BackgroundNausea and vomiting of pregnancy (NVP) often go undertreated due to several reasons including medication costs, patient hesitancy, underestimation of NVP by healthcare professionals, and their reluctancy to treat pregnant patients.CaseA 24-year-old primigravida with severe NVP and stress-related concerns received behavioral health consultation integrated into prenatal care via the Primary Care Behavioral Health model.InterventionThe patient engaged in brief behavioral strategies including supportive contact, diaphragmatic breathing, prayer, music, and mindfulness techniques across four consultations.OutcomeSymptom improvement was observed during the course of behavioral support.ConclusionThis case supports Primary Care Behavioral Health integration into prenatal care as a feasible, cost-effective adjunct to routine medical interventions, particularly in underserved communities.LimitationsMeaningful clinical conclusions cannot be made due to the nature of this being a case report and to the confounding nature of NVP typically resolving by the second trimester. Further investigation is warranted.

BackgroundPelvic inflammatory disease (PID) is mainly induced by the sexually transmitted infection (STI). However, the global burden and trends of STI excluding human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-associated PID (non-HIV PID) has not been specifically assessed.MethodsThe prevalence and years lived with disability (YLDs) were collected from the Global Burden of Disease (GBD) 2021 database. The disease burden was evaluated with the case numbers, age-standardized rates (ASR) and estimated annual percentage changes (EAPC). According to the SocioDemographic Index (SDI), frontier and health inequality analysis were conducted. Autoregressive Integrated Moving Average (ARIMA) model was applied to predict the future trends of Non-HIV PID.ResultsThe age-standardized prevalence rates (ASPR) and YLDs of non-HIV PID was 27.02/100,000 and 3.68/100,000 in 2021 globally. Except for the decline of gonococcal-associated PID, the EAPC of chlamydial and other non-HIV PID were stable. The countries with fastest-growing prevalence were Brazil (4.19 [2.92, 5.47]), Spain (3.98 [3.19, 4.77]), Greece (3.05 [2.55, 3.55]), Portugal (2.76 [2.22, 3.29]), which suggested the increased burden of non-HIV PID in these years. Moreover, the non-HIV PID was mainly concentrated in 30–34 years, which was most common in the low and low-middle SDI. Additionally, prevention of non-HIV PID should also be concerned in the high SDI regions, especially for United Kingdom, Canada, Japan, and Singapore, which would also increase in the next 30 years.ConclusionThe burden and prevention of non-HIV PID were still arduous and required a long-term effort, especially for the 30–34 years, which need more attentions even for the developed countries.

BackgroundPregnant women with disabilities experience significantly higher rates of adverse pregnancy outcomes compared to those without disabilities. Evidence-based interventions that address disability-related barriers during pregnancy are essential to reducing health disparities.ObjectiveWe aimed to update a 2014 systematic review to identify interventions designed for pregnant women with disabilities.MethodsWe conducted a systematic review of studies published between 2012 and 2025 to identify interventions addressing disability-related barriers during pregnancy and birth.ResultsWe found a striking absence of evidence with no eligible studies identified from 22,719 publications. While we found multiple studies that evaluated the safety and efficacy of medications to manage disability-associated conditions during pregnancy, none of these studies focused on the potential disabling impact of the health conditions for pregnant women with disabilities, our intended focus. However, in our discussion, we describe three recent pilots, including co-produced resources for pregnant patients with disabilities, educational interventions for midwives, and an innovative patient empowerment tool, that suggest the field may be at a turning point.ConclusionsOur systematic review did not find evidence of disability inclusive maternal health interventions to improve pregnancy and childbirth experiences. However, we point to limited but promising studies for their use of co-production and patient engagement principles underscoring the potential for accelerating progress when research is conducted with, rather than on, disabled communities. While the pilots serve as proof of concept that disability-inclusive reproductive health research is both necessary and achievable, investments in disability inclusive maternal healthcare could yield significant returns for those with disabilities.

