The association between visual trajectories and cognitive impairment: insights from the Taiwan Longitudinal Study on Aging.

BACKGROUND: Visual impairment (VI) was associated with cognitive impairment. However, different visual trajectories might contribute to different risks of cognitive decline in the elderly. AIMS: This study aimed to evaluate the association between visual trajectories and cognitive impairment. METHODS: Four thousand two hundred eight community-dwelling elder adults were identified from Waves IV-VII (1999-2011) survey of the Taiwan Longitudinal Study on Aging (TLSA). Cognitive function was determined using the Short Portable Mental Status Questionnaire (SPMSQ) scores. Visual impairment was self-reported and visual trajectories were assessed in at least two waves of the survey. Ordinal logistic regression was performed to estimate adjusted odds ratios (adjORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs). RESULTS: Participants with visual trajectory from no VI to VI had significantly higher risk of cognitive impairment with an adjOR of 1.69 (95% CI 1.12-2.57) than participants without VI. Compared to participants without VI, participants with persistent VI (adjOR 1.32; 95% CI 0.89-1.96) and with visual trajectory from VI to no VI (adjOR 1.25; 95% CI 0.83-1.88) were not associated with cognitive impairment. A protective association between eyeglasses use and cognitive impairment (adjOR 0.69; 95% CI 0.55-0.87) was found in this study. Importantly, cataract was associated with higher risk of cognitive impairment (adjOR 1.34; 95% CI 1.10-1.62). However, nonsurgical cataract treatment did not show protective effect on cognitive impairment in patients with cataract. CONCLUSIONS AND DISCUSSION: Visual trajectory from no VI to VI is a significant risk factor for cognitive impairment that physicians should pay special attention during community screening.

Factors associated with the intention to undergo Pap smear testing in the rural areas of Indonesia: a health belief model.

PURPOSES: This study aimed to understand the influence of health beliefs, demographic factors, and health characteristics on the intention to undergo Pap smear testing among women in rural areas of Indonesia. METHODS: A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted and 687 married women participated in the study. A convenience sampling was applied to recruit the participants from community health centres in a rural region in Indonesia. Self-reported data using the Health Beliefs Model Scale for Cervical Cancer and Pap Smear Test was collected to assess the health beliefs. Independent t-tests, simple logistic regressions, and a hierarchical logistic regression with 3 steps were run. Statistical significance for analysis was set at p < 0.05. RESULTS: The mean age of the participants was 42 years (SD = 8.4). Among the participants, 81% of the women had never undergone a Pap smear test, and 61% (n = 422) of the women reported a high intention of receiving a Pap smear test. Income and education Health beliefs regarding Pap smear testing were different between women who had low and high intentions to undergo Pap smear testing. Health beliefs, such as perceived benefits, severity, barriers to Pap smear testing, and health motivation for a Pap smear test were associated with the intention to undergo Pap smear testing among rural Indonesian women. Overall, the hierarchical multiple regression with 3 steps containing demographic, health characteristics, and health belief variables accounted for 31% variance of the intention to undergo Pap smear test among the Indonesian rural women. CONCLUSIONS: Low screening rates of cervical cancer and high intentions to do the screening exist among rural Indonesian women. Health beliefs significantly affect the rural women's intention of Pap smear testing in Indonesia.

Cervical cancer is a leading cancer among women and a significant cause of mortality for females around the world, including Indonesia. Globally, the screening rate for cervical cancer among women in rural areas remains low. In Indonesia, the incidence and the mortality from cervical cancer remain high compared to other female cancers. The Indonesian government has offered a free Pap smear screening to women since 2014, but the screening rate is still low, around 28%.A total of 687 married women were included in the study. Approximately 80% of Indonesian women living in rural areas have never undergone a Pap smear test, and 60% of women reported a high intention of receiving a Pap smear test. Education, income, previous experience of Pap smear testing, a friend with a history of cervical cancer, perceived severity, perceived benefits, perceived barriers, and health motivations were significantly associated with the intention of Pap smear testing. Low screening rates of cervical cancer and high intentions toward the cervical cancer screening exist among rural Indonesian women. Health beliefs significantly affect the women's intention of Pap smear testing.

