Women Of Lower Educational Level Research Articles

Attempts to conceive and the COVID-19 pandemic: data from the Apple Women’s Health Study

BackgroundPrevious studies have suggested that emergent events may affect pregnancy planning decisions. However, few have investigated the effect of factors related to the COVID-19 pandemic on pregnancy planning, measured by attempting conception, and how attempting conception status may differ by individual-level factors, such as social status or educational level.ObjectiveThis study aimed to examine the effects of factors related to the COVID-19 pandemic, until March 2021, on attempting conception status and to assess the effect measure modification by educational level and subjective social status.Study DesignWe conducted a longitudinal analysis within a subgroup of 21,616 participants in the Apple Women’s Health Study who enrolled from November 2019 to March 2021, who met the inclusion criteria, and who responded to the monthly status menstrual update question on attempting conception status (yes or no). Participants reporting hysterectomy, pregnancy, lactation, or menopause were excluded. We used generalized estimating equation methodology to fit logistic regression models that estimate odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals for the association between the proportion of participants attempting conception and the month of response (compared with a prepandemic reference month of February 2020) while accounting for longitudinal correlation and adjusting for age, race and ethnicity, and marital status. We stratified the analysis by social status and educational level.ResultsWe observed a trend of reduced odds of attempting conception, with an 18% reduction in the odds of attempting conception in August 2020 and October 2020 compared with the prepandemic month of February 2020 (August odds ratio: 0.82 [95% confidence interval, 0.70–0.97]; October odds ratio: 0.82 [95% confidence interval, 0.69–0.97). The participants with lower educational level (no college education) experienced a sustained reduction in the odds of attempting to conceive from June 2020 to March 2021 compared with February 2020, with up to a 24% reduction in the odds of attempting to conceive in October 2020 (odds ratio, 0.76; 95% confidence interval, 0.59–0.96). Among participants that were college educated, we observed an initial reduction in the odds of attempting to conceive starting in July 2020 (odds ratio 0.73; 95% confidence interval, 0.54–0.99) that returned near prepandemic odds. Moreover, we observed a reduction in the odds of attempting to conceive among those with low subjective social status, with a decline in the odds of attempting to conceive beginning in July 2020 (odds ratio, 0.83; 95% confidence interval, 0.63–1.10) and continuing until March 2021 (odds ratio, 0.79; 95% confidence interval, 0.59–1.06), with the greatest reduction in odds in October 2020 (odds ratio, 0.67; 95% confidence interval, 0.50–0.91).ConclusionAmong women in the Apple Women’s Health Study cohort, our findings suggested a reduction in the odds of attempting to conceive during the COVID-19 pandemic, until March 2021, particularly among women of lower educational level and lower perceived social status.

The concept of buying-shopping disorder: Comparing latent classes with a diagnostic approach for in-store and online shopping in a representative sample in Switzerland.

Buying-shopping disorder and its transferability to the online sector is controversial. This study investigates in-store and online shopping patterns by comparing data-based modeling to a diagnostic cut-off approach. Further aims were to test model equivalence for gender and identify socio-demographic risk factors. In a representative survey, the Bergen Shopping Addiction Scale (BSAS) was applied, using both an online and in-store version. Latent class analyses were followed by multinomial logistic regression analyses to investigate socio-demographic variables. Measurement invariance across genders was tested with multi-group comparisons. With N = 1,012, 3-class solutions provided the best model fit for both in-store and online shopping. Most individuals (76, 86%) were grouped in non-addicted classes, followed by risky (21, 11%) and addicted classes (both 3%). Twenty-eight percent of individuals in the online addicted shopping class remained unidentified using the cut-off. For online shopping, only lower age and education differentiated classes significantly. Results indicate a close link between online and in-store shopping, albeit with distinguishing features. The cut-off yielded findings discrepant from class probabilities. That buying-shopping disorder mainly affects younger women of lower educational level must be questioned, given the limited associations identified. It is important not only to consider different settings of pathological shopping, but also to focus on groups that may not have appeared at risk in previous investigations (e.g., men, older age). The BSAS cut-off warrants further research.

