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Only a very few studies to date have comprehensively assessed children's knowledge of sexuality. In this study, we examined the level of sexual knowledge among children aged 3-6 years in Finland. We analysed children's explanations of what they saw in drawings related to genital naming, conception and childbirth, safety skills, and adult sexual activity. Levels of knowledge were generally low. The largest number of correct answers were given for genital naming and safety skills. Knowledge increased with age. Children's gender was not related to their total level of knowledge. There was a correlation between children's ability to name their genitals and their knowledge of safety skills. The results suggest that only what is known about can be protected. Building on the findings of this study, age-appropriate sexuality education should be provided to all children.

Infertile women often experience chronic stress that can harm their well-being. Our aim was to investigate the effect of mindfulness-based stress reduction programmes on tolerance of ambiguity, rumination, and metacognitive awareness in infertile women. The sample included all infertile women referred to the Valiasr Hospital Health Center in Iran in 2019 who were treated for infertility. A total of 52 women undergoing infertility treatment were selected by availability sampling and assigned to either the experimental (26) or the control group (26). Using multivariate analysis of covariance (MANOVA) we found that a mindfulness-based stress reduction programme helps to increase tolerance to ambiguity, rumination, and metacognitive awareness among infertile women.

Structural inequities influence young parents' access to health care, housing, transportation, social support, education, and income. The current study adds to the extant literature by providing data directly obtained in collaboration with young parents to understand how structural violence affects the health and well-being of their families, ultimately resulting in community-driven policy recommendations developed in collaboration with the state health department. We engaged a diverse sample of young people--considered as community researchers in the project--including Black, Latinx, and/or LGBTQ+ pregnant and parenting young parents in a participatory action research (PAR) project in the spring of 2022 to explore their health and material needs while living in Springfield, Massachusetts. Together with young parents, we used participatory arts-based methods to conduct community and identity building, define research questions and photo prompts, conduct data collection (photos), engage in group thematic analysis, and take action at the state policy level. We also conducted individual semi-structured life-history interviews with the young parents. Participatory community-led findings indicate an urgent need for systemic change to increase access to safe and affordable housing; living-wage jobs; safe, high-quality, and affordable child care; and to bolster social support and disabilities services for young parents and their families. This participatory study funded by a state health department demonstrates that participatory community-driven data can have the power to mobilize community members and policy makers for social change if prioritized at the state and local levels. Additional practice-based implications include prioritizing participatory mentorship programs intended to aid young parents in navigating the complex systems that are vital to their survival.

Early intervention can reduce disability in children diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder. Screening for autism spectrum disorder in young children identifies those at increased likelihood of diagnosis who may need further support. This study assessed in "utero" exposure to maternal obesity and diabetes and offspring performance on the Quantitative Checklist for Autism in Toddlers, an autism spectrum disorder screening questionnaire administered between 18 and 24 months at well-child visits. This retrospective cohort study included 65,433 singletons born in a single healthcare system. Demographic data, maternal obesity, Type 1/Type 2 and gestational diabetes mellitus information, and Quantitative Checklist for Autism in Toddlers score in children 12-30 months old were extracted from electronic medical records. Negative binomial models were used to estimate incidence rate ratios of associations between maternal obesity and diabetes exposure and continuous offspring Quantitative Checklist for Autism in Toddlers scores. Maternal obesity, Type 1/Type 2 diabetes (incidence rate ratio: 1.13, 1.06-1.21) and gestational diabetes mellitus [less than or equal to] 26 weeks (incidence rate ratio: 1.10, 1.05-1.17) were associated with one-unit increases in Quantitative Checklist for Autism in Toddlers scores. Relationships with obesity and gestational diabetes mellitus [less than or equal to] 26 weeks remained after mutual adjustment and excluding children with autism spectrum disorder diagnoses. No associations were reported for gestational diabetes mellitus > 26 weeks. Maternal obesity and diabetes were associated with higher Quantitative Checklist for Autism in Toddlers scores in children 12-30 months old, suggesting these exposures in pregnancy may be associated with a range of early childhood behavior.

