Concern For Women Research Articles

Why Did You Become a Police Officer? Entry-Related Motives and Concerns of Women and Men in Policing

As police agencies in the United States suffer declining applications and struggle to recruit women, the National Institute of Justice has identified workforce development as a priority research ar...

Fear-Related Reasons for Avoiding Sexual Intercourse in Early Pregnancy: A Cross-Sectional Study.

IntroductionSeveral studies have reported women's worry that sexual intercourse may harm the course of pregnancy. This worry might lead to avoidance of sexual intercourse during pregnancy.AimTo assess if fears about harming the pregnancy are associated with avoidance of sexual intercourse during pregnancy.MethodsA cross-sectional study was conducted on 250 Vietnamese pregnant women in the first or second trimester who visited our hospital for antenatal care. We explored 5 types of fears including miscarriage/preterm labor, premature rupture of membranes, bleeding, infection, and injury to the fetus. Fears were measured by modified questions from the Reasons For Not Engaging in Sexual Activity During Pregnancy questionnaire. Using the total fear score, pregnant women were categorized into having low, moderate, and high fear.Main Outcome MeasureNot having sexual intercourse during the past 4 weeks.Results72 (28.8%) pregnant women had no sexual intercourse for the past 4 weeks. All types of fear were considered important among pregnant women; the more important fears were infection and injury to the fetus. In multivariable regression analysis, the prevalence of not having sexual intercourse was higher in both women who had moderate (adjusted prevalence ratio = 2.84, 95% CI 1.42–5.67) and high fear (adjusted prevalence ratio = 4.39, 95% CI 2.28–8.44).ConclusionAvoidance of sexual intercourse was common among Vietnamese pregnant women and was associated with the fears about harming the pregnancy. This can be a target in the health education programs for pregnancy couples.Thanh C. Phan, Long B. Hoang, Thanh K. Tran, et al. Fear-Related Reasons for Avoiding Sexual Intercourse in Early Pregnancy: A Cross-Sectional Study. Sex Med 2021;9:100430.

Women\u2019s experiences of receiving information about and consenting or declining to participate in a randomized controlled trial involving episiotomy in vacuum-assisted delivery: a qualitative study

BackgroundInformation about and invitation to participate in a clinical trial involving an intervention during childbirth may cause fear or worry in pregnant women. The aim of this study was to describe nulliparous women’s experiences of receiving an invitation to participate in a randomized controlled trial (RCT) of lateral episiotomy versus no episiotomy in vacuum-assisted delivery (EVA trial).MethodsThis qualitative study was nested in the ongoing EVA trial. Data were collected through semistructured telephone interviews with 23 women regarding their experiences of the information and invitation to participate in the EVA trial. Interviews were audio-recorded and transcribed verbatim. A qualitative content analysis was used to analyse the interview contents.ResultsThree main experience categories were identified among the participants. “Timing of trial information and understanding” revealed that women preferred to obtain information about the trial early on during pregnancy. “Reasons to consent to or decline participation in the trial” encompassed a variety of reasons for women to consent, such as goodwill for science or personal benefits, or to decline, such as not wanting to be randomized or fear of increased risk of having a vacuum-assisted delivery. “Thoughts evoked regarding childbirth” were diverse, ranging from not being affected at all to having increased anxiety.ConclusionsThe women’s experience of receiving an invitation to participate in an RCT of episiotomy in vacuum-assisted delivery varied widely, from immediately giving consent without further worries to increased anxiety or declining participation. Early and personal information with time for reflection was considered most satisfactory.Trial registrationClinicalTrials.govNCT02643108. Registered on December 28, 2015. The Lateral Episiotomy or Not in Vacuum Assisted Delivery in Non-parous Women (EVA) trial was registered at www.clinicaltrials.gov.

