no / Purpose – Audio-diary methods are under-utilised in contemporary qualitative research. The purpose of this paper is to discuss participants and researchers’ experiences of using audio-diaries alongside semi-structured interviews to explore breastfeeding experiences in a short-term longitudinal study with 22 first-time mothers. Design/methodology/approach – The authors provide a qualitative content analysis of the participants’ feedback about their experiences of the audio-diary method and supplement this with the perspectives of the research team based on fieldwork notes, memos and team discussions. The authors pay particular attention to the ways in which the data attained from diaries compared with those from the interviews. Findings – The diaries produced were highly heterogeneous in terms of data length and quality. Participants’ experiences with the method were varied. Some found the process therapeutic and useful for reflecting upon the development of breastfeeding skills whilst negative aspects related to lack of mobility, self-consciousness and concerns about confidentiality. Researchers were positive about the audio-diary method but raised certain ethical, epistemological and methodological concerns. These include debates around the use of prompts, appropriate support for participants and the potential of the method to influence the behaviour under scrutiny. Interview and diary accounts contrasted and complemented in ways which typically enriched data analysis. Practical implications – The authors conclude that audio-diaries are a flexible and useful tool for qualitative research especially within critical realist and phenomenological paradigms. Originality/value – This appears to be the first paper to evaluate both participants and researchers’ experiences of using audio-diaries in a detailed and systematic fashion.

Currently, between 21.9 and 23 million veterans have served in the United States armed forces. Of those, 2 million are women, and of those, only 6.5% use the Veterans Health Administration system. These females often suffer from physical and mental health disorders, and overall impaired quality of life (QOL), rendering their healthcare needs complex. Seeking, and providing care in this specialty area may become overwhelming not only for the women seeking the care, but also for healthcare systems that are unfamiliar with the specific needs of this population. A retrospective medical records review was completed of 51 female veterans between the ages of 40 and 60 years, and who attended a women’s health specialty clinic in a women’s health center in the VA healthcare system. This center provides comprehensive women’s health services to female veterans. By attending this center, female veterans are having most if not all of their healthcare needs met in one location. Some of the services provided at the center include: primary care; gynecology; other gender specific health care needs; mental health care; and social assistance among other issues that may be associated with the overall QOL and depression. Despite this study having a small sample size (n = 51), the participants were ethnically diverse: White (52.9%); African American (29.4%); Hispanic/Latino (15.7%); and Asian/Pacific Islander (2%). The overall results of this study reveal that female veterans who attend this clinic, have significantly lower baseline scores for QOL when compared to a North American population reference value. Means and standard deviation for total Menopause Rating Scale (MRS) score were; (n = 51, M = 21.2, SD = 9.2) compared to the North American women population reference values (n = 1,376, M = 9.1, SD = 7.6), z = 9.41, p < .0001, cohens d = 1.31. These results were significantly lower for all MRS subsets. The higher the means and standard deviation, the lower the QOL. A paired sample t-test indicated significant improvement in QOL after treatment in QOL (t = 7.80, p < .0001), and depression levels (t = 3.74, p < .0001) among female veterans attending the women’s health specialty clinic. Forward stepwise multiple linear regression models were fit to explore the association between the following variables and the outcomes of QOL and depression levels: low socioeconomic status (SES); number of deliveries; years of service; and military sexual trauma (MST). The only predictor that appeared to be significantly associated with higher MRS scores at baseline was a history of MST (β = .363; t = 2.44; p = 0.02). Higher MRS scores can be interpreted as lower QOL among female veterans. Despite the complexities and unique needs of female veterans, the findings of this study suggest that timely, comprehensive and gender specific healthcare can significantly improve overall QOL and depression levels. In addition, further studies are need to assess what other variables may have a direct association with QOL, depression levels, and overall health of female veterans.

