1
|
Mu F, He T, Wang K, Wang F. Knowledge, attitudes, and practices of patients with recurrent pregnancy loss toward pregnancy loss. Front Public Health 2024; 11:1308842. [PMID: 38274527 PMCID: PMC10808478 DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2023.1308842] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/07/2023] [Accepted: 12/26/2023] [Indexed: 01/27/2024] Open
Abstract
Objective Self-management is crucial in managing recurrent pregnancy loss (RPL). This study explored the knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP) of patients with RPL toward RPL. Methods This cross-sectional study was conducted among patients with RPL between January 2023 and June 2023 at the Second Hospital of Lanzhou University. Participants' demographic characteristics and KAP were determined using a self-designed questionnaire (Cronbach's α = 0.818). Structural equation modeling (SEM) was used to observe the correlations among KAP and different factors. Results This study analyzed 497 valid questionnaires. The mean knowledge, attitude, and practice scores were 11.59 ± 4.30 (possible range: 0-20, 57.95%), 44.17 ± 3.18 (possible range: 13-65, 67.95%), and 32.39 ± 5.22 (possible range: 8-40, 80.98%), indicating poor knowledge, moderate attitude, and proactive practice. Age was non-linearly associated with the KAP dimensions, with a positive impact of age on KAP among those aged <32 years old. Knowledge was directly influenced by education (β = 1.49, p < 0.001) and income (β = 1.08, p < 0.001). The attitude was directly influenced by knowledge (β = 0.25, p < 0.001) and indirectly influenced by education (β = 0.37, p = 0.001) and income (β = 0.27, p < 0.001). Practice was directly influenced by knowledge (β = 0.26, p < 0.001), attitude (β = 0.28, p < 0.001), and income (β = 0.68, p = 0.012), and indirectly influenced by knowledge (β = 0.07, p = 0.001), education (β = 0.59, p = 0.001), and income (β = 0.42, p < 0.001). Conclusion Women with RPL in Lanzhou show poor knowledge, moderate attitude, and proactive practice toward RPL. This study identified specific KAP items that would require improvements. The study also identified categories of patients who would need more attention.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Fang Wang
- Department of Reproductive Medicine, Lanzhou University Second Hospital, Lanzhou, China
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Fogarty S, Werner R, James JL. Applying Scientific Rationale to the Current Perceptions and Explanations of Massage and Miscarriage in the First Trimester. Int J Ther Massage Bodywork 2023; 16:30-43. [PMID: 36866184 PMCID: PMC9949615 DOI: 10.3822/ijtmb.v16i1.771] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Miscarriage is a relatively common occurrence, impacting 8-15% of clinically recognised pregnancies, and up to 30% of all conceptions. The public perception of the risk factors associated with miscarriage does not match the evidence. Evidence indicates that there are very few modifiable factors to prevent miscarriage, and the majority of the time little could have been done to prevent a spontaneous miscarriage. However, the public perception is that consuming drugs, lifting a heavy object, previous use of an intrauterine device, or massage can all contribute to miscarriage. While misinformation about the causes and risk factors of miscarriage continues to circulate, pregnant women will experience confusion about what activities they can (and cannot) do in early pregnancy, including receiving a massage. Pregnancy massage is an important component of massage therapy education. The resources that underpin pregnancy massage coursework consist of educational print content that includes direction and caution that massage in the first trimester, if done 'incorrectly' or in the 'wrong' location, can contribute to adverse outcomes such as miscarriage. The most common statements, perceptions and explanations for massage and miscarriage cover three broad areas: 1) maternal changes from massage affects the embryo/fetus; 2) massage leads to damage of the fetus/placenta; and 3) aspects of the massage treatment in the first trimester initiate contractions. The goal of this paper is to use scientific rationale to critically consider the validity of the current perceptions and explanations of massage therapy and miscarriage. Whilst direct evidence from clinical trials was lacking, considerations of physiological mechanisms regulating pregnancy and known risk factors associated with miscarriage provide no evidence that massage in pregnancy would increase a patient's risk of miscarriage. This scientific rationale should be addressed when teaching pregnancy massage courses.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Sarah Fogarty
- Department of Medicine, School of Medicine, Western Sydney University, Sydney, Australia,Corresponding author: Sarah Fogarty, Department of Medicine, School of Medicine, Western Sydney University Campbelltown Campus, Narellan Road & Gilchrist Drive, Campbelltown, NSW 2560, Australia,
