Journal of women's health
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Journal of women's health · Apr 2019
Breastfeeding Greater Than 6 Months Is Associated with Smaller Maternal Waist Circumference Up to One Decade After Delivery.
Abdominal obesity is an important indicator of cardiometabolic dysfunction in later life. Prior studies have observed an inverse association between breastfeeding and maternal waist circumference (WC) in the years after pregnancy, but this may be due to bias resulting from systematic differences in women who do and do not breastfeed. ⋯ This study extends conventional observational study methods to incorporate propensity score approaches that make it possible to separate the study design from the study analysis to account for systematic differences in women who did and did not breastfeed. After reducing potential bias, breastfeeding for greater than 6 months was independently associated with smaller WC in the decade after delivery.
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Journal of women's health · Apr 2019
Effect of Cultural, Folk, and Religious Beliefs and Practices on Delays in Diagnosis of Ovarian Cancer in African American Women.
Certain cultural, folk, and religious beliefs that are more common among African Americans (AAs) have been associated with later-stage breast cancer. It is unknown if these beliefs are similarly associated with delays in diagnosis of ovarian cancer. ⋯ Women who reported stronger religious beliefs or practices had increased odds of higher stage ovarian cancer. Inaccurate cultural/folk beliefs about cancer treament were not associated with stage; however, these beliefs were highly prevalent in our population and could impact patient treatment decisions. Our findings suggest opportunities for health education interventions, especially working with churches, and improved doctor-patient communication.
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Journal of women's health · Apr 2019
Association of Pregnancy History and Cervical Cancer Screening in a Community Sample of Sexual Minority Women.
Sexual minority women (SMW) face barriers to healthcare that may result in lower utilization of cervical cancer screening. Previous experiences with the healthcare system-specifically reproductive health-related encounters-have the potential to affect future use of screening services. This study aimed to examine the association between pregnancy history and cervical cancer screening in a diverse sample of SMW. Anderson's Behavioral Model of Health Services Use guided the selection of variables included in the study. ⋯ This analysis provides preliminary evidence that SMW who have been pregnant are more likely to receive Pap testing and that multiple sociodemographic factors are likely to impact screening in this population. Clinicians should screen all patients with a cervix for cervical cancer and should encourage screening for all SMW. Future studies should prioritize longitudinal analyses to examine the temporality of reproductive history and healthcare seeking, focus on where SMW seek care, and understand how intersecting components of identity may shape the healthcare utilization of this population.
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Journal of women's health · Apr 2019
Adverse Childhood Experiences and Mental and Behavioral Health Conditions During Pregnancy: The Role of Resilience.
Little is known about how exposure to adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) and protective factors, such as resilience, influence prenatal mental and behavioral health. This study examined associations between exposure to ACEs and mental and behavioral health during pregnancy overall and among women with high versus low levels of resilience. ⋯ ACEs predicted mental and behavioral health conditions among pregnant women, and associations were the strongest among women with low levels of current resilience. Longitudinal research is needed to understand the causal mechanisms underlying these associations.
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Journal of women's health · Apr 2019
Neck Injury Comorbidity in Concussion-Related Emergency Department Visits: A Population-Based Study of Sex Differences Across the Life Span.
The cervical spine region can be especially vulnerable to concurrent injury in concussion, with research suggesting that females may be at greater risk due to their weaker and anatomically distinct necks. The main objective of our research was to study sex differences in the rate of neck injury comorbidity across the life span among patients with a concussion diagnosis in the emergency department (ED) setting, by cause of injury (motor vehicle collisions [MVC] and sports). ⋯ These results support the consideration of increased screening for comorbid neck injuries, particularly for females, to allow for early intervention. Furthermore, the increased risk of comorbid neck injury in females with a concussion-related ED visit was age-dependent, with the interaction between sex and age following a nonlinear trend. As such, future studies on concussions should consider linear and nonlinear sex and age interactions.