Marjan Khajehei

• PhD Professor (associate)
• Department of Women's and Newborn Health Westmead Hospital

Background Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the leading cause of death worldwide, and women who experience complications during pregnancy, such as pregnancy loss (miscarriage and stillbirth), hypertensive disorders of pregnancy and gestational diabetes, have a significantly higher risk of future CVD. Increasing awareness of CVD risk among these wome...

Abstract Objective: Alcohol consumption during pregnancy can cause many major severe illnesses to both mothers and their offspring. Despite this, many pregnant women consume both homemade and manufactured alcoholic beverages. We conducted this study to assess the prevalence and determinants of alcohol consumption among pregnant women in Gozamin dis...

BACKGROUND Fear of childbirth (FoC) is a widespread issue that impacts the health and well-being of mothers and newborns. However, there is inconsistency regarding the prevalence of FoC in the and there is limited research on the prevalence of FoC among Australian pregnant women. AIM To investigate the prevalence of FoC, its risk factors and birth...

Background Antenatal care (ANC) coverage in low- and middle-income countries has increased in the past few decades. However, merely increasing care coverage may not enhance maternal and newborn health unless the recommended service components are also provided. Our aim was to assess the quality of ANC and its associated factors in Ethiopia. Method...

Background Readiness of healthcare facilities is essential for delivering quality healthcare services. There is limited evidence on the antenatal care (ANC) readiness of healthcare facilities in Ethiopia. This study aimed to assess the readiness of ANC services and its influencing factors in Ethiopian healthcare facilities. Methods A secondary dat...

Background Obstetrical fistula is an abnormal opening between the reproductive tract and lower urinary and/or gastrointestinal tract resulting from obstetrical complications, affecting nearly two million women worldwide. It imposes physical, economic, social, and mental consequences on the affected women. Treatment outcomes vary and, mostly, surgic...

Beta-endorphin is secreted from the hypothalamus and pituitary in both mother and newborn. The placenta produces numerous pituitary hormones from the third month of pregnancy, one of which is βE. It has been suggested that βE has a role in the appetitive and precopulatory phase of sexual behavior in animals. An increase in endorphin levels during s...

Background Antenatal care (ANC) is essential health care and medical support provided to pregnant women, with the aim of promoting optimal health for both the mother and the developing baby. Pregnant women should initiate ANC within the first trimester of pregnancy to access a wide range of crucial services. Early initiation of ANC significantly re...

Introduction :Obstetric fistula is an abnormal opening between the reproductive tract and lower urinary and/or gastrointestinal tract resulting from obstetric complications, affecting nearly two million women worldwide. It imposes physical, economic, social, and mental consequences on the affected women. The treatment outcomes vary, and mostly, sur...

This paper reviews management of obstetric anaemia and the role of intravenous iron for the treatment of obstetric anaemia. Red blood cell transfusions are routinely used for haemoglobin restoration in anaemic women. The decision for red blood cell transfusion is made on a combination of haemoglobin level and clinical status, and it is suggested th...

Background/Aims Although maternity care in developed countries is safe, fear of childbirth is a common problem. There is limited research in this area on nulliparous and multiparous women. The aim of this study was to compare fear of childbirth, its risk factors and birth outcomes between Australian nulliparous and multiparous women. Methods In th...

Objective: Alcohol consumption during pregnancy can cause many major severe illnesses to both mothers and their offspring. Despite this, many pregnant women consume both homemade and manufactured alcoholic beverages. We conducted this study to assess the prevalence and determinants of alcohol consumption among pregnant women in Gozamin district, A...

Aim We aimed to evaluate a large midwifery-led, paediatrician-overseen home jaundice surveillance and home phototherapy (HPT) program. This is a uniquely holistic model of care, where the surveillance and management of neonatal jaundice is part of the overall midwifery-led care for women who have recently given birth and their infants. Methods We...

Aim: To evaluate a large midwifery-led, paediatrician-overseen home jaundice surveillance and home phototherapy (HPT) programme. Methods: We conducted a retrospective cohort study over 2019. Included were all infants with birth gestation ≥35 weeks, discharged at 4-96 h and receiving care from midwifery-at-home (a 12-h daily, 365-days hospital-ba...

Transition into fatherhood is often marked by a period of adjustment, uncertainty and psychological distress and challenges for many men, along with social isolation and relationship problems. Risk factors for paternal mental health issues are maternal depression, marital distress, parenting stress, gender role stress, mismatched expectations for p...

