BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth最新文献

{"title":"Omega-3 supplementation during pregnancy in relation to reported information sources: an exploratory cross-sectional study.","authors":"Anna Elisabeth Hentrich, Doerthe Brueggmann, Samira Catharina Hoock, Lukas Jennewein, Nina-Naomi Kreis, Wiebke Schaarschmidt, Anne Kristina Kaempf, Frank Louwen, Eileen Deuster","doi":"10.1186/s12884-026-10082-8","DOIUrl":"10.1186/s12884-026-10082-8","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Omega-3 fatty acid supplementation during pregnancy is recommended in certain settings and may be relevant for maternal and fetal health, yet uptake varies widely. While educational attainment is commonly considered a determinant of health behavior, the relationship between reported information sources and supplementation practices during pregnancy remains insufficiently understood.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>A cross-sectional online survey was conducted among pregnant women attending a university hospital in Germany between June 2024 and January 2025. Data were collected on current omega-3 supplementation, preconception omega-3 use, educational attainment, parity, and reported sources of information about dietary supplements. Source-specific associations with current and preconception omega-3 use were examined exploratorily using 2 × 2 contingency tables. Conditional maximum-likelihood odds ratios (ORs) with central exact 95% confidence intervals (CIs) and corresponding two-sided central exact P values were calculated.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>A total of 127 completed questionnaires were included. Overall, 75.6% of participants reported current omega-3 supplementation, while 34.6% reported preconception omega-3 use. The internet was the most frequently reported source of information about dietary supplements (73.2%), followed by gynecologists (56.7%) and books (37.0%). Participants reporting midwives as an information source had higher estimated odds of current omega-3 supplementation (OR 6.84, 95% CI 1.56-62.84). Participants reporting digital/media sources had higher estimated odds of preconception omega-3 use (OR 6.59, 95% CI 1.47-61.13). Both estimates were imprecise, with wide confidence intervals. No clear association between educational attainment and omega-3 supplementation was observed in this highly educated sample.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>In this selective sample, exploratory analyses identified patterns of co-occurrence between reported sources of information about dietary supplements and omega-3 supplementation behavior. The findings do not establish that specific information sources provided omega-3-specific advice, influenced supplementation behavior, or preceded omega-3 use. Larger prospective studies are needed to examine these relationships and the content and timing of information exposure.</p>","PeriodicalId":9033,"journal":{"name":"BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth","volume":"26 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.1,"publicationDate":"2026-10-12","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13656525/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149164000","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Determinants of delayed antenatal visit attendance in rural Burkina Faso: a cross-sectional study.","authors":"Joël D Bognini, Toussaint Rouamba, Helen Brotherton, Guétawendé J W Nassa, Athanase M Somé, Diagniagou Lankoandé, Edmond Yabré Sawadogo, Umberto D'Alessandro, Halidou Tinto, Anna Roca","doi":"10.1186/s12884-026-09672-3","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1186/s12884-026-09672-3","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Introduction: </strong>The World Health Organization recommends a minimum of eight antenatal care (ANC) contacts, with the first visit occurring before the 12th week of gestation, as a strategy to enhance the preparedness of women for institutional delivery and improve perinatal outcomes. The present study aims to assess the prevalence of delayed ANC attendance among pregnant women in rural Burkina Faso and identify associated risk factors.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>This is a secondary analysis of clinical data collected from a randomised-controlled trial (clinicaltrials.gov ref: NCT03199547); conducted between 2018 and 2021 in rural Burkina Faso. We estimated gestational age (GA) at the first ANC visit based on recall information on the last menstrual period provided by study participants or, when such information was unavailable, symphysis-fundal height measurements taken by ANC nurses. We used descriptive methods followed by unadjusted and adjusted logistic regression, informed by an original conceptual framework, to determine the prevalence and risk factors associated with delayed first ANC visit, defined as occurring after the 12th week of gestation. A significance threshold was set at 0.05.