Women's Attitudes Research Articles

Examining The Factors Affecting Women's Family Planning Attitudes and Perceived Barriers to Contraception Methods

Objective: The aim of this study was to examine the factors affecting women's attitudes towards family planning and their perceived barriers to contraception methods. Method: This descriptive, cross-sectional and correlational study was conducted in a university hospital in Bursa with 382 women between October 2018 and October 2019. Data were collected with the Family Planning Attitude Scale and the Perception Scale of Barriers to Contraceptive Use. Results: The mean total scores of the Family Planning Attitude Scale and the Perception Scale of Barriers to Contraceptive Use were determined to be 115.4±39.7 and 78.1±41.7, respectively. The mean total score of the Family Planning Attitude Scale was found to be statistically significantly high in women lower who were 33 years of age or younger, married, graduated from high school or above, had a nuclear family, had a high-income level, lived in the city center, were aware of and used birth control methods, received counseling about birth control methods, and had a planned pregnancy. The total mean score of the Perception Scale of Barriers to Contraceptive Use was statistically significantly lower in these women (p

The Relation of Attitudes towards Menopause of Postmenopausal and Premenopausal Women to Sexual Life and Quality of Life

Objective: The study examined the relation of postmenopausal and premenopausal women's attitudes towards menopause to sexual life and quality of life. Material and Method: The sample of this descriptive study consisted of a total of 322 married women who were in the postmenopausal (n=161) and premenopausal (n=161) periods. The data were collected using the Personal Information Form, Attitudes towards the Menopause Questionnaire (ATMQ), Arizona Sexual Experiences Scale (ASEX), and Utian Quality of Life (UQOL) Scale. Results: There was a statistically significant positive relationship between postmenopausal women’s ATMQ scores and emotional quality of life subscale of UQOL (r=0.450; p=0.001) with postmenopausal women’s having negative relationship between ATMQ scores and occupational quality of life of UQOL (r=–0.342; p=0.001), and negative relationship between ATMQ scores and ASEX total scores (r=–0.310; p=0.001). Conclusion: Postmenopausal women had more negative health-related quality of life and sexual quality of life. As the positive attitudes of postmenopausal women towards menopause increased, their emotional quality of life increased, and their occupational quality of life decreased, and as their positive attitudes towards menopause decreased, their sexual quality of life levels were negatively affected. It is recommended by health professionals provide to help as postmenopausal married women develop positive attitudes toward menopause, to make regular follow-ups, and to provide educational and sexual counseling.

Food Neophobia and Two Facets of Orthorexia Among Women: Cross-Sectional Study.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the link between food neophobia and two dimensions of orthorexia in women. This cross-sectional study of 985 women aged 18 years and over was conducted using face-to-face questionnaires. Women who had a disability, had a chronic disease, or were pregnant or breastfeeding were excluded. Participants provided information on their sociodemographic details (age and educational level) and frequency of physical activity. Orthorexic tendencies were assessed using the Teruel Orthorexia Scale. The women's attitude towards trying new foods was assessed using the Food Neophobia Scale. A total of 337 participants (34.2%) were neophilic, 322 participants (32.7%) were neutral, and 326 participants (33.1%) were neophobic. There was no correlation between food neophobia scores and either age or body mass index. However, food neophobia was positively correlated with healthy orthorexia and orthorexia nervosa (p < 0.05). The mean individual scores for orthorexia nervosa and healthy orthorexia according to the Teruel Orthorexia Scale were 11.45 ± 3.91 and 20.04 ± 4.31, respectively. The results indicate that individuals with orthorexia nervosa have higher food neophobia scores, reflecting a greater reluctance to try unfamiliar foods, whereas individuals with healthy orthorexia do not show significant differences in food neophobia tendencies. This distinction highlights the importance of distinguishing between pathological and non-pathological eating behaviors when addressing dietary concerns.