Background The days and weeks after childbirth are crucial for both the mother and her newborn child leading for the majority of maternal and perinatal mortalities. The World Health Organization recommends at least three postnatal visits within 42 days after birth. However, postnatal care utilization remains low worldwide. Quantitative findings rev...

This study aims to evaluate the correlation between the results of transcutaneous bilirubin (TcB) levels measured by the 2 transcutaneous bilirubinometers according to the area tested and to compare the TcB measurements and the serum bilirubin (SBR) levels. We screened 78 neonates born at more than 35 weeks of gestation and aged less than 168 hours...

Background There is a shift toward the increasing weight gain among women of reproductive age. Aim To assess changes in the prevalence of high body mass index (BMI) (including both overweight and obese) in early pregnancy in Australian women, and its risk factors and association with selected birth outcomes from 2011–2017. Methods Records of preg...

Purpose The purpose of this study was to develop the Karitane Family Outcomes Tool (KFOT), a brief parent‐report questionnaire to measure outcomes of Australian Early Parenting Centres (EPCs) and similar programmes worldwide. Design and Methods The study was conducted in two stages. In Stage One, an initial item pool (80 items) was developed via f...

Aim: To assess changes in the prevalence of diabetes in pregnant women, and its association with selected birth outcomes (including caesarean section, episiotomy, admission to the special care nursery/neonatal intensive care unit, postpartum haemorrhage and neonatal birth weight) from 2011 to 2017. Methods: In a single-centre, retrospective coho...

Background Pregnancy and childbirth are described as transitional phases or existential thresholds that childbearing women have to cross. Aim To gather insights into the personal experiences of women in pregnancy, labour and the days immediately after birth. Methods We conducted a qualitative study in the postpartum ward at Westmead Hospital. We...

Abstract We aimed to identify the level of self-care and its related factors in women with HIV/AIDS. In this qualitative study, 30 women with HIV/AIDS attending behavioral diseases counseling centers in Tehran, Iran, were invited to participate. Semi-structured interview was the method of data collection. Sampling began purposefully and gradually c...

We aimed to identify the level of self-care and its related factors in women with HIV/AIDS. In this qualitative study, 30 women with HIV/AIDS attending behavioral diseases counseling centers in Tehran, Iran, were invited to participate. A semi-structured interview was the method of data collection. Sampling began purposefully and gradually continue...

Background: Expediting delivery in the second stage of labour often involves a choice between a caesarean section at full dilatation or mid-cavity instrumental delivery. Accumulating evidence suggests that the mode of delivery may influence the risk of preterm birth in the subsequent pregnancy. Aims: To directly compare first birth caesarean sec...

The authors conducted an integrative review to determine evidence-based and most efficient strategies for improving the palliative care of patients at the end-of-life stage. Thirteen articles that met the overall inclusion criteria were evaluated. The Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses flowchart approach was used for...

Background: One of the first-line options to treat keloid scars is corticosteroid injection after excision of the existing scar. A thorough literature search has shown a lack of research on the injection of corticosteroid injection immediately after the excision of the existing caesarean section keloid scars. Therefore, in the proposed study, we a...

CITATION Khajehei M, Behroozpour E. Endorphins, oxytocin, sexuality and romantic relationships: An understudied area. World J Obstet Gynecol 2018; 7(2): 17-23

Background: Data related to postpartum haemorrhage (PPH) are important clinical parameters which can be applied to all places of birth, and their recording can be missed by busy clinicians providing critical care to women. We compared the accuracy of electronic ObstetriX records to the paper-based medical records of the women who sustained PPH. Met...

Background: Both silicone and latex single-balloon Foley catheters are available for cervical ripening but no literature exists to compare them. Local experience suggested more frequent insertion-related accidental rupture of the membranes (acROM) with silicone. Aims: To compare the performance of silicone versus latex catheters with respect to...

Background Women's sexual function can be dramatically affected during and after pregnancy. Aims To explore Australian women's personal experience of changes in their sexual function during pregnancy and childbirth. Methods This was an online qualitative survey in which women across Australia who had given birth in the previous 12 months were inv...

Background Increased use of assisted reproduction technology has resulted in concerns about its impact on maternal and neonatal wellbeing. Aims To evaluate the labour and birth outcomes in women who had and had not undertaken assisted conception and how the use of labour pain relief affected their outcomes Methods Women who had and had not undert...

