Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

Pelvic Pain, Pelvic Organ Prolapse, Urinary And Colorectal Distress Incidence And Relationship To Quality Of Life And Birth Mode, Lori Maria Walton

Lori Maria Walton

Abstract Purpose: To determine the incidence and impact of pelvic pain, pelvic organ prolapse, urinary and colorectal distress and quality of life by birth mode for women in the chronic postpartum period. Study design: Cross-sectional correlational design utilizing purposive sampling of (n=21) female postpartum subjects ages 18-45. Background: Caesarean Section (CS) incidence is reported at 32% nationwide, well above the recommended safe rate of 10% (WHO). Literature is not clear regarding role of birth mode in postpartum symptoms including: pelvic pain, colorectal distress, pelvic organ prolapse, and quality of life. Methods: Data collection took place after IRB approval from Andrews …

Aium Practice Guideline For The Performance Of Pelvic Ultrasound Examinations., Bradley Van Voorhis

Bradley J Van Voorhis

No abstract provided.

Pelvic Floor Symptoms And Lifestyle Factors In Older Women, Catherine Bradley, Colleen Kennedy, I. Nygaard

Colleen Kennedy Stockdale

OBJECTIVES: To measure the prevalence of pelvic floor symptoms in noncare-seeking older women and the association between symptoms and lifestyle factors. METHODS: Women enrolled at one site of the Women's Health Initiative Hormone Therapy clinical trial completed a questionnaire, modified from the Pelvic Floor Distress Inventory, on bladder, bowel, and prolapse symptoms. Individual symptoms and symptom groups were examined in a cross-sectional analysis. RESULTS: In the 297 women who participated, mean age was 68.2 years, mean body mass index (BMI) was 30.2 kg/m(2), and median vaginal parity was 3. The median number of symptoms endorsed was 3 (range 0-18). The …

Frequency Of Private Spiritual Activity And Cardiovascular Risk In Post-Menopausal Women: The Women's Health Initiative, Elena Salmoirago Blotcher, George Fitchett, Kathleen M. Hovey, Eliezer Schnall, Cynthia Thomson, Christopher A. Andrews, Sybil Crawford, Mary Jo O'Sullivan, Stephen Post, Rowan T. Chlebowski, Judith K. Ockene

Sybil L. Crawford

Purpose: Spirituality has been associated with better cardiac autonomic balance, but its association with cardiovascular risk is not well studied. We examined whether more frequent private spiritual activity was associated with reduced cardiovascular risk in postmenopausal women enrolled in the Women’s Health Initiative Observational Study. Methods: Frequency of private spiritual activity (prayer, Bible reading, and meditation) was selfreported at year 5 of follow-up. Cardiovascular outcomes were centrally adjudicated, and cardiovascular risk was estimated from proportional hazards models. Results: Final models included 43,708 women (mean age: 68.9±7.3; median follow-up: 7.0 years) free of cardiac disease through year 5 of follow-up. In …

Division Of General Obstetrics And Gynecology, Thomas Gellhaus

Thomas M Gellhaus

The Division of General Obstetrics and Gynecology provides well-woman care for women of all ages and complete care for pregnancy and birth. We also evaluate and treat gynecologic disorders. We perform office, outpatient and inpatient gynecologic surgery. We offer minimally invasive hysterectomy including total laparoscopic and robotic surgery. Our division is comprised of fourteen obstetrician-gynecologists, four certified nurse midwives, and four advanced nurse practitioners. We are all dedicated to outstanding clinical practice and teaching.

Invisible, Underserved, And Diverse: The Health Of Women In Prison, Janette Taylor, R. Williams, M. Eliason

Janette Y. Taylor

In the United States of America, women are the fastest growing segment of the criminal justice system. They are entering the system with far greater physical and mental health problems than men, but with fewer health services. Additionally, within this expanding population of incarcerated women, are disproportionately represented poor women of color with serious health needs. This article: a) uses an ecosocial model to examine and critique the health and healthcare of women in prison, b) examines social structures that influence incarceration and health status, and c) proposes reconsideration of current prison health services and education.

Colonizing Images And Diagnostic Labels: Oppressive Mechanisms For African American Women's Health, Janette Taylor

Janette Y. Taylor

The purpose of this article is to present colonizing images of African American women and describe how colonizing images and diagnostic labels function together to serve as oppressive mechanisms for African American women's health. The mammy, the matriarch, the welfare mother, the Jezebel, and the Black lady overachiever are representational images of African American women that contribute to how they are viewed and treated within the health care arena.

