Perspective Of Women Research Articles

Perspectives of Women with Breast Cancer and Healthcare Providers Participating in an Adherence-Enhancing Program for Adjuvant Endocrine Therapy: A Qualitative Study

Background: Adjuvant endocrine therapy (AET) is prescribed for 5–10 years to women with hormone-sensitive breast cancer to prevent recurrence. However, a significant proportion of women do not adhere to AET. We developed SOIE, a one-year program designed to enhance the AET experience and adherence. SOIE was pilot-tested in a mixed-methods randomized controlled trial. This report presents the experience of women and healthcare providers (HCPs) with SOIE. Methods: A descriptive qualitative study using semi-structured interviews and thematic analysis was conducted with 20 women and 7 HCPs who participated in the program. Results: Most women and HCPs reported high satisfaction with the program. Women felt it addressed their need for information and strategies to manage side effects. They felt supported and developed a more positive attitude toward AET, which contributed to their intention to pursue AET. They perceived that the program helped them navigate the AET experience and reduced their stress or fear regarding AET. HCPs corroborated these benefits. Conclusions: Findings suggest that SOIE can enhance the experience and motivation to pursue the AET treatment by meeting important needs for information, side-effects management, and psycho-emotional support. Programs like SOIE can have benefits beyond adherence by improving patients’ well-being during this crucial long-term treatment.

What makes a city breastfeeding friendly? A qualitative analysis of interviews with breastfeeding women from Europe and Asia.

The warm chain of support is the continuous enabling environment from the mother's first contact with healthcare professionals during early pregnancy, birth and immediate post-partum period, her transition from healthcare facility to home, through to work and the community at large. A breastfeeding-friendly city should be able to support a breastfeeding journey across the warm chain. To determine breastfeeding women's perspective of an ideal breastfeeding-friendly city. Between September 2021 and January 2022, twenty-two women who were breastfeeding or had ever breastfed in the last 5 years from Ireland and Malaysia were interviewed. A set of selection criteria was applied to ensure representation of a range of the characteristics known to be associated with breastfeeding success: diverse age groups, birth and breastfeeding experiences, culture and socioeconomical background. One-on-one semi-structured online interviews were conducted by the first author. Data were analysed using Braun and Clarke's Thematic Analysis framework. One overarching theme of breastfeeding at the front and centre of the city, and three major themes were developed: 1. mothers feel supported when breastfeeding is prioritised; 2. when breastfeeding is visible in the environment, it becomes normalized; 3. there is a need to have seamless breastfeeding support across the continuum of the warm chain, and at all levels of society. The findings demonstrated the importance of prioritized, and continuous support throughout the breastfeeding journey. The hopes and aspirations of a breastfeeding-friendly city expressed here would be useful for cities to consider when developing or implementing breastfeeding support programmes as well as guide development of indicators of a breastfeeding-friendly city.

Women's Perspectives and Challenges in Adopting Perinatal Mental Health Technologies

Perinatal mental illness is a prevalent global concern impacting pregnant women and new mothers. Women frequently utilize technology for perinatal mental health (PMH) assistance, including smartphone applications, web-based platforms, social media, and online support groups. This study aims to understand mothers' perceived acceptability and effectiveness of mental health technologies and the challenges they face while adopting those technologies to navigate their PMH journey. We conducted in-depth semi-structured interviews with mothers (n=15) who were either pregnant or in their postpartum. Additionally, we gathered data (1600 posts and corresponding 10,000 comments) from online perinatal support communities to explore the discussions concerning mothers' utilization of technology during the perinatal period. Our findings elucidate the diverse experiences of women around professional help, social support, anonymity, and misinformation when adopting and using perinatal technologies and how these experiences shape how they envision future PMH technologies and their aspects. Based on these findings, we recommend developing future evidence-based technologies that continuously support mothers throughout pregnancy and postpartum while advocating for existing technologies to prioritize transparency, empowering mothers to make informed decisions and enhance their digital literacy regarding PMH resources.

