Pub Date : 2024-07-02DOI: 10.1186/s12978-024-01836-8
Shahenda A I H Ahmad, Jorina Holtrop, Monique J M van den Eijnden, Nini H Jonkman, Maria G van Pampus, Odile A van den Heuvel, Birit F P Broekman, Noralie N Schonewille
Background: Recent studies revealed an elevated likelihood of unintended pregnancies among women with psychiatric disorders compared to their counterparts without such vulnerability. Despite the importance of understanding family planning decision-making in this group, qualitative inquiries are lacking. This study explored family planning decisions among women with psychiatric disorders.
Methods: Utilizing a qualitative approach, three focus group discussions were conducted with purposive sampling: women with a history of unintended pregnancies (N = 3), women without children (N = 5), and women with a history of intended pregnancies (N = 9), all of whom had self-reported psychiatric disorders. Using thematic framework analysis, we investigated the themes "Shadow of the past," reflecting past experiences, and "Shadow of the future," reflecting future imaginaries, building upon the existing "Narrative Framework."
Results: The Narrative Framework formed the foundation for understanding family planning among women with psychiatric disorders. The retrospective dimension of focus group discussions provided opportunities for reflective narratives on sensitive topics, revealing emotions of regret, grief and relief. Childhood trauma, adverse events, and inadequate parenting enriched the "Shadow of the past". The "Shadow of the present" was identified as a novel theme, addressing awareness of psychiatric disorders and emotions toward psychiatric stability. Social influences, stigma, and concerns about transmitting psychiatric disorders shaped future imaginaries in the shadow of the future.
Conclusions: This study enlightens how family planning decision-making in women with psychiatric disorders might be complex, as marked by the enduring impact of past experiences and societal influences in this sample. These nuanced insights underscore the necessity for tailored support for women with psychiatric disorders.
{"title":"Family planning decision-making in relation to psychiatric disorders in women: a qualitative focus group study.","authors":"Shahenda A I H Ahmad, Jorina Holtrop, Monique J M van den Eijnden, Nini H Jonkman, Maria G van Pampus, Odile A van den Heuvel, Birit F P Broekman, Noralie N Schonewille","doi":"10.1186/s12978-024-01836-8","DOIUrl":"10.1186/s12978-024-01836-8","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Recent studies revealed an elevated likelihood of unintended pregnancies among women with psychiatric disorders compared to their counterparts without such vulnerability. Despite the importance of understanding family planning decision-making in this group, qualitative inquiries are lacking. This study explored family planning decisions among women with psychiatric disorders.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Utilizing a qualitative approach, three focus group discussions were conducted with purposive sampling: women with a history of unintended pregnancies (N = 3), women without children (N = 5), and women with a history of intended pregnancies (N = 9), all of whom had self-reported psychiatric disorders. Using thematic framework analysis, we investigated the themes \"Shadow of the past,\" reflecting past experiences, and \"Shadow of the future,\" reflecting future imaginaries, building upon the existing \"Narrative Framework.\"</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>The Narrative Framework formed the foundation for understanding family planning among women with psychiatric disorders. The retrospective dimension of focus group discussions provided opportunities for reflective narratives on sensitive topics, revealing emotions of regret, grief and relief. Childhood trauma, adverse events, and inadequate parenting enriched the \"Shadow of the past\". The \"Shadow of the present\" was identified as a novel theme, addressing awareness of psychiatric disorders and emotions toward psychiatric stability. Social influences, stigma, and concerns about transmitting psychiatric disorders shaped future imaginaries in the shadow of the future.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>This study enlightens how family planning decision-making in women with psychiatric disorders might be complex, as marked by the enduring impact of past experiences and societal influences in this sample. These nuanced insights underscore the necessity for tailored support for women with psychiatric disorders.</p>","PeriodicalId":20899,"journal":{"name":"Reproductive Health","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":3.6,"publicationDate":"2024-07-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11221133/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141493223","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Background: Domestic violence is a leading cause of poor health outcomes during pregnancy and the postpartum period. Therefore, there is a need for integrated domestic violence interventions in reproductive health care settings. India has one of the highest maternal and child mortality rates. This review aimed to identify characteristics of existing evidence-based integrated domestic violence and reproductive healthcare interventions in India to identify gaps and components of interventions that demonstrate effectiveness for addressing domestic violence.
