Journal of Midwifery, Women Health And Gynaecological Nursing

Premenstrual Syndrome: An Overview of the Potential Role of Alternative Therapies

2026-10-09T12:21:09+00:00

Premenstrual Syndrome (PMS) is a recurrent condition experienced during the luteal phase of the menstrual cycle and is characterized by a combination of physical, psychological, emotional, and behavioural symptoms. Common manifestations include irritability, mood swings, fatigue, headache, abdominal discomfort, bloating, breast tenderness, food cravings, and impaired concentration. These symptoms may interfere with academic performance, interpersonal relationships, daily activities, and overall quality of life. The present review provides an overview of the potential role of alternative and complementary therapies in the management of PMS, with particular attention to exercise, yoga, ginger, acupuncture, herbal preparations, dietary and nutritional approaches, and lifestyle management. Relevant findings from clinical trials, quasi-experimental studies, and systematic reviews described in the available literature were examined narratively. The reviewed evidence suggests that regular aerobic exercise and yoga may improve selected physical and emotional symptoms. Ginger has demonstrated potential in reducing mood, physical, and behavioural complaints, while acupuncture and selected herbal preparations have shown beneficial effects in some studies. Lifestyle interventions may also improve knowledge, self-care practices, and symptom-management behaviours. However, differences in study design, intervention dosage, outcome measures, and follow-up duration limit direct comparison. Alternative therapies may therefore be considered supportive components of individualized PMS care, alongside appropriate clinical assessment and conventional treatment when indicated. Further rigorous research is required to establish long-term effectiveness, safety, and practical recommendations.

A Study to Assess the Relationship Between Maternal Stress and Postnatal Psychological Outcomes Among Mothers Admitted in Selected Hospitals in Aluva

2026-09-28T07:15:03+00:00

The present study was undertaken to evaluate the association between maternal stress and postnatal psychological outcomes among antenatal and postnatal mothers admitted in a selected hospital at Aluva. The study aimed to identify the level of maternal stress during pregnancy and its effect on psychological well-being following delivery. The objectives of the study were to assess the level of maternal stress among mothers admitted to the hospital for delivery, assess the level of postnatal psychological outcome of mothers who underwent delivery, determine the relationship between maternal stress and postnatal psychological outcomes in mothers, and find the association between maternal stress score and selected demographic variables of mothers. A quantitative descriptive correlational research design was adopted for the study. The study was conducted among mothers. Admitted to Carmel Hospital, Aluva. Purposive sampling technique was used to select a total of 60 samples. The study was conducted after obtaining ethical clearance from the concerned authorities. Ethical principles were strictly followed throughout the study, ensuring respect for human dignity, confidentiality, anonymity, and voluntary participation of the respondents. The purpose of data collection was to obtain relevant information to assess maternal stress and postnatal psychological outcomes. The data collected were systematically organized, tabulated, and analysed using appropriate descriptive and inferential statistical methods. Statistical analysis was carried out to summarize the data and to examine relationships between study variables based on standard statistical values. The findings of the study revealed that most of the antenatal mothers had a moderate level of maternal stress, while a few mothers experienced mild or severe stress. Most of the postnatal mothers had mild to moderate psychological distress, whereas only a few mothers experienced severe psychological problems. The correlation coefficient (r) value of 0.837 indicates a strong positive relationship between maternal stress and postnatal psychological outcomes, showing that as maternal stress increases, postnatal psychological well-being decreases thus, the study concluded that maternal stress during pregnancy has a considerable influence on the psychological well-being of mothers during the postnatal period.

Assessing an Educational Teaching Programme's Effect on Menstrual Hygiene Knowledge Among Adolescent Girls at Selected Senior Secondary Schools, Kota (Rajasthan)

2026-09-07T06:54:40+00:00

Background: Roughly 1.8 billion people menstruate each month worldwide, yet a considerable share of them — especially adolescent girls in resource-limited settings — lack reliable access to menstrual hygiene products, clean water, private sanitation, and accurate information about menstrual health.

Objectives: (a) To assess the pre-test knowledge regarding menstrual hygiene among girls at selected senior secondary schools, Kota. (b) To prepare and implement an educational teaching programme regarding menstrual hygiene among girls at selected senior secondary schools, Kota. (c) To assess the post-test knowledge regarding menstrual hygiene among girls at selected senior secondary schools, Kota. (d) To assess the effectiveness of the Educational Teaching Programme on knowledge regarding menstrual hygiene among girls by comparing their pre-test and post-test knowledge scores.

Methodology: A quantitative evaluative research design was adopted for the study. The main study was conducted from 04/07/2026 to 03/08/2026 at selected Senior Secondary schools in Kota, Rajasthan, using a pre-test–post-test pre-experimental design. The sample consisted of 70 adolescent girls selected from the selected schools.

Results: Before the programme, knowledge was inadequate on average (mean 12.10 ± 1.625); afterward, it reached an adequate level (mean 27.228 ± 1.466). Sixty-eight students (97.14%) scored between 24 and 30 on the post-test, whereas no student had scored above 17 before the intervention.