| | - Ruth Werner
- Author of A Massage Therapist’s Guide to Pathology, and Board Certified in Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork, USA
| | - Joanna L James
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Sumankuuro J, Domapielle MK, Derbile EK. The what's, where's and why's of miscarriage: evidence from the 2017 Ghana Maternal Health Survey. Public Health 2022; 213:34-46. [PMID: 36334582 DOI: 10.1016/j.puhe.2022.09.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/30/2022] [Revised: 08/31/2022] [Accepted: 09/16/2022] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Miscarriage remains a significant public health challenge in most low- and middle-income settings, including Ghana. We thus examined the sociodemographic and maternal characteristics associated with miscarriage in Ghana using the 2017 Maternal Health Survey dataset. STUDY DESIGN This was a cross-sectional quantitative study. METHODS We quantitatively analysed Ghana Maternal and Health Survey dataset. Demographic and Health Survey (DHS) collected the data using survey techniques. Approximately 25,062 women within the active reproductive ages of 15-49 years were involved in the survey. We analysed the data using binary and multivariate logistic regression models at a 95% confidence level. The findings were reported using the World Health Organisation's Conceptual Social Determinants of Health framework. RESULTS We found that the prevalence of miscarriage was 15.6%. Education, religion and ethnicity were the most significant structural factors associated with miscarriage. We also found that women of all ages (20-49 years), starting antenatal care (ANC) in the fifth month of gestation, residing in rural area, having history of abortion (aOR = 0.622, 95% CI = 0.570-0.679, P < 0.001), and not using mobile phone during complications (adjusted odds ratio = 0.601, 95% confidence interval = 0.556-0.651, P < 0.001) were key intermediary determinants of miscarriage. The analysis found increased odds of miscarriage among women who had no mobile phone and could not access the same during obstetric complications. CONCLUSIONS The study concludes that country-policy frameworks on maternal and neonatal health care do not go far enough in providing specific solutions for preventing miscarriage. To reverse this trend, we recommend targeted ANC, including enhanced twenty-four-hour primary emergency obstetric care within 5 km, advocacy, and education as a lever to increasing utilisation of ANC, and removal of indirect financial barriers to maternal health care. We further recommend a qualitative research to understand some of the findings and explore the feasibility of promoting mobile phone technology to address maternal health problems, particularly obstetric care for women in hard-to-reach rural communities.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- J Sumankuuro
- Faculty of Public Policy and Governance, SD Dombo University of Business and Integrated Development Studies, Wa, Ghana; Centre for Health Policy, School of Public Health, Faculty of Science, University of Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa; School of Community Health, Faculty of Science, Charles Sturt University, NSW, Australia; School of Public Health, Faculty of Community and Health Sciences, University of the Western Cape, South Africa.
| | - M K Domapielle
- Faculty of Public Policy and Governance, SD Dombo University of Business and Integrated Development Studies, Wa, Ghana.
| | - E K Derbile
- Faculty of Planning and Land Management, SD Dombo University of Business and Integrated Development Studies, Wa, Ghana.
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Harty T, Trench M, Keegan O, O'Donoghue K, Nuzum D. The experiences of men following recurrent miscarriage in an Irish tertiary hospital: A qualitative analysis. Health Expect 2022; 25:1048-1057. [PMID: 35243718 PMCID: PMC9122424 DOI: 10.1111/hex.13452] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/19/2021] [Revised: 01/28/2022] [Accepted: 02/03/2022] [Indexed: 12/04/2022] Open
Abstract
Introduction Miscarriage is one of the most common complications of pregnancy, and recurrent miscarriage affects approximately 1% of couples. The psychological impact of early pregnancy loss on women has been well documented in the literature; however, the burden of miscarriage on men remains largely unexplored. Methods This qualitative research involved semi‐structured interviews with five men whose partners had experienced at least two consecutive miscarriages. Participants were recruited through an early pregnancy loss clinic in a large, tertiary maternity hospital. Interviews were recorded and transcribed verbatim and analysed thematically. Results Recurrent miscarriage had a pronounced psychological impact on all the men interviewed, which worsened with each successive miscarriage. Three primary themes were developed from the data: (1) the deeply emotional experiences of men following recurrent miscarriage; (2) frustrations experienced during the provision of