Stereotypes of women in different stages of their reproductive life: data from Mexico and the United States

College students from Mexico and the United States (n = 349) were surveyed to explore stereotypes regarding women in different menstrual cycle phases and other stages of reproductive life. Participants from both countries defined a premenstrual or menstrual woman as irritable and moody and a menopausal woman as old and irritable. A woman with a hysterectomy was defined as sad, and only Americans used other words that did not have any negative connotation. Participants used some positive adjectives to describe other stages. For example, a pregnant woman was defined as happy, but only by Mexicans. Finally, a woman with a young baby was defined in both countries as happy; however, Americans implied that having a baby is complicated. The findings are discussed in light of sociocultural differences and similarities.     

Ambivalent Sexism and Attitudes Toward Women in Different Stages of Reproductive Life: A Semantic,Cross-Cultural Approach

College students in southeastern Mexico (n = 185) and the northeastern United States (n = 96) utilized a semantic differential scale to rate subtypes of women: a menstruating woman, a menopausal woman, a pregnant woman, a premenstrual woman, a woman with a hysterectomy, a teenage girl, a woman in love, and a woman with a young baby. Americans reported significantly more negative attitudes than Mexicans did toward a menstruating woman, a premenstrual woman, a teenage girl, and a pregnant woman. Participants chose more positive words to describe a teenage girl, a woman in love, a pregnant woman, and a woman with a young baby, which is suggestive of a pronatal bias. Participants also completed the Ambivalent Sexism Inventory (ASI). Men scored significantly higher than women on hostile sexism. Mexicans scored significantly higher than Americans on both hostile and benevolent sexism. Sexism scores are related to attitudes toward premenstrual, menstruating, and menopausal women; women with a hysterectomy; and women with a young baby.     

Parenting,Race, and Socioeconomic Status: Links to School Readiness

This study examined the link between socioeconomic status (SES) and school readiness, testing whether parenting (maternal sensitivity and negative behavior/intrusiveness) and financial stress mediated this association and if race moderated these paths. Participants included 164 mother‐child dyads from African American and European American families. Findings supported moderated mediation hypotheses: maternal sensitivity mediated the link between SES and school readiness for European Americans only; maternal negative/intrusive behaviors mediated the link between SES and school readiness for both European Americans and African Americans. These results indicate that the meaning and effects of parenting behaviors can vary by racial groups, and findings obtained for European American families cannot be assumed to apply to ethnic minority families as well. Among the implications of these findings is that programs aimed at increasing school readiness and closing the achievement gap need to be mindful of the cultural context in which children are raised.     

Awareness of Sickle Cell among People of Reproductive Age: Dominicans and African Americans in Northern Manhattan

Sickle cell disease is a chronic condition that is characterized by severe anemia, painful crises, and organ dysfunction. In the USA, sickle cell is a health burden typically associated with African Americans. Dominicans constitute the largest Latino group in New York City (NYC) and have the second overall highest prevalence of sickle trait—one in 20 births, compared to one in 12 African American births. We aimed to document the prevalence of sickle within the largely Dominican and African American community of Northern Manhattan (Washington Heights, Inwood, Harlem), assess and compare knowledge about sickle disease and carrier status in young adults of reproductive age between African Americans and Dominicans, and elicit preferred sources of health information. NY State Newborn Screening data in Northern Manhattan were analyzed by zip code. A brief oral survey was administered to 208 parents of young children—150 Dominicans and 58 African Americans. Significant differences were seen in knowledge about sickle—27% of Dominican parents surveyed correctly defined sickle cell disease as an inherited blood disorder, compared to 76% of African Americans (p < 0.001). Only 7% of African Americans did not know their own trait status, compared to 43% of Dominicans (p < 0.001). Parents were better informed if they or family members were affected by sickle conditions. Participants from both groups prefer receiving information from doctors and online. A separate group of 168 predominantly Dominican youth, ages 14–24, demonstrated knowledge levels similar to that of Dominican parents. These results suggest that many of reproductive age in a NYC community affected by sickle conditions frequently lack basic relevant information, with larger information gaps among Dominicans. Expanded efforts are warranted to inform young adults of diverse affected communities.     