Financial inclusion of vulnerable sectors with a gender perspective: risk analysis model with artificial intelligence based on complex thinking

The objective is to present a proposal for a gender-sensitive risk analysis model using artificial intelligence (AI) within the framework of complex thinking that provides access to opportunities, specifically for vulnerable populations such as women from underprivileged sections. This international non-parametric study highlights the vulnerability of this population in Mexico through a sample of 2787 women. The methodological design included data analysis, the postulation of a proposed model, and a validation method for the credit risk analysis model. There is a correlation between the level of schooling of impoverished and vulnerable women with the possibility of self-employment and selling a product or service. In the framework of complex thinking, the perception of innovative thinking is related to the level of education and innovative decision-making in professional projects. Women with a higher level of schooling tend to think about their professional projects systematically. Promoting complex thinking involves innovative educational practices to encourage critical, systemic, scientific, and innovative thinking in entrepreneurship and sustainable development. Integrating reasoning for complexity benefits women and contributes to economic and social growth in vulnerable regions. In contrast to other models, our credit risk analysis model uses AI and variables for gender, vulnerability, and complex thinking to detect patterns in women's behaviors and attitudes in the venture start-up process. Our proposal is the starting point of many analyses to develop further about artificial intelligence based on complex thinking.

Relationship Between Pregnant Women's Knowledge, Husband's Support and Pregnant Women's Attitude with Triple Elimination Screening Examination at Cakranegara Community Health Center

Pregnant women must undergo routine check-ups in a check-up package called Antenatal Care (ANC). One of the ANC service packages that pregnant women must follow is the Triple Elimination screening examination which can prevent 3 infectious diseases, namely Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV), hepatitis B, and syphilis which can be transmitted from mother to fetus. The purpose of this study was to determine the relationship between knowledge of pregnant women, husband's support and attitudes of pregnant women with the Triple Elimination screening examination in the working area of ​​the Cakranegara Health Center. cross-sectional research using quantitative methods. Simple random sampling is the method used for sampling. The Cakranegara Community Health Center served as the site of the study. There were 110 responders in the research sample. The Chi-Square test was used to evaluate the data, and a significant result of p &lt; 0.05 was found. Among the 110 pregnant women who responded, 58.2% had high knowledge (p-value = 0.011), 50.9% had positive husband support (p-value = 1.000), and 73.6% had positive attitudes (p-value = 0.001) among those who responded about pregnant women's attitudes. While there is a correlation between pregnant women's attitudes and their level of knowledge regarding the Triple Elimination screening examination at the Cakranegara Community Health Center, there is no significant correlation between husband support and the test.

Navigating vaccination in pregnancy: Qualitative study in 21 ethnically diverse pregnant women.

Vaccination during pregnancy is crucial for safeguarding maternal and neonatal health, but vaccination rates remain suboptimal, especially in women from Black and Asian ethnic minorities. We explored the perspectives and decision-making processes of pregnant women regarding uptake of the three recommended vaccines in pregnancy: Influenza, Pertussis (whooping cough) and COVID-19. We also explored women's attitudes to taking part in vaccine trials during pregnancy and the use of artificial intelligence (AI) to obtain information on vaccines. In 2023, we conducted in-depth telephone interviews with ethnically diverse pregnant women in the Greater London area using convenience and snowball sampling. The interviews focused on participants' views on vaccination during pregnancy, participation in vaccine trials, information-seeking behaviours, and attitudes to emerging technologies for health information. Interviews were transcribed verbatim and thematically analysed. The data collection and analysis were conducted alongside the iterative development of the topic guide and coding framework, with key themes emerging through collaborative team discussions. Twenty one pregnant women aged 20-39 were interviewed of whom 67% were from ethnic minorities and 29% were from migrant backgrounds. Half the participants (53%) reported hesitancy towards at least one of the vaccines. The analysis revealed several themes: concerns about vaccine safety, particularly regarding newer vaccines due to lack of long-term data; reliance on healthcare professionals for guidance, balanced with personal research; and a strong desire for clear and comprehensive information specifically tailored to pregnant women. Pregnant women reported insufficient information, explanation, or recommendation by midwives. Additionally, there was widespread refusal regarding participation in vaccine trials; and mixed responses to the use of AI (such as chatbots) for obtaining vaccine information. Pregnant women's vaccination decisions are complex and require clear, unambiguous communication from healthcare providers, especially midwives, to address their specific concerns. Although information obtained via AI can be useful, responses were mixed.

