Women's Physical Health Research Articles

Does marriage matter? Racial differences in allostatic load among women.

Prior research suggests that there are health benefits associated with marriage, although the physiological implications of marital status for women's health is less clear. Given that recent trends indicate that Black women are less likely to marry than White women, the goal of this study was to evaluate whether marital status accounts for racial differences in women's physical health. Using data from the Nashville Stress and Health Study (2011–2014), we estimated the probability of high allostatic load (AL), a biological indicator of physiological dysregulation, among women aged 18–69. We examined AL scores by race and marital status, evaluated the extent to which Black-White differences persisted after accounting for marital status, and assessed whether the racial disparity in AL varied across marital status groups. Results indicated that Black women had higher AL than White women, although racial differences in AL were not explained by marital status. In addition, marital status was a significant predictor of AL among Black, but not White women. Moreover, the racial disparity in AL was smallest among never married women and largest among currently and formally married women. Taken together, these findings suggest that Black-White inequalities in women's physical health are not explained by racial differences in marital status, despite the widening racial gap in marriage. Nevertheless, marital status may be an influential factor in shaping outcomes among Black women.

Trajectories of racial and gender health disparities during later midlife: Connections to personality.

We examined race/gender effects on initial levels and trajectories of self-reported physical and mental health, as well as the moderating role of personality. We hypothesized that health disparities would remain stable or decrease over time, and that at-risk personality traits (e.g., neuroticism) would have a more robust negative impact on health for Black participants. Analyses utilized 6 waves of data from a community sample of 1,577 Black and White adults (mean age 60 years), assessed every 6 months for 2.5 years. Using multigroup latent growth curve modeling, we examined initial levels and changes in health among White men, White women, Black men, and Black women. Black participants reported lower initial physical health than Whites. Women's physical health was stable over time, whereas men's declined. There were no disparities in mental health. Higher agreeableness was associated with higher initial levels of physical health only among Black men and White women. All other personality traits were associated with physical and mental health similarly across race and gender. Race and gender influence health trajectories. Most personality- health associations replicated across race and gender, except for agreeableness with physical health. An intersectional framework considering more than one aspect of social identity is crucial for understanding health disparities. Future studies may benefit from including large, diverse samples of participants and further examining the moderating effects of race and gender on personality associations with a variety of health outcomes. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2019 APA, all rights reserved).

Abortion and Women's Physical Health: An Issue for All Physicians.

The editorialists discuss Ralph and colleagues' findings and suggest that the health of women may depend not only on not having a reason to seek abortion but also on being able to receive abortion ...

Experiences of Women Affected with Uterine Prolapse: A Qualitative Study from Baitadi District

Background: Women with uterine prolapse often suffer in silence as it negatively influences their physical, psychological as well as social well-being. This study aimed to explore the social and reproductive health problems associated with uterine prolapse.
 Methods: Using a purposive sampling, we conducted 16 in-depth interviews with uterine prolapse affected women in October 2016. Semi-structuredinterviews took place in women’s familiar environment i.e. the participant’s house in Baitadi district.Interviews were audio taped, transcribed and analyzed according to semantic and latent thematic analysis.
 Results:The theme describing the women’s experiencesregarding uterine prolapse was labeled as ‘experience of living with uterine prolapse’. The theme constitutes three categories: physical, psychological and social health. The category physical health constitutes five subcategories that represent how physical health of women was affected by uterine prolapse and their consequences: pain, discharge and itching, bleeding and dizziness, difficulty in walking, lifting and sitting, reduction in food intake. The category psychological health comprises three subcategories that define women’s feeling, thought and behaviour towards their prolapsed uterus: anxiety, stress and depressive feeling, fear of death, cancer and surgery.
 Conclusion: All physical, psychological and social aspects of women’s health are affected by uterine prolapse. Due to prolapse walking, sitting, working and lifting activities are become challenging for women. Women can become victims of violence due to their disability and less productivity. Uterine prolapse seriously compromises the sexual life of women affected.