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Out of the 5250 women enrolled in the study, 2480 (47.2%) had data available from their first ANC visit, and 90.6% (2248/2480) of those women had gestational age estimates. Most women (n = 2037/2248, 90.6%) attended their first ANC after the 14th week of gestation. The main factors associated with this delay were multiparity ≥ 4 pregnancies (OR = 2.26, 95%CI [1.48 - 3.4], p < 0.001) and first ANC visit attended during the dry season (OR = 1.79, 95%CI [1.34 - 2.39], p < 0.001).</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Our study highlights that most pregnant women in rural Burkina Faso attended their first ANC visit later than the WHO recommended timeline, increasing their risk of poor delivery outcome. Although we identified some factors that increased this risk of late ANC attendance, awareness raising interventions are required for the whole population as starting late seems to be the norm.</p>","PeriodicalId":9033,"journal":{"name":"BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth","volume":"26 Suppl 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.1,"publicationDate":"2026-10-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13633640/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149103592","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Comparative effectiveness of statins, metformin, and vitamin D, for prevention of preeclampsia: a systematic review and network meta-analysis of randomized trials.","authors":"Menna Alaa El-Khouly, Mazen Mohammed Mahgoub, Mahmoud E Abd-Elkareem, Noreen M El-Bayaa, Jana M Farouk, Mariam M Fouad, Habiba Mohammed Salah, Ahmed Khaled Saad, Mohammed Al-Azab, Rofida Ayman Mohamed, Kholoud Dahshan, Dalia Atef Abouda","doi":"10.1186/s12884-026-09920-6","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1186/s12884-026-09920-6","url":null,"abstract":"&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Background: &lt;/strong&gt;Preeclampsia is a leading cause of maternal and neonatal morbidity and mortality worldwide, yet effective pharmacological preventive strategies remain uncertain. Statins, metformin, and vitamin D, alone or combined with omega-3, have been investigated for potential protective effects, but comparative evidence is limited.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Objective: &lt;/strong&gt;To compare the effectiveness of statins, metformin, and vitamin D in preventing preeclampsia and related adverse outcomes among high-risk pregnant women.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Methods: &lt;/strong&gt;A systematic review and network meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials was conducted. PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, Cochrane, and Epistemonikos were searched from September 11, 2020, to September 11, 2025. Eight trials involving 4,078 high-risk pregnant women were included. Participants were randomized to statins, metformin, or vitamin D at different doses versus placebo. The primary outcome was the incidence of preeclampsia. Secondary outcomes included gestational hypertension, preterm birth, low birth weight, neonatal intensive care unit admission, gestational diabetes, respiratory distress syndrome, and perinatal outcomes. Risk ratios with 95% confidence intervals were calculated, and interventions were ranked using the surface under the cumulative ranking probabilities.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Results: &lt;/strong&gt;Eight randomized controlled trials were analyzed. Compared with placebo, higher-dose vitamin D supplementation showed associations with lower estimated risks of preeclampsia, particularly vitamin D 4,000 IU/day (risk ratio 0.21, 95% confidence interval 0.06-0.72) and 60,000 IU monthly (risk ratio 0.36, 95% confidence interval 0.19-0.70). These relative effects corresponded to approximate absolute risk differences of 8% and 6%, respectively, based on observed baseline risks, and reflect associations rather than proven causality. Estimates were derived from limited direct evidence within sparse networks. These dose-specific vitamin D regimens had the highest probabilistic ranking for preeclampsia within the network, but these rankings should be interpreted as exploratory rather than definitive. Higher-dose vitamin D was also associated with trends toward lower event rates of preterm births and low-birth-weight infants, although estimates were imprecise. Evidence for statins and metformin was inconsistent, with wide confidence intervals. SUCRA rankings suggested vitamin D as the highest relative ranking probability overall intervention within the network, followed by statins; however, these rankings remain exploratory given the limited network structure. These associations were derived from limited direct evidence within sparse networks and should be interpreted cautiously. Probabilistic rankings and SUCRA values reflect relative positioning within the network rather than comparative effectiveness.