Swiss Women Research Articles

Judging voluntariness: abortion assistance around 1900

ABSTRACT In this article, I focus on a practice that is legally referred to as assisting or abetting abortion. Using the example of Margarethe Hardegger (1882–1963), a Swiss women’s rights activist and socialist who was charged with this crime in 1915, I analyze how she defended her assistance before the criminal court of the city of Bern. I seek to show how her conception of voluntary action as feminist women’s solidarity entered into a battle of interpretation with patriarchal thought and legal-economic ideas of order, whose exponents sought to impute a commercial character to her engagement. Additionally, I explore how the medical profession positioned itself in this dispute and what the women who had abortions with her help had to say. In light of this case study, the article aims to bring out the multiform interpretations of a voluntary social practice and thus gain insight into the contemporary power dynamics and forms of resistance.

Assessment of the Breast Density Prevalence in Swiss Women with a Deep Convolutional Neural Network: A Cross-Sectional Study

Background/Objectives: High breast density is a risk factor for breast cancer and can reduce the sensitivity of mammography. Given the influence of breast density on patient risk stratification and screening accuracy, it is crucial to monitor the prevalence of extremely dense breasts within local populations. Moreover, there is a lack of comprehensive understanding regarding breast density prevalence in Switzerland. Therefore, this study aimed to determine the prevalence of breast density in a selected Swiss population. Methods: To overcome the potential variability in breast density classifications by human readers, this study utilized commercially available deep convolutional neural network breast classification software. A retrospective analysis of mammographic images of women aged 40 years and older was performed. Results: A total of 4698 mammograms from women (58 ± 11 years) were included in this study. The highest prevalence of breast density was in category C (heterogeneously dense), which was observed in 41.5% of the cases. This was followed by category B (scattered areas of fibroglandular tissue), which accounted for 22.5%. Conclusion: Notably, extremely dense breasts (category D) were significantly more common in younger women, with a prevalence of 34%. However, this rate dropped sharply to less than 10% in women over 55 years of age.

Is the Behavioural Gender Gap Decreasing? Evidence from Food Consumption in Swiss Single-Person Households.

While Switzerland has made some progress over the past few decades in treating men and women more equally, this study intends to find out whether Swiss men and women's food consumption patterns also converged between 1990 and 2017. After analysing 1.8 million observations of one-member households' food baskets, we found that gender gaps are increasing significantly for 16 of 70 studied foods, decreasing significantly for another 16 of 70 studied foods and not changing significantly for more than half of the studied foods. On average, the gender gap in food consumption in Switzerland has increased over time. We conclude that behavioural differences between genders and culturally induced gender differences (e.g., unequal career chances) are largely unrelated.

Negotiating the Space between East and West: Sport and Gender Politics in Swiss Women’s Artistic Gymnastics in the Cold War Era

During the Cold War, women’s artistic gymnastics changed fundamentally and became an important battleground between East and West in the struggle for supremacy. As a supposedly neutral state and gymnastics federation, the case of Swiss sport and gender politics was left out. To analyze the Swiss case in women’s artistic gymnastics and its negotiation and positioning between East and West, written archival sources and oral histories are analyzed using a gender historical approach. By analyzing rejection and transfer through boycott, codification, sport policy, reception of coaching and sport techniques, as well as athletes’ welfare, the interconnectedness of gender and sports policy during the Cold War is explored and exemplified. The Swiss Gymnastics Federation, on the one hand, distinguished itself from the East as a reference space, which was imagined as different and indeed successful, but also harsh and totalitarian, but on the other hand, also imported and (re)produced knowledge and promising strategies. This ambivalent positioning between East and West, however, reveals both a gendered and political rejection of the other while using it as a role model and locating problems of athletes’ welfare in the East.

Obstetric Outcomes of Eritrean Immigrants in Switzerland: A Comparative Study.