Who cares? A lack of self‐care for women in the non‐profit/non‐governmental sector

In this article I examine the lack of self‐care regimes for women working in the non‐profit/non‐governmental sector. While I draw on ethnographic research conducted in the Malaysian context of women's organizations, the issue of self‐care for activists and feminist activists is a global one that crosses borders and boundaries. I explore the gendered nature of care and care professions to demonstrate how women are predominantly affected in these working environments. To date, there has been little scholarship on self‐care and care in non‐profit/non‐governmental working environments. Using interviews with women working in the sector, I argue that women's emotional, mental and physical health comes at a cost in these hectic workplaces. This article contributes to the literature on gender, work and care in women's organizations by taking seriously women's concerns working in these spaces, where they experience self‐neglect and institutional barriers in care regimes.

Benign and malignant classification of mammogram images based on deep learning

Breast cancer is one of the most common malignant tumors in women, which seriously affect women's physical and mental health and even threat to life. At present, mammography is an important criterion for doctors to diagnose breast cancer. However, due to the complex structure of mammogram images, it is relatively difficult for doctors to identify breast cancer features. At present, deep learning is the most mainstream image classification algorithm. Therefore, this study proposes an improved DenseNet neural network model, also known as the DenseNet-II neural network model, for the effective and accurate classification of benign and malignant mammography images. Firstly, the mammogram images are preprocessed. Image normalization avoids interference from light, while the adoption of data enhancement prevents over-fitting cause by small data set. Secondly, the DenseNet neural network model is improved, and a new DenseNet-II neural network model is invented, which is to replace the first convolutional layer of the DenseNet neural network model with the Inception structure. Finally, the pre-processed mammogram datasets are input into AlexNet, VGGNet, GoogLeNet, DenseNet network model and DenseNet-II neural network model, and the experimental results are analyzed and compared. According to the 10-fold cross validation method, the results show that the DenseNet-II neural network model has better classification performance than other network models. The average accuracy of the model reaches 94.55%, which improves the accuracy of the benign and malignant classification of mammogram images. At the same time, it also proves that the model has good generalization and robustness.

Sociocultural factors in access to contraception by Palestine refugees in Jordan: a qualitative study

BackgroundMaternal mortality rates in Palestine refugees in Jordan increased by 16% between 2013 and 2016. Action is needed to prevent future maternal deaths. Risk factors for maternal mortality are a young mother (below 20 years of age) and pregnancies that are close together (interval of less than 18 months), which can be prevented through the use of contraception. Contraceptive discontinuation rates increased among Palestine refugees in Jordan by 3% between 2015 and 2016. Sociocultural factors are important in access to contraception. This study assesses sociocultural barriers and opportunities to accessing contraception among Palestine refugees in Jordan. MethodsFocus group discussions were conducted in June, 2017, with female and male patients and health-care workers in rural and urban communities in Jordan. Patients were selected using opportunistic sampling at health centres; health centres and health-care workers were selected using purposive sampling. Only participants who signed the informed consent form were included. Discussions were moderated by a local researcher, tape-recorded, transcribed, translated, and analysed with MaxQDA. Analysis was conducted by two researchers independently using predetermined and emergent themes. Approval was obtained from the UNRWA Ethics Office. Findings12 discussions were conducted with 84 participants, seven participants per discussion; 40 females, 27 males, and 17 health workers with an age range of 18–67 years. Perceived barriers to accessing or using contraception included husband or family-in-law opposition to contraception use; preferences in terms of the sex of children; pride in having many children; fear of infertility; incorrect use of contraception; a lack of health-care workers to provide contraception; reluctance of staff to provide contraception to females without spousal consent; and costs involved in using contraception. Perceived benefits included the financial advantage of a smaller family; and birth spacing for women's mental and physical health. InterpretationDespite the use of opportunistic sampling, this study shows that both sociocultural barriers and benefits to accessing contraception exist for Palestine refugees in Jordan. More resources are needed to improve access by further researching sociocultural dynamics related to contraception use. FundingShare-Net International, Royal Tropical Institute (KIT), the Netherlands.

Licochalcone A Protects the Blood-Milk Barrier Integrity and Relieves the Inflammatory Response in LPS-Induced Mastitis.

