BMC Women's Health最新文献

{"title":"An objective test to assess upper limb functionality in patients with breast cancer-related lymphedema: investigation of the psychometric properties of the upper limb functional test (ULIFT).","authors":"Sukriye Cansu Gultekin, Ahmet Burak Cakir, Zeynep Gulsum Guc, Faruk Recep Ozalp, Merve Keskinkilic, Tugba Yavuzsen, Didem Karadibak","doi":"10.1186/s12905-025-03829-6","DOIUrl":"10.1186/s12905-025-03829-6","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Although upper limb (UL) functionality was reported to be adversely affected in patients with breast cancer- related lymphedema (BCRL), there is currently no validated, objective performance-based assessment tool designed to evaluate UL function in this population. The Upper Limb Functional Test (ULIFT) was adapted from the ADL test (TGlittre), which is widely used in clinical settings and research, and was developed to assess unilateral UL functionality. Therefore, the present study aimed to evaluate the psychometric properties of the ULIFT in patients with BCRL.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>The study involved 36 women with unilateral BCRL and 30 healthy women controls. Intraclass correlation coefficients (ICC) were used to assess test-retest reliability. ULIFT was conducted a second time with 36 patients (100% of the total sample) over a period of 7 to 14 days for test-retest reliability analysis. The following measures were used to investigate ULIFT convergent validity: Range of motion was assessed using a universal goniometer; UL disability with the Disability of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand (DASH) questionnaire; hand grip strength with a Jamar dynamometer; and quality of life (QoL) with the Short Form 36-item Health Survey (SF-36) survey, and Upper Limb Lymphedema 27 (ULL-27). The receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis was conducted as part of the known-group validity assessment to establish a cut-off point for ULIFT in distinguishing between patients with BCRL and healthy controls.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>The ULIFT showed excellent test-retest reliability [ICC [95%] 0.92 (0.86-0.96)], a standard error of measurement of 3.91 s, and a minimum detectable change of 10.83 s. The sensitivity of 72.2%, specificity of 73.3% and AUC of 0.773 indicate a moderate ability of ULIFT to discriminate patients with and without impairment at a cut-off of 110.125 s. Significant correlations were found between ULIFT and UL functional measures (r ≥ 0.3), indicating convergent validity.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>ULIFT is a reliable and valid objective measurement tool for assessing unilateral UL function. The cut-off time of 110.125 s may help in clinical decision-making, particularly when used in conjunction with other assessments.</p>","PeriodicalId":9204,"journal":{"name":"BMC Women's Health","volume":"25 1","pages":"267"},"PeriodicalIF":2.4,"publicationDate":"2025-05-30","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12123721/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144186595","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"The etiology differs regards to the locations of the lesion: a clinical experience of 1350 patients with adenomyosis confirmed by postoperative pathology.","authors":"Wanqing Li, Yuting Hang, Yunyu Xu, Wen Zhang, Ye He, Wei Ye, Xinyue Hu, Zhaolian Wei","doi":"10.1186/s12905-025-03759-3","DOIUrl":"10.1186/s12905-025-03759-3","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Despite proposed mechanisms hypotheses, the etiology of adenomyosis remains unclear. The limited efficacy of current therapeutic approaches may stem from insufficient understanding of its pathobiological underpinnings and the pronounced heterogeneity in clinical presentation and treatment responsiveness among subtypes. This study seeks to compare clinical and sonographic profiles of adenomyosis subtypes to elucidate distinct disease mechanisms and inform subtype-specific management strategies.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>In this retrospective cohort of 1,350 surgically treated and pathologically confirmed adenomyosis cases (2017-2022), patients were categorized into diffuse versus focal and anterior versus posterior lesion groups according to sonographic features. Comparative analyses of demographics, symptomatology, concurrent gynecological conditions, and laboratory profiles were conducted to delineate subtype-specific patterns.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>1074 (79.56%) had a definitive adenomyotic sonographic signs, with 329 (30.63%) focal adenomyosis and 745 (69.37%) diffuse adenomyosis. Multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed that, compared with focal adenomyosis, diffuse adenomyosis were older (OR, 1.09; 95%CI: 1.06-1.12), had more pregnancies (OR, 1.22; 95%CI: 1.11-1.33), higher BMI (OR, 1.05; 95%CI: 1.00-1.09), long course of disease (OR, 1.06; 95%CI: 1.02-1.11) and higher risk of moderate to severe dysmenorrhea (OR, 1.88; 95%CI: 1.36-2.60). Divided to the location of adenomyosis lesion indicated by sonographic, patients in the posterior wall group (n = 418) have higher risk of moderate to severe dysmenorrhea (OR, 1.88; 95% CI: 1.36-2.60), more endometriosis combination (OR, 3.24; 95%CI: 1.85-5.68) and intraoperative blood loss (OR, 1.001; 95%CI: 1.001-1.003).