Women & Health

Abrão, Mauricio S.; Neto, Joao Siufi

doi: 10.1080/03630242.2023.2190447pmid: 36974344

Türker, Duygu; Doğan, Hanife; Coban, Ozge; Goksuluk, Merve Basol; Özengin, Nuriye; Ün Yıldırım, Necmiye

doi: 10.1080/03630242.2023.2171175pmid: 36775296

Menstrual health and genital hygiene behavior in patients with cerebral palsy (CP) is underrecognized, undertreated, and negatively affects quality of life. The aim of this case-control study is to compare menstrual health and genital hygiene behaviors in adolescent girls and young women with CP to a healthy women control group. Participants were invited to study via social media tools between August 2021 and February 2022. The study included 74 adolescent girls and young women with CP and 89 healthy women. Menstrual status with semi-structured questions, menstrual symptoms with “Menstrual Symptom Questionnaire (MSQ),” genital hygiene behavior with “Genital Hygiene Behavior Scale (GHBS)” were evaluated. The control group scored significantly higher on the MSQ sub-dimensions of “negative effects somatic complaints” (r = 0.396; p < .001), “menstrual pain” (r = 0.287; p < .001), “coping methods” (r = 0.291; p < .001), and total score (r = 0.395; p < .001), as well as the GHBS sub-dimensions of “awareness of abnormal findings” (r = 0.270; p = .001) and “menstrual hygiene” (r = 0.495; p < .001) and total score (r = 0.393; p < .001). People with CP had worse genital hygiene behavior, had less menstrual symptoms, and behaved differently about the menstruation symptoms. This study focused on adolescent girls and young women with CP who cannot easily express their own experiences and concerns, emphasized that their needs should be identified by determining their menstrual health and genital hygiene behaviors. Clinical Registration Name, Registration Number, Registration Date: Menstrual Health and Genital Hygiene Status in Cerebral Palsy and NCT04985045, August 2,2021.

Pirincci, Cansu Sahbaz; Dalyan, Meltem; Delialioglu, Sibel Unsal; Celenay, Seyda Toprak

doi: 10.1080/03630242.2023.2178836pmid: 36814100

This study aimed to investigate the effects of scapulothoracic stabilization exercises (SSE) on scapular function, posture, and balance in women with lymphedema after mastectomy. The patients were randomly divided into two groups as complex decongestive physiotherapy (CDP) (n: 12; age: 55.25 ± 8.17 years) and CDP+SSE (n: 13; age: 54.38 ± 9.08 years). While only CDP was applied in the CDP group, CDP and SSE were applied in the CDP+SSE group. Scapulothoracic muscle strength with dynamometer, scapular endurance with Scapular Isometric Compression Test, scapular dyskinesia with Lateral Scapular Slide Test, thoracic posture with inclinometer, general posture with New York Posture Scale, and balance with Mini-BESTest were evaluated before the 3-week treatment phase (TP), after the TP, and after the fifth week of the maintenance phase (MP). Improvements in the lower trapezius muscle strength were found in both groups after the TP (p < .05). In addition, the middle trapezius muscle strength and general posture improved more in the CDP+SSE group than in the CDP group after the TP (p < .05). In the MP, scapulothoracic muscle strength, scapular endurance, and general posture improved more in CDP+SSE group compared to the CDP group (p < .05). In upper extremity lymphedema patients, incorporating additional SSE in CDP may contribute to the improvement of posture and scapular functions.

Kim, Yoon-Sook; Suh, Jeffrey D; Kim, Jin Kook; Cho, Jae Hoon

doi: 10.1080/03630242.2023.2183345pmid: 36849421

Body size perception among young women in Asian and Western countries is believed to be quite different, however, there are no confirming studies. We analyzed the data from young women aged between 20 and 40 who participated in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (2001–2018) of the United States (US) and Korea. US young women had higher rates of being overweight and obesity than Korean young women, and there was no significant change over 20 years. In both countries, the percentage of properly estimating one’s own weight exceeded 70 percent and remained relatively steady. The percentage of overestimating one’s own weight was only about 10 percent in Korea in 2001, but increased to 20 percent. In the case of the US, the percentage was about 15 percent in 2001–2002, but has since continued to decline. The percentage of underestimating one’s own body weight was about 18 percent in Korea in 2001, but decreased to about 8 percent. In the case of the US, the percentage was very low at about 10 percent in 2001–2002, but gradually increased to about 18 percent in 2017–2018. In conclusion, young women in the US tend to underestimate their body size, and those in Korea tend to overestimate it.

