One degree of separation: urgent questions surrounding new USA laws in women's healthcare.

The criminalization of women's healthcare in many USA states has created uncertainty about women's access to evidence-based medical care and will affect the physical, mental, and emotional health and well-being of women. This article is intended to start a discussion on this complex topic in the immunology community.

The managers' perspectives on service providing in women's harm reduction centers during the COVID-19 pandemic: mixed method study.

BACKGROUND: The COVID-19 pandemic posed significant challenges for managers overseeing women's harm reduction centers. This study seeks to capture managers' perspectives on the service providing in women's harm reduction centers during the COVID-19 pandemic. METHODS: This convergent mixed-method study conducted in three provinces of Iran: Tehran, Khuzestan, and Kermanshah. The study was carried out between January and May 2023. In the quantitative part, the researchers utilized reports from 10 center managers. A researcher-designed questionnaire was employed to collect data on a wide range of services and referrals provided by the centers. The qualitative part of the research involved conventional content analysis and included 12 individual interviews. Two directors from the Ministry of Health and ten managers of women's harm reduction centers participated in the interviews. During the interpretation phase, the researchers compared the quantitative and qualitative findings to obtain a comprehensive understanding of the topic. RESULTS: During the quantitative stage of the study, it was observed that all the managers were women, with an average age of 40.7 ± 7 years. More than half of the managers had obtained a postgraduate education (n = 6, 60%), and a majority of them were married (n = 7, 70%). Additionally, 40% of the managers (n = 4) were working as contractors. During the non-COVID-19 period, there were higher coverage by centers and residents, more referrals of non-injecting drug users and sex workers, and a higher number of group counseling sessions in all three provinces compared to the COVID-19 period. The qualitative analysis revealed two primary themes: "challenges" and "capabilities." CONCLUSIONS: During the COVID-19 pandemic, providing some services and client referrals decreased in the centers, and center managers faced increased challenges. Many of these challenges were in the communication, executive, management, structure, education, financial, civilization, facilities, and socio-cultural sectors. Managers used their skills to manage and control these challenges. It is important to focus on these challenges and managerial capabilities to effectively handle future crises.

The Future for Women's and Gender-Related Healthcare for Women's Health Nurse Practitioners.

This commentary examines the future of women's health and gender-related healthcare for Women's Health Nurse Practitioners (WHNPs) within the framework of National Association of Nurse Practitioners in Women's Health's (NPWH's) mission and vision. Emphasizing the importance of addressing menopause, maternal health, and reproductive health, it discusses the significance of WHNP education, certification, and workforce contributions. Despite their critical role, challenges including recognition as maternity care providers and disseminating WHNP-specific outcomes remain. WHNPs play a vital role in providing comprehensive healthcare for women and gender diverse individuals. Guided by the mission and vision of the NPWH, WHNPs address key priority areas including menopause, maternal health, and reproductive health. However, challenges such as recognition as maternity care providers, publishing outcomes specific to WHNP practice, and collecting comprehensive workforce data persist. To advance women's and gender-related healthcare, concerted efforts are needed to address challenges faced by WHNPs. This includes advocating for recognition within maternity care, promoting the dissemination of WHNP-specific research, and improving workforce data collection. By overcoming these challenges, WHNPs can continue to play a pivotal role in promoting the health and well-being of women and gender diverse individuals, shaping the future of women's health and gender-related healthcare delivery.

Racial differences in urinary incontinence prevalence and associated bother: the Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis.