</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>By stratifying adenomyosis into diffuse/focal and anterior/posterior subtypes, we identified distinct clinical-pathological profiles: (1) Diffuse adenomyosis was independently associated with older age, higher gravidity, and severe dysmenorrhea, suggesting a progressive phenotype driven by tissue injury mechanisms; (2) Posterior lesions exhibited a 3.24-fold risk of concurrent endometriosis and increased surgical complexity, implicating shared pathways with deep infiltrating endometriosis. These findings redefine adenomyosis as a heterogeneous disorder with subtype-specific pathophysiology, advocating for tailored therapeutic strategies.</p>","PeriodicalId":9204,"journal":{"name":"BMC Women's Health","volume":"25 1","pages":"268"},"PeriodicalIF":2.4,"publicationDate":"2025-05-30","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12123893/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144186599","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Public transport systems and safety of female commuters in low-and-middle-income countries: a systematic scoping review.","authors":"Gugu G Mchunu, Desmond Kuupiel, Busisiwe P Ncama, Christopher Isike, Marcel Kistan, Julian David Pillay, Sinegugu E Duma","doi":"10.1186/s12905-025-03821-0","DOIUrl":"10.1186/s12905-025-03821-0","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>This scoping review systematically maps and summarises research evidence concerning the safety of female commuters in public transport systems across Low- and Middle-Income Countries (LMICs). Given the essential role of public transport in LMICs, particularly for women in both formal and informal sectors, understanding the safety challenges they face is crucial.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>We followed the Arksey and O'Malley methodological framework to structure this scoping review. The Population (Females), Concept (safety in public transport/transit), and Context (LMICs) framework guided our eligibility criteria. We searched for original research articles in PubMed, EBSCOhost (CINAHL, PsycInfo, and Health Source: Nursing/Academic Edition), SCOPUS, and Web of Science published between 2012 and 2023, and updated in February 2025. We additionally searched Google Scholar platform, and the reference list of included studies to uncover any additional relevant literature. The study selection and data extraction were performed by two reviewers using pilot-tested forms. Thematic analysis was used to organise the data into themes and a narrative summary of the findings is presented.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Of the total 114 articles obtained from the database searches, 26 studies published in 14 countries met the inclusion criteria. The review identified a paucity of research in this area, with an average of three relevant papers published per year. The existing literature is geographically imbalanced, with a predominant focus on South Africa, India, and Malaysia, leaving many LMICs underrepresented. Most (11 out of 26) studies employed quantitative methods, leaving a need for more diverse research methodologies. Widespread concerns, fear of assault and harassment among women commuters across various countries; underreporting of sexual harassment, prevalence of violence against women in public transport systems with its psychological, economic, health, and social consequences; and transit sexual assault were among the themes identified.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>This scoping review reveals the urgent need for further research on the safety of female commuters in LMICs, especially in underrepresented countries, to provide a more comprehensive understanding of the challenges faced by women in diverse contexts. It advocates for diversified research methods, public awareness campaigns, improved reporting mechanisms, policy reforms, infrastructure enhancements, and culturally sensitive initiatives to ensure the safety and well-being of female commuters in public transport systems across LMICs.</p>","PeriodicalId":9204,"journal":{"name":"BMC Women's Health","volume":"25 1","pages":"264"},"PeriodicalIF":2.4,"publicationDate":"2025-05-29","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12121230/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144180803","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"A pilot investigation of the impact of acute mental and physical fatigue exposure on inflammatory cytokines and state fatigue level in breast cancer survivors.","authors":"Ali A Weinstein, Krish Seth, Shana Gordy, Kashaf Jabbar, Nylab Noori, Aybike Birerdinc, Ancha Baranova, Patrice Winter, Lynn H Gerber","doi":"10.1186/s12905-025-03758-4","DOIUrl":"10.1186/s12905-025-03758-4","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>This study aims to analyze the changes in inflammatory cytokines and state fatigue after exposure to a mental or physical fatiguing activity in breast cancer survivors (BCS).