shows encouraging results.

Effet d’une intervention prénatale de soutien et d’information sur la durée et le vécu de l’allaitement maternel

Resume Les femmes francaises sont moins nombreuses a allaiter leur enfant que la plupart des femmes europeennes. Or, les bienfaits de l’allaitement maternel pour la sante des bebes et des meres sont aujourd’hui bien connus et communement admis. Cette etude a eu pour objectif de proposer une seance d’information et de soutien aux futures mamans afin de les preparer a leur allaitement. La seance d’information a ete elaboree en utilisant certains principes des therapies comportementales et cognitives: l’education, l’inoculation psychologique, la presentation et refutation des croyances erronees. Les femmes ont ete conviees a une seance de groupe de deux heures au cours de leur septieme mois de grossesse. Trois mois apres la naissance de leur enfant, le nombre de meres poursuivant l’allaitement a ete compare au nombre de meres d’un groupe controle. Les comparaisons preliminaires montrent que les femmes du groupe d’etude etaient plus nombreuses a allaiter encore leur enfant a trois mois compare aux femmes du groupe controle. D’autre part, l’interet de ces meres pour ce type d’intervention a ete evalue et l’ensemble des meres ayant participe a l’intervention fait etat d’un grand degre de satisfaction et retient une impression tres positive sur plusieurs plans.

Les représentations de l’alimentation du bébé: Deuxième partie : l’effet prédicteur des représentations sur le taux d’allaitement à la naissance, à trois mois et la durée envisagée

Resume Seulement 53 % des femmes francaises allaitent leurs enfants a la naissance contre 90 % des femmes allemandes. Une etude comparative a montre de nombreuses divergences entre meres francaises et meres allemandes, concernant les representations de ce mode alimentaire. Nous, nous sommes alors interroges sur la valeur predictive de ces representations au niveau du taux et de la duree d’allaitement. De ce fait, nous avons analyse grâce a des regressions logistiques et multiples les donnees concernant les representations de 206 femmes, dont 126 femmes francaises et 80 femmes allemandes. Les resultats montrent que plusieurs domaines, notamment au niveau des avantages physiologiques de l’allaitement pour la mere et le bebe ainsi que les interdits pendant l’allaitement ont un impact predicteur sur la duree et le taux d’allaitement. Ces resultats temoignent de l’importance de proposer des informations correctes et claires concernant l’allaitement aux futures meres.

Embarrassment and modesty feelings during pregnancy, childbirth and follow-up care: A qualitative approach

Objective: Pregnancy and childbirth require several medical examinations which can awaken feelings of modesty in women. Although little research has been done on this specific question, previous research indicates that feelings of modesty and embarrassment could surface during medical examinations, particularly those requiring patient nudity. The aim of the present study was to explore women’s feelings of modesty and embarrassment during medical examinations during pregnancy, childbirth and postnatal care. Method: Qualitative with phenomenological approach. Data were collected by tape-recorded open-ended interviews during the early postnatal period at Paule de Viguier Hospital Maternity Unit, Toulouse (southern France). Twenty women were interviewed during their maternity stay. The interviews explored feelings of modesty during prenatal medical care, childbirth and postnatal care. Results: Results show that feelings of modesty and embarrassment are involved in women’s experience of medical care during pregnancy and childbirth. Nevertheless, all of these women accepted the necessity of medical examinations, citing that their and their baby’s health were more important than personal comfort. Conclusion: Some factors such as ensuring a professional and respectful attitude from the medical staff as well as having procedures explained could reduce feelings of modesty. This study offers an insight of an area that has, as yet, been little explored.

Attitudes des adolescents français envers la chirurgie esthétique

Au total, 152 adolescents issus de la population générale, âgés de 13 à 17 ans, ont participé à l’étude, l’âge moyen est de 15,8 ans (DS = 1,1), soit 100 filles et 52 garçons. Ils ont répondu individuellement à trois questionnaires : le Multidimensional Body Self Relations Questionnaire (MBSRQ) [2], évaluant trois dimensions de l’image du corps : préoccupation pour l’apparence physique (« Je prend soin d’acheter des vêtements qui me mettent en valeur »), la satisfaction corporelle (« Je suis très satisfaite de mon apparence générale ») et l’évaluation de l’apparence physique (« J’aime mon apparence lorsque je ne porte pas mes vêtements » ) ; le questionnaire de Rosenberg [3], évaluant l’estime de soi et l’Instability of Self-Esteem Scale (ISES), évaluant l’instabilité de l’estime de soi [4].