Författarna har studerat hur kvinnor utsatta för våld i en nära relation upplever bemötandet i vården, genom granskning av elva kvalitativa studier. Resultatet visar att känslan av skuld och skam är stor hos kvinnor som utsätts för våld i en nära relation. Kvinnorna vill berätta om sin situation, men endast om de upplever att sjuksköterskan vill lyssna, har tid och kan han-tera informationen. Flertalet kvinnor önskade att sjuksköterskan skulle fråga dem om våldet, de längtade efter att någon skulle ta kontroll över situationen. Oftast känner sig kvinnorna dömda, förlöjligade och respektlöst bemötta av hälso- och sjukvården efter de berättat om våldet som försiggår i relationen. Kvinnor som levt under hot och våld från sin man har ofta en bräcklig och skev självbild. Vilket ökar deras osäkerhet och förstärker eventuella negativa upplevelser i vården. I och med det kan ett dåligt bemötande från vårdpersonalen i värsta fall öka kvinnornas känsla av hjälplöshet och bekräfta skammen de bär på. Studien påvisar att hälso- och sjukvården är en mycket viktig instans för kvinnor utsatta för våld av sin partner, trots detta finns sällan kunskap hos personalen. Författarna har funnit brister i bemötandet och omhändertagandet av kvinnorna och även i kontakten med andra viktiga instanser. Vårdpersonalen behöver kunskap, handlingsplaner och riktlinjer för att kunna lotsa kvinnorna vidare i deras väg mot ett liv utan hot och våld. När väl kvinnan samlat mod till sig för att erkänna sin situation i vården och inte blir tagen på allvar kan det i vissa fall få förödande konsekvenser. Medan en genuint intresserad sjuksköterska som har kunskap och är villig att lägga sin tid på kvinnan och relationen till henne, kan vara livsavgörande. Sjuksköterskan kan hjälpa henne en bit på vägen till ett liv utan smärta, rädsla och ensamhet. / Background: Violence against women is a major global public health issue, which has an impact on women’s lives and mental health. Aim: To explore healthcare experiences of women exposed to intimate partner violence. Method: Literature based study with eleven qualitative studies. Results: The women who sought help felt ashamed for the violence and most of them didn’t get the help they needed. They felt that the caregivers didn’t believe in their stories or their experiences. The health care professionals made them feel like objects and not human beings. Few women had a good experience of the care they were given, in those cases the caregivers had asked the women about the violence and gave them time to talk and made them feel safe and comfortable. Conclusion: Nearly all of the women had feelings of shame and guilt. They wanted the caregiver to ask them about the violence, because they found it hard to reveal it themselves. Caregivers need more knowledges about intimate partner violence and its impact on the women to offer right kind of help.They also need guidelines to know how to meet and help these women.

Made available in DSpace on 2015-03-05T20:04:15Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 Previous issue date: 1 / Nenhuma / Conhecer a dimensão e o perfil da violência de gênero - física, psicológica e sexual - perpetrada contra a mulher pelo parceiro (a) atual ou passado. Estudo transversal realizado na Unidade Básica de Saúde VII - Campo da Tuca/Centro de Saúde Escola Murialdo/Secretaria Estadual de Saúde do Rio Grande do Sul. A amostra foi constituída por 251 mulheres de 18 a 49 anos que consultaram o serviço durante os meses de outubro e novembro de 2003. O instrumento para coleta de dados foi o questionário utilizado por Schraiber et al15 (2002). Os dados foram digitados no programa Excel, efetuando dupla entrada e as análises univariada e bivariada foram realizadas no SPSS; o teste estatístico usado foi o qui-quadrado. Encontraram-se as seguintes prevalências de violências: psicológica (55%, IC95% =49;61), física (38%; IC95%=32;44) e sexual (8%; IC95%=5;11). Algumas variáveis estatisticamente associadas às violências foram: idade e escolaridade da mulher e do companheiro, classe social da mulher (IBGE), anos de união, ocu / This study aims to investigate the dimensions and profile of gender violence – physical, psychological and sexual – perpetrated against women by their current or former partners. This is a transversal study carried out at the Basic Health Unit VII – Campo da Tuca (Tuca’s Field)/Murialdo School Health Centre/Rio Grande do Sul Health State Department. The sample comprised 251 18-to-49 year-old women who attended the service during the months of October and November 2003. The instrument for data collection was the questionnaire used by Schraiber et al15 (2002). The data was typed into (Microsoft’s) Excel, doing double input, and the univaried and bivaried analysis were carried out in SPSS; the Chi-Square was the statistical test used. The following prevalence of violence was found: psychological (55%, CI95%=49;61), physical (38%; CI95%=32;44) and sexual (8%; CI95%=5;11). Some variables statistically associated to violence were: age and educational background of both women and their partners, social class

