Este estudo, de referencial materialista histórico dialético (MHD), inserido numa perspectiva de gênero, teve dentre seus objetivos caraterizar as mulheres de acordo com a inserção social, idade, vínculo com a instituição, antecedentes ginecológicos e obstétricos; identificar as contradições acerca da percepção quanto ao primeiro exame ginecológico de prevenção de câncer de colo uterino e de mama e identificar caminhos para a transformação da atenção ginecológica. A análise dos dados foi realizada através da depreensão de temas contidos nas gravações, nas quais se identificaram como categorias empíricas à atenção à saúde, o exame ginecológico (razão, conhecimento e sentimentos) e a mulher, sua vida e saúde. Verificou-se que a atenção continua circunscrita ao “corpo biológico", uma atitude alienante assumida pela usuária, reforçada pela mídia, pelo pessoal de saúde e pela própria mulher. Foram identificados também sentimentos ligados ao medo, à vergonha e ao sentimento de culpa. Finalmente, entre as usuárias e os trabalhadores do serviço de saúde encontrou-se uma relação dialética no olhar generificado sobre a saúde da mulher. Os resultados indicam o prosseguimento da investigação com os profissionais da área. / This study, of referencial materialistic historical and dialetic (MHD), inserted in a gender perspective, had as objective identify the women in agreement with the social insert, age, entail with the institution, gynecological and obstetric antecedents; to identify the contradictions concerning the perception with relationship to the first gynecological exam of cancer prevention and to identify ways for the transformation of the gynecological attention. The analysis of the data was accomplished through the identification of themes contained in the recordings, in which there were identified as empiric categories the attention to the health, the gynecological exam (reason, knowledge and feelings) and the woman, her life and health. It was verified that the attention continues bounded to the “biological body", an alienating attitude assumed by the user, reinforced by the media, by the personnel of health and by the own woman. They were also identified feelings linked to the fear, to the shame and the blame feeling. Finally, a dialetic relationship was identified between the user and the health workers. The results indicate the pursuit of the investigation with the professionals of the area.

This thesis is concerned with the multi-sited construction of meanings associated with the use of Extended Cycle Oral Contraception (ECOC), a practice that results in the extended or continual suppression of menstruation. In particular it centres on the public debates surrounding the United States of America Food and Drug Administration approval of the first ECOC called Seasonale in 2003. Rather than framing ECOC as simply a forward trajectory of biomedical technologies, or as a medical 'take-over' of another aspect of women's bodies, it examines the ways in which the significances of ECOC are negotiated through discursive practices within and across fields. This thesis is primarily concerned with reviewing the sociological concept of 'medicalisation' in such a context. / Thesis (Ph.D.)--School of Social Sciences, 2007.

Background: Decades of research indicate that physical activity is an important behavior for health promotion and disease prevention. Despite dissemination of these research findings, many American adults are sedentary. The rates for sedentary behavior vary by race/ethnicity and gender. Women and adults from minority groups are most likely to be sedentary. Research on adults who are physically active has identified several factors that predispose, enable, and reinforce this behavior. The presence of social support is one such factor. Purpose: The purpose of this study was to identify the nature and extent of social influence on physical activity in a nationally-representative sample of minority women. Methods: A telephone survey of 2912 women ages 40 and older from various racial/ethnic groups was conducted from July 1996 to June 1997. Information on physical activity as well as other preventive health behaviors was collected. Analysis: Descriptive analyses were done on physical activity levels (including an accumulation of household and occupational physical activity), physical activity-related social support (PASS), support network, and measures of social contact. Logistic regression was used to determine differences in PASS levels and physical activity. Linear Regression was used to determine the relationship between social influence and physical activity level. Results: Women with high levels of physical activity- related social support were more likely to meet recommended levels of physical activity. There was no difference by racial/ethnic group. An index of social influence was not a significant predictor or physical activity level among all women in the sample. Conclusion: While women with higher levels of specific support for physical activity were more likely to be physically active, a more general measure of social support did not predict level of physical activity. More research is needed in assessment of both physical activity and social support in this population. / Graduation date: 1999