The concept of buying-shopping disorder: Comparing latent classes with a diagnostic approach for in-store and online shopping in a representative sample in Switzerland

Background and aimsBuying-shopping disorder and its transferability to the online sector is controversial. This study investigates in-store and online shopping patterns by comparing data-based modeling to a diagnostic cut-off approach. Further aims were to test model equivalence for gender and identify socio-demographic risk factors.MethodsIn a representative survey, the Bergen Shopping Addiction Scale (BSAS) was applied, using both an online and in-store version. Latent class analyses were followed by multinomial logistic regression analyses to investigate socio-demographic variables. Measurement invariance across genders was tested with multi-group comparisons.ResultsWith N = 1,012, 3-class solutions provided the best model fit for both in-store and online shopping. Most individuals (76, 86%) were grouped in non-addicted classes, followed by risky (21, 11%) and addicted classes (both 3%). Twenty-eight percent of individuals in the online addicted shopping class remained unidentified using the cut-off. For online shopping, only lower age and education differentiated classes significantly.DiscussionResults indicate a close link between online and in-store shopping, albeit with distinguishing features. The cut-off yielded findings discrepant from class probabilities. That buying-shopping disorder mainly affects younger women of lower educational level must be questioned, given the limited associations identified.ConclusionsIt is important not only to consider different settings of pathological shopping, but also to focus on groups that may not have appeared at risk in previous investigations (e.g., men, older age). The BSAS cut-off warrants further research.

Factors influencing the use of reproductive health services among young women in Nepal: analysis of the 2016 Nepal demographic and health survey

BackgroundUtilization of reproductive health services is a key component for preventing young women from different sexual and reproductive health problems. Thus, the objective of this study is to determine the factors influencing the use of reproductive health services among young women in Nepal.MethodsData have been extracted from the 2016 Nepal Demographic and Health Survey (NDHS) datasets wherein the weighted sample population size was restricted for modern contraceptive use to 1593 whereas for the antenatal care and skilled birth attendants to1606. This study has selected three reproductive health indicators as outcome variables of reproductive health service utilization for the analysis viz, modern contraceptive use, at least four antenatal care visits, and use of skilled birth attendants. Likewise, all calculations are based on standard sample weight of NDHS.ResultsThe study has found that 21% of young women used modern contraception, 71% attended at least four ANC visits, and 67% utilized a skilled birth attendant at delivery. Young Janajati women, women having 1–2, and 3 or more living children, women participating household decision-making, and the ones having exposure to media were more likely to use modern contraceptives, whereas the women who want more children were less likely to use them. Higher education attainments, higher wealth quintile, and lower birth order were associated with higher level of receiving at least four ANC visits and SBAs. However, the young women willing to have more children and having access to media have higher odds of receiving at least four ANC visits; and the women attending four and more ANC visits have higher odds of using SBAs.ConclusionsIn order to improve the use of reproductive health services among young women, efforts should be made to enrich the young women of lower educational level, lower economic status, higher birth order, and lower exposure to media. Further research is required to detect the causes that affect the use of reproductive health services.

The impact of social determinants and lifestyles on dietary patterns during pregnancy: evidence from the "Mamma & Bambino" study.

