HIV/AIDS is considered the deadliest epidemic in the 21st century and has proved to be of major public health importance. Per the 2000 Zambia census, the people affected by HIV/AIDS constituted 15% of the total population, amounting to one million, of which 60% were women. Previous studies have identified sexual contact, significant exposure to infected body fluids or tissues, mother to child transmission during pregnancy, delivery, or breastfeeding as leading ways of transmission. The purpose of this study was to determine the socioeconomic factors that affect the prevalence of HIV in Zambian women. This research will help to provide more insight into this topic and aid in identifying areas that could be targeted by future intervention strategies to reduce the HIV burden. We used a cross-sectional study based on data from the 2018 Zambia Demographic and Health Survey (ZDHS). Secondary data analysis was conducted based on data for women aged 15-50 years (n=14922). Factors predicting HIV prevalence such as the age of household members, current marital status, place of residence, and the highest educational level attained were included in the analysis. Outcome variables included the result of determine HIV1/2 RDT and unigold HIV1/2 RDT. Descriptive, bivariate, and multivariate analyses were performed on all variables. Bivariate analysis was performed to determine the relationship between each predictor variable and HIV prevalence in women, using a chi-square test. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was performed using HIV test results and all predictor variables, odds ratio, confidence intervals, and P-value were reported. The prevalence of HIV in women aged 15-50 in Zambia was 9.9% in the study sample. Overall, our analysis showed that being aged 35-50 (4.7%), residing in an urban setting (6.53%), being married (6.1%), and having attained at least secondary education (4.68%) were associated with a higher HIV prevalence. All relationships were significant in the chi-square analysis at the p

ABSTRACT Background: The Rwandan government has set family planning (FP) as one of the goals and strategies to improve the health of the population. However, unmet needs for modern contraceptive methods are still a problem, as is the variance of modern contraceptive use among the five regions of Rwanda.   Aim: This study aimed at assessing key factors that contribute to the variance of modern contraceptive use between five regions of Rwanda. Methods: This study was a secondary analysis of the Rwanda Demographic health survey, 2010. A total of 492 clusters (urban/rural), composed by 12,792 households were selected in the survey; 13,790 women of reproductive age were systematically selected from selected households and interviewed about maternal and reproductive health issues. 6834 married women or living with their partners at the time of the survey were selected for this study. Results: Socio-economic and demographic characteristics of women, access to family planning (FP) information and women’s empowerment were associated with the variance of modern contraceptive use between the regions. Women’s empowerment was positively associated with modern contraceptive use in all regions. Access to information was associated with modern contraceptive use in all regions except in the North region (AOR: 1.24, 95%CI: O.8- 1.92). Conclusion: This study highlights that the variance of modern contraceptive use was associated to the way in which FP factors are associated with modern contraceptive use vary between regions and how different FP factors occur among regions. Further researches are needed to investigate potential factors on supply side that influence such variance.

Made available in DSpace on 2016-08-19T18:16:06Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 DISSERTACAO ANA CLEIDE.pdf: 1666935 bytes, checksum: c302ab2891d3628382fdb85b4ba0bc6b (MD5) Previous issue date: 2012-12-12 / A woman runs during successive steps biological life that reflect your "genital evolution‖. These periods are marked by wide variations distinct with menarche, understood as the mark of adolescent maturation, and menopause which corresponds to the end of their reproductive capacity. The objective of this study was to relate in perimenopausal women with menopausal age the determining factors for its occurrence. This is a transversal study, obtained from a population-based survey. This is a transversal study, obtained from a population-based survey. Were selected through cluster sampling, 1209 women living in São Luis - MA, aged 45 years and older, from April to July 2008. The questionnaire was the instrument used in household interviews. For data analysis, we used Stata statistical package, version 10.0 and to assess the homogeneity between the groups we used the Pearson chi-square test. It was observed that prevailed women aged 50 to 59 years (53.9%), brown in color (46.9%), schooling 9-12 years of education (56.7%), with partner (55.9%), unemployed (46%) and belonging to economy class C (51.1%). The mean age for menarche was 13.4 years, for natural menopause was 46.9 years and the duration of reproductive age was 33.6 years. The duration of reproductive age, regardless of age at menarche had no statistically significant difference between women. / A mulher percorre durante a vida sucessivas etapas biológicas que espelham a sua "evolução genital". Esses períodos são marcados por grandes variações bem distintas. A menarca, compreendida como o marco maturacional da adolescente e a menopausa, que corresponde ao término de sua capacidade reprodutiva. O objetivo deste trabalho foi relacionar em mulheres climatéricas a idade da menopausa com os fatores determinantes para sua ocorrência. Trata-se de um estudo transversal, obtido a partir de uma pesquisa de base populacional. Foram selecionadas, através de amostragem por conglomerados, 1209 mulheres residentes em São Luis - MA, com idade de 45 anos e mais no período de abril a julho de 2008. O questionário foi o instrumento utilizado nas entrevistas domiciliares. Para análise dos dados, foi utilizado pacote estatístico Stata, versão 10.0 e para avaliar a homogeneidade entre os grupos foi utilizado o teste qui-quadrado de Pearson. Observou-se que prevaleceram as mulheres na faixa etária de 50 a 59 anos (53,9%), na cor parda (46,9%), com escolaridade de 9 a 12 anos de estudo (56,7%), com companheiro (55,9%), sem trabalho (46%) e pertencentes à classe econômica C (51,1%). A média etária encontrada para menarca foi 13,4 anos, para menopausa natural foi de 46,9 anos e para o tempo de menacme foi de 33,6 anos. A duração da menacme, independente da idade da menarca não teve diferença estatisticamente significativa entre as mulheres.