Long-running surveys need a systematic way to reflect social change and to keep items relevant to respondents, especially when they ask about controversial subjects, or they threaten the items' validity. We propose a protocol for updating measures that preserves content and construct validity. First, substantive experts articulate the current and anticipated future terms of debate. Then survey experts use this substantive input and their knowledge of existing measures to develop and pilot a large battery of new items. Third, researchers analyze the pilot data to select items for the survey of record. Finally, the items appear on the survey-of-record, available to the whole user community. Surveys-of-record have procedures for changing content that determine if the new items appear just once or become part of the core. We provide the example of developing new abortion attitude measures in the General Social Survey. Current questions ask whether abortion should be legal under varying circumstances. The new abortion items ask about morality, access, state policy, and interpersonal dynamics. They improve content and construct validity and add new insights into Americans' abortion attitudes.

This article demonstrates how discursive constructions of pregnant schoolgirls produce social and material consequences for girls in Southern Africa. Critical feminist scholars have argued that diverse actors frame girls across the global South as either monolithic, sexualised victims and sites for intervention or as hyper-agents, uniquely capable of changing the world. In either case, pregnancy is pathologised and girls' education is put forth as the solution to untimely sexuality and poverty. Through an ethnographic study of student pregnancy in Malawi, I show how education actors leveraged stories of pregnant schoolgirls to inform curriculum, policy, and resource distribution; and how young women engaged with these stories in school. I focus in particular on three students. While my renderings of these girls' stories are inherently partial, they demonstrate how binary discourse can shape girls' educational access and retention, even as it misaligns with their lives.

Parent-child communication concerning sexual and reproductive health (SRH) has significant potential to reduce children's risky sexual behaviour. Despite these benefits, few parents communicate with their children about SRH issues in Uganda. Using multi-stage stratified sampling in a cross-sectional survey, we estimated the prevalence and investigated the factors that were associated with recent parent-child communication among 600 children (10-17 years) in border districts of Uganda (Busia and Tororo). Results indicated that 61% of children reported to having received parent-child communication on SRH. Communication was more likely to happen among children living in urban areas (OR=4.88; 95% CI=1.79-13.33), boys (OR=1.84; 95% CI=1.13-3.00), those aged 15-19 years (OR=2.59; 95% CI=1.51-4.46) and among children from households that owned a mobile phone (OR=2.11; 95% CI=1.05-4.21) than their counterparts. Parent-child communication was also higher among children who were comfortable discussing SRH issues (OR=27.12; 95% CI=16.02-45.89) and children from Tororo district (OR=2.34; 95% CI=1.36-4.01). The findings provide a rich understanding of the factors associated with Parent-child communication in the border districts of Uganda. These results provide a basis for policy enactment or revision regarding the encouragement of parent-child communication about SRH in Uganda.

Qualitative studies of autistic people's pregnancy experiences have indicated sensory and communication related barriers to accessing adequate prenatal healthcare. However, quantitative work on the topic is scarce. This online survey study explored pregnancy experiences among 417 autistic and 524 non-autistic people. Compared with non-autistic people, autistic people reported heightened sensory and physical experiences during pregnancy and were more likely to experience prenatal depression and anxiety. Autistic people experienced lower satisfaction with prenatal healthcare, including having lower perceptions of their relationships with healthcare professionals and greater difficulties with antenatal classes. This study identifies key adjustments that can be made to prenatal healthcare, including sensory and communication adjustments. The findings highlight the need for greater autism understanding and awareness among professionals.

Autism spectrum disorder is a developmental disorder that includes deficits in social communication and interaction, and restricted and repetitive behaviours, interests, or activities. This survey was done to assess autism spectrum disorder prevalence in 16- to 30-month-old children at an urban-rural distribution and determine the association of socioeconomic and demographic conditions. An observational cross-sectional study was conducted in 30 districts of Bangladesh. Three-stage cluster sampling was used with 'Red Flag', Modified Checklist for Toddlers and "Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 5th Edition," respectively. Data editing and analysis were done using CSPro 6 and SPSS 23. The survey included 37,982 households (71% rural, 29% urban) with 38,440 children. 'Red Flag' was positive in 209/10,000 children. Modified Checklist for Toddlers was positive in 149/10,000 children. "Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 5th Edition"--positive autism spectrum disorder prevalence was 17/10,000 young children (boys 24/10,000, girls 9.8/10,000). Prevalence was higher in urban than rural (25/10,000 and 14/10,000 respectively). It was 77/10,000 in mothers aged 35-39 years and 23/10,000 in children of fathers aged 40 years. For families within the lowest wealth quintile, the autism spectrum disorder prevalence was 15/10,000. Autism spectrum disorder at very young ages in Bangladesh is still low. It was higher in urban areas, with the advanced age of parents, especially mothers, and in families with higher wealth quintiles.