Is Brisk Walking an Effective Physical Activity for promoting Taiwanese Adolescents' Mental Health?

PURPOSE: The aim of the study was to examine if brisk walking is an effective physical activity for promoting adolescents' mental health. DESIGN AND METHODS: This quasi-experimental study employs a one-group repeated-measure design. Sixty-four volunteer students in 10th to 12th grade were recruited from a high school in central Taiwan, and they participated in a brisk-walking program for 12 weeks. Psychological functioning was measured by self-concept, anxiety, and depression scores (Beck Youth Inventories-Second Edition; BYI-II). Measurements were conducted at baseline, and 4, 10 and 16 weeks after baseline. The effects of the program were analyzed using generalized estimating equations (GEE). RESULTS: Significant decreases were seen in anxiety and depression and an increase in positive self-concept. The effect of physical activity on anxiety was clear and could be observed after 6 weeks of the brisk-walking program. Brisk walking for 30-, 60-, and 90-min sessions was examined, with the 60-min session proving more effective than shorter or longer sessions. CONCLUSIONS: The results suggest that a 12-week brisk-walking program may be effective both at decreasing depression and anxiety and at improving self-concept. The study also showed that anxiety could be considered a risk factor for depression. Further, self-concept was found to be a mediator acting on the psychosocial mechanism of physical activity promoting mental health in adolescents. PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS: While most physical activity programs in past studies combined different activities, the present study demonstrated that brisk walking alone is a simple, effective exercise regime that promotes adolescents' mental health.

Significant association of elevated concentration of plasma YKL-40 with disease severity in patients with pelvic inflammatory disease.

INTRODUCTION: To date, no study reports the implication of YKL-40 in pelvic inflammatory disease (PID). Therefore, we investigate the levels of plasma YKL-40 in patients with PID and further associate its expression with the severity of disease. METHODS: We designed a hospital-based case-control study with approximate 1:1 ratio and consecutively recruited 64 patients with PID and 70 control women. We collected blood samples from 64 women with PID before and after they received treatment and 70 control women to detect levels of plasma YKL-40 and C-reactive protein (CRP) as well as white blood cell and neutrophil counts. RESULTS: The results revealed that levels of plasma YKL-40 were significantly elevated in patients with PID as compared to those in controls (38.36 vs. 21.69 ng/ml, P = 0.001) but the significant difference was restricted to women aged 30 years or old after age stratification (56.75 vs. 23.61 ng/ml, P ≤ 0.001). It declined significantly after they received treatment (median: 38.36 vs. 27.54 ng/ml; P ≤ 0.001). Although both plasma YKL-40 and CRP were elevated in patients with tubo-ovarian abscess, PID patients with surgery exhibited higher YKL-40 concentration than those without surgery (median: 82.05 vs. 30.19 ng/ml, P = 0.005) and only plasma YKL-40 was significantly associated with the length of the hospital stay (P ≤ 0.001, R = 0.604). CONCLUSION: We conclude that once individuals are diagnosed to have PID, YKL-40 may act as a biomarker to predict the severity and clinical outcome of the disease.

[Case-control study of risk factors for hip fracture in the elderly].

