Frontiers in global women's health最新文献

{"title":"Gender disparity in health-related quality of life among people living with HIV/AIDS in Ethiopia: a systematic review and meta-analysis.","authors":"Derara Girma Tufa, Habteyes Hailu Tola, Hiwot Dejene Dissassa, Leta Adugna Geleta, Erean Shigign Malka, Addisu Waleligne Tadesse, Feyiso Bati Wariso, Getahun Fetensa","doi":"10.3389/fgwh.2024.1471316","DOIUrl":"10.3389/fgwh.2024.1471316","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Introduction: </strong>Health-related quality of life (HRQoL) is a key outcome indicator in antiretroviral therapy program. In Ethiopia, primary studies on gender disparity in HRQoL among people living with HIV/AIDS (PLHA) are conflicting, with no pooled estimation. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate gender disparity in HRQoL among PLHA in Ethiopia.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Studies were retrieved from PubMed, Web of Science, SCOPUS, Embase, MEDLINE, Science Direct, HINARI, and PsycINFO were systematically searched. In addition, Google Scholar, Google, journal homepages, bibliographies, and universities' research repositories in the country were searched by combining keywords and Medical Subject Headings (MeSH) terms with Boolean operators. Based on the primary study results, the average score of each domain was utilized as a cut-off point to classify HRQoL as poor or good. The Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) checklist was used to assess study quality. A random-effects model was used to report the pooled estimates. Summary estimates are presented in forest plots and tables. The variation between studies was assessed using the Higgins heterogeneity test (I²). Funnel plot, Begg's test, and Egger's test were used to assess publication bias. Data were extracted using Microsoft Excel and exported to STATA 17 (Corporation, College Station, TX, USA) for analysis. The search results were managed using the EndNote X7 software.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Fifteen studies with 4,867 PLHA were included. The pooled prevalence of poor HRQoL was 46.53% (95% CI: 41.96-51.10), 46.15% (95% CI: 37.05-55.24), and 36.21% (95% CI: 30.19-42.23) among PLHA, women, and men living with HIV, respectively. Moreover, a significant gender disparity in HRQoL was observed among Ethiopian women and men living with HIV. Women living with HIV were found to have 61% increased odds of poor HRQoL than men living with HIV in the country (OR = 1.61, 95% CI: 1.07, 2.15). No statistical evidence of a publication bias was observed.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Almost half of PLHA patients in Ethiopia had a poor HRQoL. Women living with HIV have higher odds of poor HRQoL than men living with HIV. This highlights the pressing need for gender-specific risk assessment approaches and treatment interventions aimed at optimizing HRQoL in HIV/AIDS settings.</p><p><strong>Systematic review registration: </strong>https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/, identifier CRD42023454810.</p>","PeriodicalId":73087,"journal":{"name":"Frontiers in global women's health","volume":"5 ","pages":"1471316"},"PeriodicalIF":2.3,"publicationDate":"2024-11-20","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11614810/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142782007","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Editorial: Influence of intimate partner violence and male partner involvement in maternity care in low-and-middle income countries.","authors":"Guy-Lucien Whembolua, Daudet Ilunga Tshiswaka, Adi Chereni","doi":"10.3389/fgwh.2024.1513159","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3389/fgwh.2024.1513159","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":73087,"journal":{"name":"Frontiers in global women's health","volume":"5 ","pages":"1513159"},"PeriodicalIF":2.3,"publicationDate":"2024-11-18","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11609153/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142775033","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Prenatal depressive symptoms in Latinas: a qualitative investigation.","authors":"Isabel F Almeida","doi":"10.3389/fgwh.2024.1458157","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3389/fgwh.2024.1458157","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Introduction: </strong>Exposure to prenatal depressive symptoms is associated with an increased risk of adverse pregnancy outcomes and child health complications. Research examining experiences of maternal depression among Latinas living in the United States, who have increased risk for experiencing prenatal depression symptoms, is lacking.</p><p><strong>Objectives: </strong>The purpose of this qualitative investigation is to examine the experience of prenatal depression symptoms among Latinas primarily of Mexican descent.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Fourteen pregnant Latinas shared their experiences of depressive symptoms during pregnancy in individual interviews and one focus group conducted in Spanish.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>The most described symptoms of depression were periods of crying for no reason; feelings of irritability, sadness, and loneliness; and a loss of interest in normal activities. The participants coped with their depressive symptoms through distraction. Additionally, participants shared their beliefs that experiencing prenatal depressive symptoms was normal due to hormonal changes and that social support was protective. Themes about the baby \"feeling\" the mother's emotions during pregnancy and that prenatal depression is misunderstood also emerged.