Journal of women's health
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Journal of women's health · Jan 2011
Patient-centered care for Muslim women: provider and patient perspectives.
The purpose of this study was twofold: (1) to address the gap in existing literature regarding provider perspectives about provision of high-quality, culturally appropriate, patient-centered care to Muslim women in the United States and (2) to explore congruence between provider and patient perceptions regarding barriers to and recommendations for providing such care. ⋯ Both providers and patients identify significant barriers to the provision of culturally appropriate care to Muslim women. Improving care would require a flexible and collaborative care model that respects and accommodates the needs of patients, provides opportunities for training providers and educating patients, and makes necessary adjustments in the healthcare system. The findings of this study can guide future research aimed at ensuring high-quality, culturally appropriate, patient-centered healthcare for Muslim women in the United States and other western countries.
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Journal of women's health · Jan 2011
Age of partner at first adolescent intercourse and adult sexual risk behavior among women.
Adolescent females who have early sexual experiences with older male partners report high rates of sexual risk behavior during adolescence, but little is known about whether these early sexual experiences are associated with adult sexual risk behavior. The purpose of this study was to investigate whether having first consensual sex with an older partner was associated with sexual risk behavior in adulthood. ⋯ Having an older first sex partner during adolescence was associated with sexual risk behavior in adulthood. Early sexual experiences may be important life events that influence subsequent sexual behavior. Sexual health interventions need to target female adolescents before they initiate sexual intercourse to reduce risk for STDs and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection.
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Journal of women's health · Jan 2011
Factors associated with sexually transmitted infection underreporting among female sex workers in China.
To examine the underreporting of sexually transmitted infections (STI) (i.e., no STI by self-report but have at least one STI through biological testing or clinical examination) and factors associated with underreporting among female sex workers (FSWs) in China. ⋯ Underreporting of STI was prevalent in FSWs, especially among women with perceived lower STI risks. The underreporting might be largely due to their perception of low risks for STI and unawareness of STI symptoms (including asymptomatic STIs). Future studies of FSWs should identify those new in commercial sex with lower STI awareness and perceived risks and encourage them to seek timely and appropriate testing and treatment.
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Journal of women's health · Jan 2011
Gynecological history in chronic fatigue syndrome: a population-based case-control study.
Chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) affects disproportionately more women than men, and the condition is more common at perimenopause. We examined gynecological history events as risk factors for CFS. ⋯ The higher prevalence of gynecological conditions and gynecological surgeries in women with CFS highlights the importance of evaluating gynecological health in these patients and the need for more research to clarify the chronologic and the pathophysiological relationships between these conditions and CFS.
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Journal of women's health · Dec 2010
ReviewStudying the use of oral contraception: a review of measurement approaches.
Although oral contraception (OC) misuse is presumed to play an important role in unwanted pregnancy, research findings have often been equivocal, perhaps reflecting unaddressed inconsistencies in methodological approaches. ⋯ The lack of a consistent, well-defined measurement of OC use limits our understanding of contraceptive misuse and related negative outcomes. Future research should clarify terminology, develop standardized measures, incorporate multimethod approaches with innovative methods, and publish details of measurement methods.