Gender Inequality in Unpaid Domestic Work: A Comparative Analysis of Türkiye and OECD Countries

In 2024, the international community continues to face significant challenges in achieving gender equality despite the United Nations' "2030 Agenda," which includes 17 Sustainable Development Goals to address various global issues. A significant barrier to achieving development goals is widespread gender inequality. This inequality includes unpaid domestic work, such as cleaning, cooking, and childcare. The unequal distribution of household responsibilities perpetuates disparities in everyday life. Additionally, this imbalance in unpaid labor has severe financial and psychological impacts on women, affecting their overall well-being and economic empowerment. This article explores the stress of unpaid domestic work on working women, particularly concerning the challenges of achieving work-life balance while managing household responsibilities. The “third shift” concept is described in terms of these women's various roles. The first shift refers to their professional work, and the second shift includes domestic tasks like cleaning and childcare and may also incorporate elder care responsibilities. The third shift is characterized by the stress arising from the dual expectations of fulfilling professional duties and household chores. While the stress from unpaid domestic work is a global issue, its severity varies across different cultural contexts. Türkiye's cultural setting, for instance, differentiates it from traditional Middle Eastern countries and European welfare regimes in terms of the dynamics of unpaid domestic work. This article focuses on Türkiye's position in the unpaid domestic work domain and researches the contemporary gender inequality problems from working women's perspective.

In Focus

Women music photojournalists in the 80s escaped gender discrimination in the workforce because their work took place outside the newsroom. This finding merits an in-depth examination of women's photojournalist perspective during this time. This paper provides a unique perspective by analyzing the gender perceptions of the participants' professional experiences in photojournalism. The testimonies of five self-identified women, born between 1953 and 1963, who worked as music photographers between the 1970s and 1980s form the basis of this analysis. Their experiences offer valuable insight into the gender dynamics of the time. An analysis of the sample testimonies reveals that the public spaces where male and female photographers worked (e.g., concert halls, bars) had no significant impact on gender discrimination since editors worked with an economy of means compared to the work environments where men and women are forced to interact and socialize such as newsrooms. The findings of this study shed light on the gender dynamics in the music photography industry during the 1970s-1980s. They contribute to ethnographic research of subcultures and increase public interest in gender studies, particularly about education, professional performance, and perceptions of gender roles. The study underscores the need for further research and discussion on this topic.

Women's perspectives of molecular breast imaging: a qualitative study.

Mammography has poor sensitivity in dense breast tissue. Retrospective studies suggest that Molecular Breast Imaging (MBI), has superior diagnostic accuracy to mammography in women with very dense breast tissue. Women's perspectives of MBI are unknown, but are crucial to understanding the feasibility of, and routes to, adoption into practice. Semi-structured interviews with screened and unscreened women explored acceptability of MBI. Data were analysed thematically. Four themes were generated from nineteen interviews: (1) presumed negative aspects of MBI are acceptable (2) convenience of access, (3) comfort in familiarity and (4) need for shared decisions relating to risk. Presumed negative aspects of MBI, such as radiation dose and forty-minute scan time, were acceptable provided there are benefits. Some participants were concerned about equitable access, such as parking. Participants expressed comfort in existing and familiar screening processes. Participants acknowledged that informing women of their breast density may result in increased anxiety, but it was still felt to be important to ensure women are fully informed of the risks and harms of screening. Women consider MBI to be an acceptable breast imaging modality. High-quality information enabling informed decision-making is essential.

The Role of Ta-Li-Yuan’s Judicial Practice in the Early Republic of China from the Perspective of Women’s Rights Protection

Benefiting from the influence of Western legal principles and the emerging women’s rights movement, marriage relationships in early Republican China gradually shifted from male superiority to gender equality. To strengthen the implementation of principles of equality and justice in legislation, the highest judicial authority at the time, the Ta-Li-Yuan, established universally guiding precedents and interpretations to promote the protection of women’s rights. Based on this, this paper examines the adjustments and enhancements to the legal system through specific divorce cases in the early Republic period, focusing on the judicial practice of the Ta-Li-Yuan, and explores its role in advancing the protection of women’s rights.