Taking leave to bleed: Perceptions and attitudes toward menstrual leave policy

Abstract

Menstrual leave is offered in some countries and companies; however, there is a lack of research examining perceptions or effects of the policy. We examined the U.S. public’s (N?=?600) perceptions of a potential menstrual leave policy. Participants were asked open-ended questions about potential effects of menstrual leave in the U.S. Using thematic analysis, five themes emerged: (a) Supporting women and women in the workplace. (b) What do men get? (c) Concerns about the effects on the workplace. (d) Just deal with it [menstruation]. (e) This policy would make women look bad. These findings are important for policy makers to consider.     

Understanding of Sexuality and Reproductive Health Among Women With and Without Physical Disabilities

This study compares differences in how women with disabilities and women without disabilities learned about their sexuality and reproductive functioning. A written questionnaire was sent to a national sample of women with disabilities and their non-disabled woman friends recruited through independent living centers and announcements in the media. Responses were received from 504 women with disabilities and 442 women without disabilities. Participants were asked how old they were when they first learned about the physical aspects of sexual intercourse. Women with disabilities learned about the physical aspects of sexual intercourse at about the same age (M = 13.16) as women without disabilities (M = 12.93). The most commonly reported sources for learning about sexuality and sexual functioning for both groups were books and other printed material, having sex, partners, friends, and teachers in primary school. More women with disabilities received information from a woman with a disability and a rehabilitation counselor. Women in both groups indicated that sex was never or seldom the subject of general family conversation. On average the women with physical disabilities had their first date at age 16.6, which is later than women without physical disabilities (M = 14.91). Women with physical disabilities who reported having acquired sexuality information at a later age reported having sexual intercourse at an older age (M = 20.37) than women without physical disabilities (M = 17.75). Age at acquiring sexuality information was neither associated with frequency of intimate touch nor frequency of sexual intercourse. The results of this study can be used to generate recommendations for health care professionals concerning ways to respond more effectively to the special needs for sexuality information of physically disabled women.     

A case of infant botulism associated with honey feeding in Italy

A case of infant botulism in a 9 week-old female is described. A strain of C. botulinum type B was isolated from the feces of the baby. The epidemiologic study detected in a sample of home canned honey Clostridium botulinum spores of the same serotype that was isolated from the patient. The honey had been used only to sweeten the pacifier of the baby. This is the first case of infant botulism in Europe linked conclusively to honey.Corresponding author.     

Comprehensive assessment of metabolic syndrome among rural Bangladeshi women

Background  

Metabolic syndrome (MS), defined as a constellation of cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factors, is one of the fastest growing public health burdens in the Asia-Pacific region. This trend is despite the fact that people in this region are no more overweight than Europeans and Americans. Unfortunately, in South Asia, MS screening has only been performed in a few countries other than Bangladesh. Therefore the present study is designed to conduct a comprehensive screening of MS in Bangladeshi rural women, which includes estimation of prevalence and assessment of risk factor.     

