Frontiers in global women's health最新文献

{"title":"A policy in stagnation: addressing inequalities in the distribution of emergency obstetric and neonatal care in Ghana.","authors":"Ephraim Senkyire, Gloria Senkyire, Rullmann Twi Owusu, Ernestina Asiedua","doi":"10.3389/fgwh.2025.1614200","DOIUrl":"10.3389/fgwh.2025.1614200","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Maternal health has been a focal point of global attention since the 1980s, with initiatives like Safe Motherhood, Millennium Development and Sustainable Development Goals aiming to improve the well-being of women and infants worldwide. Despite these efforts, high maternal and neonatal mortality rates persist, particularly in middle-income countries, including Ghana, highlighting the need for urgent action. From 2000 to 2020, Ghana successfully halved its maternal mortality ratio from 499 to 263 deaths per 100,000 live births through various interventions and strategies, which is still higher than the global average. Emergency obstetric and neonatal care (EmONC) plays a vital role in preventing maternal and neonatal deaths, yet disparities in its distribution and delivery exist, particularly in Ghana. An evaluation of EmONC facilities in Ghana highlighted the challenges of infrastructure, human resources, logistics, and equipment in meeting the World Health Organisation standards for EmONC within national, regional, rural, and urban health facilities. This critical analysis paper aims to highlight these challenges and propose comprehensive solutions for improved delivery of EmONC services. Addressing these challenges requires comprehensive efforts to improve infrastructure, human resources, and supply chain logistic support. A two-pronged approach is recommended. One recommendation focuses on upgrading existing facilities and recruiting and retaining healthcare professionals in rural and underserved areas. The second recommendation calls for increasing the capability of delivery of EmONC by improving training efficiency and focusing on facilities missing only one or two of the seven key services required for basic emergency obstetric and newborn care.</p>","PeriodicalId":73087,"journal":{"name":"Frontiers in global women's health","volume":"6 ","pages":"1614200"},"PeriodicalIF":2.4,"publicationDate":"2025-07-18","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12313622/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144777065","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":"The importance of promoting positive childbirth experiences for women: a perspective paper.","authors":"Sigfridur Inga Karlsdottir, Nicky Leap","doi":"10.3389/fgwh.2025.1599249","DOIUrl":"10.3389/fgwh.2025.1599249","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Childbirth can be a profound and transformative experience, one that embodies complex emotional challenges. Childbirth experiences can have profound and lasting consequences, both positive and negative, shaping a woman's physical, emotional, and psychological well-being. A positive childbirth experience often fosters feelings of empowerment and birth may carry a sense of accomplishment and strength into motherhood. This can enhance bonding with the baby, reduce the likelihood of postpartum depression, and contribute to an overall positive transition into parenting. Supportive environments, effective pain management, and respectful care from healthcare providers play critical roles in creating such experiences. In contrast, a negative childbirth experience can have significant adverse effects. Negative childbirth experiences caused by, for example, a lack of control, disrespectful treatment, or traumatic events during childbirth may lead to feelings of failure, fear, or even post-traumatic stress disorder. These can undermine maternal self-esteem, strain relationships, and hinder the mother-baby bond. Addressing both women's positive and negative childbirth experiences requires providing compassionate, individualised care, fostering open communication, and ensuring that all women feel heard, valued, and supported throughout their childbirth journey. When planning care for women and their families through the childbirth process, it is crucial for health care providers to understand women's perspectives and know how to maximise the likelihood of a positive childbirth experience. This paper explores the significant impact of a positive childbirth experience on a woman's life. It offers perspectives on the importance of recognising and measuring women's childbirth experiences in the ongoing development of maternity service provision.</p>","PeriodicalId":73087,"journal":{"name":"Frontiers in global women's health","volume":"6 ","pages":"1599249"},"PeriodicalIF":2.4,"publicationDate":"2025-07-17","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12310697/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144762556","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":"Low birth weight and associated factors in rural population of Rajasthan, India.","authors":"Ramesh Kumar Sangwan, Ramesh Kumar Huda, Mukti Khetan, Parul Gazta, Pankaj Kumar, Bontha V Babu","doi":"10.3389/fgwh.2025.1587991","DOIUrl":"10.3389/fgwh.2025.1587991","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Low Birth Weight (LBW) significantly affects childhood survival, with the socio-demographic characteristics (maternal age, child's gender, education, maternal diseases and others) contributing to it. The study aims to identify social determinants contributing to LBW, which can further be useful in developing local interventions to rectify the problem in an Indian rural context.