Shiraishi M, Kurashima Y, Harada R
… +1 more, Ito H
Women Health
· 2025 Jul · PMID 40411174
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Body image may play a significant role in the development of perinatal depression; however, its relevance remains controversial. This study aimed to elucidate the association between body shape dissatisfaction before and...Body image may play a significant role in the development of perinatal depression; however, its relevance remains controversial. This study aimed to elucidate the association between body shape dissatisfaction before and during pregnancy and depressive symptoms during the perinatal period among Japanese women. This study used secondary data. Women with singleton pregnancies were recruited from March to December 2020 in Osaka, Japan. Depressive symptoms were assessed using the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale. Participants were classified into three groups according to their body shape satisfaction before and during pregnancy; satisfied, dissatisfied, and neither. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was performed. Of the 230 participants, 33 (14.3 percent) had depressive symptoms during pregnancy. Of the 221 participants assessed at 1 month postpartum, 20 (9.0 percent) had depressive symptoms. Women with body shape dissatisfaction during pregnancy had a significantly higher risk of depressive symptoms during pregnancy and at 1 month postpartum than those with body shape satisfaction. Furthermore, women who were body shape dissatisfied both before and during pregnancy had a significantly higher risk of depressive symptoms than those whose satisfaction improved during pregnancy. These findings suggest the importance of focusing on body dissatisfaction before and during pregnancy in relation to perinatal depressive symptoms.
Fernández-Heredia R, Champutiz-Quintana KA, Camacho-Ávila M
… +3 more, Fernández-Medina IM, Fernández-Sola C, Fernández-Carrasco FJ
Women Health
· 2025 Jul · PMID 40389377
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The legal termination of a pregnancy due to congenital defects is a complex and emotionally intense that significantly impacts the mother's personal life and causes considerable psychological distress for both parents. D...The legal termination of a pregnancy due to congenital defects is a complex and emotionally intense that significantly impacts the mother's personal life and causes considerable psychological distress for both parents. Despite its clinical and ethical implications, there is limited qualitative research exploring the lived experiences of women undergo this process. This study aimed to explore and understand the experiences of mothers who have legally terminated a pregnancy due to fetal congenital defects. A qualitative study was conducted based on Gadamer's philosophical hermeneutics. Eleven semi-structured in-depth interviews were conducted between February and March 2023 in Spain. Participants were selected through purposive sampling. Interviews were audio-recorded, transcribed verbatim and analyzed inductively to identify emerging themes. Three main themes emerged from the data: 1) The painful diagnosis of a congenital fetal defect and the moral dilemma of terminating a wanted pregnancy; 2) The internal conflict and distressing experience of undergoing legal pregnancy termination; 3) The dual emotional wound resulting from pregnancy loss. Participants described the diagnosis as an emotional shock and reported feeling unsupported both during and after the process, highlighting critical gaps in psychosocial care. The findings reveal that legal termination of pregnancy due to fetal congenital defects has a profound emotional impact on mothers, who experience not only perinatal grief but also social invisibility and insufficient psychological support. These results emphasize the need to implement comprehensive, empathetic, and multidisciplinary care protocols to support women throughout the decision-making and grieving process.
The risk of cervical dysplastic changes, re-surgery, and abnormal Pap smear for patients after LLETZ due to high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesions is highest within patients with endocervical positive (surgical rese...The risk of cervical dysplastic changes, re-surgery, and abnormal Pap smear for patients after LLETZ due to high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesions is highest within patients with endocervical positive (surgical resection) margins of precancerous lesions and with cells of HSIL in the endocervical curettage in their primary LLETZ. This research aimed to determine whether performing endocone resection during LLETZ procedure with routine ECC reduces the risk of recurrent/persistent cervical dysplastic changes and to assess the significance of the Pap smear and high-risk human papillomavirus test in follow-up care. A retrospective analysis of 404 patients at the University of Wuerzburg was conducted. The risk of recurrent dysplastic changes was similar between patients with or without endocone resection when HSIL was present in the ECC (OR 19.66 vs OR 19.11). Abnormal Pap smears occurred in 21.4% patients without endocone resection and 27.3% with resection, both showing HSIL in the ECC. Regardless of endocone status, 50% patients with HSIL in the ECC required further surgery. HR-HPV positivity after surgery is correlated with higher rates of re-surgery (SR = 1.3) and recurrent dysplastic changes (SR = 4.0). This study indicates that performing an endocone resection is redundant, as ECC results sufficiently predict clinical outcomes.