Objectives: This study aims to compare obstetric outcomes between Eritrean and Swiss women in Switzerland, focusing on instrumental or surgical interventions and analgesia use. Methods: The study included data from 45,412 Swiss and 1,132 Eritrean women who gave birth in Swiss hospitals (2019-2022). Mixed-effects logistic regression was used to assess the effect of nationality on mode of delivery and analgesia use and multinomial mixed-effects logistic regression to assess the effect of nationality on mode of delivery in women intended for spontaneous vaginal delivery. Results: Compared with Swiss, Eritrean women had a lower rate of primary C-section (Adj. OR 0.73, 95% CI [0.60, 0.89]) but a higher risk of initially planned vaginal deliveries ending in emergency C-section (RRR 1.31, 95% CI [1.05, 1.63]). Eritrean women were less likely to receive epidural analgesia (Adj. OR 0.53, 95% CI [0.45, 0.62]) and more likely to not receive any analgesia (Adj. OR 1.73, 95% CI [1.52, 1.96]). Conclusion: This study reveals disparities in obstetric care, notably in higher emergency C-section rates and lower analgesia use among Eritrean women. For promoting equitable healthcare practices deeper understanding of obstetrics decision-making is needed.

Good governance principles: Snapshot of athletes’ and coaches’ commissions within their National Sports Federations in 2019

Introduction
 Good governance principles of National Sports Federations (NSF) include the representation of athletes and coaches through commissions (PlayTheGame, n. d.). This representation has been an important issue in Switzerland since the “Magglingen Protocols” of October 2020, which outlined the abuses in Swiss women’s gymnastics. In response, Swiss Olympic and the Federal Department of Defence, Civil Protection and Sport have taken measures, including the representation of athletes and coaches within their NSFs. One year before the abuses became public, athletes, coaches and NSFs’ officials were surveyed regarding principles of good governance. The surveys comprised questions on their involvement in policy-making at national level and, in particular, the existence of an athletes’ and coaches’ commission within their NSFs.
 Methods
 Using the SPLISS model (Sports Policy Factors Leading to International Sporing Success) and respective surveys (De Bosscher et al., 2006), 1,450 athletes with a Swiss Olympic Card Gold, Silver, Bronze or Elite from 54 different sports, 734 coaches with a national coaching position and a professional coaching qualification and 122 officials from NSFs were surveyed via an online survey (Kempf et al., 2021).
 Results
 Around 990 athletes assessed their involvement in the development and evaluation of policy guidelines, of which 16% (n = 156) reported to be “very/sufficiently involved” in the development within their NSF, followed by 13% (n = 130) for Swiss Olympic and 10% (n = 99) in FOSPO respectively. Overall, 50% (n = 451 – 507) of athletes consider their involvement to be “insufficient/not at all” in all three organisations. The responses for the evaluation of policy guidelines were similar. Regarding the existence of an athlete’s commission within their NSF, 44% (n = 442) of athletes stated that there is one, while 35% (n = 351) did not know; respectively coaches for coaches’ commission: 30% (n = 129) and 25% (n = 108). Finally, 46% (n = 41) of officials stated that there was a coaches’ committee in their NSF and 30% (n = 25) for the athletes’ commissions respectively.
 Discussion/Conclusion
 The results show that in 2019, an important number of athletes do not feel sufficiently involved in national level policy-making and that a significant number of athletes and coaches are not represented by a commission within their NSF. Meanwhile, the findings confirm the need for improved communication, particularly in relation to the existence of commissions. As posited by PlayTheGame (n. d.), clearly communicating the rights and responsibilities of commission members is needed to improve coaches and athletes’ involvement. Further research could make a comparison with the current situation and analyse the impact of the measures introduced by FOSPO and Swiss Olympic since 2020.
 References
 De Bosscher, V., De Knop, P., Van Bottenburg, M., & Shibli, S. (2006). A conceptual framework for analysing sports policy factors leading to international sporting success. European Sport Management Quarterly, 6(2), 185-215. https://doi.org/10.1080/16184740600955087
 Kempf, H., Weber, A. C., Zurmühle, C., Bosshard, B., Mrkonjic, M., Weber, A., Pillet, F., & Sutter, S. (2021). Leistungssport Schweiz. Momentaufnahme SPLISS-CH 2019 [High performance sport Switzerland. Snapshot SPLISS-CH 2019] (2nd, rev. ed.). Bundesamt für Sport BASPO.
 PlayTheGame. (n. d.). Strengthening athlete power in sport. https://www.playthegame.org/projects/strengthening-athlete-power-in-sport-sapis/

What matters to migrant women during labor and birth: Chinese mothers’ experiences in Switzerland

