Women's Beliefs Research Articles

Religious beliefs, social pressure, and stigma: Rural women's perceptions and beliefs about vasectomy in Pwani, Tanzania.

Despite being a reliable and cost effective family planning method, vasectomy remains underutilized in many low resource settings such as East Africa. We explored rural women’s perceptions and beliefs regarding barriers to vasectomy use in the low resource setting of Pwani, Tanzania. The qualitative study used in-depth semi-structured interviews to obtain data. Purposive sampling was used to recruit 20 married/cohabiting women with two or more children. Thematic analysis guided the data analysis, with qualitative data reporting informed by COREQ guidelines. Most participants were Muslim and had between two and six children. Most had completed primary-level education and were engaged in small-scale farming. We extracted three main themes with associated sub-themes:1) lack of education, which included men’s education levels and inadequate knowledge and misinformation 2) religious beliefs, social pressure and stigma, which included community stigma and the belief that vasectomy was not good for men with multiple wives; and 3) promoting men’s involvement in family planning which included educating men and the women’s perceived role in promoting vasectomy. Participating women perceived vasectomy uptake to be affected by a lack of low knowledge (among men, women, and the community), misinformation, and various sociocultural barriers. Efforts to promote vasectomy and male involvement in reproductive health services should be directed to addressing deeply-rooted sociocultural barriers. Women may have an essential role in encouraging their partners’ vasectomy uptake. In addition, engaging couples in family planning education is critical to enhance knowledge. Ideally, such community based education should be conducted in partnership with communities and healthcare providers.

Partner Violence Beliefs, Attitudes, and Implications in Israeli Muslim Society

The purpose of the current article was to examine beliefs and attitudes around partner violence within Muslim society in Israel. The study addressed three gender-asymmetrical aspects of such beliefs: reasons for violence (the belief that men hurt their female partners to control them, and the belief that women hurt their male partners to protect themselves); violent behavior (the belief that men, more than women, are violent in intimate relationships); and the outcomes of violence (the belief that women, more than men, are injured as a result of intimate violence). The study also examines the attitude toward the appropriate social response to the problem (the belief that men who use partner violence should be condemned more than women should). First, the study compares men and women's belief levels and relates these to the accumulating empirical knowledge. Then, the study examines the difference between men and women in the relationship between the beliefs, as well as the effects of this on prevailing attitudes. The study was based on a community sample of 420 Muslim students. The research findings indicate that the belief that men, more than women, use physical violence in intimate relationships was the strongest belief of those tested and it was stronger among women than among men. The findings also indicate that among both men and women, the behavioral aspect does not affect the tendency for condemnation. On the other hand, among both, the consequences of violence affect condemnation. Theoretical and empirical implications of gender differences in physically violent behavior, Gender differences in consequences of physical partner violence, gender differences in condemnation of violent behavior and effects of beliefs on the attitude toward its condemnation were discussed.

A qualitative exploration of women's work aspirations and beliefs on meritocracy.

Meritocratic beliefs continue to be widely accepted in the United States; nonetheless, upward mobility is out of reach for many American women due to pervasive barriers to accessing decent work. The present study aims to explore American women's work aspirations and beliefs in the American Dream (the premise that no matter where people come from, with hard work, they can achieve prosperity) in light of the gap between this notion and the social inequalities in their working lives. We conducted semistructured interviews with 17 American women from diverse racial, educational, and work backgrounds to examine these women's work aspirations and beliefs on the American Dream. Qualitative content analysis yielded 3 domains: (a) aspiring for work that fulfills essential human needs, (b) multilayered influences on women's work aspirations, and (c) making sense of work aspirations in relation to beliefs on the American Dream. Our findings highlight the importance of relationships and systemic factors in shaping women's work aspirations. In addition, women's beliefs on the American Dream reflect complex interactions between endorsing meritocratic beliefs and their personal experiences. Implications for counseling psychology theory, research, and practice are discussed. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2020 APA, all rights reserved).

