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BMC Women's Health May 2018Cousin marriages, in the Netherlands most frequently between Turkish or Moroccan couples, are at higher risk of having offspring with recessive disorders. Often, these...
BACKGROUND
Cousin marriages, in the Netherlands most frequently between Turkish or Moroccan couples, are at higher risk of having offspring with recessive disorders. Often, these couples not perceive or accept this risk, and it is hardly considered a reason to refrain from family marriages. Preconception carrier screening (PCS) is offered to Jewish groups, and more recently in the Netherlands, to genetically isolated communities. In this study, Dutch Moroccan and Turkish women's perspectives on preconception carrier screening (PCS) and reproductive choices were explored.
METHODS
Individual interviews were held with Dutch Turkish and Moroccan consanguineously married women (nā=ā10) and seven group discussions with Turkish and Moroccan women (nā=ā86). Transcripts and notes were analyzed thematically.
RESULTS
All women welcomed PCS particularly for premarital genetic screening; regardless of possible reproductive choices, they prefer information about their future child's health. Their perspectives on reproductive choices on the basis of screening results are diverse: refraining from having children is not an option, in vitro fertilization (IVF) combined with pre-implantation genetic diagnosis (PGD) was welcomed, while prenatal genetic diagnosis (PND), termination of pregnancy (TOP), in vitro fertilization with a donor egg cell, artificial insemination with donor sperm (AID), and adoption, were generally found to be unacceptable. Besides, not taking any special measures and preparing for the possibility of having a disabled child are also becoming optional now rather than being the default option.
CONCLUSIONS
The women's preference for PCS for premarital screening as well as their outspokenness about not marrying or even divorcing when both partners appear to be carriers is striking. Raising awareness (of consanguinity, PCS and the choice for reproductive options), and providing information, screening and counseling sensitive to this target group and their preferences are essential in the provision of effective health care.
Topics: Adult; Child; Consanguinity; Ethnicity; Female; Humans; Marriage; Mass Screening; Netherlands; Pregnancy; Prenatal Diagnosis; Qualitative Research; Risk Assessment; Spouses; Turkey
PubMed: 29855391
DOI: 10.1186/s12905-018-0574-4 -
Pediatrics Mar 2013Children's well-being has become the focal consideration in legal and public policy debates regarding same-sex marriage. In this article, we critically examine and rebut... (Review)
Review
Children's well-being has become the focal consideration in legal and public policy debates regarding same-sex marriage. In this article, we critically examine and rebut the central moral argument made by opponents of same-sex marriage: that the state should not license any domestic arrangement other than "traditional marriage" because doing so would be detrimental to children's well-being. Although many have challenged the empirical premise that children raised by same-sex couples fare worse than children in other arrangements, we focus primarily on the normative premises for exclusively licensing traditional (that is, monogamous, heterosexual) marriage. We argue that even if the empirical support for its claims was strong, the argument is morally insufficient for denying state recognition to other types of relationships. Importantly, we affirm the state's vital role in promoting children's well-being. We question, however, the approach of delegitimizing certain relationships as a means to that end. Instead, we argue, the state should encourage and support individuals who want to care for children, presume that any couple or individual is capable of adequate child-rearing, and ensure that all adults who are raising children (whether married or not) have the material resources and support necessary to be good parents. Such a policy would (1) set a reasonable minimal threshold for state recognition, (2) be vigilant in identifying cases falling below this threshold, and then (3) either assist or disqualify underperforming arrangements. It would also, appropriately, decouple arguments about legitimate and illegitimate types of relationships from arguments about what is best for children.
Topics: Child; Child Development; Child Rearing; Family; Female; Heterosexuality; Homosexuality, Male; Humans; Male; Marriage
PubMed: 23439890
DOI: 10.1542/peds.2012-2665 -
Archives of Suicide Research : Official... 2006Male suicide rates, circa 1960, specific to age and marital status for 12 developed countries show married men with lower suicide rates than not married men. This...
Male suicide rates, circa 1960, specific to age and marital status for 12 developed countries show married men with lower suicide rates than not married men. This results in differences in the age structures of married and not married suicide rates. We test three explanations of lower married than not married suicide rates: 1) Gibbs and Martin's (1964) marital status integration hypothesis; 2) marital status differences in norms regarding the acceptability of suicide; and 3) Durkheim's societal integration theory. All three explanations are supported by multivariate regressions. The strongest support is for societal integration. The models explain over 80% of the variance in both married and not married male age-specific suicide rates. These regression equations generate predicted suicide rates and these predicted rates are then used to see if they account for the observed age structures of married and not married men. They do in 19 of 24 tests.
