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Black immigrant women experience high risks for maternal complications, and some of these complications are related to dietary outcomes. This study aimed to explore Sub-Saharan African (SSA) pregnant women's dietary patterns and dietary transition post-immigration and during pregnancy. We used a narrative design with a Photovoice approach and collected data through semi-structured interviews, digital food diaries, and Photovoice interviews. We recruited eleven participants (n = 11) through community gatekeepers and analyzed data using a constructivist grounded theory approach with constant comparative methods. The changes in food processes and participants' reactions to these changes generated a dietary transition model with three stages: perplexity, deliberation, and acceptance. (1) Perplexity was caused by different food characteristics such as taste, texture, and options. (2) Participants described deliberation as a process of deciding the kind of foods/cooking styles that would be an integral part of their regular diet. All participants opted for what they referred to as the 'African diet.' (3) Acceptance was characterized by participants' resolve to figure out how to make their chosen types of food and eating habits 'work' for themselves and their families. This study emphasizes the importance of having a sense of self-efficacy, a positive attitude, and community support in enabling migrant women to navigate dietary transition until they are satisfied with newly constructed eating habits. This determination, along with community support and persistent connection to their home culture, might help immigrants resist dietary acculturation and maintain healthy cultural eating habits, which is particularly important during pregnancy, given the impact of diet on maternal and neonatal outcomes. These findings underscore the need for collaborating with migrants from SSA to develop culturally tailored dietary interventions focused on each stage of dietary transition. Future studies should include focus group discussions to leverage women's shared experiences and create knowledge/information exchange opportunities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Sleep disturbances are common during pregnancy and are associated with the development of adverse pregnancy outcomes. Personal health monitors (PHM) can facilitate change in health behaviors, though few studies have examined their use in improving sleep during pregnancy. This pilot study aimed to characterize sleep changes during pregnancy in women participating in a self-management intervention using a PHM. Participants/Methods: Participants with low risk, singleton pregnancies from Western Massachusetts were randomized at 24 weeks gestation to receive sleep education only (n = 12) or sleep education, and PHM intervention (n = 12). The single-session sleep education was given at baseline by a registered nurse. Sleep quality, duration, efficiency, disturbances, daytime sleepiness, and fatigue were assessed at baseline and 12 weeks follow-up using questionnaires. We described mean ± standard deviation within and between-group changes in each sleep outcome from baseline to 12 weeks follow-up. Results: The PHM arm experienced larger sleep quality improvements and daytime sleepiness than the sleep-education only arm, but the differences were not statistically significant. In the PHM arm, the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) score decreased (i.e., sleep quality increased) 1.22 ± 2.39 (p =.16), and the Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS) score decreased (i.e., daytime sleepiness decreased) 1.11 ± 2.08 (p =.15). In the sleep-education arm PSQI decreased 0.57 ± 2.37 (p =.55) and ESS decreased 1.29 ± 2.93 (p =.29). Neither group experienced statistically significant changes in sleep duration, efficiency, disturbances, or fatigue. Conclusion: Sleep education with PHM may improve or prevent decreases in sleep outcomes during pregnancy. Further investigation in larger trials is warranted. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Observing food taboos during pregnancy might have impacts on maternal and neonatal health outcomes. The author's purpose in this review was to explore the most common food taboos during pregnancy and potential health implications. PubMed, CINAHL, and Web of Science were searched. We identified more than 50 types of tabooed food during pregnancy with examples such as fresh meat, eggs, and different varieties of fruits and vegetables. While observing food taboos may predispose women to poor nutrition outcomes, some taboos could potentially protect women against unhealthy eating habits. Our findings highlight the need to understand the dual impact of food taboos to develop effective, culturally sensitive, community-based nutrition programs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]