Mock Research Protocol, Term Paper Example

Urinary Tract Infections during pregnancy are quite common, yet they should not be taken lightly as they may lead to several complications that can compromise not only the health but the life of both mother and child. Maternal and neonatal morbidity however, can be controlled as long as the pregnant woman can comply with the appropriate screening methods and course of treatment. Urinary tract infections may manifest themselves as asymptomatic bacteriuria, acute cystitis or pyelonephritis. Urinary tract infections are common among women and as such, prevention is always better than cure. In some laboratory trials, cranberry decreases the ability of E. coli to stick to the lining of the urinary tract. Several studies have also suggested that cranberry and its byproducts can prevent the occurrence of urinary tract infection although its effectiveness has yet to be proven. It is also recommended to increase fluid intake (a total of 32 to 64 ounces of fluid per day from food or fluids) to flush out the infection from the urinary tract. For people with diabetes, controlling their blood sugar is essential not only to prevent UTI but also other complications of the disease. A pregnant woman can also promote urinary drainage by assuming a knee-chest position for at least 15 minutes, twice a day so that the weight of the uterus shifts forward allowing the pressure on the ureters to decrease. Pregnant women should also be screened for UTI during the first prenatal visit in order to treat the disease immediately and thus, avoid complications.

Statement of the Problem

This study attempts to discuss Urinary Tract Infection while focusing on the prevalence of the disease among pregnant women. It specifically seeks to answer the following questions:

1. What are the implications and consequences of Urinary Tract Infection during pregnancy?

Hypothesis

1. There is no significant relationship between pregnancy and the susceptibility of women to Urinary Tract Infection.
2. There is no relationship between urinary tract infection and premature birth
3. There is no relationship between a woman’s parity to urinary tract infection.

Scope and Limitation of the Study

This study focuses on pregnant women of childbearing age, specifically from 15 years of age to 48 years of age, not taking in consideration their economic status, gravity, parity and age of gestation. This study is retrospective and makes use of available data and patient records in a selected clinic.

Follow-up of whether treatment was successful or not was not done since this study focuses on the prevalence of urinary tract infection and its effects on the pregnancy.

Importance of the Study

Pregnancy marks a major life milestone and brings both physical and psychological changes in a woman. Urinary tract infections are said to be a common occurrence in women who are expecting and is something that should not be taken lightly. It brings about other complications that could put not only the mother’s but the growing fetus’ life at risk.

In this study, we will focus on the prevalence of urinary tract infections among pregnant women, as well as the reasons why it is so common, its effects on both the mother and child and steps that should be taken in order to avoid this kind of infection.

At the end of the study, the researcher will be able to understand and determine the cause of urinary tract infections and identify the risk factors associated with this disorder. Furthermore, the researcher will be able to enumerate the necessary precautions all women can observe in order to avoid this infection.

Sampling

This study makes use of the experimental research method, one of the longest ever-used research methodologies. Experimental research is the application of the scientific method as a means of gaining insight into the causal relationships of situations. Experimental research is fundamentally based on control; hence, selection of control groups is prerequisite to this type of research. The sampling technique utilized is non-probability, purposive sampling. This method allows the researcher to select the participants of the study in a subjective manner according to their judgment that groups are representative samples of a population. Attempts to reduce bias were undertaken by the researchers such as having a large sample size.

Methodology

 Research will be done by examining available data and patient records of pregnant women in a selected clinic. These women will be provisioned with a sterile specimen bottle and instructed verbally on how to obtain a clean-voided midstream urine for specimen. Specimen will be analyzed by the resident laboratory technician. The presence of 10 or more leukocytes per high power field was considered significant and a colony count of > 100,000 colonies of a single isolate was used as the criterion for significant bacteriuria. Data gathered from these sources were as follows:

1. What are the number of pregnant women who exhibits signs of Urinary Tract Infection
2. What is the mean age of pregnant women affected by Urinary Tract Infection
3. What is the mean gravity of pregnant women with Urinary Tract Infection
4. What is the average parity of women with Urinary Tract Infection
5. What is the average age of gestation of women with Urinary Tract Infection

Definition of terms:
Asymptomatic – the condition or syndrome caused by the presence of microorganisms or their toxins in the tissue or the bloodstream
Bacteriuria – presence of bacteria in the urine
Gestational Age – the age of the fetus estimated by computing from the first day of the last menstrual period (time that precedes conception) until the day of consultation.
Gravity / Gravida – number of pregnancies
History of Urinary Tract Infection – is any history of infection pertaining to the urinary tract diagnosed by a physician.
Parity – the number of pregnancy reaching viability, or beyond stage of abortion (before 20 weeks or less than 500 g BW).
Pregnancy – The state of carrying a developing embryo or fetus within the female body. This condition can be indicated by positive results on an over-the-counter urine test, and confirmed through a blood test, ultrasound, detection of fetal heartbeat, or an X-ray. Pregnancy lasts for about nine months, measured from the date of the woman’s last menstrual period
Sepsis – presence of microorganisms in tissue: the condition or syndrome caused by the presence of microorganisms or their toxins in the tissue or the bloodstream
Symptomatic – indicating illness: indicating or typical of a particular illness

References

Andriole V, Patterson TF (1991) Epidemiology, natural history and management of urinary tract infection in pregnancy. Med Clin North Am.; 75(2):359-371.

Crosby, R., DiClemente, R., & Salazar, L. (2006). Research methods in health promotion. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass.

Gall, M. D., Borg, W. R., & Gall, J. P. (1996). Educational research: An introduction. White Plains, NY: Longman

Goldaber K. (1997) Urinary tract infection during pregnancy. Infect Urol; 10:152-157.

Krcmery S, Hromec J, Demesova D. (2001) Treatment of lower urinary tract infection in pregnancy. Int J Antimicrob Agents. 17(4):279-82.

Nicolle LE. (1996) Management of asymptomatic UTIs in women. Medscape Women’s Health; 1(3).

Patterson TF, Andriole VT (1987). Bacteriuria in pregnancy. Infect Dis Clin North A; 807-22.

Schieve LA, Handler A, Hershow R, et al. (1994) Urinary tract infection during pregnancy: its association with maternal morbidity and perinatal outcome. Am J Public Health; 84(3):405-10.