BACKGROUND: The elderly (> = 65 years of age) accounted for 10.4% of Taiwan's population in 2008. Hip-fracture-related hospitalizations cost the National Health Insurance Bureau around NT$1.3 billion annually. Hip fractures currently account for one-fifth of all fractures, and this proportion has been rising by 2.8 % annually. Hip fracture-associated mortality has been reported as 8.4-36% during the first post-fracture year. Hip fractures in the elderly is an issue that deserves further elucidation and study. PURPOSE: We investigated whether variables including gender, age, body mass index, lifestyle, and medical history were risk factors for elderly hip fractures. METHODS: We used a case control study and collected data via retrospective chart review and telephone questionnaires. Hip fracture risk factor data collected included demographic, lifestyle, and medical history data. RESULTS: Results showed average age in the hip fracture group as significantly higher than the non-hip fracture group and body mass index as significantly lower in the hip fracture than the non-hip fracture group (p < .05). Gender, history of alcoholism, exercise habits, history of stroke, diabetes mellitus, hypertension, depression, and past fractures were identified as significant hip fracture risk factors. CONCLUSIONS / IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE: This study identified critical hip fracture risk factors in the elderly. Results provide a reference for prevention and health education. Reducing hip fractures, in addition to improving daily life quality for elderly individuals, can significantly reduce medical and social expenses.

Factors Associated with Attitudes toward Aging among Taiwanese Middle-Aged and Older Adults: Based on Population-Representative National Data.

In middle-aged and older adults, attitude toward aging (ATA) exerts significant influences on their current and future health. For health promotion to be successful, participants' ATA requires health care providers' attention. Knowing the factors associated with ATA can facilitate future studies to investigate effective interventions. The aim of this study was to identify the factors associated with ATA in middle-aged and older adults. This cross-sectional study analyzed data of a nationally representative sample of adults aged 58 years and older collected in a population-based longitudinal study: the Taiwan Longitudinal Study on Aging (TLSA). To identify the factors associated with ATA, we investigated demographic factors (age, gender, education, marital and cohabitation status, and financial satisfaction status) and health-related factors (number of co-morbidities, depression, physical function dependency) with bivariate analysis and multiple regression analysis. To identify the activities beneficial to ATA over and above demographic and health-related factors, various activities (exercise, volunteer service, and leisure activities) were each examined individually by multiple regression analysis. The factors detrimental to ATA were advanced age, a higher number of co-morbidities, living alone, depression, and dependence on physical function. Those beneficial to ATA were higher education, financial satisfaction, physical exercise, volunteer service, and six leisure activities.

Childbearing Perceptions Among Taiwanese Women Undergoing In Vitro Fertilization Treatment: A Qualitative Study.

INTRODUCTION: Some infertile women are eager to have children. The purpose of this study was to explore the childbearing perceptions of women who undergo in vitro fertilization (IVF) treatment. METHODOLOGY: Qualitative phenomenological data were collected from 20 infertile women who received IVF treatment in Taiwan. We conducted one-on-one in-depth interviews with the women. Audio recordings were transcribed as textual data and analyzed using Giorgi content analysis until saturation was achieved. RESULTS: Three themes were identified: important tasks related to practicing the family life cycle, ensuring a tight circle of marriage, and the hope to change health. DISCUSSION: Perceptions regarding childbearing in women undergoing IVF treatment in the context of the traditional Chinese fertility culture are multifaceted. To improve the overall integrity of health care provided to infertile women, nurses should be encouraged to consider the cultural connotations and needs of infertile women in the clinic.

Effects of Problem-Based Learning Strategies on Undergraduate Nursing Students' Self-Evaluation of Their Core Competencies: A Longitudinal Cohort Study.