Britney Spears's 2020 testimony about her 13-year conservatorship highlighted ethical concerns surrounding surrogate decision making. Social workers engage with families and clients in conservatorship/guardianship arrangements. However, social work educational programs spend little time preparing students for surrogate decision making and advocacy. Guided by the pedagogical technique of scaffolding and the Spears family case, this teaching note presents a foundational understanding of surrogate decision-making arrangements: conservatorship of the estate, conservatorship of a person, temporary conservatorship, permanent conservatorship, medical justification for conservatorship, controlling fertility, legal counsel, labor in conservatorship cases, and alternatives for guardianship. Content in this area will benefit social work students who intend to work with older adults, adults with mental health conditions, and adults with disabilities.

Research has linked pre- and perinatal complications (PPCs) with increased risk for autism spectrum disorder (ASD). However, PPCs are also known risk factors for other mental health disorders. This study explored which PPCs are specific risk factors for ASD, as opposed to other forms of psychopathology, among a large sample of clinically-referred youth. Archival data were used from 1177 youth who were evaluated at a hospital-based autism clinic. Results from logistic regressions indicated that use of tobacco, alcohol, or drugs, or experiencing amniocentesis predicted inclusion in the non-ASD group, while physical difficulties with delivery predicted inclusion in the ASD group. Possible explanations and implications for these findings are discussed.

This article draws on grounded theory and ethnographic fieldwork approaches and applies a political ecology of adolescent health (PEAH) framework to examine how school-going adolescent girls and their communities perceive sexual and reproductive health education (SRHE) and menstrual hygiene management (MHM) in the region. Three young girls were purposefully selected from each of 10 government-run mixed primary schools in Juba, South Sudan, as peer research evaluators (PREs) and key informants (N = 30). Each PRE interviewed and reported on three of their peers about how they talk about and manage menstruation. The findings show that political, socioeconomic, and cultural factors do influence adolescent girls' and their communities' perceptions about puberty and menstruation. In general, MHM was culturally constructed, but the results show a disproportionate emphasis on social norms rather than on SRHE, which could have long-lasting health implications for adolescent girls. There is a need for all stakeholders in education to come together to better grasp and address the obstacles young girls face in their communities and school environments. There is also a need to develop relevant training materials to assist care providers and adolescent girls to openly talk about and address sexual and reproductive health issues.

In "Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization" (2022), the U.S. Supreme Court overturned decades of precedent regarding the federal right to an abortion for people who can carry pregnancies. This case has substantial significance for the education field, directly affecting school- and college-age marginalized students who can carry pregnancies. In this essay, I argue that "Dobbs" and subsequent policies have created a significant need for educational research to inform courts, public policy, and practice to improve social and educational structural support for marginalized students who can carry pregnancies in a post-:"Dobbs" era. This need is because "Dobbs" and subsequent policies have significantly diminished reproductive justice, and reproductive justice is intricately tied to marginalized students' ability to fully engage in their education. Timely educational research is critical to address the systemic inequities that "Dobbs" and related policies have exacerbated and reified.

This study aims to explore the experiences of breastfeeding mothers during pregnancy in tandem breastfeeding. This research is a qualitative study conducted using the phenomenological research design. Data saturation was achieved after 11 participants were interviewed. The content analysis approach was used to analyze the data. Interview transcriptions were systematically examined, and the study findings were gathered under 4 main themes within the framework of tandem breastfeeding from the perspective of breastfeeding women. These main themes consist of decision to continue tandem breastfeeding, tandem information support/search, maternal experience in tandem breastfeeding, and recommendations for mothers. The participants mostly shared their experiences in the effects of tandem breastfeeding on child health, pregnancy, and breast milk. Both mothers' own beliefs and feelings and community beliefs affected their decision to continue tandem breastfeeding. Mothers who tandem breastfed in this study need information and support.

This study characterized the patterns and predictors of pre-post changes in knowledge, attitudes, beliefs, behaviors, and intentions (KABBIs) among 641 youth who completed evidence-based teen pregnancy prevention programs. At follow-up, 64.0% of youth showed changes knowledge, communication, and attitudes; 22.5% showed changes in knowledge, attitudes, beliefs, communication, and increased sexual intentions; and 13.6% showed changes in attitudes and decreased sexual intentions. The strongest predictors of changes were youth baseline KABBI scores, mode of delivery, and number and type of adaptations made to the curricula. Results underscore the importance of examining the role of youth and program characteristics in predicting KABBI change patterns.