</p><p><strong>Methodology: </strong>The cross-sectional study was conducted in the Jalore district of Rajasthan, India. A total of 92 delivery cases, including LBW (<i>n</i> = 46) and cases with normal birth weight (<i>n</i> = 46), became part of the research. A pre-tested questionnaire collected information from study participant groups enumerating deliveries from selected Primary Health Centres (PHCs) related to LBW and non-LBW deliveries in a 1:1 ratio.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>The study recorded a total of 1,251 deliveries, of which 63 resulted in the LBW (<2,500 grams), nine were premature, 12 were twin births, and 361 were normal weight deliveries (≥2,500 grams). LBW was prevalent in underprivileged communities within nuclear families, having an average birth weight of 2.12 kilograms. Reduced meal frequency (1-2 times a day) for women is also linked to higher LBW risk.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Many factors, like complications during pregnancy, awareness of pregnancy planning, and nutritional intake, are associated with the likelihood of LBW occurrences. Many maternal risk factors for LBW are modifiable through early detection by imparting education and awareness to pregnant women in their first trimester. The findings emphasize the significance of targeted interventions and awareness programs to address specific risk factors and improve birth outcomes in rural Indian communities.</p>","PeriodicalId":73087,"journal":{"name":"Frontiers in global women's health","volume":"6 ","pages":"1587991"},"PeriodicalIF":2.4,"publicationDate":"2025-07-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12307435/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144755265","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":"Global, regional, and national burden of diabetes in women of childbearing age, 1990-2021: a systematic analysis from the global burden of disease study 2021.","authors":"Zhifeng Guo, Wangquan Ji, Mengqing Yan, Xianan Zou, Teng Chen, Fanghui Bai, Yu Wu, Zhe Guo, Linlin Song","doi":"10.3389/fgwh.2025.1528661","DOIUrl":"10.3389/fgwh.2025.1528661","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Introduction: </strong>Diabetes may have long-term adverse health effects on both women of childbearing age (WCBA) and their future generations. The objective of this study is to provide up-to-date epidemiologic information on the global burden of diabetes in WCBA to inform the development of targeted public health policies.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>The data on the burden of diabetes among WCBA from 1990 to 2021 at the global, regional, and national levels were extracted from the Global Burden of Disease 2021 database. The estimated annual percentage change (EAPC) and Bayesian age-period-cohort models were used to assess and predict time burden trends. The slope index and concentration index were used to assess health inequalities associated with the sociodemographic index (SDI).</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>In 2021, approximately 79.04 million WCBA aged 15-49 years were living with diabetes, resulting in approximately 7.82 million disability-adjusted life years (DALYs). From 1990 to 2021, the age-standardized prevalence rate (ASPR) increased from 1960.8 to 3942.2 per 100,000 WCBA, with an EAPC of 2.25%. The ASPR and age-standardized DALY rate were highest in the low-middle SDI region, at 4,107.0 and 472.3 per 100,000, respectively. DALYs and deaths are concentrated in low SDI countries. By 2040, the global burden of diabetes in WCBA will increase further.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>The global burden of diabetes among WCBA has increased over the past three decades. This burden is concentrated in low- and middle-income countries. Diabetes care policies for WCBA urgently need to be improved and popularized.</p>","PeriodicalId":73087,"journal":{"name":"Frontiers in global women's health","volume":"6 ","pages":"1528661"},"PeriodicalIF":2.4,"publicationDate":"2025-07-15","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12303903/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144746352","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":"Illuminating birth: exploring the impact of birthing environment lighting on labor.","authors":"Shenhav Albo, Orli Dahan, Omer Horovitz, David Peleg, Inbar Ben-Shachar, Yael Sciaky-Tamir","doi":"10.3389/fgwh.2025.1599885","DOIUrl":"10.3389/fgwh.2025.1599885","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Introduction: </strong>Numerous factors influence the birth experience and outcomes, both positively and negatively. We aimed to investigate the relationship between the birth room environment and light condition during birth and their effects on birth method, perineal health, and birth experience.