Southeast Asian Women Research Articles

Risk factors for suicide among South-East Asian women: A public health crisis in need of gender-specific solutions

Risk factors for suicide among South-East Asian women: A public health crisis in need of gender-specific solutions

A Novel Interaction between a 23-SNP Genetic Risk Score and Monounsaturated Fatty Acid Intake on HbA1c Levels in Southeast Asian Women.

Metabolic diseases result from interactions between genetic and lifestyle factors. Understanding the combined influences of single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) and lifestyle is crucial. This study employs genetic risk scores (GRS) to assess SNPs, providing insight beyond single gene/SNP studies by revealing synergistic effects. Here, we aim to investigate the association of a 23-SNP GRS with metabolic disease-related traits (obesity and type 2 diabetes) to understand if these associations are altered by lifestyle/dietary factors. For this study, 106 Minangkabau women were included and underwent physical, anthropometric, biochemical, dietary and genetic evaluations. The interaction of GRS with lifestyle factors was analyzed using linear regression models, adjusting for potential confounders. No statistically significant associations were observed between GRS and metabolic traits; however, this study demonstrates a novel interaction observed between 13-SNP GRS and monounsaturated fatty acid (MUFA) intake, and that it had an effect on HbA1c levels (p = 0.026). Minangkabau women with low MUFA intake (≤7.0 g/day) and >13 risk alleles had significantly higher HbA1c levels (p = 0.010). This finding has implications for public health, suggesting the need for large-scale studies to confirm our results before implementing dietary interventions in the Indonesian population. Identifying genetic influences on dietary response can inform personalized nutrition strategies to reduce the risk of metabolic disease.

A systematic review and meta-analysis on the prevalence of vulvovaginal candidiasis in Southeast Asian countries

Vulvovaginal candidiasis (VVC) is a disease caused by pathogenic Candida species. This disease typically affects women of reproductive age with high sexual activity (i.e., sex workers), poor educational attainment and economic status, and infrequent hygiene practices. VVC remains a major public health concern. VVC prevalence across Southeast Asian countries remains poorly understood. To address this concern, the current study estimated the current prevalence of VVC infections among women in Southeast Asian countries by conducting a systematic review and meta-analyses. All studies reporting the prevalence of VVC in Southeast Asia were obtained from Ovid Medline, Scopus, and CINAHL. A review of titles and abstracts was done independently by three reviewers. The quality of the studies was assessed using the Newcastle-Ottawa scale. Meta-analysis was performed in R v.4.1,1 using the ‘meta’ package (version 4.19-0). Based on the results of the current study, the pooled estimated prevalence of VVC among Southeast Asian women is 23.0% (95% CI: 18.0% to 28.0%). Across countries, Laos had the highest estimated prevalence at 33.0% (95% CI: 22.0% to 46.0%). Subgroup analysis based on pregnancy status and occupation revealed a higher estimated prevalence among non-pregnant women (32.0%, 95% CI: 25.0% to 40.0%) and non-sex workers (33.0%, 95% CI: 20.0% to 48.0%). Based on the diagnostic method, the prevalence was higher for the combinatorial approach using microscopy, a culture-based approach, and molecular techniques (51.0%) and lowest when solely based on clinical diagnosis (9.0%, 95% CI: 1.0% to 22.0%) or an exclusively culture-based approach (11%, 95% CI: 6.0% to 18.0%). Overall, further study is necessary to accurately characterize the current distribution of VVC across Southeast Asian countries. Developing more effective diagnostic and management strategies is to improve the health of affected women.