The Effect of Maternal–Foetal Attachment–Based Training Programme on Maternal Mental Health Following an Unintended Pregnancy

ABSTRACT Introduction Unintended pregnancy is a risk factor for less maternal–fetal attachment (MFA) and low levels of psychological well-being. This study was conducted to determine the effect of an MFA-based training programme on maternal anxiety, depression and worries following an unintended pregnancy. Methods This randomised clinical trial was conducted on 68 women with an unintended pregnancy in north of Iran during 2018–2019. Participants were allocated to the trained and control groups through simple randomisation. The trained group received the MFA-based training for three 90-min sessions. Demographic questionnaire, London measure of unplanned pregnancy, Cranley’s MFA scale, Edinburgh postnatal depression, Spielberger anxiety and prenatal distress questionnaires were used. Data were analysed by descriptive statistics, chi square, Fisher’s exact test, independent and paired-samples t-tests, Mann–Whitney U, analysis of covariance, and multivariate analysis of variance. Results After the intervention, the mean MFA, anxiety and depression scores were not significantly different between the trained and control groups Worry was significantly decreased in the trained group (p = 0.001) and increased in the control group (p = 0.03). Discussion Although the MFA-based training could not significantly improve MFA, maternal anxiety and depression, it has been effective on worry in women with the unintended pregnancies.

Pengetahuan dan Sumber Informasi Berhubungan dengan Tindakan Pemeriksaan Payudara Sendiri pada Siswi SMA

Breast Self-Examination (BSE) is the development of a woman's concern for the condition of her own breasts. Breast cancer is a malignant tumor that grows in the breast tissue. The incidence of breast cancer reaches 42.1 per 100,000 population with an average death rate of 17 per 100,000 population. BSE on a regular basis is an important step for early detection of breast cancer. This study aims to determine the relationship between knowledge and sources of information about breast self-examination with early detection of breast cancer in female students of SMA Muhammadiyah 5 Tallo, Makassar City, using an analytic survey method and a Cross Sectional Design. The subjects of this study were young women in SMA Muhammadiyah 5 Tallo Makassar City with a population of 53 respondents who were taken by total sampling. Statistical analysis used in this study is Chi-Square statistic, with a confidence level of ɑ=0.05. Based on the results of the study, it is known that the knowledge significance value is P = 0.001 (p < 0.05) with a coefficient value (Phi = 0.465), the source of information is p = 0.000 (p < 0.05) with a coefficient value (Phi = 0.635). So it can be concluded that there is a relationship between knowledge and sources of information about breast self-examination at SMA Muhammadiyah 5 Tallo Makassar City. It is recommended for education providers and health workers to increase counseling about breast self-examination.

Women's Participation in Politics as Efforts to Achieve Gender Equality: A Case Study in KUPANG CITY, Indonesia

The purpose of this research is to describe women's participation in the political process so that it can represent gender equality and justice. This research uses descriptive qualitative research. Sources of data in this study are primary data, namely data from interviews with informants involved in this research, and secondary data, namely data from studies of articles, books, results of previous research, and various relevant sources. The data collection techniques used were interviews and documentation. The data analysis used was interactive analysis in the form of data analysis, data presentation, data reduction, concluding, and testing the validity of the data through source triangulation. The results of this research show that women's participation in the political process can be done through the efforts of the government and political parties by providing political education, development of pro-women government programs by both the central and local governments to increase women's involvement in the political process as a form and a form of women's concern for society, nation, and state.

An Exploration of the Reproductive Health Concerns in Women with Systemic Lupus Erythematosus

An Exploration of the Reproductive Health Concerns in Women with Systemic Lupus Erythematosus

Benefits of Digital Health Resources for Substance Use Concerns in Women: Scoping Review.