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>These findings shed light on how Latina's experience maternal depressive symptoms and call for additional research on risk factors during the perinatal period among this growing subpopulation.</p>","PeriodicalId":73087,"journal":{"name":"Frontiers in global women's health","volume":"5 ","pages":"1458157"},"PeriodicalIF":2.3,"publicationDate":"2024-11-18","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11609216/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142775040","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Length of stay and determinants of early discharge and extended stay after cesarean delivery in a resource-limited setting: southern Ethiopia, 2023.","authors":"Gemeda Wakgari Kitil, Gebremaryam Temesgen Birgoda, Agmasie Damtew Walle, Dagne Deresa Dinagde, Gizu Tola Feyisa, Yosef Alemayehu Gebrehiwot, Bekem Dibaba Degefa","doi":"10.3389/fgwh.2024.1346720","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3389/fgwh.2024.1346720","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>For mothers and newborns to obtain the recommended postnatal care follow-up and package, the healthcare facility has to provide a minimum length of stay following delivery. Early discharge may result in a shortened recovery time, less access to resources and support, and a prolonged stay, resulting in a greater risk of postpartum depression and financial constraints. In Ethiopia, there has been no study conducted on the length of hospital stays following a cesarean delivery. Therefore, this study aimed to determine the average length of stay and identify factors influencing both early discharges and prolonged stays after cesarean delivery in southern Ethiopia.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>A facility-based cross-sectional study was conducted between November 23, 2022, and March 23, 2023. A systematic sampling method was used to select 367 participants, and data were collected using the Kobo Toolbox mobile application. The mean length of stay was calculated in hours, and descriptive statistics were used to summarize the data. Multinomial logistic regression was employed to analyze the determinants of length of stay, with significance set at a <i>p</i>-value of <0.05.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>The mean duration of the length of stay of mothers in health facilities after cesarean delivery is 65 h or approximately 2.71 days (SD ± 0.77). Determinants of shorter stay included women aged 20-24 years [AOR = 5.19; 95%CI 1.51-8.23], distance from hospital 30-60 min [AOR = 2.51; 95% CI 1.12-5.73], first antenatal booking [AOR = 0.16; 95%CI 0.05-0.25], monthly income <2,000 birr [AOR = 3.11; 95%CI 1.18-6.05], had health insurance [AOR = 0.35; 95% CI 0.26-0.37] and had counseled [AOR = 0.09; 95%CI 0.07-0.154]. Extended stays were associated with severe pre-eclampsia [AOR = 2.80; 95%CI 2.41-3.27], multiple births [AOR = 2.51; 95%CI 1.34-4.71], and postoperative complications [AOR = 3.52; 95%CI 1.35-5.01].</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>The average post-cesarean hospital stay is 2.71 days, with duration influenced by factors such as age, distance to the hospital, access to antenatal care, income, insurance, and the presence of complications. Targeted interventions, such as improving access to antenatal care, providing financial support, and proactively managing complications, can improve outcomes.</p>","PeriodicalId":73087,"journal":{"name":"Frontiers in global women's health","volume":"5 ","pages":"1346720"},"PeriodicalIF":2.3,"publicationDate":"2024-11-15","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11604609/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142775037","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Assessing the impact of contraceptive use on reproductive cancer risk among women of reproductive age-a systematic review.","authors":"Shayesteh Jahanfar, Julie Mortazavi, Amy Lapidow, Cassandra Cu, Jude Al Abosy, Kathyrn Morris, Juan Camilo Becerra-Mateus, Meredith Steinfeldt, Olivia Maurer, Jiang Bohang, Paola Andrenacci, Marwa Badawy, Moazzam Ali","doi":"10.3389/fgwh.2024.1487820","DOIUrl":"10.3389/fgwh.2024.1487820","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Contraceptives play a crucial role in women's reproductive health, their hormonal components may be linked to cancer risks, specifically breast, and gynecological cancers. Given the high usage rates of hormonal contraceptives, it is vital to systematically evaluate their potential impact on cancer outcomes, especially among women with a family history of gynecological cancers.</p><p><strong>Objectives: </strong>This study aims to evaluate the evidence on the association between modern contraceptive use and the risk of breast and reproductive cancers (ovarian, endometrial, and cervical cancer) among women of reproductive age, to inform healthcare providers, women, and program managers about cancer outcomes related to contraceptive use.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>A systematic review was conducted according to PRISMA guidelines. Searches were performed in databases such as CINAHL, OVID Medline, EMBASE, and more from inception to February 2022. Eligible studies included randomized controlled trials, cohort studies, and case-control studies that compared cancer outcomes between contraceptive users and non-users. Data extraction, quality assessment, and meta-analyses were conducted following predefined protocols. Subgroup and sensitivity analyses examined variations in contraceptive methods, doses, and duration.