Methods: A systematic review of intervention studies was conducted using Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses. Three research team members performed independent screening of title, abstracts and full-texts.
Results: The search resulted in 633 articles, of which 13 articles met inclusion criteria for full text screening and analysis. Common components of integrated violence and reproductive health interventions that were effective in addressing domestic violence included: psychoeducation/education (n = 5), skill building (n = 5), counseling (n = 5), engaging stakeholders with use of trained lay peer facilitators (n = 3), and engaging male spouses (n = 3).
Conclusions: Interventions in India for domestic violence that are integrated with reproductive health care remain few, and there are fewer with effective outcomes for domestic violence. Of those with effective outcomes, all of the interventions utilized psychoeducation/education, skill building, and counseling as part of the intervention.
{"title":"Integrated domestic violence and reproductive health interventions in India: a systematic review.","authors":"Bushra Sabri, Serena Sloka Mani, Venkata Preetam Sandeep Kaduluri","doi":"10.1186/s12978-024-01830-0","DOIUrl":"10.1186/s12978-024-01830-0","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Domestic violence is a leading cause of poor health outcomes during pregnancy and the postpartum period. Therefore, there is a need for integrated domestic violence interventions in reproductive health care settings. India has one of the highest maternal and child mortality rates. This review aimed to identify characteristics of existing evidence-based integrated domestic violence and reproductive healthcare interventions in India to identify gaps and components of interventions that demonstrate effectiveness for addressing domestic violence.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>A systematic review of intervention studies was conducted using Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses. Three research team members performed independent screening of title, abstracts and full-texts.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>The search resulted in 633 articles, of which 13 articles met inclusion criteria for full text screening and analysis. Common components of integrated violence and reproductive health interventions that were effective in addressing domestic violence included: psychoeducation/education (n = 5), skill building (n = 5), counseling (n = 5), engaging stakeholders with use of trained lay peer facilitators (n = 3), and engaging male spouses (n = 3).</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Interventions in India for domestic violence that are integrated with reproductive health care remain few, and there are fewer with effective outcomes for domestic violence. Of those with effective outcomes, all of the interventions utilized psychoeducation/education, skill building, and counseling as part of the intervention.</p>","PeriodicalId":20899,"journal":{"name":"Reproductive Health","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":3.6,"publicationDate":"2024-06-29","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11218333/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141477324","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2024-06-28DOI: 10.1186/s12978-024-01828-8
Malika Sachdeva, Alida Moukam Datchoua, Virginie Flore Yakam, Bruno Kenfack, Magali Jonnalagedda-Cattin, Jean-Philippe Thiran, Patrick Petignat, Nicole Christine Schmidt
Background: Cervical cancer is the fourth most frequent cancer among women, with 90% of cervical cancer-related deaths occurring in low- and middle-income countries like Cameroon. Visual inspection with acetic acid is often used in low-resource settings to screen for cervical cancer; however, its accuracy can be limited. To address this issue, the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Lausanne and the University Hospitals of Geneva are collaborating to develop an automated smartphone-based image classifier that serves as a computer aided diagnosis tool for cancerous lesions. The primary objective of this study is to explore the acceptability and perspectives of women in Dschang regarding the usage of a screening tool for cervical cancer relying on artificial intelligence. A secondary objective is to understand the preferred form and type of information women would like to receive regarding this artificial intelligence-based screening tool.
Methods: A qualitative methodology was employed to gain better insight into the women's perspectives. Participants, aged between 30 and 49 were invited from both rural and urban regions and semi-structured interviews using a pre-tested interview guide were conducted. The focus groups were divided on the basis of level of education, as well as HPV status. The interviews were audio-recorded, transcribed, and coded using the ATLAS.ti software.
Results: A total of 32 participants took part in the six focus groups, and 38% of participants had a primary level of education. The perspectives identified were classified using an adapted version of the Technology Acceptance Model. Key factors influencing the acceptability of artificial intelligence include privacy concerns, perceived usefulness, and trust in the competence of providers, accuracy of the tool as well as the potential negative impact of smartphones.
Conclusion: The results suggest that an artificial intelligence-based screening tool for cervical cancer is mostly acceptable to the women in Dschang. By ensuring patient confidentiality and by providing clear explanations, acceptance can be fostered in the community and uptake of cervical cancer screening can be improved.