Conclusion: Pre-test scores averaged highest in the physiology-and-process-of-menstruation domain (53.87%) and lowest in general introduction to menstruation (20.00%); post-test scores peaked in physiology and process (98.36%) and were lowest for general introduction (87.14%). Age, religion, educational status, family type, number of siblings, monthly family income, and prior knowledge of menstrual hygiene (with its source, where relevant) were all significantly associated with pre-test knowledge (p < 0.05), supporting the research hypothesis.

Respectful Maternity Care: The Role of Nurses in Enhancing Women's Childbirth Experience

2026-10-08T08:39:20+00:00

Respectful Maternity Care (RMC) has emerged as an essential dimension of quality maternal healthcare, reflecting a shift from a purely survival-oriented approach to one that also values women’s experiences during pregnancy and childbirth. Although access to skilled and institutional maternity care has improved, mistreatment during childbirth remains a major quality-of-care concern. Disrespect, discrimination, inadequate communication, neglect, breaches of privacy and confidentiality, and exclusion from decisions can undermine confidence in healthcare services and negatively affect psychological well-being and future utilization. This review examines the evolving concept of RMC and explores its significance in promoting positive childbirth experiences. Relevant literature was identified through a review of peer-reviewed articles, international guidelines, policy documents, and reports published by organizations involved in maternal and newborn health. The review synthesizes evidence relating to the prevalence of mistreatment during childbirth, determinants of positive maternal experiences, benefits of respectful care, barriers to implementation, and the critical contribution of nurses in fostering dignified and woman-centered maternity services. Evidence from the reviewed literature indicates that RMC contributes not only to improved maternal satisfaction but also to increased trust in healthcare providers, greater uptake of maternity services, and better maternal and neonatal outcomes. Nurses play a particularly influential role because of their continuous presence throughout labour, birth, and the postpartum period. Through effective communication, advocacy, emotional support, protection of privacy, and promotion of informed decision-making, nurses help create an environment in which women feel safe, valued, and empowered. Strengthening nursing education, supportive workplace policies, and institutional accountability mechanisms is therefore essential for embedding RMC into routine clinical practice. Ensuring that every woman receives compassionate and dignified care during childbirth remains a fundamental requirement for achieving equitable and high-quality maternal healthcare.

Human Papillomavirus (HPV) Vaccination Among Adolescent Girls: A Narrative Review of Global Coverage, Determinants, and Strategies for Improvement

2026-09-22T06:17:29+00:00

Cervical cancer remains one of the most preventable yet persistently fatal cancers affecting women worldwide, largely because persistent infection with High-Risk Human Papillomavirus (HPV) genotypes is now recognized as a necessary precursor in nearly all cases. Vaccinating adolescent girls against HPV before sexual debut is the most effective form of primary prevention available and forms the first pillar of the World Health Organization's (WHO) 90–70–90 strategy for eliminating cervical cancer as a public health problem.

Objective: This narrative review synthesizes current global and regional evidence on HPV vaccine uptake among adolescent girls, examines the individual, sociocultural, and health-system determinants of uptake, and outlines evidence-supported strategies for narrowing persistent coverage gaps.

Design: This is not a systematic review, meta-analysis, or empirical primary-data study; no new field or clinical data were collected, and no meta-analytic statistical pooling was performed.

Methods: Peer-reviewed literature (PubMed and related biomedical databases), national immunization survey data (notably the U.S. National Immunization Survey-Teen), and technical reports from WHO, UNICEF, Gavi, the Pan American Health Organization, and national public health agencies, published through February 2026, were reviewed narratively. Eligible sources addressed HPV vaccine uptake, program delivery, or coverage among adolescent girls aged 9–14 years (or national schedules targeting this age band); sources confined to adult cervical screening or treatment, or to therapeutic (non-preventive) HPV vaccines, were excluded.

Results: Global first-dose coverage among 15-year-old girls rose from roughly 16% (2020) to 21% (2024), with the WHO African Region improving from 17% to 28% over the same interval. A wide introduction gap persists, with 98% of high-income countries but only 46% of low-income countries having added the vaccine to national programs. In the United States, on-time initiation before age 13 nearly doubled across birth cohorts, from about 37% (1999) to 73% (2009), though full series completion lags well behind. India's launch of a nationwide free single-dose campaign for 14-year-old girls on 28 February 2026, targeting approximately 11.5 million girls annually, marks a major recent development given the country's share of roughly one-quarter of global cervical cancer deaths. Principal barriers include limited caregiver and provider knowledge, safety misconceptions, sociocultural discomfort, missed clinical opportunities, cost and access constraints, and vaccine supply shortages.

Conclusion: Meaningful progress toward global elimination targets is achievable through school-based delivery, single-dose schedules, stronger provider recommendation practices, and sustained community engagement, but reaching the 2030 targets will require continued political commitment and financing.