Beliefs about AIDS, health, and illness in low-income white women

A sample of 42 low-income white women were interviewed to describe their beliefs about AIDS and its treatment and to determine whether these beliefs were related to the subjects' general framework of beliefs about illness and its treatment. Content analysis was used to classify data. The causes and treatment of AIDS were categorized as professional sector, popular sector, and traditional sector health care beliefs. Professional sector beliefs included the cause and major modes of transmission and prevention identified by the biomedical system and the public health service. Popular sector misconceptions included beliefs about casual transmission and immunizations. Traditional sector beliefs concerned causes such as contamination and impurities and remedies such as herbs and diet. The respondents' explanations for the causes and treatment of AIDS in these three areas were integrated into a lay explanatory model of illness involving germs, resistance, and the immune system.     

A randomized clinical trial of an HIV-risk-reduction intervention among low-income Latina women

BACKGROUND: HIV infection has increased within the Latina community more than in any other ethnic or racial group within the United States. Latinas comprise only 13% of the U.S. population, yet they account for 20% of the cumulative reported cases of AIDS. OBJECTIVES: The purpose of the study was to evaluate a randomized culturally tailored intervention to prevent high-HIV-risk sexual behaviors for Latina women residing in urban areas. METHODS: Mexican and Puerto Rican women (18-44 years of age; N = 657) who were sexually active during the previous 3 months were recruited and randomized into intervention and control groups. The intervention, facilitated by bilingual, bicultural, trained Latina women, consisted of culturally tailored sessions on understanding their bodies, HIV/AIDS and sexually transmitted diseases, condoms (myths and use), negotiating safer sex practices, violence prevention, and partner communication. Bivariate and multivariate analyses assessed changes from baseline. RESULTS: The intervention improved HIV knowledge, partner communication, risk-reduction behavioral intentions, and condom use, and decreased perceived barriers to condom use. DISCUSSION: The efficacy of a culturally-sensitive intervention to reduce HIV/AIDS-risk behaviors in Latina women was demonstrated in the current study.     

Beliefs about health and illness: a comparison between Ugandan men and women living with Diabetes Mellitus

Background: The diabetes mellitus (DM) pandemic greatly affects developing countries. Self‐care is an important part of management, guided by beliefs about health and illness. Dissimilarities in health‐related behaviour in men and women have been described but not comparisons of their beliefs about health and illness. Aim: To explore beliefs about health and illness that might affect self‐care practice and healthcare‐seeking behaviour in men and women with DM in Uganda. Methods: This was an exploratory study with a consecutive sample from an outpatient diabetes clinic at a university hospital. Semi‐structured interviews were conducted with 15 women and 10 men aged 21–70 years. Data analysis was conducted by qualitative content analysis. Findings: Men's and women's beliefs about health and illness indicated limited knowledge about the body and DM. Dissimilar were men's focus on socio‐economic factors, particularly affordability of drugs, sexual function and lifestyle, while women valued well‐being, support in daily life and household activities and had a higher risk‐awareness of DM. Irrespective of gender, limited self‐care measures were used, and health professionals were consulted about health problems. Conclusion: Similarities and dissimilarities were found between men and women in beliefs about health and illness that affect self‐care practice and healthcare seeking. Underlying living conditions, with different gender roles, appear to determine the beliefs about health and illness, which are based on individual knowledge. Measures to increase knowledge about DM are urgently needed in Uganda. In diabetes care, it is important to search for individual beliefs and consider gender and living conditions.     

Characteristics of smoking in low-income pregnant Latina and white women

Smoking during pregnancy is hazardous as it poses numerous risks to both the mother and the unborn child. Formerly, interventions that were successful for White smokers were thought to be equally appropriate for all smokers. It is now acknowledged that there is a need to tailor interventions for distinct ethnic and cultural groups. This study was designed to identify variables that are associated with smoking status in a low-income sample of pregnant Latina and White women. Results indicate that Latinas had lower levels of addiction to cigarettes and were less likely to have partners who smoked than White women. Identifying differences in the characteristics of ethnically diverse pregnant smokers will assist in the development of interventions that are tailored for women who attend prenatal clinics.     