Trial registration: Ethical Cantonal Board of Geneva, Switzerland (CCER, N°2017-0110 and CER-amendment n°4) and Cameroonian National Ethics Committee for Human Health Research (N°2022/12/1518/CE/CNERSH/SP). NCT: 03757299.
{"title":"Acceptability of artificial intelligence for cervical cancer screening in Dschang, Cameroon: a qualitative study on patient perspectives.","authors":"Malika Sachdeva, Alida Moukam Datchoua, Virginie Flore Yakam, Bruno Kenfack, Magali Jonnalagedda-Cattin, Jean-Philippe Thiran, Patrick Petignat, Nicole Christine Schmidt","doi":"10.1186/s12978-024-01828-8","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1186/s12978-024-01828-8","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Cervical cancer is the fourth most frequent cancer among women, with 90% of cervical cancer-related deaths occurring in low- and middle-income countries like Cameroon. Visual inspection with acetic acid is often used in low-resource settings to screen for cervical cancer; however, its accuracy can be limited. To address this issue, the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Lausanne and the University Hospitals of Geneva are collaborating to develop an automated smartphone-based image classifier that serves as a computer aided diagnosis tool for cancerous lesions. The primary objective of this study is to explore the acceptability and perspectives of women in Dschang regarding the usage of a screening tool for cervical cancer relying on artificial intelligence. A secondary objective is to understand the preferred form and type of information women would like to receive regarding this artificial intelligence-based screening tool.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>A qualitative methodology was employed to gain better insight into the women's perspectives. Participants, aged between 30 and 49 were invited from both rural and urban regions and semi-structured interviews using a pre-tested interview guide were conducted. The focus groups were divided on the basis of level of education, as well as HPV status. The interviews were audio-recorded, transcribed, and coded using the ATLAS.ti software.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>A total of 32 participants took part in the six focus groups, and 38% of participants had a primary level of education. The perspectives identified were classified using an adapted version of the Technology Acceptance Model. Key factors influencing the acceptability of artificial intelligence include privacy concerns, perceived usefulness, and trust in the competence of providers, accuracy of the tool as well as the potential negative impact of smartphones.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>The results suggest that an artificial intelligence-based screening tool for cervical cancer is mostly acceptable to the women in Dschang. By ensuring patient confidentiality and by providing clear explanations, acceptance can be fostered in the community and uptake of cervical cancer screening can be improved.</p><p><strong>Trial registration: </strong>Ethical Cantonal Board of Geneva, Switzerland (CCER, N°2017-0110 and CER-amendment n°4) and Cameroonian National Ethics Committee for Human Health Research (N°2022/12/1518/CE/CNERSH/SP). NCT: 03757299.</p>","PeriodicalId":20899,"journal":{"name":"Reproductive Health","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":3.6,"publicationDate":"2024-06-28","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11212410/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141470425","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2024-06-28DOI: 10.1186/s12978-024-01829-7
Stephen Bell, Susannah Gibbs, Abigail Winskell, Xaviera Villarino, Halle Gill, Kristen Little
Background: Access to an on-demand pericoital oral contraceptive pill - used to prevent pregnancy within a defined window around sexual intercourse - could offer women more reproductive agency. A contraceptive with this indication is not currently available in any market. This review aims to understand international user appeal for an on-demand pericoital oral contraceptive pill.
Methods: Systematic scoping review, comprising 30 peer-reviewed papers published between 2014-2023.
Results: Data from 30 papers reporting on research from 16 countries across five World Health Organisation regions suggests widespread user appeal for on-demand oral contraceptive pills that can be used peri- or post-coitally, especially among women who are younger, more educated or who have less frequent sex. Women of varying age, wealth, employment or relationship status, and with different prior experience of using modern contraceptives, were also interested. Women identified clear rationale for use and preference of these types of product: close alignment with women's sexual lives that comprised unplanned, spontaneous or occasional sex; perceived convenience and effectiveness; discreet use of pills to negotiate contextual circumstances that constrained their reproductive agency. Factors inhibiting use included knowledge barriers and attitudes of service providers, a lack of knowledge and misinformation among end-users, women's dislike of menstrual side effects and myths related to the effects of hormone content on future fertility.