Ethnic Variation in Attitudes toward Hypertension in Adults Ages 75 and Older

Background. Although critical to the management of hypertension, the attitudes of geriatric patients and possible ethnic group differences in attitudes concerning the disease are poorly understood.Methods. Data from a 1995–1996 population-based survey of 507 Hispanic American, African American, and non-Hispanic white adults ages 75 and older were used to assess ethnic differences in perceptions regarding the cause, prevention, and treatment of hypertension, as well as associations between perceptions and use of preventive health services.Results. African Americans were more likely to attribute hypertension to health behaviors and stress. In contrast, Hispanic Americans were more likely consider the disease a normal part of aging, whereas non-Hispanic whites were more likely to attribute hypertension to heredity or mechanistic causes. Non-Hispanic whites were less likely to perceive hypertension as preventable, whereas Hispanic Americans were less likely to feel that hypertension was treatable. The odds of having a primary care physician, blood pressure checked, or glaucoma checked were lower among older African Americans and Hispanic Americans than older non-Hispanic whites. The odds of having had a recent physical and of emergency room use were higher among African Americans and lower among Hispanic Americans, in relation to non-Hispanic whites.Conclusion. Ethnic differences regarding hypertension were clearly evident in this sample of older adults. In addition, attitudes regarding the cause and treatment of hypertension were found to be associated with both the use and the underuse of preventive health services in all three ethnic groups.     

Life with a new baby: How do immigrant and Australian‐born women's experiences compare?

Objective: Little is known about immigrant mothers’ experiences of life with a new baby, apart from studies on maternal depression. Our objective was to compare the post‐childbirth experiences of Australian‐born and immigrant mothers from non‐English speaking countries. Methods: A postal survey of recent mothers at six months postpartum in Victoria (August 2000 to February 2002), enabled comparison of experiences of life with a new baby for two groups of immigrant women: those born overseas in non‐English‐speaking countries who reported speaking English very well (n=460); and those born overseas in non‐English‐speaking countries who reported speaking English less than very well (n=184) and Australian‐born women (n=9,796). Results: Immigrant women were more likely than Australian‐born women to be breastfeeding at six months and were equally confident in caring for their baby and talking to health providers. No differences were found in anxiety or relationship problems with partners. However, compared with Australian‐born women, immigrant mothers less proficient in English did have a higher prevalence of depression (28.8% vs 15%) and were more likely to report wanting more practical (65.2% vs 55.4%) and emotional (65.2% vs 44.1%) support. They were more likely to have no ‘time out’ from baby care (47% vs 28%) and to report feeling lonely and isolated (39% vs 17%). Conclusion and implications: Immigrant mothers less proficient in English appear to face significant additional challenges post‐childbirth. Greater awareness of these challenges may help to improve the responsiveness of health and support services for women after birth.     

Interpregnancy nutrition intervention with mothers of low-birthweight babies living in an inner city area: a feasibility study

Background: Inadequate maternal nutrition around the time of conception is reported to be associated with nongenetic congenital abnormalities and with low birthweight. Aim: To evaluate the effectiveness of nutrition counselling during the interpregnancy interval for women who have had a low-birthweight baby, who live in an inner city area, and whose diets have been assessed as inadequate. Method: Mothers who had a low-birthweight baby and planned to have another baby were recruited into a pilot preconception nutrition counselling trial. Seven-day diet diaries were used to assess the dietary intakes of mothers before and after exposure to counselling. Results: Of 152 mothers interviewed, 111 (73%) agreed to participate; 77 (51%) participants completed 7-day diet diaries; of these, the calculated micronutrient intake of 70 (91%) was arbitrarily defined as ‘inadequate’, meeting fewer than four of 16 Reference Nutrient Intakes (RNIs). Forty-one (59%) of the 70 mothers with an ‘inadequate’ diet completed a second diary after 6 months exposure to nutrition counselling. Following the counselling period, the intake of few nutrients increased above the 5% level, although the trend was towards an improved dietary intake. Conclusions: Dietary counselling on its own in the interpregnancy period is unlikely to improve nutritional status of mothers in this inner city population.     

Body Weight and Length of Residence in the US Among Chinese Americans

Background It has been shown that as immigrants’ length of residence increases, so does their weight. However, little is known about factors associated with weight status among Chinese Americans, one of the fastest growing immigrant populations in the US. Methods Baseline data from a National Cancer Institute-funded longitudinal study involving a multi-stage probability sample of Chinese Americans residing in two communities in New York City were collected. Results Chinese Americans had a low BMI (mean = 22.81) and a lower proportion of obese individuals compared with other ethnic groups in the US reported in the literature. While the prevalence of being overweight (21%) and obese (2%) was low, length of residence was positively associated with weight status (P < 0.005). Conclusions Innovative strategies to help Chinese Americans maintain healthy weight status and to prevent them from becoming overweight and obese are needed.     