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>A total of 51 studies were included, comprising 2 RCTs and 49 observational studies. The review identified a significant reduction in ovarian and endometrial cancer incidence among contraceptive users. Hormonal contraceptive users had a 36% lower risk of ovarian cancer (RR 0.64, 95% CI 0.60-0.68), with specific reductions seen in combined oral contraceptive users (RR 0.62, 95% CI 0.57-0.68) and hormonal IUD users (RR 0.68, 95% CI 0.48-0.96). The rate ratio of cervical cancer was higher among non- users compared to hormonal contraceptive users when we pooled the results (1.28, 95% CI 1.21, 1.35). No significant association was found between contraceptive use and breast cancer risk among healthy women (RR 1.00, 95% CI 0.94-1.06). However, BRCA1/2 mutation carriers using oral contraceptives showed a heightened risk of breast cancer (HR 1.39, 95% CI 1.15-1.67).</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>This systematic review highlights the protective effects of modern contraceptives against ovarian and endometrial cancers while identifying an increased risk of cervical. No significant breast cancer risk was found for healthy women, but BRCA1/2 mutation carriers faced increased risks. These findings underscore the need for personalized contraceptive counselling that considers cancer risk factors. Further research is needed to explore contraceptive impacts across different genetic profiles and dosing regimens.</p><p><strong>Systematic review registration: </strong>https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/, Prospero (CRD42022332647).</p>","PeriodicalId":73087,"journal":{"name":"Frontiers in global women's health","volume":"5 ","pages":"1487820"},"PeriodicalIF":2.3,"publicationDate":"2024-11-13","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11599208/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142741627","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Sex discrepancies in cancer research: a systematic review of prospective and retrospective investigations in lung, melanoma, and colorectal cancers.","authors":"Maria Díaz Rosario, Camille A Vélez-Morell, Daniela V Martinez","doi":"10.3389/fgwh.2024.1445139","DOIUrl":"10.3389/fgwh.2024.1445139","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Introduction: </strong>According to the latest Cancer Statistics, colorectal, lung, and melanoma are three of the most common cancers that affect both males and females. While males have consistently had a higher incidence and mortality rate in all three types of cancers, females have been shown to have better outcomes. Sex discrepancies in cancer research can impact the efficacy and effectiveness of novel drugs and diagnostic tools. Study results may not accurately represent how the treatment or diagnostic tool performs in the underrepresented sex. To comprehensively assess sex representation in top non-sex-specific cancer research, this systematic review aims to identify if there is equal representation of males and females in colorectal, lung, and melanoma cancer research.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>We explored retrospective and prospective clinical studies published in Pubmed from 2014 to 2023 to identify possible sex discrepancies in colorectal, lung, and melanoma cancer. MeSH terms were employed to retrieve relevant studies for each cancer type (colorectal, lung, melanoma). MeSH terms used include \"lung cancer\", \"melanoma\", and \"colorectal cancer\", in combination with \"trials\", \"retrospective\", and \"prospective\". Extracted data included study characteristics (author, year of publication), study design (prospective or retrospective), sample size, and the number of male and female participants.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>The complete study population consisted of 515,003 patients, of which 275,231 (53%) were males and 237,488 (46%) were females. Specifically, retrospective studies included a total of 302,974 patients with 163,473 (54%) of them identifying as male and 139,072 (46%) patients identifying as female. While prospective studies included a total of 212,029 patients with 111,758 (53%) of these being male and 98,416 (46%) being female. Overall, male representation in the studies included in this systematic review was higher than female representation.</p><p><strong>Discussion: </strong>Disparities in representation were identified in colorectal cancer, lung cancer, and melanoma cancer studies underscoring the need for equitable inclusion of both sexes in cancer research to advance precision medicine and improve patient outcomes. Further exploration of the impact of sex, race, and socioeconomic status on study representation is warranted.