Health Care for Women International最新文献

China is one of the most rapidly aging countries in the world, challenging the sustainable aging. The booming of digital technology is a double-edged sword. According to the Smart Aging Policies (SAPs), digital technology is supposed to be an effective way to address the challenges of the elder care system. However, the digital divide is causing additional problems. In this study, researchers aim to investigate whether the digital divide among older people could lead to gender-based discrepancies in elder care utilization, using data from the "China Elder Care Satisfaction Survey (CECSS)." Through logit regression analysis, in this study, researchers assessed the relationship between gender and digital elder care utilization, indicating the presence of a gender digital divide among older people. Our findings have important implications for facilitating minority groups to benefit more from SAPs and for advancing research on the gender digital divide among elders to promote sustainable aging.

While there is evidence that child marriage (CM) is reducing globally, rates in many contexts remain far too high. To understand the persistence of high rates of CM, we searched multiple databases for peer-reviewed, English language articles published between 2000 and 2023. High CM rates are continuing in circumstances of tenacious unequal gender norms, widespread poverty, limited schooling and economic prospects for girls, and weak awareness and enforcement of CM laws. Other contributing factors were opposition to women and girls' sexual, bodily, and reproductive rights; weak birth registration systems; a high proportion of women who married young in previous generations; early puberty; improved girls' agency; and the growing number of boys and young men who, having acquired locally prized masculinity resources, feel compelled to marry. We highlight the implications of the review findings for future research, policy and programmatic efforts aimed at addressing the persistence of CM.

The purpose of this article is to report on developing an instrument to measure society's sensitivity to early and forced marriages. The theoretical structure of the scale was based on the Radical Feminist Theory, Broken Windows Theory, and Theory of Change. Data were obtained from 451 participants from Türkiye who were aged 18 and above. The criterion validity of the scale was tested using the Attitudes toward Girl Child Marriages Scale. The final version of the scale consisted of a total of 10 items under three sub-scales called "Social Sensitivity," "Health Sensitivity," and "Legal Sensitivity." Cronbach's alpha reliability coefficient of the scale was found 0.85.

This longitudinal study with female youth in the slums of Kampala, Uganda (n = 130), explored the impact of the Transcendental Meditation® (TM®) technique on self-esteem, the primary outcome measure, and self-efficacy, gratitude, hope, tiredness, and resilience as secondary outcomes. Quality-of-life behaviors were also assessed, including excessive alcohol use. After baseline testing participants learned TM over five consecutive days. Participants practiced TM at home for 20 min twice a day and attended two follow-up sessions. Post-testing occurred at five months. Significant improvements in self-esteem (p < .001), self-efficacy (p < .001), gratitude (p < .001), and tiredness (p = .05) were found. A decrease in excessive alcohol use was also observed (p = .02). At eight months a short answer questionnaire showed improved physical health, decreased stress and anxiety levels, and improved relationships in the family and community. Our findings have important implications for enhancing the well-being and empowerment of these vulnerable female youth.

A survey of 300 expectant mothers, in their third trimester, was conducted in Bindura district of Zimbabwe. The causal study was done over a period of 6 months with the intention of determining the differential effects of various demographic factors of expectant mothers on midwife gender preferences. Data was collected using a short questionnaire on demographic factors and expectant mothers' preferences of male or female midwives. A binary logistics regression and odds ratios were used to analyse data. Our results revealed that specific demographics show preferences regarding the gender of midwives. Older women (aged 40 and above), who are married, having their first child, members of the African religion, and with less formal education, tend to prefer midwives of the same gender. Younger women (aged 18-39), those with prior pregnancy experience, Christians, and urban residents, generally were indifferent to midwife gender. Implications of the study were proffered.

Skin depigmentation's sociocultural and health impacts are widely studied. This socio-anthropological study in Bobo-Dioulasso, Burkina Faso, involving 46 women, explores their awareness of both positive and negative effects of skin-lightening products. Ethical standards guided the research, which included a literature review and in-depth interviews. Users recognize benefits like improved self-esteem and social status, alongside health risks like skin diseases and sun sensitivity. The decision to use these products reflects a thoughtful balance of personal, social, and economic benefits against potential health risks, indicating a nuanced understanding of skin depigmentation's impacts.

Women are expected to take on multiple roles as caregivers and health care providers, but they are still often perceived as victims or beneficiaries rather than enablers. We aimed to explore women's empowerment and gender equality in public health systems and identify proactive enablers that can be incorporated into projects. A systematic review of peer-reviewed literature as well as text analysis were conducted to examine changes in perceptions of women's roles in public health projects. The authors conducted a quantitative analysis of the collected article titles, which revealed a shift in research from identifying risk factors to exploring women's autonomy in health promotion. However, our qualitative review of the articles showed that previous gender-related projects used a gender-sensitive approach that perpetuated the view of women as victims or beneficiaries rather than enablers. The concept of proactive enablers in all aspects of project planning and implementation ensures that women's roles are fully recognized and valued.

In this study, we aimed to evaluate the impact of telemedicine for contraceptive counseling on knowledge levels and satisfaction with Family Planning Services. We collected data from 77 third-trimester pregnant women using a personal information form, Family Planning Knowledge Questionnaire, and the Satisfaction with Family Planning Services Scale and compared the data using chi-square test, Fisher's exact chi-square test, t-test for independent and dependent groups and Mann-Whitney U analysis. The experimental group participants (n = 37) received two informative video visits for contraceptive counseling, while the women in the control group (n = 40) received routine face-to-face Family Planning Services at their primary health care center. Participants in the experimental group showed a greater increase in knowledge levels and higher satisfaction with Family Planning Services than those in the control group (p < 0.05). In conclusion, we determined that telemedicine for contraceptive counseling is a promising option even beyond the pandemic.

This descriptive study aimed to determine the content, quality, and reliability of YouTube videos on breast cancer-related lymphedema exercises. A total of 127 videos were independently assessed, with 103 of them categorized as either informative or misleading content groups. The content (mean score: 4.07 ± 2.29) and quality (mean score: 3.15 ± 1.46) of videos concerning lymphedema exercises were moderate, while reliability (mean score: 2.27 ± 1.64) was low. Among the 103 videos categorized using the content checklist, Global Quality Scale, and DISCERN reliability instrument, 57.3% (n = 59) were informative, and 42.7% (n = 44) had misleading information. The mean scores of the content, quality, and reliability of the informative content videos were substantially higher than the misleading content videos, and of videos uploaded by universities/professional organizations/health care professionals/medical advertisements were higher than the videos uploaded by other sources. Through this study, the researchers have unveiled that the content and quality levels of YouTube videos in lymphedema exercises were moderate, and the reliability level was low.

Although an increase in fruit and vegetable (FV) consumption in adults might result in reductions in their intake of sweets, there has been minimal direct testing of this. Women participated in 6-month community-based obesity treatment conditions where either their psychological skills development (n = 66) or knowledge regarding healthful eating and exercise (n = 39) was emphasized. Improvements in FV and sweets intake, eating-related self-regulation, self-efficacy for controlled eating, and negative mood were significantly more pronounced in the psychological skills group participants. Together, participants' change in self-regulation, self-efficacy, and mood significantly mediated the relationship of their changes in FV and sweets. Within simple mediation analyses, participants' changes in self-efficacy and negative mood were significant mediators, and their treatment group membership moderated effects on sweets. We provided suggestions for future treatments based on the present findings.