BackgroundIn Switzerland, foreigners account for 25.3% of the permanent resident population, and the fertility rate of migrant women is higher than that of Swiss women. However, migrant women from non-European countries are more likely to report having negative childbirth experiences than Swiss women. For example, during pregnancy, Chinese migrant mothers often felt dissatisfied with the follow-up pregnancy complications and lacked information on medical procedures and prenatal courses. In this paper, we explored their childbirth experiences in Swiss hospitals and how Swiss healthcare providers supported them.MethodA qualitative study employing in-depth, semi-structured interviews was conducted with 14 Chinese mothers and 13 family members. All interviews were audio-recorded, transcribed, and translated into English for data analysis. Thematic analysis was employed to generate a detailed description.ResultsThree main themes were extracted from the transcripts: (1) Sense of security, (2) Intrapartum care, and (3) Postpartum needs.ConclusionsOur study shows Chinese migrant mothers prioritized giving birth in a physically and psychologically safe environment, with pain control and practical and emotional support from their intimate partners. They desired a physiological labor and birth with minimal obstetric interventions. Our research also reveals their postpartum needs, emphasizing the importance of postpartum support and obtaining culturally sensitive care during their postpartum hospital stay. The study adds new knowledge of specific migrant studies in Switzerland, as called for by the Swiss Federal Office of Public Health. The results call for the transcultural care skills training of Swiss healthcare providers to enable migrant women to have a more positive childbirth experience.

Digital health in perinatal care: Exploring usage, attitudes, and needs among Swiss women in urban and rural settings

Background Switzerland's healthcare system is known for its quality but faces challenges such as slow digitalization and fragmentation, especially in perinatal care. This study investigates Swiss women's use, needs, and attitudes in respect of digital health tools during pregnancy and postpartum, focusing on any differences between rural and urban populations. Methods A web-based cross-sectional survey targeted pregnant women and those who had given birth in the last 12 months. Participants were recruited through social media, and the data were analyzed using principal component analysis and multivariable regressions to explore factors affecting the use of digital tools and attitudes toward eHealth. Results A total of 1160 participants completed the survey. Healthcare professionals (92%) and private networks (77%) were the primary sources of information. Women expressed a strong preference for app features such as data access (73%), prescription management (73%), and scheduling appointments with healthcare professionals (71%). However, they also raised concerns about the impersonal nature of digital healthcare interactions (71%). Overall, rural women had more negative attitudes toward online health information seeking, which can be attributed to differences in education levels. Conclusion The findings indicate that while Swiss women in the perinatal period do utilize digital tools, they focus more on nonmedical topics such as tracking physiological development. The study underscores the importance of adapting digital health solutions to the specific needs of women in the perinatal period. Emphasis should be placed on developing applications that are not only informative but also empower women on their healthcare journey while ensuring data privacy and supporting personal interactions with healthcare providers.

Alternate day versus consecutive day oral iron supplementation in iron-depleted women: a randomized double-blind placebo-controlled study

Guidelines to treat iron deficiency recommend daily provision of oral iron, but this may decrease fractional iron absorption and increase side effects. Our objective was to compare consecutive-day versus alternate-day iron supplementation. In a double-masked, randomized, placebo-controlled trial, young Swiss women (n=150; serum ferritin ≤30μg/L) were assigned to: daily 100mg iron for 90d, followed by daily placebo for another 90d (consecutive-day group) or the same daily dose of iron and placebo on alternate days for 180d (alternate-day group). The study period was 24/11/2021-10/8/2022. Co-primary outcomes, at equal total iron doses, were serum ferritin and gastrointestinal side effects; secondary outcomes were iron deficiency and serum hepcidin. Compliance and side effects were recorded daily using a mobile application. Data were analysed using mixed models and longitudinal prevalence ratios (LPR). The trial was registered at ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT05105438). 75 women were assigned to each group and included in the intention-to-treat analysis. Capsule adherence and side effect reporting was >97% in both groups. At equal total iron doses, comparing consecutive-day and alternate-day groups, median serum ferritin was 43.8μg/L (31.7-58.2) versus 44.8μg/L (33.8-53.6) (P=0.98), the LPR for gastrointestinal side effects on days of iron intake was 1.56 (95% CI: 1.38, 1.77; P<0.0001), and median serum hepcidin was 3.0nM (IQR 2.0-5.0) versus 1.9nM (1.4-2.9) (P<0.0001). Iron deficiency prevalence after 3 months was 5.5% versus 4.3% (P=0.74) and after 6 months was 11.4% and 3.0% (P=0.049). At equal total iron doses, compared to consecutive day dosing of iron, alternate day dosing did not result in higher serum ferritin but reduced iron deficiency at 6 months and triggered fewer gastrointestinal side effects. Swiss National Science Foundation, Bern, Switzerland.

