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Heliyon Jan 2024China's societal and cultural significance placed on female fertility and the changing roles of women can lead to fertility anxiety in both married and unmarried women....
BACKGROUND
China's societal and cultural significance placed on female fertility and the changing roles of women can lead to fertility anxiety in both married and unmarried women. This anxiety is shaped by factors such as social media use, intergroup emotions, fertility risk perceptions, and national policies. This study examines the interplay of these factors in understanding fertility anxiety among Chinese women.
METHODS
This study surveyed 607 young Chinese women using the Fertility Anxiety Scale developed by Zhang and Zhao. Mplus software was used for latent class analysis of respondents' fertility anxiety. A three-step approach with multinomial logistic regression was used to explore factors influencing fertility anxiety among married and unmarried women.
RESULTS
The latent class analysis supported a two-category model: "high fertility anxiety" (65.70 % married, 53.70 % unmarried) and "low fertility anxiety" (34.30 % married, 46.30 % unmarried). Multinomial logistic regression showed that increased social media usage intensity and perception of health-family risks correlated with higher fertility anxiety in both married and unmarried women. Among unmarried women, intergroup emotions and perceptions of occupational-economic risks also influenced fertility anxiety. Attention to national policies did not significantly impact fertility anxiety among young women.
CONCLUSION
This study sheds light on the complex interplay of societal and individual factors in shaping fertility anxiety among young Chinese women. It underscores the enduring cultural significance placed on female fertility and the evolving roles of women in modern China. Regardless of their marital status, both married and unmarried women experience fertility anxiety, highlighting the pervasiveness of this concern.
PubMed: 38192755
DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2023.e23715 -
PloS One 2023Modern contraceptive use is important for improving health and socioeconomic outcomes, but Ethiopia is among the lowest-using countries. Therefore, this study aimed to...
INTRODUCTION
Modern contraceptive use is important for improving health and socioeconomic outcomes, but Ethiopia is among the lowest-using countries. Therefore, this study aimed to determine factors affecting modern contraceptive use among women of reproductive age in Ethiopia.
METHODS
This population-based cross-sectional study used data obtained from the 2019 Ethiopia Mini Demographic and Health Survey (EMDHS). A total of 8,885 reproductive-age women were included in the analysis. A weighted generalized estimating equation approach was used to account for the clustering and weighting effects in the assessment of associations between modern contraceptive usage and socioeconomic and demographic variables.
RESULTS
Modern contraceptive use among women of reproductive age in Ethiopia is low (28%). Prevalence is highest among women aged 25-34 (40.11%), with higher education (30.97%), who are Orthodox Christians (31.67%), married (40.40%), middle wealth index (31.70%), female-headed households (31.42%), with 1-3 living children (44.85%), who headed by under 31 years old (40.07%), and in the Amhara region (34.45%). In the generalized estimating equation analysis, women aged 35-44 and over 45, Muslims, households heads aged 41-50 and over 50, and in female-headed households were less likely to use modern contraceptives, while women with primary, secondary, and higher education, married, middle and rich wealth index, and with 1-3 and more living children were more likely to use modern contraceptive than their counterparts (reference group) and were statistically significant.
CONCLUSION
Modern contraceptive use is notably low among women of reproductive age in Ethiopia. Factors such as age, women's educational level, religion, marital status, number of living children, wealth status, gender and age of household head, and region were identified as significant factors associated with modern contraceptive use. Therefore, to increase modern contraceptive use, governmental and non-governmental organizations should invest in women's education and financial empowerment and raise awareness about the benefits of modern contraceptives, especially among older, unmarried, financially poor, elderly-led households, with few living children, and uneducated women.
Topics: Child; Female; Humans; Aged; Adult; Ethiopia; Family Planning Services; Cross-Sectional Studies; Contraception; Contraceptive Agents; Contraception Behavior
PubMed: 37972013
DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0294444 -
JMIR Aging Jan 2024Implementing technology-based counseling as a complex intervention in dementia care poses challenges such as adaptation to stakeholders' needs and limited resources.... (Review)
Review
BACKGROUND
Implementing technology-based counseling as a complex intervention in dementia care poses challenges such as adaptation to stakeholders' needs and limited resources. While studies have examined the effectiveness of technology-based counseling, its successful implementation remains largely unexplored.
OBJECTIVE
We aimed to review the knowledge about the implementation success of technology-based counseling interventions for people with dementia and their informal caregivers.
METHODS
We conducted a scoping review and systematically searched CINAHL, the Cochrane Library including the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, MEDLINE, PsycINFO, and Web of Science Core Collection databases (April 2021) in combination with citation searching and web searching (November 2021). Studies reporting on technology-based counseling interventions for people with dementia or their informal caregivers were included, irrespective of the design. We used the conceptual framework for implementation outcomes to operationalize implementation success and applied the outcomes acceptability, adoption, appropriateness, feasibility, fidelity, implementation cost, penetration, and sustainability as categories to inform data extraction. We identified dimensions within the categories and synthesized results narratively and graphically.