The aim of this qualitative study was to explore desired ways to deliver comprehensive sexuality education (CSE) and topics, among secondary school students in a low-resource setting in Western Kenya. One school (n = 440) has received 8-9-h CSE intervention, while the other school (n = 496) served as a control. After one-year follow-up the students were asked (one open-ended question) to suggest desired topics of CSE, with a response rate of 93% (n = 867). The following topics were suggested by the students: abortion, contraception, sexual rights, abstinence and STI/HIV, and preferred CSE delivery means were school-based teaching, online resources and social media, community-based elements or trusted individuals. The students who had not received the intervention were more in favor of an abstinence-only approach and demonstrated more negative attitudes toward abortion.

Long before the Dobbs decision, abortion was a fraught topic in communication classes. Post-Dobbs, the disincentives to discussing abortion intensified as a slew of state legislative actions-imposed restrictions not only on abortion access, but also on anything that might be construed as support for abortion. The purpose with this essay is to begin thinking through the pedagogical implications not only of the Dobbs decision, but of the state laws restricting how abortion is discussed, particularly by those teaching at state institutions. Further, the authors make the case for why professors should be teaching about abortion despite precarity.

As rhetorical scholars who regularly teach Communication and Women's/Gender Studies courses at a politically conservative university in the United States, Tasha N. Dubriwny and Kristan Poirot are keenly aware of the ways "Dobbs" has made abortion an all-too-relevant yet equally "dangerous" topic form any gender and/or health communication courses. In the current political context, leading classroom discussions about reproduction, from the rhetorical construction of motherhood to scientific explanations of fertilization, is fraught with personal and professional challenges that ought not be dismissed. In this essay, they approach the "Dobbs" decision as a rhetorical turning point, one that offers scholars an opportunity to revision how they engage in discussions, both inside and outside of their classrooms, about reproduction and reproductive health.

In this article, we provide an overview of the overturning of Roe v. Wade and consider its implications for communication classrooms in higher education. We assert that we as communication educators have a moral imperative to consider the role of intersectionality and reproductive justice in our teaching philosophies and implementation, and to do so, we discuss the interrelated nature of intersectionality, reproductive justice, and critical communication pedagogy.

Teenage pregnancy is a phenomenon that causes concern due to its consequences. In this context, sex education has been considered as a good means of prevention. However, while teenage pregnancy prevails, sex education perspectives from the voices of teenage fathers and mothers remain under-explored. This qualitative study aimed at exploring sex education needs from the perspectives of teenage fathers and mothers at Cuenca, Ecuador. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 19 young people aged 16 to 19 years, ten of whom were mothers. Following thematic analysis, three themes were identified: (1) pregnancy does not necessarily occur by accident; (2) inconsistencies exist in the use of contraceptive methods; and (3) current forms of sex education ignore the needs of adolescents. Findings are discussed in light of research addressing teenage pregnancy, focusing on adolescents as well as their developmental characteristics. The study identifies limitations in sex education when it comes to meeting the real needs of adolescent mothers and fathers.

This study aimed to assess the fertility knowledge of Japanese education undergraduates who plan to become schoolteachers and examine related factors. A cross-sectional questionnaire survey was conducted with 252 first-year education undergraduates at a Japanese university. The Cardiff Fertility Knowledge Scale (CFKS) was used to measure fertility knowledge, and other items inquiring about basic reproductive knowledge were included. We assessed the relationship between fertility knowledge and gender and the experience of future life planning, among other factors. We found that fertility knowledge varied. Participants possessed a relatively good knowledge of the relationships between fertility and female ageing, and smoking, but limited knowledge about the effect of sexually transmitted infections on fertility. Male participants answered more correctly than female participants (p < 0.01) regarding 'sperm production'; however, female respondents answered more accurately than male respondents (p < 0.01) regarding 'timing of menopause. In Japan, the national curriculum standard for upper secondary schools was revised in 2018, and fertility was added to the Health and Physical Education curriculum. The study results suggested that it is important to include fertility in a sex education teaching curriculum for education undergraduates to enable them to deliver fertility education as teachers in the future.