Intersectional Making of the ‘Sri Lankan Case’: The Racialization of Domestic Violence in the Swiss Police Force

Abstract This article uses an intersectional lens to ethnographically analyze police treatment of domestic violence in Switzerland. The analysis suggests three interlinked explanatory factors to understand the differential treatment of domestic violence for white Swiss/European nationals on the one hand, and racialized non-European migrants on the other. These factors are (1) prevailing generalized representations of the racialization of violence against women in Switzerland, (2) the police professional logic used to categorize sections of the public, and (3) the specific police institutional memory of two emblematic cases of domestic violence involving families of Sri Lankan nationality. The article discusses the implications of this differential treatment not only for racialized non-Europeans but also for Swiss and white European women subjected to domestic violence.

Estimating habitual iodine intake and prevalence of inadequacy from spot urine in cross-sectional studies: a modeling analysis to determine the required sample size

BackgroundThe habitual/usual iodine intake and the prevalence of iodine inadequacy may be estimated from spot urinary iodine concentrations in cross-sectional studies by collecting a repeat spot urine in a subgroup of the study population and accounting for within-person variability in iodine intake. However, guidance on the required overall sample size (N) and the replicate rate (n) is lacking. ObjectivesTo determine the sample size (N) and replicate rate (n) needed to estimate the prevalence of iodine inadequacy in cross-sectional studies. MethodsWe used data from local observational studies conducted in women 17–49 y old in Switzerland (N = 308), South Africa (N = 154), and Tanzania (N = 190). All participants collected 2 spot urine samples. We calculated the iodine intake using urinary iodine concentrations and accounted for urine volume using urinary creatinine concentration. For each study population, we estimated the habitual iodine intake distribution and determined the prevalence of iodine intake below the average requirement using the Statistical Program to Assess habitual Dietary Exposure (SPADE). We used the obtained model parameters in power analyzes and estimated the prevalence of iodine inadequacy for different sample sizes (N = 400, 600, and 900) and replicate rates (n = 50, 100, 200, 400, 600, and 900). ResultsThe estimated prevalence (95% CI) of inadequate iodine intake was 21% (15, 28%), 5.1% (1.3, 8.7%), and 8.2% (3.4, 13%) for Swiss, South African, and Tanzanian women, respectively. An N of 400 women, with a repeated measure (n) in 100 women, achieved a satisfactory precision of the prevalence estimate in all study populations. Increasing the replicate rate (n) improved the precision more effectively than increasing the N of the study. ConclusionsThe sample size for cross-sectional studies aiming to assess the prevalence of inadequate iodine intake depend on the expected prevalence, the overall variance in intake, and the study design. However, an N of 400 participants with a repeated measure of 25% may be used as guidance when planning observational studies applying simple random sampling.This trial was registered at clinicaltrials.gov as NCT03731312.

Breast cancer and occupation: Non-parametric and parametric net survival analyses among Swiss women (1990-2014).

Occupation can contribute to differences in risk and stage at diagnosis of breast cancer. This study aimed at determining whether occupation, along with skill level and the socio-professional category, affect the breast cancer survival (BCS) up to 10 years after diagnosis. We used cancer registry records to identify women diagnosed with primary invasive breast cancer in western Switzerland over the period 1990-2014 and matched them with the Swiss National Cohort. The effect of work-related variables on BCS was assessed using non-parametric and parametric net survival methods. Study sample included 8,678 women. In the non-parametric analysis, we observed a statistically significant effect of all work-related variables on BCS. Women in elementary occupations, with low skill level, and in paid employment not classified elsewhere, had the lowest BCS, while professionals, those with the highest skill level and belonging to top management and independent profession category had the highest BCS. The parametric analysis confirmed this pattern. Considering elementary occupations as reference, all occupations but Craft and related trades had a hazard ratio (HR) below 1. Among professionals, technicians and associate professionals, and clerks, the protective effect of occupation was statistically significant and remained unchanged after adjustment for age, calendar period, registry, nationality, and histological type. After adjusting for tumor stage, the HRs increased only slightly, though turned non-significant. The same effect was observed in top management and independent professions and supervisors, low level management and skilled laborers, compared to unskilled employees. These results suggest that work-related factors may affect BCS. Yet, this study was conducted using a limited set of covariates and a relatively small study sample. Therefore, further larger studies are needed for more detailed analyses of at risk occupations and working conditions and assessing the potential interaction between work-related variables and tumor stage.