</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>A total of 46 BCS women (age: 58.9 ± 9.1) were recruited for this study and randomly assigned to one of three groups: exposure to physical fatigue (n = 16), mental fatigue (n = 15), or control (n = 15). Participants exposed to physical fatigue performed a 6-minute walk/run test. Participants exposed to mental fatigue performed a version of a dual 2-back task on a computer. Participants in the control group watched a video for 6 min. Clinically significant fatigue was defined by the FACIT-F. Analytes in serum were profiled using the Bio-Plex 200 Suspension Array System, specifically IL-1β, IL-4, IL-5, IL-6, IL-8, IL-10, eotaxin, TNF-α, TGF-β1, and VEGF.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Changes in inflammatory factors in response to the assigned fatigue-inducing tasks were mainly not statistically significant. The presence of clinically significant fatigue reported at baseline was, however, related to reactions to fatigue-inducing stimuli. Levels of TGF-β and eotaxin were consistently altered in reactions to fatigue-inducing tasks, particularly in those with clinical fatigue.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Clinically significant fatigue is related to increased inflammatory reactions to mentally or physically fatiguing tasks, highlighting the consistent impact that fatigue has across various challenges of daily activities. Acute fatigue challenges, the kind that BCS would be exposed to in everyday circumstances, does increase inflammatory responses, and those with clinically significant levels of fatigue at baseline are more likely to show these effects.</p>","PeriodicalId":9204,"journal":{"name":"BMC Women's Health","volume":"25 1","pages":"263"},"PeriodicalIF":2.4,"publicationDate":"2025-05-29","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12121098/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144172761","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"An evaluation of menstrual health apps' functionality, inclusiveness, and health education information.","authors":"Emma Bucher, Callie Sharkey, Abby Henderson, Briette Basaran, Sarah Meyer, Chen X Chen","doi":"10.1186/s12905-025-03812-1","DOIUrl":"10.1186/s12905-025-03812-1","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Menstrual health apps have become increasingly popular, providing users with a tool to monitor and learn about menstrual cycles, symptoms, and management. While previous research examined different aspects of menstrual health apps (e.g., fertility tracking), few examined menstrual health apps comprehensively to examine the menstrual health apps' functionality, inclusiveness, and health education information. The purpose of this study was to evaluate menstrual health apps' functionality, inclusiveness, and health education information.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>In this descriptive study, two reviewers independently searched, screened, and evaluated each app using a standardized tool. Three terms (i.e., \"period pain,\" \"period app,\" and \"menstrual cramp\") were used to search the Apple App Store. Apps were also cross-searched on the Google Play Store. We screened 60 apps. After excluding duplicates and apps that did not meet the inclusion criteria, 14 apps were evaluated on their functionality (user experience, internet and language accessibility, privacy, cycle-prediction, and symptom-tracking ability), inclusiveness (cycle lengths and regularities, fertility goals, and gender expressions and sexualities), and menstrual health education information (credibility and comprehensiveness, presence of additional health information, and information on when to seek care). We used a modified version of the Mobile App Rating Scale to score each app.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>For functionality, half of the apps had third-party advertisements. Most (71.4%) did not require cellular connection to utilize menstrual symptom-tracking, and 71.4% shared user data with third parties. All had cycle-prediction and symptom-tracking functions. The mean number of relevant symptoms tracked was 17.5 (SD = 5.44). None of the apps used or cited validated symptom measurement tools. For inclusiveness, all apps could be tailored to cycle lengths other than 28 days, 85.7% had ovulation prediction functions, 50% had neutral or no pronouns, and 92.9% allowed users to input at least one contraceptive type. For health education information, 42.9% cited medical literature.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>This study suggests a lack of professional involvement and gender inclusivity in menstrual health app development. Healthcare professionals should educate themselves on apps' functionality, inclusiveness, and health education information before recommending apps. Additional research is needed to understand diverse users' perspectives on menstrual health apps.