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Background: The postpartum period is a critical phase in which postpartum women experience dynamic changes in their physiology, psychology, and family status. Objective: This study investigated the changes in women's quality of life (QoL) during the first, third, and sixth months of the postpartum period and their associated factors. Methods: A single-group repeated-measure design was used to collect data from 282 postpartum women recruited from a regional hospital in Taiwan. We used the brief World Health Organization Quality of Life scale, Social Support Scale, and Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale to assess postpartum women's quality of life, social support, and postpartum depressive symptoms, respectively. The data were analyzed using trajectory analysis and generalized estimating equations. Results: The trajectory analysis indicated that postpartum women could be categorized into low, medium, and high QoL groups. Although the medium and high QoL groups maintained stable QoL levels, the low QoL group experienced a linear decrease in QoL over time. Moreover, the determinants of postpartum women's QoL were immigrant status, employment status, family type, social support, and postpartum depression. Conclusions: Health care providers should assess these determinants of postpartum QoL in perinatal women to identify those at risk of low postpartum quality of life. Early assessment and intervention by health care providers could significantly improve the health status of women after childbirth. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Prenatal depression is highly prevalent, but its relationship with the multidimensional burden of physical symptoms during pregnancy remains underexplored. The aim of this study was to examine the relationship between pregnancy-related physical symptom burden, including frequency, severity, and impact on life and pregnancy adaptation to prenatal depression, and to identify predictors of depression during pregnancy. The study was cross-sectional in design. A hospital-based setting providing comprehensive maternity care services from outpatient to inpatient. The sample consisted of two hundred forty-three pregnant individuals aged 20 and above with no major obstetrical complications. Structured questionnaires including demographic and obstetrical characteristics, depression, symptom burden, and pregnancy adaptation were used for data collection. Multiple linear regression analyses were performed to identify significant predictors of depression. The study revealed that approximately 32% of the variance in depression scores could be explained by the combined effects of pregnancy-related physical symptom burden and pregnancy adaptation. Specifically, low-level pregnancy adaptation, high-level symptom impact on life, unmarried status, and mid-level symptom severity were identified as the main predictors of prenatal depression among low-risk pregnant individuals. The findings contribute to the existing knowledge base, emphasizing the significance of addressing and managing pregnancy-related physical symptom burden while promoting effective adaptation to pregnancy as a means to mitigate the risk of prenatal depression. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Physical symptoms induced by pregnancy are often perceived as a normal part of the physiological process and therefore not commonly discussed in clinical settings during prenatal care. This study aimed to explore how pregnant individuals adapt to physical symptoms related to their pregnancy, using the perspective of collective sensemaking. A retrospective study design with an inductive thematic analysis approach of qualitative data extracted from web‐based forum posts was conducted. Among 574 initial posts and 2801 comments, three themes were identified: (i) awareness of changing pregnancy body, (ii) uncertainty about physical symptoms, and (iii) coping with discomforts associated with pregnancy. A shared identity as a group of individuals dealing with similar challenges enables pregnant individuals to develop a better comprehension of their experiences. Healthcare professionals should recognize the importance of individual and collective sensemaking in pregnancy forums and strive to provide a supportive and empathetic environment for pregnant individuals to share their experiences and seek guidance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A multiband printed monopole slot antenna promising for operating as an internal antenna in the thin-profile laptop computer for wireless wide area network (WWAN) operation is presented. The proposed antenna is formed by three monopole slots operated at their quarter-wavelength modes and arranged in a compact planar configuration. A step-shaped microstrip feedline is applied to excite the three monopole slots at their respective optimal feeding position, and two wide operating bands at about 900 and 1900 MHz are obtained for the antenna to cover all the five operating bands of GSM850/900/1800/1900/UMTS for WWAN operation. The antenna is easily printed on a small-size FR4 substrate and shows a length of 60 mm only and a height of 12 mm when mounted at the top edge of the system ground plane or supporting metal frame of the laptop display. Details of the proposed antenna are presented and studied. Index Terms--Internal laptop computer antennas, monopole slot antennas, multiband antennas, quarter-wavelength slot antennas, WWAN antennas.

The immigrant population in Taiwan has increased significantly over the past decade, and immigrants now comprise a significant proportion of the women in Taiwan receiving maternal care. Postpartum stress and depression are important physical and mental health issues. This article used a systemic review of published articles to understand the general incidence of postpartum depression amongst immigrant women. Articles reviewed included those published in MEDLINE, PubMed, Proquest and CEPS in either English or Chinese. A systematic literature review of 20 identified original research papers was conducted to explore postpartum depression in immigrant women. One article addressed the experience of healthcare providers responsible to care for immigrant women suffering from postpartum depression. Other articles discussed factors of influence on postpartum depression in immigrant women or related experiences. Results show that immigrant women have a higher incidence of postpartum depression than the overall population. This incidence is even higher amongst immigrant women from minority groups. In addition to socioeconomic influence factors, social support and acculturation abilities were also found to be significant predictive factors of postpartum depression in immigrant women in Taiwan.

Caring, the essence of nursing, is widely viewed as a feminine activity. Therefore, determining the existence and extent of differences in caring shown by male nurses in comparison with their female counterparts is a matter that requires further discussion. This article discusses the effects of gender differences on nursing care provided by male nurses according to analyzing the essential elements of caring. Findings indicate that certain caring behaviors performed by male nurses differ from their female colleagues due to extant internal conflicts between masculine and caring concepts. This article proposes two suggestions to nursing educators: 1. When training male nurses, in addition to emphasizing the value of caring, instructors should also emphasize teaching caring competence; 2. Based on an acceptance of diversity, instructors should accept the existence of differences between male and female nurse caring behaviors due to fundamental gender differences.

Families formed as a result of a marriage involving an immigrant are a new phenomenon in Taiwan. School children whose mothers are foreign wives are increasing. Because of differences in lifestyle and culture, and because of stereotyping, such families are vulnerable and prone to experiencing unequal treatment. How will they fare when their children start elementary school? This article explores the physical and psychosocial health needs and health care utilization of school-aged children whose mothers are foreign wives. It also explores factors which might arise in the case of these children because of social inequality. The authors emphasize the importance of school health and raise suggestions for school nurses. Such nurses should provide health promotion programs to promote the health of children whose mothers are foreign wives. This will enable these children to grow up happily and healthily, and develop into healthy, well-educated adults with a positive attitude and good health-related behavior.