Self-Care of Women during Postpartum period in Rural Area

Background: The postpartum period is the period when women adjust physically and psychologically after the delivery of the baby. It is the period after the end of labor during which special attention of a community health nurse is required on the women's and the baby's health. Research Design: a quasi-experimental design was used. The aim of this study was to Assess postpartum women's knowledge and practice related to self-care in rural area. Setting: This study was conducted at family medicine centers affiliated to shesht El- Enaam health unit at El-Behara Governorate and postpartum women's homes. Sampling: purposive sample of 67postpartum women were included, Primipara and multipara postnatal mothers, during first two weeks from postpartum period, women who delivered normally or by cesarean section and women free from any medical or gynecological disease or disability and their babies free from anomalies. Tools: for data collection three tools were used,1 st tool: an interviewing questionnaire for the postpartum women includes five parts; Part one: socio-demographic characteristics, Part two: obstetric history, Part three: Postpartum woman's cultures and beliefs about postpartum period, Part four: Postpartum woman's knowledge regarding postpartum self-care, Part five: Postpartum woman's self-care during postpartum period, 2 nd tool: review of infant's growth and development measurements sheet, 3 rd tool: home environmental assessment observational checklist. Results:the current study revealed thatless than three quarter of postpartum women had negative total cultures and beliefs regarding postpartum self-care, more than two fifth of postpartum women had satisfactory knowledge toward total postpartum self-care, also majority had inadequate self-care. With a highly statistically significant difference between knowledge and self-care practice Conclusion: the total score level for self-care practice revealed that the majority of study sample unaware of adequate self-care practice in rural areas. Recommendations: applying health education programs about maternal health issues through ministry of health.

Women's preferences for mode of second birth-A prospective study of two Israeli birth cohorts.

Various biopsychosocial factors affect women's preferences with respect to mode of birth, but they are usually not examined simultaneously and prospectively. In the current study, we assessed the contribution of personal characteristics of first-time mothers, their prior prenatal perceptions, events during birth, and subjective birth experiences, on their preference about mode of second birth. This was a secondary analysis of two prospective birth cohort studies. Participants included 832 primiparous women recruited mostly from women's health centers in Israel, and through natural birth communities and cesarean birth websites. Women completed questionnaires prenatally and were followed up at 6-8weeks postpartum to understand their preferences for a second birth. Regression models indicated that after vaginal first birth, being less religious, believing that birth is a medical process, and having a negative experience increased the odds of preferring primary cesarean for the second birth. After cesarean birth, being more religious, having higher education, conceiving spontaneously, having a more negative birth experience, and perceiving better treatment from the staff during birth contributed to preferring vaginal birth for the second birth. Religiosity is central to women's preferences, probably because of its association with the desire to have many children. Modifiable factors, such as women's beliefs about the nature of birth, their overall birth experience, and their perceived treatment from the staff, could influence the uptake of having vaginal births. Intrapartum care that is empathic and encouraging, along with education about modes of birth, could help decrease cesarean birth rates.

Perception of women towards contraceptive methods: using health belief model

Introduction: The Health Belief Model (HBM) is one of the major conceptual frameworks guiding current research as well as practice in the health sciences. It takes into account the multiple factors present in a person’s decisions to live a healthy life, seek help when needed, and maintain periodic check-ups and screening. Aim of the study is to identify perception of women towards contraceptive methods using the health belief model. Research design: A descriptive research design was utilized in this study. Setting: This study was conducted at four family planning clinics affiliated to four maternity hospitals namely: EL- Shatby Maternity University hospital affiliated to Alexandria University, Dar-Ismail Maternity hospital affiliated to Ministry of Health, Faisal hospital affiliated to Health Insurance and Dar ALWelada hospital affiliated to Medical Health Association. Subjects: A convenience sample of 320 women who were seeking family planning services. Tools; Tool I: Contraceptive users' basic data structured interview schedule; Tool II: Contraceptive users' Health Belief scale. Results: Approximately an equal percent (56.56% & 43.44%) of the contraceptive users perceived themselves either highly susceptible or moderately susceptible for threat of getting pregnant, respectively. More than three-fourths (76.25%) of them had moderate perceived severity to the problems associated with contraceptive use compared to only 23.75% of them who had high level of perception. As much as 84.37% of them highly perceived the benefits of contraception uptake. Meanwhile, almost all (93.44%) of them moderately perceived barriers associated with contraception utilization. Conclusion: Contraceptive users had high perception related to susceptibility of the threat of pregnancy and benefits of contraceptive methods utilization. Moreover, the vast majority of them had moderate perception to severity and barriers associated with contraception uptake. Last but not least, there was a statistically significant correlation between women's health beliefs and their utilization of contraceptive method.Â