DARI SWISS KE IRAN: “DALAM UPAYA MENDUKUNG GERAKAN SOSIAL PEMENUHAN HAM BAGI PEREMPUAN IRAN MELALUI NON GOVERNMENT ORGANIZATION SWISS”

The struggle for equal rights for women existed before the Islamic Revolution. To ensure that there are gender interests which are important in fulfilling the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in social life.This study is seek to answer the actions of Iranian women as a society that has the same position and status and is able to contribute in the political field and women's participation to be able to participate in the political field and which is supported by Swiss women's institutions to elevate the role of women in Iran after the revolution through Non-Government Organization.This study uses the theory of Liberal Feminism which is one of the theories of International Relations in supporting the fulfillment of human rights for women. The results of the study show that the presence of Switzerland encourages the fulfillment of human rights for Iranian women. Switzerland has been present in Iran for 40 years and is a country of communication between the US and Iran together by supporting the fulfillment of Iranian women's human rights through NGOs and the existence of CEDAW as a convention on women's human rights, there is still a gap in human rights between men and women in Iran.

Trends in the disability-free life expectancy in Switzerland over a 10-year period: an analysis of survey-based data.

Increasing life expectancy raises concerns whether the years gained will be spent free of disability. Lately, trends across countries have been heterogeneous. This work examined recent trends in disability-free life expectancy and life expectancy with mild or severe disability in Switzerland. Life expectancy was estimated using national life tables, by sex and 5-year age groups. Based on Sullivan's method, disability-free life expectancy and life expectancy with disability were computed using information from the Swiss Health Survey on age- and sex-specific prevalence of mild and severe disability. Life expectancy, disability-free life expectancy and life expectancy with disability were estimated in 2007, 2012, and 2017, at 65 and 80 years of age, for both sexes. Between 2007 and 2017, disability-free life expectancy at 65 and 80 years of age increased by 2.1 and 1.4 years, respectively, in men and by 1.5 and 1.1 years, respectively, in women. Meanwhile, life expectancy with mild disability decreased by 6 months in both sexes at age 65 and in men at age 80, but only 1 month in women at age 80. Life expectancy with severe disability also decreased at both ages, by approximately 6 months in women but only 2 to 3 months in men. The proportion of disability-free life expectancy increased significantly in both sexes and ages. For example, disability-free life expectancy / life expectancy at age 65 increased from 67% (95% confidence interval [CI] 66‒69) to 73% (95% CI 71‒74) in women and from 77% (95% CI 75‒79) to 82% (95% CI 81‒84) in men. From 2007 to 2017, disability-free life expectancy at age 65 and 80 increased in Swiss women and men. These gains outweighed those in life expectancy, reflecting some compression of morbidity.

Iron Bioavailability from Ferric Pyrophosphate in Extruded Rice Cofortified with Zinc Sulfate Is Greater than When Cofortified with Zinc Oxide in a Human Stable Isotope Study

