Conectar
by Anastasia Topalidou, Lauren Haworth, Raeesa Jassat, Morgan Hawcroft-Hurst
Pregnancy and childbirth involve profound biomechanical transformations, adaptations, and functional demands on the maternal body. Although biomechanical complications have been identified as a major contributor to maternal morbidity and mortality, this remains one of the most under-researched areas in perinatal health. This systematic scoping review aimed to map and synthesise existing literature on the biomechanics of pregnancy and labour. Following Arksey and O’Malley’s framework and PRISMA-ScR guidance, comprehensive searches of MEDLINE, EMBASE, and MIDIRS were conducted up to May 2025. Eligible sources were peer-reviewed empirical studies assessing musculoskeletal, kinematic, kinetic, postural, or dynamic parameters in pregnant or labouring women. Titles, abstracts, and full texts were screened against predefined eligibility criteria. Data were charted using a structured extraction form and synthesised narratively across key biomechanical themes. Eighty-seven studies were included, all of which focused on pregnancy. No studies conducted during labour were identified. Most were observational with small sample sizes and limited diversity. Ethnicity was reported in only one study. Four key themes emerged: (1) Posture and spinal curvature, (2) Gait and locomotor analysis, (3) Functional tasks and interventions, and (4) Balance and stability. Findings showed high individual variability and no consistent biomechanical pattern across pregnancy. Real-world, neuromuscular, and labour-related biomechanics remain largely unexplored. This review underscores a critical gap in perinatal research: while biomechanical adaptations during pregnancy have been increasingly studied, labour remains entirely unexamined from a biomechanical perspective. Current evidence is fragmented, methodologically narrow, and lacks diversity, offering limited clinical relevance. We are effectively operating in a biomechanical vacuum, without empirical data to guide safer, more efficient, and personalised birth practices. Existing clinical approaches rely heavily on tradition, anecdotal experience, and untested theoretical assumptions. Addressing this evidence void, particularly in labour biomechanics and ethnic representation, is essential to improve perinatal outcomes and support equity in maternal care.by Esther Ariyo, Victoria Awortwe, Ebenezer Cudjoe
This systematic review examined the effectiveness of perinatal interventions aimed at preventing infant removals, with attention to service features, implementation barriers, and enablers. We searched six electronic databases and 15 relevant websites for peer reviewed studies published between 2014 and 2024. Eligible studies evaluated interventions targeting pregnant parents at risk of having another child removed and reported on infant removal outcomes. Independent reviewers screened studies using Covidence. A total of 256 records were obtained, of which six peer reviewed studies covering eight interventions, involving 3,254 pregnant women and 20 professionals met the inclusion criteria. Three studies included comparison groups, including only one randomized controlled trial. Five studies assessed program-level interventions, and one study evaluated a policy change. Risk of bias was assessed using the Mixed Methods Appraisal Tool (MMAT). Two of the three comparative studies indicated that targeted interventions may help reduce infant removals. Four of the six studies highlighted that trauma-informed, relationship-based, and multidisciplinary approaches delivered during pregnancy were associated with reductions in infant removals and improvements in maternal wellbeing, housing stability, substance use, and service engagement. Facilitators of successful implementation included continuity of care, culturally safe and non-judgmental support, and flexible services tailored to family needs. Common barriers were late referrals, limited intervention timelines, mistrust of services particularly among families with prior removals and insecure funding that constrained scale and sustainability. Despite generally positive outcomes, the evidence base remains weak due to small samples, limited diversity, lack of comparison groups, and short follow-up periods. This first systematic review of perinatal interventions for preventing infant removals highlights the need for long term, inclusive, comparative research. It underscores the importance of embedding early, holistic support in routine services and offers valuable insights for policy and practice on supporting parents with complex needs within the child protection system.Different malaria control measures are deployed simultaneously in endemic settings globally, with varying impacts on malaria burden. In sub-Saharan Africa, which bears the greatest burden of malaria, evidence on the impact of implementing various control interventions on malaria immunity remains unknown. This systematic review seeks to collate evidence on the extent of progression from uncomplicated to severe malaria among populations in sub-Saharan Africa settings receiving concurrent deployment of various malaria control measures.
The review will use a priori criteria contained in the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis Protocols. An experienced librarian (AAK) will independently search for articles from the following databases: PubMed, Web of Science, Embase, Scopus and Google Scholar. Boolean operators ‘AND’ and ‘OR’ will be used in the article search. Identified articles will be managed using EndNote. Article screening for inclusion and data extraction will be done in duplicate by two reviewers (EJO, and BM). Data extraction tools will be developed and customised in Excel. Data will be analysed using both narrative and quantitative synthesis. The level of heterogeneity between study outcomes will be measured using the I2 statistic. Subgroup analysis will be conducted to explore heterogeneity and establish the impact of different control interventions on progression from uncomplicated to severe malaria. A full systematic review and meta-analysis is expected to be ready for dissemination by the end of December 2025.
This study did not involve human participants and so ethical approval was not sought. A full review and a meta-analysis will be published in a peer-reviewed journal and presented at national and international conferences.
CRD 42024619945.
The management of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) involves a varied and comprehensive range of support services at various stages of an autistic individual’s life. In Thailand, parents/legal guardians of children with ASD often encounter challenges such as difficulty travelling from rural areas to access support services. The aim of the present study is to investigate the effectiveness of a computer-based intervention programme for caregivers of children with ASD called the Thai Early Intervention for Autism—Assistive Technology for Caregivers (TEI4A-ATC), designed and implemented by a multidisciplinary team.
160 children and their caregivers are being recruited. They will be randomised 1:1 into two treatment arms: access to TEI4A-ATC for the intervention group and standard care for the control group. Before enrolment, ASD diagnosis will be conducted using the Thai Diagnostic Autism Scale: children’s ASD scores will be determined using the Thai Autism Treatment Evaluation Checklist for evaluating communication, sociability and sensory/cognitive awareness and the Thai Early Developmental Assessment for Intervention for evaluating motor skills, social interaction, language development and problem-solving. Both assessment tools will be used again after 3 months of treatment. Similarly, the caregivers’ knowledge, attitude and practice (KAP) for ASD care will be assessed using a questionnaire at enrolment and again after treatment. Comparison of the children’s ASD scores and caregivers’ KAP responses between the treatment groups and before and after treatment will be performed based on the intention-to-treat principle.
This study was approved by the Human Research Ethics Committee for Mental Health and Psychiatry, Department of Mental Health, Ministry of Public Health (DMH.IRB.COA 037/2565). Written informed consent will be obtained from the participants prior to enrolment. The study’s findings may be disseminated through scientific publications and conference presentations. The results of the study will be shared with key stakeholders, including caregivers, psychiatrists, policymakers and the general public, via appropriate dissemination channels to aid in creating appropriate practice and policy guidelines.
This study was registered with the Thai Clinical Trials Registry (TCTR20240320010) on 20 March 2024.
FreshRSS 