Considered as an indicator of good mental health contributing to positive behaviors, self-esteem is impacted by body perception. Obesity is a risk factor for the development of low self-esteem, particularly among women....Considered as an indicator of good mental health contributing to positive behaviors, self-esteem is impacted by body perception. Obesity is a risk factor for the development of low self-esteem, particularly among women. Age also plays a protective role in both the healthy population and those living with obesity. Since the relationship between self-esteem and BMI does not appear to evolve linearly, the aims of this study were (1) to analyze the link between BMI classes and global, multidimensional, and physical self-esteem, and (2) to identify a potential moderating effect of age. Global, multidimensional, and physical self-esteem were assessed using French versions of RSE, MSE and PSPP scales respectively in 454 women aged 18 to 75 stratified into five BMI groups: healthy weight, overweight, obesity class I, II and III. Global, multidimensional, and physical self-esteem appear to be related to BMI classes. Healthy weight women had significantly higher emotional, professional, physical domains and subdomains self-esteem scores than those in obesity class I, II or III. "Tipping points" associated with reaching a BMI threshold at which scores of self-esteem stabilize have been highlighted. These appeared at obesity class I and II, respectively, for the emotional and physical domains of self-esteem, and at overweight and obesity class II, respectively, for the physical strength and attractive body physical subdomains. Results also revealed a protective moderating effect of age on the relationship between BMI and physical self-esteem, and its subdomains. Obesity intervention programs should consider self-perceptions.
Breast cancer is the most prevalent cancer among women, significantly impacting various aspects of their lives. This study aimed to investigate the mediating role of distress tolerance in the relationship between accepta...Breast cancer is the most prevalent cancer among women, significantly impacting various aspects of their lives. This study aimed to investigate the mediating role of distress tolerance in the relationship between acceptance and sexual adjustment among women diagnosed with breast cancer. This study adopts a descriptive-correlational approach employing structural equation modeling. A total of 233 women diagnosed with breast cancer were selected through convenience sampling from members of the Cancer Council in Isfahan, Iran. Data were collected using the Distress Tolerance Scale, the Acceptance and Action Questionnaire, and the Sexual Adjustment Scale. The coefficient of the direct path from acceptance to distress tolerance (β = .47, < .01) and sexual adjustment (β = .33, < .01) was found to be positive and significant. Additionally, distress tolerance was revealed to play a significant mediating role in the relationship between acceptance and sexual adjustment among women with breast cancer (β = .12, < .01). The ability to accept their diagnosis may help women with breast cancer manage the negative thoughts and emotions that naturally arise from such a potentially threatening situation. These findings highlight the importance of incorporating acceptance and distress tolerance training into psychological support programs to improve sexual adjustment in women with breast cancer.