</p><p><strong>Method: </strong>A longitudinal cohort study was conducted in a medical center in Northern Israel. Participants completed self-report questionnaires during the third trimester of their pregnancy and again 72 h post-birth (T1 and T2, <i>n</i> = 126). Initially sociodemographic data and reproductive history were collected, as well as preparation and plans for birth. Data about birth outcomes and birth complications were gathered from electronic records. Perception of the birth environment and the state of consciousness during birth (T2) was assessed using a valid questionnaire that includes 36 statements indicating the state of flow.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Our study demonstrated a significant positive correlation between birth type and birth room light conditions. Vaginal births predominantly occured under dim light (86.36% vs. 68.3%). Moreover, a negative correlation was observed between perineal tears and dim light levels (<i>p</i> = 0.0033). Regarding maternal mental state during birth, dimmer lighting correlated with heightened experiences of Unambiguous feedback flow state (<i>p</i> = 0.003).</p><p><strong>Discussion: </strong>Dim light was correlated with higher rates of vaginal birth, fewer perineal tears, and enhanced maternal immersion during birth. Although promising, these associations are correlational and require further exploration. Our findings suggest that the birth room is not merely a physical setting but a dynamic environment where sensory cues and psychological states interact.</p>","PeriodicalId":73087,"journal":{"name":"Frontiers in global women's health","volume":"6 ","pages":"1599885"},"PeriodicalIF":2.4,"publicationDate":"2025-07-15","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12303942/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144746353","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":"Multifactorial drivers of engagement in sex work among Ethiopian women: a multinomial logistic regression approach.","authors":"Dawit Sekata Duressa, Lemessa Negeri Debel, Saro Abdella Abrahim","doi":"10.3389/fgwh.2025.1512560","DOIUrl":"10.3389/fgwh.2025.1512560","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Understanding the multifactorial drivers of female sex workers' (FSWs) engagement in Ethiopia is essential for designing effective public health interventions. While economic drivers are often emphasized, the roles of family, social, and geographic contexts remain underexplored.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>We analyzed data from a cross-sectional bio-behavioral survey of 6,085 FSWs across 16 Ethiopian urban centers conducted from December 2019 to April 2020. Multinomial logistic regression was used to assess associations between primary motivations for engaging in sex work-categorized as economic, family-related, combined economic-family, or social/behavioral-and socio-demographic, behavioral, and health-related factors.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Economic reasons were most common (41.7%), followed by family-related (22.7%), combined economic-family (21.0%), and social/behavioral (14.6%) motivations. Geographic variation was evident: FSWs in Addis Ababa, the capital in central Ethiopia, had lower odds of reporting family-related reasons (AOR = 0.52) than those in Adama, another central commercial city. FSWs in Dessie-Kombolcha, in northeastern Ethiopia, were more likely to report social or behavioral motivations (AOR = 2.02). Age, education, marital status, income, and healthcare access were also significant predictors. Women aged 35-59 were less likely to cite family (AOR = 0.50) or social motivations (AOR = 0.55), while those with secondary education were more likely to report family-related reasons (AOR = 1.54). Limited healthcare access and early initiation into sex work were associated with non-economic drivers.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>FSWs' engagement is influenced by intersecting economic, familial, and geographic factors. Tailored interventions should consider age, location, and service accessibility. The cross-sectional design limits causal interpretation.</p>","PeriodicalId":73087,"journal":{"name":"Frontiers in global women's health","volume":"6 ","pages":"1512560"},"PeriodicalIF":2.4,"publicationDate":"2025-07-14","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12301326/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144735862","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":"The HOME (home monitoring of high-risk pregnancies) study: a study protocol for an observational study of a telemedicine-assisted follow-up at home vs. hospitalization.","authors":"Åsa Henning Waldum, Aase Serine Devold Pay, Gunvor Aasbø, Vinod Kumar Mishra, Meryam Sugulle, Anne Cathrine Staff","doi":"10.3389/fgwh.2025.1599153","DOIUrl":"10.3389/fgwh.2025.1599153","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Pregnancies at high risk for adverse health outcomes for mother and offspring often require long-term antenatal hospitalization and/or frequent outpatient visits. We have developed a telemonitoring home care service for high-risk pregnancies that has been integrated into the Electronic Patient Journal System of our department. We will compare clinical safety, patient-reported outcome measures, and use of healthcare resources compared to standard practice for hospital admissions and/or outpatient visits.