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Conclusion: &lt;/strong&gt;In high-risk pregnancies, higher-dose vitam","PeriodicalId":9033,"journal":{"name":"BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth","volume":"26 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.1,"publicationDate":"2026-10-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13632318/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149103980","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Promoting respectful maternity care in Nepal: a qualitative exploratory study of a pilot forum play intervention with hospital staff.","authors":"Narayani Paudel Ghimire, Pranab Dahal, Agneta Josephson, Sunil Kumar Joshi, Katarina Swahnberg","doi":"10.1186/s12884-026-10005-7","DOIUrl":"10.1186/s12884-026-10005-7","url":null,"abstract":"&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Background: &lt;/strong&gt;Promoting respectful maternity care is a crucial indicator of quality maternal healthcare. However, evidence from global studies indicates that 22% -100% women experience at least one form of disrespect and abuse during facility-based births, with research conducted in Nepal reporting a prevalence of 100%. Therefore, implementing targeted interventions for healthcare providers is essential to reduce instances of disrespect and abuse of women and to foster respectful maternity care. Forum Play represents a promising approach in this regard.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Objectives: &lt;/strong&gt;To explore the staff perspectives on disrespect and abuse of women during facility-based births and to assess the feasibility and acceptability of a Forum Play intervention in promoting respectful maternity care in Nepal.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Methods: &lt;/strong&gt;Three half-day Forum Play workshops were conducted among hospital staff of a tertiary hospital in Kathmandu, Nepal, in November 2023. Eleven doctors, 14 nurses and 11 administrative staff were recruited for the workshops by using purposive sampling. Separate workshops were organized for the respective groups. At the end of each workshop, a focus group discussion was conducted using a semi-structured interview guide. All discussions were audio-recorded and non-verbal cues were noted by two note-takers. A total of 27 hospital staff participated in the discussions, including seven administrative staff, 10 doctors, and 10 nurses. Data analysis utilized inductive qualitative content analysis, allowing codes and categories to be developed directly from participants' responses as guided by Graneheim and Lundman.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Results: &lt;/strong&gt;Data derived from the focus group discussions was divided into two parts: (i) staff perspectives on disrespect and abuse of women during facility-based births and (ii) Staff reflection on Forum Play in promoting respectful maternity care. Four categories were generated from the data: (1) Structural and systemic drivers of disrespect and abuse, (2) Social and interpersonal determinants of disrespect and abuse, (3) Personal and professional transformation through Forum Play, (4) Acceptance and institutional feasibility of Forum Play. These categories were extracted based on 11 subcategories classified from the codes derived from the data. Participants' reflections on the Forum Play workshop were very promising. Forum Play was identified as an innovative, interesting and acceptable method of intervention.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Conclusion: &lt;/strong&gt;Disrespect and abuse during facility-based births arise from structural, social, and interpersonal factors and violate women's fundamental human rights. Participants' reflections indicate that Forum Play is an innovative and acceptable intervention that can raise awareness and support personal and professional growth among healthcare providers, suggesting its potential as a practical approach for promoting respectful maternity care","PeriodicalId":9033,"journal":{"name":"BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth","volume":"26 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.1,"publicationDate":"2026-09-28","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13617705/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149073362","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"The relationship between postpartum women's perceptions of insufficient milk and mother-baby attachment.","authors":"Ayşe Çataloluk, Fatma Nur Aki, Kadriye Boğa","doi":"10.1186/s12884-026-09996-0","DOIUrl":"10.1186/s12884-026-09996-0","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>This study was conducted to examine the relationship between postpartum women's perceptions of insufficient milk and mother-baby attachment levels.