Journal of women's health
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Journal of women's health · May 2016
Postpartum Smoking Relapse After Quitting During Pregnancy: Pregnancy Risk Assessment Monitoring System, 2000-2011.
Relapsing to smoking postpartum jeopardizes a woman's health and her infant's health. Our study estimated the proportion and identified characteristics associated with postpartum relapse using a large population-based sample. ⋯ There was no change in the proportion of women relapsing postpartum during 2000-2011. In 2011, nearly half (42%) of women relapsed after quitting smoking during pregnancy. Disparities exist by site and by maternal characteristics. A comprehensive approach maximizing tobacco control efforts and developing effective clinical interventions delivered across sectors is necessary for long-term tobacco abstinence among women.
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The menopausal transition, or perimenopause, is associated with profound reproductive and hormonal changes. These changes have been well chronicled and matched with concomitant symptoms. The pattern of appearance of menopausal symptoms and their natural history have become increasingly clear thanks to the conduct of several long-term, longitudinal cohort studies that have examined many aspects of women's biology and psychology through this time of life. ⋯ Unlike hot flashes, mood issues, and sleep, vaginal symptoms will not go away without treatment. Clinical approaches to these problems often involve hormone therapy, which can be safely given to most perimenopausal women on a short-term basis. Therapeutic strategies that are nonhormonal and behavioral can also be deployed.
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Journal of women's health · Apr 2016
Racial/Ethnic Differences Affecting Adherence to Cancer Screening Guidelines Among Women.
Race/ethnicity has been shown to modify the effects between obesity and cancer screening among women. The purpose of this article is to update the literature with recent data to examine how the association between different characteristics, including body mass index (BMI), and cancer screening compliance varies by race/ethnicity in a national sample of women. ⋯ We found variations in adherence to cancer screening guidelines by age, insurance coverage, and income between racial/ethnic groups. Little evidence was observed for variations in screening by BMI.
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Journal of women's health · Apr 2016
The Associations Between Body Mass Index, Smoking, and Alcohol Intake with Ovarian Volume in Midlife Women.
Despite the fact that ovarian volume is a marker of reproductive aging, there is little understanding of factors related to ovarian volume among aging women. The objective of this analysis was to examine the associations between body mass index (BMI), cigarette smoking, and alcohol intake with ovarian volume among midlife women. ⋯ This study provides insight into the associations between BMI, smoking, and alcohol use with ovarian volume among midlife women. The findings are somewhat consistent with the published literature and, thus, indicate that these factors may not be clinically important in terms of ovarian volume during the menopausal transition.
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Journal of women's health · Apr 2016
Narratives of Participants in National Career Development Programs for Women in Academic Medicine: Identifying the Opportunities for Strategic Investment.
Academic medicine has initiated changes in policy, practice, and programs over the past several decades to address persistent gender disparity and other issues pertinent to its sociocultural context. Three career development programs were implemented to prepare women faculty to succeed in academic medicine: two sponsored by the Association of American Medical Colleges, which began a professional development program for early career women faculty in 1988. By 1995, it had evolved into two programs one for early career women and another for mid-career women. By 2012, more than 4000 women faculty from medical schools across the U.S and Canada had participated in these intensive 3-day programs. The third national program, the Hedwig van Ameringen Executive Leadership in Academic Medicine(®) (ELAM) program for women, was developed in 1995 at the Drexel University College of Medicine. ⋯ The findings contribute to the growing evidence that career development programs, concurrent with strategic, intentional support of institutional leaders, are necessary to achieve gender equity and diversity inclusion.