support following recurrent miscarriage; and (3) a sense of feeling unimportant. Lack of timely provision of information about miscarriage as well as lack of access to services were highlighted as deficiencies in the quality of care provided after recurrent miscarriage. Conclusion The experiences of men after recurrent miscarriage are based largely on their assumed role as the protector and supporter of their partner, which often results in neglect of their own psychological needs. The support required by men is similar to that required by women, and greater access to information and services is needed to improve the experiences of men following recurrent miscarriage. Patient Contribution Participants were recruited through the Pregnancy Loss Clinic at Cork University Maternity Hospital and were identified by specialist midwives. Participants were approached and interviewed by one of the researchers. Participation was voluntary and the men received no financial contribution for their time.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Tommy Harty
- Department of Medicine, Cork University Hospital, Cork, Ireland.,Pregnancy Loss Research Group, Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland
| | - Maria Trench
- Graduate School of Healthcare Management, Royal College of Surgeons Ireland, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Orla Keegan
- Graduate School of Healthcare Management, Royal College of Surgeons Ireland, Dublin, Ireland.,Department of Education and Bereavement, Irish Hospice Foundation, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Keelin O'Donoghue
- Pregnancy Loss Research Group, Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland.,Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Cork University Maternity Hospital, Cork, Ireland.,The Irish Centre for Maternal and Child Health Research (INFANT), University College Cork, Cork, Ireland
| | - Daniel Nuzum
- Pregnancy Loss Research Group, Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland.,Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Cork University Maternity Hospital, Cork, Ireland
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Sun Y, Li E, Feng G, Li M, Fu Y, You J, Liu X, Zhu Y. Influence of cleavage-stage embryo quality on the in-vitro fertilization outcome after single embryo transfer in fresh cycles. Taiwan J Obstet Gynecol 2021; 59:872-876. [PMID: 33218404 DOI: 10.1016/j.tjog.2020.08.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 07/09/2020] [Indexed: 01/23/2023] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Embryo quality is crucial for determining the outcome of embryo implantation. This study aimed to assess the impact of embryo quality on the outcome of in vitro fertilization/single-embryo transfer (IVF-SET). MATERIALS AND METHODS This retrospective study included 2531 fresh IVF-SET cycles, including 277 poor-quality and 2254 top-quality embryos. The clinical pregnancy rate, miscarriage rate, live birth, implantation rate, pregnancy outcome and complication were analyzed and compared. Risk factors associated with miscarriage rate and pregnancy complication were identified using logistics regression analysis. RESULTS Top-quality embryos resulted in higher clinical pregnancy rate (30.5% vs. 12.6%, P < 0.001) and live birth rate (23.9% vs. 9.7%, P < 0.001) compared with poor-quality embryos. Logistics regression analysis revealed that embryo quality was not correlated with miscarriage rate (95% CI 0.33-1.89) and pregnancy complications (95% CI 0.12-7.84). Maternal age and body mass index was a risk factor for miscarriage rate (95% CI 1.05-1.22) and pregnancy complication (95% CI 1.01-1.29), respectively. CONCLUSION Clinical miscarriage rate and pregnancy complication were embryo quality independent. Maternal age was the risk factor for miscarriage rate. Embryo quality did not affect miscarriage once a clinical pregnancy is achieved.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yu Sun
- Department of Reproductive Endocrinology, Women's Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310006, China
| | - Enshu Li
- Reproductive Endocrinology Laboratory, The Key Laboratory of Assisted Reproduction, Ministry of Education, Hangzhou, 310006, China
| | - Guofang Feng
- Department of Reproductive Endocrinology, Women's Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310006, China
| | - Miao Li
- Department of Reproductive Endocrinology, Women's Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310006, China
| | - Yanling Fu
- Department of Reproductive Endocrinology, Women's Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310006, China
| | - Jiali You
- Department of Reproductive Endocrinology, Women's Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310006, China
| | - Xiaozhen Liu
- Department of Reproductive Endocrinology, Women's Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310006, China
| | - Yimin Zhu
- Department of Reproductive Endocrinology, Women's Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310006, China.