BACKGROUND: Urinary incontinence is influenced by multiple factors, and the prevalence of urinary incontinence subtypes may differ by race and ethnicity. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to determine the prevalence of urinary incontinence subtypes and associated bother among women by race and ethnicity. STUDY DESIGN: This cross-sectional analysis used data from the Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis, an observational cohort study of 4 racial and ethnic groups recruited from 6 communities from the United States. At the sixth follow-up examination, urinary symptoms were ascertained with the International Consultation on Incontinence Questionnaire. The prevalence rate ratios of stress urinary incontinence, urgency urinary incontinence, and mixed urinary incontinence by race and ethnicity were calculated using generalized linear models for the binomial family while adjusting for covariates. The degree of bother was based on a scale of 0 (none) to 10 (greatest bother), and presence of any bother was defined as a score of ≥3. RESULTS: Among the 1749 female participants in the Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis who completed the sixth follow-up examination, 1628 (93%) completed the questionnaire. Women who did not complete the questionnaire were older than those who completed the questionnaire (average age, 82.2 [standard deviation, 9.5] vs 73.7 [standard deviation, 8.4] years; P<.01) and more likely to use diuretics (29.8% vs 18.9%; P<.01). Among those who completed the questionnaire (n=1628), 39.4% were white, 12.5% were Chinese, 27.2% were black, and 20.9% were Hispanic. After adjusting for covariates, stress urinary incontinence (prevalence rate ratio, 0.47; 95% confidence interval, 0.25-0.86) and mixed urinary incontinence (prevalence rate ratio, 0.58; 95% confidence interval, 0.38-0.89) regardless of bother scores were significantly less prevalent among black vs white women, although no significant racial and ethnic differences in stress or mixed urinary incontinence prevalence were noted for Chinese or Hispanic women vs white women. No racial and ethnic differences in the prevalence of urgency urinary incontinence were noted after the adjustment for covariates. Most women with urinary incontinence reported bother scores of ≥3 regardless of race and ethnicity and urinary incontinence subtype, and bother scores did not differ significantly by race and ethnicity. CONCLUSION: Frequency of urinary incontinence subtypes may differ by race and ethnicity, but older women who report urinary incontinence are likely to have associated bother regardless of race and ethnicity.

A mismatch in care: results of a United Kingdom-wide patient and clinician survey of gynaecological services for women with Lynch syndrome.

OBJECTIVE: To describe the current testing practice, referral pathways and gynaecological services available to women with Lynch syndrome (LS) in the UK. DESIGN: Cross-sectional nationwide survey of gynaecological oncologists and women with LS. SETTING: United Kingdom. METHODS: Gynaecological oncologists were contacted directly. Women with LS were identified from national and regional clinical databases and the patient support group, Lynch syndrome UK. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Gynaecological oncologists were asked to report rates of LS testing and current practice regarding risk-reducing strategies and gynaecological surveillance for women with LS. Women with LS were asked to describe their experiences of gynaecological care. RESULTS: In total, 41 gynaecological oncologists and 298 women with LS responded to the survey. Of the gynaecological oncologists surveyed, 37% were unfamiliar with any clinical guidelines for the management of LS. Only 29% of gynaecological oncologists supported universal testing of endometrial cancer for LS; one centre routinely performed such testing. In all, 83% said they perform risk-reducing gynaecological surgery and 43% were aware of a local gynaecological surveillance service for women with LS. Of women with LS, most had undergone a hysterectomy (n = 191/64.1%), most frequently to reduce their gynaecological cancer risk (n = 86/45%). A total of 10% were initially referred for LS testing by their gynaecologist and 55% of those eligible regularly attended gynaecological surveillance; however, 62% wanted more regular surveillance. Regional variation was evident across all standards of care. CONCLUSIONS: There is widespread variation in the services offered to women with LS in the UK. As a community, gynaecological oncologists should move towards a nationally agreed provision of services. TWEETABLE ABSTRACT: A mismatch in care for mismatch repair. Survey finds significant variation in gynaecological care for #Lynchsyndrome in the UK.

Imaging in gynecological disease (22): clinical and ultrasound characteristics of ovarian embryonal carcinomas, non-gestational choriocarcinomas and malignant mixed germ cell tumors.