Genetic factors, particularly, de novo variants (DNV), and an environment factor, exposure to pregnancy-induced hypertension (PIH), were reported to be associated with risk of autism spectrum disorder (ASD); however, how they jointly affect the severity of ASD symptom is unclear. We assessed the severity of core ASD symptoms affected by functional de novo variants or PIH. We selected phenotype data from Simon's Simplex Collection database, used genotypes from previous studies, and created linear regression models. We found that ASD patients carrying DNV with PIH exposure had increased adaptive and cognitive ability, decreased social problems, and enhanced repetitive behaviors; however, there was no difference in patients without DNV between those with or without PIH exposure. In addition, the DNV genes carried by patients exposed to PIH were enriched in ubiquitin-dependent proteolytic processes, highlighting how candidate genes in pathways and environments interact. The results indicate the joint contribution of DNV and PIH to ASD.

Typical health lessons are taught in a classroom setting, where students sit in their chairs and passively receive information. This instructional method may not be the optimal approach, as Ratey discovered in his famous experiment that the human brain is more aroused when the body is physically and actively engaged in the learning environment. The purpose of this two-part article is to illustrate how health content can be delivered with hands-on activities, visual illustrations, and physical tasks that are associated with a specific lesson focus or that require students to repeatedly practice memory recall. Two physical activities in the following five health education topics are presented in this article: (1) mental and emotional health, (2) family and social health, (3) growth and development, (4) nutrition, and (5) personal health and physical activity. Aligned national health education standards and twenty-first-century skills, as well as evaluation for each activity, are also included. Although most of the activities presented in this article are content-specific, a few of the designs can be implemented with a different lesson focus or health topic.

It is important to examine women's experiences in the infertility process, as being a woman is perceived as a concept that overlaps with motherhood, and the woman herself is exposed to physical pain during the treatment. In this research, which was carried out with a phenomenological pattern, one of the qualitative methods, the experiences of married women diagnosed with infertility regarding the infertility process were examined, and it was tried to determine the themes that would help psychological counselors in the therapeutic process. The study group consists of 10 women selected by criterion sampling using purposeful sampling methods. The results of the research were discussed under seven headings: infertility experience, stress factors, acquired skills, social support resources, the role of the spouse, coping skills, and belief in the treatment. The theme of the infertility experience includes codes of negativeness, helplessness, frustration, and compelling; the theme of stress factors includes codes of expectations, pressure, uncertainty, the passage of treatment, personal conflicts, against his spouse's liability, failure, and the search for a solution; the theme of acquired skills includes codes of coping with the challenges, obtaining medical information, hoping, common share, body recognition, gender awareness, healthy eating, the theme of social support resources includes codes of, contact, spouse, family, friend, and counselor; the theme of the role of spouse includes codes of support; the theme of coping skills includes codes of, religious beliefs, social activities, the sense of common humanity, work and psychological support; the theme of faith for treatment includes codes of hope and despair.

Adolescence is the most vulnerable period to reproductive health problems. These problems include early pregnancy, unsafe abortion, sexually infections transmitted (STIs) including the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), sexual abuse. Access for sexuality education and reproductive health services to comprehensive and youth-friendly was limited. This study aims to determine the effectiveness of peer educators and guidance and counselling teachers in adolescent reproductive health level of knowledge. This is a quantitative study with a quasi-experimental nonequivalent control group design with treatment groups using peer educators and teacher as control groups. The sample size was 70 respondents. Data was collected by questionnaire that already had validity and reliability test. Data analysis used univariate, t-test and logistic regression. The results of this study showed that the provision of information was more effective through guidance conselling teachers (p=0.000, exp B=14.5). This study recommends that improve adolescents' reproductive knowledge need to optimize the role of guidance and counseling teachers in providing information.

The delivery of comprehensive sexuality education to adolescents at school is recognized as a long-term strategy to support adolescent health. Suboptimal sexual and reproductive health (SRH) outcomes among South African adolescents necessitate the ongoing development and optimization of SRH education and promotion models. We conducted a cluster-randomized controlled trial amongst secondary schools (n = 38) in Cape Town, South Africa, to evaluate a sport-based, near-peer-led SRH curriculum, SKILLZ, amongst female learners (n = 2791). Biomedical (sexually transmitted infections [STIs], human immunodeficiency virus [HIV] and pregnancy) and socio-behavioural (social support, gender norms and self-concept) outcomes were assessed pre and post intervention. Attendance at SKILLZ was low and intervention participants did not show an improvement in SRH outcomes, with HIV and pregnancy incidence remaining stable and STI prevalence remaining high and increasing in both control and intervention arms. Although evidence of positive socio-behavioural measures was present at baseline, participants with high attendance showed further improvement in positive gender norms. SKILLZ did not demonstrate the capacity to significantly impact clinical SRH outcomes. Modest improvements in outcomes amongst high attenders suggest that the impact may be possible with improved attendance; however, in the absence of optimal attendance, alternative intervention strategies may be required to improve SRH outcomes amongst adolescents.