Background/Aims: Mastitis is an acute clinical inflammatory response. The occurrence and development of mastitis seriously disturb women's physical and mental health. Licochalcone A, a phenolic compound in Glycyrrhiza uralensis, has anti-inflammatory properties. Here, we examined the effect of licochalcone A on blood-milk barrier and inflammatory response in LPS-induced mice mastitis.Methods: In vivo, we firstly established mice models of mastitis by canal injection of LPS to mammary gland, and then detected the effect of licochalcone A on pathological indexes, inflammatory responses and blood-milk barrier in this model. In vivo, Mouse mammary epithelial cells (mMECs) were treated with licochalcone A prior to the incubation of LPS, and then the inflammatory responses, tight junction which is the basic structure of blood-milk barrier were analyzed. Last, we elucidated the anti-inflammatory mechanism by examining the activation of mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) and AKT/NF-κB signaling pathways in vivo and in vitro.Result: The in vivo results showed that licochalcone A significantly decreased the histopathological impairment and the inflammatory responses, and improved integrity of blood-milk barrier. The in vitro results demonstrated that licochalcone A inhibited LPS-induced inflammatory responses and increase the protein levels of ZO-1, occludin, and claudin3 in mMECs. The in vivo and in vitro mechanistic study found that the anti-inflammatory effect of licochalcone A in LPS-induced mice mastitis was mediated by MAPK and AKT/NF-κB signaling pathways.Conclusions and Implications: Our experiments collectively indicate that licochalcone A protected against LPS-induced mice mastitis via improving the blood–milk barrier integrity and inhibits the inflammatory response by MAPK and AKT/NF-κB signaling pathways.

Health of Women Surviving Intimate Partner Violence: Impact of Injury and Fear.

This study examined associations between experiencing physical violence and stalking perpetrated by an intimate partner, and the number of health problems women reported. The sample of 2,626 women who survived intimate partner violence (IPV) was extracted from the National Intimate Partner and Sexual Violence Survey 2010. Results showed associations between greater number of health problems and the following seven factors: injury, fear, poor mental health, advanced age, less education, lower income, and marriage; no association was found between number of health problems and number of incidents of physical violence, stalking, or both (in preceding year). The results imply that IPV has long-term adverse impacts on women's physical health.

New insights into early recovery after robotic surgery for endometrial cancer

ObjectiveTo assess early recovery of physical health after robotic minimally invasive surgery (RMIS) for early-stage endometrial cancer using the European Organisation of Research and Treatment of Cancer Computer Adaptive Test Core questionnaire (EORTC CAT Core). The EORTC CAT Core provides individualised measurements while maintaining comparability. A hypothesis of individual complete recovery to baseline within three post-surgical weeks was evaluated. MethodsNinety-four women who underwent RMIS for early-stage endometrial cancer were included consecutively. The EORTC CAT Core was distributed before surgery and prospectively every week during the first post-operative month. Repeated measures models were fitted for each of the four domains (physical functioning, role function, fatigue, and pain) and tested for impact of age, ASA score, minor/major surgery, and the individual baseline scores (poorest, intermediate, best). ResultsWomen with the lowest physical functioning, lowest role function, highest fatigue level, and highest pain level at baseline all recovered within three weeks. Women with the highest physical functioning, highest role function, lowest level of fatigue, and lowest level of pain at baseline did not reach their individual baselines within the first post-operative month but had the most favourable domain-scores three weeks post-operatively. ConclusionThe individual woman's physical health baseline score is predictive for her postoperative recovery following RMIS for early-stage endometrial cancer. Women with the best physical health had the best postoperative functions and lowest level of symptoms; however their recovery to baseline was prolonged. Computer adaptive testing may be a valuable tool for individualised pre-operative information and supportive care during surveillance.

The intersection of intimate partner violence and poverty in Black communities

Abstract Intimate partner violence (IPV) is a major public health concern that has profound impacts on women across the globe. Though it cuts across race, socioeconomic status, age, geography and sexual orientation, those communities plagued by poverty experience disproportionate rates. Poverty creates unique circumstances of vulnerability for individuals, families, and communities and is disproportionately experienced by Black communities in both developed and developing countries. The impact of poverty on Black communities is significant and pervasive, with deep historical roots. Both IPV and poverty have profound effects on women's physical and psychosocial health and well-being. Black women who live at the intersection of experiencing poverty and IPV are in an especially disadvantaged position. This paper will explore the impact of poverty on Black women's experiences of violence in the United States and on the African continent and present a call to action for necessary structural, community and individual level intervention to address this pervasive concern.