Topics: Adolescent; Adult; Age Distribution; Aged; Culture; Developed Countries; Female; Humans; Male; Marital Status; Marriage; Middle Aged; Suicide
PubMed: 16920687
DOI: 10.1080/13811110600791205 -
Global Journal of Health Science May 2013It is important how women describe their quality of life. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of rural residence on quality of life of the married women....
It is important how women describe their quality of life. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of rural residence on quality of life of the married women. The Wellness and Quality of Life Questionnaire (WHOQOL) was used to assess QOL rural residence in Iranian married women. A total of 1,140 (577 urban and 563 rural) women aged 20-45 years were selected using standard cluster sampling technique in Babol, Iran. The questionnaire with 55 items consists of five domains: physical state, mental/emotional state, stress evaluation, life enjoyment, and overall quality of life. Lower scores in three domains: physical state, mental/emotional state, and stress evaluation mean better QOL. Higher scores in life enjoyment and overall quality of life mean better QOL. Rural residences smoke more and have a lower level of education, higher level physical activity, higher level of good self reported dietary, and lower long term health problems than urban residents. After adjusting confounding variables, logistic regression indicated living in rural settings statistically decrease the probability of having worse quality of life related to physical health (OR 0.67; CI 0.50-0.91), higher life enjoyment (OR 0.44; CI 0.32-0.61), and better overall QOL (OR 0.44; CI 0.37-0.61). The results have been suggested to be useful in order to anticipate greater health care needs of the rural married women and improve their quality of life by providing more opportunities for rural women.
Topics: Adult; Female; Health Behavior; Health Status; Humans; Iran; Marriage; Mental Health; Middle Aged; Quality of Life; Rural Population; Socioeconomic Factors
PubMed: 23777734
DOI: 10.5539/gjhs.v5n4p182 -
International Health Jan 2017Child marriage (before 18 years) is widely prevalent in Pakistan, and disproportionately affects young girls in rural, low income and poorly-educated households. Our...
BACKGROUND
Child marriage (before 18 years) is widely prevalent in Pakistan, and disproportionately affects young girls in rural, low income and poorly-educated households. Our study aims to determine the association of child marriage and attitude towards wife beating among currently married Pakistani women aged 15-24 after controlling for social equity indicators (education, wealth index, rural residence).
METHODS
We limited the data from Pakistan Demographic and Health Survey, 2012-2013 to currently married women aged 15-24 years (n=2648). Five specified dichotomous variables indicating women's attitude towards wife beating (goes out without telling husband, neglects the children, argues with husband, refuses to have sex with husband, burns the food) were considered as outcome variables. The likelihood (OR and 95% CI) of each outcome variable for the child marriage group was estimated using logistic regression models.
RESULTS
The prevalence of child marriage was significantly higher among women having no education and Balochi ethnicity, living in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa region and rural area, and belonging to the poorest quintile of wealth index. Women married as children compared with women married as adults were more likely to justify wife beating for all five specified reasons. However, these associations were lost when social equity indicators and national region of residence were adjusted in the regression models.
CONCLUSIONS
Highly prevalent child marriage practice among women can be minimized by promoting education and providing economic opportunities in Pakistan.
Topics: Adolescent; Adult; Family Conflict; Female; Humans; Logistic Models; Marriage; Pakistan; Prevalence; Rural Population; Socioeconomic Factors; Spouse Abuse; Young Adult
PubMed: 27856504
DOI: 10.1093/inthealth/ihw047 -
Economics and Human Biology May 2018Kanazawa and Still (2018) showed that very unattractive workers earned more than unattractive workers, sometimes more than average-looking or attractive workers, because...
Kanazawa and Still (2018) showed that very unattractive workers earned more than unattractive workers, sometimes more than average-looking or attractive workers, because they had higher levels of intelligence and education, but they did not explain why very unattractive workers had higher intelligence and education. There are both theoretical and empirical reasons to expect that some intelligent men may prefer to marry very unattractive women. The analysis of the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health (Add Health) shows that very unattractive women were significantly more likely to be married at Age 29 than unattractive or average-looking women, and their spouses or partners earned significantly more than those of unattractive or average-looking women. If intelligent men have historically preferred to marry very unattractive women generation after generation, then, because both general intelligence and physical attractiveness are highly heritable, this can explain why very unattractive workers are more intelligent and achieve higher education, thereby earning more. It can also explain why the positive correlation between intelligence and physical attractiveness is not larger despite assortative mating of intelligent men of higher status and physically attractive women over many generations.
Topics: Academic Success; Adolescent; Adult; Beauty; Female; Humans; Income; Intelligence; Longitudinal Studies; Male; Marriage
PubMed: 29674180
DOI: 10.1016/j.ehb.2018.03.003 -
Journal of Homosexuality 2018This qualitative study examines how mid-life gay and lesbian married individuals articulate their decision to marry. Using 2013 data from 30 mid-life couples in...
