Women In Relation Research Articles

Revisiting class: A feminist political analysis of the Indian Time Use Survey

AbstractThe literature on agrarian change in India has largely employed class categories based upon data on land, assets and occupational status, which collapse women's class relations into those of (mostly male) households heads. In this paper, we interrogate this understanding of class building on the work of Carmen Diana Deere. Employing the first ever national time use survey conducted in India in 2019, we interrogate class as a labour process that intersects with caste and gender. Our analysis of the data using a Marxist‐feminist framework suggests the following. First, there exist intra‐household gendered differences in class locations. This calls to question theoretical frameworks that assign a cohesive class location to all household members that underlie data collection in India and elsewhere. Second, individuals participate in multiple labour processes depending on their caste and gender. Hence, they may be subsumed to capital in varied and sometimes contradictory ways. Finally, we find that both men and women engage in reproductive labour in addition to other forms of labour, which varies by caste categories. This finding further underscores and supports previous research on the importance of an expanded conception of work that includes reproductive labour. In sum, we argue for a more complex understanding of class in India, one that incorporates its caste and gender dimensions.

Sexual Function and Marital Intimacy in Mastectomized Women with Breast Cancer: Mediating Role of Body Image Concern

Introduction: Mastectomy surgical method greatly affects the long-term quality of life of women with breast cancer. Mastectomy can play an important role in sexual desire and marital intimacy. The purpose of this study was to investigate the mediating role of body image concern in the relationship between sexual function and marital intimacy in women with mastectomy breast cancer. Methods: The research method was a descriptive correlation type. The population included all the patients with mastectomy breast cancer whose list was available in 2022 in hospitals and charity centers related to cancer in Tehran. 145 women who underwent mastectomy were selected by available sampling method. Research tools included Thompson and Walker's marital intimacy questionnaires, Rosen et al.'s Female Sexual function Index, and Littleton's Body Image Concern Inventory (1,2,3). Relationships between variables were done with Pearson correlation test and structural equation modeling test using SPSS version 16 and Amos version 24 software. Results: The findings showed that Body Image Concern does not play a mediating role in the relationship between sexual function and marital intimacy of mastectomized women (P<0.05). Pearson's correlation test also showed that there is a positive and significant relationship between sexual function and marital intimacy (P<0.05) and there is a significant negative relationship between Body Image Concern and marital intimacy (P<0.05) and between sexual function and Body Image Concern no significant relationship was observed (P<0.05). Conclusion: Psychologists can use the findings of this study to teach the nature of these women's sexual problems and seek to identify factors that help better intimacy in these women's marital relationships.

“An Alpha Wouldn't Spare an Emotion on a Woman”: A directed qualitative analysis of dark triad outcomes in women's relationships with Red Pill men

AbstractThe Dark Triad (DT) is a set of personality traits consisting of subclinical psychopathy, narcissism, and Machiavellianism. Separately, The Red Pill (TRP) is a seduction community part of an online men's movement that advocates incorporating DT traits and behaviors in romantic or sexual relationships with women. This study investigates the potential presence of DT influences in relationships with TRP‐affiliated men as described by former romantic partners. Using a directed content analysis of six semi‐structured interviews, four thematic categories emerged: relationship development, coaxing, outward appearances, and DT‐associated Internet behaviors. TRP men consistently displayed self‐interest and willingness to use manipulation to meet their needs, portraying themselves to their partners and the world as successful while callously disregarding partners' emotions in their pursuit of sex or social desirability. Participants' experiences of TRP men's behaviors aligned with prior knowledge regarding DT‐associated romantic and sexual relationships. This research may be used to inform future research connecting DT personalities and maladaptive social groups, as well as generating prevention strategies among relationship‐based practitioners.