CASE OF MANAGING POSTPARTUM HYPERTENSION IN BREASTFEEDING WOMEN IN PRIMARY CARE

Postpartum hypertension requires careful management, particularly in breastfeeding women, to prevent complications like eclampsia and future cardiovascular issues. This case involves a 40-year-old Southeast Asian woman, G3P3, who presented at a primary care clinic for a 6-week postnatal check-up. The patient, with a history of gestational hypertension, managed with labetalol during pregnancy, reported elevated blood pressure (average 140/90 mmHg) while breastfeeding. Postpartum management initially included nifedipine, which was tapered due to concerns about drug transfer into breast milk. Her blood pressure was 145/95 mmHg at the clinic without significant symptoms. Guidelines suggest that beta blockers like labetalol, propranolol, metoprolol, and calcium channel blockers like nifedipine and verapamil have minimal transfer into breast milk and are generally safe. Caution is advised with atenolol and acebutolol due to higher transfer levels. ACE inhibitors like enalapril are considered safe but require monitoring of infant hemodynamics. High-dose diuretics may reduce milk production and are typically avoided. In managing postpartum hypertension in breastfeeding women, it is crucial to balance maternal health needs with infant safety. The use of antihypertensive agents with the lowest transfer into breast milk is recommended. International guidelines suggest a multidisciplinary approach involving pediatricians to monitor and ensure the well-being of both mother and infant. Individualized care and adherence to current guidelines are essential in these cases.

Children's bullying victimization and the acculturative stress of immigrant mothers in Korea: Exploring heterogeneity by mother's country of origin.

Over the past three decades, the number of multicultural families in Korea, defined as a family consisting of a native Korean and a marriage immigrant, has increased significantly. Although bullying victimization among multicultural family youth is rightfully a growing concern, less is known about the effects bullying has on immigrant mothers of children who have been bullying victims. Using data from the Multicultural Adolescents Panel Study, this study investigates whether children's bullying victimization is associated with immigrant mothers' acculturative stress and whether this association differs depending on mothers' country of origin (China, Japan, and Southeast Asian countries). Fixed effects estimates revealed that children's bullying victimization is positively associated with their immigrant mother's acculturative stress, and this association is robust to controlling for unobserved time-constant individual-level heterogeneity. When stratified by mother's country of origin, the association was larger and statistically significant only among Southeast Asian mothers. No associations were observed among Japanese and Chinese mothers. Our findings suggest that interventions aiming to support bullied children should be expanded to also support their immigrant mothers. Policymakers may wish to consider the specific backgrounds and contexts of immigrant mothers, with special attention to Southeast Asian women. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2024 APA, all rights reserved).

More Than Seeking Refuge: Analyzing Children’s Literature Representing Southeast Asian Refugee Stories

ABSTRACT The purpose of this study is to examine the representation of Asian refugee stories in children’s literature. Intersectionality is used as the theoretical framework. By drawing upon the three-dimensional narrative inquiry and critical discourse analysis, the findings show that the storyline of looking for refuge was a common theme in all the books. Other important storylines included the connections to the cultural practices of protagonists that were not often portrayed in children’s books. The findings also indicate that while two picturebooks included two protagonists who were positioned as women, community leaders, and activists, these stories were atypical cases. Not many Southeast Asian women with agency and power have been represented in children’s literature. The study has implications for including diversity in children’s literature and empowering Southeast Asian refugee girls and women

Women, Subalterns, and Ecologies in South and Southeast Asian Women’s Fiction

Women, Subalterns, and Ecologies in South and Southeast Asian Women’s Fiction

A randomized controlled trial of a tailored navigation intervention to promote breast and cervical cancer screening among intergenerational Southeast Asian women

BackgroundCancer is the leading cause of death for Southeast Asian women in the U.S. Southeast Asian women have significantly high rates of breast and cervical cancers, yet are least likely to obtain regular mammography and Pap testing of all racial/ethnic groups in the U.S. ObjectivesThe purpose of this study is to compare a tailored navigation intervention delivered by bilingual and bicultural Community Health Advisors to information and reminder only to increase age-appropriate breast and cervical cancer screening completion among Southeast Asian women. MethodsThe Southeast Asian Women's Health Project study will enroll 232 Cambodian, Filipino, Lao, and Vietnamese women who are not up to date with their breast and cervical cancer screenings. Women randomized to navigation will receive the intervention for 10 weeks. Women in the information group will be mailed information on mammography and Pap testing only. All participants will be contacted post-enrollment to assess screening completion. DiscussionWe will examine intervention efficacy, predictors of each intervention group, and the influence of intergenerational exchange of breast and cervical cancer screening information between mothers and daughters. We will disseminate study results locally to the community, nationally at conferences, and through peer-reviewed journals.