</p><p><strong>Method: </strong>The home monitoring of high-risk pregnancies study is an ongoing observational study. Eligible women with a pregnancy requiring intensified obstetric follow-up (e.g., preterm premature rupture of membranes, hypertensive disorders of pregnancy, or a previous adverse obstetric outcome) are offered study inclusion to either standard care at the hospital or the home telemonitoring group, depending on available home monitoring equipment. Pregnant women included for home monitoring will be telemonitored according to relevant clinical practice for inpatients, including the use of cardiotocography, blood pressure monitoring, C-reactive protein, and temperature measurement, and they will provide self-registration of relevant clinical symptoms. A telecare patient communication system will prompt rapid contact with the hospital in the case of unfavorable registered clinical parameters or subjective symptoms. The home telemonitored women will attend hospital visits for fetal ultrasound assessment at individually assigned intervals. Patients undergoing in-hospital care will serve as the control group in this study and receive standard care. The primary outcome is a composite of severe maternal and perinatal adverse outcomes (sepsis, eclampsia, cerebral hemorrhage, acute respiratory distress syndrome, liver rupture, pulmonary embolism, amniotic fluid embolism, hemolysis, elevated liver enzymes, low platelets, HELLP without hemolysis, and disseminated intravascular coagulation), including fetal or neonatal mortality, maternal mortality, and signs of severe organ damage. Secondary outcomes include other adverse maternal and fetal/neonatal health outcomes, patient-reported outcomes, and economic cost analyses.</p><p><strong>Discussion: </strong>The implementation of a home care service for women with high-risk pregnancies requiring intensified surveillance is expected to be equally safe and more comfortable and convenient for the women, with lower economic costs.</p><p><strong>Clinical trial registration: </strong>Clinicaltrial.gov, NCT05763069.</p>","PeriodicalId":73087,"journal":{"name":"Frontiers in global women's health","volume":"6 ","pages":"1599153"},"PeriodicalIF":2.4,"publicationDate":"2025-07-14","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12301385/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144735863","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":"Vitamin K and women's health: a review.","authors":"Sharifa AlBlooshi","doi":"10.3389/fgwh.2025.1590414","DOIUrl":"10.3389/fgwh.2025.1590414","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Vitamin K is a fat-soluble vitamin essential in various physiological functions such as blood coagulation, bone metabolism, cardiovascular health, glucose regulation, immune function, neuroprotection, and vascular health. In this narrative review, studies from databases including PubMed, Google Scholar, Scopus, and the institutional database of Zayed University were selected. The role of vitamin K in women's health, with a focus on osteoporosis, postmenopausal health, cardiovascular health, diabetes, cancer, kidney health, brain health, vascular health, and pregnancy were explored. The role of vitamin K in activating vitamin K-dependent proteins is essential for many of its functions. Vitamin K-dependent proteins such as osteocalcin and matrix gla protein are crucial to many physiological processes such as bone mineralization, vascular calcification, and cardiovascular health. It also modulates glucose metabolism by enhancing insulin sensitivity, reducing oxidative stress, and influencing β-cell function. Vitamin K exhibits anti-cancer properties in cancer research, particularly in breast, cervical, and ovarian cancer models. It also plays a role in brain health including cognitive function, neuroinflammation reduction, and neurodegenerative disease prevention. Similarly in kidney diseases, vitamin K has been linked to chronic kidney disease progression and vascular calcification. Vitamin K's role in pregnancy includes its impact on neonatal coagulation and neurodevelopmental outcomes. Despite the promising role of vitamin K, findings are mixed on its role in bone mineral density and fracture prevention, cardiovascular protection, protection against vascular calcification, diabetes prevention, cancer risk, kidney dysfunction, and its role in maternal and child health. These highlight the need for further research, particularly longitudinal and randomized controlled trials, to determine optimal intake, efficacy of supplementation, and long-term health impacts of vitamin K in women.</p>","PeriodicalId":73087,"journal":{"name":"Frontiers in global women's health","volume":"6 ","pages":"1590414"},"PeriodicalIF":2.4,"publicationDate":"2025-07-11","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12289585/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144735872","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":"Burden of hypertensive heart disease among women of childbearing age in global, regional, and national regions from 1990 to 2021 and projection until 2040.","authors":"Zhenglong Wang, Hao Li, Hongwei Wei, Baotang Liu, Lei Li, Zijun Li, Jindong Feng, Yunjie Hu, Xiaobo Liu","doi":"10.3389/fgwh.2025.1600340","DOIUrl":"10.3389/fgwh.2025.1600340","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>The present research focuses on elucidating the global burden of hypertensive heart disease (HHD) among women of childbearing age (WCBA). By utilizing all available data and adopting the methodology employed in the Global Burden of Disease (GBD) study, this study aims to comprehensively analyze the epidemiological characteristics of this highly prevalent disorder.