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>This descriptive and cross-sectional study was conducted between January 18, 2024, and May 1, 2024, at a university hospital with 235 postpartum women who had babies aged 0-6 months and were breastfeeding. Data were collected through face-to-face interviews using a Personal Information Form, The Perception of Insufficient Milk Scale (PIMS), and The Mother-to-Infant Bonding Scale (MIBS). In addition to descriptive statistics, parametric and non-parametric tests and correlation analysis were used in the analyses. A multivariable linear regression analysis with HC3 robust standard errors was also performed, with MIBS total score as the dependent variable and PIMS total score as the primary independent variable, adjusting for potential confounding factors. A statistical significance value of p < .05 was accepted.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>The mean age of the postpartum women was 28.53 ± 4.72 (min = 18, max = 43) years. It was determined that 80.9% of the women had planned pregnancies, 62.6% had cesarean deliveries, and 87.7% evaluated their last delivery positively. It was determined that 87.2% of postpartum women believed they produced enough milk to feed their babies. The mean total score for the PIMS was 35.65 ± 6.00 (5-46), and the median total score for the MIBS was 1.00 (0.00-2.00). A negative, moderate, and statistically significant relationship was found between the total scores of the PIMS and MIBS (rs= -0.437; p < .001). In the multivariable analysis, higher PIMS scores remained significantly associated with lower MIBS scores (B = - 0.122, 95% CI: -0.192 to - 0.052, p = .001), indicating that a stronger perception of milk adequacy was associated with fewer mother-infant bonding problems after adjustment for potential confounding factors. The model explained 49.5% of the variance in MIBS scores (R² = 0.495; adjusted R² = 0.472; p < .001).</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Higher PIMS scores, indicating a stronger perception of milk adequacy, were associated with fewer mother-infant bonding problems, and this association remained significant after adjustment for potential confounding factors. Pregnancy planning status, employment status, and perception of the birth experience were also significantly associated with MIBS scores in the adjusted model, while educational status showed a non-linear pattern across categories. Regular monitoring of mothers' perceptions of milk adequacy during the postpartum period and early support for mothers experiencing bonding difficulties are recommended.</p>","PeriodicalId":9033,"journal":{"name":"BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth","volume":"26 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.1,"publicationDate":"2026-09-21","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13617779/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149073503","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Associations between anemia and postpartum depression among Arab Bedouin women.","authors":"Samira Alfayumi-Zeadna, Huda Abu Ghalion, Zuya Azbarga, Nihaya Daoud","doi":"10.1186/s12884-026-09998-y","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1186/s12884-026-09998-y","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Anemia and postpartum depression (PPD) are common perinatal morbidities. Recognition of postpartum anemia as a major risk factor for PPD is crucial for postpartum maternal health. This study aimed to examine the association between anemia and PPD in low-income minority Arab-Bedouin mothers in southern Israel.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>The study was conducted in 2017-2018 and included 332 women aged 18 to 45 years who were 2-4 months postpartum. Retrospective data on postpartum anemia (defined as a hemoglobin level < 12 g/dL) was extracted from women's medical records in the clinics. PPD was measured by the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) score ≥ 10 through face-to-face interviews.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Of the total sample, 69% had anemia and 23% had PPD. The prevalence of PPD was higher among women with anemia compared to those without anemia (28.4% vs. 11.7%). Multivariate analysis showed that women with anemia have a nearly threefold increased risk of PPD (95%CI = 1.4-5.6), after adjusting for a range of socioeconomic and obstetrics factors. Additional factors contributing to a higher risk of PPD included living in unrecognized villages (95%CI = 1.2-3.8), a history of one or more miscarriages (95%CI = 1.0-3.3), and being 2 months postpartum compared to 3-4 months (95%CI = 1.1-3.3).</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Postpartum anemia is associated with a higher risk of PPD. This suggests that women with anemia require closer monitoring of PPD symptoms for early detection and treatment. Tailored health policies, education, and enhanced maternal care practices about anemia and PPD can improve maternal health outcomes and reduce disparities.