Key Points:  Women who had undertaken assisted conception were more likely to be older, non-smokers, under obstetrician or GP-led care during their pregnancy and have a larger body mass index.  The percentage of women receiving epidural analgesia was higher in women who had undertaken assisted conception than women who had had spontaneous concep...

Background Acute post-partum anaemia can be associated with significant morbidity including a predisposition for postnatal depression. Lack of clear practice guidelines means a number of women are treated with multiple blood transfusions. Intravenous iron has the potential to limit the need for multiple blood transfusions but its role in the post-p...

During spontaneous labour, endogenous oxytocin is released from the pituitary gland and initiates uterine contractions. In some women, it is necessary to induce or augment labour contractions. Induction or augmentation of labour using synthetic oxytocin (Syntocinon) is one of the most common interventions to facilitate the progress of labour and bi...

ABSTRACT This study aimed to explore prevalence and risk factors of low parenting confidence in mothers of infants 0–12 months of age. This retrospective chart review examined variables of interest from a sample of 144 randomly selected records. Low parenting confidence was reported by 110 mothers (76.4%), and it was higher at 0–6 months compared w...

Background Postnatal depression symptoms are the most common mental health problem following childbirth. Aims This study aimed to investigate the association between sexual dysfunction, relationship dissatisfaction and symptoms of postnatal depression among Australian women during the first year after giving birth. Methods Australian women who ha...

Background: Mothers with a history of infertility may experience parenting difficulties and challenges. This study was conducted to investigate the role of residential early parenting services in increasing parenting confidence in mothers with a history of infertility. Materials and methods: This was a retrospective chart review study using the...

Parenthood is a rewarding as well as a potentially stressful event for many couples as it brings many changes to their lives. Having young children at home can result in decreased relationship satisfaction and a low-quality sexual relationship. Same-sex couples may, however, report different parenting experiences, and their parenthood may not signi...

The aim of this study was to investigate the rate of relationship dissatisfaction among Australian women during the first year after childbirth and to uncover factors affecting their relationships. Postnatal women who had given birth during past 12 months were invited to participate in a cross-sectional online study. A comprehensive multi-section q...

Female sexual dysfunction is highly prevalent and reportedly has adverse impacts on quality of life. Although it is prevalent after childbirth, women rarely seek advice or treatment from health care professionals. The aim of this study was to assess the sexual functioning of Australian women during the first year after childbirth. Postpartum women...

Sexual function of women can be affected by many factors resulting in female sexual dysfunction (FSD). Sexual dysfunction is a common problem among women of all ages and has negative effects not only on their quality of lives but also on the sexual function and quality of life of their partners. It can also affect mental health of the entire family...

Objective: A wide range of herbal plants have been reported to treat various gynecological problems of women. This study was set out to investigate the effect of ginger (Zingiber officinale) on heavy menstrual bleeding (HMB) in high school girls. Methods: Ninety-two young women who experienced HMB and met the inclusion criteria were recruited in...

Primary dysmenorrhea is common among young women and results in their incapacitation; it can be accompanied by various symptoms that can disrupt their lives. The aim of this randomized trial was to compare the effect of ginger, zinc sulfate, and placebo on the severity of primary dysmenorrhea in young women. One hundred and fifty high school studen...

Sexual health influences general well-being and the overall quality of life of all men and women. This study in Shiraz, Islamic Republic of Iran, aimed to assess the level of knowledge of and attitudes towards sexual and reproductive health among adults. In a cross-sectional study in 2010, 276 men and 281 women were recruited at pre-marital counsel...

Background. Heavy menstrual bleeding is a common complaint. Various therapeutic approaches have been suggested. Aim. To compare the efficacy of mefenamic acid and naproxen in reducing heavy menstrual bleeding. Methods. Women referred to an outpatient centre for treatment of heavy menstrual bleeding were recruited. Participants who met the inclusion...

Female sexual arousal disorder (FSAD) is one of the subcategories of female sexual dysfunction (FSD). During recent years, many different chemical and herbal medicines have been introduced to the market by pharmaceutical companies targeting women who suffer sexual dysfunction. Notwithstanding, the majority of these medications failed to demonstrate...

Childbirth is a stressful event for a majority of women and can have many consequences one of which is female sexual dysfunction. The main aim of pre-and postnatal health services is to fulfil physical and emotional needs of mothers and babies but not sexual function of women. Also, the fact that sexual satisfaction is part of general well being an...

Cervical cancer is the third most common cancer in women in the world. Papanicolaou smear is known as a standard test for cervical cancer screening; however, the most important challenge is high rates of false negative results. The aim of this study was to compare the quality of smears obtained by anatomical spatula and spatula-cytobrush. The most...