Sociodemographic, clinical, psychosocial, and healthcare-related factors associated with beliefs about adjuvant endocrine therapy among breast cancer survivors.

Adjuvant endocrine therapy (AET) reduces the risk of recurrence and mortality in women with hormone receptor-positive breast cancer. However, adherence to AET remains suboptimal. Women's beliefs about medication have been associated with medication adherence. The purpose of this study was to identify multilevel factors associated with women's beliefs about AET. Beliefs about AET, measured using the Belief about Medicines Questionnaire (BMQ), sociodemographic (e.g., age), psychosocial (e.g., religiosity), and healthcare factors (e.g., patient-provider communication), were collected via survey. Clinical data were abstracted from medical records. Two stepwise regression analyses models were performed to assess relationships between variables and necessity and concern beliefs. In our sample of 572 women, mean BMQconcern score was 11.19 and mean necessity score was 13.85 (range 5-20). In the regression models, higher ratings of patient-provider communication were associated with lower concern and higher necessity beliefs. Higher concern beliefs were related to more AET-related symptoms (Β = 0.08; 95% CI 0.06 to 0.10; p < 0.001), lower patient satisfaction (Β = - 0.07; 95% CI - 0.09 to - 0.04; p < 0.001), and higher religiosity (Β = 0.05; 95% CI 0.01 to 0.08; p = 0.007). Higher necessity beliefs were associated with prior chemotherapy use (Β = 0.11; 95% CI 0.06 to 0.16; p < 0.005) and less education (Β = 1.00; 95% CI 0.27 to 1.73; p = 0.008). Modifiable factors are related to women's AET beliefs. Healthcare interactions may play a key role with regard to shaping women's beliefs about their AET medication.

Psychometric Properties of the Iranian version of Champion's Revised Health Belief Model Scale for Breast Cancer screening.

Background:Women's beliefs regarding breast cancer and its screening approaches were considered antecedents of their behavioral changes. Understanding of these beliefs in women requires a valid and reliable instrument. The present study seeks to translate the English version of the Champion's Revised Health Belief Model Scale (CRHBMS) into the Persian language and assess its psychometric properties.Materials and Methods:The study was conducted on 334 students at Urmia University of Medical Sciences, Iran, 2016. The 57-item CRHBMS was translated to Persian language, back translated, and tested. To test the face and content validity of the Persian version; item analysis, Content Validity Ratio (CVR), and Content Validity Index (CVI) were applied, respectively. Construct validity of the Persian scale was performed by Exploratory and Confirmatory Factor Analyses (EFA, CFA) using Kaiser-Meyer-Olkin and Bartlett's tests in SPSS 16 and LISREL8.72 software. The reliability of the translated scale was evaluated using Cronbach's alpha and test-retest approaches.Results:In the EFA, eight factors were extracted concerning breast cancer screening, and each item was loaded on its specific factor. These factors were self-efficacy, health motivation, benefits-mammography, benefits-Breast Self-Examination (BSE), barriers-mammography, barriers-BSE, susceptibility, and severity. The final 42-item scale was confirmed by the CFA, and all goodness of fit indices showed a proper fit of the model. Cronbach's alpha coefficient and test-retest correlation of the subscales ranged from 0.72–0.89 and 0.67–0.93, respectively.Conclusions:The study suggests that the Persian version of CRHBMS is a feasible scale for evaluating women's health beliefs regarding breast cancer and its screening behaviors.