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Quenby S, Gallos ID, Dhillon-Smith RK, Podesek M, Stephenson MD, Fisher J, Brosens JJ, Brewin J, Ramhorst R, Lucas ES, McCoy RC, Anderson R, Daher S, Regan L, Al-Memar M, Bourne T, MacIntyre DA, Rai R, Christiansen OB, Sugiura-Ogasawara M, Odendaal J, Devall AJ, Bennett PR, Petrou S, Coomarasamy A. Miscarriage matters: the epidemiological, physical, psychological, and economic costs of early pregnancy loss. Lancet 2021; 397:1658-1667. [PMID: 33915094 DOI: 10.1016/s0140-6736(21)00682-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 464] [Impact Index Per Article: 154.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/15/2020] [Revised: 02/11/2021] [Accepted: 02/16/2021] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
Miscarriage is generally defined as the loss of a pregnancy before viability. An estimated 23 million miscarriages occur every year worldwide, translating to 44 pregnancy losses each minute. The pooled risk of miscarriage is 15·3% (95% CI 12·5-18·7%) of all recognised pregnancies. The population prevalence of women who have had one miscarriage is 10·8% (10·3-11·4%), two miscarriages is 1·9% (1·8-2·1%), and three or more miscarriages is 0·7% (0·5-0·8%). Risk factors for miscarriage include very young or older female age (younger than 20 years and older than 35 years), older male age (older than 40 years), very low or very high body-mass index, Black ethnicity, previous miscarriages, smoking, alcohol, stress, working night shifts, air pollution, and exposure to pesticides. The consequences of miscarriage are both physical, such as bleeding or infection, and psychological. Psychological consequences include increases in the risk of anxiety, depression, post-traumatic stress disorder, and suicide. Miscarriage, and especially recurrent miscarriage, is also a sentinel risk marker for obstetric complications, including preterm birth, fetal growth restriction, placental abruption, and stillbirth in future pregnancies, and a predictor of longer-term health problems, such as cardiovascular disease and venous thromboembolism. The costs of miscarriage affect individuals, health-care systems, and society. The short-term national economic cost of miscarriage is estimated to be £471 million per year in the UK. As recurrent miscarriage is a sentinel marker for various obstetric risks in future pregnancies, women should receive care in preconception and obstetric clinics specialising in patients at high risk. As psychological morbidity is common after pregnancy loss, effective screening instruments and treatment options for mental health consequences of miscarriage need to be available. We recommend that miscarriage data are gathered and reported to facilitate comparison of rates among countries, to accelerate research, and to improve patient care and policy development.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Siobhan Quenby
- Division of Biomedical Sciences, Warwick Medical School, University of Warwick, Warwick, UK; Tommy's National Centre for Miscarriage Research, University Hospitals Coventry and Warwickshire NHS Trust, Coventry, UK.
| | - Ioannis D Gallos
- Tommy's National Centre for Miscarriage Research, Institute of Metabolism and Systems Research, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK
| | - Rima K Dhillon-Smith
- Tommy's National Centre for Miscarriage Research, Institute of Metabolism and Systems Research, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK
| | - Marcelina Podesek
- Tommy's National Centre for Miscarriage Research, Institute of Metabolism and Systems Research, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK
| | - Mary D Stephenson
- University of Illinois Recurrent Pregnancy Loss Program, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Joanne Fisher
- Warwick Clinical Trials Unit, University of Warwick, Warwick, UK
| | - Jan J Brosens
- Division of Biomedical Sciences, Warwick Medical School, University of Warwick, Warwick, UK; Tommy's National Centre for Miscarriage Research, University Hospitals Coventry and Warwickshire NHS Trust, Coventry, UK
| | - Jane Brewin
- Tommy's Charity, Laurence Pountney Hill, London, UK
| | - Rosanna Ramhorst
- CONICET, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Instituto de Química Biológica de la Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales IQUIBICEN, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Emma S Lucas
- Division of Biomedical Sciences, Warwick Medical School, University of Warwick, Warwick, UK; Tommy's National Centre for Miscarriage Research, University Hospitals Coventry and Warwickshire NHS Trust, Coventry, UK
| | - Rajiv C McCoy
- Department of Biology, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Robert Anderson
- Nuffield Department of Primary Care Health Sciences, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Shahd Daher
- Nuffield Department of Primary Care Health Sciences, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Lesley Regan
- Tommy's National Centre for Miscarriage Research, Imperial College London, London, UK
| | - Maya Al-Memar
- Tommy's National Centre for Miscarriage Research, Imperial College London, London, UK
| | - Tom Bourne
- Tommy's National Centre for Miscarriage Research, Imperial College London, London, UK
| | - David A MacIntyre
- Tommy's National Centre for Miscarriage Research, Imperial College London, London, UK
| | - Raj Rai
- Tommy's National Centre for Miscarriage Research, Imperial College London, London, UK
| | - Ole B Christiansen
- Centre for Recurrent Pregnancy Loss of Western Denmark, Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Aalborg University Hospital, Aalborg, Denmark
| | - Mayumi Sugiura-Ogasawara
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Nagoya City University, Nagoya, Japan
| | - Joshua Odendaal
