Examining the Burden of Self-Blame Attribution Among Women With Cervical Cancer.

Background:Self-blame for past sexual behaviors or for the personal character may be associated with the development of cervical cancer. Purpose: Aims were to understand the burden of self-blame attribution (SBA) among women with cervical cancer by (1) examining relationships between SBA, psychological distress (PD), and spiritual well-being (SWB); (2) determining differences between behavioral (BSB) and characterological self-blame (CSB) attribution; and (3) describing associations between SBA and unwanted past sexual experiences. Methods: Women attending a cancer center in the southeastern United Stats (N = 106) completed an online survey including a demographic questionnaire and three instruments: (1) SBA for Cancer Scale; (2) Psychological Distress Subscale of the Psychological Adjustment to Cancer Scale-Self Report; and (3) Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-Spiritual Well-being. Results: Women with cervical cancer, 26-64 years of age, identified moderate levels of SBA, PD, and SWB. Relationships were found between PD, BSB and CSB, and unwanted sexual experiences. Significant inverse correlations between religious faith, BSB, unwanted sexual experiences, and SWB were noted. Unwanted sexual experiences were a significant predictor of SBA. Conclusion: SBA places women at risk for increased burden. Recognizing SBA in vulnerable cancer survivors is important to providing holistic nursing care.

Recommendations to improve maternal health equity among Black women in "The South": A position paper from the SNRS minority health research interest & implementation group.

Black women in the United States experience a higher maternal mortality rate compared to other racial groups. The maternal mortality rate among non-Hispanic Black women is 3.5 times that of non-Hispanic White women and is higher in the South compared to other regions. The majority of pregnancy-related deaths in Black women are deemed to be preventable. Healthy People 2030 directs healthcare providers to advance health equity through societal efforts to address avoidable inequalities, historical and contemporary injustices, and the elimination of health and healthcare disparities. The Southern Nursing Research Society has put forward this position paper to provide recommendations to improve maternal health equity among Black women. Recommendations for nurses, multidisciplinary healthcare providers, policymakers, and researchers are discussed.