During pregnancy, maternal dietary patterns play a critical role in determining maternal and new-born health. Recent evidence highlighted the influence of either social determinants and lifestyles on the adherence to different dietary patterns. In this cross-sectional analysis, we evaluated the association of social determinants and lifestyles with maternal dietary patterns in the "Mother & Child" cohort, a prospective study that enrols mother-child pairs from Catania, Italy. Dietary patterns were derived using Food Frequency Questionnaire and Principal Component Analysis. Logistic regression models were used to evaluate the association between socio-demographic factors (i.e., age, educational level and employment status), lifestyles (i.e., smoking status, body mass index, use of folic acid, multivitamin and multi-mineral supplements) and dietary patterns. Overall, 332 women were enrolled and the following dietary patterns were derived: the "western" dietary pattern, characterized by high intake of red meat, fries, dipping sauces, salty snacks and alcoholic drinks; the second one, named "prudent", characterized by high intake of potatoes, raw and cooked vegetables, legumes, rice and soup. Multivariable analysis showed that young age, low educational level and smoking were positively associated with the adherence to the western dietary pattern. In contrast, pre-gestational body mass index was negatively associated with the adherence to the prudent dietary pattern. Our results raise the need of strategies for promoting healthy dietary habits among women in their reproductive age, which might also help control their body weight before and during pregnancy. These strategies should be prioritized to young women of low educational level, who generally share other unhealthy behaviours.

Connaissance de l’entretien prénatal précoce chez les femmes venant d’accoucher : étude transversale en 2011 dans la métropole lilloise (France)

Early prenatal interview (EPI) is one of the flagship measures of the 2005-2007 perinatal strategy. It allows mothers to have a 45-minute interview, distinct from a medical consultation, promoting the expression of their expectations and medical, psychological or social difficulties. It should be routinely offered to all mothers in early pregnancy. The main objective of our study was to determine the proportion of women who had knowledge of Early prenatal interview and to profile women who knew it. Secondary objectives were to describe the EPI achievement rate and its terms of implementation. All women who gave birth between 16 and 20 January 2011 in one of the ten maternity hospitals of the Lille metropolis were interviewed during their stay in maternity. A mixed model logistic regression was made to draw the profile of women with knowledge of Early prenatal interview. Of 311 women who gave birth during the study period, 270 were included in the survey. 148 patients (54.8 %) knew Early prenatal interview and 79 (29.3 %) had it. Women who had a high level of education were significantly more aware of this interview than those with low level of study. Other factors studied were not significantly related to knowledge of the EPI. While the EPI should be routinely offered to all pregnant women, only half of the patients who give birth had heard about it during their pregnancy. Women of low educational level should be more targeted by professional performing this interview.

Educational Differences in Postmenopausal Breast Cancer – Quantifying Indirect Effects through Health Behaviors, Body Mass Index and Reproductive Patterns

Studying mechanisms underlying social inequality in postmenopausal breast cancer is important in order to develop prevention strategies. Standard methods for investigating indirect effects, by comparing crude models to adjusted, are often biased. We applied a new method enabling the decomposition of the effect of educational level on breast cancer incidence into indirect effects through reproductive patterns (parity and age at first birth), body mass index and health behavior (alcohol consumption, physical inactivity, and hormone therapy use). The study was based on a pooled cohort of 6 studies from the Copenhagen area including 33,562 women (1,733 breast cancer cases) aged 50–70 years at baseline. The crude absolute rate of breast cancer was 399 cases per 100,000 person-years. A high educational level compared to low was associated with 74 (95% CI 22–125) extra breast cancer cases per 100,000 person-years at risk. Of these, 26% (95% CI 14%–69%) could be attributed to alcohol consumption. Similar effects were observed for age at first birth (32%; 95% CI 10%–257%), parity (19%; 95%CI 10%–45%), and hormone therapy use (10%; 95% CI 6%–18%). Educational level modified the effect of physical activity on breast cancer. In conclusion, this analysis suggests that a substantial number of the excess postmenopausal breast cancer events among women with a high educational level compared to a low can be attributed to differences in alcohol consumption, use of hormone therapy, and reproductive patterns. Women of high educational level may be more vulnerable to physical inactivity compared to women of low educational level.

