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Full-Text Articles in Medicine and Health Sciences

Modeling The Effects Of Intimate Partner Violence And Access To Resources On Women’S Health In The Early Years After Leaving An Abusive Partner, Marilyn Ford-Gilboe, Judith Wuest, Colleen Varcoe, Lorraine Davies, Marilyn Merritt-Gray, Jacquelyn Campbell, Piotr Wilk Jul 2013

Modeling The Effects Of Intimate Partner Violence And Access To Resources On Women’S Health In The Early Years After Leaving An Abusive Partner, Marilyn Ford-Gilboe, Judith Wuest, Colleen Varcoe, Lorraine Davies, Marilyn Merritt-Gray, Jacquelyn Campbell, Piotr Wilk

Lorraine Davies

Although the negative health effects of intimate partner violence (IPV) are well documented, little is known about the mechanisms or determinants of health outcomes for women who had left their abusive partners. Using data collected from a community sample of 309 Canadian women who left an abusive partner, we examined whether women's personal, social and economic resources mediate the relationships between the severity of past IPV and current health using structural equation modelling. A good fit was found between the model and data for hypothesized models of mental and physical health. In the mental health model, both the direct and …


Marginalised Mothers: Lesbian Women Negotiating Heteronormative Healthcare Services, Brenda Hayman, Lesley Wilkes, Elizabeth J. Halcomb, Debra Jackson Jul 2013

Marginalised Mothers: Lesbian Women Negotiating Heteronormative Healthcare Services, Brenda Hayman, Lesley Wilkes, Elizabeth J. Halcomb, Debra Jackson

Elizabeth Jane Halcomb Professor

Lesbian mothers share mainstream existence with other mothers by virtue of their motherhood, but remain marginalised by their non-heterosexual identity. This paper will draw on the qualitative findings of a recent Australian study that examined the experiences of lesbian mothers. Using a story-sharing method, data were collected using three methods; a demographic data sheet, in-depth semi-structured interviews and journaling. The findings demonstrated that participants experienced various forms of homophobia when interfacing with healthcare services and providers and included exclusion, heterosexual assumption, inappropriate questioning and refusal of services. Strategies used to avoid homophobia included screening and crusading.


Bra-Breast Forces Generated In Women With Large Breasts While Standing And During Treadmill Running: Implications For Sports Bra Design, Deirdre Mcghee, Julie Steele, William Zealey, George Takacs Jul 2013

Bra-Breast Forces Generated In Women With Large Breasts While Standing And During Treadmill Running: Implications For Sports Bra Design, Deirdre Mcghee, Julie Steele, William Zealey, George Takacs

George Takacs

This study aimed to determine the bra–breast forces generated in women with large breasts while these women wore different levels of breast support during both upright standing and treadmill running. The mean bilateral vertical component of the bra–breast force in standing was 11.7 ± 4.6 N, whereas during treadmill running the mean unilateral bra–breast force was 8.7 ± 6.4 N and 14.7 ± 10.3 N in the high and low support conditions, respectively. Furthermore, breast mass was significantly correlated with vertical breast displacement (R2 = 0.62) in the high support condition. The wide range of breast masses of women with …


What Influences Australian Women To Not Drink During Pregnancy?, Sandra C. Jones, Joanne Telenta Jun 2013

What Influences Australian Women To Not Drink During Pregnancy?, Sandra C. Jones, Joanne Telenta

Sandra Jones

There is a strong social norm against consuming alcohol during pregnancy. However, many women do not realise they are pregnant until the sixth week and are not provided with information about the risks of consuming alcohol until they visit a health professional in the second trimester. We conducted semi-structured interviews with 12 midwives and 12 pregnant women from two regions inNSWin 2008–09 to explore attitudes towards alcohol consumption during pregnancy, and the factors that may encourage or inhibit women from following the recommendation to abstain from drinking while pregnant. Both groups noted the social issues around pregnant women consuming alcohol …


'If Only...': Counterfactual Thinking Heightens Women's Sense Of Responsibility Regarding Mammography Screening, Amy Y. Chan, Sandra C. Jones, Karen T. Rich Jun 2013

'If Only...': Counterfactual Thinking Heightens Women's Sense Of Responsibility Regarding Mammography Screening, Amy Y. Chan, Sandra C. Jones, Karen T. Rich

Sandra Jones

The present study tested the prediction that counterfactual thinking (thoughts of if only&) provides a vivid means for women to imagine whatcould have been done differently in hypothetical breast cancer scenarios for the protagonist to avoid their predicament.This should then encourage themto adopt a more preventative approach to and take greater personal responsibility toward their own breast health.Women aged 50 and older (N=181) read either a standard pamphlet on mammography rescreening or one containing counterfactually framed scenarios.The latter depicted fictitiouswomen whose failure to have routine mammograms contributed to their diagnosis with advance-stage breast cancer.The counterfactual group subsequently indicated greater feelings …


Improved Iodine Status In Breastfeeding Women Following Mandatory Fortification, Samantha Axford, Karen Charlton, Heather Yeatman, Gary Ma Apr 2013

Improved Iodine Status In Breastfeeding Women Following Mandatory Fortification, Samantha Axford, Karen Charlton, Heather Yeatman, Gary Ma

Karen E. Charlton

Mandatory iodine fortification of salt used in the bread-making process was introduced in Australia in October 2009 at levels to meet the iodine needs of the general Australian population. An iodine supplement of 150 μg each day is recommended to meet the additional needs of pregnancy and lactation.1,2 As the iodine status of pregnant women in Australia has been found to be inadequate,3–5 it can be anticipated that many women commence lactation in an iodine-depleted state. Thus, it is important to determine the iodine status of breastfeeding mothers.