</p>","PeriodicalId":9033,"journal":{"name":"BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth","volume":"26 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.1,"publicationDate":"2026-09-21","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13628768/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149104003","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Prevalence, risk factors and adverse outcomes of intrapartum related asphyxia amongst newborns from mothers with low-risk deliveries in peri-urban Gambian health facilities: a retrospective cohort study.","authors":"Nathalie Beloum, Bully Camara, Usman N Nakakana, Fatoumata Sillah, Madikoi Danso, Joquina C Jones, Shashu Graves, Edrissa Sabally, Siaka Badjie, Omar Jarra, Abdoulie Suso, Ebrahim Ndure, Yusupha Njie, Christian Bottomley, Halidou Tinto, Umberto D'Alessandro, Helen Brotherton, Anna Roca","doi":"10.1186/s12884-026-09674-1","DOIUrl":"10.1186/s12884-026-09674-1","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Introduction: </strong>Despite significant progress in perinatal care, intrapartum-related asphyxia remains a leading cause of neonatal morbidity and mortality, especially in the poorest regions of the world such as sub-Saharan Africa. The objective of this study is to determine the prevalence, risk factors, and adverse outcomes of intrapartum-related asphyxia among low-risk health facility-based deliveries in The Gambia.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>This is a secondary analysis of a randomised clinical trial conducted in western Gambia between October 2017 and May 2021. Women with low-risk pregnancies in labour and their live neonates were recruited at two public health facilities. The prevalence, risk factors, and neonatal outcomes of intrapartum-related asphyxia, defined as 1-min Apgar score < 7 were determined using descriptive methods, and unadjusted and adjusted logistic regression.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Among 6,758 neonates, 257 (3.8%) experienced intrapartum-related asphyxia, 93 (36.2%) of them required hospitalisation. The neonatal case fatality rate was 13.9% (34/245) among newborns with intrapartum-related asphyxia. Neonatal death (OR = 19.56, 95% CI:12.02-31.55, p-value < 0.001) and hospitalisation (OR = 11.91, 95% CI:8.90-15.90, p-value < 0.001) were significantly higher among these neonates. Severe intrapartum-related asphyxia cases had a significantly high risk for neonatal death (aOR:71.8, 95%CI, 36.00-140.40, p-value < 0.001) and hospitalisation (aOR:19.5, 95%CI, 10.80-35.00, p-value < 0.001); however, this risk remained considerable even in mild/moderate cases. Adjusted analysis revealed macrosomia as a major modifiable risk factor (aOR: 3.31, 95%CI, 1.78-6.15, p-value < 0.001), and several identifiable risk factors such as history of previous stillbirths (aOR: 2.79, 95%CI, 1.41-5.52, p-value = 0.003) or miscarriage (aOR: 1.65, 95%CI, 1.08-2.52, p-value = 0.02), and primiparity (aOR: 1.69, 95%CI, 1.16-2.46, p-value < 0.001).</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Intrapartum-related asphyxia is a major contributor to neonatal morbidity and mortality among low-risk pregnant women in peri-urban Gambia. A significant proportion of intrapartum-related asphyxia is preventable with timely identification of risk factors by improved antenatal and obstetric care followed by appropriate intrapartum management. Availability of adequate equipment, infrastructures, and skilled staff to help neonates breathe at birth are urgently required to reach the Sustainable Development Goal 3.2 of reducing by 2030 neonatal mortality to 12 deaths per 1000 live births.</p><p><strong>Trial registration: </strong>NCT03199547: Clinicaltrials.gov. Registered on 23rd June 2017. DOI: https://dx.doi.org/10.18203/2349-3259.ijct20220110 .</p>","PeriodicalId":9033,"journal":{"name":"BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth","volume":"26 Suppl 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.1,"publicationDate":"2026-09-17","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13587270/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148988034","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Identifying risk factors associated with postpartum depression: a retrospective case-control study.","authors":"Ricarda Volz, Volker Arnd Coenen, Juan Carlos Baldermann, Máté Dániel Döbrössy","doi":"10.1186/s12884-026-09932-2","DOIUrl":"10.1186/s12884-026-09932-2","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Postpartum depression (PPD) is a common complication following childbirth, affecting approximately 10-20% of women. Despite its prevalence, PPD remains underdiagnosed and insufficiently addressed in routine perinatal care, particularly in large cohorts from German-speaking countries. The study aimed to provide a comprehensive analysis of biological and psychosocial risk factors across the perinatal period that contribute to the onset of PPD.