Journal of women's health
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Introduction: Sex- and gender-based differences affect all aspects of health and disease, including musculoskeletal conditions. However, it is unknown how often authors publish outcomes of common conditions based on sex. We reviewed the frequency with which articles in orthopedic journals published sex-specific outcomes with regard to a condition with known sex-based differences and one in which differences are less known. Materials and Methods: Articles that reported original clinical studies from four high-impact orthopedic journals were reviewed: Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery (JBJS), Clinical Orthopedics and Related Research (CORR), American Journal of Sports Medicine (AJSM), and Journal of Arthroplasty (JOA). ⋯ Articles listing a woman as the first or last author were significantly more likely to report results based on sex. Conclusions: While there was a trend for sex-specific outcomes to be reported more often in knee osteoarthritis, the level of reporting was still low. Reporting based on sex was higher if a woman was the first or last author. To improve care for all patients, sex-specific outcomes should be reported across all orthopedic conditions by all researchers.
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Journal of women's health · May 2021
Screening Mammography Utilization Among Female Medicare Beneficiaries and Breast Cancer Survivors in 2002-2016.
Background: The use of screening mammography varies by patient characteristics. This study examined the annual mammography utilization trends among female Medicare beneficiaries and breast cancer survivors, overall and by beneficiary characteristics. Materials and Methods: This retrospective, serial cross-sectional study used the 2002-2016 Medicare Current Beneficiary Survey (MCBS), including fee-for-service female Medicare beneficiaries who resided in community settings and who completed the survey (n = 53,788, weighted n = 206,259,890). Self-reported mammography utilization and breast cancer history were identified through the survey. ⋯ Trends also declined among the breast cancer survivors who were ≥70 years old, ≥40 years old, and in South region (all p < 0.05). Beneficiary's demographic and socioeconomic factors, comorbidity, smoking, and health status were associated with the likelihood of screening mammography utilization among female beneficiaries; however, such associations were limited among breast cancer survivors. Conclusions: In 2002-2016, the overall trends in mammography use among female Medicare beneficiaries and breast cancer survivors declined significantly. Variations in mammography use among different subgroups were observed.
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Journal of women's health · May 2021
The Incidence of and Predictors for Severe Perineal Trauma and Intact Perineum in Women Having a Waterbirth in England: A Hospital-Based Study.
Background: To determine the incidence of and predictors for obstetric anal sphincter injuries (OASIS) and intact perineum in women giving birth in the water and compare with the general obstetric population. Materials and Methods: Data were retrospectively collected for women who had singleton cephalic presentation vaginal births in the water and the general obstetric population between August 2007 and December 2017. Results: We identified 1,007 women who had a waterbirth and 36,924 women from the general obstetric population. There was no significant difference in the incidence of OASIS between waterbirths and the general obstetric population (2.3% vs. 2.0%). Having a waterbirth was associated with a lower probability for an intact perineum (odds ratio [OR] = 0.83; confidence interval [95% CI]: 0.73-0.94) when compared with the general obstetric population (44.7% vs. 51.3%). ⋯ The risk for a higher degree of OASIS was associated with increased maternal age in the total sample (OR = 1.08; 95% CI: 1.06-1.11) and with a lower body mass index (BMI) at booking in multiparous women (OR = 0.96; 95% CI: 0.92-0.99). The risk for any type of perineal trauma was associated with increased maternal age in the total sample (OR = 1.10; 95% CI: 1.07-1.13) and with a lower BMI at booking in multiparous women (OR = 0.95; 95% CI: 0.91-0.99). Conclusions: We found that giving birth in the water reduced the chance of having an intact perineum. We have also shown that nulliparity, increased maternal age in all women, and a lower BMI at booking in multiparous were associated with OASIS and lower rates of intact perineum in waterbirths.
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Journal of women's health · May 2021
Monogamy as a Barrier to Human Papillomavirus Catch-Up Vaccination.
Background: Human papillomavirus (HPV) is the most prevalent sexually transmitted infection (STI) in the United States. Although a vaccine to prevent HPV infection exists, only 53.7% of females 13-17 years of age were up-to-date on the HPV vaccination series in 2018. There is a catch-up period of vaccination for females 18-26 years of age that shows consistent underparticipation. ⋯ After adjusting for confounders, women who were in monogamous relationships were significantly less likely to have participated in HPV catch-up vaccination compared to women who were single and dating (adjusted odds ratio: 0.36, 95% confidence interval: 0.15, 0.87). Women in monogamous relationships had a lower average sexually transmitted disease (STD) risk perception compared to women who were single and dating (p < 0.0001). Conclusions: A decreased risk perception may present a barrier to participating in catch-up vaccination for monogamous women. Practitioners and the public health community should focus on communicating HPV risk to women in monogamous relationships, especially given the recently expanded age range for HPV vaccination.
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Journal of women's health · May 2021
Editorial CommentOpposition to Waterbirth Is Not Evidence Based.