BackgroundDigital health resources are being increasingly used to support women with substance use concerns. Although empirical research has demonstrated that these resources have promise, the available evidence for their benefit in women requires further investigation. Evidence supports the capacity of interventions that are sex-, gender-, and trauma-informed to improve treatment access and outcomes and to reduce health system challenges and disparities. Indeed, both sex- and gender-specific approaches are critical to improve health and gender equity. Violence and trauma are frequent among those with substance use concerns, but they disproportionately affect those who identify as female or women, further underscoring the need for trauma-informed care as well.ObjectiveThe objective of this investigation was to evaluate the evidence supporting the efficacy or effectiveness of online or mobile interventions for risky or harmful substance use in adults who identify as female or women, or who report a history of trauma.MethodsThis scoping review is based on an academic search in MEDLINE, APA PsycINFO, Embase, Cochrane Central, and CINAHL, as well as a grey literature search in US and Canadian government and funding agency websites. Of the 7807 records identified, 465 remained following title and abstract screening. Of these, 159 met all eligibility criteria and were reviewed and synthesized.ResultsThe 159 records reflected 141 distinct studies and 125 distinct interventions. Investigations and the interventions evaluated predominantly focused on alcohol use or general substance use. Evaluated digital health resources included multisession and brief-session interventions, with a wide range of therapeutic elements. Multisession online and mobile interventions exhibited beneficial effects in 86.1% (105/122) of studies. Single-session interventions similarly demonstrated beneficial effects in 64.2% (43/67) of study conditions. Most investigations did not assess gender identity or conduct sex- or gender-based analyses. Only 13 investigations that included trauma were identified.ConclusionsDespite the overall promise of digital health interventions for substance use concerns, direct or quantitative evidence on the efficacy or effectiveness of interventions in females or women specifically is weak.

Breast cancer worry in higher-risk women offered preventive therapy: a UK multicentre prospective study

PurposeWomen’s worry about developing breast cancer may influence their decision to use preventive therapy. However, the direction of this relationship has been questioned. We prospectively investigated the relationship between breast cancer worry and uptake of preventive therapy. The socio-demographic and clinical factors associated with high breast cancer worry were also investigated.MethodsWomen at increased risk of developing breast cancer were recruited from clinics across England (n = 408). Participants completed a survey on their breast cancer worry, socio-demographic and clinical factors. Uptake of tamoxifen was recorded at 3 months (n = 258 women, 63.2%). Both primary and sensitivity analyses were conducted using different classifications of low, medium and high worry.Results39.5% of respondents reported medium breast cancer worry at baseline and 21.2% reported high worry. Ethnic minority women were more likely to report high worry than white women (OR = 3.02, 95%CI 1.02, 8.91, p = 0.046). Women educated below degree level were more likely to report high worry than those with higher education (OR = 2.29, 95%CI 1.28, 4.09, p = 0.005). No statistically significant association was observed between worry and uptake. In the primary analysis, fewer respondents with medium worry at baseline initiated tamoxifen (low worry = 15.5%, medium = 13.5%, high = 15.7%). In the sensitivity analysis, participants with medium worry reported the highest uptake of tamoxifen (19.7%).ConclusionsNo association was observed between worry and uptake, although the relationship was affected by the categorisation of worry. Standardised reporting of the classification of worry is warranted to allow transparent comparisons across cohorts.

Why Did You Become a Police Officer? Entry-Related Motives and Concerns of Women and Men in Policing

As police agencies in the United States suffer declining applications and struggle to recruit women, the National Institute of Justice has identified workforce development as a priority research area. To recruit more effectively, we must understand what attracts people to policing and what deters them. We surveyed officers in two Midwestern police departments ( n = 832) about entry motivations and concerns and examined gender differences. Serve/protect motivations were most important for men and women, though women rated the category significantly higher. Women and non-White officers rated legacy motives higher than did males and White officers. Women reported more concerns overall and scored higher on job demands and acceptance concerns; officers of color also reported more acceptance concerns than White officers. The largest gender differences were associated with gender-related obstacles and stereotypes (e.g., discrimination; being taken seriously; physical demands), indicating recruitment reform necessarily includes improving systemic issues.

The Causal Influence of Life Meaning on Weight and Shape Concerns in Women at Risk for Developing an Eating Disorder

Background: Although previous studies have shown an inverse relation between life meaning and eating disorder symptoms, the correlational nature of this evidence precludes causal inferences. Therefore, this study used an experimental approach to test the causal impact of life meaning on individuals' weight and shape concerns.Methods: Female students at risk for developing an eating disorder (N = 128) were randomly assigned to the control or the meaning condition, which involved thinking about and committing to pursue intrinsically valued life goals. A color-naming interference task was used to assess the motivational salience of body-related stimuli, and self-report measures were used to assess participants' overvaluation of weight and shape.Results: The meaning manipulation was effective in activating intrinsically valued life goals. However, it did not result in lower self-reported overvaluation of weight and shape or lower color-naming interference effects of body-related stimuli, compared to the control condition. Post-hoc analyses suggested that baseline meaning in life was related to the impact of the manipulation.Conclusions: This experimental study did not provide evidence for a causal influence of life meaning on the overvaluation of weight and shape in a high-risk group. The current findings suggest that we first need to examine the relationship between life meaning and eating disorder symptoms in more detail, before implementing brief meaning manipulations in clinical practice.