Characteristics of women without a postpartum checkup among PRAMS participants, 2009-2011.

Introduction For uncomplicated pregnancies in the United States, a healthcare visit 4 to 6 weeks postpartum is recommended to assess a woman's mental, social, and physical health. We studied whether sociodemographic characteristics and pregnancy and delivery factors were related to the likelihood of missing a postpartum checkup. Methods We conducted a cross-sectional analysis of 64,952 women who completed the United States Centers for Disease Control Pregnancy Risk Assessment Monitoring System (PRAMS) Phase 6 survey in 2009-2011 from 17 states and New York City that included a Yes/No question about receiving a maternal postpartum checkup. We calculated risk ratios (RR) with 95% confidence intervals (CI) to assess the association between maternal factors and lack of a postpartum checkup. Results Compared to women who attended a postpartum checkup (89.4%), women who missed the visit (10.6%) were younger, unmarried, less educated, with lower income, without insurance, and smokers (all p < 0.05). Compared to women with adequate prenatal care, women with intermediate (RR 1.79 (95% CI 1.70-1.88)) or inadequate (RR 2.71 (95% CI 2.53-2.91)) care were more likely to miss the checkup. Women were more likely to miss this checkup if their infant was born at a residence compared to a hospital (RR 2.27 (95% CI 1.71-3.01)), and were less likely to miss the checkup if their newborn had a 1-week well visit (RR 0.70 (95% CI 0.61-0.81)). Discussion Sociodemographic factors and noncompliance with other medical care were associated with missing a postpartum checkup. Women with a high-risk of not attending a postpartum visit should be targeted for interventions to increase their accessibility to care.

Pénzügyi területen dolgozó értékesítők aspirációinak vizsgálata

THE AIMS OF THE PAPER The basic purpose of my research effort is the construction of a personality profile for financial sales associates via the Aspiration Index questionnaire facilitating the selection of the best candidates for sales personnel in the financial and insurance sector of the national economy. METHODOLOGY The inquiry focused on the personal features of financial sales associates working in banks, insurance companies, residential savings, financial consultancy firms, factor and leasing firms, savings banks, and stock brokerages. I opted for the on-line version of the questionnaires. Instead of random sampling I followed the snowball principle as actual sample members recruited future participants for the sampling process. The collected data was analyzed and evaluated by excel and SPSS programs. The average and the deviation of the sample was established from various aspects along with the use of frequency and distribution ratios. I relied on the One Sample T-Test. MOST IMPORTANT RESULTS Based upon the scores achieved in the Aspiration questionnaire by financial sales associates a statistically justifiable difference can be discerned from the standardized values in the following dimensions: Financial success, Popularity, Image, Personal growth, Affiliation and Physical health. The responses in the Affiliation dimension do not show statistically justifiable differences. In case of women the dimension of Community feeling and for men such aspirations as Affiliation and Physical health do not show substantial and statistically justifiable digression from the standard average values and the results of men and women forming the sample respectively. However, in the rest of the aspirations significant digressions can be noticed. RECOMMENDATIONS The selection process of financial sales associates should take into consideration the results of the Aspiration tests, with special emphasis on the extrinsic aspirations. Higher than average scores in such extrinsic values as Financial success, Popularity, and Image should be necessary but not sufficient conditions for selection or hiring. Positive intrinsic aspirations include Personal growth, Affiliation, and Physical health for women, while in case of men the Personal growth and Community feeling objectives can be found desirable.

Bilberry anthocyanin improves the serum cholesterol in aging perimenopausal rats via the estrogen receptor signaling pathway.

