Reasons Women Research Articles

Gender Matters: the Need for a New Approach to Psychopathology

IntroductionTreatment of mental problems is based on classification categories. Yet most patients display far more complex problems than discribed in those categories. In child psychiatry boys are overrepresented whereas in adults women are in the majority when it comes to mental health problems. This raises the question whether gender and diversity shouldn’t be taken more into account in order to come to better classifications and understanding of developemental psychopathologyObjectivesTo look into the influences of gender, genetics, stress, child rearing and social determinants on the development of psychopathologyMethodsA literature search was performed with genetics, gender, stress and social determinants as keywords was in order to question the specificity and validity of current categories of psychopathology.ResultsThe search yielded 26 articles. Interestingly this supports the hypothesis that the focus on phenotypical classifications is misleading and that gender plays an important role in the expression of endophenotypes (psychophysiological and neuropsychological). Moreover in many cases gender is not taken in to account enough in studies and that gender biased conclusions (when the reseach has included more men than women for different reasons) are extrapolated to easily to the other sexe, assumoing that the outcomes are universalConclusionsThe categoral approach to psychopathology has stimulated research in a very productive fashion. Yet now we should think beyond categories in mental health and have the courage to adapt our clincial practice to endophenotypes taking into account the permanent interaction between individual and enviironment. Which implies a more gender specific approach to (psycho)pathologyDisclosureNo significant relationships.

Pregnant Women’s Experience With Multiple Micronutrient Supplements (MMS): Qualitative Research From Three Districts in Indonesia

Abstract Objectives The provision of multiple micronutrient supplements (MMS) to pregnant women is efficacious in improving pregnancy outcomes, safe, cost-effective, and recommended in the context of rigorous research by the World Health Organization. This study examines experiences related to MMS adherence in Indonesia. Methods Qualitative methods were used and included focus group discussions (FGD) with 52 pregnant women who received MMS. Pregnant women were selected through purposive sampling in six health centers across 3 districts within two provinces. Midwives coordinators from each health center were also interviewed as key informants using semi-structured in-depth interviews (IDIs). High MMS adherence was defined as the number of MMS consumed compared to the number of MMS received. Data was analyzed using descriptive and thematic analysis. Results MMS was distributed in health centers by midwives as a replacement for iron and folic acid (IFA). When interviewed, the average gestational age of women was six months. Most women (78%) reported high adherence to MMS, but adherence varied by district (range: 62% to 91% adherence). The provision of counseling by midwives, perceived benefit after taking MMS, family support, and acceptability of smell, size and shape of MMS were reason women reported for taking MMS on a regular basis. While most (73%) women reported that they experienced no side effects while taking MMS, the most common reason (61%) reported for not consuming MMS was forgetfulness. Conclusions MMS was well accepted by pregnant women as indicated by adequate counseling, high adherence, and perceived health benefit. Funding Sources The Vitamin Angels Alliance, Inc.

Reasons for Early Removal of the Etonogestrel Subdermal Implant in Obese Women [A35

INTRODUCTION: To evaluate women's reasons for electing early removal of the etonogestrel subdermal implant (EI) across body mass index (BMI) classes. METHODS: This is a retrospective chart review between January 2010 and December 2019 in a large health system which evaluated women’s reasons for early removal of the EI. Early removal was defined as removal less than 2.5 years after insertion. The reasons for removal as documented by providers were manually abstracted from the electronic health record. Listed reasons included abnormal uterine bleeding (AUB), desire to conceive (DTC), perceived weight gain, and implant complications. The subjects were grouped by BMI class and a test of trend analysis was performed for each of the reasons for removal. RESULTS: The cohort included 1,433 women, of whom 36% were normal/underweight, 25% were overweight, and 39% were obese. The trend for early removal secondary to AUB decreased with increasing BMI class: 64.0% in the normal/underweight group, 60.6% in overweight, 45.9% in class I obese, 41.7% in class II obese, and 40.5% in class III obese group (P<.0001). The trend for early removal secondary to perceived weight gain, desire to conceive, and implant complications increased with increasing BMI. CONCLUSION: Women with obesity were less likely to have the EI removed early due to AUB, but they were more likely to have it removed early because of the desire to conceive, perceived weight gain, and implant complications. This information will be helpful in counseling women with obesity regarding the use of the EI for long-acting reversible contraception.