</p>","PeriodicalId":9204,"journal":{"name":"BMC Women's Health","volume":"25 1","pages":"261"},"PeriodicalIF":2.4,"publicationDate":"2025-05-28","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12117836/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144172763","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Assessment of risk factors for high-grade cervical or endometrial lesions to triage women with AGC-FN: a retrospective study.","authors":"Shuxia Xu, Tingting Jiang, Xiaodan Mao, Liangzhi Cai, Xite Lin, Yao Tong, Binhua Dong, Pengming Sun","doi":"10.1186/s12905-025-03772-6","DOIUrl":"10.1186/s12905-025-03772-6","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Atypical glandular cells, favor neoplastic (AGC-FN) identified in Papanicolaou (Pap) smears may be indicative of pre-malignant and malignant cervical and endometrial lesions. However, an effective strategy for triaging patients with AGC-FN remains elusive. This study aimed to analyze the relationship between AGC-FN and high-grade lesions, as well as identify specific risk factors which can optimize the currently strategy in women with AGC-FN.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>This retrospective utilized data from the China's Fujian Cervical Pilot Project (FCPP). A total of 211 women diagnosed with AGC-FN according to the Bethesda 2014 classification system underwent follow-up through colposcopy, biopsy, and endometrial curettage between January 2013 and July 2021. The association between high-grade lesions and clinicopathologic features were analyzed using independent sample nonparametric tests and binary logistic regression. The sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV), and negative predictive value (NPV) of different triage strategie were evaluated.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>There were 43.60% (92/211) and 27.96% (59/211) AGC-FN women diagnosed as ≥ endometrial precancerous lesions (≥ EPL) and CIN2 + , respectively. In women with ≥ EPL, the top 3 risk factors were higher HE4, higher CA125 and older age (adjusted odds ratio [OR_adjusted]: 3.351, 2.760, 1.124, all p < 0.05, respectively). The top 3 risk factors for ≥ HISL women were HPV-16/18 infection, HPV-16/18/58/59 infection and HR-HPV infection (OR_adjusted: 50.122, 40.043, 37.011, all p < 0.01, respectively). Interestingly, the age, CA125 and HR-HPV infection showed opposite roles in AGC-FN women with ≥ EPL and ≥ HISL. When using ≥ EPL and ≥ HISL as endpoints, strategies 2 and 4 had the highest sensitivities of 97.3% and 95.3% and highest NPV of 80.0% and 97.3% by incorporating specific risk factors, respectively. Moreover, the referral rates of strategies 1, 3 and 4 were significantly lower (76.5%, 38.0% vs 62.8%, p < 0.05).</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>CA125 and HR-HPV infection emerged as significant risk factors for triaging women with AGC-FN and HPV-16 and -18, HPV-58 and -59 infections should not to be overlooked. A novel triage strategy combining CA125, CA199, HE4 and HR-HPV reduced the referral rates of biopsy and curettage without altering the original sensitivity.</p>","PeriodicalId":9204,"journal":{"name":"BMC Women's Health","volume":"25 1","pages":"260"},"PeriodicalIF":2.4,"publicationDate":"2025-05-28","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12117815/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144172778","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"The impact of carbohydrate quality index on menopausal symptoms and quality of life in postmenopausal women.","authors":"Emine Elibol, Sevdenur Eski, Edanur Gez, Gizem Çamdeviren","doi":"10.1186/s12905-025-03822-z","DOIUrl":"10.1186/s12905-025-03822-z","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Introduction: </strong>Menopause is a natural process that often leads to physical and emotional symptoms affecting women's quality of life. Nutrition is increasingly recognized as important in managing these symptoms, with certain dietary patterns-particularly those rich in fiber and whole grains-showing potential benefits. In many regions, including parts of Asia and countries with carbohydrate-heavy diets, carbohydrate quality may significantly influence menopausal health outcomes and related chronic conditions. This study aimed to examine the relationship between carbohydrate quality index, and menopausal symptoms and quality of life in postmenopausal women.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>A total of 604 postmenopausal women participated. Participants completed a demographic questionnaire, the Menopause-Specific Quality of Life Questionnaire (MENQOL) (higher scores indicate poorer quality of life), and the Menopause Rating Scale (MRS) (higher scores indicate more severe symptoms). A food frequency questionnaire was used to collect dietary intake. Carbohydrate quality was assessed using the Carbohydrate Quality Index (CQI), which considers glycemic index, fiber intake, solid carbohydrate-to-total carbohydrate ratio, and whole grain consumption. Participants were divided into five quartiles based on their CQI scores. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS 24, with Mann-Whitney U test, Kruskal-Wallis H test, ANOVA, and regression analysis controlling for socioeconomic status, body mass index, education, and menopausal status.