OBJECTIVE: To describe the clinical and ultrasound characteristics of three types of rare malignant ovarian germ cell tumor: embryonal carcinoma, non-gestational choriocarcinoma and malignant mixed germ cell tumor. METHODS: This was a retrospective multicenter study. From the International Ovarian Tumor Analysis (IOTA) database, we identified patients with a histological diagnosis of ovarian embryonal carcinoma, non-gestational choriocarcinoma or malignant mixed germ cell tumor, who had undergone preoperative ultrasound examination by an experienced ultrasound examiner between 2000 and 2020. Additional patients with the same histology were identified from the databases of the departments of gynecological oncology in the participating centers. All tumors were described using IOTA terminology. Three examiners reviewed all available ultrasound images and described them using pattern recognition. RESULTS: One patient with embryonal carcinoma, five patients with non-gestational ovarian choriocarcinoma and seven patients with ovarian malignant mixed germ cell tumor (six primary tumors and one recurrence) were identified. Seven patients were included in the IOTA studies and six patients were examined outside of the IOTA studies. The median age at diagnosis was 26 (range, 14-77) years. Beta-human chorionic gonadotropin levels were highest in non-gestational choriocarcinomas and alpha-fetoprotein levels were highest in malignant mixed germ cell tumors. Most tumors were International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics (FIGO) Stage I (9/12 (75.0%)). All tumors were unilateral, and the median largest diameter was 129 (range, 38-216) mm. Of the tumors, 11/13 (84.6%) were solid and 2/13 (15.4%) were multilocular-solid; 9/13 (69.2%) manifested abundant vascularization on color Doppler examination. Using pattern recognition, the typical ultrasound appearance was a large solid tumor with inhomogeneous echogenicity of the solid tissue and often dispersed cysts which, in most cases, were small and irregular. Some tumors had smooth contours while others had irregular contours. CONCLUSIONS: A unilateral, large solid tumor with inhomogeneous echogenicity of the solid tissue and with dispersed small cystic areas in a young woman should raise the suspicion of a rare malignant germ cell tumor. This suspicion can guide the clinician to test tumor markers specific for malignant germ cell tumors. © 2020 International Society of Ultrasound in Obstetrics and Gynecology.

Nature, availability, and utilization of women-focused cardiac rehabilitation: a systematic review.

BACKGROUND: Women do not participate in cardiac rehabilitation (CR) to the same degree as men; women-focused CR may address this. This systematic review investigated the: (1) nature, (2) availability, as well as (3a) utilization of, and (b) satisfaction with women-focused CR. METHODS: Medline, Pubmed, Embase, PsycINFO, CINAHL, Web of Science, Scopus and Emcare were searched for articles from inception to May 2020. Primary studies of any design were included. Adult females with any cardiac diseases, participating in women-focused CR (i.e., program or sessions included ≥ 50% females, or was 1-1 and tailored to women's needs) were considered. Two authors rated citations for inclusion. One extracted data, including study quality rated as per the Mixed-Methods Assessment Tool (MMAT), which was checked independently by a second author. Results were analyzed in accordance with the Synthesis Without Meta-analysis (SWiM) reporting guideline. RESULTS: 3498 unique citations were identified, with 28 studies (53 papers) included (3697 women; ≥ 10 countries). Globally, women-focused CR is offered by 40.9% of countries that have CR, with 32.1% of programs in those countries offering it. Thirteen (46.4%) studies offered women-focused sessions (vs. full program), 17 (60.7%) were women-only, and 11 (39.3%) had gender-tailoring. Five (17.9%) programs offered alternate forms of exercise, and 17 (60.7%) focused on psychosocial aspects. With regard to utilization, women-focused CR cannot be offered as frequently, so could be less accessible. Adherence may be greater with gender-tailored CR, and completion effects are not known. Satisfaction was assessed in 1 trial, and results were equivocal. CONCLUSIONS: Women-focused CR involves tailoring of content, mode and/or sex composition. Availability is limited. Effects on utilization require further study.

An Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Cardiac Rehabilitation program delivered in a non-Indigenous health service (Yeddung Gauar): a mixed methods feasibility study.