'I feel like a person has a right to use a product to protect themselves…': a qualitative study of the risk-benefit calculus on women's contraceptive use and choice.

Women used one or more contraceptive methods, each for 3-6 months. Qualitative data from individual in-depth interviews completed after each 3-month use period were analysed using a summary matrix framework. Data were extracted and summarised into themes. Each woman's experiences were compared among the methods she used; comparisons were also made across participants. The data consist of 33 90-120 min in-depth qualitative interviews from 16 women aged 20-34 years, in which they discussed various elements of their method use experience. One prominent theme was identified: the influence of attitudes and beliefs on the risk-benefit calculus. There were six key elements within the theme: pregnancy prevention; dosing and the potential for user error; side-effects; familiarity; disclosure; and sexual partnerships. Women weighed perceived risks and benefits in their decision-making and, ultimately, their contraception choices. Understanding women's beliefs and attitudes that contribute to a calculation of risk-benefit can inform the development of sexual and reproductive health products.

Women's delay in presenting breast cancer symptoms in Kurdistan-Iraq.

Women in developing countries usually delay in presenting their symptoms as a part of the early diagnosis program. This study was conducted for analyzing the reason of patient's delay and its relation with socioeconomic and health conditions, knowledge, and women's belief about breast cancer (BC). This study used a cross-sectional design in the early detection center in Kurdistan (North Iraq). Women were interviewed about socioeconomic and health background, knowledge, and belief about BC. The median of patient delay in the BC symptomatic women in this study was higher (30 days) as compared with developed countries. Patient delay was longer in women who were widows, had a barely self-perceived economic status, and had chronic diseases. There was a significant relationship of patient delay with women's health motivation and perceived barrier to seeking medical care. Health promotion program should emphasize on the women's motivation about early diagnosis and seeking to early detection.

Measuring contraceptive self-efficacy in sub-Saharan Africa: development and validation of the CSESSA scale in Kenya and Nigeria

ObjectivesContraceptive self-efficacy, a women's belief about her own ability to complete the actions necessary for successful family planning, is a well-documented determinant of contraceptive use. However, there is currently no validated measure appropriate for low-resource settings. We developed and tested a new scale to measure Contraceptive Self-Efficacy among women in sub-Saharan Africa (CSESSA) using samples in Kenya and Nigeria. Study designThe CSESSA scale was administered to women in Kenya (n = 314) and Nigeria (n = 414). Reliability and validity were analyzed separately by setting. Validity analysis included assessment of the area under the curve (AUC) to demonstrate predictive capability of CSESSA score for contraceptive use. Logistic regression was employed to test the relationship between CSESSA score and contraceptive use. ResultsItem reduction resulted in 11 items in Kenya (α = 0.90) and 10 items in Nigeria (α = 0.93). Three domains of contraceptive self-efficacy emerged in both settings: (1) husband/partner communication, (2) provider communication and (3) choosing and managing a method. Items related to the first two subscales, but not the third, were identical across settings. The AUC indicated predictive capability as mild in Kenya (AUC = 0.58) and strong in Nigeria (AUC = 0.73). In both settings, CSESSA score was associated with use of a modern contraceptive method at 12 months postpartum. ConclusionsThe CSESSA scale is a reliable and valid measure in two countries. Variation of the third subscale by site indicates that certain scale items may be more relevant in areas of low versus high contraceptive prevalence. Further research should be done to validate this subscale in other contexts. ImplicationsThis study contributes a reliable, valid measure of contraceptive self-efficacy in two African countries. The CSESSA scale and subscales can be administered in research (for example for evaluation of interventions to increase contraceptive uptake) or in a clinical setting to inform and improve contraceptive counseling.