Background: Extruded rice grains are often cofortified with iron and zinc. However, it is uncertain if the addition of zinc to iron-fortified rice affects iron absorption and whether this is zinc-compound specific.Objective: We investigated whether zinc, added as zinc oxide (ZnO) or zinc sulfate (ZnSO4), affects human iron absorption from extruded rice fortified with ferric pyrophosphate (FePP).Methods: In 19 iron-depleted Swiss women (plasma ferritin ≤16.5 μ/L) aged between 20 and 39 y with a normal body mass index (in kg/m2; 18.7-24.8), we compared iron absorption from 4 meals containing fortified extruded rice with 4 mg Fe and 3 mg Zn. Three of the meals contained extruded rice labeled with FePP (57FePP): 1) 1 meal without added zinc (57FePP-Zn), 2) 1 cofortified with ZnO (57FePP+ZnO), and 3) 1 cofortified with ZnSO4 (57FePP+ZnSO4). The fourth meal contained extruded rice without iron or zinc, extrinsically labeled with ferrous sulfate (58FeSO4) added as a solution after cooking. All 4 meals contained citric acid. Iron bioavailability was measured by isotopic iron ratios in red blood cells. We also measured relative in vitro iron solubility from 57FePP-Zn, 57FePP+ZnO, and 57FePP+ZnSO4 expressed as a fraction of FeSO4 solubility.Results: Geometric mean fractional iron absorption (95% CI) from 57FePP+ZnSO4 was 4.5% (3.4%, 5.8%) and differed from 57FePP+ZnO (2.7%; 1.8%, 4.1%) (P < 0.03); both did not differ from 57FePP-Zn: 4.0% (2.8%, 5.6%). Relative iron bioavailabilities compared with 58FeSO4 were 62%, 57%, and 38% from 57FePP+ZnSO4, 57FePP-Zn, and 57FePP+ZnO, respectively. In vitro solubility from 57FePP+ZnSO4 differed from that of 57FePP-Zn (14.3%; P < 0.02) but not from that of 57FePP+ZnO (10.2% compared with 13.1%; P = 0.08).Conclusions: In iron-depleted women, iron absorption from FePP-fortified extruded rice cofortified with ZnSO4 was 1.6-fold (95% CI: 1.4-, 1.9-fold) that of rice cofortified with ZnO. These findings suggest that ZnSO4 may be the preferable zinc cofortificant for optimal iron bioavailability of iron-fortified extruded rice. This trial was registered at clinicaltrials.gov as NCT02255942.

The Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Young Adults' Mental Health in Switzerland: A Longitudinal Cohort Study from 2018 to 2021.

Most of the studies that examine the effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on mental health have been restricted to pandemic mental health data alone. The aim of the current study was to estimate the pandemic's effect on young Swiss adults' mental health by comparing pandemic to pre-pandemic mental health. Longitudinal data of 1175 young Swiss adults who participated in the S-YESMH study in 2018 and were followed-up in 2020 and 2021 were analyzed. The study outcomes were self-reported symptoms of depression, generalized anxiety disorder (GAD), attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), thoughts about death or self-harm, and risky single-occasion drinking (RSOD). Generalized estimation equations, logistic regression and statistical mediation analysis were used to analyze the data. Evidence was found of increased depression, GAD, and ADHD among young women and increased depression among young men, resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic. Uncertainty about the future predicted young women's depression and anxiety in 2021. COVID-19 stress in 2021 fully mediated the effect of COVID-19 stress in 2020 on depression and GAD in 2021. Young Swiss women's and men's mental health appears to have been adversely affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, especially during the second pandemic year. Uncertainty about the future and stress becoming chronic in 2021 likely explain some of the adverse effects.

A true choice of place of birth? Swiss women's access to birth hospitals and birth centers.

While the place of birth plays a crucial role for women's birth experiences, the interest in out-of-hospital births has increased during the Covid-19 pandemic. Related to this, various international policies recommend enabling women to choose where to give birth. We aimed to analyze Swiss women's choice between birth hospitals and birth centers. Employing spatial accessibility analysis, we incorporated four data types: highly disaggregated population data, administrative data, street network data, addresses of birth hospitals and birth centers. 99.8% of Swiss women of childbearing age were included in the analysis (N = 1.896.669). We modelled car travel times from a woman's residence to the nearest birth hospital and birth center. If both birth settings were available within 30 minutes, a woman was considered to have a true choice. Only 58.2% of women had a true choice. This proportion varied considerably across Swiss federal states. The main barrier to a true choice was limited accessibility of birth centers. Median travel time to birth hospitals was 9.8 (M = 12.5), to birth centers 23.9 minutes (M = 28.5). Swiss women are insufficiently empowered to exercise their reproductive autonomy as their choice of place of birth is significantly limited by geographical constraints. It is an ethical and medical imperative to provide women with a true choice. We provide high-resolution insights into the accessibility of birth settings and strong arguments to (re-)examine the need for further birth centers (and birth hospitals) in specific geographical areas. Policy-makers are obligated to improve the accessibility of birth centers to advance women's autonomy and enhance maternal health outcomes after childbirth. The Covid-19 pandemic offers an opportunity to shift policy.

Prospective Associations Between Maternal Depression and Infant Sleep in Women With Gestational Diabetes Mellitus.