Four theories support a hypothesis that cannabis may be a treatment for female orgasmic disorder

ABSTRACT Introduction Cannabis helps women orgasm who have difficulty orgasming and enhances the frequency and quality of women's orgasm. Studies have not yet shown if cannabis helps women orgasm who have female orgasmic disorder (FOD). Up to 41% of women worldwide suffer from FOD and the percentage of women suffering from FOD has not changed in 50 years. Objective The objective of this literature review is to present theories that support a hypothesis that cannabis may help women who have lifelong, acquired, or situational FOD. There is only one empirically validated treatment for lifelong FOD and no empirically validated treatments for acquired or situational FOD. Method Literature Review Results The dishabituation theory presents that Δ9-Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), causes a dishabituating effect. Information processing of higher brain structures under the influence of THC reduces the routine represented by habits. Multiple studies have established the habits of cognitive distraction during sexual activity may distract a woman from her sensations and ability to orgasm. The theoretical rationale for the dishabituation theory proposes that THC could dishabituate the habit of being cognitively distracted and may explain why women who had never experienced an orgasm discovered they could orgasm when using cannabis before sex and why women who reported difficulty experiencing orgasm said it was easier to experience orgasm while using cannabis before sex. Neuroplasticity theory is a broad theory to describe how the human brain grows, changes, and rewires. Cannabis and endocannabinoids, the cannabinoids created by the human body, are increasingly recognized for their roles in neural development processes, including brain cell growth and neuroplasticity. The theoretical rationale for the neuroplasticity theory is that this theory may explain why some women learn to orgasm while using cannabis before sex and, once they learned to orgasm, found that they no longer required cannabis. The multi-modal treatment theory proposes that cannabis can treat multiple symptoms and conditions simultaneously. Multi-modal treatment is a broad area of study that involves combining two or more modalities targeting different aspects of a disease. The theoretical rationale for the multi-modal treatment theory is that this theory may explain why women who use cannabis for any reason may decrease their FOD. One researcher found that cannabis use decreased sexual dysfunction by up to 21% and that the reason women used cannabis had little to do with sexual functioning. The amygdala reduction theory proposes that cannabis can reduce the activity in the amygdala, a part of the brain associated with fear responses to threats. Hypervigilance, anxiety, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) are responses of the amygdala and commonly impair sexual response. The theoretical rationale for the amygdala reduction theory is that reduced amygdala activity can positively affect FOD. A reduction in anxiety associated with a sexual encounter could improve experiences and lead to improved orgasm and satisfaction. Conclusion Theories and anecdotal evidence from the existing body of cannabis, sex and women's orgasm research support that cannabis may be a treatment for FOD. Research needs to be conducted to evaluate cannabis as a treatment for FOD. Disclosure Work supported by industry: no. A consultant, employee (part time or full time) or shareholder is among the authors (Dr. Tishler is President and COO of inhaleMD, Inc. he is one of my dissertation advisors).