In order to examine the prevalence and risk factors of postpartum depression and anxiety subsequent to high-risk pregnancies, 400 postpartum women aged 16-43 years were recruited into two study groups: a high-risk pregnancy group (i.e. with medical problems in the mother or fetus), and a normal term pregnancy group. Symptoms of depression were meas...

This cross-sectional study used a combination of three relative, reliable and standard questionnaires to evaluate symptoms of depression, sexual function and relationship satisfaction in the first year postpartum of sixteen lesbian mothers. The questionnaire was administered online. However, when individual scores were analyzed, there were 5 women...

This study's objective was to examine the effectiveness of Sanyinjiao point (SP6) acupressure on women's general health. This was a randomized, single-blind clinical trial. The setting for this trial was at Medical University, Bojnoord University of Medical Science, Bojnoord, Iran. Eighty-six (86) university students were recruited for this study....

This study investigated various sources of stress among junior and senior midwifery students in Iran. It also explored the effect of stress on the students’ performance and physical and mental health. Ninety junior and senior midwifery students participated in this survey. Data were collected using self-created questionnaires and analysed using the...

Objective: decent family planning ability has profound effects on the mortality and morbidity of the neonate, infant and mother, and it has significant influences on well-being of the society. Professional skills of family planning personnel must include up-to-date and advanced scientific knowledge by which the clients' needs will be met. The main...

We conducted this study to assess the effect of acupressure at the Sanyinjiao point on primary dysmenorrhea. Eighty-six students participated in the study. All participants met the inclusion criteria. The study group received acupressure at Sanyinjiao point, while the control received sham acupressure. The severity of dysmenorrhea was assessed at t...

Sexual dysfunction induces distress, strongly affects all aspects of life, and results in poor mental health. Preliminary research studies have provided some evidence on the relationship between sexuality and mental health. Nevertheless, a number of research issues are hindering effective progress in this research arena. Computer-based technologies...

Health care information systems tend to capture data for their research in order to promote the level of people’s health status and the satisfaction of individuals in societies. To this aim, many approaches have been taken and examined. Data mining is one of the newest analytical methods that have been used to serve medical science research and has...

Objective: The aim of this randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial was to evaluate the effect of dydrogesterone and calcium plus vitamin D on young women's general health. Method: One hundred and eighty students studying at Shiraz University were recruited. Students completed the General Health Questionnaires (GHQ-28) prior t...

In this paper, we discuss sexual relationships among teenagers, the related issues, and suggest addressing the issues through effective education programs for both teenagers and their parents. We also discuss the main issues resulting from initiation of sexual relationship during adolescence such as unwanted pregnancy, maternal mortality, abortion,...

Because of a decline in estradiol levels, premenopausal, perimenopausal, and postmenopausal women experience symptoms related to vasomotor instability. Certain plants have been found to have molecular components that are identical in structure and function to human hormones. We conducted this study to compare the efficacy of St John's wort with tha...

Women are one of the most important parts of the family and society, and community health is dependent on provision of the needs of this group. Menopause is one of the most critical stages of life among women. One of the aims of health services for all of the people in the 21(st) century is improvement of the quality-of-life. In menopausal women, t...

The Papanicolaou smear is a standard test for cervical cancer screening; however, the most important challenge is high false negative results. Several factors contribute to this problem and one the most important is inappropriate sampling. The aim of this study was to compare the quality of smears obtained by either an anatomical spatula or a spatu...

Chlamydia trachomatis is the most common bacterial cause of cervicitis. The aim of this randomised, double-blind trial was to compare the effect of vitamin C on dyspareunia and vaginal discharge in women receiving doxycycline and triple sulfa for chlamydial cervicitis. Eighty women with increased anti-C. trachomatis IgM, reporting abnormal vaginal...

We conducted this study to evaluate and compare postpartum sexual functioning after vaginal and caesarean births. This was a cross-sectional study that was carried out in postnatal health care in a hospital. A total of 50 primiprous women who had given birth 6-12 months ago and came to the hospital for postnatal care were asked to join the study. F...

To compare the effects of dydrogesterone and calcium plus vitamin D in women with severe premenstrual syndrome (PMS). In this randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study, 180 Shiraz University students with PMS used questionnaires daily to rate their symptoms for 2 menstrual cycles. Then, the students were randomly assigned to take a tablet...