Conclusions: Introduction of an on-demand pericoital oral contraceptive pill could expand contraceptive choice for diverse women experiencing unmet need for modern contraception and constrained sexual and reproductive agency. Priorities for future research include: broadening the geographical scope of evidence to include SE Asia and the Pacific, and international rural and peri-urban settings; documenting the perspectives of adolescents and unmarried young people; identifying opportunities for innovation in the supply channels to enhance appropriate, affordable access to on-demand oral contraceptives; and unpacking how to bring new pericoital contraceptives to the market in a variety of international settings.
{"title":"Acceptability of an on-demand pericoital oral contraceptive pill: a systematic scoping review.","authors":"Stephen Bell, Susannah Gibbs, Abigail Winskell, Xaviera Villarino, Halle Gill, Kristen Little","doi":"10.1186/s12978-024-01829-7","DOIUrl":"10.1186/s12978-024-01829-7","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Access to an on-demand pericoital oral contraceptive pill - used to prevent pregnancy within a defined window around sexual intercourse - could offer women more reproductive agency. A contraceptive with this indication is not currently available in any market. This review aims to understand international user appeal for an on-demand pericoital oral contraceptive pill.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Systematic scoping review, comprising 30 peer-reviewed papers published between 2014-2023.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Data from 30 papers reporting on research from 16 countries across five World Health Organisation regions suggests widespread user appeal for on-demand oral contraceptive pills that can be used peri- or post-coitally, especially among women who are younger, more educated or who have less frequent sex. Women of varying age, wealth, employment or relationship status, and with different prior experience of using modern contraceptives, were also interested. Women identified clear rationale for use and preference of these types of product: close alignment with women's sexual lives that comprised unplanned, spontaneous or occasional sex; perceived convenience and effectiveness; discreet use of pills to negotiate contextual circumstances that constrained their reproductive agency. Factors inhibiting use included knowledge barriers and attitudes of service providers, a lack of knowledge and misinformation among end-users, women's dislike of menstrual side effects and myths related to the effects of hormone content on future fertility.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Introduction of an on-demand pericoital oral contraceptive pill could expand contraceptive choice for diverse women experiencing unmet need for modern contraception and constrained sexual and reproductive agency. Priorities for future research include: broadening the geographical scope of evidence to include SE Asia and the Pacific, and international rural and peri-urban settings; documenting the perspectives of adolescents and unmarried young people; identifying opportunities for innovation in the supply channels to enhance appropriate, affordable access to on-demand oral contraceptives; and unpacking how to bring new pericoital contraceptives to the market in a variety of international settings.</p>","PeriodicalId":20899,"journal":{"name":"Reproductive Health","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":3.6,"publicationDate":"2024-06-28","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11212445/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141470471","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Background: Endometriosis is a chronic and debilitating disease that can affect the entire reproductive life course of women, with potential adverse effects on pregnancy. The aim of the present study is to investigate the association between hypertensive disorders in pregnancy and endometriosis.
Method: Relevant articles were searched from the Cochrane Library, PubMed, Scopus and Web of Science from inception up to December 2023. The full-text observational studies published in English that had a confirmed diagnosis of endometriosis were included. The case group included pregnant women diagnosed with endometriosis at any stage, while the control group consisted of pregnant women who had not been previously diagnosed with endometriosis. Two authors extracted and analyzed the data independently. Disagreements were reconciled by reviewing the full text by a third author. Endnote X9 was used for screening and data extraction. We used fixed and random effects models in Review Manager 5.3 to analyze the pooled data. The quality of the included studies was assessed using the Downs and Black checklist.
Results: Out of the 9863 articles reviewed, 23 were selected for meta-analysis. According to the results of this study, there was an association between endometriosis and gestational hypertension (OR = 1.11, 95% CI: 1.06, 1.16; I2 = 45%, P < 0.00001; N = 8), pre-eclampsia (OR = 1.26, 95% CI: 1.18, 1.36; I2 = 37%, P < 0.00001; N = 12), and hypertensive disorders in pregnancy (OR = 1.13, 95% CI: 1.06, 1.21; I2 = 8%, P = 0.0001; N = 8).
Conclusions: This study confirmed that endometriosis may elevate the risk of developing gestational hypertensive disorders. Raising awareness of this issue will help to identify effective strategies for screening and early diagnosis of hypertensive disorders in pregnancy.
