Sistema Regional de Información
en línea para Revistas Científicas de América Latina,
el Caribe, España y Portugal

Introduction Complementary medicine, particularly traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) and acupuncture, can be used to treat symptoms associated with endometriosis including pelvic inflammation and dysmenorrhea. These treatments may also be useful in hormonal imbalances and infertility. ObjectiveTo understand the effects of acupuncture on improving systems associated with endometriosis. Material and Methods: The scientific literature published in various biomedical databases was reviewed to classify the symptoms of endometriosis, and their treatment with acupuncture. Seventeen articles were selected for the analysis. ResultsTCM and acupuncture were found to be useful in the treatment of symptoms associated with endometriosis, such as: pelvic inflammation and pain, dysmenorrhea, hormone imbalances in the menstrual cycle and metrorrhagia. Conclusions TCM and acupuncture are used in endometriosis to treat chronic pain and pelvic inflammation.

ObjectivesThis paper analyzes experiences of obstetric violence that occurred during a spontaneous abortion of women living in Guadalajara, Mexico. Then, it interprets how these experiences affect the choice of the types of birth in the current pregnancies of these women.MethodThe research was carried out with a qualitative methodology through a biographical-narrative design. The data collection consisted in recovering life stories and conducting in-depth interviews with 4 women residents in Guadalajara who had previously experienced a spontaneous abortion. The ages of the women ranged between 20 and 28 years. All the participants have in common that in their first abortion they experienced some sort of obstetric violence.ResultsAmong the findings, it must be pointed out that some manifestations of obstetric violence are the result of: failed diagnoses that led to unnecessary operations that, in some cases, caused the death of the fetus or put the mother's health at risk; lack of sensitivity and empathy for the emotions expressed by women after abortion; tactile tests made by different doctors.ConclusionsBased on the results, it can be concluded that the experience of previous obstetric violence has led these women to plan their current pregnancy using private health services.

IntroductionGiven the necessity to improve the knowledge and technical skills in gynecology and obstetrics of the health teams of the Family Health Community Hospitals (FHCH) in the Chilean Health Service, a training program was implemented to provide quality and safe care to the newborn, the mother and her family, ObjectivesTo develop a training program called Teaching Pavilion, to improve the knowledge and technical skills of medical teams in the field of gynecology and obstetrics, ultrasound, and anesthesia of all FHCH, and thereby contribute to the strengthening of those maternity units that are close to the family and the community.MethodsThe program consisted in the development of the following training activities: Internship, Case Study, Ultrasound Practice, Surgical Practice and Anesthesia Practice in an itinerant way in the five FHCH of the region.ResultsThe implementation of the program allowed for the training in gynecology and obstetrics of 100% of the FHCH medical teams in 2008, improving knowledge and technical skills by decreasing obstetric referrals and developing a better care network.ConclusionsThe successful experience we present in this article may be useful to other health services that wish to strengthen their maternities through the implementation of teaching pavilions that provide a higher quality and safe care to the users of public healthcare networks.

Everyone is born with a given sex; throughout life culture and society assign gender roles that people adopt as male and female stereotypes. Generally, women are placed in a position of subordination to men, who have power and access to resources that generate an unequal distribution of responsibilities, rights and income, among others.The aim of this study is to inform first-year students of secondary education of the biological (sex) differences and the cultural roles and stereotypes associated with gender that are present in children's stories, songs, advertising, movies, videogames, etc.A pilot study was carried out during the third trimester of the academic year 2016/17 with 98 first-year students of secondary education from a state assisted school located in Barcelona. A total of 36 pedagogical hours were needed to carry out the activities.After an initial diagnostic survey, we determined the concepts the students previously had regarding the gender roles associated with the jobs.Subsequently, a series of activities were carried out in several sessions, from which a series of results have been obtained and which are detailed in the Results and Conclusions sections of this article.In general, the results show that, despite the social transformations and the changes that have been and are taking place in the 21st century, it is necessary to continue working with adolescents on subjects that for decades have been taboo or absent from schools and high schools.