A Cross-Comparative Survey of Information Seeking and Scanning About Drug-Related Sources and Topics Among U.S. and Israeli College Students

There is an increasing amount of drug-related information that is easily accessible from media and interpersonal sources. Recent research shows significant positive associations between information acquisition and nonmedical drug use intentions among college students. This study examines information about amphetamines and marijuana that was actively searched (“seeking”) as well as information that was encountered during routine media use (“scanning”). Data are drawn from a cross-national comparative survey of college students in the United States (N = 734) and in Israel (N = 800). U.S. participants reported seeking and scanning information about marijuana across a broader range of sources than Israeli participants. Among U.S. and Israeli participants, the most frequently searched marijuana-related topics included the benefits of marijuana, negative effects of marijuana use, and political reasons why marijuana should be legal. Participants from both countries reported the benefits of amphetamines, and the negative effects of amphetamine use as the most frequently searched topics about amphetamines. Participants in both countries identified the internet and friends as the most popular sources of drug-related information and noted that physicians, friends, and the internet were the most trusted sources. Implications for research on information seeking and health communication are discussed.     

Influenza and Pneumococcal Vaccination Rates among Vietnamese,Asian, and Non-Hispanic White Americans

Background Vaccination data for Asian Americans are comparable to those for whites, possibly because they are reported in aggregate rather than for subgroups. We compared influenza and pneumococcal vaccination rates among eligible Asian Americans and white Americans, and for Vietnamese Americans as a subgroup, and assessed factors associated with these vaccinations. Methods Cross-sectional study of data collected from three ethnic groups over 4 years by telephone survey. Data were weighted for selection probability and population estimates and analyzed by multivariate logistic regression. Results Vietnamese Americans had a higher rate of influenza vaccination (61%) than Asian Americans (45%) and white Americans (52%), and lower rate of pneumococcal vaccination (41%) than Asian Americans (56%), both lower than white Americans (67%). Conclusion When analyzed as a subgroup, Vietnamese Americans had a higher influenza vaccination rate, but a lower pneumococcal vaccination rate, compared to Asian Americans and white Americans, which may indicate that health behaviors and outcomes can differ widely among Asian subgroups. Analyses of preventive care measures in Asian Americans should focus on subgroups to ensure accuracy and quality of assessments.     

Gender differences in mobility disability during young,middle and older age in West African adults

Abstract

The objective of this study was to assess the prevalence and the contribution of socio-demographic factors and chronic diseases to mobility disability in West African countries. Data were obtained from the World Health Survey (2002–2003) in which adults≥18 years participated, from Burkina Faso (n=4822), Mali (n=4230) and Senegal (n=3197). Participants reporting mild, moderate, severe, extreme difficulty or inability to move around were defined as having mobility disability. All estimates were corrected for sampling design. Association measures were estimated using logistic regression methods. Mobility disability was frequent at young ages (35–44 years old) in men and women, respectively: 17% and 23% in Burkina Faso, 12% and 23% in Mali and 22% and 34% in Senegal. Women had higher odds of mobility difficulty than men at every age group in the three countries: 1.34 (95%CI 1.06; 1.70) in Burkina Faso; 2.33 (95% CI 1.84; 2.71) in Mali and 1.82 (95%CI 1.41; 2.36) in Senegal. Controlling for socio-economic factors and chronic disease, these odds changed respectively to 0.94 (95%CI 0.70; 1.25), 2.19 (95%CI 1.61; 2.96) and 1.90 (95%CI 1.27; 2.84). These results constitute a benchmark for the study of trends of mobility disability in West Africa and could be used by policy planners.     