{"title":"The relationship between hypertensive disorders in pregnancy and endometriosis: a systematic review and meta-analysis.","authors":"Foruzan Sharifipour, Zaynab Mohaghegh, Zahra Javanbakht, Shahla Faal Siahkal, Faeze Azizi","doi":"10.1186/s12978-024-01833-x","DOIUrl":"10.1186/s12978-024-01833-x","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Endometriosis is a chronic and debilitating disease that can affect the entire reproductive life course of women, with potential adverse effects on pregnancy. The aim of the present study is to investigate the association between hypertensive disorders in pregnancy and endometriosis.</p><p><strong>Method: </strong>Relevant articles were searched from the Cochrane Library, PubMed, Scopus and Web of Science from inception up to December 2023. The full-text observational studies published in English that had a confirmed diagnosis of endometriosis were included. The case group included pregnant women diagnosed with endometriosis at any stage, while the control group consisted of pregnant women who had not been previously diagnosed with endometriosis. Two authors extracted and analyzed the data independently. Disagreements were reconciled by reviewing the full text by a third author. Endnote X9 was used for screening and data extraction. We used fixed and random effects models in Review Manager 5.3 to analyze the pooled data. The quality of the included studies was assessed using the Downs and Black checklist.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Out of the 9863 articles reviewed, 23 were selected for meta-analysis. According to the results of this study, there was an association between endometriosis and gestational hypertension (OR = 1.11, 95% CI: 1.06, 1.16; I<sup>2</sup> = 45%, P < 0.00001; N = 8), pre-eclampsia (OR = 1.26, 95% CI: 1.18, 1.36; I<sup>2</sup> = 37%, P < 0.00001; N = 12), and hypertensive disorders in pregnancy (OR = 1.13, 95% CI: 1.06, 1.21; I<sup>2</sup> = 8%, P = 0.0001; N = 8).</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>This study confirmed that endometriosis may elevate the risk of developing gestational hypertensive disorders. Raising awareness of this issue will help to identify effective strategies for screening and early diagnosis of hypertensive disorders in pregnancy.</p>","PeriodicalId":20899,"journal":{"name":"Reproductive Health","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":3.6,"publicationDate":"2024-06-26","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11201780/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141458991","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2024-06-25DOI: 10.1186/s12978-024-01820-2
Signe Svallfors, Karin Båge, Anna Mia Ekström, Yadeta Dessie, Yohannes Dibaba Wado, Mariam Fagbemi, Elin C Larsson, Helena Litorp, Bi Puranen, Jesper Sundewall, Olalekan A Uthman, Anna E Kågesten
Background: Addressing attitudes is central to achieving sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) and Agenda 2030. We aimed to develop a comprehensive index to measure attitudinal support for SRHR, expanding opportunities for global trend analyses and tailored interventions.
Methods: We designed a new module capturing attitudes towards different dimensions of SRHR, collected via the nationally representative World Values Survey in Ethiopia, Kenya, and Zimbabwe during 2020-2021 (n = 3,711). We used exploratory factor analysis of 58 items to identify sub-scales and an overall index. Adjusted regression models were used to evaluate the index according to sociodemographic characteristics, stratified by country and sex.
Results: A 23-item, five-factor solution was identified and used to construct sub-indices reflecting support for: (1) sexual and reproductive rights, (2) neighborhood sexual safety, (3) gender-equitable relationships, (4) equitable masculinity norms, and (5) SRHR interventions. These five sub-indices performed well across countries and socioeconomic subgroups and were combined into a comprehensive "SRHR Support Index", standardized on a 1-100 scale (mean = 39.19, SD = 15.27, Cronbach's alpha = 0.80) with higher values indicating more support for SRHR. Mean values were highest in Kenya (45.48, SD = 16.78) followed by Ethiopia (40.2, SD = 13.63), and lowest in Zimbabwe (32.65, SD = 13.77), with no differences by sex. Higher education and being single were associated with more support, except in Ethiopia. Younger age and urban residence correlated with more support among males only.
Conclusion: The SRHR Support Index has the potential to broaden SRHR attitude research from a comprehensive perspective - addressing the need for a common measure to track progress over time.