Prevalence and Predictors of Anaemia Among Women of Reproductive Age in South and Southeast Asia.

Background Anaemia is a global public health issue that mostly affects children, women, and adults in low- and middle-income countries. Aim This study sought to evaluate the prevalence of anaemia and its contributing factors among South and Southeast Asian (SSEA) women of reproductive age. Methods Data analysis was undertaken utilising data from 10 SSEA countries' Demographic and Health Surveys. The link between anaemia and independent variables was established using a multivariate logistic regression model with a 95% confidence interval. To investigate the relationship between explanatory variables and anaemia, the Pearson's correlations test was carried out. Results In SSEA, the prevalence of anaemia among women (15-49 years old) was 50.17% (95% CI: 39.4, 61.0), ranging from 13.3% (95% CI: 2.5, 24.1) in the Philippines to 70.3% (95% CI: 59.5,81.1) in Nepal. Being younger, having rural residents, having lower educational attainment, and being in households with lower wealth quantiles were linked to a higher prevalence of anaemia in most countries. Conclusion The findings of this study imply that a variety of individual characteristics play a role in the higher risk of anaemia. To combat anaemia, evidence-based, multidisciplinary policies and initiatives targeting women's health and nutrition, as well as scaling up women's education, empowerment, and socioeconomic position, are needed.

Views and Perceptions of Indonesia among the Second-Generation of Taiwanese-Indonesians after the New Southbound Policy (NSP)

Taiwan is a multicultural country. In addition to its diverse local communities, Taiwan is home to many migrants, including intermarriage migrants between Taiwanese men and Southeast Asian women. The intermarriage and second generation, which are children born from intermarriage families, created some social integration issues in Taiwanese society. This is because many Taiwanese have a prejudice against people from Southeast Asia, as most of them initially worked in Taiwan as migrant workers. The implementation of Taiwan’s New Southbound Policy (NSP) offers some opportunities for migrants to be noticeable. The second generation from this intermarriage also has the opportunity and privilege under the NSP policy. This research is based on a study of the views of the second generation of Taiwanese-Indonesian intermarriage families, particularly on their mothers’ culture after the implementation of NSP. This paper argues that the second generation, particularly from Taiwanese- Indonesian intermarriage families, experience a struggle to comprehend their identities within Taiwanese society and their perceptions of the implementation of NSP. The interview method was conducted to delve into the feelings of the Taiwanese-Indonesian second-generation children. Keywords: migrants, intermarriage, second generation, Taiwan, NSP. * Yufita

Perinatal Trajectories of Maternal Depressive Symptoms in Prospective, Community-Based Cohorts Across 3 Continents

Depressive symptoms during pregnancy influence the development and health of the offspring, underscoring the need for timely intervention. However, the course of depressive symptoms across the perinatal period remains unclear, thus complicating screening and referral guidelines. To examine the course and stability of depressive symptoms across the perinatal period in multiple, ethnically diverse independent observational cohorts. This cohort study included self-reported depressive symptoms at multiple time points from 7 prospective cohorts spanning 3 continents (United Kingdom: Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children from 1991 to 1995; Canada: Maternal Adversity, Vulnerability and Neurodevelopment from 2003 to 2007; Montreal Antenatal Well-being Study from 2019 to 2022; Alberta Pregnancy Outcomes and Nutrition from 2009 to 2014; and Singapore: Growing Up in Singapore Toward Healthy Outcomes from 2009 to 2013; Singapore Preconception Study of Long-Term Maternal and Child Outcomes from 2015 to 2019; and Mapping Antenatal Maternal Stress from 2019 to 2022). Participants were recruited either during preconception or pregnancy and observed into the postnatal period. All data from each cohort were analyzed from July 2022 to April 2023. Self-reported depressive symptoms from pregnancy to 2 years following childbirth using either the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale or the Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression were analyzed independently within each cohort using item response theory (IRT) techniques. K-means clustering was used to identify groups of participants with similar trajectories. A total of 11 563 pregnant women (mean [SD] age, 29 [5] years; 569 [4.9%] East Asian women; 304 [2.6%] Southeast Asian women; 10 133 [87.6%] White women) self-reported depressive symptoms from pregnancy to 2 years following childbirth. Analytic methods from Item Response Theory identified 3 groups of mothers based on depressive symptoms: low, mild, and high levels in each of the 7 cohorts. Mothers within and across all cohorts had stable trajectories of maternal depressive symptoms from pregnancy onwards. Mothers with clinical levels of depressive symptoms likewise showed stable trajectories from pregnancy into the postnatal period. In this study, trajectories of depressive symptoms remained stable from pregnancy across the perinatal period, a finding that conflicts with a continuing emphasis on postpartum or postnatal onset of depression that persists in some health policy guidelines. Interventions and public health initiatives should focus on reducing depressive symptoms during pregnancy in addition to following birth.