Changes in antenatal gut microbiota (GM) have been associated with gestational diabetes and obesity which are influenced by diet and lifestyle. Gamification can be used as an interactive health education tool to convey this concept to the public. Thus, we designed an interactive story titled 'MoM: Microbiome of Maternity' highlighting the importance of diet and lifestyle during pregnancy. Using the 'RPG Maker MV' software, a branching narrative emphasizing flavour texts with a local flair was developed. The choice-based game narrative revolves around daily diet and lifestyle preferences in an engaging story throughout pregnancy. A graphical report is provided at predetermined intervals, highlighting the relevant details on their health and GM. A pilot evaluation was conducted using feedback surveys: Part A evaluated the knowledge on GDM, healthy diet and GM (13 items, score [more than or equal to]8 ([more than or equal to]60%) depicts adequate knowledge) and Part B evaluated the satisfaction on the game design and structure (24 items, score [more than or equal to]38 depicts satisfaction and pleasant experience). We found that the initial knowledge on the introduced health concept were inadequate (Part A score 7.67 ± 2.97). After playing 'MoM', their understanding was improved and were satisfied with the design (Part B score 42.3 ± 6.49). In conclusion, 'MoM' is an effective educational game in promoting health awareness among women.

This longitudinal study examined the development of mother-infant objective and reported sleep quality and duration in solo-mother families (i.e., mothers who decided to parent alone) in comparison to two-parent families. We recruited 134 solo mothers and 161 married mothers during pregnancy, most representing the middle to upper socioeconomic class in Israel. Assessments were conducted during pregnancy and at 4 and 8 months postpartum. Maternal and infant sleep were assessed with actigraphy and sleep diaries for 7 nights. Questionnaires were used to assess maternal insomnia symptoms, sleepiness, sleeping arrangements, and background variables. The comparison of sleep between solo-mother and two-parent families, at each assessment point, showed no differences in sleep duration, and only a few differences in sleep quality measures; these were partially explained by maternal age and breastfeeding. Nevertheless, solo mothers were more likely to share a bed with their infants. In both groups, trajectory analyses showed a decrease in maternal actigraphic and diary sleep quality measures from pregnancy to 4 months, followed by an increase from 4 to 8 months. However, maternal insomnia symptoms first declined, and then increased, and maternal sleep duration first lengthened and then shortened. Infant actigraphic and diary sleep quality increased in both groups from 4 to 8 months, whereas sleep duration decreased only in the "solo" group. In general, the findings suggest that objective and subjective sleep quality and sleep duration of solo-mother families, a growing yet unexplored family structure, do not seem to be significantly affected by the absence of a second parent.

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a pervasive neurodevelopmental disorder that brings heavy burdens to families and the society. This case-control study explored risk factors for ASD based on 74,252 children aged 3-12 years who were recruited from general education kindergartens, primary schools, and special education schools in Shanghai, China. One hundred ninety-two children were identified with ASD according to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders--Fifth Edition. Male sex, the presence of anoxia or asphyxia at birth, artificial feeding, adverse maternal psychological status, complications during pregnancy and higher paternal education were associated with ASD even after controlling for age, residential district, family history of mental disorders, parental personality, and amount of daily TV viewing.

We examined associations between prenatal oxidative stress (OS) and child autism-related outcomes. Women with an autistic child were followed through a subsequent pregnancy and that younger sibling's childhood. Associations between glutathione (GSH), glutathione disulfide (GSSG), 8-oxo-deoxyguanine (8-OHdG), and nitrotyrosine and younger sibling Social Responsiveness Scale (SRS) scores were examined using quantile regression. Increasing GSH:GSSG (suggesting decreasing OS) was associated with minor increases in SRS scores (50th percentile [beta]: 1.78, 95% CI: 0.67, 3.06); no other associations were observed. Results from this cohort with increased risk for autism do not support a strong relationship between OS in late pregnancy and autism-related outcomes. Results may be specific to those with enriched autism risk; future work should consider other timepoints and biomarkers.