{"title":"Support for sexual and reproductive health and rights in Sub-Saharan Africa: a new index based on World Values Survey data.","authors":"Signe Svallfors, Karin Båge, Anna Mia Ekström, Yadeta Dessie, Yohannes Dibaba Wado, Mariam Fagbemi, Elin C Larsson, Helena Litorp, Bi Puranen, Jesper Sundewall, Olalekan A Uthman, Anna E Kågesten","doi":"10.1186/s12978-024-01820-2","DOIUrl":"10.1186/s12978-024-01820-2","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Addressing attitudes is central to achieving sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) and Agenda 2030. We aimed to develop a comprehensive index to measure attitudinal support for SRHR, expanding opportunities for global trend analyses and tailored interventions.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>We designed a new module capturing attitudes towards different dimensions of SRHR, collected via the nationally representative World Values Survey in Ethiopia, Kenya, and Zimbabwe during 2020-2021 (n = 3,711). We used exploratory factor analysis of 58 items to identify sub-scales and an overall index. Adjusted regression models were used to evaluate the index according to sociodemographic characteristics, stratified by country and sex.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>A 23-item, five-factor solution was identified and used to construct sub-indices reflecting support for: (1) sexual and reproductive rights, (2) neighborhood sexual safety, (3) gender-equitable relationships, (4) equitable masculinity norms, and (5) SRHR interventions. These five sub-indices performed well across countries and socioeconomic subgroups and were combined into a comprehensive \"SRHR Support Index\", standardized on a 1-100 scale (mean = 39.19, SD = 15.27, Cronbach's alpha = 0.80) with higher values indicating more support for SRHR. Mean values were highest in Kenya (45.48, SD = 16.78) followed by Ethiopia (40.2, SD = 13.63), and lowest in Zimbabwe (32.65, SD = 13.77), with no differences by sex. Higher education and being single were associated with more support, except in Ethiopia. Younger age and urban residence correlated with more support among males only.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>The SRHR Support Index has the potential to broaden SRHR attitude research from a comprehensive perspective - addressing the need for a common measure to track progress over time.</p>","PeriodicalId":20899,"journal":{"name":"Reproductive Health","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":3.6,"publicationDate":"2024-06-25","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11197335/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141451372","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2024-06-19DOI: 10.1186/s12978-024-01800-6
Bruce Dick, Marina Plesons, Callie Simon, Jane Ferguson, Ahmed Kassem Ali, Venkatraman Chandra-Mouli
Young people's sexual and reproductive health (SRH) continues to be a major challenge in low and middle-income countries, with implications for public health now and in the future. Fortunately there is a growing array of evidence-based interventions, and commitments from governments, development partners and donors, to support programmes that aim to improve young people's SRH.However, in some situations, the technical assistance that governments feel that they need to strengthen and implement national policies and strategies, to move from words to action, is not available. The WHO Adolescent and Youth Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (AYSRHR) Technical Assistance (TA) Coordination Mechanism was initiated to help fill this technical assistance gap; to respond to TA requests from ministries of health in ways that are timely, efficient, effective and contribute to strengthening capacity.This paper describes the process of developing the Technical Assistance Coordination Mechanism (TA Mechanism) and the outcomes, experiences and lessons learned after three years of working. It triangulates the findings from a preliminary review of the literature and discussions with selected key informants; the outcomes from a series of structured review meetings; and the documented processes and results of the technical assistance provided to countries.The lessons learned focus on three aspects of the TA Mechanism. How it was conceptualized and designed: through listening to people who provide and receive AYSRHR TA and by reviewing and synthesizing past experiences of TA provision. What the TA Mechanism has achieved: a standardized process for TA provision, at different stages for a range of AYSRHR issues in ten countries in three geographic regions. And what worked well and what did not: which common challenges was the TA Mechanism able to address and which ones persisted despite efforts to avoid or resolve them. The paper ends with the implications of the lessons learned for future action.