Nepalese women's cultural beliefs and practices regarding postpartum period

Introduction: This study is carried out to assess the postnatal traditional beliefs and practices among women of Bajhang district. Postpartum is an hour after the delivery of the placenta and the following 6 weeks. Methodology: An Explanatory Sequential Mixed Method was carried out in Jayaprithvi municipality, Bajhang district. A self administrative questionnaire was the data collection tool, and all women (124 women) having children below 2 years of age and residing in those areas were selected using the census sampling method from randomly selected wards for the quantitative survey. For the qualitative part, 21 young women, who had delivered at least one live baby, were selected purposively. The focus group discussion (FGD) was used as the data collection tool. Results: The findings show that postnatal practices are being influenced by several cultural beliefs and practices transmitted from generation to generation. Most of the practices were harmful to health; however, some traditional practices were beneficial to the mother and baby. Discussion: It is essential for planning and implementing health education programs for these women to be aware of beneficial and harmless practices and try to use scientific knowledge as a mean of eradication of the harmful ones. In the same way. Conclusion: Socio cultural practices need to be promoted, and some certain traditional medicines that have been used in society since ancient times should be identified and uplifted to improve the maternal and neonatal survival rates in Nepal, For this, maternity care providers must partner with local women and provide locally based primary maternity care. It can be recommended that future research should emphasize the in-depth study of cultural beliefs and practices and associated spiritual belief.

Attachment to God and coping with the diagnosis and treatment of breast cancer: a longitudinal study.

Religious/spiritual factors are important for some individuals in the context of life stress. To the authors' knowledge, the present study is the first to explore the role of women's attachment to God (anxious vs secure) in their adjustment to breast cancer. To explore the (1) pattern of change in women's attachment to God across time and (2) relationship between attachment to God and coping behaviors and depression. All English-speaking women who were scheduled to receive a core breast biopsy at a women's breast health center were eligible to participate in the study. Women were assessed on attachment to God, positive and negative coping, and depression at pre-diagnosis and 3, 6, and 12 months post-diagnosis. Women who received a benign diagnosis and those with a diagnosis of breast cancer participated in the study. Attachment to God remained stable across time for both diagnostic groups (cancer, benign). Women from both groups who had a more anxious attachment to God utilized more avoidance coping and reported more depression at different points across time. Breast cancer patients with a more anxious attachment to God reported engaging in less acceptance coping post-diagnosis. Finally, the association between attachment to God and depression was partially mediated by avoidance coping at pre-diagnosis. Findings indicate that a more anxious attachment to God may contribute to negative patterns of adjustment while a secure attachment may help women remain more directly engaged in their coping with the threat of breast cancer and related diagnostic procedures. It is suggested that clinicians remain sensitive to and assess the role of spiritual beliefs in women's adjustment to the threat of breast cancer from pre-diagnosis up to 1 year post-diagnosis. In particular, women's belief in and experience of a secure or an anxious attachment with God or higher power may function as a potential resource or as an exacerbating factor, respectively, in their adjustment to breast cancer.

Beliefs about medicines in pregnancy: a survey using the beliefs about medicines questionnaire in Indonesia.

Background Many studies examine the use of medicines among pregnant women, however fewstudies report the pregnant women's belief for taking medication during pregnancy. Individual factors such as patients' beliefs about their medications have been known to influence medication adherence. Objective This study aimed to examine beliefs about medicines among pregnant women in Indonesiaand how these varied across pregnancy trimesters. Setting We conducted a cross-sectional survey of pregnant women who had regular visits at 63 community health centres in Surabaya, Indonesia. Methods Participants were approached while they were in the waiting room and were asked to complete the questionnaire. The survey package contained information about the study, an informed consent form, and the Beliefs about Medicines Questionnaire (BMQ). Main outcome measure Beliefs about medicines were assessed using the BMQ, which comprises four subscales: general-overuse, general-harm, specific-necessity, and specific-concern. Differences in medication beliefs between pregnancy trimesters were assessed using suitable statistical tests according to data normality. Results A total of 492 pregnant women completed the survey. The majority were aged 21-30years (57.1%), housemakers (68.7%), and educated to high-school level (51.4%); 92.9% did not have any chronic diseases, and more than 90% took vitamins and/or supplements. The difference between Specific-Concern and Specific-Necessity scores was calculated for each participant, and more than half of the participants (59.6%) were thus classified as having negative beliefs about medications. In the first trimester of pregnancy, women's beliefs about medication necessity were stronger than in the third trimester (p = 0.033). Conclusion Medication beliefs of pregnant women regarding their concerns and the necessity of medication taken in different trimesters of pregnancy were varied. The results of this study highlight the difference in medication beliefs during trimesters in pregnancy.