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>A retrospective case-control study was conducted via an online survey with nearly 1,000 recent mothers from Germany, Austria, and Switzerland who had given birth within the last five years. Participants were classified as Cases or Controls based on whether they had experienced PPD and were asked about a broad range of biological and psychosocial factors. Correlational analyses were used to identify factors associated with PPD.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>A total of 975 women were included in the final analysis. Based on self-reported PPD and Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale scores, participants were classified into the Case (n = 470) and Control group (n = 505). Factors with moderate significance generally or during pregnancy, included a history of depression, perceived support during pregnancy, financial and environmental stress during pregnancy, birth satisfaction and traumatic birth experiences. Factors showing moderate significant results postpartum (within the first six weeks after birth) included sleep disturbances, support by the partner, and medical or financial stress. Strongly significant factors present during pregnancy comprised prenatal depression, perceived lack of support, loneliness, general stress and happiness, while strong significant risk factors postpartum included medical support, support by family and friends, and general as well as environmental stress.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>The findings highlight significant associations between psychosocial factors and PPD, particularly stress, lack of perceived social support, loneliness during pregnancy, and negative or traumatic birth experiences. Importantly, clinically relevant depressive symptoms were already present during pregnancy in a substantial proportion of women, suggesting that depressive symptoms may already occur before childbirth rather than being restricted to the postpartum period. These results highlight the importance of early screening and preventive strategies during pregnancy, particularly within routine antenatal care. Large-scale anonymous online surveys may further contribute to improved detection of unrecognised PPD cases and help address underdiagnosis of the disorder.</p>","PeriodicalId":9033,"journal":{"name":"BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth","volume":"26 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.1,"publicationDate":"2026-09-17","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13584356/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148988013","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Clinical epidemiology of easily recognisable congenital malformations in Gambian newborns: a descriptive cohort study embedded in a clinical trial.","authors":"Shashu Graves, Nathalie Beloum, Bully Camara, Usman N Nakakana, Madikoi Danso, Fatoumata Sillah, Joquina C Jones, Edrissa Sabally, Siaka Badjie, Omar Jarra, Sulayman Bah, Abdoulie Suso, Ebrahim Ndure, Yusupha Njie, Christian Bottomley, Halidou Tinto, Umberto D'Alessandro, Helen Brotherton, Anna Roca","doi":"10.1186/s12884-026-09673-2","DOIUrl":"10.1186/s12884-026-09673-2","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>The prevalence of congenital malformations remains high and significantly contributes to neonatal morbidity and mortality in West Africa. However, there is a gap in the existing literature regarding the clinical epidemiology of congenital malformations in the African subregion. This study aimed to describe the clinical presentation, prevalence, risk factors, and adverse neonatal outcomes of newborns with easily recognisable congenital malformations in urban Gambia.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>This descriptive cohort study consisted of secondary analyses of a clinical trial data (PregnAnZi-2 trial) for liveborn neonates delivered between October 2017 to May 2021 at two public health facilities in The Gambia. Congenital malformations were detected by clinical examination at birth with active and passive surveillance for 28 days after delivery. Congenital malformations were classified according to ICD11 definitions, with sub-classification into major or minor malformations as per WHO guidance.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>One hundred forty out of 6750 neonates (2.1%) had at least one congenital malformation, with 29.3% (44/150) of these malformations classified as major. The musculoskeletal system was most frequently affected (58%, 87/150) with talipes equinovarus as the most common major malformation identified (43%, 19/44). A history of previous miscarriage was associated with an increased risk of congenital malformations (OR:1.72, 95%CI:1.02-2.73, p-value = 0.04). Newborns with a congenital malformation were more likely to experience adverse neonatal outcomes than newborns without, with higher odds of low 1-min Apgar score, (OR:3.09, 95%CI:1.62-5.48, p-value < 0.001), low 5-min Apgar score (OR:6.10, 95%CI:2.10-14.62, p-value < 0.001), hospitalisation during the neonatal period (OR:4.42, 95%CI:2.77-6.83, p-value < 0.001) and mortality within 24h of delivery (OR 48.75, 95%CI:11.08-215.62, p-value < 0.001). Among 70 neonatal deaths recorded by day 28 after birth in the study, 15 (21.4%) were newborns with congenital malformation. The circulatory and skeletal systems were equally more affected among congenital malformations recorded on neonatal deaths by day 28 after birth (23.8%, 5/21).