To respond to patients' increasing demands and strengthen nursing professionals' capabilities, nursing students are expected to develop problem-solving skills before they enter the workforce. Problem-based learning (PBL) is expected to provide effective simulation scenarios and realistic clinical conditions to help students achieve those learning goals. This article aims to explore the effects of PBL strategies on nursing students' self-evaluation of core competencies. This longitudinal cohort survey study evaluated 322 nursing students attending Chung Shan Medical University, Taiwan, in 2013 and 2014, where PBL teaching strategies are used in all four undergraduate years from freshman to senior. Based on their undergraduate academic levels, students were categorized into three groups- one-year PBL exposure, two-year PBL exposure, and three-year exposure. A core competency questionnaire was administered twice to ask participants to self-assess five professional competencies: learning attitude, problem identification, information analysis, execution, and life-long learning. The results showed that students with the longest exposure to PBL (Group 3) had higher self-evaluated scores for all core competencies than the other groups, except for the execution competency. The mean total competency score increased by 0.12 points between the pre-and-test. In addition, the mean score increased significantly more in Group 3 than in Groups 1 and 2. These trends were consistent for the information analysis, execution, and life-long learning competencies. In conclusion, the changes in the self-evaluated scores between groups indicate PBL strategies effectively improve nursing students' core competencies. The longest exposure group reported higher self-evaluated core competency scores than the other groups, especially for the information analysis, execution, and life-long learning competencies.

Gender role moderates correlation between learning needs and behavioural intention of sexual health care in female nurses.

AIM: This study evaluated the correlation between learning needs and behavioural intention of sexual health care in female Registered Nurses and to assess the moderating effect of gender role on this relationship. DESIGN: In this cross-sectional questionnaire-based survey, a convenience sampling of female Registered Nurses was included from Chung Shan Medical University Hospital, Taiwan. METHODS: Three questionnaires were used to obtain self-reported data on learning needs, behavioural intention and gender role. RESULTS: Based on gender role scores, 11.8% of participants were feminine, 10.0% were masculine, 31.0% were androgynous and 47.2% were undifferentiated. Significant positive correlations between learning needs and behaviour intention were observed in the total population as well as in undifferentiated, feminine and androgynous nurses (all p < .05). Learning needs were positively associated with the behavioural intention of sexual health care in female nurses, which was moderated by gender role (F = 2.868, p = .036).

Self-rated health trajectory and frailty among community-dwelling older adults: evidence from the Taiwan Longitudinal Study on Aging (TLSA).

OBJECTIVES: Self-rated health (SRH) is an assessment and predictor of health based on an individual's general condition; however, evidence of the value of SRH for predicting frailty remains scarce for older Asian adults. This study aimed to evaluate the relationship between SRH score trajectory and frailty among older individuals in Taiwan. DESIGN: An 8-year retrospective cohort study. SETTING: Data were retrieved from the Taiwan Longitudinal Study on Aging from 1999 to 2007. PARTICIPANTS: Respondents aged 53-69 years old who were not frail or disabled in 1999 (n=1956). PRIMARY AND SECONDARY OUTCOME MEASURES: Frailty was defined using the Fried criteria. The group-based trajectory modelling technique was used to estimate SRH trajectories. Logistic regression analysis was used to examine the associations between changes in SRH and frailty. RESULTS: Four SRH trajectory classes were identified across the 8-year follow-up: 232 participants (11.9%) were classified into the constantly poor SRH group, 1123 (57.4%) into the constantly fair SRH group, 335 (17.1%) into the constantly good SRH group and 266 (13.6%) into the good-to-fair SRH group. After adjusting for gender, age, level of education, income, social participation, health behaviours and major comorbidities, it was found that age, poor income satisfaction, without job and constantly poor SRH were associated with increased risk of frailty, while constantly good SRH (OR 0.04, 95% CI (0.01 to 0.32)) and good-to-fair SRH (OR 0.19, 95% CI (0.06 to 0.63)) were associated with reduced risks of frailty. CONCLUSIONS: Constantly poor SRH was associated with an increased risk of frailty in older age. SRH in older adults should be recognised as a predictive tool for future frailty. Diet and exercise interventions may help to prevent frailty among high-risk older individuals with constantly low SRH.

Exploring the Relationship of Health Beliefs and Self-Care Behaviors Related to Diabetic Foot Ulcers of Type II Diabetes Mellitus Patients: A Cross-Sectional Study.