Control my appearance, control my social standing: Appearance control beliefs influence American women's (not men's) social mobility perception

The present research examined the influence of perceived control over one's body appearance on expected social standing among women. With participants recruited from the United States, we measured (Study 1 and 2) and manipulated (Study 3) appearance control beliefs, and consistently found that women (but not men) with higher control beliefs expected higher possibility of upward social mobility. Moreover, women's awareness and endorsement of social attitude toward appearance moderated the effect (Study 2 and 3), such that the positive association between appearance control beliefs and social mobility perception was only observed among women who believed that appearance is valued by society and important for success but not among women who did not have such beliefs. These findings contribute to the literature by highlighting women's control beliefs of physical body appearance may predict their perception of the social world. Implications on women's social behaviors, as well as their physical and mental health are discussed.

Predictors for influenza vaccination among Thai pregnant woman: The role of physicians in increasing vaccine uptake.

BackgroundPhysician recommendation and attitudes and beliefs of pregnant women toward influenza and vaccination may influence vaccine uptake during pregnancy. We examined how physician recommendation and health beliefs of pregnant women may jointly affect influenza vaccination during pregnancy.MethodsThai pregnant women aged ≥18 years and >13 gestational weeks attending antenatal care (ANC) clinics, and ANC physicians were recruited during May‐August 2015. Women and physicians, linked using unique identifiers, provided data on demographic, health and work history, knowledge, attitudes, and beliefs toward influenza and vaccination, based on Health Belief Model constructs. Physicians also provided data on their practices in recommending influenza vaccination during pregnancy. Prevalence ratios for the association between knowledge, attitudes and beliefs of pregnant women, physician recommendation and documented receipt of vaccination within 30 days of the visit were calculated.ResultsAmong 610 women, the median age was 27 years; 266 (44%) and 344 (56%) were in the second and third trimesters, respectively. Twenty‐one (3%) had pre‐existing conditions. Of 60 physicians with the median years of practice of 5; 17 (28%) reported frequently/usually/always recommending influenza vaccine to their pregnant patients, while 43 (72%) reported never/rarely/sometimes recommending the vaccine. Controlling for the pregnant women's knowledge and beliefs, pregnant women whose physician recommended influenza vaccination were 2.3 times (95% confidence interval 1.4‐3.8) more likely to get vaccinated.ConclusionsIn this study, physician recommendation was the only significant factor associated with influenza vaccine uptake among Thai pregnant women. Understanding physicians’ motivation/barrier to recommending influenza vaccination to pregnant women may increase coverage.

Prevention of Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms Research Consortium Focus Group Study of Habits, Attitudes, Realities, and Experiences of Bladder Health.

The study purpose is to explore adolescent and adult women's experiences, perceptions, beliefs, knowledge and behaviors related to bladder health across the life course using a socioecological perspective. Lower urinary tract symptoms affect between 20-40% of young adult to middle-aged women, with symptoms increasing in incidence and severity with aging. There is limited evidence to address bladder health promotion and prevention of dysfunction. This first study of the Prevention of Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms (PLUS) Research Consortium is designed to address gaps in existing qualitative research in this area. This focus group study will be implemented across seven geographically diverse United States research centers using a semi-structured focus group guide informed by a conceptual framework based on the socioecological model. The study was approved in July 2017. A total of 44 focus groups composed of 6-8 participants representing six different age categories (ranging from 11 to over 65 years) will be completed. We aim to recruit participants with diverse demographic and personal characteristics including race, ethnicity, education, socioeconomic status, urban/rural residence, physical/health conditions and urinary symptom experience. Up to 10 of these focus groups will be conducted in Spanish. Focus group transcripts will undergo content analysis and data interpretation to identify and classify themes and articulate emerging themes. This foundational qualitative study seeks to develop an evidence base to inform future research on bladder health promotion in adolescent and adult women. This study has the potential to provide new insights and understanding into adolescent and adult women's lived experience of bladder health, the experience of lower urinary symptoms and knowledge and beliefs across the life course. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.