Introduction: Lack of evidence-based information is an impediment to improve the food security and nutrition status of vulnerable tobacco tenant women and their children on smallholder farms in Malawi. Aim: To assess and describe the food accessibility and nutrition status of the tobacco tenant women of reproductive age and their under-five children on smallholder farms, as well as to determine and report correlational relationships amongst demographic and socio-economic factors, food accessibility measurements and nutrition status indicators. Design: Quantitative cross-sectional descriptive correlational study. Setting: Bwengu, Engucwini and Njuyu Extension Planning Areas, Mzimba North district, Malawi. Sample: 110 women of reproductive age sampled through a proportional systematic random sampling technique, and their 139 under-five children. The sample size was calculated using nQuery version 7 software based on 47% prevalence of malnutrition among under-five children in Malawi, estimated at 95% CI to the accuracy of 10%. Methodology: Data were captured through face-to-face interviews during the hunger season. Food accessibility was captured using the Household Food Insecurity Access Scale (HFIAS), Household Hunger Scale (HHS), Months of Adequate Household Food Provisioning (MAHFP) and Individual Dietary Diversity Scale (IDDS). Nutrition status was measured using anthropometry according to standard protocol. WHO Anthro software was used to compute Z-scores (W/A, H/A, W/H and BMI/A) for children, based on WHO standards. Microsoft Excel was used to calculate BMI for women, based on WHO cut-off points. Stata software was used to compute regression analyses to establish correlational relationships between independent and dependent variables. Ethical approval was obtained from the University of Pretoria, Natural and Agriculture Science Committee (Number EC151215- 028), as well as from the Mzuzu Agriculture Development Division in Malawi. Results: Mean age of the women was 27.3 ± 6 years and 28.8 ± 15 months for the children. The experience of food insecurity access was severe for 75% of the households. Nearly onefifth of households were severely hungry, and had adequate food for only about eight months of the year. The women and their children consumed a mean of two food groups in the previous 24 hours. For the women, 21% were malnourished. For the children, 20% were wasted, 31.3% were stunted and 34% were underweight. More male children were malnourished. For food accessibility measurements, the multivariable linear regression analysis was used. The significant factors influencing the severity of the experience of food insecurity access were loan access (P = 0.015) and household size (P = 0.000). For the prevalence of hunger, the significant factors were food security and nutrition training (P = 0.046), marital status (P = 0.045) and household size (P = 0.000). For the annual prevalence of hunger, the significant factors were labour (P = 0.038), income (P = 0.008) and household size (P = 0.001). For the dietary diversity, the significant factors were labour (P = 0.001), food security and nutrition decisions (P = 0.004), mother’s age (P = 0.033) and income (P = 0.000). Using the multivariable IV regression analysis, the significant factors influencing the BMI of the women were their age (P = 0.054), loan access (P = 0.004), HFIAS scores (P = 0.007) and HHS scores (P = 0.001). For the children’s weight-for-age, the significant factors were the mother’s BMI (P = 0.014), child’s sex (P = 0.005), assets (P = 0.014), mother’s age (P = 0.001) and child’s age (P = 0.015). Using the multivariable random-effects GLS regression analysis, the significant factors influencing the children’s height-for-age were the mother’s age (P = 0.004), child’s sex (P = 0.005), assets (P = 0.028) and HFIAS scores (P = 0.006). For the children’s weight-forheight, the significant factors were the mother’s BMI (P = 0.032), MAHFP scores (P = 0.029), child’s age (P = 0.008) and income (P = 0.001). For the children’s BMI-for-age, the significant factors were the mother’s BMI (P = 0.030), mother’s age (P = 0.029), income (P = 0.002) and assets (P = 0.047). Conclusion: The food accessibility and nutrition status of the tobacco tenant women and their children were seriously poor. The significant factors influencing food accessibility and nutrition status were loan access, household size, food security and nutrition training, marital status, labour, income, assets, food security and nutrition decisions, mother’s BMI, mother’s age, child’s age, child’s sex, HFIAS scores, HHS scores and MAHFP scores. The study findings offer clues to policy makers on where to direct interventions to improve food accessibility and nutrition status of the tobacco tenant women and their children in Malawi. / Dissertation (MSc)--University of Pretoria, 2017. / Human Nutrition / MSc / Unrestricted