This comparative and correlational study investigated the relationship between perceived spousal support and breastfeeding self-efficacy in mothers of healthy babies and babies hospitalized in the neonatal intensive care...This comparative and correlational study investigated the relationship between perceived spousal support and breastfeeding self-efficacy in mothers of healthy babies and babies hospitalized in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). The study was conducted with 416 mothers (206 mothers with healthy babies and 210 mothers whose babies were hospitalized in NICU) at a training and research hospital in western Türkiye. The results revealed no significant difference in the mean scores of the perceived spousal support (PSS) and breastfeeding self-efficacy scale (BSES) between the two groups ( > .05). However, the mean total score for perceived social support was higher among mothers of infants in the NICU. While a strong positive correlation was found between the total and subscale scores of perceived spousal support and the breastfeeding self-efficacy scores of mothers with NICU infants, only a weak positive correlation was observed in mothers of healthy infants. These findings underscore the critical role of perceived spousal support in fostering positive breastfeeding outcomes, especially for mothers of NICU-admitted infants. The results suggest that enhancing spousal support could significantly improve breastfeeding self-efficacy, particularly for mothers facing the additional challenges of caring for medically fragile infants. Lactation consultants, nurses and healthcare providers should prioritize family-centered approaches that actively involve both mothers and their partners in breastfeeding education and support.
This study aimed to examine the relationship between Ultra-Processed Food (UPF) consumption and menopausal symptoms in postmenopausal women. In this cross-sectional study, data of 305 postmenopausal women were evaluated....This study aimed to examine the relationship between Ultra-Processed Food (UPF) consumption and menopausal symptoms in postmenopausal women. In this cross-sectional study, data of 305 postmenopausal women were evaluated. The data were collected by the researchers through face-to-face interviews between December 2023 and March 2024 using the Introductory Information Form, Frequency of UPF Consumption and Menopause Symptom Rating Scale. Descriptive statistics (number, percentage, mean, standard deviation) and linear regression analysis were used in data analysis. The significance level of statistical tests was accepted as < .05. The total UPF consumption of postmenopausal women was 56.56 + 116.77 g/day. The mean scores of somatic complaints, psychological complaints, and urogenital complaints subscales of the Menopause Symptom Rating Scale were 9.98 + 2.48, 9.28 + 2.67, and 6.06 + 2.15, respectively. While there was no relationship between daily UPF consumption and psychological and urogenital symptoms, Model 1 (β:0.129, < .05), Model 2 (β:0.141, < .05), Model 3 (β:0.167, < .05) and Model 4 (β:0.150, < .05) showed that daily UPF consumption was positively associated with somatic symptoms. In conclusion, the severity of somatic symptoms such as hot flashes, sweating, heart problems, and sleep problems increases as UPF consumption increases in postmenopausal women.
A significant number of Malaysian women are diagnosed with breast and cervical cancers at advanced stages, highlighting the need for early symptom recognition to improve treatment outcomes and reduce mortality. This stud...A significant number of Malaysian women are diagnosed with breast and cervical cancers at advanced stages, highlighting the need for early symptom recognition to improve treatment outcomes and reduce mortality. This study aimed to assess knowledge of breast and cervical cancer symptoms among underserved women and identify the barriers preventing them from seeking treatment. A cross-sectional survey involving 401 women at a public health clinic was conducted using validated questionnaires and convenience sampling. Descriptive statistics, chi-square tests, and logistic regression were used to analyze the data. Over half of the women demonstrated poor knowledge of both breast (55 percent) and cervical (69 percent) cancer symptoms, while only a smaller proportion exhibited good knowledge, 12 percent for breast cancer and 6 percent for cervical symptoms, respectively. Commonly recognized symptoms included a "lump or thickening in the breast' and 'persistent, unpleasant-smelling vaginal discharge." The most reported barrier to seeking treatment was fear of diagnosis, reported by 49 percent of women. Logistic regression identified being married and having higher level of education were significantly associated with greater perceived barriers to seeking treatment. The research highlights the need for personalized health education to address individual concerns and barriers, ensuring content is relevant and effective.