The Role of Chinese Media in the Decline of Fertility Rates: A Critical Analysis of Policy Communication and Representation of Women's Perspectives

The media plays a crucial role in the distribution of public policy, serving as a critical connection between the government and the general public. The media promotes the rapid communication of policy information nationwide through many platforms, including traditional news outlets and social media. Nonetheless, the communication strategy utilized by Chinese media primarily remains largely unidirectional. It insufficiently conveys public sentiment and real social needs to politicians. The disconnect is apparent in the execution of pro-childbirth policies, as long-term initiatives to promote childbirth have not substantially enhanced women's inclination to have children. The media primarily emphasizes the promotion polices and expected societal advantages, frequently neglecting the necessity of addressing and incorporating public concerns and perspectives. This gap emphasizes the necessity to build a more interactive and responsive media construction to properly facilitate conversation between the state and its constituents.

Prediction of the Social Impact of Islamic Family Law on Women's Empowerment in Indonesia and Saudi Arabia: Analysis of Islamic Feminism, Structuralism, and Legal Socialization

This study focuses on the possible social impacts of Islamic family law on women's empowerment in Indonesia and Saudi Arabia, with the aim of exploring the interaction between Islamic feminist theory, Pierre Bourdieu's structuralism, and Lawrence Friedman's legal socialization theory. The data collection method was carried out through documentation analysis and in-depth literature study, covering primary sources such as family law laws and regulations. The data collected were analyzed using a qualitative approach that allows for the identification of patterns, themes, and trends that are relevant in predicting the implementation of the law in both countries. The findings show a significant difference between the normativity that describes legal practice and social reality, where legal norms are often not in line with the conditions faced by women in everyday life. The conclusion of this study emphasizes the need for more inclusive legal reforms and public education on women's rights as a step towards achieving better gender equality. The contribution of this study promises a novel aspect, namely the integration of different theories to gain a more comprehensive understanding. Several limitations were also found in the data collection that indicate the need for further research, especially involving women's perspectives and other socio-economic, religious, political, and educational factors in the context of family law. Suggestions for future research include exploring cross-national collaboration to broaden understanding of Islamic law and its impact on women's empowerment globally.

Women's perspectives to improve prenatal care for gestational diabetes: A systematic review and meta-aggregation of qualitative studies.

In numerous qualitative primary studies, women have identified opportunities to improve prenatal gestational diabetes care. The objective of our systematic review and meta-aggregation was to synthesize patient-guided suggestions for improving prenatal gestational diabetes care that are informed by lived experience of women and their support persons. This study was registered a priori on PROSPERO (CRD42023394014). Our search strategy was executed in five databases (Medline, PsycInfo, CINAHL, Scopus, and Web of Science). Primary studies that were qualitative, had full texts in English, studied women who have or had gestational diabetes or their support persons, and included experiential accounts on prenatal gestational diabetes care were included. No date restrictions were applied. Studies that were not qualitative, were secondary analyses, included data on only postpartum care, or evaluated an intervention that was not standard care were excluded. Two independent authors used Covidence software to facilitate screening. The outcomes of interest were patient-reported suggestions to improve quality of gestational diabetes care that are informed by women's or their support persons' accounts of the lived experience of gestational diabetes. Meta-aggregation followed by a thematic synthesis approach was used to analyze the qualitative data to identify women's perspectives to improve gestational diabetes care. After duplicate removal, a total of 4761 studies underwent screening and a total of 80 studies were ultimately included. Patient- and support persons-reported suggestions to improve care include timely and comprehensive education around gestational diabetes with active engagement of family members, personalized and tailored counseling, patient-centered care, incorporation of digital or online adjuncts to care, and increasing support for women. Our systematic review and meta-aggregation identifies several actionable and patient-guided suggestions to improve prenatal gestational diabetes care that are important to consider when embarking on clinical quality improvement.

