Journal of women's health
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Journal of women's health · Feb 2017
Randomized Controlled TrialRandomized Intervention Trial to Decrease Bisphenol A Urine Concentrations in Women: Pilot Study.
Previous studies have shown that women have higher concentrations of the endocrine disruptor bisphenol A (BPA), but an intervention to reduce BPA is lacking in women. To test the hypothesis that an intervention to reduce BPA would decrease urinary BPA concentrations over 3 weeks, 24 women (mean ± standard deviation [SD]; 22.1 ± 2.8 kg/m2 body mass index, 20.9 ± 1.5 years) were randomly assigned to an intervention or control. ⋯ In this pilot study, a 3-week intervention decreased urinary BPA concentrations in women. Future clinical trials are needed to confirm these results and to examine whether a similar BPA intervention positively impacts risk markers in the pathogenesis of cardiovascular disease and diabetes.
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Journal of women's health · Feb 2017
LGBT Identity, Untreated Depression, and Unmet Need for Mental Health Services by Sexual Minority Women and Trans-Identified People.
Previous studies have found that transgender, lesbian, and bisexual people report poorer mental health relative to heterosexuals. However, available research provides little information about mental health service access among the highest need groups within these communities: bisexual women and transgender people. This study compared past year unmet need for mental health care and untreated depression between four groups: heterosexual cisgender (i.e., not transgender) women, cisgender lesbians, cisgender bisexual women, and transgender people. ⋯ We conclude that there are higher rates of unmet need and untreated depression in trans and bisexual participants that are partly explained by differences in social factors, including experiences of discrimination, lower levels of social support, and systemic exclusion from healthcare. Our findings suggest that the mental health system in Ontario is not currently meeting the needs of many sexual and gender minority people.
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Journal of women's health · Feb 2017
Folic Acid Education for Hispanic Women: The Promotora de Salud Model.
Although rates of neural tube defects (NTDs) have declined in the United States since fortification, disparities still exist with Hispanic women having the highest risk of giving birth to a baby with a NTD. The Promotora de Salud model using community lay health workers has been shown to be an effective tool for reaching Hispanics for a variety of health topics; however, literature on its effectiveness in folic acid interventions is limited. ⋯ The Promotora de Salud model relies on interpersonal connections forged between promotoras and the communities they serve to help drive positive health behaviors. The findings underscore the positive impact that these interpersonal connections can have on increasing awareness, knowledge, and consumption of folic acid. Utilizing the Promotora de Salud model to reach targeted populations might help organizations successfully implement their programs in a culturally appropriate manner.
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Journal of women's health · Feb 2017
Factors Affecting Sexual Activity in Midlife Women: Results from the Midlife Health Study.
The objective of this study was to identify (1) the importance of a number of potential factors affecting the likelihood of sexual activity in perimenopausal women and (2) the likelihood of a number of barriers to sexual activity. ⋯ The factors associated with sexual activity in menopausal women are complex, indicating that an individualized approach to improving sexual activity is required.
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Journal of women's health · Feb 2017
Reproductive and Lifestyle Factors Associated with Endometriosis in a Large Cross-Sectional Population Sample.
Despite the high prevalence of endometriosis among women of reproductive age, risk factors or markers for developing the condition remain largely unknown. Many of the published studies are based on small selected samples. We therefore investigated the relationships of reproductive and lifestyle factors with endometriosis in a large sample of Swedish female twins. ⋯ Our study suggests that late age at menarche and higher parity are inversely associated and infertility is strongly associated with endometriosis. Future studies are needed to explore the significance of these factors in the diagnosis of endometriosis and understanding of its etiology.