Knowledge, attitude, and practice about AIDS and condom utilization among health workers in Rwanda.

Health workers in rural Rwanda were surveyed cross-sectionally on knowledge, attitude, and practice (KAP) about AIDS, HIV, and condom utilization. Participants were 350 health workers from six randomly chosen communities (three rural, three semirural). In general, knowledge about HIV/AIDS was moderate to good, with an average of 63% of the questions answered correctly; men (and younger respondents) had a better knowledge than did women (p =.01; older participants, p =.015). However, in the specific area of HIV/AIDS symptoms, knowledge was inadequate. In general, the attitude of health workers toward condoms was not sufficiently positive. Regular use of condoms was reported by 17%; the only variable significantly associated with condom use was having more than one partner during the past year. Men and those who scored high on knowledge had a more positive attitude toward infected individuals than did women (p =.003) and those with less knowledge (p =.001). In conclusion, there is an urgent need to institute educational programs to reduce the stigma about condoms among health workers in Rwanda.     

Workplace health promotion--strategies for low-income Hispanic immigrant women.

Addressing health disparities for vulnerable populations in the United States is a national goal. Immigrant Hispanic women, at increased risk for heart disease, face obstacles in receiving adequate health care. Health promotion, especially for Hispanic women, is hindered by language, access to care, lack of insurance, and cultural factors. Innovative health education approaches are needed to reach this population. This article describes the development and evaluation of a culturally sensitive cardiac health education program based on findings from a study of 21 older immigrant Hispanic women employed as housekeepers at a small university in south Texas. Systolic and diastolic blood pressures had decreased 17 months after the intervention.     

Beliefs about aging and illness in a community sample

Findings from recent studies have demonstrated age group differences in coping with illness. One explanation for these age group differences has received little attention: perceptions of illness may differ with age and these differences in perception may account for the observed differences in coping. The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of age on illness perceptions along dimensions that influence coping. Specifically, we explored perceptions about aging as a cause of illness and perceptions about the effect of age on seriousness, curability and controllability of illness. Four hundred fifty-one community-dwelling adults (age range 20 to 90 years) participated in the study. The pattern of results showed respondents of all ages expressing the belief that aging is associated with increased susceptibility to disease and lowered potential for control or cure. Implications of these beliefs for health monitoring and coping with illness are discussed.     

An Assessment of Arab American Knowledge, Attitudes, and Beliefs about AIDS

An important component of an effective AIDS prevention program is the dissemination of relevant information concerning AIDS risk behaviors. The purpose of this study was to identify the knowledge, attitudes, and beliefs of 411 randomly selected Arab Americans. The results indicate a low level of self-assessed knowledge about AIDS, a high number of misconceptions about the transmission of HIV, and a high level of anxiety about HIV infection .     

Beliefs about tobacco among Appalachian current and former users.

Higher risks of tobacco-related morbidity and mortality in Appalachians provided the impetus for this qualitative study. The purpose was to describe beliefs about tobacco use and cessation among current and former tobacco users in rural Appalachia using focus groups. Findings included themes of nicotine addiction and pros and cons of tobacco use. The importance of family and personal independence in relation to tobacco were evident. Participants identified helpful tobacco treatment strategies. Similarities to treatment needs of tobacco users in general underscore the point that rural Appalachians require best practice tobacco treatment integrating unique cultural aspects of family and personal independence.     

Perceived benefits and barriers to physical activity among older Latina women

Evidence of the benefits of physical activity in the health of aging women continues to grow but questions remain about the factors that influence these women's ability to engage in this behavior. The authors used a qualitative design to describe the social and culture-specific perceived benefits and barriers to physical activity among 143 Latina women, ages 40 to 79. Content analysis of these women's responses revealed that perceived benefits (health promotion, physical fitness, improved roles) and barriers (time constraints of women's roles, personal health, internal and external factors) function as competing elements that may explain physical inactivity. Health care providers should emphasize overcoming barriers and promote perceived benefits as clinical interventions that may pose the greatest potential to increase physical activity among aging Latina women. This emphasis holds promise as a feasible and effective primary care intervention for achieving increased physical-activity-related health benefits.     

