Journal of women's health
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Journal of women's health · Apr 2011
Structural violence: a barrier to achieving the millennium development goals for women.
In 2000, all 191 United Nations member states agreed to work toward the achievement of a set of health and development goals by 2015. The achievement of these eight goals, the Millennium Development goals (MDGs) is highly dependent on improving the status of women, who play a key role in health and education in families and communities around the world. ⋯ Although sound evidence has long existed for improving women's survival, the will to address women's health concretely and holistically is only recently gaining the advocacy needed to change policy. Concrete examples of the integration of approaches to mitigate structural violence within the delivery of health services do exist and should be incorporated into global advocacy for women's health.
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Journal of women's health · Apr 2011
Racial and ethnic patterns of allostatic load among adult women in the United States: findings from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 1999-2004.
This study provides a descriptive sociodemographic profile of allostatic load (AL) among adult women of all age groups, focusing on how age patterns of AL vary across racial/ethnic groups. Allostatic load, an index of cumulative physiological dysregulation, captures how the cumulative impact of physiological stress responses from person-environment interactions causes wear and tear on the body's regulatory systems, which in turn can lead to disease outcomes and health disparities. ⋯ This study provides one of the first descriptive profiles of AL among a nationally representative sample of adult women in the United States and presents racial/ethnic trends in AL across age groups that are useful for identifying demographically and clinically important subgroups at risk of having high cumulative physiological dysregulation.
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Journal of women's health · Mar 2011
Review Comparative StudyTobacco use and cessation among women: research and treatment-related issues.
The prevalence of tobacco use in women has increased over the past century. This has resulted in dramatic increases in smoking-related lung diseases, such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and lung cancer. There is growing literature suggesting that women may be more susceptible than men to the effects of tobacco and to the development of COPD. ⋯ This article addresses possible differences in lung function decline and nicotine metabolism in women compared to men. Differences in COPD between the sexes are discussed. Finally, barriers to smoking cessation in women are presented.
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Journal of women's health · Mar 2011
Patient Barriers to Mammography Identified During a Reminder Program.
Background: Patient mammogram reminders are effective at increasing screening, but patient barriers remain. We evaluated patient characteristics and reported barriers for their association with mammogram completion after a reminder program. Methods: This retrospective cohort study used data from electronic records and a subgroup survey. ⋯ Pain mediated the relationship between obesity and mammogram completion rates (indirect effect = -0.111, p = 0.008). Conclusions: Important barriers to mammogram completion remain even after an effective mammogram reminder system among insured patients. Tailored interventions are necessary to overcome these barriers.
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Journal of women's health · Mar 2011
Time Trends and Racial Differences in Female Breast Cancer Incidence in Pennsylvania, 1985-2004.
Background: Differences in breast cancer incidence time trends can result from changes in ascertainment, new diagnostic codes, or possibly changes in underlying risk factors. Methods: Female breast cancer incidence data between 1985 and 2004 were obtained from the Pennsylvania Cancer Registry. Joinpoint regression was applied to characterize time trends of age-specific, race-specific, and histology-specific breast cancer incidence. ⋯ Young black women had a higher incidence of both invasive breast carcinoma and breast carcinoma in situ compared to young white women. Conclusions: Although the increase in breast carcinoma in situ is partly explained by improved diagnosis and screening, other risk factors should be considered. In addition, factors responsible for higher breast cancer rates among younger black women and women living in urban areas should be carefully assessed.