Survey on a Mammographic Screening Program in Istanbul, Turkey

Breast cancers in Turkey tend to be diagnosed at advanced stages due to lack of organized comprehensive mammographic screening. In this study, factors associated with having a mammogram among healthy women of screening age in Bahcesehir county, a region in Istanbul, were investigated to assess the feasibility of organized breast cancer screening in Turkey. In this cross-sectional study, 659 healthy women aged between 40 and 69 years were surveyed. A multiple-choice questionnaire was used to obtain information regarding patient demographics, family history of cancer, and patient knowledge on mammographic screening. Factors associated with increased likelihood of having a mammogram included age older than 50 (OR=1.75; 95% CI=1.23-2.49), higher educational level (high school or university graduate; OR=1.55; 95% CI=1.07-2.25), and undergoing periodic gynecologic examinations (OR=5.53; 95% CI= 3.88-7.89). Women aged between 40 and 49 years, who were most likely to have a mammogram within the last 2 years were characterized by a higher educational level (OR=1.94; 95% CI=1.14-3.31), periodic gynecologic examinations (OR=4.06; 95% CI=2.53-6.51), and a first or second degree family history of breast cancer (OR=2.2; 95% CI= 1.06-4.50). In contrast, women aged between 50 and 69 years were more likely to have undergone mammography within the previous 2 years if they also had undergone periodic gynecologic examinations (OR=8.63; 5.04-14.77). Our findings suggest that women of lower educational level and those who do not undergo routine wellness visits with their gynecologist will need to be specifically targeted for educational outreach to achieve broad screening compliance within the population.

The relationship between educational level and bone mineral density in postmenopausal women

BackgroundThis study describes the influence of educational level on bone mineral density (BMD) and investigating the relationship between educational level and bone mineral density in postmenopausal women.MethodsA total of 569 postmenopausal women, from 45 to 86 years of age (mean age of 60.43 ± 7.19 years) were included in this study. A standardized interview was used at the follow-up visit to obtain information on demographic, life-style, reproductive and menstrual histories such as age at menarche, age at menopause, number of pregnancies, number of abortions, duration of menopause, duration of fertility, and duration of lactation. Patients were separated into four groups according to the level of education, namely no education (Group 1 with 209 patients), elementary (Group 2 with 222 patients), high school (Group 3 with 79 patients), and university (Group 4 with 59 patients).ResultsThe mean ages of groups were 59.75 ± 7.29, 61.42 ± 7.50, 60.23 ± 7.49, and 58.72 ± 7.46, respectively. Spine BMD was significant lower in Group 1 than that of other groups (p < 0.05). Trochanter and ward's triangle BMD were the highest in Group 4 and there was a significant difference between Group 1 and 4 (p < 0.05). The prevalence of osteoporosis showed an inverse relationship with level of education, ranging from 18.6% for the most educated to 34.4% for the no educated women (p < 0.05). Additionally, there was a significant correlation between educational level and spine BMD (r = 0.20, p < 0.01), trochanter BMD (r = 0.13, p < 0.01), and ward's BMD (r = 0.14, p < 0.01).ConclusionsThe results of the study suggest that there is a significant correlation between educational level and BMD. Losses in BMD for women of lower educational level tend to be relatively high, and losses in spine and femur BMD showed a decrease with increasing educational level.

Women, family demands and health: the importance of employment status and socio-economic position

Although it is generally assumed that women engaged in paid work have better health than full-time homemakers, little is known about the situation in Southern European countries like Spain or about differences in the impact of family demands by employment status or the potential interaction with educational level. The objectives of this study are to analyse whether inequalities in health exist among housewives and employed women, and to assess whether the relationship between family demands and health differs by employment status. Additionally, for both objectives we examine the potential different patterns by educational level. The data have been taken from the 1994 Catalonian Health Survey (Spain). The sample was drawn from all women aged 25–64 years who were employed or full-time homemakers and married or cohabiting. Four health indicators (self-perceived health status, limiting long-standing illness, chronic conditions and mental health) and two health related behaviours (hours of sleeping and leisure-time physical activity) were analysed. Family demands were measured through household size, living with children under 15 and living with elderly. Overall, female workers had a better health status than housewives, although this pattern was more consistent for women of low educational level. Conversely, the health related behaviours analysed were less favourable for workers, mainly for those of low educational level. Among workers of low educational level, family demands showed a negative effect in most health indicators and health related behaviours, but had little or no negative association at all in workers of high educational level or in full-time homemakers. Moreover, among women of low educational level, both workers and housewives, living with elderly had showed a negative association with poor health status and health related behaviours. These results emphasise the need of considering the interaction between family demands, employment status and educational level in analysing the impact of family demands on women's health as well as in designing family policies and programmes of women's health promotion.