- Division of Biomedical Sciences, Warwick Medical School, University of Warwick, Warwick, UK; Tommy's National Centre for Miscarriage Research, University Hospitals Coventry and Warwickshire NHS Trust, Coventry, UK
| | - Adam J Devall
- Tommy's National Centre for Miscarriage Research, Institute of Metabolism and Systems Research, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK
| | | | - Stavros Petrou
- Nuffield Department of Primary Care Health Sciences, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Arri Coomarasamy
- Tommy's National Centre for Miscarriage Research, Institute of Metabolism and Systems Research, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
McCarthy CM, Meaney S, Rice R, Sheehan J, O'Donoghue K. The general populations' understanding of first trimester miscarriage: a cross sectional survey. Eur J Obstet Gynecol Reprod Biol 2020; 254:200-205. [PMID: 33010694 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejogrb.2020.08.042] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/11/2020] [Revised: 08/11/2020] [Accepted: 08/21/2020] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Miscarriage is a common, yet for many, devastating adverse pregnancy outcome. However, despite this the level of public knowledge on the topic is sub-optimal. We aimed to examine the general public's knowledge of miscarriage as well as their health information seeking behaviours associated with this topic. STUDY DESIGN We commissioned a national cross-sectional telephone survey of adults in the Republic of Ireland. 967 members of the general public consented to participate to this anonymised telephone survey. Sampling procedures ensured proportionality as per national standards. We examined respondents' definitions of miscarriage, its incidence and clinical findings, as well as the information seeking behaviours of the general population surrounding miscarriage. RESULTS 699 (72%) of respondents provided an estimate of miscarriage frequency, with 28% of respondents correctly estimating that miscarriage occurs in 21-30% of pregnancies, with 61% under-estimating the incidence. Men were three times more likely than women to under-estimate (aOR3.5; 95% CI 2.4-4.9), as were those without children (aOR 1.7; 95% CI 1.2-2.6), or those living in urban areas (aOR 1.6; 95%CI 1.0-2.4. One third of respondents (33%) believed that the risk of miscarriage was higher following only one miscarriage. While 83% of respondents knew someone who had experienced a miscarriage, just over one third had discussed the topic of miscarriage with a family member/friend. CONCLUSIONS The general populations' knowledge of miscarriage, its incidence and associated factors is concerning, as are their health information seeking behaviours. Improving the level of knowledge of the general public could be achieved by adopting the topic into existing public health and education strategies. This will allow those experiencing miscarriage to frame their experience and expectations.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- C M McCarthy
- Pregnancy Loss Research Group, The Irish Centre for Fetal and Neonatal Translational Research, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland.
| | - S Meaney
- Pregnancy Loss Research Group, The Irish Centre for Fetal and Neonatal Translational Research, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland; National Perinatal Epidemiology Centre, Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University College Cork, 5th floor, Cork University Maternity Hospital, Wilton, Cork, T12 YE02, Ireland
| | - R Rice
- Pregnancy Loss Research Group, The Irish Centre for Fetal and Neonatal Translational Research, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland
| | - J Sheehan
- Pregnancy Loss Research Group, The Irish Centre for Fetal and Neonatal Translational Research, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland
| | - K O'Donoghue
- Pregnancy Loss Research Group, The Irish Centre for Fetal and Neonatal Translational Research, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland
| |
Collapse
|
8
|
Fogarty S, Steel A, Hall H, Hay P. Australian massage therapists' views and practices related to preconception, pregnancy and the early postpartum period. Complement Ther Clin Pract 2020; 40:101222. [PMID: 32891296 DOI: 10.1016/j.ctcp.2020.101222] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/17/2020] [Revised: 07/06/2020] [Accepted: 07/07/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Massage is commonly used by the Australian public and is often sought by expectant mothers. Despite its popularity there is no regulatory body to enforce minimum educational standards, guidelines or evidence-based best practice for massage therapists. The aim of this paper is to critically examine the views and practices of massage therapists who offer preconception, antenatal or postnatal massage. MATERIALS AND METHODS An online survey was administered to Australian massage therapists who provide massage in the preconception, antenatal or postnatal periods. RESULTS Ninety-nine therapists completed the survey. The majority of respondents had received training in pregnancy massage (n = 72; 72.7%) only. The most confident respondents were those that had both training and experience. CONCLUSION There are potential gaps in training for massage therapists including up-to-date curriculum and a fragmentation around industry training requirements for pregnancy massage, which may impact on the safety and benefits of pregnancy massage.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Sarah Fogarty
- School of Medicine, Western Sydney University, Australia.
| | - Amie Steel
- Faculty of Health University of Technology Sydney, Australia
| | - Helen Hall
- School of Nursing and Midwifery, Monash University, Australia
| | - Phillipa Hay
- School of Medicine, Western Sydney University, Australia
| |
Collapse
|