Scholarship & Research
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Item Social support and pregnancy outcome(Montana State University - Bozeman, College of Nursing, 1988) Newman, Helen Colleen StephensItem A survey of perceived social support among pregnant women in the intermountain region(Montana State University - Bozeman, College of Nursing, 2004) Roth, Carol Ann; Chairperson, Graduate Committee: Fredericka GiljeSocial support influences health and well-being. Research findings show that social support positively influences pregnancy outcomes. The purpose of this descriptive study was to describe and explore perceived social support of pregnant women and determine if social support is associated with degrees of rurality, i.e., urban, rural and remote rural. The sample was comprised of 60 pregnant women in their second and third trimester who resided in the Intermountain region. Perceived social support self-report surveys (PRQ85- Part 2) were distributed and completed by women at two urban clinics and one hospital located in Montana. Perceived social support scores were calculated for each participant, with a possible range from 25-175; higher scores indicated greater perceived social support. The mean perceived social support score for the sample was 152.9. Scores were highest among those who were married, Caucasian, had a higher level of education, had a higher annual income, and who indicated their primary source of support as spouse. Scores were also highest for those in their third trimester with complications of the current pregnancy. Scores were lowest for those who indicated living in a remote rural setting and highest for those from a rural setting. When stratified by degrees of rurality, findings reflected those of the entire sample except the remote rural group, which had lower scores with a higher annual income and were in their third trimester. Possible explanations for these findings are supported by Cohen's stress buffering model of social support and rural nursing theory. These results may help nurses and other healthcare providers offer a more holistic approach to meeting unique health care needs of pregnant women in rural communities. Of significance here is recognizing social support as important to health care during pregnancy, a specific period of time when health promotion and prevention are of critical importance.Item Fish eating behavior and stages of change in rural, low income, women of childbearing age(Montana State University - Bozeman, College of Nursing, 2009) Heineman, Sara Christine; Chairperson, Graduate Committee: Wade G. Hill; Laura S. Larsson (co-chair)Methyl Mercury (MeHg) is a known neurotoxin associated with poor neurodevelopmental outcomes in children. The primary route of exposure of MeHg in humans is from consumption of contaminated fish. Although some disparities in exposure patterns have been identified, little is known about rural, low income, women of childbearing age and their fish eating behaviors. The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between stages of behavioral change in fish eating behavior and self-reported consumption of fish among 106 rural low-income women of childbearing age. Results of the one-way ANOVA do not show a statistically significant difference in fish consumption within the sample based on stage of change. However, many of the participants of this study may be at risk for significant exposures to MeHg based on total fish consumption regardless of their decision to limit fish consumption. Further investigation is needed to determine types and sources of fish being consumed and fully understand exposure risks. Once risks are established, opportunities for prevention can be utilized to reduce impacts from MeHg exposures.Item Methylmercury risk communication needs among women of childbearing age(Montana State University - Bozeman, College of Nursing, 2007) Willcut, John Lance; Chairperson, Graduate Committee: Sandra KuntzWhile the consumption of fish is an essential part of the human diet, there are certain environmental toxins that reside within the earth's watersheds. One toxin in particular, methylmercury (MeHg) has been linked to neurotoxicity and consequent neuro-developmental health effects in growing fetuses and young children, even in minute doses. MeHg is known to accumulate in fish and fish products and with their consumption by women of childbearing age (WCBA), growing fetuses and young children are possibly placed in harm's way. To help prevent these health threats from occurring, guidelines and recommendations are placed into fish advisories by governmental agencies (federal, state, and tribal) through the application of the precautionary principle. The purpose of this study was to describe the risk communication status of the Montana fish consumption advisory in non-Native American women of childbearing age residing on an open reservation. Variables studied included fish consumption patterns, advisory awareness, risk awareness, and risk communication preferences. Secondary analysis of data compiled through a pilot study provided the cohort (n = 10) for this study.