RESULTS
We included 52 publications reporting on 27 technology-based counseling interventions. The studies were conducted in 9 countries and published between 1993 and 2021. As the design of the included studies varied, the number of participants and the type of data reported varied as well. The intervention programs were heterogeneous and ranged from single counseling interventions (such as helpline services) to counseling as part of a multicomponent program. Telephone, email, videoconferencing, social media (respectively chats), and web-based platforms were used for delivering counseling. We found data on appropriateness for all interventions and data on acceptability for most interventions, describing aspects such as consumer-perceived usefulness and helpfulness of services, as well as satisfaction. Information on the other categories of adoption, feasibility, fidelity, implementation cost, penetration, and sustainability was fragmented.
CONCLUSIONS
The scope and depth of information on conceptual categories of the implementation success of technology-based counseling for people with dementia and informal caregivers varied. The data only partially covered the concept of implementation success, which highlights the need for a systematic evaluation accompanying the implementation. The application of theoretical approaches for implementation and adherence to the framework for developing and evaluating complex interventions are required to promote the implementation of complex interventions and to comprehensively assess implementation success.
TRIAL REGISTRATION
PROSPERO CRD42021245473; https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/display_record.php?RecordID=245473.
Topics: Humans; Caregivers; Counseling; Personal Satisfaction; Marriage; Dementia
PubMed: 38271050
DOI: 10.2196/51544 -
Risk Management and Healthcare Policy 2023Individuals with accurate knowledge that goes beyond knowing a few contraceptive methods, such as knowledge of fertility, benefits, and contraceptive side effects, are...
The Effect of Family Planning Education on Knowledge, Attitude and Practice Toward Family Planning Methods Among Married Couples in Kersa and Goma Districts of Jimma Zone, South West Ethiopia.
BACKGROUND
Individuals with accurate knowledge that goes beyond knowing a few contraceptive methods, such as knowledge of fertility, benefits, and contraceptive side effects, are more likely to use and less likely to discontinue using family planning.
PURPOSE
The aim of the study was to determine the effect of family planning education on knowledge, attitude, and practice towards family planning among married couples in Jimma Zone, Ethiopia.
METHODS
A quasi-experimental study was done on 766 married couples sampled using a random sampling technique and analyzed using SPSS 23.0. The significance of differences in mean knowledge and attitude between control and experimental couples was measured using the non-parametric 2-independent sample analysis (P < 0.05).
RESULTS
The comparison of knowledge score means and significance of their differences between control and experimental women was found to be significant at the posttest (P = 0.001; r = 0.045). Similarly, the experimental men's knowledge score means and their difference was significant at posttest (P = 0.001, r = 0.26). With respect to a comparison of mean score of attitude and the significance of their difference between control and experimental women at posttest was significant with (P < 0.001; r = 0.13). Similarly, the comparison of the male partners in the control and experimental groups was significant at posttest (P = 0.001; r = 0.12). At the posttest, the proportion of experimental couples using each contraceptive method relatively increased, with a shift to relatively effective ones. Two hundred and ninety five (77.6%) of the control and 318 (83.5%) of the experimental men reported supporting their wives in the use of contraceptives, showing more improvement among the experimental men than the control group.
CONCLUSION
Along with routine counseling, a well-structured behavioral model-based family planning education is required for effective and continuous use of contraceptives.
PubMed: 37809323
DOI: 10.2147/RMHP.S427176 -
Journal of Multidisciplinary Healthcare 2023Consanguinity represents a biological relationship between two individuals. In clinical genetics, it specifically refers to the marriage between individuals who are...
BACKGROUND/AIM
Consanguinity represents a biological relationship between two individuals. In clinical genetics, it specifically refers to the marriage between individuals who are second cousins or closer. The aim of the study is to assess perceptions and their predictors among the Palestinian population towards consanguinity.
METHODS
A survey-based cross-sectional study was conducted. The sample was collected using convenience and snowball sampling methods, yielding a sample of 1008 participants. The perceptions towards consanguinity and its predictors were assessed using Chi-square test.
RESULTS
The prevalence of consanguinity among married participants was 18.7% (N = 81/432), while it was 28.8% among their parents. Consanguinity rate was significantly low among the young age group (ie, <47 years old) and among participants whose mothers have undergraduate educational levels (P < 0.05). Other factors like parental consanguinity, educational level of participants, their father's educational level, and residency place showed no significant associations (P > 0.05). Rejection of consanguinity was significantly noted among young age participants, absence of parental consanguinity, the presence of children or family members with genetic disorders and female gender (P < 0.001). Furthermore, participants who indicated that they are governmental employees, those with 2000-5000 ILS monthly income, those who are married (P < 0.01), and those who indicated that their mothers are holders of postgraduate degree were significantly more likely to reject the idea of consanguinity (P < 0.05). Also, medical and/or scientific reasons were significantly associated with rejecting the idea of consanguinity (P < 0.001).