BACKGROUND: There is limited evidence of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people attending cardiac rehabilitation (CR) programs despite high levels of heart disease. One key enabler for CR attendance is a culturally safe program. This study evaluates improving access for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women to attend a CR program in a non-Indigenous health service, alongside improving health workforce cultural safety. METHODS: An 18-week mixed-methods feasibility study was conducted, with weekly flexible CR sessions delivered by a multidisciplinary team and an Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander Health Worker (AHW) at a university health centre. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women who were at risk of, or had experienced, a cardiac event were recruited. Data was collected from participants at baseline, and at every sixth-session attended, including measures of disease risk, quality-of-life, exercise capacity and anxiety and depression. Cultural awareness training was provided for health professionals before the program commenced. Assessment of health professionals' cultural awareness pre- and post-program was evaluated using a questionnaire (n = 18). Qualitative data from participants (n = 3), the AHW, health professionals (n = 4) and referrers (n = 4) was collected at the end of the program using yarning methodology and analysed thematically using Charmaz's constant comparative approach. RESULTS: Eight referrals were received for the CR program and four Aboriginal women attended the program, aged from 24 to 68 years. Adherence to the weekly sessions ranged from 65 to 100%. At the program's conclusion, there was a significant change in health professionals' perception of social policies implemented to 'improve' Aboriginal people, and self-reported changes in health professionals' behaviours and skills. Themes were identified for recruitment, participants, health professionals and program delivery, with cultural safety enveloping all areas. Trust was a major theme for recruitment and adherence of participants. The AHW was a key enabler of cultural authenticity, and the flexibility of the program contributed greatly to participant perceptions of cultural safety. Barriers for attendance were not unique to this population. CONCLUSION: The flexible CR program in a non-Indigenous service provided a culturally safe environment for Aboriginal women but referrals were low. Importantly, the combination of cultural awareness training and participation in the program delivery improved health professionals' confidence in working with Aboriginal people. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry (ANZCTR) 12618000581268, http://www.ANZCTR.org.au/ACTRN12618000581268.aspx , registered 16 April 2018.

Cervical cancer prevention among older women - challenges in screening, diagnostic workup and treatment.

Cervical cancer incidence and mortality have declined dramatically after screening for cervical cancer was implemented. Yet, studies have reported high cervical cancer incidence and mortality rates at older age despite low HPV prevalence and incidence of precursor lesions. The underlying reason for these findings remains unclear. However, it is well known that the impact of screening depends not only on the uptake and effectiveness of screening but also on the uptake and effectiveness of diagnostic workup (ie colposcopy), treatment and follow-up. In older women, sensitivity of screening and performance of colposcopy are impaired due to age-dependent changes to the cervix. In this commentary, we aimed to discuss challenges in screening and clinical management of older women, and to identify crucial areas of particular interest for future research.

Regional Variations in Maternal Mortality and Health Workforce Availability in the United States.

BACKGROUND: Skilled, high-quality health providers and birth attendants are important for reducing maternal mortality. OBJECTIVE: To assess whether U.S. regional variations in maternal mortality rates relate to health workforce availability. DESIGN: Comparison of regional variations in maternal mortality rates and women's health provider rates per population and identification of a relationship between these measures. SETTING: U.S. health system. PARTICIPANTS: Women of child-bearing age and women's health providers, as captured in federal data sources from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Census Bureau, and Health Resources and Services Administration. MEASUREMENTS: Regional-to-national rate ratios for maternal mortality and women's health provider availability, calculated per population for women of reproductive age. Provider availability was examined across occupations (obstetrician-gynecologists, internal medicine physicians, family medicine physicians, certified nurse-midwives), in service-based categories (birth-attending and primary care providers), and across the entire women's health workforce (all studied occupations). RESULTS: Maternal deaths per population increased nationally from 2009 to 2017 and, in 2017, were significantly higher in the South and lower in the Northeast (P < 0.001) than nationally. The occupational composition and per-population availability patterns of the women's health workforce varied regionally in 2017. The South had the lowest availability in the nation for nearly every health occupation and category studied, and the Northeast had the highest. This exploratory analysis suggests that subnational levels of provider availability across a region may be associated with higher maternal mortality rates. LIMITATIONS: No causal relationship was established. Nationally representative maternal mortality and health workforce data sources have well-known limitations. Low numbers of observations limit statistical analyses. CONCLUSION: Regional variations in maternal mortality rates may relate to the availability of birth-attending and primary care providers. PRIMARY FUNDING SOURCE: None.

Health Maintenance for Women of Reproductive Age.

