Journal of women's health
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Journal of women's health · Sep 2022
Randomized Controlled TrialAcceptability of a Long-Acting, Multipurpose Vaginal Ring: Findings from a Phase I Trial in the U.S. and Dominican Republic.
Background: Women worldwide face risks from pregnancy, HIV, and other sexually transmitted infections (STIs). To date, highly effective contraceptive methods provide no HIV/STI protection, and HIV prevention products, excluding condoms, provide no pregnancy protection. Intravaginal rings (IVRs) delivering antiretrovirals and contraceptives are a promising multipurpose prevention technology (MPT). ⋯ In qualitative interviews, women were willing to continuously use an IVR for 6-12 months, providing it did not "degrade" inside the body. Reasons for trial participation and prevention preferences, menstrual attitudes, and perceived IVR benefits and doubts varied by site. Conclusions: Findings provide strong evidence of demand for an MPT IVR that protects from pregnancy and HIV/STIs, lasts longer than 1 month, minimally disrupts menstrual bleeding, and is in women's control. numberClinicalTrials.gov: #NCT03279120.
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Journal of women's health · Sep 2022
ReviewBreast Cancer in Black Women: Racial/Ethnic Disparities Affecting Survival.
Breast cancer is the most common noncutaneous malignancy affecting women in the United States, with >245,000 cases diagnosed annually. Breast cancer mortality rates have continued to trend down in the past three decades, yet racial/ethnic disparities persist, with the worst mortality rates seen in Black women. Of note, when compared by race, this downward trend is also trailing in Black women. ⋯ Facing the worst poverty rates compared with other races, Black women are inevitably more likely to be uninsured, have limited access to quality education, and have fewer financial resources. The goal of this review was to elucidate the complex interplay between biological and social factors contributing to racial disparities in breast cancer outcomes. We conclude by emphasizing the need for interventions made at both local and national levels.
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Journal of women's health · Sep 2022
Addressing Racial Disparities in Pregnancy-Related Deaths: An Analysis of Maternal Mortality-Related Federal Legislation, 2017-2021.
There has been increasing national attention to the issue of racial disparities in pregnancy-related deaths. Federal legislation can support approaches at multiple levels of intervention to improve maternal health. As part of the CDC Policy Academy, a team of CDC staff completed a policy analysis to determine the approaches addressed in federal legislation to reduce racial disparities in pregnancy-related deaths. ⋯ The most common themes mentioned in federal legislation were improving maternal health care, addressing health inequities and SDOH, enhancing data, and promoting women's health. Legislation focused on health inequities and SDOH emphasized implicit bias training and improving SDOH, including racism and other social factors. The reviewed federal legislation reflected common clinical and public health approaches to prevent pregnancy-related deaths, including a significant focus on reducing bias and improving SDOH to address racial disparities.
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Journal of women's health · Sep 2022
In Defense of Mothers: Why Pregnant and Breastfeeding Women Should Be Included in Mass Drug Administration Programs.
Mass drug administration (MDA) programs are a critical component of efforts to treat and eliminate trachoma, a leading cause of blindness worldwide. Despite the importance of these programs for individual and community health, pregnant and breastfeeding women have historically been excluded from treatment in these programs. ⋯ The medication used most commonly, azithromycin, appears to be safe for use in pregnancy and breastfeeding. The time has come to include pregnant and breastfeeding women in MDA programs, not just for them, but also for their communities.
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Journal of women's health · Sep 2022
Medical Follow-Up Received by Women with Blood Pressure Alerts in the WISEWOMAN Program by Race and Ethnicity, 2014-2018.
Background: Hypertension is a preventable risk factor for heart disease and stroke. Immediate reduction in blood pressure (BP) is necessary for a person with dangerously high BP to prevent injuries related to heart disease and stroke. Differences in the prevalence of hypertension and dangerously high BP (BP alerts) and the distribution of medical follow-ups were examined by race and ethnicity among participants in the Well-Integrated Screening and Evaluation for WOMen Across the Nation (WISEWOMAN) program. ⋯ Among women with BP alerts, 74.7% received a medical follow-up within 7 days and 12.4% received a medical follow-up after 7 days. There were no significant differences in the percentage of women with BP alerts who received a follow-up within 7 days among Hispanic, NHB, and NHW women (71.1%, 77.1%, and 74.4%, respectively, p = 0.085). Conclusions: BP alerts occurred in 2.3% of the WISEWOMAN hypertensive population, and approximately three in four women with BP alerts, regardless of race and ethnicity, received timely follow-up care within 7 days.