OBJECTIVE: Diabetic foot ulcers are an invasive complication of diabetes and are increasing. This study investigates the relationship between health beliefs and foot self-care behaviors, among people with type II diabetes. METHODS: A cross-sectional design was adopted, and 98 patients were recruited from outpatient clinics of the endocrine department. The questionnaires of Demographic, Diabetes Foot Ulcer Health Belief Scale (Health Beliefs, DFUHBS), and Diabetes Foot Self-Care Behavior Scale (Self Care, DFSBS) were used to collect data. RESULTS: Among the subjects living alone or who had diabetes less than ten years, the score of DFSBS was significantly lower than among those living with families or who had diabetes for ten years or more. The frequency of performing diabetes foot self-care behavior, among males was lower than among females significantly. Although there was no significant difference in the Health Belief total score, there were differences in the benefit subscale. Those who had junior high school level or less or had diabetes less than ten years, their score was significantly lower than those with senior high school level or more or had diabetes ten years or more. In a multivariable regression model, living with family, diabetes duration, and health beliefs explained 42.9% of the variance of diabetic-foot self-care behaviors. CONCLUSIONS: Living alone, shorter duration of diabetes, male gender, and lower health belief scores predict less adequate diabetic foot self-care behavior. Health care providers should assess these factors when designing individual care plans.

Prelicensure Nursing Students' COVID-19 Attitude Impact on Nursing Career Decision during Pandemic Threat in Taiwan: A Cross-Sectional Study.

The COVID-19 pandemic may cause a nursing shortage. Prelicensure nursing students who are exposed to high-stress COVID-19 events are related to defective career decision-making. This study validated the COVID-19 attitude scale and clarified how their attitudes about COVID-19 affected their behavioral intentions toward career decision-making. We conducted a cross-sectional study and recruited a convenience sample of 362 prelicensure nursing students from Northern and Central Taiwan. Two measurements were applied, including the Nursing Students Career Decision-making instrument and COVID-19 attitude scale. We used AMOS (version 22.0) to perform a confirmatory factor analysis. The Cronbach α of the COVID-19 attitude scale was 0.74 and consisted of four factors. The most positive attitude was the nursing belief factor, and the least positive factor was emotional burden. Prelicensure nursing students' COVID-19 attitudes were significantly positively associated with their career decision-making attitudes and perceived control (ß = 0.41 and ß = 0.40, respectively; p < 0.001). All the key latent variables explained significantly 23% of the variance in the career decision-making behavioral intentions module. In conclusion, the COVID-19 attitude scale is valid. Although the prelicensure nursing students' COVID-19 attitudes had no direct effect on career decision-making intentions, they had a direct effect on career decision-making attitudes and the perceived control.

The effect of multimedia health education on pain and anxiety in women undergoing mammography in Taiwan.

OBJECTIVE: Breast cancer is the most common cancer among women in Taiwan. However, the discomfort of receiving mammograms reduces the willingness to screen. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This study using a quasi-experimental design and recruited 150 participants in a medical center, Taiwan. In the control group, only provided traditional health education sheets, the experimental group has joined the intervention of multimedia health education. State-Trait Anxiety Inventory and Visual Analogue Scale, respectively, were used to compare the differences in anxiety and pain between the two groups before and after receiving mammography. RESULTS: After the intervention, the experimental group's state anxiety score was significantly lower than that of the control group (30.63 ± 8.43 vs. 33.77 ± 10.74, p < .05). However, there was no significant difference in pain scores (4.13 ± 2.37 vs. 4.57 ± 2.31; p = .25). CONCLUSIONS: Younger, prior experience with mammography, and high trait anxiety affect pain and state anxiety of women undergoing mammography. The multimedia health education intervention could reduce anxiety effectively, but it does not significantly relieve the pain undergoing mammography.

Late-career unemployment and risk of frailty among older adults in Taiwan: An 8-year population-based cohort study.