Adherencia a la dieta mediterránea, nivel de actividad física e insatisfacción corporal en sujetos de 16 a 50 años de la Región de Murcia

ObjectiveTo analyze obesity, level of adherence to the Mediterranean diet, physical activity and body dissatisfaction in people aged 16-50 years in the Region of Murcia, Spain. MethodDescriptive and cross-sectional study. A total of 85 people (58 men) aged 16 to 50 years (28.68± 8.846) from 3 sports centers with similar sociodemographic characteristics participated in the study. Anthropometric values were recorded. They were tested for adherence to the Mediterranean diet, International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ) and test for dissatisfaction with their body (BSQ) and it was statistically related. ResultsIt can be seen that the level of physical activity of both men and women is low, according to the IPAQ questionnaire, the men presented a METs/min per week of 3,687.9 (DT=3,137.2) significantly higher than women's.In body dissatisfaction we see that women's concern with their bodies (59.3%) is greater than men's (31%), with a statistically significant difference (P=0.013). Eating habits and BMI do not have statistically significant differences according to sex.When applying the Mediterranean diet adherence test, it is observed that 95.3% of those with weight overload have a medium or low score, and only 4.7% have a discharge score (P=0.128).Those with weight overload have a score of 2,935.73 MET/min per week (DT=2,633.16) and those without weight overload have a value of 3,826.73 (DT=3,164.93, P=0.268). There are significant differences regarding the values of body dissatisfaction. The level of concern of those with weight overload is 53.5%, compared to those without weight overload who have a level of concern of 26.2% (P=0.014). ConclusionsWeight overload is associated with body dissatisfaction and a low score in the test of adherence to the Mediterranean diet in people aged 16-50 years. The concern about body image in women was 59.3%.

Issues and Concerns of Women’s Health in India: A Case Study of Cachar, Assam

This article discusses women patients’ level of awareness of health services and health-seeking behaviour. Further, it analyses their perceptions and experiences of services received under the National Rural Health Mission (NRHM). By employing a survey method, data were collected through 200 women patients from eight Block Primary Health Centres located in Cachar district. The analysis showed mixed experiences of receiving health services. Women in rural areas experience difficulties in accessing health services and low literacy levels, low awareness of services and low economic status, which further contribute to reduced access. Through the NRHM, Accredited Social Health Activist and Auxiliary Nurse Midwives were able to connect well with the community and advance women’s health. Women’s experiences at health centres warrant systematic improvements in service delivery. Additionally, these findings have implications for improving health policies, programmes and services for women in similar rural areas beyond India.

Psychological trajectories of Chinese women undergoing pregnancy termination for foetal abnormality: A descriptive qualitative study using expressive writing.

To explore the psychological trajectories of women who have had a diagnosis of foetal abnormality from the time of receiving a definite diagnosis to one month after discharge. Foetal abnormalities are not uncommon worldwide. Such situations are devastating, and the termination of a pregnancy due to foetal abnormalities is a traumatic and stressful event for the mother. A descriptive qualitative approach using expressive writing. The study included 20 women recruited through purposive sampling at a tertiary hospital in China. The participants were asked to write four 15-min essays related to their experiences with foetal abnormalities. Thematic analysis was used to generate themes. The COREQ checklist (see Supporting Information Appendix S1) was used. Four themes that reflected the women's psychological trajectories were identified: (a) traumatic response, (b) ruminant meditation, (c) positive coping and (d) post-traumatic growth stages. The psychological trajectories were dynamically shaped, and different responses were displayed in each stage. Various responses were observed during each of the four psychological trajectories, which indicated that awareness regarding the psychological impacts associated with foetal abnormalities should be increased. The present findings suggest that healthcare services should be made accessible for women who have had a diagnosis of foetal abnormality to allow them to receive targeted nursing care at different stages and improve their psychological well-being. Midwives, nurses and other healthcare professionals should pay more attention to the mental health of women pregnant with foetuses diagnosed with abnormalities. Interventions designed based on women's worries and demands during various phases should be offered. In terms of the present research method, expressive writing possesses unique advantages that can be applied for relevant qualitative research.