Assessing Intimate Partner Violence In Incarcerated Women, M. Eliason, Janette Taylor, S. Arndt

Janette Y. Taylor

The purpose of this study to assess the psychometric qualities of a screening instrument for intimate partner violence, the Index of Spouse Abuse (ISA), for use with incarcerated women. Principal components factor analysis was conducted on data collected from 149 incarcerated women. The ISA demonstrated excellent internal consistency with this population and appears to be a psychometrically sound instrument that can be given in a short period of time.

No Resting Place: African American Women At The Crossroads Of Violence, Janette Taylor

Janette Y. Taylor

Seeking safe places after leaving abusive relationships is often an intricate process for African American women. Survivor-victims of gender violence frequently experience ongoing trauma because of race, ethnicity, class, sexual orientation, and other stigmatizing social identities. All too often, women of color must handle leaving the gender violence simultaneously with the ongoing threat of cultural violence. The intersection of gender and cultural violence (e.g., racism, discrimination) complicate African American women's ability to obtain and sustain safe environments. These intersections are critical crossroads in African American women's lives. The results of this womanist and Black feminist study are presented in an …

The Biopsychosocial Correlates Of Chronic Pelvic Pain And Quality Of Life In Women Attending A Specialty Pelvic Pain Clinic, Elisabeth A. Johnson

Elisabeth A Johnson

Background: Chronic pelvic pain (CPP) in women causes significant disability and distress. Like other chronic pain conditions, psychosocial variables likely play as key a role in the development and maintenance of CPP as physiological ones. The purposes of this study were to use the Biopsychosocial model to determine the predictors of pain and quality of life (QOL) and to specifically examine to effect of baseline catastrophizing on 12-month pain and QOL.

Methods: Secondary analysis of baseline and 12-month data collected from women presenting for CPP treatment (n = 673) at a tertiary referral center was performed. Questionnaires assessed medical symptoms, …

Alcohol Dependence, Smoking Status, Reproductive Characteristics, And Bone Mineral Density In Premenopausal Women, M. Clark, M. Sowers

M. Kathleen Clark

OBJECTIVE: The overall purpose of this study was to compare bone mineral density of the lumbar spine and femoral neck between premenopausal women who were alcohol dependent and those who were not, considering potential confounding effects of cigarette smoking and selective reproductive characteristics which may influence bone mineral density. DESIGN: Matched case-control. SETTING: Eastern Iowa community-based center for the treatment of chemical dependencies. POPULATION: Case subjects consisted of 25 Caucasian women, aged 20 to 40 years, who were recruited from women undergoing voluntary inpatient treatment for alcohol dependence. Control subjects were selected from women who participated in the 1992 follow-up …

Appalachian Women: Health Beliefs, Self-Care, And Basic Conditioning Factors, Ida Slusher, Fletcher Withrow, M. Whitaker

Ida Slusher

The purposes of this study were to: (a) describe the health beliefs and self-care of Appalachian women; and (b) describe the relationships among health beliefs, self-care, and the basic conditioning factors of Appalachian women. Orem's SCDNT was used as the theory for this study. This study used qualitative and quantitative methodologies. The study participants included 129 Appalachian women. Health beliefs and self-care were described. Significant correlations were found between components of the basic conditioning factors and definition of health beliefs and self-care. The outcomes from this research study support that Appalachian women do participate in self-care in promoting their health.

Colloquium - Gender, Law And Health Care: New Perspectives For Teaching And Scholarship: The Role Of Gender In Law And Health Care, Karen H. Rothenberg

Karen H. Rothenberg

No abstract provided.

Feminism, Law, And Bioethics, Karen H. Rothenberg

Karen H. Rothenberg

Feminist legal theory provides a healthy skepticism toward legal doctrine and insists that we reexamine even formally gender-neutral rules to uncover problematic assumptions behind them. The article first outlines feminist legal theory from the perspectives of liberal, cultural, and radical feminism. Examples of how each theory influences legal practice, case law, and legislation are highlighted. Each perspective is then applied to a contemporary bioethical issue, egg donation. Following a brief discussion of the common themes shared by feminist jurisprudence, the article incorporates a narrative reflecting on the integration of the common feminist themes in the context of the passage of …