Journal of women's health
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Journal of women's health · Dec 2021
Femininity Concerns and Feelings About Menstruation Cessation Among Lesbian, Bisexual, and Heterosexual Women: Implications for Menopause.
Background: Women differ in how they psychologically respond to the end of menstruation and onset of menopause; however, little empirical evidence exists for understanding how sexual orientation and gendered dynamics contribute to menstrual experiences in middle-to-late adulthood. We investigated if women's attitudes toward the cessation of menstruation vary by their sexual orientation. Methods: Using data from the Midlife in the United States Study (MIDUS, N = 3471), we examined the relationship between women's sexual orientation and attitudes toward menstruation cessation. ⋯ That is, SM women felt less regret about menstrual periods ending than heterosexual women, and this finding was partially explained through SM women's lower concerns about femininity (attractiveness and fertility). Conclusions: Our results contribute to a growing body of research on the psychological strengths of sexual minorities by highlighting SM women's potential strengths in an aging context. We propose implications for understanding aging stigma and women's health, and we discuss how menopause may be differently experienced by women based on sexual orientation.
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Journal of women's health · Dec 2021
Pathways from Maternal Adverse Childhood Experiences to Substance Use in Pregnancy: Findings from the All Our Families Cohort.
Background: Exposure to adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) is a risk factor for maternal substance use in pregnancy, however, mechanisms by which maternal ACEs may influence substance use in pregnancy have not been fully explored. The current study examines the association between maternal ACEs and substance use in pregnancy (i.e., alcohol, smoking, and drug use) and explores mediating pathways. Methods: A community sample of 1,994 women as part of the All Our Families Cohort were recruited in pregnancy in Calgary, Canada, between 2008 and 2011. ⋯ The direct effect of maternal ACEs on maternal substance in pregnancy remained significant after accounting for the indirect effects (β = 0.22, 95% CI = 0.15-0.29, p < 0.001). Conclusions: Exposure to adversity in childhood can lead to socioeconomic and mental health difficulties that increase risk for substance use in pregnancy. Addressing these difficulties before pregnancy may help to reduce the potential for substance use in pregnancy.
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Journal of women's health · Dec 2021
Hospital Readmission Following Delivery with and Without Severe Maternal Morbidity.
Background: The relationship between severe maternal morbidity (SMM) events during inpatient delivery and subsequent hospital readmission is not well understood. Materials and Methods: This was a retrospective cohort study of women with a live inpatient delivery during 2016 recorded in MarketScan® databases for commercially insured and Medicaid populations. Live inpatient births were identified by the International Classification of Diseases, 10th Revision diagnostic and procedural codes, Current Procedural Terminology, and Diagnosis-Related Group codes. ⋯ Conclusion: SMM during delivery hospitalization increased the risk of readmission more than 10 times. The most frequent discharge diagnoses following readmission included obstetric infection and endometritis in women without SMM, and eclampsia in women with SMM during delivery. Awareness of these findings could help health care providers prevent future episodes.
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Journal of women's health · Dec 2021
Sex and Gender-Related Differences in COVID-19 Diagnoses and SARS-CoV-2 Testing Practices During the First Wave of the Pandemic: The Dutch Lifelines COVID-19 Cohort Study.
Background: Although sex differences are described in Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) diagnoses and testing, many studies neglect possible gender-related influences. Additionally, research is often performed in clinical populations, while most COVID-19 patients are not hospitalized. Therefore, we investigated associations between sex and gender-related variables, and COVID-19 diagnoses and testing practices in a large general population cohort during the first wave of the pandemic when testing capacity was limited. ⋯ Conclusions: We found no sex differences in COVID-19 diagnoses and testing in the general population. Among health care workers, a male preponderance in COVID-19 diagnoses and testing was observed. This could be explained by more pronounced COVID-19 symptoms in males or by gender inequities.
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Journal of women's health · Dec 2021
Assessing Perinatal Insurance Coverage at Time of Death: A National Survey of Maternal Mortality Review Committees.
Background: The objective of this study is to understand the proportion of Maternal Mortality Review Committees (MMRCs) that investigate insurance status at the time of maternal deaths occurring during three time periods: pregnancy, childbirth, and up to 12 months postpartum. Materials and Methods: We conducted a national survey of MMRCs between July and September of 2020. Jurisdictions were e-mailed a 17-item questionnaire that addressed whether the MMRCs document insurance status for each of the three time periods as well as facilitators and barriers to doing so. ⋯ Conclusions: MMRCs primarily focus on identifying insurance status during pregnancy and at childbirth. Information on insurance status in the postpartum period is more difficult to ascertain and less often determined. The findings from this work should inform efforts for MMRCs to improve data collection on insurance status and ultimately improve the capacity of MMRCs to identify targeted insurance policy reforms that could help reduce maternal mortality.