There has been little research on intimate partner violence (IPV) in faith-based communities. This qualitative study examines social attitudes and religious values in an Ultra-Orthodox Jewish community that affect the incidence of IPV and prevent women survivors from seeking help. Interviews were conducted with 8 Orthodox women and 11 community leaders, and findings include the following: (a) causes of IPV were early marriage, separation of the sexes, and personality characteristics; (b) religious beliefs and social values were barriers to seeking help; and (c) the role of rabbis in education and marital intervention was viewed in markedly different ways by the two sets of respondents. Implications for practice and further research are discussed.
Purpose: To determine feasibility and acceptability of incorporating IPT for postpartum depression (PPD) into Israeli social work practice. Method: Women who were 4–24 weeks postpartum with PPD, at least 18 years old, had telephone access, and had a score of 10–18 on the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) were eligible to participate in this two-group, nonrandomized repeated measures pilot. The intervention group received eight 50-min IPT sessions and the comparison group received treatment-as-usual. Primary outcomes were measured with the EPDS, Postpartum Adjustment Questionnaire (PPAQ), and Client Satisfaction Scale-8. Results: There was a significant reduction in both groups in EPDS scores at the end of treatment ( t = −4.68, 95% CI [−6.49, −2.57], d = 1.07) and 4 weeks posttreatment ( t = −5.09, 95% CI [−7.14, −3.08], p < .001, d = 1.21), a significant reduction in PPAQ scores at the end of treatment ( t = −2.09, 95% CI [−0.29, 0.00], p < .05, d = 0.44), and high patient acceptability. Discussion: This study provided preliminary evidence supporting IPT use by social workers in Israel.
BackgroundCorona Virus Disease 19 (COVID-19) is a new pandemic, declared a public health emergency by the World Health Organization, which could have negative consequences for pregnant and postpartum women. The scarce evidence published to date suggests that perinatal mental health has deteriorated since the COVID-19 outbreak. However, the few studies published so far have some limitations, such as a cross-sectional design and the omission of important factors for the understanding of perinatal mental health, including governmental restriction measures and healthcare practices implemented at the maternity hospitals. Within the Riseup-PPD COST Action, a study is underway to assess the impact of COVID-19 in perinatal mental health. The primary objectives are to (1) evaluate changes in perinatal mental health outcomes; and (2) determine the risk and protective factors for perinatal mental health during the COVID-19 pandemic. Additionally, we will compare the results between the countries participating in the study.MethodsThis is an international prospective cohort study, with a baseline and three follow-up assessments over a six-month period. It is being carried out in 11 European countries (Albania, Bulgaria, Cyprus, France, Greece, Israel, Malta, Portugal, Spain, Turkey, and the United Kingdom), Argentina, Brazil and Chile. The sample consists of adult pregnant and postpartum women (with infants up to 6months of age). The assessment includes measures on COVID-19 epidemiology and public health measures (Oxford COVID-19 Government Response Tracker dataset), Coronavirus Perinatal Experiences (COPE questionnaires), psychological distress (BSI-18), depression (EPDS), anxiety (GAD-7) and post-traumatic stress symptoms (PTSD checklist for DSM-V).DiscussionThis study will provide important information for understanding the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on perinatal mental health and well-being, including the identification of potential risk and protective factors by implementing predictive models using machine learning techniques. The findings will help policymakers develop suitable guidelines and prevention strategies for perinatal mental health and contribute to designing tailored mental health interventions.Trial registrationClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT04595123. ; COST Action RiseupEuropean Cooperation in Science and Technology (COST) [PPD CA 18138]; COST under COST Action Riseup [PPD CA18138]; Spanish Ministry of HealthInstituto de Salud Carlos IIISpanish Government; Institute of Health Carlos IIIInstituto de Salud Carlos III; European Regional Development Fund by the Prevention and Health Promotion Research Network 'redIAPP' [RD16/0007]; FSEEuropean Social Fund (ESF); FCTPortuguese Foundation for Science