Journal of women's health
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Journal of women's health · Feb 2016
Predictors of Postpartum Depression Among Immigrant Women in the Year After Childbirth.
Immigrant women are at increased risk for postpartum depression (PPD). The factors that influence PPD among immigrant women are poorly understood. The purpose of this study was to identify individual- and community-level factors predictive of PPD among immigrant women living in a large Ontario city at 6 weeks, 6 months, and 1 year postpartum. ⋯ Complex individual and community-level factors are associated with PPD in immigrant women. Understanding these contextual factors can inform a multifaceted approach to addressing PPD.
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Journal of women's health · Feb 2016
Screening for Cervical Cancer and Sexually Transmitted Diseases Among HIV-Infected Women.
Women living with HIV infection are at higher risk for cervical cancer, an AIDS-defining diagnosis. We examined the prevalence of cervical cancer and sexually transmitted disease (STD) screening among human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected women and factors associated with the receipt of Papanicolaou (Pap) tests. ⋯ Screening for cervical cancer and STDs among HIV-infected women is suboptimal. Clinical visits for Pap tests are an important opportunity for HIV-infected sexually active women to also receive STD screenings and counseling regarding condoms.
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Journal of women's health · Feb 2016
Comparative StudyAdequacy of Prenatal Care and Gestational Weight Gain.
The goal of prenatal care is to maximize health outcomes for a woman and her fetus. We examined how prenatal care is associated with meeting the 2009 Institute of Medicine (IOM) guidelines for gestational weight gain. ⋯ Whereas prenatal care was effective for preventing insufficient weight gain regardless of prepregnancy body size, educational background, and racial/ethnic group, there were no indications that adequate prenatal care was associated with reduced risk for excessive gestational weight gain. Further research is needed to improve prenatal care programs for preventing excess weight gain.
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Journal of women's health · Feb 2016
A New Way to Estimate the Potential Unmet Need for Infertility Services Among Women in the United States.
Fewer than 50% of women who meet the medical/behavioral criteria for infertility receive medical services. Estimating the number of women who both meet the medical/behavioral criteria for infertility and who have pro-conception attitudes will allow for better estimates of the potential need and unmet need for infertility services in the United States. ⋯ Studies of the incidence of infertility should include measures of both trying to have a child and wanting to have a child.
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Journal of women's health · Feb 2016
Taming Healthcare Costs: Promise and Pitfalls for Women's Health.
When it comes to healthcare, women are often the primary decision makers for their families. Therefore, focusing on women and their health needs can have a profound effect on health reform efforts to control costs and improve quality for all segments of the population. ⋯ Massachusetts cost containment law, Chapter 224, seeks to control the healthcare cost growth through innovative approaches to increase efficiency and transparency including the adoption of new delivery system models, investments in wellness and prevention programs, and implementation of standard quality and evaluation measures. In this paper, we outline four approaches to delivering on the promise of cost containment reform to maximize women's access to comprehensive, quality healthcare while avoiding the pitfalls of cost containment's adverse impact on women's health.