</p>","PeriodicalId":73087,"journal":{"name":"Frontiers in global women's health","volume":"5 ","pages":"1445139"},"PeriodicalIF":2.3,"publicationDate":"2024-11-11","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11586390/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142717871","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"s-CAPE trauma recovery program: the need for a holistic, trauma- and violence-informed domestic violence framework.","authors":"Karen Williams, Merrylord Harb, Lata Satyen, Mia Davies","doi":"10.3389/fgwh.2024.1404599","DOIUrl":"10.3389/fgwh.2024.1404599","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Introduction: </strong>Domestic violence is a worldwide issue of significant concern due to its high global prevalence rates, societal costs, and the pervasive individual-level effects on physical, mental, economic, and social health and functioning. There is therefore an urgent need to deliver effective and consistent recovery services in order to mitigate the harmful societal and individual-level impacts of experiencing domestic violence and to promote victim-survivor recovery and wellbeing. This paper reviews the literature around practice models and frameworks for recovery after domestic violence and proposes the need for a holistic, trauma- and violence-informed approach to facilitate recovery and healing.</p><p><strong>Findings: </strong>Research indicates that formal supports improve recovery and wellbeing outcomes for victim-survivors, despite some literature gaps. Trauma-and-violence-informed approaches to care and holistic support are proposed as a means of improving recovery services and minimising harm to victim-survivors while maximising wellbeing. However, the literature reveals existing service gaps, including a lack of trauma-informed services and service providers engaging in practices that are retraumatising for victim-survivors.</p><p><strong>Discussion: </strong>The review findings indicate the lack of a clear and consistent evidence-based recovery framework to provide holistic, trauma-and-violence-informed care that is tailored to the needs of victim-survivors of domestic violence.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>We present the development of the s-CAPE trauma and recovery program, an integrated, holistic, trauma-and-violence-informed framework for recovery after domestic violence. s-CAPE was developed in Australia's first holistic, women's-only trauma treatment facility and is evidence-based and designed to address current service gaps, promoting positive recovery outcomes for victim-survivors.</p>","PeriodicalId":73087,"journal":{"name":"Frontiers in global women's health","volume":"5 ","pages":"1404599"},"PeriodicalIF":2.3,"publicationDate":"2024-11-07","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11578950/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142689879","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Insights into perceptions, responses, and challenges experienced by women and girls' survivors of sexual violence and their communities in rural Guinea, 2020.","authors":"Delphin Kolié, Abdoulaye Sow, Graziella Ghesquiere, Stefaan Van Bastelaere, Maurice Sandouno, Thierno Souleymane Diallo, Sabine Soropogui, Yaya Barry, Thierno Oumar Fofana, Bienvenu Salim Camara, Sidikiba Sidibé, Thérèse Delvaux, Alexandre Delamou","doi":"10.3389/fgwh.2024.1365601","DOIUrl":"10.3389/fgwh.2024.1365601","url":null,"abstract":"&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Introduction: &lt;/strong&gt;Gender-based violence (GBV), particularly sexual violence, is a significant global public health issue with severe physical, psychological, and social consequences for survivors and their communities, especially among women and girls. In Guinea, limited data exist on the frequency and management of sexual violence in rural areas. This study aimed to analyze the perceptions, responses, and challenges faced by women and girls' survivors of sexual violence and their communities in two rural districts of Guinea in 2020.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Methods: &lt;/strong&gt;A parallel mixed-methods approach was employed, integrating quantitative and qualitative data. For the quantitative analysis, all reported cases of GBV from public health facilities and directorates of girls and women' promotion were collected from January 1 to December 31, 2020 in the health districts of Télimélé and Mamou. The qualitative component involved key informant interviews with four main participant groups: survivors of GBV and their support networks, healthcare providers, stakeholders and partners involved in GBV prevention and response, and community leaders. Data were analyzed to identify patterns in case reporting, perceptions of violence, responses by survivors and communities, and challenges to effective management.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Results: &lt;/strong&gt;The study revealed a high frequency of reported sexual violence among women, with substantial disparities between the two districts. In Mamou, sexual violence among women constituted 61% of all reported GBV cases, whereas in Télimélé, it accounted for only 8%. Additionally, data on sexual violence were inconsistent, with discrepancies in terminology and significant underreporting of cases. Survivors and their families predominantly sought conciliation with perpetrators' families, motivated by fear of retaliation, social stigmatization, and exclusion. This response was more prevalent in communities with limited law enforcement, where perpetrators were often released after short periods of detention. Participants highlighted several barriers to accessing health services and providing comprehensive care to survivors. These barriers included socio-economic constraints, a lack of skilled healthcare providers, frequent stock-outs of essential medical supplies, and the absence of psycho-social and legal support at the community level.