Beliefs and advice‐seeking behaviours for fertility and pregnancy: a cross‐sectional study of a global sample

Background

Pregnancy can motivate individuals to adopt lifestyle behaviours that protect the health of their offspring. The aims of the present study were to explore men's and women's beliefs about lifestyle, fertility and pregnancy, as well as where they seek advice.

Methods

Participants (2185 women and 221 men, six unspecified) from 104 countries completed a questionnaire that explored their beliefs about what was important for a healthy pregnancy and their advice‐seeking behaviours. Recruitment was via a Massive Open Online Course entitled ‘Food as Medicine’, with food, nutrient and health content. Comparisons of categorical data were performed using a chi‐squared test (P = 0.05).

Results

Eating a variety of fruits and vegetables and not smoking (both 93.7%) were the most frequently and equally ranked in the top‐five factors for a healthy pregnancy. Taking prenatal supplements (26.8%) was considered to be less important. Participants in Westernised countries ranked not smoking or drinking alcohol as being significantly more important than those in other countries. Overall, doctors (47.7%) were the most common source of fertility and pregnancy advice. Larger proportions of those aged <40 years used the Internet (<40 years 44.1%, >40 years 18.2% χ² = 152.7, P < 0.01) and social media (<40 years 16.1%, >40 years 3.6%; χ² = 110.18, P < 0.01) for health information.

Conclusions

There is disconnection between beliefs and actions regarding the lifestyle behaviours considered to be important for a healthy pregnancy, particularly nutrition. Pregnancy advice‐seeking has evolved, with younger men and women utilising the Internet and social media. Health professionals must consider new communication strategies to deliver evidence‐based lifestyle advice, particularly for younger men and women and where access to healthcare is limited.

     

The contraceptive benefit of breastfeeding

Breastfeeding has long been a means of fertility regulation in traditional communities but only recently have attempts been made to characterize and quantify this attribute. Breastfeeding encompasses behavioral, geographical, and cultural factors, which account for the differences in the prevalence and practice of breastfeeding in different communities. Ovarian activity is suppressed in the breastfeeding mother. Initially the suppression is complete and the woman is amenorrheic. This is followed by anovulatory menstrual cycles or ovulatory cycles that manifest luteal phase deficiency or normal ovulatory cycles. The duration of ovarian follicular suppression is variable and recent work suggests that lactation suppresses ovarian activity by disturbing the pulsatile pattern of luteinizing hormone (LH) secretion. During lactational amenorrhea, prolactin levels are high, LH levels are low to normal. Follicle stimulating hormone concentrations are normal by four weeks postpartum, and estrogen and progesterone levels are low. The degree of ovarian suppression is enhanced by increased frequency of suckling, longer duration of feeds, and more frequent night-time feeds. Introduction of supplementary feeds inhibits ovarian suppression. These and other factors account for variations in the length of lactational amenorrhea in an individual and between populations. The Bellagio Consensus Statement affirms that the risk of pregnancy in a fully breastfeeding, amenorrheic woman in the first six months of lactation is less than 2%. After the sixth month it is increasingly likely that ovulation will precede the first menstruation. The Bellagio Consensus has given scientific validity to birth-spacing in developing countries and the lactational amenorrhea method (LAM) as a means of contraception. If breastfeeding ceases to be full, menstruation resumes, or the baby is more than six months old, alternative methods of contraception should be used. Breastfeeding should feature more prominently in fertility regulation programs and counseling, especially in developing countries.     

Health service utilization among adults aged 50+ across eleven European countries (the SHARE study 2004/5)

Purpose

The current study aims to examine the use of preventive and other health services among adults aged 50+ in eleven European countries.

Methods

The data used were derived from 16,120 adults aged 50+ years participating in the Survey of Health, Ageing and Retirement in Europe (2004/05). Preventive Health Services Utilization score (PHSUs) and Health Care Services Utilization score (HCSUs) were assessed as a composite value from answers to 12 and 16 questions respectively, on a scale ranging from 0 to 100. Estimations were based on a complex study design.