Women Health
· 2025 Apr · PMID 40302686
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Pelvic health is an understudied area for female military personnel. This study aimed to explore the pelvic health concerns, prevalence rates, and co-existence of a wide range of pelvic health issues in Australian servic...Pelvic health is an understudied area for female military personnel. This study aimed to explore the pelvic health concerns, prevalence rates, and co-existence of a wide range of pelvic health issues in Australian servicewomen. An online questionnaire was offered to adult females (sex-assigned at birth) who had completed a minimum of 6-month active-duty service in the Australian Defence Force (ADF). Data analyses were focused on calculating prevalence for the included female pelvic health issues and identifying trends within the data (frequencies, 95% CI). Of the 987 survey responses, 496 were excluded, leaving 491 responses (49.7%) to inform this study. Over two-thirds of servicewomen reported pelvic health concerns ( = 350, 71%, 95% CI 67-75%), including sexual dysfunction (41%), gynecological surgery (34%), menstrual cycle manipulation (32%), frequent pelvic pain (20%), endometriosis (18%), irregular menstrual cycles (17%), pelvic organ prolapse (12%), pelvic injury (10%), and frequent episodes of fecal incontinence (2%). Coexistence of pelvic health issues were also reported by 24%. Pelvic health concerns, beyond lower urinary tract symptoms, are common and can co-exist in Australian servicewomen. Consideration of sex-responsive health services within military organizations may help to mitigate potential risks, enhancing wellbeing, operational readiness, and mission outcomes.
Ovarian cancer ranks as the fifth leading cause of cancer deaths among Canadian women. This study aims to investigate trends in socioeconomic inequalities in ovarian cancer mortality over the past three decades, from 199...Ovarian cancer ranks as the fifth leading cause of cancer deaths among Canadian women. This study aims to investigate trends in socioeconomic inequalities in ovarian cancer mortality over the past three decades, from 1990 to 2019. A dataset was construed at Census Division ( = 280) level in Canada using information from the Canadian Vital Statistics Death Database, the Canadian Census of Population and the National Household Survey. Socioeconomic inequalities in ovarian cancer mortality were assessed using the age-standardized Concentration Index (C), based on average/median equivalized household income, and educational attainment (bachelor's degree or higher). The average crude mortality rate for ovarian cancer in Canada was 9.7 per 100,000, with the highest rates in British Columbia and the Atlantic region. The negative values of age-standardized C based on average income and educational attainment - indicating higher ovarian cancer mortality rates among low socioeconomic groups - reached statistical significance in certain years, particularly in the more recent period. Trend analysis revealed a notable pattern of increasing income inequality in ovarian cancer mortality over time based on average income. The observed socioeconomic inequalities in ovarian cancer mortality warrant further investigation to identify the underlying factors contributing to this pattern in Canada.
Costa IM, da Silva TEM, Silva LG
… +6 more, Silva Ferreira AP, Paraguai CMDC, Ferreira CN, Dusse LMS, Mayrink J, Alpoim PN
Women Health
· 2025 Apr · PMID 40261190
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Brazilian Cohort Study of Preeclampsia: latent risks after pregnancy (PERLA-Brazil) are a retrospective cohort study including women with and without preeclampsia history, 6-15 years after pregnancy, aiming to evaluate l...Brazilian Cohort Study of Preeclampsia: latent risks after pregnancy (PERLA-Brazil) are a retrospective cohort study including women with and without preeclampsia history, 6-15 years after pregnancy, aiming to evaluate lipid profile, clinical parameters and the frequency of metabolic syndrome. A total of 188 women from Belo Horizonte (Brazil), who became pregnant between 2008 and 2017, were included: 86 with PE history and 102 with normotensive pregnancy. The participants underwent an interview and had blood samples collected between 2022 and 2023. The following data were collected, using standard equipment and techniques: blood pressure, body weight, height, body fat percentage, waist and hip circumference and lipid profile. For variable comparisons, T-test, Mann-Whitney, and chi-square test were used. A linear regression model assessed the isolated effect of a positive history of PE on cardiovascular risk indicators. PE group had higher body mass index compared to normotensive pregnancy, as well as fat percentage, systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood and low-density lipoprotein. Finally, a higher frequency of metabolic syndrome was detected in PE history group. These results suggested that women who had PE showed a combination of cardiovascular risk markers and increased frequency of metabolic syndrome. To mitigate the risk of subsequent chronic diseases, lifestyle modifications are recommended, along with more frequent follow-ups with a health-care team.