MP02-07 THE IMPACT OF COVID-19 AND TELEMEDICINE ON EMPIRIC UTI TREATMENT IN WOMEN

You have accessJournal of UrologyCME1 May 2022MP02-07 THE IMPACT OF COVID-19 AND TELEMEDICINE ON EMPIRIC UTI TREATMENT IN WOMEN Madeline Epsten, Jennifer Ferraro, Fareesa Khan, Cynthia Brincat, and Kristin Jacobs Madeline EpstenMadeline Epsten More articles by this author , Jennifer FerraroJennifer Ferraro More articles by this author , Fareesa KhanFareesa Khan More articles by this author , Cynthia BrincatCynthia Brincat More articles by this author , and Kristin JacobsKristin Jacobs More articles by this author View All Author Informationhttps://doi.org/10.1097/JU.0000000000002514.07AboutPDF ToolsAdd to favoritesDownload CitationsTrack CitationsPermissionsReprints ShareFacebookLinked InTwitterEmail Abstract INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVE: Urinary tract infection (UTI), one of the most common reasons women seek acute care, is responsible for 15% of all community-prescribed antibiotics. The effects of the pandemic and telemedicine on UTI treatment are largely unknown. Here, we evaluated the impact of Covid-19 and telemedicine on empiric UTI treatment in women. We hypothesized that increased use of telemedicine during the pandemic would increase the rate of empiric UTI treatment. METHODS: This is a retrospective cohort study of treatment patterns of female patients aged 18-65 using ICD-10 codes for acute cystitis with (N30.00) and without (N30.01) hematuria during the first 6 months of the pandemic (March 2020 – August 2020) versus the 6 months preceding the pandemic (September 2019 – February 2020). Our primary outcome was presence of empiric antibiotic treatment, defined by treatment based on clinical picture with or without pending urine testing. Secondary analysis included determining which antibiotics were most commonly prescribed and treatment adjustment. To reach 80% power to detect a 10% difference with p≤0.05, we included 222 patients. Exclusion criteria included inpatient encounter, long-term facility residence, urinary procedure in last 2 weeks, previous UTI treatment within 30 days. RESULTS: The average age of participants was 42 years. Fifty-two percent were white, 23% Black, and 23% Hispanic. No demographic differences existed between cohorts. During the pandemic, 36.6% of UTI encounters were conducted via telemedicine, compared to 1.5% pre-pandemic (p<.0001). The rate of empiric treatment increased from 58.2% pre-pandemic to 70.5% during the pandemic (p=.055). The rate of treatment based on clinical picture with no pending urine testing was significantly higher during the pandemic (p<.0001). Nitrofurantoin or trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole was used in 79% of patients prescribed an antibiotic. The overall rate of treatment adjustment was 17.1%; there was no significant difference by time period. CONCLUSIONS: Covid-19 dramatically increased telemedicine utilization by women with UTI symptoms. Empiric treatment approached significance and confirmatory urine testing was done significantly less during the pandemic. Given the importance of antibiotic stewardship, it is important to further characterize telemedicine’s impact on treatment of this common condition. Source of Funding: None © 2022 by American Urological Association Education and Research, Inc.FiguresReferencesRelatedDetails Volume 207Issue Supplement 5May 2022Page: e12 Advertisement Copyright & Permissions© 2022 by American Urological Association Education and Research, Inc.MetricsAuthor Information Madeline Epsten More articles by this author Jennifer Ferraro More articles by this author Fareesa Khan More articles by this author Cynthia Brincat More articles by this author Kristin Jacobs More articles by this author Expand All Advertisement PDF DownloadLoading ...

Acceptability of the contraceptive Sayana® Press when injected every four months: Results from a twelve-month trial in Brazil, Chile and the Dominican Republic

ObjectiveWe assessed the acceptability of subcutaneous depot-medroxyprogesterone acetate 104 mg (Sayana® Press) when injected every 4 months for 12 months. Study designWe assessed acceptability using questionnaires within a clinical trial to evaluate contraceptive effectiveness of Sayana® Press when the reinjection interval was extended from 3 to 4 months. We enrolled 750 women aged 18 to 35 years and at risk of pregnancy at 3 centers in Brazil, Chile, and the Dominican Republic who agreed to use Sayana® Press every 4 months for 12 months. Acceptability outcomes included responses to questions about perception of bleeding patterns and side effects, likes, and dislikes about the regimen. We descriptively compared outcomes across study centers and between those who completed the study and those who discontinued early. ResultsAcross the 3 centers, participants differed in age, marital status, years of schooling, and race. At the final visit, 90% reported being satisfied with Sayana® Press and 75% reported preferring to use this contraceptive every 4 months. The most common reasons women liked using Sayana® Press were for its duration of effectiveness, followed by amenorrhea. The most common dislike, when a reason was identified, was its effect on uterine bleeding, including amenorrhea reported by some participants. We also observed center-level differences in the proportion of women who liked amenorrhea. ConclusionsSatisfaction with Sayana® Press injected every 4 months was high across the 3 demographically diverse Latin-American centers. However, participants had varied feelings towards contraceptive-induced amenorrhea. ImplicationsWe found that Sayana® Press when injected every 4 months was highly acceptable among women in 3 Latin American settings despite differences in their feelings toward contraceptive-induced amenorrhea. Our results suggest that there will be interest in using this method every 4 months if introduced into these settings.

Women's reasons and motivations around planning a home birth with a qualified midwife in Spain.