Poor Knowledge And Practices Related To Iodine Nutrition During Pregnancy And Lactation In Australian Women: Pre-And Post-Iodine Fortification, Karen Charlton, Heather Yeatman, Catherine Lucas, Samantha Axford, Luke Gemming, Fiona Houweling, Alison Goodfellow, Gary Ma Apr 2013

Poor Knowledge And Practices Related To Iodine Nutrition During Pregnancy And Lactation In Australian Women: Pre-And Post-Iodine Fortification, Karen Charlton, Heather Yeatman, Catherine Lucas, Samantha Axford, Luke Gemming, Fiona Houweling, Alison Goodfellow, Gary Ma

Karen E. Charlton

A before-after review was undertaken to assess whether knowledge and practices related to iodine nutrition, supplementation and fortification has improved in Australian women since the introduction of mandatory iodine fortification in 2009. Surveys of pregnant (n = 139) and non-pregnant (n = 75) women in 2007-2008 are compared with surveys of pregnant (n = 147) and lactating women (n = 60) one to two years post-fortification in a regional area of New South Wales, Australia. A self-administered questionnaire was completed and dietary intake of iodine was assessed using a validated food frequency questionnaire. A generally poor knowledge about the role …


Urinary Sodium Excretion, Dietary Sources Of Sodium Intake And Knowledge And Practices Around Salt Use In A Group Of Healthy Australian Women, Karen Charlton, Heather Yeatman, Fiona Houweling, Sophie Guenon Apr 2013

Urinary Sodium Excretion, Dietary Sources Of Sodium Intake And Knowledge And Practices Around Salt Use In A Group Of Healthy Australian Women, Karen Charlton, Heather Yeatman, Fiona Houweling, Sophie Guenon

Karen E. Charlton

Objective: Strategies that aim to facilitate reduction of the salt content of foods in Australia are hampered by sparse and outdated data on habitual salt intakes. This study assessed habitual sodium intake through urinary excretion analyses, and identified food sources of dietary sodium, as well as knowledge and practices related to salt use in healthy women. Methods: Cross-sectional, convenient sample of 76 women aged 20 to 55 years, Wollongong, NSW. Data included a 24 hour urine sample, three-day food diary and a self-administered questionnaire. Results: Mean Na excretion equated to a NaCl (salt) intake of 6.41 (SD=2.61) g/day; 43% had …


Oral And Injectable Contraception Use And Risk Of Hiv Acquisition Among Women In Sub-Saharan Africa, Sandra Mccoy, Wenjing Zheng, Elizabeth Montgomery, Kelly Blanchard, Ariane Van Der Straten, Guy De Bruyn, Nancy Padian Mar 2013

Oral And Injectable Contraception Use And Risk Of Hiv Acquisition Among Women In Sub-Saharan Africa, Sandra Mccoy, Wenjing Zheng, Elizabeth Montgomery, Kelly Blanchard, Ariane Van Der Straten, Guy De Bruyn, Nancy Padian

Wenjing Zheng

OBJECTIVE:: Evaluate the effect of oral and injectable hormonal contraception (HC) on the risk of HIV acquisition among women in South Africa and Zimbabwe. DESIGN:: Secondary data analysis of 4913 sexually active women aged 18-49 years followed for up to 24 months in the MIRA phase III effectiveness trial of the diaphragm and lubricant gel for HIV prevention. METHODS:: Participants were interviewed quarterly about contraception and sexual behavior and were tested for pregnancy, HIV, and other sexually transmitted infections. We used a Cox proportional hazards marginal structural model, weighted by the inverse probability of HC use, to compare the risk …


Calcium And Vitamin D For The Reproductive Female, Rachel A. Maassen Mar 2013

Calcium And Vitamin D For The Reproductive Female, Rachel A. Maassen

Rachel A Maassen

The importance of calcium as well as its interdependence upon vitamin D is well established. Vitamin D acts via the vitamin D receptor, which is found in 37 different human tissues. Because of its rather ubiquitous localization, vitamin D is the topic of a great deal of associative research. However, caution must be exercised in interpreting these initial studies until clear evidence for causality becomes available. The purpose of this article is to review some of the known vitamin D and calcium associations as well as the current guidelines for calcium and vitamin D supplementation.


Oat Β-Glucan Supplementation Does Not Enhance The Effectiveness Of An Energy-Restricted Diet In Overweight Women, Eleanor J. Beck, Linda C. Tapsell, Marijka J. Batterham, Susan M. Tosh, Xu-Feng Huang Feb 2013

Oat Β-Glucan Supplementation Does Not Enhance The Effectiveness Of An Energy-Restricted Diet In Overweight Women, Eleanor J. Beck, Linda C. Tapsell, Marijka J. Batterham, Susan M. Tosh, Xu-Feng Huang

Xu-Feng Huang

Epidemiological evidence shows an inverse relationship between dietary fibre intake and body weight gain. Oat β-glucan, a soluble fibre alters appetite hormones and subjective satiety in acute meal test studies, but its effects have not been demonstrated with chronic consumption. The present study aimed to test the effects in women of two different doses of oat β-glucan on weight loss and hormones associated with appetite regulation. In a 3-month parallel trial, sixty-six overweight females were randomised into one of three 2 MJ energy-deficit diets: a control and two interventions including 5–6 g or 8–9 g β-glucan. Anthropometric and metabolic variables …