Experiences and perspectives regarding human papillomavirus self-sampling in sub-Saharan Africa: A systematic review of qualitative evidence

IntroductionCervical cancer screening coverage remains low in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) due to limited access and low uptake of available services by women. The use of HPV-based self-sampling intervention for cervical cancer screening has the potential to increase screening coverage in the region. This study aimed to analyse qualitative evidence on the experiences and perspectives of women, healthcare workers, and policymakers regarding HPV self-sampling. MethodsWe reviewed qualitative studies from January 2011 to March 2023 in PubMed, Scopus, Medline Ovid, Cochrane, and WEB of Science databases for articles with qualitative data on HPV self-sampling from different countries in SSA. The socio-ecological model was used to guide data analysis and the study findings. ResultsThirteen qualitative studies were included for analysis, and they revealed themes under the intrapersonal, interpersonal, community, and health systems constructs of the Socio-ecological model. Intrapersonal themes included the acceptability of self-sampling, self-efficacy, and the perceived value of self-sampling. The interpersonal construct had themes such as women's spousal relationships, peer support, and the health worker's relationship with the women. The community construct had two themes: social stigma and misinformation, and the influence of cultural norms and religion. Finally, the health systems construct had themes such as the setting for self-sampling, follow-up availability of treatment services and education and awareness. ConclusionThis study highlights the factors influencing the acceptability and uptake of an HPV-based self-sampling intervention for cervical cancer screening in SSA. Considering these findings when designing interventions in SSA is crucial to ensure acceptance and demand among end-users. Self-sampling interventions offer the potential to reach many unscreened women and increase cervical cancer screening coverage in SSA, which is an essential strategy towards achieving the World Health Organisation's cervical cancer elimination targets by the close of the century.

Sex based differences in depression, anxiety, and quality of life and predictors of quality of life among South Asian individuals with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: A Bayesian analysis

BackgroundCOPD can affect both men and women leading to deteriorating impact on general well-being, personal, and family life and decreased quality of life. Anxiety, depression, and self-care behaviours can affect the quality of life of individuals with COPD. There is a dearth of sex-based comparative analyses of anxiety, depression, quality of life, and predictors of quality of life among South Asian individuals with COPD. PurposeTo identify the sex-based differences in depression, anxiety, and quality of life and the predictors of quality of life among South Asian individuals with COPD. MethodsA cross-sectional survey of 294 men and 114 women with COPD was conducted in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan. Hospital Anxiety and Depression scale, World Health Organization Quality of Life-brief version, Self-Care of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease Inventory, the Self-Care Self-Efficacy in COPD Scale were used for data collection. Bayesian independent sample t-test was used to compare mean differences in depression, anxiety, and quality of life among men and women. Two regression models were examined to determine if age, years of living with COPD, anxiety, depression, self-care self-efficacy, self-care monitoring, management, and maintenance were predictors of quality of life among men and women. FindingsBayesian analysis showed anecdotal evidence that women had higher levels of depression, but lower levels of anxiety compared to men. Anecdotal evidence indicated that the physical quality of life of men was better than women, but strong evidence that their social relationship and environmental quality of life was better than women. Years of living with COPD, anxiety, depression, self-care self-efficacy, self-care management, self-care monitoring, and self-care maintenance were stronger predictors of women's quality of life. Anxiety and depression only predicted men's psychological quality of life, but predicted women's psychological, social relationships, and environmental quality of life. ConclusionsThe findings contribute to literature highlighting sex-based differences in anxiety, depression, and quality of life among South Asian men and women with COPD. Men generally reported higher levels of quality of life than women across all domains. Women's social relationships and environmental quality of life were greatly impacted by anxiety and depression. Quality of life interventions for women should be targeted at improving their social relationships and environmental satisfaction and addressing anxiety and depression.

“People need to be valued because of who they are”: Self-conception and strategies of resistance in women who challenge weight-loss diet culture

This paper explores how the self-beliefs of women who have rejected weight-loss diet culture inform their strategies of resistance. We conducted a qualitative survey inviting participants to share methods they have used to challenge diet culture. One hundred and twelve women ( Mage = 37.01, SD = 10.54) provided complete responses. Most were heterosexual (72%) and resided in Australia (59%). Our thematic analysis generated two themes: “diet culture is internalised, dismantling it is personal,” which was characterised by participants’ self-beliefs or self-identification, and the personal strategies they used to counter diet culture; and “diet culture is social, relationships are sites of resistance,” which reflected participants’ beliefs about the source of personal worth, as well as relational strategies they enacted in their personal and professional lives, and in their interactions with authority figures. Efforts to assist women in challenging diet culture could be strengthened by recognising the implications of immersion in such a culture for an individual's relational self and their perceptions of self-worth, and by harnessing the power of women's relationships with each other. This paper contributes to the feminist psychological literature on women's inequalities and their relationships with food and their bodies, illuminating connections between activism, healthcare, and everyday experience.

