Journal of women's health
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Journal of women's health · Jul 2021
Cervical Cancer Screening in Postmenopausal Women: Is It Time to Move Toward Primary High-Risk Human Papillomavirus Screening?
Background: Cervical cytology in postmenopausal women is challenging due to physiologic changes of the hypoestrogenic state. Misinterpretation of an atrophic smear as atypical squamous cells of uncertain significance (ASCUS) is one of the most common errors. We hypothesize that high-risk human papillomavirus (hrHPV) testing may be more accurate with fewer false positive results than co-testing of hrHPV and cervical cytology for predicting clinically significant cervical dysplasia in postmenopausal women. ⋯ No risk factors for hrHPV persistence in postmenopausal women were identified. Conclusion: Our data suggest that hrHPV testing may be more accurate than co-testing in postmenopausal women and that cytology does not add clinical value in this population. CIN2+ was more common among women with persistent hrHPV than those who cleared hrHPV, but no risk factors for persistence were identified in this study.
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Journal of women's health · Jul 2021
Baseline Characteristics from the Women Veterans Cohort Study: Gender Differences and Similarities in Health and Healthcare Utilization.
Introduction: With the unprecedented expansion of women's roles in the U. S. military during recent (post-9/11) conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan, the number of women seeking healthcare through the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) has increased substantially. Women Veterans often present as medically complex due to multiple medical, mental health, and psychosocial comorbidities, and consequently may be underserved. ⋯ Women seek care at VHA medical centers more frequently, often combined with outside health services, but do not significantly differ from men in their insurance coverage. Conclusion: Overall, this investigation indicates substantial variation in risk factors, health outcomes, and healthcare utilization among post-9/11 men and women Veterans. Further research is needed to determine best practices for managing women Veterans in the VHA healthcare system.
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Journal of women's health · Jul 2021
Predictors of Gestational Weight Gain Examined As a Continuous Outcome: A Prospective Analysis.
Background: Excess gestational weight gain (GWG) is common and adversely affects both mothers and offspring, including increasing the risk of maternal and childhood obesity. GWG is typically examined categorically, with women grouped into categories of those who gain above, within, and below guideline recommendations. Examining GWG as a continuous variable, rather than categorically, allows for a consideration of GWG at a finer level of detail, increasing precision. ⋯ Results: We found that a common set of variables (parity, prepregnancy body mass index, planned pregnancy weight gain, smoking, pregnancy-related food cravings, and fast food intake) significantly predicted GWG in a manner consistent across the four GWG outcomes. Certain psychological factors, including the perception of families' and friends' attitudes toward the food cravings of pregnant women, emotion suppression, compensatory health beliefs coupled with eating unhealthy foods, frequent prepregnancy dietary restraint in carbohydrates, sugar, and meals, preferred prepregnancy body size image, agreeable and conscientious personalities, and depression, also were related with GWG. Conclusions: Our findings demonstrate that psychological factors play an important role in the magnitude of GWG, providing key avenues to inform interventions to support healthy weight gain in pregnancy.
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Journal of women's health · Jul 2021
Prevalence of and Risk Factors for Depressive Symptoms and Antidepressant Use in Young Australian Women: A Cross-Sectional Study.
Background: Despite the high prevalence of depression among adult women, the proportion of reproductive-aged women with moderate or severe depressive symptoms is uncertain, as is the proportion taking antidepressant medication. We report the prevalence of depressive symptoms in young Australian women, risk factors for depressive symptoms, and psychoactive drug use. Methods: An online survey was completed by population-based sample of 6,986 Australian women, aged 18-39 years, recruited from November 2016 to July 2017. ⋯ A previous cancer diagnosis was the strongest risk factor for current antidepressant use, whereas compared with being of European ancestry, being Asian or of another ancestry was associated with a lower likelihood of antidepressant use. Conclusion: The prevalence of moderate to severe depressive symptoms among young Australian women is alarming. Prevention strategies targeting the sociodemographic circumstances underpinning the identified risk factors are urgently needed.