Prenatal care utilization among low-income African American women

The purpose of this study was to assess prenatal care utilization among low-income African American women, examine the relations of demographic and other selected variables to the adequacy of prenatal care utilization, and to describe the women's positive and negative experiences with prenatal care. The sample consisted of 126 African American women who had a child 1 year old or younger. A structured interview developed by the investigator was used. Adequacy of prenatal care utilization (APNCU) was calculated using Kotelchuck's index (Kotelchuck, 1994b). The findings indicated that 13% of the women did not receive any prenatal care and that only 50.8% of the women had adequate utilization of prenatal care. Women who perceived prenatal care as important utilized the services significantly more than other women, chi 2(1, N = 126) = 8.04, p = .01. Demographic variables, presence of health problems during pregnancy, and whether or not pregnancy was planned were not significantly related to APNCU. Several positive aspects of prenatal care were expressed by the women, and 24% of those who obtained care stated that there was nothing negative about it. The negative experiences mentioned by some women were clinic waiting time, waking up in the morning, transportation difficulties, having morning sickness, and disliking seeing a doctor.     

Perceived impediments to prenatal care among low-income women

The study describes women's experience with prenatal care, their perceived impediments to care, and compares the impediments cited by the women with levels of care utilization. The sample consisted of 126 African American women. A structured interview and questionnaire were used. The results showed that pregnancy was unplanned in 78.6% of the women, and no one encouraged the women to obtain care in half the cases. Only 50.8% of the women made adequate utilization of prenatal care. The main impediments to care were transportation, long waiting time, having too many other problems, and fear of staff finding out about the women's use of substances. Five of the reported impediments significantly influenced the women's utilization of care. These were: substance abuse, fear of medical examination, the belief that prenatal care is not necessary, already knew of pregnancy, and no babysitter for other children.     

Acculturation and breast self-examination among immigrant Latina women in the USA

This article is an extension of previous work, which identified acculturation as an important variable in predicting breast self-examination (BSE) in this sample of women. Here, acculturation is further examined as an intervening factor in predicting BSE. This paper presents the association between level of acculturation to mainstream culture in the USA and the practice of BSE among a population of low-income immigrant Mexican and Puerto Rican women (n = 111) in an urban area of the Midwest in the USA. The majority of women (84.7%) scored a low level of acculturation and 85% did not practice correct BSE. The crude odds ratio indicated that Latina women having a high level of acculturation (15.3%) were twice as likely to practice correct BSE than women with low acculturation. We would suggest that a clearer understanding of the variables that define the performance of BSE will assist in enabling nurses globally to incorporate assessments in their practice that will lead to more successful interventions.     

Stress and depression among Latina women in rural southeastern North Carolina

The purposes of this study were to assess the level of depression and types of major stressors, and to identify stressors contributing to depression, among 135 Latina women in rural southeastern North Carolina. Nearly half of the participants (47.6%) had scores of greater than, or equal to, 16 on the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale, used to identify possible depression, suggesting the need for early intervention. "Difficult to be away from family members," "immigration status," and "religion" were the most reliable predictors of stress, accounting for 34.5% of the total variance in depression.     

Beliefs, perceptions, and practices related to osteoporosis risk reduction among women with multiple sclerosis.

Women with multiple sclerosis (MS) are at increased risk for osteoporosis and fracture; in turn, osteoporosis has the potential to exacerbate the physical limitations imposed by MS. This qualitative study explored the understanding of osteoporosis risk and risk reduction, strategies being used to reduce risk, and related beliefs among 27 women with MS. Participants were recruited at a regional MS Society meeting. The women completed personal data forms, and responded to open-ended questions during taped interviews, which were transcribed and subjected to comparative content analysis. Five themes emerged from the data: knowledge about osteoporosis, sense of vulnerability, interactions with healthcare providers, preventive actions, and sense of control. All of the women had some knowledge about osteoporosis risk reduction, and most of the women were actively attempting to reduce their risk. However, few of the women had full knowledge, or were doing all that they might do, to minimize their risk. Few of their healthcare providers had discussed the issue or responded to their concerns, even when women had histories of multiple fractures. The women did comprehened their increased risk and most attempted to manage it, although input was lacking from healthcare providers about osteoporosis risk reduction.