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Conclusion: &lt;/strong&gt;The findings highlight the urgent need to enhance the capacity of decentralized health and social services to deliver integrated, patient-centered care for sexual violence. There is also a pressing need for stronger enforcement of laws related to sexual violence, enhanced training for healthcare providers, and the harmonization of GBV data reporting tools. Tackling socio-cultural barriers through community education, while enhancing access to legal and psychological support are crucial for reducing the frequency of sexual violence and ensuring timely, ","PeriodicalId":73087,"journal":{"name":"Frontiers in global women's health","volume":"5 ","pages":"1365601"},"PeriodicalIF":2.3,"publicationDate":"2024-11-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11564121/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142649626","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"An analysis of virtual triage utilization by pregnant women prior to and during the COVID-19 pandemic.","authors":"Jakub Jaszczak, George A Gellert, Gabriel L Gellert, Aleksandra Suwińska","doi":"10.3389/fgwh.2024.1423993","DOIUrl":"10.3389/fgwh.2024.1423993","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objective: </strong>This analysis describes the use patterns of web-based virtual triage (VT) by pregnant patients before and during the first two years of the COVID-19 pandemic, and how the pandemic influenced frequency of VT use, nature of symptoms reported, and the associated implications for maternal healthcare delivery.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>An online survey of 36,910 patients who reported pregnancy was completed between January 1, 2019 and June 30, 2022. The data were segmented into six month periods to allow comparative analyses of usage frequency and changes in initial complaints over the study period, with particular emphasis on the early months of the COVID-19 pandemic. Descriptive statistics and trend analyses were used to identify significant shifts in symptom reporting and user demographics.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>A marked increase in the utilization of VT by pregnant women during the pandemic occurred. The percentage of pregnant users grew from 0.32% in the first half of 2019 to 0.85% in late 2021, with the greatest rise (213%) in the first six months of 2020. The most common symptoms reported were abdominal pain, headache, nausea, back pain, fatigue and cough. Pre-pandemic, VT use focused on prospective mothers learning about the potential causes of typical symptoms occurring during pregnancy, but during the pandemic there was a substantial increase in reporting symptoms associated with acute respiratory infections such as cough, nasal congestion, and dyspnea.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>The COVID-19 pandemic significantly influenced the use of VT by pregnant women, with a shift towards addressing concerns related to respiratory symptoms and potential COVID-19 exposure. These findings underline the significant role of digital health tools in maintaining access to health information during times of crisis and highlight the evolving needs of pregnant patients in such settings.</p>","PeriodicalId":73087,"journal":{"name":"Frontiers in global women's health","volume":"5 ","pages":"1423993"},"PeriodicalIF":2.3,"publicationDate":"2024-10-31","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11560870/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142633711","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Safe limits on work hours for the nursing profession: a rapid evidence review.","authors":"Heather Katherine Scott-Marshall","doi":"10.3389/fgwh.2024.1455422","DOIUrl":"10.3389/fgwh.2024.1455422","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Persistent staffing shortages in health care driven by years of inadequate funding and deficiencies in human resources planning, which overlooked the impacts of population aging, have converged into a crisis in health care settings. An essential consequence of the widespread and growing staffing shortfalls in health care has been increased pressure on nurses to work longer hours. The present rapid review has two major objectives: (1) to systematically review and synthesize evidence considering the health and human consequences of excessive work hours, work-related fatigue and associated occupational health and safety hazards; and, (2) to identify policies and practices that demonstrate efficacy in managing or mitigating the adverse effects of occupational fatigue. Findings show that shifts lasting longer than 12 h elevate the risk of occupational fatigue, leading to several fatigue-based hazards. Despite governmental restrictions on long work hours and occupational fatigue in safety-critical industries such as transport, aviation, and nuclear sectors, health care remains largely unregulated in this regard. Ensuring safe and high-quality care over the long term requires implementing adequate regulatory supports for work hour limits for nurses. These measures not only improve workplace satisfaction but also enhance patient outcomes, ultimately fostering a healthier and more resilient health care system.</p>","PeriodicalId":73087,"journal":{"name":"Frontiers in global women's health","volume":"5 ","pages":"1455422"},"PeriodicalIF":2.3,"publicationDate":"2024-10-31","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11560854/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142633687","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}