Analysis of Vaginal Candidiasis Prevalence Among Bangladeshi Women in Relation to Menstrual Hygiene and Other Risk Factors: A Cross-Sectional Study

Vaginal candidiasis, which is an infection of the female reproductive system, continues to be a leading risk factor of morbidity, which negatively impact the physical and mental health of women worldwide. Despite widespread awareness, vaginal candidiasis is still seen as a minor health issue in many impoverished nations like Bangladesh. This study aimed to examine and evaluate the prevalence of vaginal candidiasis and its association with menstrual hygiene and other risk factors among reproductive-aged women by cross-sectional study. In this research study 37.30% of women (91 out of 244 patients) tested positive with vaginal candidiasis. From this study is was found that patients in their early and peak reproductive years are more susceptible to illness. The highest prevalence was seen among the participants who aged between 15-34 years (33%), which followed by 20.9% patients are between 35-44 years age group and 70.3% of patients were married. The most common symptoms patients faced in this study are irritation and swelling near genital area (24.8%), unusual vaginal discharge (22.6%), itching near genital area (20.4%), pain or burning sensation during urination (16.8%) and painful intercourse (11.7%). Besides, risk factors that caused the disease in patients to be found are, poor menstrual hygiene (35%), unsafe intercourse (38%), non-cotton and unclean undergarment (18.6%), use of over the counter antibiotic (14.2%), diabetes (8%), infected sexual partner (3.4%), STD (3%) and menopause (0.8%). Another major part of the study is to know about the relation between menstrual hygiene and vaginal candidiasis. About 33% of the women use cloth and another 33% use both sanitary napkin and cloth as an absorbent. It is also observed that 74.7% women change the absorbent only about 1-2 times per day. Though, Vaginal Candidiasis is a type of mild infection for most the cases still it needs to be given importance as it can cause troublesome and serious complications such as recurrent infection, candidemia etc.

Review of: "Analysis of Vaginal Candidiasis Prevalence Among Bangladeshi Women in Relation to Menstrual Hygiene and Other Risk Factors: A Cross-Sectional Study"

Review of: "Analysis of Vaginal Candidiasis Prevalence Among Bangladeshi Women in Relation to Menstrual Hygiene and Other Risk Factors: A Cross-Sectional Study"

Analysis of Vaginal Candidiasis Prevalence Among Bangladeshi Women in Relation to Menstrual Hygiene and Other Risk Factors: A Cross-Sectional Study

Vaginal candidiasis, which is an infection of the female reproductive system, continues to be a leading risk factor of morbidity, which negatively impact the physical and mental health of women worldwide. Despite widespread awareness, vaginal candidiasis is still seen as a minor health issue in many impoverished nations like Bangladesh. This study aimed to examine and evaluate the prevalence of vaginal candidiasis and its association with menstrual hygiene and other risk factors among reproductive-aged women by cross-sectional study. In this research study 37.30% of women (91 out of 244 patients) tested positive with vaginal candidiasis. From this study is was found that patients in their early and peak reproductive years are more susceptible to illness. The highest prevalence was seen among the participants who aged between 15-34 years (33%), which followed by 20.9% patients are from 35-44 years age group and 70.3% of patients were married. The most common symptoms patients faced in this study are irritation and swelling near genital area (24.8%), unusual vaginal discharge (22.6%), itching near genital area (20.4%), pain or burning sensation during urination (16.8%) and painful intercourse (11.7%). Besides, risk factors that caused the disease in patients to be found are, poor menstrual hygiene (35%), unsafe intercourse (38%), non-cotton and unclean undergarment (18.6%), use of over the counter antibiotic (14.2%), diabetes (8%), infected sexual partner (3.4%), STD (3%) and menopause (0.8%). Another major part of the study is to know about the relation between menstrual hygiene and vaginal candidiasis. About 33% of the women use cloth and another 33% use both sanitary napkin and cloth as an absorbent. It is also observed that 74.7% women change the absorbent only about 1-2 times per day. Though, Vaginal Candidiasis is a type of mild infection for most the cases still it needs to be given importance as it can cause troublesome and serious complications such as recurrent infection, candidemia etc.