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Among the participating women, 273 were aged 30-55 years, 241 were aged 56-64 years, and 90 were aged 65 years and older. The youngest group (30-55) had the highest MENQOL (19.81 ± 9.70) and MRS (44.77 ± 30.91) scores, indicating more severe symptoms. Women postmenopausal for over 3 years reported significantly lower MENQOL scores (15.74 ± 0.42) compared to those postmenopausal for less than 3 years (17.98 ± 10.84) (Z=-1.95, p < 0.05). Across CQI quartiles, women in Q5 had significantly lowest MENQOL (14.35 ± 8.77) scores (Kruskal-Wallis χ²=2.24, p < 0.05). In regression analysis, being married (β = 0.13, p < 0.05) and receiving menopausal treatment (β = 0.11, p < 0.05) were positively associated with higher CQI scores.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Higher carbohydrate quality, is linked to fewer menopausal symptoms. Regression analysis showed that marital status and menopausal treatment were significantly associated with Carbohydrate Quality Index scores. Further research with larger samples and longitudinal studies is needed to explore the causal relationship between carbohydrate quality and menopausal outcomes.</p>","PeriodicalId":9204,"journal":{"name":"BMC Women's Health","volume":"25 1","pages":"262"},"PeriodicalIF":2.4,"publicationDate":"2025-05-28","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12117929/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144172779","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Resilience and renewal: the personal impact of physical activity in breast cancer survivors.","authors":"María-Jesús Lirola, A Irene Hernández-Rodríguez, Cristina Cuenca-Piqueras, María Esther Prados-Megías","doi":"10.1186/s12905-025-03791-3","DOIUrl":"10.1186/s12905-025-03791-3","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>This study investigates the multifaceted impact of physical activity on the holistic recovery of breast cancer survivors, emphasizing psychological, social, and physical dimensions. Beyond medical treatments, reclaiming identity and autonomy post-breast cancer is a complex process involving physical and emotional well-being. The research utilized a qualitative approach, conducting in-depth interviews with five female survivors aged 41 to 57, as well as a group interview with the three pysical activity instructors who led the participants´exercise sessions. Participants completed a 12-week resistance training protocol title EFICAN (Exercise and Cancer), a structured intervention specifically designed by the research team for this study, combining individual and small-group sessions. Survivors shared personal experiences of how physical activity influenced their post-treatment recovery, while the instructors provided complementary insights into the participants´observed changes. Thematic analysis was applied to identify patterns and core themes. Three primary themes emerged: (1) physical activity as a catalyst for empowerment and recovery, (2) the significance of social bonds formed during group activities, and (3) transformative changes in body perception and self-acceptance. Participants highlighted that exercise helped regain control over their bodies, mitigate side effects, and foster resilience. Group activities provided emotional support, reducing isolation and promoting psychological well-being. Instructors echoed these findings, describing visible improvements in participants' confidence, emotional expression, and social engagement. The study findings align with existing literature, while the inclusion of instructors' perspectives adds a novel contribution to the understanding of how physical activity supports psycho-social recovery. Integrating structured physical activity into post-treatment care can support emotional healing and strengthen social bonds. Clinical programs should celebrate individual achievements and include group-based exercises to enhance adherence and overall well-being. The study's small sample size may limit generalizability. Future research should explore diverse populations and incorporate quantitative methods to complement qualitative findings. Physical activity plays a crucial role in transitioning from surviving to thriving post-cancer. It supports not only physical health but also psychological resilience and social connection, reinforcing that survivors' voices are essential in shaping recovery programs.</p>","PeriodicalId":9204,"journal":{"name":"BMC Women's Health","volume":"25 1","pages":"257"},"PeriodicalIF":2.4,"publicationDate":"2025-05-27","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12107817/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144149247","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Toxocara infection in pregnant women: seroprevalence and risk factors.","authors":"Marjan Noori, Mohammad Zibaei, Amir Bairami, Seyed Ali Hashemi, Aliehsan Heidari, Fatemeh Bakhshipour, Zahra Hatami, Saeed Bahadory","doi":"10.1186/s12905-025-03809-w","DOIUrl":"10.1186/s12905-025-03809-w","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Human toxocariasis caused by T. canis is a worldwide and typically neglected zoonotic parasitic disease. Certain behaviors such as a geophagia habit, poor personal hygiene, close contact with young dogs, and ingestion of raw meat, as well as age, and socioeconomic status, affect the prevalence of the disease. In this study, we aimed at investigating the frequency of Toxocara infection among pregnant women and the epidemiological factors associated with disease.