Health maintenance for women of reproductive age includes counseling and screening tests that have been demonstrated to prevent disease and improve health. This article focuses mainly on conditions that are more common in women or have a unique impact on female patients. Family physicians should be familiar with evidence-based recommendations for contraception and preconception care and should consider screening patients for pregnancy intention. The American Academy of Family Physicians recommends against screening pelvic examinations in asymptomatic women; the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) found insufficient evidence to make a recommendation for or against screening pelvic examinations. The USPSTF recommendations for women in this age group include screening for obesity and other cardiovascular risk factors, depression, intimate partner violence, cervical cancer, HIV, hepatitis C virus, tobacco use, and unhealthy alcohol and drug use as part of routine primary care. Breast cancer screening with mammography is recommended for women 50 years and older and should be individualized for women 40 to 49 years of age, although other organizations recommend earlier screening. Screening for sexually transmitted infections is based on age and risk factors; women younger than 25 years who are sexually active should be screened routinely for gonorrhea and chlamydia, whereas screening for syphilis and hepatitis B virus should be individualized. Immunizations should be recommended according to guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices; immunizations against influenza; tetanus; measles, mumps, and rubella; varicella; meningococcus; and human papillomavirus are of particular importance in women of reproductive age. To have the greatest impact on health, physicians should focus on USPSTF grade A and B recommendations with patients.

Reinventing the Delivery of Care in a New Women and Children's Center Using an Integrated Lean Model.

This article describes one heath system's creation of a new women's health hospital using an innovative model integrating patient care delivery, Lean building design, and Lean integrated project methodology. The article describes a 5-year journey detailing the innovative process that guided the planning and implementation of the new care delivery model, as well as employee and leader roles, employee behavior and engagement, and key insights and lessons learned that will benefit nurse leaders.

Utilization of Private Sector Family Planning Services in Malaysia.

BACKGROUND: The private sector is playing an increasingly important role in family planning services globally. The active participation of private providers is associated with a higher contraceptive prevalence rate. OBJECTIVES: To examine the differentials and determinants of the utilization of private providers for family planning services. METHOD: This study used the 2014 Malaysian Population and Family Survey data. Cross-tabulations and logistic regression were performed on 1,817 current users of modern methods. RESULTS: Overall, 26% of modern method users obtained their supplies from private clinics/pharmacies and 15.2% from other sources, such as drug stores and sundry shops. The odds of utilizing the private sector for family planning services differ significantly across regions and socio-economic groups. The odds of obtaining supply from the private clinics/pharmacies were higher among the Chinese and urban women (AOR > 1), and it was lower among those from the eastern region (AOR = 0.47, 95% CI = 0.30-0.73). Non-Bumiputera, urban, higher educated, and working women, and those whose husbands decided on family planning had higher odds of obtaining the supply from the other sources (AOR > 1). CONCLUSION: The private sector complements and supplements the public sector in providing family planning services to the public.

The Breast Health Global Initiative 2018 Global Summit on Improving Breast Healthcare Through Resource-Stratified Phased Implementation: Methods and overview.

BACKGROUND: The Breast Health Global Initiative (BHGI) established a series of resource-stratified, evidence-based guidelines to address breast cancer control in the context of available resources. Here, the authors describe methodologies and health system prerequisites to support the translation and implementation of these guidelines into practice. METHODS: In October 2018, the BHGI convened the Sixth Global Summit on Improving Breast Healthcare Through Resource-Stratified Phased Implementation. The purpose of the summit was to define a stepwise methodology (phased implementation) for guiding the translation of resource-appropriate breast cancer control guidelines into real-world practice. Three expert consensus panels developed stepwise, resource-appropriate recommendations for implementing these guidelines in low-income and middle-income countries as well as underserved communities in high-income countries. Each panel focused on 1 of 3 specific aspects of breast cancer care: 1) early detection, 2) treatment, and 3) health system strengthening. RESULTS: Key findings from the summit and subsequent article preparation included the identification of phased-implementation prerequisites that were explored during consensus debates. These core issues and concepts are key components for implementing breast health care that consider real-world resource constraints. Communication and engagement across all levels of care is vital to any effectively operating health care system, including effective communication with ministries of health and of finance, to demonstrate needs, outcomes, and cost benefits. CONCLUSIONS: Underserved communities at all economic levels require effective strategies to deploy scarce resources to ensure access to timely, effective, and affordable health care. Systematically strategic approaches translating guidelines into practice are needed to build health system capacity to meet the current and anticipated global breast cancer burden.