Japanese Women's Concerns and Satisfaction With Pregnancy Care in the United States.

Immigrant women report a high level of stress during pregnancy due to language barriers, cultural differences, and differences in the standard of prenatal care. In this study, we evaluated the level of concern Japanese women in the United States feel during pregnancy and their level of satisfaction with their care. This data can be used to modify prenatal care programs and education to address these concerns. Data collected from 96 women showed there was a high level of prenatal concern regarding their baby's health, pain control, the short length of hospitalization after birth, and the lack of breastfeeding support. Despite these concerns, postpartum women ended up being satisfied with all items except the short duration of their hospital stay.

Assessment of Worries of Pregnant Women in Sokoto Northwestern Nigeria

Background: Women experience multiple worries during the childbearing period, nearly every pregnant woman or her partner will worry about something pregnancy-related at one point or another. The objectives of the study were to assess the worries of pregnant women using the Cambridge Worry Scale, compare the degree of worries between primigravida and multiparae pregnant women and compare the worries of pregnant women by their stage of pregnancy. Materials and method: The study was a cross-sectional descriptive study design. Four health centers were randomly selected and 361 pregnant women were recruited for the study. Data collection instrument was a self-administered / interviewer-administered questionnaire developed using the Cambridge worry scale Result and Conclusion: Ranking of worries of pregnant women using mean score value showed that pregnant women worry more about child-birth (1.99), their health (1.79), and the possibility of something wrong with the baby (1.70) and money (1.40). This study was able to assess the worries of pregnant women using the Cambridge Worry Scale. It is recommended that health care personnel should take more time in assessing pregnant women for the wellbeing of both the mother and baby.

The Relationship between Quality of Life and Physical Activity, Worry, Depression, and Insomnia in Pregnant Women

Objective: Physical activity (PA), insomnia, depression, and worry were the key factors affecting pregnant women's quality of life (QoL). The present study aimed to determine quality of life and its relationship with physical activity, insomnia, depression, and worry in pregnant women. Method : This was an observational cross sectional study, conducted among 256 healthy pregnant women using 5 questionnaires: WHOQOL-brief (WHO Quality of Life Questionnaire, brief version, ISI (Insomnia Severity Index), PSWQ (Penn State Worry Questionnaire), ZSRDS (Zung Self-Rating depression Scale), and Pregnancy Physical Activity Questionnaire (PPAQ). Results: There was a significant relationship between general QoL, insomnia, and worry with educational background, number of children, and occupation (P < 0.05). Depression had a significant relationship with occupation (P < 0.05). PA did not have a significant relationship with demographic information. However, insomnia had a significantly negative relationship with general QoL, general health, and psychological health (P < 0.05). The worry variable had also a significant negative relationship with general QoL, general health, and physiological health (P < 0.05). Depression had a significant negative relationship with general health, physical health, and psychological health (P < 0.05). There was no significant relationship between physical activities in pregnancy with QoL, depression, worry, and insomnia. Conclusion: Women need to be informed about the necessity of controlling and reducing insomnia, worry, and depression to have a higher QoL. PA declined during the second and third trimester of pregnancy. However, PA in pregnancy can positively impact general QoL.

Investigation of the role of herbal medicine, acupressure, and acupuncture in the menopausal symptoms: An evidence-based systematic review study.