The aim of this study was to describe and understand the reasons and motivations that lead a woman to choose home birth in Spain. A qualitative study based on Gadamer's hermeneutic phenomenology was carried out. In-depth interviews were conducted with 24 women who had planned a home birth in the last year. The recruitment phase was carried out over a 3-week period during the month of March 2021. Inductive analysis was used to find themes based on the data obtained. Four main themes emerged from the data analysis: (1) Women's home birth decision making, (2) Partner as the main support, (3) Need to prepare for childbirth and (4) Reasons for choosing home birth. The women in this study spent a lot of time and dedication to choose the place where they would give birth. According to this research, decision making is influenced by multiple factors, both positive and negative, such as women's individual beliefs and values. The main reasons why women chose a home birth were the intimacy and security of the home, the accompaniment and the desire for a natural and free birth. This study adds knowledge about the factors that influence the decision of women who choose home birth in Spain and the reasons and motivations that lead them to do so. In addition, it raises new questions about the satisfaction of women giving birth in the hospital as well as outside the hospital, and the quality of service provided by health professionals in the current Spanish public maternity system.

Building one's own house: power and escape for Ethiopian women through international migration

AbstractThis study uses ethnography along Ethiopian women's irregular migration routes through Djibouti to analyse the complex reasons women leave home to seek labour opportunities in the Gulf States. Theories and policies that either narrowly depict women's motivations as economic in nature or focus only on women's needs for security and protection, fail to account both for the politics of seeking employment abroad, and the ways migration provides women a potential refuge from various forms of violence at home. Using a feminist analysis, we argue that women do not migrate only for financial opportunities, but also to escape combinations of domestic, political and structural violence. As such, irregular migration both evinces a failure of asylum systems and humanitarian organisations to protect Ethiopians, and a failure of the state to provide Ethiopian women meaningful citizenship. Lacking both protection and meaningful citizenship, international migration represents women's journeys for opportunity and emancipation.

Asymptomatic forms of COVID-19 in pregnant women: long-term consequences

Purposeto establish the long-term effect of asymptomatic forms of COVID-19 on the course of pregnancy.Methods & MaterialsAn analysis of pregnancy outcomes was carried out in 40 women who had asymptomatic forms of COVID-19.ResultsThe COVID-19 pandemic in conditions of high fertility in the southern regions of Kazakhstan caused pregnant women to become ill with coronavirus infection, including asymptomatic forms. Often asymptomatic forms remain undiagnosed and unaccounted for. We have studied cases of visits to a doctor by pregnant women for various reasons: stopping fetal movement, reducing the size of the abdomen and other complications of pregnancy. When examining them by ultrasound, oligohydroamnion was detected in 85% of cases, premature aging of the placenta, placental cysts in 27.5%, and impaired blood flow in the utero-fetal-placental circulation in 12.5%. Subsequently, 51.4% of women gave birth at full term, 48.5% gave birth prematurely, that is every second woman in the study group gave birth prematurely. In a detailed retrospective laboratory examination of women with the above pathology, IgG SARS-Cov-2 was detected in 92.5% of cases, indicating an asymptomatic coronavirus infection. The development of obstetric complications required from the medical staff reinforced observation and additional assessment, more frequent reclassification of the condition of the mother and fetus, and in some cases induction of labor. This tactic was applied in 12 cases (34.2% of the total number of women who gave birth), when prolongation of pregnancy was associated with a high risk to the health of the mother and fetus.ConclusionAsymptomatic forms of COVID-19 in pregnant women have long-term consequences in the form of oligohydroamnion, premature aging of the placenta and impaired uterine blood flow. All cases of the transferred coronavirus infection in pregnant women, including asymptomatic ones, require more careful, in comparison with the generally accepted and frequent monitoring of pregnancy, in the form of control of the gravidogram, measurement of the abdominal circumference, the height of the uterine fundus, control ultrasonography of the fetus, amniotic fluid and uterine dopplerometry of fetal-placental blood flow.

A New Contraceptive Diaphragm in Niamey, Niger: A Mixed Methods Study on Acceptability, Use, and Programmatic Considerations.