Women Health
· 2025 Apr · PMID 40259790
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This study examined potential disparities in Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems (CAHPS) scores of patient care experiences among racial/ethnic minority survivors and breast cancer-specific mortality....This study examined potential disparities in Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems (CAHPS) scores of patient care experiences among racial/ethnic minority survivors and breast cancer-specific mortality. Female breast cancer survivors who completed a CAHPS survey between 2000 and 2019 after being diagnosed with first primary invasive breast cancer were selected from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER)-CAHPS data linkage. Adjusted Fine-Gray subdistribution hazards models were used to determine associations of CAHPS scores of patient care experiences with breast cancer-specific mortality, overall and stratified by race/ethnicity. Most survivors were NHW women (80.4 percent). Adjusted associations between CAHPS scores and breast cancer mortality were not significant. However, Hispanic survivors reporting higher Physician Rating scores were less likely to experience breast cancer death (HR = 0.985, 95 percent CI = 0.970-1.000, = .046). The only interaction found to be significant was observed among other/multi-racial groups and Getting Care Quickly ( = .044). Patient care experience scores were not associated with breast cancer-specific mortality among older breast cancer survivors; some associations were found to be significant among certain racial/ethnic groups. Future research should capture care experiences from historically underrepresented populations.
Women Health
· 2025 Apr · PMID 40223513
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Maternal mortality is a critically significant issue in developing countries, where the lifetime risk for a woman in pregnancy or childbirth is approximately one in six. This elevated risk is often linked to delays in ac...Maternal mortality is a critically significant issue in developing countries, where the lifetime risk for a woman in pregnancy or childbirth is approximately one in six. This elevated risk is often linked to delays in accessing and utilizing maternal health care services. Therefore, the study aims to provide a comprehensive understanding of the delaying factors influencing the maternal health care disparities in developing countries using Thaddeus and Maine's Three Delays Model. Researchers searched Science Direct, Pub Med, Pub Med Central, Embase, Medline, Simantic Scholar and Scopus to extract 69 case study articles published between 2015 and 2023 for this scoping review. The search reveals that among the three primary delay factors (Delay 1- patient, Delay 2- en-route or geographical, and Delay 3- service factors), patient-related factors contribute most to adverse outcomes across Asia, which is often deeply rooted in socio-economic and cultural discrepancy. All three delays significantly hinder maternal health care access in Africa with Delay 2 remaining a persistent challenge. Along with en-route causalities and security risks, many African countries face an acute shortage of emergency obstetric care infrastructure. While, increasing awareness and addressing cultural barriers are essential for achieving better health outcomes across Asia, expanding free maternal health care policies, reducing indirect costs and improving community engagement found to be more significant for African regions. In Latin American countries, Delay 3 is the primary challenge, driven by persistent disparities in health care quality, understaffing, and inconsistent service delivery. The study therefore concludes that bringing structural changes is utmost necessary by framing policies from grass root level understanding to reduce the prevailing maternal health care disparities in developing part of the world.
Apte S, Ramachandra P, Guruvare S
… +2 more, Bhat SK, Maiya GA
Women Health
· 2025 Apr · PMID 40177716
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Physical Activity (PA) promotion is an essential component of the comprehensive management of Gestational Diabetes Mellitus (GDM). Even though the literature is available regarding the importance of PA, limited access to...Physical Activity (PA) promotion is an essential component of the comprehensive management of Gestational Diabetes Mellitus (GDM). Even though the literature is available regarding the importance of PA, limited access to reliable sources of information hinders involvement in recommended PA during pregnancy. The present study aims to develop, validate, and pilot test the Physical Activity Promotion Program (PAPP) booklet for women with GDM. The booklet was developed based on the previous literature, validated by seven experts, and administered to 38 participants for 8 weeks. The level of PA was evaluated with the Global Physical Activity Questionnaire before and after the intervention. The Scale Content Validity Index of the booklet was 0.98. The Flesch readability ease score and Flesch Kincaid grade level were 62 and 6.9, respectively. The validation scores showed that the booklet is appropriate and the readability score indicated a "standard" description style. There was a significant increase in the level of PA (MD = -320, 95% CI = -360, -250, d = -0.96, < .001) and reduced Sedentary Behavior (MD = 45, 95% CI = 37.5, 60, d = 1, < .001) post-intervention. The PAPP booklet was found to be a valid and reliable source of information and improves the level of PA among women with GDM.