Investigating short-stay admission to a neonatal intensive care unit as a risk factor for reduced breast feeding at discharge in infants ≥36 weeks’ gestation: a retrospective cohort study

ObjectiveThis study aims to determine the effect of infant–mother separation following a short-stay (≤72 hours) admission to a Level 5 neonatal unit versus no admission on infant-feeding outcomes at hospital...

Contesting patriarchy: Employment and gender roles of East Asian middle-class marriage migrants in Taiwan

ABSTRACT Studies of trans-local marriages in Taiwan focused on Mainland Chinese and Southeast Asian women married to Taiwanese men, documenting how they had joined the lower rungs of the work force, and shouldered a major amount of family responsibilities that included reproductive roles. They were projected in literature and the media as subjugated women and objects of commodified marriages and exploitation. In contrast, marriage migration of middle-class women was seldom studied. This paper explores East Asian middle-class marriage migrants’ embodied experiences in their work and family roles, exposing them to the patriarchal structures and unequal power relations that exist in Taiwan. Twenty in-depth interviews were conducted from 2019 to 2021 on participants from Greater China (Mainland China, Hong Kong, and Macau), Korea, Japan, and Singapore. Advanced education, professional performance, and feminist consciousness have empowered these women to become agents of change in the family and the workplace and shall benefit Taiwan’s economy in the long run as highly skilled human resources.

Women, Subalterns, and Ecologies in South and Southeast Asian Women’s Fiction. By Chitra Sankaran

The planetary ecological crisis has reached a magnitude beyond human comprehension. The acceleration of denuded ecological patterns and the lack of a sensitive, mutual relational sustenance between the personal and planetary remain pressing issues that demand immediate attention. While the emergent field of environmental humanities calls for a reimagining of alternative ecological futures, numerous impacted, but prolific voices still remain muffled in discussions of these critical global ecological issues. Chitra Sankaran’s Women, Subalterns, and Ecologies in South and Southeast Asian Women’s Fiction focuses on the diverse voices of South and Southeast Asian Women’s ecological fiction. A groundbreaking book, by and on women (and subalterns), Sankaran’s study compellingly foregrounds a powerful range of sociocultural connections between humans and nature. The book presents a vibrant corpus of more than thirty econarratives by women writers from twelve countries. Sankaran’s field-defining book provides a nuanced understanding of the ecofeminist consciousness of two significant regions of Asia.

Prevalence of prediabetes and type 2 diabetes mellitus in south and southeast Asian women with history of gestational diabetes mellitus: Systematic review and meta-analysis.

The burden of Gestational Diabetes Mellitus (GDM) is very high in south Asia (SA) and southeast Asia (SEA). Thus, there is a need to understand the prevalence and risk factors for developing prediabetes and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) postpartum, in this high-risk population. To conduct a systematic review and meta-analysis to estimate the prevalence of prediabetes and T2DM among the women with history of GDM in SA and SEA. A comprehensive literature search was performed in the following databases: Medline, EMBASE, Web of Knowledge and CINHAL till December 2021. Studies that had reported greater than six weeks of postpartum follow-up were included. The pooled prevalence of diabetes and prediabetes were estimated by random effects meta-analysis model and I2 statistic was used to assess heterogeneity. Meta-analysis of 13 studies revealed that the prevalence of prediabetes and T2DM in post-GDM women were 25.9% (95%CI 18.94 to 33.51) and 29.9% (95%CI 17.02 to 44.57) respectively. Women with history of GDM from SA and SEA seem to have higher risk of developing T2DM than women without GDM (RR 13.2, 95%CI 9.52 to 18.29, p<0.001). The subgroup analysis showed a rise in the prevalence of T2DM with increasing duration of follow-up. The conversion to T2DM and prediabetes is very high among women with history of GDM in SA and SEA. This highlights the need for follow-up of GDM women for early identification of dysglycemia and to plan interventions to prevent/delay the progression to T2DM.