Breast cancer early detection and diagnostic capacity in Uganda.

BACKGROUND: Greater than 80% of women presenting for breast cancer treatment in Uganda have late-stage disease, which is attributable to a dysfunctional referral system and a lack of recognition of the early signs and symptoms among primary health care providers, and compounded by the poor infrastructure and inadequate human capacity. Improving the breast health care system requires a systemic approach beginning with situational analysis to identify systematic gaps that prevent sustainable improvements in outcome. METHODS: The authors performed a situational analysis of the breast health care system using methods developed by the Breast Health Global Initiative. Based on their findings, they developed a series of recommendations for strengthening the health system for the early diagnosis of breast cancer based on clinical detection, referral, tissue sampling, and diagnosis. RESULTS: Deficits in the recognition of breast cancer signs and symptoms, the underuse of clinical breast examination as a diagnostic and/or screening tool, the centralization of diagnostic tests (radiology and pathology), reliance on excisional biopsies rather than needle biopsies, and a lack of trained professionals and knowledge of the referral system all contribute to significant health system delays. CONCLUSIONS: To strengthen referral networks and improve the early diagnosis of breast cancer in Uganda, national referral hospitals should provide educational programs to primary health care providers in community health centers (CHCs), at which the majority of women first present with symptoms. At secondary district-level facilities in which imaging and tissue sampling can be performed, the capacity for diagnostic testing could be increased through task shifting of basic interpretation (abnormal vs normal) from specialists to nonspecialists using networking technology to facilitate remote oversight from specialists at the national referral hospitals.

Can pathology diagnostic services for cancer be stratified and serve global health?

BACKGROUND: Before initiating cancer therapy, a diagnostic tumor tissue sample evaluated within a pathology laboratory by a pathologist is essential to confirm the malignancy type and provide key prognostic factors that direct the treatment offered. METHODS: Pathology evaluation includes multiple expensive reagents, complex equipment, and both laboratory and pathologist technical skills. By using breast cancer as an example, at a minimum, key tumor prognostic information required before the initiation of treatment includes subtype, tumor grade, tumor size, lymph node status when possible, and biomarker expression determined by immunohistochemistry for estrogen receptor. The additional determination of biomarker expression of progesterone receptor and human epidermal growth factor receptor (HER2) is the standard of care in high-resource settings, but assays may not be affordable in low-income and middle-income countries. RESULTS: With positive tests, patients are eligible for either tamoxifen (for estrogen receptor-positive/progesterone receptor-positive cancers) or monoclonal antibody therapy (for HER2-positive cancers). For settings in which endocrine therapy and/or HER2-targeted therapy is unavailable, biomarker studies have no utility, and high-resource setting standards for pathology evaluation and reporting are unachievable. Resource-stratified pathology evaluation guidelines in cancer diagnosis have not been developed, in contrast to excellent comprehensive, resource-stratified clinical guidelines for use in low-income and middle-income countries, and these are long overdue. CONCLUSIONS: The challenges of pathology evaluation in the context of global health are being met by innovative solutions, which may change the face of pathology practice.

A Co-Located Continuity Clinic Model to Address Healthcare Needs of Women Living Unhoused With Opioid Use Disorder, Who Engage in Transactional Sex in North Seattle.

This is a review of the first 50 patients attending a colocated continuity clinic with harm reduction services to women experiencing homelessness in north Seattle. Among those tested, patients had high rates of curable sexually transmitted infections (44%), injection opioid use (36%), transactional sex (69%), unintended pregnancy (10%), and human immunodeficiency virus infections (10%).

A cross-sectional evaluation of HIV testing practices among women in the rural Dominican Republic.