ObjectivesThe main goal of this article is to determine the influence of acupuncture in IVF by searching randomized controlled trials —published between 2007 and 2017— and carrying out a meta-analysis of the results.Material and methodThis bibliographical revision includes studies that describe random or quasi-random monitored clinical tests on acupuncture and IVF, published between 2007 and 2017. The studies were selected from the following databases: CINAHL, COCHRANE, PUBMED, CUIDEN plus, ENFISPO, CSIC, LILACS. These studies compare the use acupuncture with placebo, sham treatment or none intervention. Traditional and modern acupuncture are both included. The source of stimulation may be manual using thin needles, moxibustion with hot needles, or electrical stimulation. The effects of acupuncture over pregnancy rates will be evaluated as the main variable, whereas the number of alive newborns, high quality embryos, and natural miscarriages, as well as the secondary effects produced by acupuncture, will be considered as secondary variables.Results14 essays with a total of 21.860 women were included in this article; 6 were excluded. The analysis of the results shows that the effect over the pregnancy rates is 4,49% in favor of acupuncture.ConclusionsThe main limitation of this bibliographical revision is the heterogeneity in the design of the different studies and the difficulty in establishing a valid placebo (sham acupuncture), which makes some of the results questionable. This revision concludes that acupuncture, specially during the ovarian stimulation process, could improve the pregnancy rates in women undergoing an IVF treatment.

IntroductionCompassionate care is an ethical action within the primary mission of a professional nurse: caring. And more specifically, this also includes caring for the family caregiver. Therefore, the aim of this study is to explore the relationship between the ethics of compassion and the care of the family caregiver.MethodologyThis study is a bibliographical review. The databases consulted were PUBMED, CINAHL, CUIDEN, and CUIDATGE.Results12 articles were selected according to the inclusion criteria. The results were structured in compassionate ethics of care in the community, family caregivers, education of families, therapeutic relationship, and compassionate care in everyday things.DiscussionMore qualitative studies are needed on informal caregivers and their care needs. The high numbers of female informal caregivers should also be considered when contemplating these needs. This implies the need to develop specific programs for women caregivers. It is also evident that most interventions on informal caregivers turn out to be effective.ConclusionsNurses should lead the delivery of care programs for informal caregivers. This review has demonstrated the satisfactory results achieved by most interventions on informal caregivers. Extending compassionate care to family caregivers is an ethical duty of every nursing professional.

IntroductionIn recent years there has been a growing demand from patients for complementary medicines and more especially in the case of pregnant women. Acupuncture and moxibustion, according to some studies, can be useful and favor cervical ripening when it is not favorable in term pregnancy, allowing us to significantly reduce the number of inductions.ObjectiveTo evaluate the effectiveness of acupuncture and moxibustion in full-term pregnancies at the beginning of labor.Material and methodPre-experimental study of a group with a sample of 10 pregnant women, who were between weeks 38 and 41 of gestation of low and medium risk pregnancies. The treatment consisted in 3 to 4 sessions of acupuncture and moxibustion applied to the points selected according to the energy diagnosis.ResultsThe results obtained were: 70% of the pregnant women achieved a cervical maturation and started labor in a spontaneous way; 20% of pregnant women achieved a decrease in the method of pharmacological induction to start labor, being able to get 90% of the women to end up in a vaginal delivery.ConclusionsAcupuncture and moxibustion significantly improve cervical ripening by avoiding or decreasing the use and application of pharmacological induction.

The notion of conscious and responsible procreation was coined by neo-Malthusianism as a demographic reflection on the consequences of human reproduction considered as a natural phenomenon and linked, exclusively, to the cycle of life. It was an approach that arose in a context of scant resources that resulting from an uncontrolled growth of the population. A few years later, feminist movements and the idea of women’s emancipation emerged, vindicating their capacity for decision in the face of marriage and motherhood and raising the right of women to a conscious and chosen motherhood. Today, in the Western context, having a child has become a conscious act of personal choice and fulfillment, losing this idea of «natural motherhood», which is now conceptualized in the social fabric bearing ethical and political implications. Conscious motherhood and fatherhood also becomes responsible motherhood and fatherhood.

Submission guidelines of MUSAS. Revista de Investigación en Mujer, Salud y Sociedad