Since federal legalization in 1973, abortion has become a safe and popular option for those who desire to terminate a pregnancy. However, the Supreme Court decision of "Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization" in June 2022 clearly outlined a national divide that shifted abortion rights in the hands of state legislatures. This shift in legislative power will unveil major systematic flaws and further exacerbate health inequalities among underserved populations. However, legislatures can mitigate the disruption by addressing current infrastructural gaps that will make a positive lasting impact on women's health. Legislatures should investigate the gaps within the current telehealth guidelines and interstate compact agreements that may lead to a lack of clarity and legality with a shift to state power for abortive services that may prevent abortive service distribution entirely. In addition, Graduate Medical Education Accreditation Councils and state legislatures have the opportunity to blunt the abortion provider shortage that is expected to increase with state power through expansion of family medicine residency programs curriculum and health Advanced Practice Clinicians licensure. Finally, implementation of comprehensive sexual education has shown to promote sexual health and decrease risk factors associated with utilization of abortive service and could be utilized as a preventive measure for future generations. By promptly addressing current infrastructural gaps, legislatures will be on the forefront of the challenges brought by prompt systemic change in the abortion infrastructure.

The rise of Black maternal mortality rates throughout the country demonstrates a great need to utilize innovative frameworks to craft solutions that improve health outcomes for Black birthing people. Previous research and interventions have examined individual- and policy-level factors to reduce maternal mortality; however, these methods may lack a true community-centered approach to understanding the experiences of Black birthing people in local communities that have been disproportionately impacted. In addition, certain research methods may not recognize other marginalized intersectional identities (e.g., Black transgender men) who experience inequities in Black maternal health. This commentary aims to provide recommendations for utilizing community-centered strategies on Black maternal mortality informed by community-based participatory research principles.

Prenatal and postpartum depression are highly prevalent worldwide, and emerging evidence suggests they contribute to impairments in children's executive functions. Studies of maternal depression, however, have focused on the postpartum and postnatal periods with relatively less consideration of prenatal influences on child development. This study of the large population-based Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children U.K. cohort estimates latent classes of maternal depression across the prenatal, postpartum, and postnatal periods to capture heterogeneity in the developmental timing and length of maternal depression, as well as to test whether latent classes differ in children's executive function impairments in middle childhood. Repeated measures latent class analysis yielded five groups demonstrating unique patterns of change in maternal depression from pregnancy through early childhood (n = 13,624). Latent classes differed in executive functions at age 8 among a subsample of children (n = 6,870). Children exposed to chronic maternal depression beginning in utero showed the most impairments in inhibitory control while accounting for child sex, verbal IQ, parents' highest education level, and average family income in childhood. The critical roles of the timing and length of children's exposure to maternal depression are discussed in relation to executive function development, prevention, and intervention.

Pregnancy may pose a number of physical and healthcare-related challenges for autistic people, who experience differences in sensory processing and can face barriers to accessing healthcare. However, little research has explored autistic pregnancy experiences. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 24 autistic and 21 non-autistic women during the third trimester of pregnancy. Thematic analysis revealed that the autistic group experienced heightened sensory and physical symptoms during pregnancy compared with the non-autistic group. Autistic participants were sometimes reluctant to disclose their diagnosis to healthcare professionals and felt that professionals lacked autism knowledge. While both groups appreciated clear information about their care, autistic participants further highlighted the need for detailed information and being given time to process verbal information. The autistic group also highlighted the need for sensory adjustments in healthcare settings. The findings indicate ways in which prenatal healthcare can be improved for autistic people, including sensory and communication adjustments. There is a need for greater autism-related training for prenatal healthcare professionals to ensure that autistic people receive appropriate support.

This study purposed to investigate the lived experiences of out of school teenage mothers during pregnancy, and post-delivery in Rusororo Sector, Gasabo district, Kigali City. It is a qualitative study that used case study design to investigate the school teenage mothers (participants) on their perceived school experience with fellow students, teachers and school leaders, study courses, and parents; the psychological and socio economic effects, and their future education perceptions. Purposive sampling was used to select the sample size participants and the area of study. Convenience sampling and snowball sampling were used to reach the available participants. Semi-structured interviews were used to collect data. Thus, using interviews, data was collected through note taking and voice/audio-recording. In data analysis, data was analyzed through manual comparative and thematic analyses. Results showed that teenage mothers view of further education is attainable through vocational training; pregnancy had psychological effects of depression, loneliness, self-denial on them; pregnancy had social effects of parental denial and expulsion and economic effects of hard living and doing manual work for survival; its educational effects include dropout and study retardation; teenage mothers lived a sorrowful experience of single living without support and most attempt suicide while pregnant. Solutions to curb pregnancy among teenage girls include forum discussions, sex temptation identification, parent-daughter discussion, counseling services and offender punishment. It was concluded that teenage mothers lived a sorrowful and unsupported life that make them academic dropouts. The study provided broad insights and a framework on the teenage mothers' lived experience and their education.