AIM: To evaluate whether late-career unemployment is associated with increased physical frailty among older adults in Taiwan by the design of a population-based cohort study. METHODS: Data were retrieved from the Taiwan Longitudinal Study on Aging. The study examined data from the period 1999 to 2007. A total of 652 subjects were included in the final analysis, and they were categorized as normally employed or unemployed depending on their employment status in 1999. Frailty was defined using the Fried criteria. Multiple confounding factors were adjusted in a multilevel analysis. RESULTS: The average age of the participants in 1999 was 59.0 years. A total of 491 participants were normally employed, and 161 participants were unemployed. After adjustment for gender, age, level of education, income, marital status, and number of chronic diseases, late-career unemployment was associated with increased frailty [odds ratio (OR) = 1.61; 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.00-2.59]. The risk of developing frailty was higher for participants who were unemployed during late career and had poor self-rated health [OR = 3.54; 95% CI = 1.37-9.20]. CONCLUSIONS: Late-career unemployment is associated with increased frailty, especially for those who also have poor self-rated health. Older adults should be encouraged to maintain normal employment during the later stages of their career before retirement. Employers should apply strategies to prevent possible late-career unemployment, and the government should provide resources and help to unemployed older workers so that they can minimize poor health outcomes in late life. Geriatr Gerontol Int 2021; 21: 353-358.

Birth outcomes and risk factors in adolescent pregnancies: results of a Taiwanese national survey.

BACKGROUND: This study explores birth outcomes and determinants in adolescent pregnancies, using subjects drawn from the Taiwan Birth Cohort Study (TBCS) from 2005. METHODS: Through completed interviews and surveys with mothers or other family members, differences in birth outcomes and personal, pregnancy and social profiles of mothers were analyzed. RESULTS: A total of 533 adolescent mothers (<20 years old) and 9347 adult mothers (20-34 years old) were included in our study. There was a significantly higher incidence of low birthweight (LBW) (<2500 g, 10.2% vs 5.6%) and premature birth (<37 weeks, 14.8% vs 8.6%) in the adolescent group. When adjusted for covariates in the multiple-variable model, youth remained a risk factor for LBW (OR = 1.50, 95%CI 1.09, 2.07) and premature delivery (OR = 1.42, 95%CI 1.07, 1.89). Age, prenatal care and weight gain during pregnancy are important predictors of LBW and premature birth. CONCLUSION: Adolescent pregnancy carries a high-risk of LBW and premature birth. Inadequate prenatal care and weight gain during pregnancy are contributing factors that could be improved through strategies of health education, family support and case management.

Grief responses and coping strategies among infertile women after failed in vitro fertilization treatment.

Reproductive technology has increased the childbearing potential for many infertile women, but in vitro fertilization (IVF) failures are common, which often trigger grief responses and coping strategies to manage the stressful life event. The present cross-sectional study investigated 66 women who had experienced at least one failure with IVF treatment. The data were gathered by a self-administered structured questionnaire, and included the participant's personal profile, grief responses and the Jalowiec's coping scale. The most common grief response among the respondents was bargaining, followed by acceptance, depression, anger, denial, and isolation. The order of coping strategies used, from highest-to-lowest, were confrontative, optimistic, self-reliant, fatalistic, supportive, evasive, palliative, and emotive. Use and self-perceived effectiveness among all coping strategies had a high correlation, except emotion. Bargaining, the most common grief response, was associated with a variety of coping strategies. All coping strategies were correlated with grief responses. The results of identifying the grief responses and associated coping strategies of women who have undergone failed IVF treatment may assist nurses and other health care professionals in their efforts to provide appropriate information, care and psychological support.

The Relationship Between Gender Role Orientation and Sexual Health Care in Taiwanese Nurses: A Structural Equation Model.