Diaphragms have never been widely available in West Africa, a region with very low contraceptive use due in part to health system constraints and low demand for other modern methods of contraception. Research has demonstrated the single-size Caya contoured diaphragm to be a safe and effective barrier method of nonhormonal, self-care contraception, offering features that improve upon the design of traditional diaphragms. No studies have measured continuation of Caya. In Niamey, Niger, this pilot introduction study explored Caya acceptability, use, and programmatic considerations. Women in Niger participated in surveys (n=150) and in-depth interviews (n=25) 6 months after adopting Caya. In-depth interviews were also conducted with men in the community (n=15) and family planning providers (n=15). We conducted descriptive analysis of the percentage of adopters who continued to use the method at 6 months and women's reasons for discontinuation among women who completed the 6-month follow-up survey. We used deductive thematic analysis of in-depth interview data from women, men, and providers to understand program elements and other factors associated with acceptability. Six months after initiation, 76.7% (95% confidence interval=0.70, 0.83) of 150 survey respondents reported continued use of Caya. Top reasons for use included: Caya causes no side effects for most users, works on demand, and is reusable for up to 2 years. Roughly one-quarter of women interviewed reported inconsistent use. Some men supported their partner's use; in other cases, women used Caya without informing or involving their partners. Providers described Caya as compatible with the needs of many women and credited pelvic models with enabling effective counseling. The Caya diaphragm has the potential to be a valuable addition to the range of contraceptive options, especially in settings with high levels of opposition to other modern methods.

Women in the Police Academy: A National-Level Exploration of the Gendered Nature of Non-Completion

The underrepresentation of women in policing is well documented as are efforts to understand the disparity. Some of these efforts have examined the first point newly hired women experience occupational socialization: basic law enforcement training at police academies nationwide. Largely absent from this line of research are studies of why women recruits—compared to men—fail to successfully complete basic training. To fill this empirical void, the current inquiry utilizes national-level data to examine the reasons women, compared to men, fail to complete academy basic training. Our results reveal statistically significant gendered differences in reasons for training non-completion by level of stress emphasized during training and type of academy affiliation that include voluntary withdrawal by recruits and non-voluntary withdrawal for failure to meet qualifying standards for physical fitness, firearms, and driving. The implications of these findings for police practice and research are discussed and recommendations are made.

Pragmatic bias impedes women’s access to political leadership

Progress toward gender equality is thwarted by the underrepresentation of women in political leadership, even as most Americans report they would vote for women candidates. Here, we hypothesize that women candidates are often disadvantaged by pragmatic bias, a tendency to withhold support for members of groups for whom success is perceived to be difficult or impossible to achieve. Across six studies (N = 7,895), we test whether pragmatic bias impedes women's access to a highly significant political leadership position-the US presidency. In two surveys, 2020 Democratic primary voters perceived women candidates to be less electable, and these beliefs were correlated with lower intentions to vote for women candidates (Studies 1 and 2). Voters identified many reasons women would be less electable than men, including others' unwillingness to vote for women, biased media coverage, and higher requirements to prove themselves. We next tested interventions to reduce pragmatic bias. Merely correcting misperceptions of Americans' reported readiness for a woman president did not increase intentions to vote for a woman (Study 3). However, across three experiments (including one preregistered on a nationally representative sample), presenting evidence that women earn as much support as men in US general elections increased Democratic primary voters' intentions to vote for women presidential candidates, an effect driven by heightened perceptions of these candidates' electability (Studies 4 to 6). These findings highlight that social change efforts can be thwarted by people's sense of what is possible, but this may be overcome by credibly signaling others' willingness to act collectively.

International family migration and the dual-earner model

AbstractWe analyze couples’ joint decisions about emigration and labor force participation using survey data on Danish emigrants, combined with full population administrative data. Couples are most likely to emigrate if the male partner or both partners hold a college degree and least likely to emigrate if neither of the partners is college educated. Probability that a dual-earner couple emigrates increases with the primary earner’s income. In most couples, both partners work before emigration, while after migrating outside the Nordic countries almost half of the women stay at home. Survey responses reveal that men mainly migrate for work reasons and women for family reasons. Our findings suggest that the dual-earner model may not be strongly ingrained among emigrating couples. Instead, female labor force participation abroad varies widely between different destinations.