Beyrek, Beyza; Naz, İlknur; Emuk, Yusuf; Köprülüoğlu, Melissa; Felekoğlu, Elvan; Uzun, Emre; Nas, Kemal

doi: 10.1080/03630242.2023.2185748pmid: 36872852

Recent studies report that dual-task (DT) performance might be affected in patients with fibromyalgia syndrome (FMS). This cross-sectional study aims to compare the DT performance in female patients with FMS and healthy controls, and to investigate the DT-related factors in these patients. This study was conducted at a university hospital between November 2021 and April 2022. Forty females aged 30–65, diagnosed with FMS, and 40 aged-matched pain-free healthy controls were included. All participants performed the Timed Up and Go Test under a single task (ST) and a cognitive DT condition, and the DT cost was calculated. The following evaluations were applied; The six-minute walk test, Baecke Habitual Physical Activity Questionnaire, Multidimensional Fatigue Inventory-20, Toronto Alexithymia Scale, Trail Making Test, and the Revised Fibromyalgia Impact Questionnaire. As a result of the study, the patient group showed lower performance than controls in both, ST and DT conditions (p < .05). Disease duration, pain and fatigue severity, functional capacity, leisure time and physical activity total scores, alexithymia scores, health status, and cognitive variables were correlated with DT performance in the patient group (p < .05). According to our results, we consider that the rehabilitation approach for females with FMS should take into account DT and related characteristics.

Zorkina, Yana; Abramova, Olga; Ushakova, Valeria; Andreyuk, Denis; Andriushchenko, Nika; Pavlov, Konstantin; Savilov, Victor; Soloveva, Kristina; Kurmishev, Marat; Syunyakov, Timur; Karpenko, Olga; Andryushchenko, Alisa; Gurina, Olga; Kostyuk, Georgiy; Morozova, Anna

Artieta-Pinedo, Isabel; Paz-Pascual, Carmen; Espinosa, Maite; García-Alvarez, Arturo; Group, the ema-Q; Bully, Paola

doi: 10.1080/03630242.2023.2188097pmid: 36941108

How individuals perceive and cope with stressful situations may determine their level of anxiety or depression. The identification of coping strategies (CS) in pregnancy could help prevent depression and anxiety (D&A), and their consequent effects on the health of the mother and the baby. A cross-sectional descriptive correlational study was conducted to identify the CS most commonly used by pregnant women in a Spanish population and to evaluate the association of these CS with D&A. A consecutive sample of 282 pregnant women over 18 years of age were recruited when attended midwife consultations and through snowball sampling between December 2019 and January 2021 in the Basque public health system. CS were measured using the RevisedPrenatal Coping Inventory (NuPCI) questionnaire, assigning the score to an avoidant, preparatory or spiritual scale. Cutoff points were established to categorize anxiety and depressive symptomatology, using the STAI-S and EPDS scales. Multivariate logistic regression models were constructed to analyze the association between CS and D&A. The results show that the higher the score on the avoidance subscale, the higher the likelihood of having an anxiety disorder (OR: 8.88  (95 percent Confidence Interval [CI] 4.26–20.1), and depressive symptoms (OR: 8.29 (95 percent CI 4.24–17.4). Multiparous women are more likely to have anxiety (OR: 3.41  (95 percent CI 1.58–7.5) or depressive symptomatology (OR: 4.1 (95 percent CI 2.04–8.53) during pregnancy. These results highlight the need to consider the evaluation of CS used during pregnancy to tailor the care provided, but further studies on the implementation and effectiveness of interventions are needed.

Tong, Chenxi; Meng, Yanting; Li, Ting; Luo, Yang

doi: 10.1080/03630242.2023.2188100pmid: 36915263

Depressive symptoms in postmenopausal women are a significant concern, but studies evaluated their relationship with menopausal symptoms and physical activity are limited. This cross-sectional study used the scale of the 9-item Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9) and the modified Kupperman Index (KMI) to investigate the relationship between depressive symptoms, menopausal symptoms, and physical activity in postmenopausal women in Hunan Province, using cluster random sampling, and face-to-face interviews with women aged 50–64 years. The moderate (aOR = 2.242, 95 percent CI [1.646–3.052], P < .001) and severe menopausal symptoms (aOR = 3.654, 95 percent CI [1.754–7.611], P = .001), and low-level physical activity (aOR = 1.380, 95 percentCI [1.023–1.826], P = .035) may increase the risk of depressive symptoms. High levels of physical activity were associated with a decreased likelihood of depressive symptoms, but only when participants had no complaints of menopausal symptoms (aOR = 0.375, 95 percent CI [0.161–0.877], P = .024). This study provides a new result for the mental health of postmenopausal women and provides a reference for further related research.