INTRODUCTION: Half of all pregnancies in South Carolina are unintended (mistimed or unwanted) and are associated with a higher risk for adverse maternal and infant health outcomes. South Carolina has a wide network of publicly supported clinics providing reproductive health services, including the Department of Health and Environmental Control, Federally Qualified Health Centers, and Rural Health Clinics. Having a better understanding of the geographic distribution of women in need of publicly funded contraceptive services is crucial for health planning and improving health delivery systems. METHODS: The total number of reproductive-aged women (15-44 years) in South Carolina was drawn from the 2017 American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimate files housed by the U.S. Census Bureau. A four-step process was used to estimate the number of reproductive-aged women in need of publicly funded contraceptive services at the county-level. First, the number of women between 15-19 years of age in each county was established. Next, the number of women with family incomes <100% of the federal poverty level in each county was identified. Data from the South Carolina Statewide Survey of Women, conducted by NORC at the University of Chicago, were used to estimate the number of reproductive-aged women (18-44) at-risk for experiencing an unintended pregnancy. The proportion of the women who were not sterile, not currently pregnant or not trying to get pregnant in the next 3 months was considered at-risk (76.24% of the total sample). The proportion of women at-risk was used to adjust the estimates of the total number of low-income women between 20-44 years of age in need of publicly funded contraceptive services in each county. The adjusted number of low-income women and the number of women less than 20 years of age were combined to estimate number of women in need of publicly funded contraceptive services. FINDINGS: There are an estimated 950,978 women of reproductive age living in South Carolina; of these women, about 40% (N=374,000) are considered in need of publicly funded contraceptive services. County-level need estimates ranged from 33.5% to 57.8% (M = 42.2%, SD = 4.8%) of the total reproductive-aged female population. While the number of women in need followed a typical population density pattern, rural communities had higher proportions of women in need of publicly funded contraceptive services, relative to the total population of reproductive-aged women. Rural counties comprised 91% of counties with the greatest need for publicly funded contraceptive services. CONCLUSIONS: Proportionally, the need for publicly funded contraceptive services is greater in rural and low-resource counties. While ensuring services are available among large population centers is certainly warranted, these findings also suggest that access to contraceptive services in rural counties is also needed and should be considered in health planning and service allocation policies and practices.

Little is known about the barriers and facilitators to local food procurement among women of reproductive age (WRA). Therefore we conducted qualitative interviews with WRA in rural eastern and western NC (ENC and WNC) to learn of factors related to locally sourced food procurement. In-depth interviews were conducted among low-income White, Black, and Hispanic English-speaking WRA (N=62 (ENC: 37; WNC: 23) (18-44 years)). Independent coders used a consensus codebook to double-code all transcripts. Coders then came together to discuss and resolve coding discrepancies, and identified themes and salient quotes. Cross-cutting themes from both ENC and WNC participants included access to local food sources; acceptance of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program/Electronic Benefit Transfer (SNAP/EBT); freshness of produce; support for local agriculture; and the community aspect of local food sourcing. The in-depth understanding gained from this study could be used to guide tailored policy and intervention efforts aimed at promoting fruit and vegetable consumption among low-income WRA.