Assessment of US Preventive Services Task Force Guideline–Concordant Cervical Cancer Screening Rates and Reasons for Underscreening by Age, Race and Ethnicity, Sexual Orientation, Rurality, and Insurance, 2005 to 2019

Cervical cancer screening rates are suboptimal in the US. Population-based assessment of reasons for not receiving screening is needed, particularly among women from historically underserved demographic groups. To estimate changes in US Preventive Service Task Force guideline-concordant cervical cancer screening over time and assess the reasons women do not receive up-to-date screening by sociodemographic factors. This pooled population-based cross-sectional study used data from the US National Health Interview Survey from 2005 and 2019. A total of 20 557 women (weighted, 113.1 million women) aged 21 to 65 years without previous hysterectomy were included. Analyses were conducted from March 30 to August 19, 2021. Sociodemographic factors, including age, race and ethnicity, sexual orientation, rurality of residence, and health insurance type. Primary outcomes were US Preventive Services Task Force guideline-concordant cervical cancer screening rates and self-reported primary reasons for not receiving up-to-date screening. For 2005, up-to-date screening was defined as screening every 3 years for women aged 21 to 65 years. For 2019, up-to-date screening was defined as screening every 3 years with a Papanicolaou test alone for women aged 21 to 29 years and screening every 3 years with a Papanicolaou test alone or every 5 years with high-risk human papillomavirus testing or cotesting for women aged 30 to 65 years. Population estimation included sampling weights. Among 20 557 women (weighted, 113.1 million women) included in the study, most were aged 30 to 65 years (16 219 women; weighted, 86.3 million women [76.3%]) and had private insurance (13 571 women; weighted, 75.8 million women [67.0%]). With regard to race and ethnicity, 997 women (weighted, 6.9 million women [6.1%]) were Asian, 3821 women (weighted, 19.5 million women [17.2%]) were Hispanic, 2862 women (weighted, 14.8 million women [13.1%]) were non-Hispanic Black, 12 423 women (weighted, 69.0 million women [61.0%]) were non-Hispanic White, and 453 women (weighted, 3.0 million women [2.7%]) were of other races and/or ethnicities (including Alaska Native and American Indian [weighted, 955 000 women (0.8%)] and other single and multiple races or ethnicities [weighted, 2.0 million women (1.8%)]). In 2019, women aged 21 to 29 years had a significantly higher rate of overdue screening (29.1%) vs women aged 30 to 65 years (21.1%; P < .001). In both age groups, the proportion of women without up-to-date screening increased significantly from 2005 to 2019 (from 14.4% to 23.0%; P < .001). Significantly higher rates of overdue screening were found among those of Asian vs non-Hispanic White race and ethnicity (31.4% vs 20.1%; P = .01), those identifying as LGBQ+ (gender identity was not assessed because of a small sample) vs heterosexual (32.0% vs 22.2%; P < .001), those living in rural vs urban areas (26.2% vs 22.6%; P = .04), and those without insurance vs those with private insurance (41.7% vs 18.1%; P < .001). The most common reason for not receiving timely screening across all groups was lack of knowledge, ranging from 47.2% of women identifying as LGBQ+ to 64.4% of women with Hispanic ethnicity. Previous receipt of a human papillomavirus vaccine was not a primary reason for not having up-to-date screening (<1% of responses). From 2005 to 2019, among women aged 30 to 65 years, lack of access decreased significantly as a primary reason for not receiving screening (from 21.8% to 9.7%), whereas lack of knowledge (from 45.2% to 54.8%) and not receiving recommendations from health care professionals (from 5.9% to 12.0%) increased significantly. This cross-sectional study found that cervical cancer screening that was concordant with US Preventive Services Task Force guidelines decreased in the US between 2005 and 2019, with lack of knowledge reported as the biggest barrier to receiving timely screening. Campaigns addressing patient knowledge and provider communication may help to improve screening rates, and cultural adaptation of interventions is needed to reduce existing disparities.

Women\u2019s views on accepting COVID-19 vaccination during and after pregnancy, and for their babies: a multi-methods study in the UK