Who’s the scariest of them all? Depictions of evil women in Greek folktales

This study aims to investigate the portrayal of demonic women in Greek folktales and their significance in reflecting societal perceptions of femininity. We selected 17 editions of folktales in the Greek publishing industry as our primary source material and utilized content analysis as our method of analysis. Negative values such as ferocity, malice, brutality, wickedness, and ugliness were used as criteria to study the demonic woman's external appearance and personality. Vladimir Propp’s Morphologie du conte (1970) served as a reference for examining the demonic woman's qualities such as name, origin, social position, age, external characteristics, and peculiarity of her appearance. We also focused on the demonic woman's actions and relationship with the hero/heroine to highlight the terrifying aspects of her inner world. The study sheds light on how the representation of demonic femininity in Greek folktales reveals societal and traditional assumptions about female gender. Our findings aim to demonstrate the different faces of the diabolical women in Greek folktales and present a collective representation of the demonic.

‘blotted into the unreadable darkness’: Feminist Solidarity as Feminist Utopia in Michel Faber's The Crimson Petal and the White (2002)

This article investigates the representation of feminist solidarity as feminist utopia through the relationship between Sugar and Agnes, the female protagonists of Michel Faber's neo-Victorian novel The Crimson Petal and the White (2002). The article argues that the two women's relationship serves as a metaphor for the feminist debate on difference, negotiated in neo-Victorian fiction, and dramatises the process whereby support is consciously and actively offered in order to defy oppression and alleviate suffering, despite their different positionalities. A key aspect of this process is the (literal and metaphorical) journey which Sugar undertakes to the sites of Agnes's lived experience, which provides her with an insight into the kind of oppression Agnes experiences and enables her to offer the latter woman the assistance she needs. Feminist solidarity, the article asserts, is ultimately conceptualised as a feminist utopia, as Agnes's desired mode of aid entails that she chase her own utopia once Sugar liberates her. In this way, the text asserts the necessity of thinking about feminist solidarity as feasible within the context of late-twentieth and early-twenty-first-century feminist controversies on that issue.

The moderating role of women directors in politically connected companies on the performance of Liberian companies

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to analyse the impact of political connections and gender diversity on the performance of Iberian companies as a singular market and considering Portugal and Spain separately.Design/methodology/approachThe authors used panel data methodology, specifically GMM system estimation model by Arellano and Bond (1991) for the period from 2015 to 2020.FindingsResults show that the performance of listed Iberian companies is influenced by political connections, by gender diversity and that gender diversity has a mitigating effect on the effects of political connections in each country. The mitigating effect of women is evident in both Portugal and Spain, as they are more cautious and principled, which is valued by short-term investors interested in an immediate investment. However, considering the Iberian Peninsula as a whole, the results indicate that – in the long term – women's political relationships can benefit performance through a better reputation and image, which can lead to better social and economic results in the long term.Originality/valueTo the best of the authors’ knowledge, this paper is original and covers an important gap in the literature when considering political connections and women's impact on these connections as determinants of the performance of Iberian companies.

Women's family trajectories after union dissolution: A comparative life course analysis

AbstractObjectiveChanges in family dynamics due to increased union instability are gathering scholarly attention. Against this backdrop, we asked: How do family life courses evolve after the dissolution of a first union? And, how do these processes vary across socio‐historical contexts?MethodWe deployed sequence and cluster analysis on women's combined relationship and fertility trajectories over 120 months after the dissolution of the first union using survey data from the Harmonized Histories datasets. Context‐level variation was assessed by comparing a series of measures of heterogeneity in family life courses across separation cohorts (1970–2009) and countries (France, the Netherlands, Poland, the Russian Federation, Spain, Sweden, and the United Kingdom).ResultsWe found substantial heterogeneity in family life courses that we inferred from a typology of trajectory pathways. We also found relevant dynamics across socio‐historical contexts. Post‐separation trajectories became more diverse (between‐individual heterogeneity) and complex (within‐individual heterogeneity) in recent periods among countries that we deem laggards in the diffusion of union dissolution, whereas path dependencies in post‐separation family paths could be identified amongst the forerunners.ConclusionWe conclude that increased union instability across different population groups generally contributes to the heterogenization of family life courses, but national contexts are also important in shaping family trajectories upon union dissolution.