Introduction: In Timor-Leste, anemia affects approximately 21% of reproductive age of women. The established risk factor for anemia is poor nutritional status, but recently solid fuel use in the household has emerged as a possible risk factors. The association between solid fuel and anemia has been studied in children and pregnant women, but there hasn’t been a study conducted to find the association among all reproductive age women from 15-49 years old. Aim: The objective of this study is to determine if use of solid fuels (charcoal, wood, and straw/shrubs/grass) compared to cleaner fuels (electricity, LPG. natural gas, biogas, and kerosene) associated with the increasing of the prevalence of anemia among reproductive age women (15-49 years old) in Timor-Leste. Methods: This study used data from the Timor-Leste Demographic Health Survey (TLDHS) 2009-2010. The data used was based on the individual level within household from 13 districts in Timor-Leste. Bivariable logistic regression analysis was performed to assess associations between each independent variable (type of fuels, age group, BMI group, residence, wealth index, education level and smoking behavior) and the outcome variable (anemia) and mutlivariable logistic regression model was also performed with significant covariates. Results: The association based on the type of fuels showed that the odds ratio for anemia in women using solid fuels was 1.73 (OR: 95% CI: 1.49 - 2.01) compared to the women using cleaner fuels. After adjustment for other covariates, the odds ratio for anemia in women that use solid fuels was 1.43 (95% CI: 1.29-1.64) compared to women using cleaner fuels. Discussion: Based on our study population, this study found that reproductive age women 15-49 years old in Timor-Leste who used solid fuel as a source of energy for cooking or heating activities in the household were at higher risk for anemia.

After decades of decrease, maternal mortality rates have shown a slight increase in Europe. Immigrants, especially Africans, have shown to be at higher risk than native women. This could not be explained solely by well-known obstetric and socio-economic risk factors. The aim of this thesis was to study incidence, classification and quality of care of maternal deaths in Sweden, with focus on the foreign-born population. The study population was identified through linkage of the Cause of Death Register, Medical Birth Register, and National Patient Register, and medical records obtained from hospitals. Data from registers, death certificates, and medical records were reviewed. Suboptimal care was studied by structured implicit review of medical records. Differences between foreign- and Swedish-born women were analysed by relative risks, Chi2- and Fisher’s exact test. Underreporting of maternal mortality was shown to be substantial: as compared to the official statistics, 64% more maternal deaths were identified. Women born in low-income countries were identified as being at highest risk of dying during reproductive age in Sweden. The relative risk of dying from diseases related to pregnancy was 6.6 (95% confidence interval 2.6–16.5) for women born in low-income countries, as compared to Swedish-born women. Major and minor suboptimal factors related to care-seeking, accessibility, and quality of care were found to be associated with a majority of maternal deaths and significantly more often to foreign-born women. Suboptimal factors identified included non-compliance, communication barriers, and inadequate care. The rate of suicides during pregnancy or within one year after delivery did not change during the last three decades, and was higher for foreign-born women. A majority of women who committed suicide had been under psychiatric care, but such documentation at antenatal care was inconsistent, and planning for follow-up postpartum was generally lacking. The conclusion of this thesis is that foreign-born women are a high-risk group for maternal death and morbidity that calls for clinical awareness with respect to their somatic and psychiatric history, care-seeking behaviour, and communication barriers. Cross-disciplinary care is necessary, both in obstetric emergencies and in cases of maternal psychiatric illness, to avert maternal death and suicide.