BackgroundCOVID-19 vaccines are advised for pregnant women in the United Kingdom (UK) however COVID-19 vaccine uptake among pregnant women is inadequate.MethodsAn online survey and semi-structured interviews were used to investigate pregnant women’s views on COVID-19 vaccine acceptability for themselves when pregnant, not pregnant and for their babies. One thousand one hundred eighty-one women, aged over 16 years, who had been pregnant since 23rd March 2020, were surveyed between 3rd August–11th October 2020. Ten women were interviewed.ResultsThe majority of women surveyed (81.2%) reported that they would ‘definitely’ or were ‘leaning towards’ accepting a COVID-19 vaccine when not pregnant. COVID-19 vaccine acceptance was significantly lower during pregnancy (62.1%, p < 0.005) and for their babies (69.9%, p < 0.005). Ethnic minority women were twice as likely to reject a COVID-19 vaccine for themselves when not pregnant, pregnant and for their babies compared to women from White ethnic groups (p < 0.005). Women from lower-income households, aged under 25-years, and from some geographic regions were more likely to reject a COVID-19 vaccine when not pregnant, pregnant and for their babies. Multivariate analysis revealed that income and ethnicity were the main drivers of the observed age and regional differences. Women unvaccinated against pertussis in pregnancy were over four times more likely to reject COVID-19 vaccines when not pregnant, pregnant and for their babies. Thematic analysis of the survey freetext responses and interviews found safety concerns about COVID-19 vaccines were common though wider mistrust in vaccines was also expressed. Trust in vaccines and the health system were also reasons women gave for accepting COVID-19 vaccines.ConclusionSafety information on COVID-19 vaccines must be clearly communicated to pregnant women to provide reassurance and facilitate informed pregnancy vaccine decisions. Targeted interventions to promote COVID-19 vaccine uptake among ethnic minority and lower-income women may be needed.

Call Me Bathsheba: A Novel Exploring the Impacts of Patriarchal Culture on the Prostitution Industry

This creative work follows the journey of the daughter of a prostitute, in her attempt to survive after being kicked out of the house and find the biological mother whom she never met. It explores the theme of patriarchal culture that impacts prostitution industry and the complication of it.This realistic fiction novel was set in three countries which are China (Hong-Kong), Singapore, and Indonesia. The story highlights the reasons women enter prostitution explored in Barry’s The Prostitution of Sexuality theory, and the physical and pyscho-social impacts of slut-shaming happened to women prostitute explored in Benoit et al’s Theory of Social Stigma among Prostitutes.It will also be elaborated on how patriarchy impacts both issues. Through these theories and project, I find that patriachy causes many women decided to enter prostitution as it’s the best choice they have at hand even though the work itself oftentime harms them physically and pyscho-socially through the whore-stigma that operates on the micro, meso, and macro level of their lives. Keywords: patriarchal culture, women prostitution, whore-stigma, slut-shaming.

European integration of women before and during the martial law in Ukraine

Summary. The purpose problem of social and legal protection of women, both in Ukraine and around the world, was and remains blatant and requires constant intervention and regulation. Women around the world regularly become victims of domestic violence, and the majority of cases of violence are kept silent by women for various psychological reasons, which make it impossible to provide them with help from qualified social services, psychologists and rehabilitation specialists. The most terrible thing in such situations is that often children also suffer from domestic violence in the family. They may experience both physical abuse from the abuser and psychological trauma from the abuse of their mothers. The quarantine caused by COVID-19 has led to an increase in the number of appeals by women to the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Ukraine with complaints of domestic violence. The number of requests at the beginning of 2020 increased by 48% compared to the indicator of 2019. The introduction of martial law on the territory of Ukraine, unfortunately, did not improve these statistics too much; women continue to suffer from domestic violence. The international agreement of the Council of Europe on violence against women and domestic violence (hereinafter – the Istanbul Convention), opened for signature in Istanbul (Turkey) in 2011, ratified by Ukraine on June 21, 2022, is intended to solve this issue and bring Ukraine closer to the European level of solving this problem. Therefore, the purpose of the study is to obtain evidence and specific data about the level of prevalence of violence against women in Ukraine, about the context of violence and risk factors related to individual individuals, the level of Ukraine’s approach to the European level of overcoming domestic violence. As a methodology, the method of sociological surveys, the method of psychological analysis and statistical research methods were used. The scientific novelty of the research results is that the article analyzed the current state of manifestations of domestic violence in Ukraine, the reasons for the deterioration of the situation with domestic violence due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the introduction of martial law on the territory of Ukraine, analyzed the consequences and significance of Ukraine’s ratification of the Istanbul Convention, possible prospects improving the protection of the rights of Ukrainian women both within our country and abroad. The conclusions obtained as a result of the conducted research give reasons to believe that Ukraine is currently approaching the accession to the EU in terms of the level of protection of human and citizen rights and freedoms. And, mainly, this happens thanks to the European integration of Ukrainian women and the strengthening of the protection of their rights and freedoms by national legislation in ways and measures similar to European ones.