CONCLUSION
Consanguinity prevalence has decreased among recent generations in Palestine, but it remains a significant challenge in Palestine. Therefore, educational and awareness programs about consanguinity and its health effects are effective strategies for reducing the consanguinity rate, especially for persons who are at the age of marriage.
PubMed: 38024133
DOI: 10.2147/JMDH.S433506 -
Archives of Public Health = Archives... Sep 2023Women's health and nutrition are key to their reproductive health and are important for optimising pregnancy outcomes. Formation of most foetal organs starts soon after...
BACKGROUND
Women's health and nutrition are key to their reproductive health and are important for optimising pregnancy outcomes. Formation of most foetal organs starts soon after conception and much before the woman has her first antenatal visit. The provision of biomedical, behavioural and social interventions to couples to address health, nutrition, behaviour issues and individual environmental risk factors that could contribute to improved maternal and child health outcomes before conception is crucial. Most rural women in India, do not seek pregnancy care before the second trimester because of socio-cultural factors. Therefore, intervening in the preconception period is important. The objective of the study was to explore the challenges and opportunities of implementing preconception care interventions.
METHODS
Individual, in-depth, semi-structured interviews (n = 25) were conducted with primary stakeholders (newly married women, newly married men, and family members) in Shorapur taluk of Yadgir district and Devadurga taluk of Raichur district. Thirty-one interviews were conducted with taluk, district, state officials and academicians. This descriptive qualitative study conducted four focus group discussions with front-line health workers. The in-depth interviews (IDIs) and Focus-group discussions (FGDs) used separate pre-tested semi-structured interview/discussion guides. Data analysis was carried out using NVivo software using a phenomenological approach with both inductive and deductive analysis.
RESULTS
A strong influence of social and cultural norms shapes healthcare-seeking behaviour at the community level. Poor dietary diversity, lack of awareness, poor literacy levels, work pressure for women, lack of decision-making power and empowerment among women, pressure to conceive early, and gender norms are the roadblocks to successful preconception care programs in the rural Karnataka setting. The stakeholders expressed the need for interventions during the preconception period. The government functionaries recommended several interventions which could be potentially integrated into the existing Reproductive Maternal, Neonatal, Child and Adolescent Health (RMNCH + A) strategy to improve the health and nutrition of women before they conceive.
CONCLUSION
The study highlights the need for structured interventions during the preconception period to improve maternal health and pregnancy outcomes. The recommendations provided by government functionaries are indicative of the feasibility of integrating interventions in the RMNCH + A strategy.
PubMed: 37773173
DOI: 10.1186/s13690-023-01180-6 -
Health Science Reports Sep 2023Although various surveys have been conducted for sexual problems, there is a lack of population-based studies on sexual distress in Iran. Thus, we sought to determine...
BACKGROUND AND AIM
Although various surveys have been conducted for sexual problems, there is a lack of population-based studies on sexual distress in Iran. Thus, we sought to determine the prevalence and predictive factors of sexual distress in this population.
METHODS
Overall, 1000 married women aged 16-49 years were enrolled in this study using the two-stage cluster sampling method. To identify sexual distress, the female sexual distress scale-revised (FSDS-R) was completed. The predictive factors were assessed using a checklist.
RESULTS
A total of 318 women (31.8%) suffered from sexual distress. Among socio-demographic factors, satisfaction with marriage ( = 0.001), among personal factors history of infertility and fear of contracting sexually transmitted infections ( < 0.01), and among sexual and interpersonal factors satisfaction with the level of sexual desire ( = 0.01), pain during sexual intercourse ( < 0.01), premature ejaculation disorders in the partner ( < 0.05), and sexual satisfaction ( < 0.001) were significantly associated with sexual distress.
CONCLUSION
Clinicians should evaluate sexual distress comprehensively and consider all the related dimensions. The high overall prevalence of sexual distress, with or without an identifiable dysfunction, signals the importance of health professionals being adequately prepared to discuss sexual health concerns.
PubMed: 37655267
DOI: 10.1002/hsr2.1513 -
International Journal of Public Health 2023In Nepal, where increasing numbers of married couples live apart due to migration, progress in reducing unmet need for family planning (UMN) is stagnant. This study...