BackgroundWomen with gestational diabetes mellitus have higher rates of perinatal depressive symptoms, compared to healthy pregnant women. In the general population, maternal depressive symptoms have been associated with infant sleep difficulties during the first year postpartum. However, there is lack of data on infants of mothers with gestational diabetes mellitus.MethodsThis study assessed the prospective associations between maternal perinatal depressive symptoms and infant sleep outcomes. The study population consisted of 95 Swiss women with gestational diabetes mellitus and their infants, enrolled in the control group of the MySweetheart trial (NCT02890693). Perinatal depressive symptoms were assessed with the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale at the first gestational diabetes mellitus visit during pregnancy, at 6–8 weeks postpartum, and 1 year postpartum. The Brief Infant Sleep Questionnaire was used to assess infant sleep (i.e., nocturnal sleep duration, number of night waking, and maternal perception of infant sleep) at 1 year postpartum. Relevant maternal and infant measurements (e.g., infant sex or maternal age or social support) were collected or extracted from medical records as covariates.ResultsAntenatal maternal depressive symptoms at the first gestational diabetes mellitus visit were inversely associated with infant nocturnal sleep duration at 1 year postpartum (β = –5.9, p = 0.046). This association became marginally significant when covariates were added (β = –5.3, p = 0.057). Maternal depressive symptoms at 6–8 weeks postpartum were negatively and prospectively associated with infant nocturnal sleep duration (β = –9.35, p = 0.016), even when controlling for covariates (β = –7.32, p = 0.042). The association between maternal depressive symptoms and maternal perception of infant sleep as not a problem at all was significant at 1 year postpartum (β = –0.05, p = 0.006), although it became non-significant when controlling for appropriate covariates. No other significant associations were found.LimitationsThis study solely included measures derived from self-report validated questionnaires.ConclusionOur findings suggest it is of utmost importance to support women with gestational diabetes mellitus as a means to reduce the detrimental impact of maternal perinatal depressive symptoms on infant sleep, given its predictive role on infant metabolic health.

Locating the threat, rebordering the nation: Gender and Islamophobia in the Swiss Parliament, 2001–2015

Since 2001, the ‘Islamic threat’ has become increasingly prominent in debates on migration policy, religious affairs and security at the federal level in Switzerland. Supported by the far right-wing parties, the paradigm of the Islamic threat reveals how Islamophobia is gendered and affects Muslim women and men differently. By analysing debates between the Federal Council and Swiss Parliament, this article shows how the Islamic threat shaped the border politics of the Swiss Nation between 2001 and 2015. It reveals how the ruling elite justified the socio-spatial exclusion of Muslims living in a Muslim-minority context. As consequence of the success of the far right-wing Swiss People's Party (SVP), legal measures have increased with regard to security, protection of Swiss culture and women's rights, and exclusion of Muslims from the boundaries of the Swiss nation.

A Survey on Oral Health Knowledge, Attitudes and Practices of Pregnant Women Attending Four General Health Hospitals in Switzerland.

To evaluate the knowledge and practices of Swiss women regarding oral health during pregnancy. Self-reported questionnaires were attributed to 385 women from 4 public hospitals in the French speaking part of Switzerland from February 2015 to June 2016.The questionnaire consisted of 32 questions including demographic characteristics, oral health habits and awareness of oral changes during pregnancy. The majority of women (64%) were in the 3rd trimester of pregnancy and had a university education (41%). Oral health was considered very important for half of the women (52%) and moderately important for 38% of them. 71% of the women did not notice any change concerning their oral health conditions. Of the remaining 29%, gingival bleeding was the main symptom reported, followed by gingival redness and oedema. Pain and sensitivity were also reported by a few participants. Most of the pregnant women attended dental appointments during their pregnancy, but not on a regular basis, mainly because of lack of time. Almost half of the population had an adequate oral hygiene routine and adapted their eating habits to a much healthier pattern during pregnancy. A large proportion of the participants (71%) was aware that pregnancy renders teeth and gums more vulnerable and that oral health is related to adverse pregnancy outcomes. However, this information was rarely imparted to them by health professionals. Although pregnant women in the French speaking part of Switzerland seem to be moderately informed about the importance of oral health during pregnancy, health-care professionals do not seem to participate actively. Health professionals need to more actively inform pregnant patients about the importance of preventive oral health measures and oral health care during pregnancy.