Debnath A, Goel K, P A
… +3 more, Shamim MA, Satapathy P, Gandhi AP
Women Health
· 2025 Apr · PMID 40108816
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The objective of the current systematic review and meta analysis was to assess workplace sexual violence among women, aiming to provide a comprehensive understanding of the issue's magnitude and implications across vario...The objective of the current systematic review and meta analysis was to assess workplace sexual violence among women, aiming to provide a comprehensive understanding of the issue's magnitude and implications across various professional sectors and geographical locations. A systematic search of six electronic databases was conducted following PRISMA guidelines, including studies published up to April 15, 2023. The JBI Critical Appraisal Tool was used for quality assessment, and a random-effects model calculated the pooled prevalence. Heterogeneity was assessed using I² statistics, with outliers identified through diagnostic and Baujat plots, followed by a leave-one-out meta-analysis. Publication bias was examined using the Doi plot and LFK index, and subgroup analyses explored variations in geographical location, occupational domain, and time period. A total of 912 studies were screened, with 129 meeting inclusion criteria, comprising 333,649 female participants. The pooled prevalence of workplace sexual violence was 26 percent (95 percent CI: 1-32 percent), with substantial variability observed across regions and occupational groups; prevalence was highest in Africa (38 percent, 95 percent CI: 29-47 percent), followed by North America (34 percent, 95 percent CI: 25-43 percent), and Asia (30 percent, 95 percent CI: 17-47 percent). Among occupational groups, security personnel experienced the highest prevalence (44 percent, 95 percent CI: 22-68 percent), while health-care workers were also highly affected (30 percent, 95 percent CI: 24-38 percent). Workplace sexual violence remains a global issue, affecting over a quarter of female workers, with its prevalence influenced by cultural, occupational, and temporal factors. These findings underscore the necessity for tailored interventions, comprehensive workplace policies, and supportive reporting mechanisms, while ongoing monitoring and evidence-based strategies are essential to mitigate risks, protect employees, and foster safer workplace environments worldwide.
Women Health
· 2025 Mar · PMID 40016972
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Publisher ↗
This study aimed to develop a prognostic nomogram to predict the risk of delayed onset lactogenesis II (DOL II) in Chinese women who delivered via cesarean section. A total of 143 women who delivered via cesarean section...This study aimed to develop a prognostic nomogram to predict the risk of delayed onset lactogenesis II (DOL II) in Chinese women who delivered via cesarean section. A total of 143 women who delivered via cesarean section in our hospital between June 2021 and May 2022 were retrospectively reviewed. A nomogram was constructed using the independent predictors extracted from the logistic regression analysis. Validation of the prognostic model was conducted using the concordance index, calibration curves and decision curve analyses (DCAs). Multivariate analyses revealed that the factors associated with DOL II after cesarean section were gestational weight gain (GWG), gestational hypertension, previous breastfeeding experience and previous insufficient lactation. The nomogram was constructed based on the above four factors. The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve was 0.801 in the validation set. The Youden index of the model was 0.49, with a sensitivity of 0.661 and a specificity of 0.829. The DCA indicated that our nomogram provided excellent positive net clinical benefits for predicting the risk of DOL II. This nomogram can provide a scientific basis for medical workers to promptly identify the risk of DOL II in women who have undergone cesarean section, prevent the occurrence of DOL II and improve the breastfeeding rate of mothers and the quality of life of newborns.