Journal of Nurse Midwifery and Maternal Health

Objectives: The birth of a baby brings joy and the need for new family roles. However, few babies typically fail in their graceful perinatal transition requiring separation from parents in NICU leading to stressful situations. This study aimed to identify, correlate, and compare the stress levels and coping strategies of mothers and fathers with neonates in the NICU. Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional survey was conducted among 80 parents of NICUadmitted neonates, using purposive sampling. Data were collected through self-structured rating scales. Statistical analysis was performed using Spearman’s Rank Correlation Coefficients, MannWhitney U-test, and Chi-square test, with normality established by the Shapiro-Wilk test. Results: The findings revealed that the majority of mothers (45.0%) and fathers (47.5%) were aged 26-30 years. Most mothers (72.5%) and fathers (65.0%) experienced moderate stress. A significant number of mothers (67.5%) and fathers (52.5%) used partially adaptive coping strategies. Both mothers and fathers exhibited high stress and coping strategies in the emotional domain. The Spearman’s correlation coefficient was r= -0.33 for mothers and r= -0.47 for fathers, indicating a moderate negative correlation between stress levels and coping strategies. No significant difference was found in stress levels between mothers and fathers (Z=-.516, P=0.606), but a significant difference was noted in their coping strategies (Z=-2.348, P=0.019). Significant associations were found between stress, coping strategies, and socio-demographic variables such as mode of delivery (χ²=7.73, P=0.02), fathers’ employment status (χ²=15.3, P=0.01), neonates’ medical diagnosis (χ²=13.4, P=0.03), and length of stay in the NICU (χ²=11.3, P=0.02). Conclusion: While no significant gender difference was found in stress levels, fathers showed better coping strategies. Since stress is negatively correlated with coping, it suggests that healthcare professionals’ support can reduce parental stress and improve coping. Key Message:Parental stress in the NICU is significant, with fathers exhibiting better coping strategies. This study compares stress levels and coping mechanisms, revealing moderate stress and partially adaptive coping in parents. Enhanced healthcare support could mitigate stress and improve coping, benefiting the overall well-being of NICU families globally.

Background: Cancer was the second leading cause of death globally, responsible for 8.8 million deaths in 2015. The estimates of cancer incidence would increase to 1.87 million by the year 2026. New cancer cases in females are higher as compared to males at all time periods. Objectives: 1) To assess the Non-modifiable risk factors for breast & cervical cancer 2) To identify the association of Non-modifiable risk factors with selected sample characteristics. Methods: Using purposive sampling technique, a pre tested and structured interview schedule was administered to 426 women in gynae O.P.D. of Lok Nayak Hospital. Results: 86.85% of study subjects were in the Non-modifiable risk factor score category and most of them were in illiterate and primary educated group. Age, education, employment, occupation and income were significantly associated with Non-modifiable risk factor scores. Conclusion: Moderate Non-modifiable risk factors appeared to influence the risk status of women for breast and cervical cancer in this study.

Background: Cervical cancer remains a significant public health issue, especially in regions with limited awareness and prevention strategies. Addressing this gap through targeted education can empower future healthcare providers, particularly female nursing students, with critical knowledge and preventive practices. Aim: This study aimed to enhance the awareness of cervical cancer and its prevention strategies among female nursing students through a structured educational program. Methods: A quantitative research approach with a quasi-experimental design was employed. The study was conducted at SCPM College of Nursing and Paramedical Sciences, Haripur, Gonda, involving a sample of 150 female nursing students selected via simple random sampling. Data were collected by trained BSc Nursing tutors and analyzed using SPSS version 22, with a significance level set at <0.05. Results: Pre-test knowledge assessment revealed that 31.3% of participants had no knowledge, 35.3% had inadequate knowledge, 20.7% had moderate knowledge, and 12.7% had adequate knowledge. Post-test results showed a significant improvement: 20% had inadequate knowledge, 45.3% had moderate knowledge, and 34.7% had adequate knowledge. The pre-test mean knowledge score was 2.15 (SD = 1.006), which increased to 3.15 (SD = 0.727) in the post-test. The paired t-test yielded a t-value of 12.289 (df = 149), indicating a significant enhancement in knowledge levels. Additionally, all variables showed a significant association with knowledge levels in the pre-test. Conclusion: The structured educational program significantly improved the awareness and knowledge of cervical cancer and prevention strategies among female nursing students. This underscores the effectiveness of targeted educational interventions in empowering future healthcare providers.