Knowledge, Practice and Attitude of Women Regarding Breastfeeding in Thi-Qar Governorate-Iraq

Breastfeeding (BF) is the natural way for infants’ nutrition, it provides the ideal nutrients they need for healthy development and growth. The purpose of this study was to evaluate mothers' knowledge and practice of BF and its determinants and to determine the association between knowledge and certain characteristics. 200 moms who were patients at the Bint Al-Huda teaching hospital between November 1, 2021, and February 1, 2021, were chosen at random with their consent for this cross-sectional study, and their answers to a standardized questionnaire were analyzed. Of the 200 women, 26% were between the ages of 20 and 25, with a mean and SD of 29.24±7.829 and 24.5% having completed elementary school. Prior to our study, nearly (67%) mothers had received education on BF. A mother who practices breast cancer has a low risk of developing the disease (62.5%). Proper positioning is also important for achieving effective breast cancer (68.5%). Breastfeeding should begin within 30 minutes of delivery (62%), and once the baby begins taking complementary foods (54.5%), mothers can combine breastfeed and formula feeding. We found that most mothers had engaged in exclusive BF and knew only a moderate amount about its benefits. Better educational initiatives are required to raise public awareness of its long-term benefits for the nation's health status.

Attitudes of pregnant women toward vaccination against COVID-19 - a study conducted in Poland in the first quarter of 2022.

The study aimed to assess the attitudes of pregnant women toward vaccination against COVID-19. The research was conducted using a diagnostic survey with our original questionnaire among 283 pregnant women. The survey was carried out in Poland in the first quarter of 2022. Statistical analyses were performed using IBM SPSS 26.0 (p < 0.05). It was shown that 140 (49.5%) pregnant women were vaccinated against COVID-19, of which 90 (64.3%) received vaccination during pregnancy. In the group of 143 (50%) unvaccinated people, only 11.9% of respondents expressed willingness to be vaccinated against COVID-19. The most frequently cited arguments for receiving the vaccine were fear of a severe course of the disease (37.5%) and the possibility of passing antibodies to a child (37.1%). Women who did not undergo vaccination believed that they did not want to put themselves and their babies at risk (39.9%) and were concerned about adverse post-vaccination reactions (35.2%) and the safety of the vaccine (32.5%). Women with higher education and professionally active (p = 0.004) were vaccinated more often than respondents with a lower level of education (p < 0.001). Age (p = 0.101) and place of residence (p = 0.179) did not indicate statistically significant differences in decision-making regarding vaccination against COVID-19. Pregnant women presented both pro- and anti-vaccination attitudes. Less than half of the respondents were vaccinated against COVID-19, and most of the women took the preparation during pregnancy. Selected socio-demographic factors determined women's attitudes toward vaccinations against COVID-19. Medical personnel should play a role in deciding whether a pregnant woman is vaccinated.

Knowledge, Attitude, and Practices of Pregnant Women Regarding Iron Deficiency Anemia attending obstetrics OPD Teaching Hospital D.G. Khan

Anemia in pregnancy is a serious risk to maternal and fetal health. This study was conducted to assess the KAP of pregnant women regarding anemia to identify gaps and propose interventions. A total of 200 women participated in this cross-sectional study, including 180 stay-at-home mothers and 20 working women, with a mean age of 23.44 ± 10.2 years. Most participants had a BMI between 18.9–23.5 kg/m². Data were collected using a structured questionnaire and analyzed for KAP patterns. While 54% of the participants recognized that anemia is more common in pregnancy, only 1% knew that combining an iron-rich diet with supplements could prevent it. Furthermore, 9% understood the impact of iron deficiency on fetal growth, and 51.5% were aware of the availability of free iron supplements in government facilities. Regarding attitudes, 51.9% of women agreed on the importance of a healthy diet and supplements, but only 16% emphasized regular check-ups. Practices showed that 74.8% followed a routine diet without focusing on iron-rich foods, and only 3.1% used iron supplements. The study highlights significant gaps in knowledge and practices related to anemia prevention during pregnancy, despite moderate awareness of supplement availability. Targeted health education programs are essential to bridge these gaps, promote iron-rich diets, and encourage supplement use to improve maternal and fetal outcomes.