Submitted by Jean Medeiros (jeanletras@uepb.edu.br) on 2016-03-16T14:04:22Z No. of bitstreams: 1 PDF - Lannuzya Veríssimo e Oliveira.pdf: 720914 bytes, checksum: 4994e8d30dd907e0692f13a95757be9e (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Secta BC (secta.csu.bc@uepb.edu.br) on 2016-07-21T20:50:55Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 1 PDF - Lannuzya Veríssimo e Oliveira.pdf: 720914 bytes, checksum: 4994e8d30dd907e0692f13a95757be9e (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2016-07-21T20:51:04Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 PDF - Lannuzya Veríssimo e Oliveira.pdf: 720914 bytes, checksum: 4994e8d30dd907e0692f13a95757be9e (MD5) Previous issue date: 2013-06-12 / Objective: Understanding the meaning and survival of motherhood for convict women. Method way: qualitative study, made up from July to December, 2012, in the four female penitentiaries under control of Penitentiary Administration Secretary of Paraiba. The data have been collected by the usage of a social demographic questionnaire and a part structured interview. The number of participants was determined by saturation of speech content, being closed with 17 women. The data were analyzed according to Bardin’s Content Analysis. Results: two articles called: The meaning of Motherhood for Convict Women and Motherhood Living in Penitentiaries in Paraiba came up. The interviewed showed predominantly age group of 20 and 25 years old, single, having around three children, having given birth for the first time at age of seventeen, they don’t have a religion, didn’t graduate high school, having an alcoholic history, as well as other kinds of drugs before going to prison, they are recidivists and have temporary judicial status. Conclusions: we could learn that for the interviewed, the meaning of motherhood is associated to keeping social role imposed to women, what implies in the social recognition, self satisfaction, divine blessings, and transformation possibilities. The motherhood experience in prison has been shared with suffering, family division and separation, despite of the presence of the child with the mother to be considered as some comfort inside anguish. / Objetivo: Compreender o significado e a vivência da maternidade para presidiárias. Caminho metodológico: Estudo qualitativo, realizado de julho a dezembro de 2012, nas quatro penitenciárias femininas subordinadas à Secretaria de Administração Penitenciária da Paraíba. Os dados foram coletados utilizando-se um questionário sócio-demográfico e uma entrevista semi-estruturada. O número de participantes foi determinado pela saturação do conteúdo das falas, sendo encerrado com 17 mulheres. Os dados foram analisados segundo a Análise de Conteúdo de Bardin. Resultados: Emergiram dois artigos intitulados: O significado da maternidade para presidiárias e Vivência da maternidade em penitenciárias da Paraíba As entrevistadas apresentaram predominância da faixa etária de 20 a 25 anos, solteiras, com média de três filhos, tendo sido mães pela primeira vez aos dezesseis anos, não possuíam religião, não concluíram o ensino fundamental, com história de uso de álcool e/ou outras drogas anterior ao aprisionamento, reincidentes e com situação jurídica provisória Conclusões: Apreendeu-se que para as entrevistadas o significado da maternidade associa-se ao cumprimento da função social imposta ao feminino, o que implica em reconhecimento social, satisfação pessoal, bênçãos divinas e possibilidades de transformação. A vivência da maternidade no cárcere é permeada por sofrimento pela separação e fragmentação familiar, apesar da presença do filho junto a mãe ser considerado consolo em meio a angústia.

This study examined the relationship between drug use and violence among justiceinvolved women in Appalachian Kentucky. Goldstein’s (1985) conceptual framework was used as a theoretical guide in formulating the drugs and violence relationships. Therefore, three types of drug use and violence relationships were explored, including: 1) psychopharmacological violence; economic-compulsive violence; and 3) systemic violence. Although these drug-related violence typologies have been investigated, little research has been devoted to rural justice-involved women. Moreover, to date no studies have examined how these drug/violence relationships might be associated with behavioral health factors. Ergo, there were three aims of the current study. First, to build psychopharmacological, economic-compulsive, and systemic drug/violence predictive group models. Second, examine the associations between mental health symptomology and predicted group models. Third, examine the associations between infectious disease risk-factors and predicted group models. This study used secondary data from a NIDAfunded grant focused on risk reduction among high-risk incarcerated women in Appalachia (N=400). All study recruitment and data collection procedures were approved by the university IRB. Predicted drugs/violence groups were developed using a series of discriminant function analyses. Predicted group models were examined for associations with mental health symptomology and risk factors for infectious disease using a series of binary logistic regression analyses. Results indicated that rural justice-involved women can be discriminated into distinct drugs/violence subgroups, and the psychopharmacological group showed the greatest prevalence. In addition, several behavioral health factors were uniquely associated with the psychopharmacological group and the economic-compulsive group. These findings could offer novel considerations for theory development regarding the drug-related risks for violence victimization among rural justice-involved women. The current research may also inform future traditional substance use treatment (e.g., outpatient or residential) and jail-based treatment (e.g., brief intervention) for rural women. Implications for theory development, substance use treatment and policy, future research, and the social work profession were discussed.

