Degendering Menstruation: A Scoping Review Exploring the Experiences of Transgender and Non-Binary People.

Menstruation is a biological process experienced by up to 800 million people on any given day. Historically, menstruation has been studied from the female perspective. However, it should be considered that not all who menstruate are women. Therefore, the purpose of this research was to determine the status of evidence on transgender and non-binary individuals' experiences with menstruation. Arksey and O'Malley's (2005) framework for conducting a scoping study was used to guide this review. The authors used five steps of the six-step process to identify the research problem and search strategy, select studies based on defined inclusion and exclusion criteria, extract key information from five selected studies, and chart, summarize, and report the results as themes. The analysis resulted in the identification of four themes: (1) gender dysphoria and the influence on identity; (2) menstrual management and transformation as a turning point; (3) managing menstruation in precarious spaces; and (4) moving toward an open dialogue. Findings suggest a need for awareness of diverse and inclusive menstrual experiences. Inclusive advertising and menstrual products are needed to support transgender and non-binary people and reduce gender dysphoria. Policy initiatives should support the reconceptualization of infrastructure so that bathrooms are safe and comfortable places. Future opportunities for research exploring menstrual management within transgender and non-binary populations with emphasis on global research with diverse cultures and social structures is necessary to address gaps in the existing literature.

Advice from Canadian Mothers Who Express Human Milk: An Interpretive Description Qualitative Study.

OBJECTIVES: Human milk expression has become an increasingly common means for providing milk to an infant, with women expressing to address breastfeeding problems or to allow for flexible feeding options. This study explored the experiences and recommendations of mothers who expressed human milk, with this paper reporting on the advice mothers would offer to other mothers to address common challenges. METHODS: Interpretive description was used in this qualitative project. Using purposive sampling, mothers of infants aged 0-24 months who expressed human milk were recruited to participate from two health regions in western Canada. Individual, audio-taped interviews were completed with 35 women. NVIVO™ software was used for data analysis. RESULTS: Mothers reported the desire to offer experiential advice to other mothers navigating milk expression and encouraged other mothers to seek guidance from health care professionals such as lactation consultants, peer support online, and from family and friends. Experiential knowledge shared included: (a) product recommendations, (b) expression tips, (c) support for workplace expression, (d) encouragement to seek help, and (e) moral support. CONCLUSIONS: Healthcare professionals should include evidence-based expression information as part of routine lactation support, while recognizing the importance of mother-to-mother knowledge transfer and emotional support. Services that assist mothers to determine and access pumps appropriate to their unique breastfeeding needs and goals should be offered, and the opportunity for peer support through creation of, or referral to, appropriate in-person or online support groups should be made available.

Technology as the key to women's empowerment: a scoping review.

BACKGROUND: Information and communications technologies (ICTs) have empowered people to communicate and network at a global scale. However, there is lack of in-depth understanding of the use of ICTs for women's empowerment. This study examines how the concept empowerment is defined, utilized and measured in research studies, the existing evidence on the use of ICTs for women's empowerment and the gaps in knowledge at the global level. METHODS: The authors' conducted a scoping review using the Arksey and O'Malley methodology. The search identified papers from ten databases, including Scopus, Embase, ABI Inform, Soc Index, Sociological Abstracts, Gender Studies, Springer Link, PsychInfo, Science Direct, and Academic Search Complete over the period of 2012-2018. Search criteria included articles that focused on women's empowerment and utilized technologies as interventions. Out of a total of 4481 articles that were initially identified, 51 were included. RESULTS: Technology played a variety of roles in supporting the development of women's capacities and resources. Results revealed the use of ICT interventions in the overarching areas of outreach (e.g., health promotion), education (e.g., health literacy opportunities), lifestyle (e.g., peer coaching and planning), prevention (e.g., screening opportunities), health challenges (e.g., intimate partner violence apps), and perceptions of barriers (i.e., uptake, utilization and ubiquity to ICTs for women). Despite the positive use of technology to support women in their daily lives, there was a lack of consensus regarding the definition and use of the term empowerment. The concept of empowerment was also inconsistently and poorly measured in individual studies making it difficult to determine if it was achieved. CONCLUSION: This scoping review provides a comprehensive review of current and emerging efforts to use ICTs to empower women. The findings suggest a need for collaborative efforts between researchers, program implementers and policy makers as well as the various communities of women to address the persistent gender disparities with respect to ICTs.

"We Just Kind of Had to Figure It Out": A Qualitative Exploration of the Information Needs of Mothers Who Express Human Milk.

BACKGROUND: Human milk expression, primarily by pump, is practiced by the majority of breastfeeding mothers in affluent countries. Existing literature is focused on determining prevalence and duration rates and the factors behind this trend. There is less research exploring mothers' perspectives and experiences related to expression. RESEARCH AIM: To gather the experiential wisdom of mothers with a focus on their information needs and sources related to human milk expression. METHODS: Audiotaped interviews were conducted with 35 mothers of infants, aged birth to 24 months, who had expressed milk at least once in western Canada. This study was guided by interpretive description, an applied qualitative research approach. RESULTS: Registered nurses and international board-certified lactation consultants were the most common sources of information, with Internet, friends/family, and other mothers also important. Inconsistent expression advice was confusing for participants, and many reported health care providers did not address all their expression learning needs. Desired topic areas included practical advice on how to express, determining expression frequency/timing/duration, milk storage guidelines, the influence of expression on milk supply, product information, and general support/encouragement. CONCLUSIONS: Assessment of expression learning needs should be part of routine lactation support at each encounter. Nonjudgmental, factual guidance will assist mothers in making evidence-informed decisions related to expression practices that are consistent with their unique breastfeeding goals. This should be supplemented by reputable online resources that provide timely and accurate information as well as efforts to connect mothers with peer support groups.

The History of Evidence-Based Practice in Nursing Education and Practice.

Beginning with Florence Nightingale in the 1800s and evolving again within the medical community, evidence-based practice continues to advance along with the nursing discipline. Evidence-based practice is foundational to undergraduate and graduate nursing education and is a way for the nursing discipline to minimize the theory to practice gap. This article discusses the concept of evidence-based practice from a historical perspective as it relates to nursing in the educational and practice domains. The concept evidence-based practice is defined, and the similarities and differences to evidence-based medicine are discussed. It is crucial that registered nurses be proactive in their quest for research knowledge, so the gap between theory and practice continues to close. Utilizing nursing best practice guidelines, reviewing and implementing applicable research evidence, and taking advantage of technological advances are all ways in which nursing can move forward as a well-informed discipline.