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>In this research, we retrieved three key indicators-prevalence, incidence, and DALYs-related to HHD in WCBA from the GBD database for the period 1990 to 2021. Our study provides point estimates along with their corresponding 95% uncertainty intervals (UIs). The evolving trends were assessed using the EAPC and percentage change.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>In 2021, the global prevalence of HHD among WCBA was 544,544 cases, resulting in 25,669 deaths. Compared to 1990, the prevalence increased by 110%, and mortality rose by 27%. From 1990 to 2021, the prevalence rate showed an upward trend (EAPC: 1.31), whereas the mortality rate exhibited a decline (EAPC: -0.51). In 2021, middle SDI regions recorded the highest prevalence rate (30.88 per 100,000), while low SDI regions had the highest mortality rate (2.44 per 100,000) and the greatest burden of DALYs (125.39 per 100,000). Among different age groups in 2021, the 45-49 age group experienced the highest number of cases (195,288) and the highest prevalence rate (82.87 per 100,000). Furthermore, HHD prevalence demonstrated a positive correlation with age.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Overall, on a global scale, the burden of HHD among WCBA has significantly increased over the past 32 years. This trend is particularly pronounced in low SDI regions and within the 45-49 age group. The findings of this study highlight the critical need for targeted interventions to address this issue.</p>","PeriodicalId":73087,"journal":{"name":"Frontiers in global women's health","volume":"6 ","pages":"1600340"},"PeriodicalIF":2.4,"publicationDate":"2025-07-11","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12289639/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144735861","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":"Subfecundity and associated factors among pregnant mothers receiving antenatal care at public health facilities in Ambo town Oromia region, Ethiopia: a cross-sectional study.","authors":"Elias Andesha, Gizachew Abdissa, Gemechu Ganfure, Melese Adugna, Merga Sheleme, Jemal Bedane","doi":"10.3389/fgwh.2025.1506481","DOIUrl":"10.3389/fgwh.2025.1506481","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Subfecundity is defined by a time to pregnancy of more than 12 months with unprotected sexual intercourse. Despite many couples experiencing psychological, social, and economic effects as a consequence of subfecundity, it has been inadequately explored in Ethiopia.</p><p><strong>Objective: </strong>Since there is limited information available in Ethiopia on subfecundity and no further studies have been conducted in the study area, this study will serve as input. Therefore, this study aimed to assess the magnitude of subfecundity and associated factors in Ambo town.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>A cross-sectional study was employed using systematic sampling to select 368 pregnant mothers. Data were collected through face-to-face interviews using a pre-tested structured questionnaire supplemented with a review of medical records. Bivariate and multivariable logistic regression were performed to identify factors associated with subfecundity. The statistical significance was declared using 95% CI, with a <i>p</i>-value <0.05.</p><p><strong>Result: </strong>A total of 361 mothers (21.3%, 95% CI: 17.20-25.50) were interviewed, resulting in a response rate of 98%. Subfecundity was more likely among mothers aged >35 years (AOR = 3.74, 95% CI: 1.38-10.18), menstrual cycle irregularities (AOR = 3.15, 95% CI: 1.66-5.98), those whose coital frequency was 1 day per week (AOR = 4.77 95% CI: 2.22-10.23), mothers with primigravida (AOR = 2.29, 95% CI: 1.18-4.41), those who used contraceptives (AOR = 1.87, 95% CI: 1.02-3.50), and those who were stressed before conceiving (AOR = 1.95, 95% CI: 1.03-3.70).</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>This study found that the prevalence of subfecundity was 77% (21.3%, 95% CI: 17.2-25.5), which is slightly higher than previous findings in Ethiopia. Subfecundity was more likely among mothers age >35, those with primigravida, mothers who experienced menstruation irregularities, those whose coital frequency was less than twice per week, mothers using an injectable contraceptive method, and those who were stressed before the current pregnancy. Thus, health professionals should provide information for women at preconception care clinics, sexual and reproductive health clinics, and family planning clinics to those who wish to become pregnant before the age of 35 years to increase the frequency of coital practice, decrease stress, and encourage treatment for menstruation irregularities.</p>","PeriodicalId":73087,"journal":{"name":"Frontiers in global women's health","volume":"6 ","pages":"1506481"},"PeriodicalIF":2.4,"publicationDate":"2025-07-10","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12287065/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144710035","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}