Prescribed self-management behaviors have been found to be important factors affecting the rates of morbidity and mortality in multiple medical conditions including chronic diseases such as diabetes, a condition that disproportionately affects high health risk populations such as African Americans. This study focused on understanding health behaviors, beliefs, and associated factors such as support systems and access to care that played a role in diabetes self-management and glucose control. The study also explored diabetes self-management education and its role in diabetes self-management. The research conducted in Pinellas and Hillsborough counties in Florida, included twenty-five African American women between the ages of forty-six and eighty-seven, with self-identified diabetes mellitus (type 2 diabetes). The study also included seven diabetes self-management educators consisting of nutritionists, a nurse educator, physicians, and an exercise physiologist--key members of the diabetes self-management team. Additionally, five diabetes education programs were observed. Methods included semi-structured qualitative interviews, with direct and participant observation of the Diabetes Intervention Prevention Program (DIPP), the St. Petersburg Free Clinic Diabetes Program, and the Morton Plant Meese/Joslin Diabetes Program in Pinellas County. Hillsborough County sites included the USF Diabetes Program, and University Community Hospital's Diabetes Care Program. Site selection included a cross-section of program types: non-clinic/community-based, community-based clinic, hospital-based, and university clinic-based. The study also utilized a thirty-nine question survey designed to elicit information about self-management beliefs and behaviors. Results revealed several self-management behavioral variables affecting glucose control: (1) nutritional/dietary changes, (2) exercise, (3) medication use, (4) blood glucose monitoring, (5) physician-patient interaction, (6) support systems, and (7) patient education/knowledge. Results also identified access to care as a contributor to self-management. Two models of diabetes self-management emerged from the findings: a model of balanced self-management held by the diabetes educators and self-management programs, and a model of Interruption practiced by the women. Recommendations highlighted the need for the awareness of socio-cultural factors affecting self-management, the elimination of barriers affecting access to care, improvement in physician-patient interaction, provision of culturally aware patient education, and stronger community and family support systems.

The following study explores the relation between psychosocial work environment and individual health. The purpose is to examine how female employees in the occupational health sector experience their own psychosocial work environment, focusing on different influencing factors in both the workplace and their private life regarding the employees own health. The study applies a hermeneutic approach in which qualitative interviews constitute the empirical data. Previous research on this particular subject has focused on the following themes: the combination of work-family life, demand/control model and flexibility in the workplace in relation to health and stress. The theoretical framework used in this study integrates relevant concepts, specifically SOC, poor leadership and flexibility. The main findings of this study are three fundamental themes prevalent in the employees experience of health and stress: meeting the demands of the psychosocial work environment, the psychosocial work environment related to balance in everyday life  and the managements role of the psychosocial work environment. One major contribution on the research on psychosocial work environment and work-life balance is that the results presented underline the importance of a female perspective on welfare and individual wellness.

<p>Diss. Umeå : Umeå universitet, 1998, härtill 8 delarbeten.</p> / digitalisering@umu

Breast cancer is the most common cancer diagnosis of women, with an estimated 232,670 new cases in 2014. With 89.2% of breast cancer patients surviving five years or longer, studies are needed to investigate the long-term impact of breast cancer on women and families (National Cancer Institute, 2014). The purpose of this study was to examine, using a mixed methods approach, the impact of chemotherapy on mothering occupations for patients diagnosed with breast cancer. Thirty-one women (mean age=39.6, SD=5.79), with breast cancer of any stage, who were currently undergoing chemotherapy and had at least one child under the age of 18 living in the home, were recruited from a comprehensive breast cancer care center. These participants completed the Fatigue Symptom Inventory Then Test, the Parent Disability Inventory, the FACT-G quality of life inventory, and a demographic questionnaire. Of these 30 participants, ten participants were selected using purposeful sampling to participate in semi-structured interviews focusing on the impact of chemotherapy on mothering occupations. Qualitative data were analyzed using a grounded theory approach (Corbin & Strauss, 2008) and quantitative data were analyzed using SPSS version 22 to determine descriptive statistics and correlations among variables. After analysis, the central category that emerged from the data was “Keeping life the same while weathering cancer treatments,” which was developed from categories of learning, adapting, accepting support, growing and normalcy. Quantitative analyses found a correlation between fatigue and parent disability (Spearman rho correlation = -0.476, p < 0.05), quality of life and fatigue interference (-0.481, p < 0.001) and parent disability and quality of life (0.745, p<0.001). Implications for future occupational therapy practice are discussed.