The Relationship Between the Level of Knowledge, Attitude, and Behavior of Pregnant Women on Compliance with Iron Tablet (Ferrous Sulfate) Consumption and the Incidence of Anemia During Pregnancy

Anemia is a direct or indirect cause of maternal mortality. Anemia is associated with maternal morbidity rates. The government’s effort to address anemia is to provide iron supplements (Ferrous Sulfate). The success of iron supplement administration depends on whether or not pregnant women take iron tablets. This study aims to determine the relationship between the level of knowledge, attitude, and behavior of pregnant women on compliance with iron tablet (Ferrous Sulfate) consumption and the incidence of anemia during pregnancy. This observational analytic study used a cross-sectional design with primary data from pregnant women at Puskesmas Pembina Palembang. 100 samples that met the inclusion and exclusion criteria were selected through consecutive sampling techniques. Statistical analysis results showed that 80% of respondents were not anemic while 20% were anemic. The respondents with a high level of knowledge mostly had positive attitudes (81%), positive behavior (94%), and compliance with iron tablet consumption during pregnancy (83%). The Chi-Square test and Fisher's Exact test showed a significant relationship between knowledge level (p-value = 0.000, OR = 11.746), attitude (p-value = 0.000, OR = 34.167), behavior (p-value = 0.001, OR = 7.309), and compliance with iron tablet consumption (p-value = 0.040, OR = 3.769) and the incidence of anemia during pregnancy. This study concludes that there is a relationship between the level of knowledge, attitude, and behavior of pregnant women on compliance with iron tablet (Ferrous Sulfate) consumption and the incidence of anemia during pregnancy.

"You Think We are in the Stone Age, but We Have Already Made Progress-Where are You?": A Qualitative Study of Ultra-orthodox Women's Telemedicine Service Usage in Israel.

This study explores Ultra-Orthodox Jewish women's attitudes toward video-consultation usage in Israeli primary care settings. In-depth interviews were conducted with twenty-two women from diverse Ultra-Orthodox communities in Israel, using interpretative phenomenological analysis. Despite traditionally limited digital tool usage, participants showed readiness for video-consultations' adoption through dedicated 'kosher' medical devices. Key motivations included after-hours accessibility, convenience, and privacy, while barriers involved cultural stigma and technology concerns. Healthcare organizations should develop dedicated telemedicine devices aligned with religious values, offering insights for implementing culturally sensitive services for religious minority groups.

Pregnant Women's Attitudes about the COVID-19 Vaccine

ABSTRACT Objective: The study was conducted to determine the attitudes of pregnant women about the COVID-19 vaccine and the factors affecting these attitudes. Methods: This descriptive and cross-sectional study was conducted with 280 pregnant women between March 3 and November 4, 2022. Data were collected with the Descriptive Information Form and Attitudes Towards COVID-19 Vaccination Scale. Results: The mean age of the pregnant women who participated in the study was 27.04±5.53 years. The mean score of the positive attitude subscale of the Attitudes Towards COVID-19 Vaccine Scale was 3.46±0.91 and the mean score of the negative attitude subscale was 2.64±0.83. Conculusions: It can be said that the attitude towards Covid 19 vaccine is more positive in pregnant women who are vaccinated and planning to be vaccinated than in pregnant women who refuse the vaccine and undecided pregnant women. Keywords: Vaccine uptake, COVID-19, Pregnancy.

Determination of Gynecologic Cancer Awareness and Attitudes Towards Screening in Women Aged 20–65