Bakgrund   Bröstcancer är den vanligaste cancerformen globalt, men en minoritet av de som drabbas är kvinnor i ett fertilt åldersspann. En bröstcancerdiagnos inom detta åldersspann är dock ofta sammankopplat med en sämre prognos på grund av sen upptäckt samt högre risk för invasiv cancer. Det finns en mängd olika behandlingsformer som kan leda till biverkningar såsom förtida klimakterium, fertilitetspåverkan och påverkan på sexualitet. Sexuell och reproduktiv hälsa är en viktig del i en människas uppfattning av hälsa, och innefattar både fysisk, psykisk, emotionell och social hälsa.  Syfte  Syftet var att belysa kvinnor i fertil ålders upplevelser av sexuell och reproduktiv hälsa efter bröstcancerbehandling. Metod  För att besvara syftet genomfördes en icke-systematisk litteraturöversikt av 16 vetenskapliga artiklar med kvantitativ och kvalitativ metod. Sökningar genomfördes i databaserna PubMed och CINAHL. Artiklarna analyserades med en integrerad dataanalys och granskades med hjälp av Sophiahemmets bedömningsunderlag för kvalitetsgranskning. Resultat Till resultatet formulerades de två huvudkategorierna fysiska och psykiska upplevelser samt sociala och emotionella upplevelser med tillhörande subkategorier sexuell dysfunktion, förändrad kroppsbild och identitet, partnerrelationen och familjeplanering samt informationsbehov och vårdrelationen. Slutsats Sexuell dysfunktion förekommer i stor utsträckning hos kvinnor i fertil ålder efter bröstcancerbehandling tillsammans med upplevelsen av otillräcklig information från hälso- och sjukvården gällande sexuella och reproduktiva besvär, nedsatt fertilitet samt fertilitetsbevarande behandling inför och efter bröstcancerbehandling. Bröstcancer och dess behandling väcker även tankar om kroppsbild, upplevd identitet och framtidssyn gällande familjeplanering. Rutinmässiga frågor bör därför ställas gällande sexuell och reproduktiv hälsa efter behandling för att fånga upp besvär och normalisera samtalet. / Background Breast cancer is the most common form of cancer globally, but only a minority of those affected are women in their reproductive age. However, a breast cancer diagnosis within this age group is often associated with a poorer prognosis due to late detection and a higher risk of invasive cancer. There are various treatment options available that can lead to side effects such as premature menopause, fertility impairment, and impact on sexuality. Sexual and reproductive health is an important aspect of an individual's perceived health, encompassing physical, mental, emotional, and social wellbeing.  Aim The purpose was to illuminate the experiences of sexual and reproductive health among women of reproductive age after breast cancer treatment. Method To answer the purpose, a non-systematic literature review was conducted of 16 scientific articles with both quantitative and qualitative methods. Searches were conducted in the databases PubMed and CINAHL. The articles were analyzed with an integrative data analysis and reviewed using Sophiahemmet's assessment criteria for quality review. Results The findings resulted in the formulation of the two main categories physical and psychological experiences and social and emotional experiences, along with the associated subcategories sexual dysfunction, altered body image and identity, partner relationship and family planning, as well as information needs and healthcare provider relationship. Conclusions Sexual dysfunction is widely prevalent among women of reproductive age following breast cancer treatment, along with the experience of insufficient information from healthcare providers regarding sexual and reproductive issues, reduced fertility and fertility-preserving treatment before and after breast cancer treatment. Breast cancer and its treatment also evoke thoughts about body image, perceived identity, and future prospects concerning family planning. Routine inquiries should therefore be made regarding sexual and reproductive health after treatment to identify issues and normalise the conversation.

Thesis (MPH.) -- University of Limpopo, 2016 / BACKGROUND: In Botswana, women and girls continue to be disproportionately affected by HIV/AIDS. According to the UNAIDS in 2009, 170 000 of the estimated 300000 adults living with HIV or one quarter of the population aged 15 and over were women. HIV prevalence trend among pregnant women (Botswana Sentinel Surveillance 2001-2009) aged 15-49 years attending antenatal in public clinics is 31.8%. The national HIV prevalence amongst the women surveyed has shown a decline of prevalence from 36.2% in 2001 to 30.4% in 2011. AIM OF THE STUDY: The aim of the study was to determine the perceptions of women of reproductive age in Nkoyaphiri clinic, Mogoditshane village towards the use of female condom (FC). METHODS: A descriptive cross-sectional design was used on a sample of 125 women of reproductive age in Nkoyaphiri clinic in Botswana. A self-administered questionnaire written in both English and Setswana were given to 125 women of reproductive age. Their responses were coded, cleaned and entered into SPSS version 21.0 software for analysis. FINDINGS: About 92% of women of reproductive age heard about FC, more than half (64.8%) of respondents reported that they do not know how to use FC, and 88% have never used FC. The results had shown that a higher percentage (88%) of respondents have never ever used FC compared to (12%) that have used it. Most participants 46.4% believed that FC can prevent unwanted pregnancies, the Sexually Transmitted Infections (STI) and HIV/AIDS 42.4%. The results also show that 18.4% of respondents often use female condom inconsistently, while 3.3% cited it as their current contraceptive method. CONCLUSION: The results of this study shows that the level of FC use is lower (12%) among respondents, compared to 88% who never used FC. This shows that majority of women had never used FC. This results show that a lot still needs to be done in promoting the use of FC and strategies should be designed to send information to all individuals. Lack of knowledge on the use of FC contributes to lack of use of FC among women.