INTRODUCTION: Patients' sexual concerns are private, sensitive issues, and providing sexual health care (SHC) is a legitimate area of concern for the nursing practice. AIMS: This study tests a structural equation model for factors that affect SHC among Taiwanese nurses. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was performed between August 2014 and July 2015. A total of 471 registered nurses from a medical center in Taiwan were enrolled in this study. All nurses participated anonymously and completed 3 questionnaires: Nursing Attitude in Sexual Health Care scale, Nursing Intervention in Sexual Health scale, and Gender Role Orientation scale. The Permission-Limited Information-Specific Suggestions-Intensive Therapy model based on scale was application, and theory of planned behavior was used to examine the relationship of these 3 scales in nurses. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: SHC surveys were developed for nurses. These valid and reliable instruments included Nursing Attitude in Sexual Health Care, Nursing Intervention in Sexual Health, and Gender Role Orientation. RESULTS: The fitted structural equation model was valid. The construct reliability of latent variables ranged from 0.730 to 0.942, which met the requirement of 0.70. The attitude about SHC (ß = 0.182, P < .001), subjective norms on SHC (ß = 0.146, P < .001), and confidence about SHC (ß = 0.583, P < .001) had significant effects on the behavioral intention to provide SHC. Subsequently, the behavioral intention to provide SHC had a significant, direct effect on the behavioral frequency of providing SHC (ß = 0.356, P < .001). However, gender role orientation was not significantly associated with behavioral intention and behavioral frequency to provide SHC. CONCLUSIONS: The good fit for the structural equation model suggests that the predictors of behavioral intention and behaviors of providing SHC include attitude, subjective norms, and perceived control. The stronger behavioral intention of providing SHC resulted in a higher frequency of providing SHC. However, the relationship between gender role orientation and SHC had no significant effect. Huang C-Y, Liou C-F, Lee S-H, et al. The Relationship Between Gender Role Orientation and Sexual Health Care in Taiwanese Nurses: A Structural Equation Model. Sex Med 2020;8:565-573.

Differences in the Sexual Function and Sexual Healthcare Needs of Pregnant Women Who Underwent in Vitro Fertilization and Women Who Conceived Naturally at Each Trimester: A Prospective Cohort Study.

INTRODUCTION: Infertility may negatively impact sexual function. Women with fertility problems usually prioritize treatment for infertility, but their sexual function in each trimester of pregnancy is poorly researched. AIM: To compare the sexual function and sexual healthcare needs of women who underwent successful in vitro fertilization (IVF group) and women who conceived naturally (CN group) during each trimester. METHODS: Longitudinal prospective cohort study was conducted from August 2016 to July 2018. The IVF group (n = 100) was recruited from a leading reproductive treatment center; the CN group (n = 100), at the prenatal clinic of a medical center in central Taiwan. Questionnaires were mailed to women in the 10th-11th gestational week; 70 women in the IVF group and 75 in the CN group completed all 3 questionnaires, during the 10th-11th, 20th-21st, and 30th-31st gestational weeks. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Female Sexual Function Index and Nursing Intervention on Sexual Healthcare needs were compared between groups in each trimester. RESULTS: Most participants reported sexual dysfunction concerns during pregnancy. In the first trimester, the Female Sexual Function Index score was significantly lower in the IVF group than in the CN group (18.13 ± 6.27 vs 20.34 ± 5.87, respectively; P < .05). Sexual healthcare needs at the permission level were significantly lower in the IVF group than in the CN group (10.78 ± 2.41 vs 11.79 ± 2.67, respectively; P < .05). CONCLUSION: The IVF group had lower sexual function in the first trimester than the CN group. Sexual function improved in the second trimester in the IVF group but decreased throughout pregnancy in the CN group. The CN group had a greater need for sexual healthcare nursing intervention at the permission level than the IVF group. Huang C-Y, Liou C-F, Lu Y-C, et al. Differences in the Sexual Function and Sexual Healthcare Needs of Pregnant Women Who Underwent In Vitro Fertilization and Women Who Conceived Naturally at Each Trimester: A Prospective Cohort Study. Sex Med 2020;8:709-717.