China's Full Liberalization of the Three-child Legal System: From the Perspective of Women's Basic Rights

China's Full Liberalization of the Three-child Legal System: From the Perspective of Women's Basic Rights

Gender Equality in the Workplace: Women's Perspective

The present paper investigates gender equality in employment. It aims to understand which factors fuel gender gaps and which drivers could overcome them to build an inclusive and fair working environment. In high-income countries, female employment has been rising steadily for decades. However, average employment levels among women remain lower than those of men and considering parents with young children, the situation is even more emphasized. To achieve the research objective we administered a structured quantitative survey questionnaire to a sample of women from Italy and Canada. From the analysis, it emerged that there are some differences between the Italian and Canadian women's points of view. Specifically, the latter seem more satisfied with their country's support for women's work than Italian women. Moreover, both samples believe that working and having economic independence is fundamental in a woman's life. At the same time, however, they perceive that having a family could affect their career growth. Respondents pointed out that tools such as kindergartens, paternity leave, childcare incentives, and smart working can be valuable tools to support female work. Despite the many advances, greater effort is required to support women's empowerment and overcome gender barriers by promoting more equality in the workplace.

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.

"What can I do? fight him?" Perceptions and Experiences in Reducing Secondhand Smoke Exposure during Pregnancy: A Qualitative Study among Israeli Women.

Second-hand smoke (SHS) exposure during pregnancy is associated with negative health outcomes. We aimed to explore Israeli pregnant women's perspectives on SHS exposure, with a focus on barriers and enablers to reducing SHS exposure at home and in the car. Qualitative semi-structured telephone interviews with 68 women - 54 Jewish and 14 Arab. Inclusion criteria: pregnant or up to 12 months post-partum; living with a person who smokes; age 18-45; Hebrew or Arabic speakers. Participants could be from any smoking status. Interviews were analyzed according to a reflective and collaborative thematic approach supported by the Capability (C) Opportunity (O) Motivation (M)-Behaviour model. Participants knew SHS is harmful, but lack of specific knowledge (C) was evident across all smoking status groups and population groups (Jewish, Arab). Women harbored misconceptions regarding their SHS exposure (C), employing ineffective strategies to eliminate exposure. Many perceived smoking as a significant source of tension in their relationship with their partners (M). Women described feeling uncomfortable asking people to not smoke around them (O) and bemoaned the lack of support from health professionals (O). Women who never smoked or formerly smoked described situations where they felt trapped and helpless. Specifically, Arab participants reported social isolation(O). The living environment (e.g., building with no elevator) was a commonly mentioned barrier to reduce home SHS exposure (O). Despite high motivation, the low level of knowledge and negotiation skills, misconceptions about exposure and effective strategies, together with insufficient support, lead to behaviors resulting in high SHS exposure. This research explored women's experiences of SHS exposure during pregnancy, and barriers and enablers to reducing prenatal SHS exposure. Interventions need to empower pregnant women to feel confident in asking people not to smoke around them, focus on acquiring negotiation skills, raise awareness to actual exposure and increasee self-efficacy to use effective SHS reduction strategies. Interventions should be inclusive of all family members who smoke. These findings will inform the development of a digital intervention. Digital interventions have the potential for high reach among socially disadvantaged populations while allowing tailoring of individualized messaging to the pregnant woman and her partner.

Conceptualising maternal mental health in rural Ghana: A realist qualitative analysis.