{"title":"Providing technical assistance: lessons learned from the first three years of the WHO Adolescent and Youth Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights Technical Assistance Coordination Mechanism.","authors":"Bruce Dick, Marina Plesons, Callie Simon, Jane Ferguson, Ahmed Kassem Ali, Venkatraman Chandra-Mouli","doi":"10.1186/s12978-024-01800-6","DOIUrl":"10.1186/s12978-024-01800-6","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Young people's sexual and reproductive health (SRH) continues to be a major challenge in low and middle-income countries, with implications for public health now and in the future. Fortunately there is a growing array of evidence-based interventions, and commitments from governments, development partners and donors, to support programmes that aim to improve young people's SRH.However, in some situations, the technical assistance that governments feel that they need to strengthen and implement national policies and strategies, to move from words to action, is not available. The WHO Adolescent and Youth Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (AYSRHR) Technical Assistance (TA) Coordination Mechanism was initiated to help fill this technical assistance gap; to respond to TA requests from ministries of health in ways that are timely, efficient, effective and contribute to strengthening capacity.This paper describes the process of developing the Technical Assistance Coordination Mechanism (TA Mechanism) and the outcomes, experiences and lessons learned after three years of working. It triangulates the findings from a preliminary review of the literature and discussions with selected key informants; the outcomes from a series of structured review meetings; and the documented processes and results of the technical assistance provided to countries.The lessons learned focus on three aspects of the TA Mechanism. How it was conceptualized and designed: through listening to people who provide and receive AYSRHR TA and by reviewing and synthesizing past experiences of TA provision. What the TA Mechanism has achieved: a standardized process for TA provision, at different stages for a range of AYSRHR issues in ten countries in three geographic regions. And what worked well and what did not: which common challenges was the TA Mechanism able to address and which ones persisted despite efforts to avoid or resolve them. The paper ends with the implications of the lessons learned for future action.</p>","PeriodicalId":20899,"journal":{"name":"Reproductive Health","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":3.6,"publicationDate":"2024-06-19","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11186276/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141427465","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Background: Adolescents in Ghana are vulnerable to unequal power relations at the personal, community and structural levels which in turn limits their opportunities in access to critical sexual and reproductive health information and services. There is therefore high unmet need for sexual and reproductive health (SRH) information and services and the Bono East region typifies this situation, recording some of the poorest SRHR outcomes among adolescents. We, therefore, aimed to investigate the SRH needs (unmet), behaviors and utilization of SRH services among adolescents in the Bono East region.
Methods: Using a maximum variation sampling approach, this qualitative study conducted in-depth interviews and focused group discussions with adolescent boys and girls, parents, community leaders, and healthcare providers.
Results: Our findings are presented under two broad categories: major SRHR concerns of adolescents, and perspectives about that influences adolescents' utilization of SRHR services. Under the major SRHR need of adolescents, the following themes emerged: information and services on pregnancy prevention, menstrual hygiene management, availability of comprehensive abortion care services, and attitudes towards adolescent pregnancy. The perspectives about the factors that influence adolescent children were discussed at multiple levels: individual/personal. interpersonal and community/societal. At the individual level, limited understanding of adolescence/puberty, desire of adolescents to belong and misperceptions about contraceptives. At the interpersonal level, issues relating to technical capacity needs of service providers, disrespect exhibited by service providers, and parental failure were identified as influential factors. Then at the community/societal level, we identified structural constraints and compromised social safety concerns in accessing contraceptives and services.
Conclusion: In conclusion, the findings from this study offer valuable insights into the complex landscape of adolescent sexual and reproductive health in the Bono East region. The implications for policy and practice are manifold, ranging from comprehensive education to addressing menstrual hygiene, involving parents, training healthcare providers, and promoting respectful care.
{"title":"Adolescent sexual and reproductive health needs and utilisation of health services in the Bono East Region, Ghana.","authors":"Joshua Okyere, Naomi Kyeremaa Yeboa, Charity Nikoi, Margaret Owusu-Amoako, Listowel Ferka, Anastasia Nurzhynska, Joshua Amo-Adjei","doi":"10.1186/s12978-024-01822-0","DOIUrl":"10.1186/s12978-024-01822-0","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Adolescents in Ghana are vulnerable to unequal power relations at the personal, community and structural levels which in turn limits their opportunities in access to critical sexual and reproductive health information and services. There is therefore high unmet need for sexual and reproductive health (SRH) information and services and the Bono East region typifies this situation, recording some of the poorest SRHR outcomes among adolescents. We, therefore, aimed to investigate the SRH needs (unmet), behaviors and utilization of SRH services among adolescents in the Bono East region.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Using a maximum variation sampling approach, this qualitative study conducted in-depth interviews and focused group discussions with adolescent boys and girls, parents, community leaders, and healthcare providers.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Our findings are presented under two broad categories: major SRHR concerns of adolescents, and perspectives about that influences adolescents' utilization of SRHR services. Under the major SRHR need of adolescents, the following themes emerged: information and services on pregnancy prevention, menstrual hygiene management, availability of comprehensive abortion care services, and attitudes towards adolescent pregnancy. The perspectives about the factors that influence adolescent children were discussed at multiple levels: individual/personal. interpersonal and community/societal. At the individual level, limited understanding of adolescence/puberty, desire of adolescents to belong and misperceptions about contraceptives. At the interpersonal level, issues relating to technical capacity needs of service providers, disrespect exhibited by service providers, and parental failure were identified as influential factors. Then at the community/societal level, we identified structural constraints and compromised social safety concerns in accessing contraceptives and services.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>In conclusion, the findings from this study offer valuable insights into the complex landscape of adolescent sexual and reproductive health in the Bono East region. The implications for policy and practice are manifold, ranging from comprehensive education to addressing menstrual hygiene, involving parents, training healthcare providers, and promoting respectful care.</p>","PeriodicalId":20899,"journal":{"name":"Reproductive Health","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":3.4,"publicationDate":"2024-06-17","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11184831/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141420644","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Background: To discuss the current status of reproductive concerns and its correlation with fear of recurrence and level of family support in patients of childbearing age with gynecologic malignancies.