Professionals' Perception of the Needs of Female Victims of Intimate Partner Violence: A Vignette Study.

Intimate partner violence (IPV) has a high prevalence and serious consequences for the wellbeing of the victims. The impact of partner violence and the behavior of female victims continue to be poorly understood. Recently, a number of reviews have enhanced the understanding of the needs of female victims of IPV. These reviews improve the evidence base relating to IPV needs assessment and can enhance effectiveness of service provision. The aim of the current study is to review the currency of the knowledge used by social workers working with victims of IPV. We used a qualitative design in which 23 social workers from 10 IPV teams were asked to react to vignettes. Participants were asked what they perceived to be essential for understanding the women's needs and determining an accurate treatment and guidance plan. Data were analyzed using open coding, followed by thematic analysis. Results indicate that in health services planning for battered women, service providers ask about the right domains, including: the characteristics of the relationship, social context, nature and pattern of abuse, characteristics of the female client, and-although to in a lesser degree-characteristics of the partner. Unfortunately, the sub themes within these domains are only partially considered, and sometimes superficially considered. Some topics that were not determined in the literature as relevant needs factors were seen as important by social workers, or assessed too soon, including the stay or leave question. These findings underline the realistic risk that staff members miss the actual reasons women stay with their partners or make certain choices in their help-seeking behavior. Incorrect needs assessments enhance the risk of female victims feeling unheard, and ineffective service provision, leading to care avoidance and low compliance with the services provided.

Understanding safe water-carrying practices during pregnancy and postpartum: A mixed-methods study in Nepal.

Daily carrying of heavy loads of domestic water, especially during pregnancy and postpartum, bears a threat to maternal health in low‐income countries. Using an extended health action process approach (HAPA), we examined women's reasons for and psychosocial determinants of safe water‐carrying during pregnancy and postpartum. In a mixed‐methods study, trained local interviewers conducted 1001 quantitative interviews with women of reproductive age (n = 921 analyzed) and 21 qualitative interviews with women of reproductive age, in‐laws, and spouses in rural Nepal. We analyzed the quantitative data with generalized estimating equations to model the HAPA‐based psychosocial determinants of avoiding water‐carrying during pregnancy and postpartum. Subjective perspectives were investigated with thematic analysis. Outcome expectancies (B = 0.24), self‐efficacy (B = 0.20), and injunctive norms (B = 0.23) were significantly associated with the intention to avoid water‐carrying. Self‐efficacy (B = 0.36) and instrumental support (B = 0.05) are related to behavior (all p < 0.05). Women explained water‐carrying during pregnancy by a lack of family support, a shift of health decision‐making power to in‐laws, and low behavioral control. Overall, the necessity of water, family decision‐making structures, and low support make it difficult for women to discontinue water‐carrying. Additionally to infrastructural improvements, behavioral interventions may increase women's self‐efficacy for safe water‐carrying (e.g. reducing weight) and social support.

Direct and opportunity costs related to utilizing maternity waiting homes in rural Zambia

AimTo assess the direct and opportunity costs involved in utilising maternity waiting homes. MethodA cross-sectional admission survey administered to women who used ten maternity waiting homes across two rural districts in Zambia. A total of 3,796 women participated in the survey. Descriptive analysis was conducted on three domains of the data: demographic characteristics of women, direct costs, and opportunity costs. FindingsWaiting to deliver (86.3%), safe birth (70.8%), and distance (56.0%) were the most frequent reasons women reported for using a maternity waiting home. In terms of direct costs, roughly 65% of the women brought seven days or fewer days' worth of food to the maternity waiting homes, with salt, mealie meals, and vegetables being the most frequently brought items. Only 5.8% of the women spent money on transport. More than half of the women reported paying user fees that ranged from 1 to 5 or more kwacha (US$0.10- 0.52). In terms of opportunity costs, 52% of the women participated in some form of income generating activities (IGAs) when at home. Approximately 35% of the women reported they lost earned income (1 to 50 or more kwacha) by staying at a maternity waiting home. ConclusionA large proportion of women paid for food and user fees to access a maternity waiting home, while a low number of women paid for transport. Even though it is difficult to assign monetary value to women's household chores, being away from these responsibilities and the potential loss of earned income appear to remain a cost to accessing maternity waiting homes. More research is needed to understand how to overcome these financial constraints and assist women in utilising a maternity waiting home.