Risk of Endometrial Cancer in Asymptomatic Postmenopausal Women in Relation to Ultrasonographic Endometrial Thickness: Systematic Review and Diagnostic Test Accuracy Meta-analysis

(Abstracted from Am J Obstet Gynecol 2023;228:22–35.e2) Endometrial carcinoma (EC) can be suspected in cases of postmenopausal bleeding (PMB) with a thickened endometrium on transvaginal ultrasonography (TVS) examination. Typical guidelines recommend further investigation of PMB when the endometrial lining is greater than 4–5 mm, indicating an elevated risk of EC.

“We'll make it work”: Navigating surveilled living arrangements after romantic partner incarceration

AbstractObjectiveWe use the case of housing insecurity to examine how romantic partner incarceration results in increased and prolonged surveillance of women at home.BackgroundRomantic partner incarceration prompts surveillance from the criminal legal system while simultaneously eroding women's finances, health, and family relationships. Less is known about how these symbiotic harms of romantic partner incarceration enable surveillance beyond the criminal legal system.MethodWe use longitudinal interviews with 35 (previously coresident) romantic partners of incarcerated men, showing how incarceration prompts unwanted moves for partners, how women manage housing insecurity following partner incarceration, and how they become embedded into living arrangements where they are monitored, evaluated, and controlled.ResultsWe identify three primary findings. First, women experiencing housing insecurity after romantic partner incarceration relied heavily on their social ties (and, to a lesser extent, institutional housing providers) while enduring stressful and prolonged housing searches. Second, the homes that women move into expose them to increased surveillance. Women encounter domestic, caregiving, romantic, and financial surveillance. Romantic partner incarceration prompts large changes in surveillance among women who left independent homes, moderate changes in surveillance among women who left comparatively desirable doubled‐up homes, and prolonged surveillance among nonmovers. Finally, women respond to surveillance by monitoring burdens on hosts and reframing stays in shared homes as temporary.ConclusionTaken together, these findings extend prior research on the symbiotic harms of romantic partner incarceration, how women attached to incarcerated men experience surveillance, and how doubled‐up families sustain shared homes.

Predictors of maternal satisfaction with childbirth experience among first-time mothers in Phalombe District, Malawi

Background/Aims Assessing maternal satisfaction with care improves healthcare professionals' understanding of women's needs at maternal healthcare services and can encourage future use of hospital-based intrapartum care. This study's aim was to explore predictors of maternal satisfaction with their childbirth experience at health facilities in Phalombe District, Malawi. Methods A cross-sectional study was conducted with 254 first-time mothers, recruited using systematic random sampling. Data were collected using questionnaires and analysed using bivariate and multivariate analyses to determine predictors of maternal satisfaction. Results Only half (49.2%) of participants were satisfied with their childbirth experience. Welcoming and encouraging doctors/midwives (P<0.001) and being kept informed during labour (P=0.001) were the main predictors of maternal satisfaction. Conclusions Maternal satisfaction is impacted by a woman's relationship with her care providers and the information imparted during care. To improve maternal satisfaction with care at the study site, there is a need for healthcare providers to improve their interpersonal relationships with labouring women and provide adequate information during care.

Monitoring Patient Adherence and Follow-up in Option B+ Program: Understanding Healthcare Workers' Practices, Challenges, and Facilitators in Lilongwe, Malawi.

Option B+ aims to prevent mother-to-child transmission of HIV by providing lifelong antiretroviral therapy (ART) to pregnant and breastfeeding women living with HIV (PBWHIV). Identifying and reengaging PBWHIV who disengage or fail to initiate ART is essential for the success of Option B+. However, the process is often suboptimal, leading to challenges such as misclassification of patients as lost to follow-up. Healthcare workers (HCWs) are pivotal for monitoring engagement, but little is known about their monitoring practices. This study aimed to explore how HCWs monitor women's engagement in Option B+ services. A qualitative study was conducted in five high-volume health facilities in Lilongwe, Malawi. Thirty HCWs responsible for monitoring women in Option B+ were purposively selected as key informants. Semistructured interviews were conducted between March and June 2021. Thematic analysis employing deductive and inductive coding methods was utilized. The Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research was used to map gaps, strategies, barriers, and facilitators of monitoring. Monitoring was described as tracking a PBWHIV from HIV diagnosis to initiation of ART to subsequent ART visits for up to 2 years postpartum. The gaps included timing variations in tracing. No procedures to follow up formal transfer-outs or management of silent transfers during emergency ART refills were identified. Strategies identified included interfacility collaboration, record review, tracing, escorting women during initial visits, and self-reports. Technological innovations, such as WhatsApp groups, were highlighted as game changers in interfacility collaboration when tracking women's movements. Barriers included resource constraints (human and operational), poor work attitudes, and challenges faced by women (partner support, stigma, and HCW rapport). The facilitators included implementing partner support, leadership, and strategies such as education and tracing. Addressing resource constraints, women's relationship dynamics for self-management, HCWs' attitudes, and standardizing tracing protocols are crucial for effective monitoring. Leveraging instant messaging for clinic coordination may enhance tracing. Further research and interventions should target identified gaps to promote effective monitoring in similar settings.

