Women's health issues : official publication of the Jacobs Institute of Women's Health
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Womens Health Issues · Jan 2011
HPV vaccine promotion: does referring to both cervical cancer and genital warts affect intended and actual vaccination behavior?
young women have poor awareness that human papillomavirus (HPV) can cause both cervical cancer and genital warts, a sexually transmitted infection (STI). A newly developed HPV vaccine can provide protection against both cervical cancer and genital warts. This vaccine could be promoted by health authorities/professionals as preventing cervical cancer plus genital warts, or cervical cancer alone. Because stigma around STIs may reduce acceptance of the vaccine, the effect of information framing ('cervical cancer' versus 'cervical cancer plus genital warts') on intention to receive the HPV vaccine and actual uptake behavior was examined using the health belief model (HBM). ⋯ highlighting the sexual transmissibility of HPV does not seem to lower vaccination intentions or behaviors among young women. Potential challenges for promotion of the HPV vaccination program in Australia and worldwide are discussed.
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Womens Health Issues · Jan 2011
ReviewRelevance of gender-sensitive policies and general health indicators to compare the status of South Asian women's health.
despite goals for gender equity in South Asia, the relationship between gender-sensitive policies and the empowerment of women is complex and requires an analysis of how policies align with a broad set of social, cultural, political, and economic indicators that relate to women's health. ⋯ in many cases, the presence of gender-sensitive policies did not reflect the realization of gender equity over a wide range of indicators. Although the economic, political, social, and cultural climates of the five countries may differ, the integration of women's needs into the formulation, implementation, and monitoring of policies is a universal necessity to achieve positive outcomes.
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Womens Health Issues · Jan 2011
The burden of illness in the first year home: do male and female VA users differ in health conditions and healthcare utilization.
we sought to describe gender differences in medical and mental health conditions and health care utilization among veterans who used Veterans Health Administration (VA) services in the first year after combat in Iraq and Afghanistan. ⋯ female veterans had similar rates of physical conditions, but higher rates of some mental health disorders and additionally, used the VA for reproductive health needs. They also had slightly greater rates of health care service use. These findings highlight the complexity of female Veteran health care and support the development of enhanced comprehensive women's health services within the VA.
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Womens Health Issues · Jan 2011
Lessons for women's health from the Massachusetts reform: affordability, transitions, and choice.
Three years into Massachusetts' health insurance reform, we are beginning to see what that experience portends for women nationally in the wake of legislation similar to the Massachusetts model. Although the Massachusetts reform has been successful in terms of reducing the number of uninsured men and women, interviews with Massachusetts women reveal significant problems that remain to be addressed. ⋯ None of the women had insurance at the time; thus, health care reform represents a significant improvement in their access to care. However, as these snapshots indicate, major challenges remain in terms of affordability, continuity of coverage, and systemic complexities in choosing plans.