This qualitative study examines how mid-life gay and lesbian married individuals articulate their decision to marry. Using 2013 data from 30 mid-life couples in Massachusetts, this study challenges previous literature that conceptualized marriage as entirely positive or negative for same-sex individuals. Mid-life individuals' unique social and historical context influence their experiences of marriage, as mid-life individuals have witnessed the rise and feasibility of marriage equality, have formed relationships outside of the bounds of marriage, and have been in committed relationships long before they married. Using the framework of ambivalence, our findings provide three main contributions to the literature. First, we show that marital ambivalence is a common experience in our sample. Second, we detail how marital ambivalence is indicative of the age, life-course stage, and length of relationship for mid-life lesbian and gay individuals. Third, we explore ambivalence at the level of the relationship, not just as an individual experience. This study provides new insight into how sexuality shapes both intimate relationship dynamics as well as the effect of same-sex marriage on LGBT communities and identities.
Topics: Adult; Decision Making; Female; Homosexuality; Humans; Interpersonal Relations; Male; Marriage; Middle Aged; Qualitative Research; Sexual Partners; Sexual and Gender Minorities; Spouses
PubMed: 29611778
DOI: 10.1080/00918369.2017.1423213 -
Trauma, Violence & Abuse Jan 2006Dowry is exchanged in a majority of Indian weddings. Although its practice became illegal in 1961, dowry flourishes among all social classes. Families of the bride and... (Review)
Review
Dowry is exchanged in a majority of Indian weddings. Although its practice became illegal in 1961, dowry flourishes among all social classes. Families of the bride and groom negotiate transfer of assets to the groom and his family in exchange for marrying the bride, often within the context of an arranged marriage. Dissatisfaction with the amount of dowry may result in abuse of the bride. In extreme cases "dowry deaths" or the murder of the bride by her husband and his family take place. This article conducts a feminist psychological analysis of the dowry phenomenon, its link to domestic violence against women, and the role of the perpetrators. Existing and new explanations of the dowry system and its ramifications are explored. Psychologically based interventions and the implications of dowryrelated violence in the larger context of Asian Indians living in North America and the United Kingdom are discussed.
Topics: Cultural Characteristics; Family; Female; Gender Identity; Helplessness, Learned; Humans; India; Male; Marriage; Spouse Abuse; Spouses; Women's Rights
PubMed: 16332983
DOI: 10.1177/1524838005283927 -
Yojana
Topics: Age Factors; Asia; Demography; Developing Countries; Economics; Education; Educational Status; India; Legislation as Topic; Marriage; Politics; Population; Population Characteristics; Religion; Social Change; Socioeconomic Factors; Women's Rights
PubMed: 12280896
DOI: No ID Found -
BMC Public Health Nov 2014Child marriage (<18 years) is prevalent in Pakistan which is associated with negative health outcomes. Our aim is to describe women's knowledge and attitude towards...
BACKGROUND
Child marriage (<18 years) is prevalent in Pakistan which is associated with negative health outcomes. Our aim is to describe women's knowledge and attitude towards child marriage practice who themselves were married as children.
METHODS
Women of reproductive age (15-49 years) who were married prior to 18 years, for at least 5 years and had at least one child birth were recruited from most populous slum areas of Lahore, Pakistan. Themes for the interview were developed using published literature and everyday observations of the researchers. Interviews were conducted by trained interviewers in Urdu language and were translated into English. The interviews were tape-recorded, transcribed, analyzed and categorized into themes.
RESULTS
Nineteen of 20 participants who agreed to participate were married between 11-17 years. Most respondents were uneducated, poor and were working as housemaids. The majority participants were unaware of the negative health outcomes of child marriages. They appeared satisfied by the decision of their parents of marrying them before 18 years, and even condemned banning child marriages in Pakistan. Strong influence of culture and community perceptions, varying interpretation of religion, and protecting family honor are some of the reasons that were narrated by the participants, which seems playing a role in continuation of child marriage practice in Pakistan.
CONCLUSION
Raising awareness of the negative health outcomes of child marriage, implementing and enforcing strict laws against child marriage practice, promoting civil, sexual and reproductive health rights for women, can help eliminate child marriages in Pakistan.
Topics: Adolescent; Adult; Child; Cultural Characteristics; Female; Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; Humans; Marriage; Middle Aged; Pakistan; Poverty Areas; Social Behavior; Urban Population; Women's Health Services
PubMed: 25374265
DOI: 10.1186/1471-2458-14-1148