With aging, there is an increasing risk for women to develop perimenopause syndrome, which is harmful to women's physical and mental health. The present study investigated the health benefits of bilberry anthocyanin (BA) on aging perimenopausal Sprague-Dawley rats. Rats that entered into perimenopause through natural aging were treated for 8 weeks with BA, and received either a low dose (LD, 35 mg per kg of bodyweight), medium dose (MD, 70 mg per kg of bodyweight), or high dose (HD, 140 mg per kg of bodyweight). The experimental results suggested that all three dosages of BA, especially the high dose, significantly reduced the serum total cholesterol (TC), triglyceride (TG) and low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) levels. In addition, BA supplementation markedly reduced the serum malondialdehyde (MDA), effectively increased the activity of hepatic total superoxide dismutase (T-SOD), significantly raised the high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), increased the number of estrogen receptors, and effectively up-regulated the expression levels of G protein-coupled receptor 30 (GPR30), protein kinase B (AKT), and extracellular regulated protein kinase 2 (ERK2). In summary, BA has a great effect on improving the serum cholesterol in natural aging perimenopausal rats via the estrogen receptor signaling pathway, and it may be used as a dietary supplement for perimenopause women to decrease the risk of cardiovascular disease.

Integration of metabolomic and transcriptomic data reveals metabolic pathway alteration in breast cancer and impact of related signature on survival.

Breast cancer (BC) is a malignant tumor which threat to women's physical and mental health. However, the mechanism of metabolism alteration in BC remains unclear. This study is intended to figure out the relationship between the alternation of metabolism and the progression of BC. In this study, metabolites of plasma in 60 BC patients and 40 healthy volunteers were detected using liquid chromatography mass spectrometer (LC-MS). Transcriptomic data were obtained from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) and Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database. Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) database was performed to enrich the pathways. A total of 97 metabolites have been identified and measured, of which 17 compounds exhibited the differential expression between tumor group and control group (p < 0.05; FDR < 0.05). Metabolites set enrichment analysis (MSEA) displayed that there were 12 significantly enriched pathways in all. Through the KEGG database, 382 genes were found closely correlated with the altered metabolic pathways. TCGA and GEO transcriptomic profiling revealed that 5,018 genes significantly changed between tumor group and control group. Integrating these genes with the transcriptomic data from the corresponding KEGG data set, we identified most of the differential expressed genes were related to purine metabolism. A total of 28 different expression genes were hub genes, wherein AMPD1 and RRM2 were significantly effective in the prediction of survival of BC patients, with 0.04 and 0.02, respectively. Combining with the transcriptomic and metabolomics data, we found that the dysregulation of purine metabolism pathway might affect the progression of BC.

Violence With Femicide Risk: Its Effects on Women and Their Children.

The objective of this study is to assess the effects that a specific type of severe violence-violence with femicide risk (VFR)-has on women's physical and mental health, as well as the physical health of their children. I focus on Peru, a country in which 7 out of 10 women have been victims of some form of intimate partner violence. In Latin America, Peru is one of the countries with the highest rates of violence against women. Methodological gaps in the existing literature (sampling size, selection bias, and reverse causality) are covered using an important nationally representative sample (Demographic and Health Survey: N = 84,136) and the use of propensity score matching. Results show that VFR increases symptoms of depression, as well as alcohol and tobacco consumption. The children of victims of VFR had significantly more recent episodes of bloody stool, diarrhea, fever, and coughing. These effects are heterogeneous. They vary based on violence characteristics (history of sexual violence) and on victims' socioeconomic status. According to the relevant literature, these effects can be understood to stem from somatization, stress, substance use (as a facilitator of violence), and neurological damage due to exposure to this type of violence. Results suggest VFR may have life-course altering effects given victims' distinct coping strategies.

Heroína, pero no Superwoman. Evaluación de una formación entre iguales para mujeres con cáncer de mama

ObjectiveTo evaluate a peer-training intervention for women with breast cancer, from a gender perspective: to discover the results of the intervention and examine in-depth the personal experiences of patients and health professionals participating in the training activity. MethodMixed method multicentre design completed in 2017 in Andalusia (Spain), with a pre and post evaluation questionnaire with 102 patients, measuring life style, limitations, use of health services, communication with professionals and self-management; and content analysis of semi-structured interviews and focus groups with 21 patient-trainers and 5 health professionals, looking at experiences, needs and suggestions for improvement. ResultsThe patients described a good general health status, with improvements of: diet quality (7 in pre-test to 7.7 in post-test), limitations for daily life (from 1.93 to 1.64 points), self-efficacy (from 6.46 to 7.42 points). Age, civil status and level of education generated statistically significant differences, with more improvement in more vulnerable social profiles. Participants revealed the benefits of the peer-training at a personal, relational, psycho-emotional and socio-cultural level and expressed how the training changed their experiences around identity-construction and gender roles. The improvement dimensions related to organization, evaluation and continuity. ConclusionsThe peer-training intervention is a positive experience for women's physical, relational and emotional health and, from a gender perspective, it represents an opportunity, at both individual and group level, to negotiate and deconstruct gender roles when living with breast cancer.