In Nepal, where increasing numbers of married couples live apart due to migration, progress in reducing unmet need for family planning (UMN) is stagnant. This study aims to identify spatial patterns of UMN of married women and spousal separation in Nepal and explore associations between UMN and spousal separation at individual- and district-levels. We used 2016 Nepal Demographic and Health Surveys data to conduct spatial and multilevel logistic analyses. This study shows evidence of similar geographical patterns in UMN of married women and spousal separation. At the individual level, women living with their spouses had 88% (aOR = 0.12, 95% CI 0.11-0.13) decreased odds of experiencing UMN compared to those living apart from their spouses. While not statistically significant, increasing odds of UMN were observed with higher prevalence of spousal separation at the district level. This study contributes to the existing literature by showing similar geographical patterns of UMN and spousal separation across Nepal and demonstrating both individual and contextual effects of spousal separation on UMN among married women. Theoretical and policy implications are discussed.
Topics: Humans; Female; Family Planning Services; Nepal; Multilevel Analysis; Contraception Behavior; Spouses
PubMed: 38130472
DOI: 10.3389/ijph.2023.1606395 -
PloS One 2023Encouraging women to pursue STEM employment is frequently touted as a means of reducing the gender wage gap. We examine whether the attributes of computer science...
Encouraging women to pursue STEM employment is frequently touted as a means of reducing the gender wage gap. We examine whether the attributes of computer science workers-who account for nearly half of those working in STEM jobs-explain the persistent gender wage gap in computer science, using American Community Survey (ACS) data from 2009 to 2019. Our analysis focuses on working-age respondents between the ages of 22 and 60 who had a college degree and were employed full-time. We use ordinary least squares (OLS) regression of logged wages on observed characteristics, before turning to regression decomposition techniques to estimate what proportion of the gender wage gap would remain if men and women were equally rewarded for the same attributes-such as parenthood or marital status, degree field, or occupation. Women employed in computer science jobs earned about 86.6 cents for every dollar that men earned-a raw gender gap that is smaller than it is for the overall labor force (where it was 82 percent). Controlling for compositional effects (family attributes, degree field and occupation) narrows the gender wage gap, though women continue to earn 9.1 cents per dollar less than their male counterparts. But differential returns to family characteristics and human capital measures account for almost two-thirds of the gender wage gap in computer science jobs. Women working in computer science receive both a marriage and parenthood premium relative to unmarried or childless women, but these are significantly smaller than the bonus that married men and fathers receive over their childless and unmarried peers. Men also receive sizable wage premiums for having STEM degrees in computer science and engineering when they work in computer science jobs, advantages that do not accrue to women. Closing the gender wage gap in computer science requires treating women more like men, not just increasing their representation.
Topics: Humans; Male; Female; Young Adult; Adult; Middle Aged; Socioeconomic Factors; Salaries and Fringe Benefits; Income; Employment; Family Characteristics
PubMed: 37903156
DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0293300 -
BMJ Open Aug 2023To conduct a qualitative study, guided by the principles of community-based participatory research, with the following objectives: (1) to provide a conceptual framework...
OBJECTIVES
To conduct a qualitative study, guided by the principles of community-based participatory research, with the following objectives: (1) to provide a conceptual framework describing the drivers of son preference; (2) to understand experiences of son preference among Punjabi-Canadians and (3) with this understanding, identify and co-design an appropriate educational tool.
DESIGN, SETTING, PARTICIPANTS, METHODS
Qualitative study consisting of four bilingual (Punjabi and English) focus group discussions with 11 mothers, 4 fathers and 17 grandmothers in Toronto and Brampton, Canada. Participants were queried about experiences and perspectives related to reproductive decision-making, gender equity and son preference, and for appropriate approaches to reducing inequities. Transcripts were simultaneously translated and written in English and thematic analysis was conducted. An infoposter was identified as a feasible educational tool and was co-designed by researchers and community partners.
RESULTS
Participants identified patrilocality (ie, married sons reside with parents, married daughters with in-laws) and patrilineality (ie, sons inherit assets, daughters' husband receives a dowry) as structural precursors to proximal drivers (ie, old-age security) of son preference. Mothers' and grandmothers' value to their families depended strongly on having a son but did not guarantee security. Pressures (ie, internalised discrimination, reproductive coercion) to conceive a son were common after the birth of at least one daughter in the absence of sons. Participants did not know anyone who had a sex selective abortion in Canada; however, traditional sex selection methods (eg, herbal medicines) were mentioned. Our co-designed infoposter entitled 'Truths About Son Preference' addressed three misconceptions identified in discussions.
CONCLUSION
This study may be useful to health and social care providers in providing structurally competent and culturally humble counselling and care, particularly after the birth of daughters in the absence of sons. Community engagement is necessary for future intervention development.
Topics: Female; Pregnancy; Humans; Nuclear Family; Community-Based Participatory Research; Canada; Parents; Mothers
PubMed: 37648385
DOI: 10.1136/bmjopen-2023-074276