Improving knowledge, attitudes, and engagement in evidence-based skin care among people of color

2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Laura Tucker ◽  
Alan Cuevas Villagomez ◽  
Tamar Krishnamurti

Abstract Background The United States is currently facing a maternal morbidity and mortality crisis, with the highest rates of any resource-rich nation. In efforts to address this, new guidelines for postpartum care suggest that mobile health (mHealth) apps can help provide complementary clinical support for new mothers during the postpartum period. However, to date no study has evaluated the quality of existing mHealth tools targeted to this time period in terms of sufficiency of maternal health information, inclusivity of people of color, and app usability. Methods Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) standards were used to review the peripartum apps from the Apple and Google Play stores in either the Health/Fitness, Medical, or Education categories. Apps were evaluated for extent and quality of maternal health information and inclusivity of people of color using an a priori coding scheme. App usability was evaluated using the Mobile Application Rating Scale (MARS) score. Results Of the 301 apps from the Apple and Google Play stores, 25 met criteria for final evaluation. Of the 30 maternal health topics coded for, the median number addressed by apps was 19.5 (65%). Peripartum behaviors were more frequently addressed than peripartum outpatient care topics and peripartum acute health risks. The coverage of maternal health information and inclusivity of people of color in app imagery both correlated positively with the MARS usability score of the app. Only 8 apps (32%) portrayed greater than 24% images of people of color- the percent of non-white Americans according to 2019 census estimates. There was no correlation between MARS usability score and number of app users, as estimated by number of ratings for the app available on the app store. In addition, apps with evidence-based maternal health information had greater MARS engagement, information, and aesthetics scores. However, presence of evidence-based information did not correlate with greater numbers of app users. Conclusions Current commercially available peripartum apps range widely in quality. Overall current app offerings generally do not provide adequate maternal health information and are not optimally accessible to the target users in terms of inclusivity of women of color or app usability. Apps delivering evidence-based information and more usable design are more likely to meet these standards but are not more likely to be downloaded by users.


2019 ◽  
Vol 28 (2) ◽  
pp. 108-115 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jeannette T. Crenshaw

Mothers and newborns have an emotional and physiological need to be together at the moment of birth and during the hours and days that follow. Keeping mothers and newborns together is a safe and healthy birth practice. Evidence supports immediate, undisturbed skin-to-skin care after vaginal birth and during and after cesarean surgery for all medically stable mothers and newborns, regardless of feeding preference; and, no routine separation during the days after birth. Childbirth educators and other health-care professionals have an ethical responsibility to support this essential healthy birth practice through education, advocacy, and implementation of evidence-based maternity practices.


2001 ◽  
Vol 13 (4) ◽  
pp. 555-568 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mary Beth Flynn ◽  
Regina Fink

2020 ◽  
Vol 1 ◽  
pp. 90-96
Author(s):  
Ivanichka Serbezova ◽  
Daniela Lyutakova

INTRODUCTION: This paper explores the practices surrounding skin-to-skin contact of mother and child immediately after birth within Bulgarian maternity wards and describes women`s experiences. It takes into consideration the research of Bulgarian experts in breastfeeding and contemporary recommendations for postnatal care worldwide. Obstetric practices in local maternity wards are reviewed and evidenced by the research findings. The results put into perspective the different experiences that Bulgarian mothers have in local wards, and the authors explore these women`s attitudes towards the routine implementation of skin-to-skin contact in postnatal care. The paper also outlines setbacks for introducing the practice in Bulgarian maternity wards due to the lack of midwife-led care and the importance of specialized care in optimizing health and a better understanding of skin-to-skin care. OBJECTIVES: Purposes of this research are: (1) to explore women’s knowledge about skin-to-skin benefits, including their past experiences with the practice, and (2) to assess their own personal motivation and willingness to engage in the practice themselves. METHODS: The methodology applied includes an online-based anonymous survey that aims to explore parents’ current levels of knowledge and gather their viewpoints regarding the practice. The research has been conducted on social media channels between the 26th of January 2020 and the 26th of February 2020 and includes women from varying local parent support groups: both respondents from a focus group, the area of Ruse, Bulgaria, and respondents from other major Bulgarian cities. The research findings are illustrated herein, and the authors discuss attitudes, as evidenced by the respondents’ opinions, expressed through the survey. RESULTS: A total of 771 cases are included, which come from both groups. The research demonstrates common practices in local hospital wards are inconsistent with WHO recommendations and evidence-based medicine. Skin-to-skin care is practically a non-existent practice within immediate postnatal care, with most mothers separated from their baby during this crucial first hour(s). Almost all the women surveyed are willing to engage in, and embrace, skin-to-skin practices to be introduced as part of the routine within local maternity wards. CONCLUSION: Midwives’ numbers in hospitals are dwindling, and women identify this is a worrying trend for the success of skin-to-skin bonding for new mothers. Evidence-based medical research and parental opinion compel us to rethink current postnatal practices, and therefore it is logical to suggest sustainable and realistic strategies for promoting and implementation of effective guidelines.


2018 ◽  
Vol 37 (3) ◽  
pp. 149-154 ◽  
Author(s):  
Media Esser ◽  
Sharon Dore ◽  
Felicia Fitzgerald ◽  
Kelli Kelley ◽  
Joanne Kuller ◽  
...  

Developmental care measures are integrated in the NICU, but these measures are largely overlooked when it comes to standard care activities such as diapering. This general review of developmental care in the NICU discusses how caregivers can apply appropriate, individualized developmental care measures to diapering regimens. Numerous opportunities to expand developmental care measures into diapering care are identified; these opportunities can protect and promote sleep for hospitalized infants, enhance the diapering environment, minimize stress that infants may experience with diapering, improve infant skin health outcomes through use of evidence-based skin care practices, and foster family involvement during diapering care in the NICU. A developmental approach to diapering offers hospitalized infants regular opportunities to reach their neurodevelopmental potential.


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