F&M College Library

CNX 108: Childbirth and Midwifery

Search Statement Examples

Here are some strategies for search statement language for searching in library databases:

  • Use an * to search for multiple forms of a word in a single search:
    • pregnan*   will search for: pregnant, pregnancy, pregnancies
    • midwi*   will search for: midwife, midwives, midwifery
    • discriminat* will search for: discriminate, discriminated, discrimination
    • medicaliz*   will search for: medicalize, medicalized, medicalization
       
  • Use "quotation marks" to have multiple words searched together as a phrase:
    • "postpartum depression"
    • "infant mortality"
    • "birth control"
    • "maternal mortality"
    • "mental illness"
    • "united states"

  • ​Use the word OR (in capital letters) to search for words with similar meaning -- always place within (  ):
    • (race OR racism)
    • (cesarean OR c-section)
    • (class OR socioeconomic)
    • (black OR "african american")
    • (incarcerated OR jail OR prison)

  • Use the word AND (in capital letters) to combine different topics/concepts:
    • "postpartum depression" AND "infant mortality"
    • discriminat* AND transgender AND (pregnan* OR reproductive)
    • (cesarean OR c-section) AND (rise OR increase) AND "united states"

How to Get Library/Research Assistance

CNX 108 Librarian

Profile Photo
Lisa Stillwell
she/her/hers
Contact:
Shadek-Fackenthal Library #204
717-358-3844
lisa.stillwell@fandm.edu