In low-and-middle income countries, maternal mental health needs remain neglected, and common mental disorders during pregnancy and after birth are routinely associated with hormonal changes. The psycho-social, and spiritual components of childbirth are often downplayed. A qualitative study was conducted as part of a wider realist evaluation on health systems responsiveness to examine the interrelationships between pregnant and postnatal women, their families, and their environment, and how these influence women's interactions with healthcare providers in Ghana. Data collection methods combined six qualitative interviews (n= 6) and 18 focus group discussions (n= 121) with pregnant and postnatal women, their relatives and health care providers (midwives, community mental health nurses) at the primary healthcare level. Data analysis was based on the Context-Mechanism-Outcome heuristic of realist evaluation methodology. A programme theory was developed and iteratively refined, drawing on Crowther's ecology of birth theory to unpack how context shapes women's interactions with public and alternative health care providers. We found that context interacts dynamically with embodiment, relationality, temporality, spatiality, and mystery of childbirth experiences, which in turn influence women's wellbeing in three primary areas. There is an intricate intersection of pregnancy with mental health impacting women's expectations of temporality, which does not always coincide with the timings provided by formal healthcare services. Societal deficiencies in social support structures for women facing economic challenges become particularly evident during the pregnancy and postnatal period, where women need heightened assistance. Socio-cultural beliefs associated with the mystery of childbirth, support the role of private providers in offering women a feeling of protection from uncertainty. Co-production of context specific interventions, including the integration of maternal and mental health policies, with relevant stakeholders can help formal healthcare providers accommodate women's perspectives on spirituality and mental health, which can subsequently help to make health system responsive to maternal mental health conditions.

Exploring the Perspectives of Women on Unreported Experiences of Gender-Based Violence in South African Homes (Relationships)

Exploring the Perspectives of Women on Unreported Experiences of Gender-Based Violence in South African Homes (Relationships)

The Effects of Feminism in Pride and Prejudice: A Pragmatic Study

This study identifies how a feminist perspective has the potential to critique certain aspects of the work "Pride and Prejudice." By analyzing the way Austen deals with her even-spirited heroine, critiques gender roles through the narrative presentation, and offers marriage as a necessary compromise showcasing the unsatisfactory life of women, the study provides pertinent findings to explicate possible reasons for the narrative portrayal of Elizabeth's journey. The findings of the study suggest the feminist interpretation of "Pride and Prejudice" outlines some compelling critiques, including the representation of a woman who is often contradictory and not portrayed in the best light. Elizabeth Bennet can be seen as deeply flawed, and yet her story is intended to be empowering. Austen employs a narrative that draws a great deal of attention to the subject of gender relations and the various functions of its females as they strive to find an assertive place within a mostly patriarchal society. However, this narrative representation is problematic in part because her exploration of these gender relations often dwells on ceremony and the active subjection to male prerogatives—an active choice rather than an oppressive paradigm. What emerges from this is a commentary on the individuality of love through Elizabeth’s story, as well as a skeptical reflection on marriage as an institution and its corrosive potential in colonizing relations. The jumping-off point for this critique, however, is the agency Elizabeth must carry within the narrative, where she must mature and thus foretell the corruptions that will occur if she were to refuse this traditional patriarchal paradigm. Generally, feminist theory in language and literature assumes that women are subordinated, excluded, and often objectified, and it believes that the two incompatible ideologies have no right, class, or sex barriers. Instead, feminists contend that the two discourses are promoted due to certain interest groups' desire, and particularly the benefit of males, which requires power to keep this social system-like hierarchy. Undeniably, we can expect feminist theory beyond the geopolitical boundary. As such, this paper can critically and prudently bring another literary work from another era to feminist discussion, which lets us dig deeper into a woman's perspective.

Recommendations for the Design and Implementation of Alcohol Pharmacotherapy Trials: Perspectives of Women With HIV Participating in the WHAT-IF Study.