BackgroundThis study was conducted to assess the effectiveness of visual inspection with acetic acid (VIA) followed by colposcopy for cervical cancer screening. Like many low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), Bangladesh struggles with inadequate cervical cancer screening and diagnostic facilities, as well as a shortage of cytopathologists and histopathologists in remote rural areas. Human papillomavirus (HPV) testing has not yet been implemented effectively in Bangladesh, and cytology (Pap smear) is a costly procedure. The current study performed VIA and colposcopy on apparently healthy adult women, primarily to screen for cervical lesions and, secondarily, to identify associated risk factors.MethodsThis cross-sectional study was conducted in a remote rural health center in Bangladesh using a straightforward and affordable approach: VIA followed by colposcopy. This facility-based, cross-sectional study included 384 married women aged between 18 and 65 years recruited after field-level awareness on cervical cancer prevention.ResultsOut of 384 women tested, 247 (64.3%) were adults, 85 (22.1%) were middle-aged, 33 (8.6%) were older, and only 19 (4.9%) were young adults. The study found that more than one-third of the participants (39.1%) engaged in sexual activities without using condoms. A total of 20 participants tested VIA-positive (5.2%), of whom 60% were confirmed by colposcopy. The chi-squared test identified multiple sexual exposures without condom use as a significant risk factor for cervical cancer. All double-positive cases (n = 12) received treatment; 7 (58.3%) underwent thermocoagulation (heat-based ablation), and 5 (41.7%) received a loop electrosurgical excision procedure (LEEP) at referral hospitals.ConclusionWe propose that, to achieve Sustainable Development Goals 3.7 and 3.8, VIA followed by colposcopy is suitable for screening cervical cancer in rural areas of Bangladesh and other LMICs, where screening techniques such as Pap smear and HPV tests are not yet widely available and accessible.

IntroductionAnemia remains a critical public health challenge in India, particularly among pregnant women, where its multifactorial etiology is often underappreciated. Despite long-standing supplementation programs, anemia prevalence in Gujarat remains high, necessitating granular, region-specific investigations.ObjectivesTo assess the prevalence of anemia among pregnant women across ten districts of Gujarat, and to identify key sociodemographic, nutritional, hematological, and biochemical determinants contributing to anemia and its geographic disparities.MethodologyThis community-based study included 2,805 pregnant women from diverse settings (tribal/rural/urban). Hematological and biochemical assessments included serum ferritin, iron, C-Reactive Protein (CRP), folate, vitamin B12, prealbumin, and hemoglobinopathy screening. A logistic regression analysis was conducted to determine the independent factors associated with anemia, with the findings presented as adjusted odds ratios (aOR) along with their 95% confidence intervals (CI).ResultsOverall anemia prevalence was 64.2%, with mild anemia comprising 82.1% of cases. Tribal women had 2.21-fold higher odds of anemia than urban counterparts (aOR = 2.21, 95% CI: 1.88–2.61, p < 0.001). Anemia was also associated with illiteracy (aOR = 2.16, p < 0.001), underweight status (aOR = 1.58, p < 0.001), and low dietary diversity (aOR = 2.26, p < 0.001). Biochemical assessments revealed absolute iron deficiency in 17.2%, folate deficiency in 15.5%, and vitamin B12 deficiency in 60.3% of anemic women. Elevated CRP levels indicated inflammation in 34.7%. Multivariable binary logistic regression revealed five significant and independent predictors of anemia: reduced red blood cell count (aOR = 0.26; 95% CI: 0.22–0.31), elevated red cell distribution width (RDW-CV) (aOR = 1.39; 95% CI: 1.33–1.46), diminished serum prealbumin (aOR = 0.92; p < 0.001), lower folate levels (aOR = 0.97; p < 0.001), and decreased ferritin concentrations (aOR = 0.99; p < 0.001), each independently contributing to anemia risk.ConclusionAnemia in Gujarat's pregnant women is highly prevalent and multifactorial, shaped by overlapping nutritional, inflammatory, and social determinants. Region-specific, integrated strategies targeting biochemical deficits and structural inequities are essential for effective anemia mitigation.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.3389/fgwh.2025.1592538.].

This community case study examines the efficacy of the Women's Housing Support Program (WHSP), which provides case management to older women experiencing homelessness in Melbourne, Australia. In recent years there has been an increase in the number of older women experiencing homelessness in Australia. Some have experienced long-term, chronic homelessness, but there has also been an escalation in homelessness for women who have previously led conventional lives before a significant event such as relationship breakdown, loss of employment, or health crisis results in poverty that contributes to homelessness. The circumstances of older age, gender, and homelessness mean that some older women require specialised responses to access suitable long-term housing and to receive appropriate support that will stabilise their housing. This case study explores the distinctive social, health, and housing needs of women accessing the WHSP and considers how the sustaining tenancies model of support responds to these needs. Based on a mixed-methods study that included interviews with service users, case managers, senior managers, and an external service provider, as well as program data analysis, the case study indicates that older women benefit from specialised support that focuses on housing for life, health care, emotional support, and digital literacy. Additionally, in order to facilitate successful outcomes, this support needs to be flexible, client-centred, and trauma-informed.