Individuals who are deaf and use American Sign Language (ASL) as their primary mode of communication experience unique negative life experiences, such as lack of communication, limited access to services, marginalization, and discrimination, that can adversely impact resilience and psychological well-being. In addition, deaf individuals experience higher rates of intimate partner violence, polyvictimization, sexual, physical, and emotional abuse, and unemployment. These negative life experiences can sometimes be accompanied by maladaptive behaviors, such as substance use. Resilience and a positive sense of well-being can help to mitigate adverse life events. This survey research utilizes a sample of 206 deaf participants, whose primary language is ASL, and hearing participants to examine the relationships between negative life experiences, substance use, resilience, and well-being. Findings indicate: (1) deaf participants reported experiencing several negative life events significantly more often than their hearing counterparts, specifically being sent to jail or prison, having a serious physical illness, and sexual abuse by a partner than hearing participants; (2) deaf participants reported more experiences of having an abortion or miscarriage and parental separation or divorce as children than their hearing counterparts; (3) deaf individuals reported higher marijuana use than their hearing counterparts, but less use of stimulants, inhalants, and prescription drug abuse; (4) experiences of mental illness was significantly associated with resilience and well-being; and (5) deaf and hearing participants had similar scores in resilience and well-being. The author identifies strengths and limitations of the study and discusses implications for future research.

This study aims to involve the institutions of family, community, and Buddhism in designing a training course that could enhance vulnerable youths' knowledge of unintentional pregnancy prevention. The attitude toward the involvement of the three stakeholders and changes in teens' behaviors are also the center of the investigation. 302 vulnerable teenagers from Khon Kaen, Thailand, were sampled. Purposeful sampling was used. Income, marital status, and neighborhood were used to choose participants. 10 public workers responsible for protecting vulnerable youth were also sampled to take part in an interview session aiming to investigate participants' behaviors. The instruments consist of a training course for vulnerable youth unintended pregnancy prevention, a test for unintended pregnancy prevention knowledge, a satisfaction questionnaire, and a semi-structured interview. Frequency, percentage, mean score, SD, and t-test were used to examine the data. The content analysis assessed qualitative data. The results study illustrates how a training course developed with the collaboration between institutions concerned with human development led to the development of knowledge, attitudes, and positive behavioral changes among vulnerable youths.

This study was conducted to examine experiences and attitudes of midwifery student tutors during scheduled class time. Sixty-one students from 2016 to 2019, who passed the gynecology and infertility course, participated in this study as student tutors and tutees. Students' experiences were investigated with a five-point Likert-type rating scale questionnaire including 17 items in six domains. The average score, frequency, and percentage of positive and negative attitude were calculated in each domain. All participants were female with an average age of 26.3 years. Average student experiences were favorable, and their attitudes towards peer teaching were overwhelmingly positive in all domains. Class-time peer tutoring programs where students change their roles as teacher and student may be regarded as an alternative to traditional peer tutoring programs.

It is known that pregnancy is essential in the contribution of exercise to human health and the formation of healthy societies. Phenomenology design, one of the qualitative research techniques, was used in the research. The attitudes of pregnant women towards exercise before and during pregnancy and the factors affecting these attitudes were examined. The research group comprises 10 pregnant women, who are university graduates and work as professionals, who voluntarily participated in the research while living in Düzce. It is assumed that university graduates and professional pregnant women are the most qualified part of society in terms of health awareness and sports habits. A semi-structured interview form was used to collect data. Face-to-face interviews were conducted with pregnant women from different professions and at different stages of their pregnancy. NVIVO 11 statistical program was used in the analysis of the data. Although the participants thought that it was beneficial for their health, it was determined that they had various fears. Due to these fears and the fact that specialist doctors do not recommend exercise, even pregnant women who did not have any problems during their pregnancy avoided exercising. It was observed that the exercise attitudes of the participants before and during pregnancy differed.