Results

Participants from Central European countries were found to have significantly higher mean PHSU and HCSU scores than their counterparts in Northern and Southern regions, (p?<?0.05) and also exhibited a greater gap between the two scores (29.3, 95% CI: 28.6–30.1). Overall mean PHSU score was 39.9 (95% CI: 39.4–40.4) and mean HCSU score 12.4 (95% CI: 12.2–12.7). Women have a higher mean PHSUs and HCSUs (p?<?0.001); as age increases, PHSUs falls and HCSUs rises (p?<?0.001). Better educated participants appear to have higher mean PHSUs and HCSUs (p?<?0.001). In addition, both of the above scores increase in the presence of chronic diseases (p?<?0.001).

Conclusion

Strong correlation is seen between comorbidity, increasing age, educational level, and retirement on the one hand, and increased use of health services on the other hand. The use of health services is a major issue with regard to public health policy formulation.

     

Text4baby: Development and Implementation of a National Text Messaging Health Information Service

Text4baby is the first free national health text messaging service in the United States that aims to provide timely information to pregnant women and new mothers to help them improve their health and the health of their babies.Here we describe the development of the text messages and the large public–private partnership that led to the national launch of the service in 2010. Promotion at the local, state, and national levels produced rapid uptake across the United States. More than 320 000 people enrolled with text4baby between February 2010 and March 2012.Further evaluations of the effectiveness of the service are ongoing; however, important lessons can be learned from its development and uptake.The US infant mortality rate (6.59/1000 live births) is higher than in most developed countries.1 In the United States, the infant mortality rate for non-Hispanic African American women is 2.4 times the rate for non-Hispanic White women.1 Rates are also elevated for Native American Indian and Alaska Native women. In 2008, 12.3% of the 4 251 095 babies born in the United States were born prematurely and 8.2% had a low birth weight.2 Health-related behaviors in the prenatal and postnatal periods, such as nutrition, tobacco smoking, breastfeeding, safe sleep practices, and vaccination are known to affect maternal and infant outcomes.3 Women without access to affordable and appropriate care may not be receiving information needed to support prenatal and postnatal pediatric care. Recent studies have also shown limited health literacy in the United States to be related to a lack of prenatal planning, such as taking folic acid, and difficulties with informed parental decision-making.4,5Mobile phones may be an appropriate means for addressing the challenges of health literacy6 and for reaching women from underserved communities. Mobile phone ownership in the United States is similar across racial/ethnic groups (80% of Whites and 87% of African Americans and Hispanics). African Americans (79%) and Hispanic Americans (83%) are more likely than are White Americans (68%) to send text messages.7 Americans living in or near poverty are more likely to live in cell phone–only households (no fixed phone line), and those living in cell phone–only households are more likely to have experienced numerous barriers to health care.8Mobile phone text messaging has been used to support healthy behavior change and health care delivery processes.9–12 Successful behavior change interventions have used text messaging to support smoking cessation,13–15 weight management through diet or physical activity,16–19 and management of anxiety symptoms.20 Health care process interventions have included appointment reminders21–24 and reminders to take medications.25–30Here we describe the development of text4baby, a free national text messaging service that provides timely information to pregnant women and new mothers to help them improve their health and the health of their babies. More than 320 000 people enrolled with text4baby between its launch in February 2010 and March 2012. Little has been published in peer-reviewed journals on mobile health initiatives of this scale in the United States. Published international examples of national-scale services include a text messaging smoking cessation service in New Zealand, which was established after a randomized trial and registered 3905 clients in the first year,13,31 and a public health campaign in South Africa, which sent 968 million HIV/AIDS awareness messages embedded in free “Please call me” text messages over two years.32,33 Lessons from the development of text4baby could guide similar mobile health developments.