BackgroundInspired by feminist theory and Durkheim's social perspective, this study used intersectionality to delve into the determinants of hysterectomy.MethodsUsing data from the Demographic and Health Survey (DHS) of India, we examined the determinants of hysterectomy, focusing on three key themes: society, women's empowerment, and biological factors.ResultsThe overall hysterectomy rate in India increased from 31.5 per 1,000 women (age 15–49 years) during 2015–16 to 32.6 per 1,000 women during 2019–21. The results of bivariate and multivariate analyses echo the findings of the interaction analysis, indicating that, among women of the general caste, illiteracy and higher parity correlate with an increased likelihood of undergoing a hysterectomy. Illiterate women from the Other Backward Class also exhibited higher hysterectomy rates, regardless of parity. The second interaction result states that wealth influences hysterectomy, and illiteracy remains a significant risk factor across wealth statuses. The results of the third intersection indicate that higher education is a protective factor against hysterectomy, regardless of residence or parity.ConclusionFrom the intersection of variables, the study observed that illiteracy, residing in rural areas, and high parity increase the likelihood of undergoing hysterectomy among women of reproductive age. There is a need to establish a mechanism for disseminating reproductive health knowledge to women in rural areas.

BackgroundAt least one in four women in the UK has experienced trauma, such as sexual abuse or violence, with profound implications for mental and physical health, particularly during the perinatal period. Despite the potential benefits of addressing trauma in maternity care, many women are reluctant to disclose their experiences due to stigma, fear of judgment, or lack of trust in healthcare systems. This paper presents the development and evaluation of the EMPATHY framework, a novel, evidence-based approach to routine trauma discussions in maternity care, designed to address these challenges and promote emotionally-centred care.MethodsThe EMPATHY framework was developed through a critical participatory action research approach, integrating findings from a systematic review, qualitative interviews, and stakeholder input, including experts by experience, healthcare professionals, and voluntary sector practitioners. The framework was refined through iterative workshops and a public consultation (n = 52), ensuring its relevance and applicability. The development and evaluation of the EMPATHY framework were guided by the Appraisal of Guidelines for Research and Evaluation II (AGREE II) tool, ensuring methodological rigor, transparency, and adherence to established standards in guideline development.ResultsThe framework is structured around six core principles: system-wide change, promote trauma awareness, trust and relationships, training and support, local tailoring, and continuous improvement. A key innovation is the recommendation that all women, regardless of disclosure, should have access to information and support. Feedback from the public consultation highlighted the framework's value and its potential to transform perinatal experiences. Challenges such as resource constraints and implementation barriers were acknowledged, but respondents emphasised the importance of the framework in improving care for women who have experienced trauma.Discussion/conclusionThe EMPATHY framework addresses a critical gap in existing guidance by offering a structured yet flexible approach to routine trauma discussions. Its implementation has the potential to empower women, strengthen therapeutic relationships, and reduce re-traumatisation. The framework represents a significant step forward in trauma-informed perinatal care.

BackgroundDigital technologies like the electronic partograph have revolutionised the documentation of progress of labour and birth. The purpose of the electronic partograph is to improve documentation of the progress of the intrapartum period by addressing challenges in partograph use. The tool provides real-time decision support, enhances data entry, and increases access and coordination of information for informed decision-making. Further research is required to map innovations in partograph technologies embedded in data documentation and labour progress monitoring.ObjectiveThe aim of this scoping review is to map innovations in partograph technologies based on studies published between 2000 and 2025.MethodsThis scoping review followed the five-step framework established by Arksey and O'Malley as well as the population, concepts, and contexts model. A comprehensive search was conducted across seven databases using refined keywords. Data were extracted, charted, synthesised, and summarised.ResultA total of 13 original articles—studying 8,655 women in labour—were included in this review. The studies evaluated an electronic or digital paperless partograph, assessing its effectiveness and user-friendliness compared with the WHO/modified WHO partograph. This scoping review highlights that digital partographs, especially mobile applications and digital paperless versions, are practical tools for improving labour monitoring globally.ConclusionThis scoping review found that digital paperless and novel partograph designs show promise for improving labour monitoring, particularly in resource-limited settings. The adoption of these tools can streamline documentation, enhance communication among healthcare providers, and facilitate timely interventions. This review recommends integrating ultrasound-based digital tools into labour monitoring for improved diagnostic accuracy and patient comfort.Systematic Review Registrationhttps://osf.io/m96tw/