Might IgA be a Biomarker of Disease Activity in Takayasu Arteritis?

This case report highlights the need to increase the number of humoral markers used to assess disease course in Takayasu arteritis (TA).IgA may be considered a biomarker of TA disease activity.Serum IgA levels may be helpful to identify TA patients not responding to traditional therapy.

Critical research gaps in understanding Southeast Asian women’s wildlife trade and use practices

The hunting and consumption of wildlife is a global practice with practices that are socially nested, mediated, and shared across social categories, including gender. Research into wildlife trade increasingly recognizes the importance of understanding and investigating social drivers and processes of hunting and consumption. However, studies of social norms, motivations, and actions specific to women are still lacking within wildlife trade literature, particularly within Southeast Asia. Women are central to how a society operates and to societal practices, and they are fundamental actors in initiating change in these practices. In Southeast Asia, women are especially powerful actors within resident matrilineal and bilateral societies. This article will reflect on wildlife trafficking through the roles and activities of women. While women’s narratives are lacking across all current wildlife trade research, I will highlight in this article critical research gaps, gender-specific issues in methodology, and important research opportunities.

Retinal microvasculature and risk of spontaneous abortion in multiethnic Southeast Asian women

To better understand the underlying pathogenesis of spontaneous abortion that affects 10%-20% of recognized pregnancies. We used retinal imaging to study the role of systemic microvasculature and the risk of spontaneous abortion. A prospective multiethnic preconception cohort study conducted in Singapore. Hospital-based. A total of 1,032 Southeast Asian women who intended to conceive naturally were screened at study entry, among which 480 women spontaneously conceived within the 12-month observation period. After excluding 24 women who were lost to follow-up, we calculated the spontaneous abortion rate among 456 women. Further, we included 379 women for the final association analysis because 63 women did not undergo preconception retinal imaging examination and 14 had other types of pregnancy loss instead of spontaneous abortion. Trained photographers performed retinal examination using a 45-degree nonmydriatic retinal camera at study entry during the preconception screening. Using a semiautomated, computer-based program, we assessed quantitative retinal microvascular measurements, including caliber, fractal dimension, curvature tortuosity, and branching angle. Clinical research coordinators collected information on sociodemographic status, menstrual characteristics, and lifestyle, and assessed blood pressure and anthropometry at study entry. We performed a modified Poisson regression model to estimate the relative risk (RR) and 95% confidence interval (CI) for each retinal microvascular feature and its association with spontaneous abortion after adjusting for major confounders such as maternal prepregnancy, body mass index, and previous pregnancy loss history. We reported a spontaneous abortion rate of 13.4% (61 out of 456). Among all retinal microvascular features, retinal arteriolar caliber, retinal arteriolar, and venular curvature tortuosity were associated with a high risk of incident spontaneous abortion. In the regression model, per SD increase in retinal curvature tortuosity was associated with a 25%-34% increased risk of incident spontaneous abortion (arteriolar: unadjusted RR, 1.29 [95% CI, 1.06-1.56] and adjusted RR, 1.26 [1.04-1.53]; venule: unadjusted RR, 1.30 [1.08-1.55] and adjusted RR, 1.34 [1.09-1.64]). Our prospective cohort observed an increased risk of spontaneous abortion among Asian women with more tortuous retinal vessels assessed during the preconception phase. Our results indicate a role of vascular inflammatory and oxidative stress in the pathogenesis of spontaneous abortion. ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT03531658.

The Divine Feminine in Mormon Art

The Divine Feminine in Mormon Art

One Case of Qatagner Syndrome: A Case Report of Adult Southeast Asian Women with Unknown Respiratory Symptoms

One Case of Qatagner Syndrome: A Case Report of Adult Southeast Asian Women with Unknown Respiratory Symptoms