&lt;b&gt;Aim:&lt;/b&gt;&lt;br /&gt; Gynecological cancers are among the top ten cancers in terms of mortality and incidence among women in our country. Enhancing awareness is crucial to reducing the morbidity and mortality of these cancers. Women with increased awareness are more likely to have positive attitudes towards cancer screenings and to undergo such tests, thereby lowering their risk. Study aims to assess gynecological cancer awareness, attitudes towards screenings, and influencing factors among women aged 20-65.&lt;br /&gt; &lt;b&gt;Material and methods: &lt;/b&gt;&lt;br /&gt; This descriptive and correlation study's population comprised 5,504 female patients in the gynecology and obstetrics, a sample of 272 patients was selected. Data were collected through a patient information form, a gynecological cancer awareness scale, and a cancer screening attitudes scale, and analyzed with SPSS.&lt;br /&gt; &lt;b&gt;Results:&lt;/b&gt;&lt;br /&gt; The participants had an average age of 29.00 ± 5.942. Of them, 94.5% were married, 96% had not received gynecological cancer education previously, and 90.1% had not undergone cancer screening before. Non-smokers and those who had received gynecologic cancer education before had statistically higher mean total scale scores (p&amp;lt;0,05). Those with higher education, employed individuals, regular exercisers, those who had previously received gynecological cancer education, and those who had previously undergone cancer screenings had statistically higher average scores on the cancer screening attitude scale (p&amp;lt;0,05).&lt;br /&gt; &lt;b&gt;Conclusion:&lt;/b&gt;&lt;br /&gt; It was found that women's attitudes toward cancer screenings and their awareness of gynecological cancers were above average. There was a statistically significant positive correlation between awareness and attitude. This result shows that women with increased awareness of gynaecological cancers also have positive attitudes towards cancer screening. Therefore, women should be educated on how to prevent gynaecological cancers through not smoking, education, employment and regular exercise.

Knowledge and Attitude of Women regarding Safe Abortion in Pokhara Metropolitan City

Background: Safe abortion is a very crucial part of reproductive health service. Women with adequate knowledge on safe abortion tended to have more liberal attitudes towards access to safe abortion services. The objective of the study is to find out knowledge and attitude of women regarding safe abortion in Pokhara Metropolitan City. Method: Descriptive cross sectional research design was adopted. Probability simple random sampling technique was used to select 374 women belongs to age group of 20 to 49 years residing in Pokhara Metropolitan City. Face to face interview technique with structured interview schedule was used. The data was analyzed by using descriptive and inferential statistics (Chi square test). Results:Out of 374 women 68.7% belongs to reproductive age 40 and above. The mean age was 30.397.350 years. Among them 72.2% were Hindu, 70.6% were married. Cent percent of them were literate. In the present study, 66.5% of the women were multigravida, 41.7% had two living children and 16.6% had history of abortion. In this study, 35.8% of the women had good knowledge and 52.1% had positive attitude towards safe abortion. Conclusions: It is concluded that more than half of the women had poor knowledge but positive attitude on safe abortion. In order to increase the level of knowledge and attitude of women, awareness raising programme on safe abortion should be conducted through concerned authority.

Women's Perspectives on Post-partum Family Planning in Banyumas, Indonesia.

Background: A recent programmatic shift in the provision of family planning in the Global South led to a renewed focus on post-partum family planning (PPFP). PPFP embodies a shift in the primary narrative of global family planning programs, from fertility reduction to promoting maternal and child well-being.Purpose: We examine key factors that shape women's knowledge, attitudes and practice of PPFP in Banyumas, Indonesia.Methodology: We employed a qualitative approach utilizing focus group discussions with pregnant women and women with children aged less than 1 year old (n = 44), and in-depth interviews with health service providers (n = 10). Guided by the research questions, we conducted a thematic analysis of the transcripts.Results: Our findings demonstrate how women's agency within marriage, their social and familial networks, their interactions with healthcare providers, and policy changes related to reproductive health and health insurance schemes, all influence the extent to which women's rights to information and choice regarding post-partum family planning can be realized. Conclusions: Key implications for practice include the necessity for health providers to offer unbiased information about contraceptive options, to engage local leadership effectively, and to ensure that government targets for the PPFP program align with women's needs and the health and social conditions of the community.

Knowledge and Attitude of Women Towards Breast Cancer Screening in Resource-Limited Setting in Women Aged 18–45 Years

Breast cancer incidence is on the rise regardless of several interventions available for its management. This scenario may be worse in resource-limited countries. This study, therefore, aimed to evaluate the knowledge and attitude of women towards Breast Cancer Screening (BCS) in Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital (AKTH), Kano State, a typically resource-limited state in Nigeria. This was a cross-sectional study. The study population comprised female individuals aged 18–45 years attending the Antenatal and Postnatal clinics of AKTH. An adopted questionnaire instrument was used to extract vital information on the knowledge and attitude of women towards breast cancer screening in the Antenatal and Postnatal clinics of AKTH. Our findings showed that there is much awareness about BCS, even though most participants’ knowledge about the methods and timing of the scan is low. Much enlightenment is achieved through the availability of print and electronic media on BCS. A better attitude is shown when trained personnel conduct BCS. A good number of participants who have knowledge are yet to translate their knowledge and attitudes into practice. Based on our findings, coordinated and timely awareness campaigns should be organized by local health authorities to improve knowledge and attitude towards BCS.