</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Despite a relatively low prevalence, easily recognisable congenital malformations are associated with substantial perinatal morbidity and mortality. Improved antenatal diagnosis of congenital malformations is urgently required to optimise delivery strategies and improve perinatal outcomes, especially for women experiencing previous miscarriage.</p><p><strong>Trial registration: </strong>NCT03199547: Clinicaltrials.gov. Registered on 23rd June 2017 DOI: https://dx.doi.org/10.18203/2349-3259.ijct20220110.</p>","PeriodicalId":9033,"journal":{"name":"BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth","volume":"26 Suppl 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.1,"publicationDate":"2026-09-14","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13573321/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148966375","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Association between umbilical cord oxidative stress and early neonatal outcomes in gestational diabetes mellitus.","authors":"Özlem Kemer Aycan, Figen Efe Camili, Merve Akış Yılmaz, Mine Özdil Çirkinoğlu, Ayşenur Öz Kızılçay, Mine İslimye Taşkın","doi":"10.1186/s12884-026-09914-4","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1186/s12884-026-09914-4","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Gestational diabetes (GDM) is frequently associated with adverse neonatal outcomes, but the underlying mechanisms linking maternal hyperglycemia to fetal harm are not fully understood. Oxidative stress has been suggested as a key pathway; however, studies simultaneously evaluating multiple oxidative and antioxidant biomarkers in umbilical cord blood are limited. This study aimed to investigate the impact of GDM on the fetus by comprehensively evaluating oxidative stress and antioxidant defense mechanisms in umbilical cord blood and to examine their potential associations with neonatal clinical outcomes.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Umbilical cord blood samples were analyzed for malondialdehyde (MDA), membrane attack complex (MAC), total antioxidant status (TAS), total oxidant status (TOS), oxidative stress index (OSI), ischemia-related modified albumin (IMA), 8-hydroxy-2'-deoxyguanosine (8-OHdG), advanced glycation end products (AGEs), reduced glutathione (GSH), and glutathione peroxidase (GPx). Neonatal clinical outcomes were recorded and compared between pregnancies with and without GDM.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>After correction for multiple biomarker comparisons, MAC, 8-OHdG, and TOS differed significantly between the GDM and non-GDM groups. MAC and 8-OHdG levels were higher in the GDM group, whereas TOS was lower. OSI was higher in the Mann-Whitney analysis but did not remain significant after BH-FDR correction. Exploratory multivariate analyses supported a group-level difference in the combined oxidative-stress biomarker profile, as confirmed by MANOVA and permutation testing. The Spearman heatmap showed that maternal HbA1c was most prominently associated with OSI and also correlated positively with 8-OHdG and GSH. Although neonatal complications were more frequent in the GDM group, oxidative-stress markers were not consistently associated with specific neonatal complications.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>These findings suggest that GDM is associated with a selective fetal redox-related biomarker pattern rather than a uniform global increase in oxidative stress. The combined biomarker profile and HbA1c-related heatmap correlations indicate that long-term maternal glycemic exposure may influence fetal oxidant-antioxidant balance and oxidative DNA-damage signals, while antioxidant-related responses may remain partially preserved. The comprehensive evaluation of multiple oxidative and antioxidant biomarkers, particularly the inclusion of rarely studied AGEs and IMA, provides a broader perspective on fetal exposure to GDM and its pathophysiological mechanisms.</p>","PeriodicalId":9033,"journal":{"name":"BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth","volume":"26 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.1,"publicationDate":"2026-09-04","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13633626/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149103918","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}