Background:Menopause is an important physiological phenomenon in women's lives. Women's concern about taking the hormone treatment to ease menopausal symptoms is increasing. Over the past decade, the use of complementary and alternative medicine for the treatment of menopausal problems instead of hormone therapy has increased.Objective:This study aimed to investigate the role of herbal medicine, acupressure, and acupuncture in the menopausal symptoms.Methods:Data source: related articles were searched from internal scientific databases and external databases of “Web of Scopus, Cochrane, PubMed, Science Direct, Ovid, and Google scholar.”Study Eligibility Criteria:The keywords such as menopause, menopausal symptoms, complementary menopausal medicine, acupuncture in menopause, herbal medicine in menopause, and acupuncture in menopause were searched in the studies from 1987 to 2019. Exclusion criteria were inadequate information in the study, lack of access to full-text articles, animal studies, and reports. At the end of the search, 145 articles out of a total of 400 articles were reviewed.Results:In various studies, different herbs such as licorice, valerian, soy, sage, ginseng, etc., were used to improve menopausal symptoms. In addition, acupuncture and acupressure were used to reduce menopausal symptoms.Conclusion:The efficacy and use of complementary and alternative medicine, along with other classical medicine care, can be a new model for improving menopausal symptoms in women. It is recommended that further clinical and review studies be conducted to develop complementary and alternative medicine.

The lived experience of women with a high-risk pregnancy: A phenomenology investigation

BackgroundPregnancy is a time of transformation, hope, expectation, and worry for women and their families – none more so than when the pregnancy is at-risk. The objective of this study was to describe the lived experience of women during high-risk pregnancy. MethodsThis qualitative investigation utilized a hermeneutic phenomenology study. The study was conducted in a public health center in a large urban area in southeast Iran. Purposive sampling of 20 women with a high-risk pregnancy. Participants included both nulligravid and multigravid women in the second and third trimesters of pregnancy with varied medical conditions. Data collection used face-to-face interview with transcribed data analyzed using Braun and Clarke's six stage thematic analysis approach. ResultsFour themes were extracted and included challenge of family in high-risk pregnancy, challenge of anticipation for motherhood, and challenges for future pregnancies, and challenge of adaptation. ConclusionsFindings demonstrate that women with a high-risk pregnancy struggle to adapt with burdens related to successful maternal role attainment and family functioning. Fears about pregnancy outcome and future pregnancies are dominant.

Evaluation of women's worries in different strategies for the prevention of early onset group B streptococcal disease in neonates

ObjectiveEarly onset group B streptococcal (EOGBS) disease is an important cause of neonatal morbidity and mortality. EOGBS preventive strategies aim to reduce the risk of neonatal complications. Two new strategies to prevent EOGBS were implemented in two regions in the Netherlands: a risk-based and a combination strategy and were compared to the Dutch strategy in a third region. Little is known how women feel about preventive EOGBS strategies, the consequences for management during labour, side effects such as harm caused by over prescribing of antibiotics or anxiety caused by screening. Women's worries in pregnancy overall and on women's worries related to GBS regarding the different strategies were explored. MethodsDesign - Setting - Participants - Interventions (if appropriate) - Before implementation of the two new strategies, all three regions worked according to the Dutch strategy. Women completed the Cambridge worry scale and a newly developed worry scale aimed to detect GBS related worries at 35 weeks of pregnancy before (T0) and after (T1) implementation of new strategies. Analyses were performed to test whether women's overall worries in pregnancy and their GBS related worries differed between the three strategies. Measurements and findingsIn total 1369 women participated, 519 before implementation (T0) and 850 during implementation (T1) of EOGBS preventive strategies. Mean overall worries in pregnancy and GBS related worries were low during the whole study period in all three regions. No differences were found in total mean GBS related worries between the three strategies during implementation (T1). When looking at the combined 10% highest CWS and/or GBS related worries during implementation the adjOR were 1.94 (95% CI 1.21–3.12) for the combination strategy, 2.09 (95% CI 1.42–3.08 for primiparity and 6.37 (95% CI 2.98–13.60) for having a different country of origin. Key conclusionsOverall women had minor GBS related worries in all EOGBS preventive strategies. Implementation of the combination strategy, primiparity and having a different country of origin are associated with the highest levels of overall worries in pregnancy and GBS related worries. Implications for practiceThe low level of women's worries combined with limited effects and cost effectiveness of the three strategies suggests that the strategy with the least costs and lowest antibiotic use should be implemented. A more tailored approach seems needed to address the specific needs of primiparous women and of women from different countries of origin when implementing the combination strategy.