and TechnologyEuropean Commission [SFRH/BPD/117597/2016]; Bar-Ilan Dangoor Centre for Personalized Medicine, Israel; Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT)Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology; EU through the European Social Fund; Human Potential Operational Program [IF/00750/2015]; CAPES/ProexCoordenacao de Aperfeicoamento de Pessoal de Nivel Superior (CAPES) [0653/2018]; CAPES/PrInt grant [88887.310343/2018-00] ; The project is part of the COST Action Riseup-PPD CA 18138 and was supported by COST under COST Action Riseup-PPD CA18138; also, by the Spanish Ministry of Health, the Institute of Health Carlos III, and the European Regional Development Fund « Una manera de hacer Europa » by the Prevention and Health Promotion Research Network `redIAPP' (RD16/0007). Raquel Costa is supported by the FSE and FCT under an individual Post-Doctoral Grant SFRH/BPD/117597/2016. Rena Bina and Drorit Levy received funding from the Bar-Ilan Dangoor Centre for Personalized Medicine, Israel. Ana Mesquita is supported from the Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT) and from EU through the European Social Fund and from the Human Potential Operational Program -IF/00750/2015. Ana Osorio received financial support from CAPES/Proex no. 0653/2018 and CAPES/PrInt grant no. 88887.310343/2018-00.The funders of the study had no role in the study design or the writing the protocol. The corresponding author had final responsibility for the decision to submit for publication. ; WOS:000621084300002 ; 2-s2.0-85101674301 ; PubMed: 33596889
Corona Virus Disease 19 (COVID-19) is a new pandemic, declared a public health emergency by the World Health Organization, which could have negative consequences for pregnant and postpartum women. The scarce evidence published to date suggests that perinatal mental health has deteriorated since the COVID-19 outbreak. However, the few studies published so far have some limitations, such as a cross-sectional design and the omission of important factors for the understanding of perinatal mental health, including governmental restriction measures and healthcare practices implemented at the maternity hospitals. Within the Riseup-PPD COST Action, a study is underway to assess the impact of COVID-19 in perinatal mental health. The primary objectives are to (1) evaluate changes in perinatal mental health outcomes; and (2) determine the risk and protective factors for perinatal mental health during the COVID-19 pandemic. Additionally, we will compare the results between the countries participating in the study.
BACKGROUND: Corona Virus Disease 19 (COVID-19) is a new pandemic, declared a public health emergency by the World Health Organization, which could have negative consequences for pregnant and postpartum women. The scarce evidence published to date suggests that perinatal mental health has deteriorated since the COVID-19 outbreak. However, the few studies published so far have some limitations, such as a cross-sectional design and the omission of important factors for the understanding of perinatal mental health, including governmental restriction measures and healthcare practices implemented at the maternity hospitals. Within the Riseup-PPD COST Action, a study is underway to assess the impact of COVID-19 in perinatal mental health. The primary objectives are to (1) evaluate changes in perinatal mental health outcomes; and (2) determine the risk and protective factors for perinatal mental health during the COVID-19 pandemic. Additionally, we will compare the results between the countries participating in the study. METHODS: This is an international prospective cohort study, with a baseline and three follow-up assessments over a six-month period. It is being carried out in 11 European countries (Albania, Bulgaria, Cyprus, France, Greece, Israel, Malta, Portugal, Spain, Turkey, and the United Kingdom), Argentina, Brazil and Chile. The sample consists of adult pregnant and postpartum women (with infants up to 6 months of age). The assessment includes measures on COVID-19 epidemiology and public health measures (Oxford COVID-19 Government Response Tracker dataset), Coronavirus Perinatal Experiences (COPE questionnaires), psychological distress (BSI-18), depression (EPDS), anxiety (GAD-7) and post-traumatic stress symptoms (PTSD checklist for DSM-V). DISCUSSION: This study will provide important information for understanding the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on perinatal mental health and well-being, including the identification of potential risk and protective factors by implementing predictive models using machine ...