Methods: A convenient sampling method was used to enroll 188 patients with gynecologic malignancies in Nanjing Maternity and Child Health Care Hospital, Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital, General Hospital of Ningxia Medical University, and Haian Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine Affiliated to Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine from September 2022 to April 2023. Patients were assessed using general information questionnaire, Reproductive Concerns After Cancer Scale (RCAC), Fear of Cancer Recurrence Inventory (FCRI) questionnaire, and Perceived Social Support-Family (PSS-FA) Scale.
Results: Among patients of childbearing age with gynecologic malignancies, the total RCAC score was (54.35 ± 7.52), indicating a moderate level of reproductive concerns. Patients scored (20.98 ± 4.51) on FCRI, implying a moderate level of fear of recurrence. The PSS-FA score was (9.57 ± 2.76), denoting a moderate level of family support. The total score and each dimensional score of RCAC were positively correlated with FCRI total score (P < 0.05), and negatively correlated with PSS-FA total score (P < 0.05). Fear of recurrence, family support level, number of children, educational background, treatment modality, and fertility intention were influencing factors for reproductive concerns in patients of childbearing age with gynecologic malignancies (all P < 0.05).
Conclusion: The reproductive concerns, fear of recurrence and family support are all at moderate levels in patients of childbearing age with gynecologic malignancies, and reproductive concerns are positively correlated with fear of recurrence and negatively correlated with family support.
{"title":"Reproductive concerns and its correlation with fear of recurrence and level of family support in patients of childbearing age with gynecologic malignancies.","authors":"Xinying He, Ying Wu, Yaqing Zhou, Qin Chen, Xuping Li, Xuemei Fan, Chengjun Xia, Jiao Ma, Jing Han, Xue Han","doi":"10.1186/s12978-024-01827-9","DOIUrl":"10.1186/s12978-024-01827-9","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>To discuss the current status of reproductive concerns and its correlation with fear of recurrence and level of family support in patients of childbearing age with gynecologic malignancies.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>A convenient sampling method was used to enroll 188 patients with gynecologic malignancies in Nanjing Maternity and Child Health Care Hospital, Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital, General Hospital of Ningxia Medical University, and Haian Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine Affiliated to Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine from September 2022 to April 2023. Patients were assessed using general information questionnaire, Reproductive Concerns After Cancer Scale (RCAC), Fear of Cancer Recurrence Inventory (FCRI) questionnaire, and Perceived Social Support-Family (PSS-FA) Scale.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Among patients of childbearing age with gynecologic malignancies, the total RCAC score was (54.35 ± 7.52), indicating a moderate level of reproductive concerns. Patients scored (20.98 ± 4.51) on FCRI, implying a moderate level of fear of recurrence. The PSS-FA score was (9.57 ± 2.76), denoting a moderate level of family support. The total score and each dimensional score of RCAC were positively correlated with FCRI total score (P < 0.05), and negatively correlated with PSS-FA total score (P < 0.05). Fear of recurrence, family support level, number of children, educational background, treatment modality, and fertility intention were influencing factors for reproductive concerns in patients of childbearing age with gynecologic malignancies (all P < 0.05).</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>The reproductive concerns, fear of recurrence and family support are all at moderate levels in patients of childbearing age with gynecologic malignancies, and reproductive concerns are positively correlated with fear of recurrence and negatively correlated with family support.</p>","PeriodicalId":20899,"journal":{"name":"Reproductive Health","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":3.6,"publicationDate":"2024-06-17","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11181552/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141420645","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}