Naltrexone for alcohol reduction has been poorly studied in women with HIV (WWH), for whom heavy alcohol use is associated with negative HIV outcomes. This study offers recommendations for researchers conducting alcohol pharmacotherapy trials among PWH as suggested by WWH who participated in an alcohol pharmacotherapy trial in Florida. The WHAT-IF? Study enrolled WWH with a history of heavy alcohol use in Miami, Florida, into a clinical trial where participants were randomized to receive naltrexone or placebo to assess effectiveness among WWH. Twenty participants (mean age, 49 years; 85% Black/African American) completed interviews that included questions about barriers to participation and recommendations for future researchers and WWH. Interviews were analyzed using a reflexive thematic approach. We identified six recommendations: 1) increasing opportunities for study engagement, 2) fostering positive relationships to support change, 3) addressing medication concerns, 4) considering structural barriers to participation, 5) improving alcohol-related education, and 6) preventing fraudulent participation. Positive relationships included both study staff and external support. Medication concerns included cost, accessibility, and adherence. Structural barriers included transportation, substance use, and mental health conditions. Better education included information on the risks of alcohol use and encouraging women to quit. Overall, women reported having positive experiences in the WHAT-IF? trial, and many recommended that the study continue. Future alcohol pharmacotherapy studies could consider these recommendations when working with women from underserved communities, including WWH. Additionally, these recommendations could be applied to increase alcohol pharmacotherapy uptake and adherence in clinical practice.

The "Doing" of Compassionate Care in the Context of Childbirth From a Women's Perspective.

Women who are giving birth need to be met with compassion and understanding from healthcare professionals. However, there are growing concerns about the perceived lack of compassion in the delivery of healthcare services in general and maternity care in particular. We conducted 15 qualitative interviews with women who had given birth in Norway within the previous year, asking them to describe their experiences of compassionate care. We aimed to explore what healthcare professionals "do" that is experienced as compassionate. The analysis was informed by Paul Gilbert's theory of compassion and a concept analysis of compassionate midwifery undertaken by Ménage and colleagues. The compassionate caring actions of healthcare professionals that were identified in the women's narratives generated five themes: attuning actions, validating actions, contextualizing actions, empowering actions, and small acts of kindness. The findings build on the prior theoretical concepts used for the study and provide a nuanced account of how women perceive compassionate care from healthcare professionals. They could contribute to understanding more of the meaning and nature of compassionate care during childbirth. The analysis indicates the importance of ensuring that compassionate care is at the very core of maternity care services.

“Tethered to this ball and chain”: Women's perspectives on bodily agency within opioid treatment programs

BackgroundMethadone Maintenance Treatment (MMT) reduces the risks associated with opioid use disorder (OUD), including overdose mortality and HIV/HCV transmission, and promotes patient well-being. Nonetheless, MMT is highly underutilized in the United States, with less than 10 % of those with OUD receiving MMT. This study examines how women's feelings of bodily agency while receiving MMT through Opioid Treatment Programs (OTPs) can impact treatment retention. MethodsIn-depth interviews were conducted with 20 women in Pennsylvania with a lifetime history of criminal legal involvement and use of medications for opioid use disorder (MOUD), and 12 substance use disorder (SUD) treatment professionals who work with criminal-legal involved women using MOUD. A thematic analysis was conducted using iterative rounds of inductive coding. ResultsWhile women attested to the profound benefits which methadone treatment can provide, they also described how both formal and informal policies in the OTP system can taper these benefits by diminishing their feelings of bodily agency. Women reported a lost sense of bodily agency due to being unable to provide input in the dosing process, navigating strict requirements that tied medication receipt to compliance, and facing mistreatment or threats of punishment when committing perceived transgressions. Women responded through actions that reclaimed bodily agency, by either leaving treatment or using illicit drugs while in treatment; both of these actions can end women's engagement with treatment. Finally, evidence suggests that these feelings of lost agency may be particularly prevalent among female patients due to gendered judgments about women's histories and capabilities. ConclusionFindings suggest the need for MMT programs to shift toward patient-centered, trauma-informed care informed by harm-reductionist principles. Concrete policy recommendations include reducing measures of surveillance, prohibiting administrative discharge due to the use of other substances, and expanding access to methadone beyond OTPs.