Barriers and Facilitators of Physical Activity in Pregnancy and Postpartum Among Iranian Women: A Scoping Review.

Inactivity during pregnancy and postpartum is largely a result of women's attitudes and misunderstandings of physical activity, especially in Iran. This scoping review critically assesses the barriers and facilitators influencing physical activity among pregnant and postpartum Iranian women to provide the basis for future physical activity interventions. Ten databases and platforms were searched up to 1 June 2024: Medline, SportDISCUS, PsycINFO, EMBASE, CINAHL, Cochrane Review Database, Clinical Trial, SID, ISC, and Web of Science. Grey literature sources were included to retrieve original publications on barriers and facilitators during pregnancy and postpartum among Iranian women. The search resulted in 2470 identified studies screened for inclusion criteria. After screening both abstracts and full texts, 33 of the studies were included, and data were extracted and charted. Findings were summarized in alignment with the objectives. The results show that the basic physical activity barriers are intrapersonal, interpersonal, and environmental factors. Facilitating factors include using E-learning resources and combined interventions to educate women and provide awareness of the existence of exercise classes. Social and emotional support by family members and other women in the same situation can be effective. Overall, the study of obstacles to and enablers of physical activity during pregnancy and postpartum is ongoing. In addition to highlighting the present situation in Iran, this study identifies further opportunities for future research on the development of appropriate interventions to reduce the barriers and strengthen the facilitators for physical activity among pregnant and postpartum Iranian women with trained groups, including skilled healthcare providers.

Egg Cryopreservation for Social Reasons-A Literature Review.

This paper provides an overview of the social reasons that lead women to consider egg cryopreservation, as well as the attitudes and knowledge of women towards this procedure. Methods: For the creation of this article, a literature review was carried out both in the existing medical literature and in search engines. The key points are as follows: (1) The main reasons women choose to delay childbearing are the lack of a suitable male partner, education and career advancement, and financial instability. Women feel societal and family pressure to have children, even though they may not feel ready. (2) Women's attitudes towards egg cryopreservation vary. While some are open to the idea, many are opposed to it, especially when it is used for non-medical reasons. There are concerns about the success rates, health risks, and ethical implications of the procedure. (3) The legal and regulatory framework around egg cryopreservation differs across countries. Some countries allow it only for medical reasons, while others have more permissive policies. The issue of who should bear the financial cost of the procedure is also debated. (4) There is a need to better educate women, as well as healthcare providers, about fertility decline and the options available for preserving fertility, including egg cryopreservation.

PCR148 Perimenopausal and Menopausal Women's Attitudes Towards Estrogen Administration: The Greek Case

PCR148 Perimenopausal and Menopausal Women's Attitudes Towards Estrogen Administration: The Greek Case

How to Promote Women’s Shift Towards Reusable Feminine Hygiene Products: The Application of Push-Pull-Mooring Effect Model

The growing environmental concern has promoted the global shift towards sustainable consumption, leading to the focus on reusable products. While extant literature has delved into the purchase intention of feminine hygiene products, it has often disregard the intentions behind women switching to reusable alternatives. To address this gap, the present research explores the drivers addressing women's intention to switch from disposable products to reusable options like menstrual cups and cloth pads. By utilizing non-probability purposive sampling, the study applies the Push, Pull, and Mooring (PPM) model to a sample of 386 women aged 18 to menopause. Theoretical insights from this research inform women's predisposition towards adopting reusable feminine hygiene products. Empirical findings identify pricing benefits as a significant pull factor along with women's positive attitude to switch. It also indicates that push factors have a lower impact on switching intention than pull and mooring factors. The findings underscore the potential for marketers to plan for a green transition by improving the design of sales strategy. This also provides a reference for the execution of government policies to promote the adoption of reusable feminine hygiene products to lower environmental wastage.