Trajectories of women's physical and psychosocial health following obstetric fistula repair in Uganda: a longitudinal study.

ObjectivesTo explore trajectories of physical and psychosocial health, and their interrelationship, among women completing fistula repair in Uganda for 1 year post‐surgery.MethodsWe recruited a 60‐woman longitudinal cohort at surgical hospitalisation from Mulago Hospital in Kampala Uganda (Dec 2014–June 2015) and followed them for 1 year. We collected survey data on physical and psychosocial health at surgery and at 3, 6, 9 and 12 months via mobile phone. Fistula characteristics were abstracted from medical records. All participants provided written informed consent. We present univariate analysis and linear regression results.ResultsAcross post‐surgical follow‐up, most women reported improvements in physical and psychosocial health, largely within the first 6 months. By 12 months, urinary incontinence had declined from 98% to 33% and general weakness from 33% to 17%, while excellent to good general health rose from 0% to 60%. Reintegration, self‐esteem and quality of life all increased through 6 months and remained stable thereafter. Reported stigma reduced, yet some negative self‐perception remained at 12 months (mean 17.8). Psychosocial health was significantly impacted by the report of physical symptoms; at 12 months, physical symptoms were associated with a 21.9 lower mean reintegration score (95% CI −30.1, −12.4).ConclusionsOur longitudinal cohort experienced dramatic improvements in physical and psychosocial health after surgery. Continuing fistula‐related symptoms and the substantial differences in psychosocial health by physical symptoms support additional intervention to support women's recovery or more targeted psychosocial support and reintegration services to ensure that those coping with physical or psychosocial challenges are appropriately supported.

Postpartum depression symptoms among Syrian refugee women living in Jordan.

Postpartum depression (PPD) is recognized as a common maternal health problem, but few studies have investigated the postpartum mental health of refugee women. In this cross-sectional study, we investigated the prevalence of PPD symptoms and associated factors among Syrian refugee women living in north Jordan. Women (N = 365) were recruited from four health care centers in Ramtha and Jarash, cities in northern Jordan. Participants completed a demographic data form, the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS), and the Maternal Social Support Scale at 6-8 weeks postpartum. Half (49.6%; n = 181) of the Syrian refugee women scored >12 on the EPDS. PPD symptoms were significantly associated with low social support, low monthly income, and recent immigration (less than 2 years). There is a high level of PPD symptoms among Syrian refugee women, many of whom are living in poverty and with limited social support. The results highlight the need for immediate action by governments to support childbearing refugee women with early screening for psychosocial risk and respond to women's physical and mental health, and social needs through interservice collaboration. Social support programs would meet an important need for these women, as would ongoing assessment by health professionals and early intervention for women who screen positive for PPD.

Mental and physical support (MAPS) for moms: preliminary findings from a prenatal health support program

BackgroundThe low incidence of exercise during pregnancy and the high rates of prenatal depression indicate more opportunities are needed for mothers to engage in exercise and obtain health-related support and education. MAPS (mental & physical support) was developed to support mothers’ psychological and physical health during pregnancy. MAPS consisted of physical activity classes 2×/week followed by either a speaker or group discussion regarding a parenting or health-related topic. The primary purpose of this study was to determine if the format was feasible prior to developing a main scale randomized trial. MethodsProgram measurements included a pre/post survey, post-program focus group, attendance logs and scales for exercise, self-efficacy, and social support. ResultsFindings indicated the program format is well-received by participants; however, issues in attendance warrant program format alterations. Further, larger scale studies and the addition of a control group are needed. ConclusionThis format offers practitioners an effective strategy for supporting pregnant women's physical and psychological health.