Legal abortion in Asturias (Spain) after the 1985 law: sociodemographic characteristics of women applying for abortion.

To describe the use of induced abortion (IA) in Asturias after its legalisation as well as the socio-demographic characteristics of women applying for abortion. Descriptive study, population-based, using data collected by the regional abortion surveillance system for the period 1988 1994. The number of IA and the abortion rate (AR) (10 per 1000 women aged 15-49) have been stable in Asturias during the study period. The highest ARs were found for women in the age group 20-34, for divorced/separated, for women with a higher educational level and for women with only one child. The proportion of pregnancies which ended in abortion was one in four; for teenagers and women over 34 years it was one in two. This proportion was also higher for women not married, students and women with two or more children. Ninety-eight percent of all abortions took place in private clinics, the woman's physical/mental health being the medical indication for these abortions. Abortion was most often performed within eight weeks of gestation (65%). Late abortion ocurred more frequently among teenagers and women of low educational level. Eighteen percent of women had repeated abortions. A high proportion (61%) of women applying for abortion had not used the Family Planning (FP) services in the previous two years; adolescents and women of low educational level had the lowest frequencies of FP use. Compared with that of other European countries, the AR in Asturias was intermediate. The results regarding adolescents show the need for evaluation and promotion of sex education and contraceptive programmes. The lower and later use of abortion by women of low educational level shows inequalities that call for specific action.

Descriptive epidemiology of induced abortion in Italy 1979–1990

Trends of induced abortions in Italy from 1979 to 1990 have been analysed in terms of overall age-standardised rates and ratios, and according to various characteristics of the women. Temporal trends were characterised by an increase of rates from 11.3 1,000 women aged 15–49 in 1979 to 16.5 in 1982 and then followed by a steady decrease to 11.1 1,000 in 1990. Ratios increased from 228 1,000 livebirths in 1979 to 389 in 1984 and then declined to 286 in 1990. Thus, the overall declines from the early 1980's to 1990 were 33% in rates and 26% in ratios. The same pattern was followed by rates and ratios in various age groups. The highest rates were observed in women aged 25–29 years ( 27.0 1,000 in 1982 and 17.9 1,000 in 1988) and 30–34 years ( 25.5 1,000 in 1982 and 19.0 1,000 in 1988), and the lowest ones were in women aged 45–49 ( 1.0 1,000 in 1982 and 0.8 1,000 in 1988). Ratios reached the highest values in 1984 in most age groups, particularly in women between 40 and 49 years and under 20 years. Ratios increased constantly with number of previous deliveries. At all levels of education,a decline in rates has been observed since 1982, but in the highest educational level,the decline started earlier and was more substantial. The decline in rates among more educated women from 1982 to 1987 was 36%, but it was only 9% among less educated ones. Scope for further preventive action is indicated by the differences according to education and by the slowing down of the decline in the more recent years. This preventive intervention should be focused particularly to women of lower educational level and to those with two or more births.

Distribution of ultrasound examination during pregnancy in France between 1976 and 1981.

In France, between 1976 and 1981, the use of ultrasound examination during pregnancy increased from 11.3 to 81.8%. In spite of this dramatic increase, many inequalities observed in 1976 still exist in 1981. Despite a decrease in 1981 of the differences in practice in public maternity units and private care units, large differences remained between general practitioners and specialists. In a logistic regression, the type of practitioner responsible for care appeared to be the most important factor determining access to ultrasound examination. Independent of other inequalities in the type of antenatal care, three groups of women remained disadvantaged in 1981: women under 20 years old, grand multiparas and women of low educational level. The latter group was particularly disadvantaged. Obstetric pathology has little influence on the overall distribution of ultrasound examinations.