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Toxocariasis-specific IgG antibodies were measured using a commercial ELISA technique in 200 pregnant women between December 2021 and May 2022. A questionnaire filled by participants included options for demographic information (age, gender, residency), gestational age, number of previous pregnancies, history of abortion, drug use, comorbidities, history of parasitic disease, and keeping pets (dogs or cats).</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>In total, 15 (7.5%) of the 200 participants (mean age 29.7 ± 18.7 years) had anti-T. canis antibodies. High-titer antibodies were most prevalent among the subjects aged 25-29 years. Logistic regression analysis showed that the pregnant women who had a history of abortions (P = 0.029), and keeping pets and contact with dogs and cats (P = 0.031) had an increased risk of acquiring toxocariasis. The study showed that demographic characteristics such as age group, pregnancy trimester, and underlying conditions were not significantly associated with toxocariasis (P > 0.05).</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Considering the significant prevalence of toxocariasis in pregnant women as well as its health risks, preventive health measures against the toxocariasis risk factors seem more necessary.</p>","PeriodicalId":9204,"journal":{"name":"BMC Women's Health","volume":"25 1","pages":"258"},"PeriodicalIF":2.4,"publicationDate":"2025-05-27","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12107781/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144157018","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Factors associated with respectful maternity care reported by patients in selected health facilities in Musanze District, Rwanda: a facility-based cross-sectional study.","authors":"Alexandre Dukundane, Jean Nepomuscene Renzaho, Victor Mivumbi Ndicunguye, Ephrem Daniel Sheferaw, Alemayehu Amberbir","doi":"10.1186/s12905-025-03803-2","DOIUrl":"10.1186/s12905-025-03803-2","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Respectful maternity care (RMC) is an essential strategy to scale up mothers' positive experiences during childbirth. However, few studies have been conducted to quantify the practice in Rwanda. The main objective of this study was to determine the proportion of the RMC approach in health facilities and associated factors in Musanze District in Rwanda.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>This is a health facility-based cross-sectional study conducted among 335 women who delivered at eight healthcare facilities including hospital and health centers in Musanze District between March to May 2024. We used simple random sampling to select health centers and included all participants who satisfied the inclusion criteria until the predetermined sample size was reached. The proportion of RMC as an outcome variable was calculated from the 30-item PCMC Scale, and RMC was considered to have been received if a woman responded \"2 = yes, most of the time\" and \"3 = yes, all the time\" to all the 30 items. We used multivariate logistic regression to identify factors associated with the provision of RMC such as employment status, parity, and place of delivery. The results were reported using odds ratios with the 95% CI. Variables were proved statistically significant based on p < 0.05.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>335 participants were enrolled in this study. The majority of respondents were between 25-34 years (54.0%) and married (74.3%). The proportion of respectful maternity care was 65.1% (95% CI: 59.7-70.2). Being employed was associated with receiving RMC [AOR = 17.75, 95%CI:8.06-39.06, p < 0.001]. Primiparous women compared to multiparous had higher odds of receiving RMC [AOR = 5.15, 95%CI:2.07-12.79, p < 0.001]. Cesarean deliveries were associated with a greater likelihood of RMC compared to those who delivered vaginally [AOR = 6.00, 95%CI:2.40-15.03, p-value = 0.003]. Women who delivered at health centers were more likely to receive RMC than those who delivered in hospitals [AOR = 3.72, 95% CI: 1.41-9.83, p = 0.008]. Daytime deliveries were more likely to receive RMC than nighttime deliveries (AOR = 3.11, 95% CI: 1.52-6.37, p = 0.002). Additionally, women with insurance other than Rwanda's Community Based Health Insurance had higher odds of receiving RMC (AOR = 4.46, 95% CI: 1.88-10.61, p < 0.001).</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>The level of respectful maternity care in Musanze District was found to be 65.1%. Interventions to improve respectful maternity care should focus on training healthcare providers about its components, including dignity and respect, autonomy and communication, and social support, in addition to educating the community to request quality care. These findings call upon policy makers to involve different stakeholders to come up with interventions to improve quality of care during childbirth.</p>","PeriodicalId":9204,"journal":{"name":"BMC Women's Health","volume":"25 1","pages":"259"},"PeriodicalIF":2.4,"publicationDate":"2025-05-27","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12117843/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144157016","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}