BACKGROUND: The Dominican Republic (DR) ranks among nations with the highest burden of HIV in the Caribbean. Cultural and gender roles in rural areas of the DR may place women at increased HIV risk. However, little is known about sexual health and HIV testing behaviors among women in the rural DR. METHODS: We conducted a needs assessment among a systematic sample of adult women in a rural DR community in 2016. Demographic and behavioral attributes related to HIV testing, sexual health, and healthcare utilization were evaluated. Poisson regression analysis was used to identify demographics and behaviors associated with having had a previous HIV test. Significance was defined as a p-value < 0.05. RESULTS: Among 105 women evaluated, 77% knew someone with HIV and 73% of women reported that they would be very or extremely likely to take an HIV test if offered. Only 68% reported a previous HIV test, including 47% who were tested over 2 years prior. Barriers to HIV testing included low risk perception (23%), distance or requisite travel (13%), and discomfort being tested (11%). Women who had never been tested for HIV were more likely than those who had been tested to be older (p = 0.03), to have a lower level of education (p = 0.04), and to have never been tested for other sexually transmitted infections (STI; p <  0.01). In the Poisson multiple regression model, the only significant predictor of having had an HIV test was having had an STI test (p = 0.03). CONCLUSIONS: In the rural DR, numerous barriers contribute to low prevalence of HIV testing among women. Most women report willingness to have an HIV test and many engage in routine health care, indicating that this population may benefit from incorporating HIV testing and other sexual health promotion activities into routine medical care.

Services for women's sexual and reproductive health in India: an analysis of treatment-seeking for symptoms of reproductive tract infections in a nationally representative survey.

BACKGROUND: Women's health policy in India has had a longstanding focus on maternal health and family planning. Recent policy highlights the importance of expanding women's access to a broader range of sexual and reproductive health services. However, there has been very limited analysis of national survey data to examine the current status of treatment utilisation, variation across states and progress over time. METHODS: This paper examines women's treatment patterns for reproductive tract infections in India, based on data collected in the National Family Health Survey, a cross-sectional, nationally representative household survey conducted between 2015-16. The survey covered 699,686 women between the ages 15 and 49, of which 91,818 ever sexually active women responded to questions related to symptoms of reproductive tract infections. We estimate prevalence of reported symptoms and treatment-seeking, describe regional variation and utilise multivariable logistic regression to identify factors associated with women's treatment-seeking patterns. RESULTS: Thirty-nine percent of women who reported symptoms of reproductive tract infections sought any advice or treatment. Women's reported treatment-seeking in India has not changed since the last national survey a decade earlier. Reported symptoms and treatment-seeking varied widely across India, ranging from 64% in Punjab to 8% in Nagaland, with no clear regional pattern that emerged. Seventeen percent of symptomatic women sought services in the public sector, an improvement from 11% in 2005-06. Twenty-two percent utilised the private sector, with wide variation by states. National-level multivariable logistic regression indicated that treatment-seeking was associated with age, higher education, higher household wealth and having been employed in the past year. Women in the 25-35 age group had higher odds (aOR1.27; 95% CI: 1.10,1.50) of seeking treatment compared to both younger (15-19 years) and older (35 years and above) women, along with women with more than eight years of schooling (aOR: 1.23; 95% CI: 1.05,1.44) and from richer wealth quintiles (aOR: 1.53; 95% CI: 1.35,1.83). CONCLUSION: Women's use of services for reproductive tract infections remains a challenge in most parts of India. Our findings highlight the need to address barriers to seeking care and to improve measurement of gynaecological ailments in national surveys.

Recognizing and responding to women experiencing homelessness with gendered and trauma-informed care.

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study is to highlight the experiences of women who are often hidden in what we know and understand about homelessness, and to make policy and practice recommendations for women-centred services including adaptations to current housing interventions. METHODS: Three hundred survey interviews were conducted with people experiencing homelessness in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. The survey instrument measured socio-demographics, adverse childhood experiences, mental and physical health, and perceived accessibility to resources. Eighty-one women participants were identified as a subsample to be examined in greater depth. Descriptive statistics and logistic regressions were calculated to provide insight into women respondents' characteristics and experiences of homelessness and how they differed from men's experiences. RESULTS: Women's experiences of homelessness are different from their male counterparts. Women have greater mental health concerns, higher rates of diagnosed mental health issues, suicidal thoughts and attempts, and adverse childhood trauma. The results should not be considered in isolation, as the literature suggests, because they are highly interconnected. CONCLUSION: In order to ensure that women who are less visible in their experiences of homelessness are able to access appropriate services, it is important that service provision is both gender specific and trauma-informed. Current Housing First interventions should be adapted to ensure women's safety is protected and their unique needs are addressed.