What Lies Beyond Their Hurting: Representations of Female Pain and Personhood in Animation

The representation of women in art is a fraught one. This article analyzes the relationship American society has to female pain, using four cartoon series as case studies to argue that cultural perceptions around women's suffering are shifting towards viewing women as more than the sum total of their pain. The methodology of this analysis relies on Simone de Beauvoir's Second Sex and Leslie Jamison's "Grand Unified Theory of Female Pain" as a theoretical framework that illuminates cultural manifestations of female pain and the stereotypes that perpetuate these models, specifically applying them to female characters in Avatar: The Legend of Korra, Rapunzel's Tangled Adventure, She-Ra and the Princesses of Power, and Steven Universe. Animation analysis demonstrates how portrayals of women in media have evolved, yet continue to rely on female pain as a plot device for character development and plot progression. This analysis throws into relief the concept of the "post-wounded woman," a modern opposition to the "wounded woman" trope that asserts societal notions of female pain have rendered women's relationship to their emotions full of disadvantage as they must yield control over how they are perceived. Emotions such as rage and anger are deemed impermissible by society because they challenge essentialist notions of the female condition. However, new female archetypes are appearing in animation alongside classical depictions, placing the medium ahead of traditional sexist societal views in this respect.

The Relationship of Women’s Labor Participation and Urbanization in the 1990–2021 Period in Türkiye: Granger Causes Analysis

Bu çalışmanın temel amacı, Türkiye’de 1990-2021 yılları arası dönemde kadının işgücüne katılımı ile kentleşme olgusu arasındaki nedensellik ilişkinin zaman serisi yöntemi ile ampirik olarak sınanmasıdır. Modelde, kadının işgücüne katılımı, kentleşme ve doğurganlık değişkenleri yer almıştır. Çalışma kapsamında Dünya Bankası veri tabanından elde edilen veriler kullanılarak öncelikle serilerin durağanlıkları sınanmıştır. Durağan olmayan seriler durağan hale getirildikten sonra, Granger nedensellik testi yardımıyla değişkenler arası nedensellik ilişkisi belirlenmeye çalışılmıştır. Çalışmadan elde edilen ampirik bulgulara göre, kentleşmenin kadının işgücüne katılımının ve doğurganlık oranının Granger nedeni olduğu, dolayısıyla kentleşme değişkeninin geçmiş değerlerinin hem kadının işgücüne katılımının hem de doğurganlık oranının cari değeri üzerinde anlamlı etkili olduğu sonucuna varılmıştır.

Qualitative Study of Perinatal Mental Health Services: Experiences and Perspectives of Health Workers and Patients

The perinatal period is a transitional period that is vulnerable to changes in women's relationships with partners, family, friends, and wider social networks. This study aims to determine how perinatal mental health services are based on the experiences of health workers and patients. This research is qualitative research with a case study design. The informants in this study were 6 informants, namely 2 health workers and 4 patients with a history of perinatal mental health disorders. The instruments used in this study were structured interview guidelines, interviews were conducted in health facilities and patients' homes. Thematic data analysis using the Collaizi protocol. Qualitative data from this study raised six themes, namely "symptoms of perinatal mental health disorders", "causes of perinatal mental health disorders", "management of mental health disorders", "prevention of perinatal mental health disorders", "barriers to perinatal mental health services", and "support". Pregnant, maternity and postpartum women are vulnerable to mental health problems, especially if a woman is faced with family neglect and lack of husband's support during pregnancy. It is important for health workers, especially midwives, to examine women's problems more comprehensively during antenatal care.