Sociocultural and interpersonal influences on latina women's beliefs, attitudes, and experiences with gestational weight gain.

Latinos are the largest and fastest-growing minority group in the U.S., and Latina women represent the largest portion of minority births, having the highest birth rate in the U.S. for over 20 years. In addition, Latina women are at increased risk of entering pregnancy being overweight or having obesity and gaining excess gestational weight. Excess gestational weight gain (GWG) has short- and long-term adverse health outcomes for the woman and her child. Although culturally tailored interventions show promise toward promoting healthy GWG among Latina women, findings from current interventions have had mixed results, suggesting the need for further tailoring to meet the needs of this heterogeneous population group. This qualitative study was designed to explore first-time pregnant, low-income Latina women’s beliefs, attitudes, and experiences with GWG. The study employed qualitative research using semi-structured interviews conducted with 23 first-time pregnant Latina women between 22 and 36 weeks of gestation. Interviews were conducted by trained bilingual staff, transcribed verbatim, and analyzed using thematic analysis. Results showed that participants were uncertain if their GWG was within a healthy range. Although the majority of participants knew that GWG should be limited, they were not sure what the amount should be. In addition, the majority of participants reported attitudes of acceptance of and resignation to excessive GWG as being part of pregnancy. Several women appeared to believe that they did not have control over their weight gain during pregnancy. Moreover, analysis identified that sociocultural and interpersonal factors such as social support influence the beliefs, attitudes, and experiences with GWG of the low-income, majority immigrant Latina women who participated in this study. Study findings can be used to further tailor prenatal care practices and interventions aimed at altering modifiable risk factors associated with excess GWG among Latinas. Future interventions designed for low-income, immigrant Latina women that consider sociocultural influences on women’s beliefs and attitudes related to GWG, as well as the influence of social support networks on women’s health behaviors during pregnancy, will likely be more effective in preventing excessive GWG.

Provision and uptake of routine antenatal services: a qualitative evidence synthesis.

Provision and uptake of routine antenatal services: a qualitative evidence synthesis.

Women's Contraceptive Perceptions, Beliefs, and Attitudes: An Integrative Review of Qualitative Research.

Unintended pregnancy rates will remain high until researchers explore the lived experience of women's relationships with contraception. This integrative review examines the extant qualitative literature on women's contraception to illuminate common themes in women's perspectives through the lens of the feminist poststructuralist framework. A literature review of PubMed and CINAHL databases was completed for English-language studies conducted in the United States from January 2008 through September 2018 that qualitatively examined women's perceptions, beliefs, and attitudes regarding contraception. Reports, dissertations, mixed-methods research, and literature reviews were excluded. The sample, methods, and findings of 19 studies were reviewed. Themes were identified using the 5 major tenets of the feminist poststructuralist framework: discourse, power, language, subjectivity, and agency. Themes of power imbalance between partners and health care providers; societal and communal discourses on femininity and motherhood; distrust of hormonal contraception; the ability to enhance personal agency through contraceptive decision making; and a need for open, patient-focused communication arose from the 19 studies included in the review. Using a feminist poststructuralist framework to examine women's contraceptive perceptions illuminates and magnifies the many ways in which contraceptive beliefs and use are dependent on gender roles and power dynamics. Gaps in knowledge specific to older women and exploration of women's subjectivity should be addressed. Clinicians should evaluate the power structures inherent to their practice while providing woman-focused, evidence-based contraceptive education.