Given the high risk of relapse during the first year of exercise involvement, it is important to determine the processes of self-motivation which enable novice exercisers to become long-term maintainers. This study was designed to extend previous Stages of Change (Prochaska & DiClemente, 1983) research by comparing the Possible Selves (Markus & Nurius, 1986) of individuals at different points within the Maintenance stage of exercise. Participants consisted of female university employees, spouses, and dependents age 35-59 years who volunteered for the study. Participants completed the Stage of Exercise Scale (SOES; Cardinal, 1995) and a self-administered form of the Possible Selves Inventory (Cross & Markus, 1991) which was adapted to address the exercise domain. Women classified by the SOES as being in the Maintenance stage of exercise V=92) were assigned to one of three groups based on the duration of their exercise maintenance (6 months-5 years, 6-10 years, and 11-20 years). The three maintenance groups were compared with regard to the number and category of open-ended and exercise-related possible selves and the self-efficacy and outcome expectancy associated with three focused selves (most important, exercise-related, and exercise-specific). The results indicated that the three maintenance groups did not differ significantly in their possible selves. These findings provide support for the current conceptualization of the Stages of Change Model (Prochaska & Di Clemente, 1983) and suggest that differences between novice and expert maintainers may be behavioral, rather than cognitive, in nature. Several implications for intervention design and suggestions for future research are discussed. / Graduation date: 1998

The purpose of this investigation was to determine the validity and reliability of the Nicholas Manual Muscle Tester (NMMT), a portable dynamometer, as a measure of the isometric strength in women with arthritis. Female subjects (N=13; 66 �� 13.89 yrs.) with arthritis were tested for isometric muscle strength on the shoulder and hip (abduction, adduction, flexion, extension). Subjects were tested on three separate days using NMMT and Kincom 500-H dynamometers. Each subject performed three maximal isometric contractions for each joint action. A visual analog pain scale was used to determine level of pain prior to testing. Reliability values based on intraclass correlations coefficients (R) ranged from .85 to .93., with the exception of shoulder abduction being .49. Validity was determined correlating the mean value of the NMMT score with corresponding Kincom isometric measure. Pearson product moment correlations ranged from (r) .02 to .86, with 4 of 8 values meeting .05 level of significance. Correlation coefficients for pain and isometric force values were inconclusive and ranged from -.305 to .218. Major conclusions were: a) NMMT had high test-retest reliability in this sample; b) NMMT provides little criterion evidence of validity with the Kincom for most movements of hip and shoulder; c) level of pain was not a significant factor in subject reliability. / Graduation date: 1995

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Though an industrialized nation characterized by increasing secularization and liberalization, the Republic of Ireland has a long history of religious and morally-driven politics. Much of Ireland's economic success of the last ten years has been noted as a significant motivator for social change. However, a shift in the Irish moral sphere has been underway for at least thirty years. Despite a flourishing self confidence in National identity, already marginalized women---including drug-users, asylum-seekers from sub-Saharan Africa, and those in economically deprived communities of Greater Dublin---have felt increased social polarization. The cultural and epidemiological boundaries created between the 'healthy' Irish self and the 'dangerous' others have contributed to a unique climate regarding HIV/AIDS and cultural constructions of 'risk'. This anthropological analysis utilizes both political-economic and social constructionist frameworks so that both structural and discursive contributions to the spread of HIV/AIDS are examined. Particularly important are the ways competing discourses shape both practices and conceptions of HIV and the 'other'.

Thirty-seven overweight/obese (BMI: 25-35 kg/m2), premenopausal women that were randomly assigned to either an ad libitum low-carbohydrate (LC) (20% CHO, 30-40% protein, 30-40% fat), or an ad libitum low-fat (LF) (55-60% CHO, 15-20% protein, 20-25% fat) diet.All subjects were given weekly menus matching their assigned macronutrient requirements to aid in meal planning and dietary compliance. Baseline and post-diet measures included height, weight, body composition (DXA), blood lipids [total cholesterol (TC), HDL, LDL, and triglycerides (TG)], and plasma insulin levels. There were no significant group differences in any of the above-listed variables prior to the study. Nineteen women completed the 6-wk study (LC=11, LF=8). Compliance to the diets was adequate as indicated by weekly 24-hr recalls and daily urinary ketone levels. Both groups lost a significant amount of weight and body flat, (P<0.05); and weight and body fat losses were not significantly different between the groups. All groups experienced similar decreases in TG, TC, LDL, HDL, and insulin levels. These results indicate a LC diet is no more effective than a LF diet in promoting favorable changes in body weight, body composition, blood lipids and insulin levels. / Department of Family and Consumer Sciences