¡Mujeres al borde! Acoso laboral y violencia doméstica se juntan en la pandemia / Women on the edge, workplace harassment and domestic violence come together in the pandemic

Se explora el panorama general de la percepción y experiencias de mujeres venezolanas, en medio de la pandemia de COVID-19, a partir de una investigación situada, por medio de una encuesta aplicada vía online entre septiembre y diciembre de 2020, dando lugar a 523 encuestas respondidas, provenientes de todas las regiones del país. Se emplearon 70 preguntas de tipo cerrada y abierta. Se recurrió a una metodología de levantamiento de información y análisis cuanticualitativo, con enfoque interpretativo, desde la epidemiologia crítica y la epistemología feminista. Como consecuencia de la pandemia y las medidas de prevención y contención, a partir de 2020, se relocalizan algunas actividades de producción y reproducción social. El distanciamiento y confinamiento de las personas en sus hogares, generó gran impacto. El peso del afrontamiento a la pandemia tiene un costo más alto para las mujeres, siendo estas la mayoría entre los trabajadores de la salud y quienes experimentan situaciones extremas, con alto impacto en su propia salud. De la investigación en línea, se extrae que las mujeres tenían una alta tasa de actividad económicoproductiva, con importante participación directa como suministradoras de cuidados en salud y con gran concentración de responsabilidades domésticas y de cuidados familiares, invadiéndolas sentimientos de agotamiento, incertidumbre y esperanzas por el avenir. Ante ello, está en juego el logro de justicia de género en los procesos de reproducción social, atendiendo las áreas de trabajo, cuidados y seguridad social, en favor de la dignidad y el bienestar de las personas, en particular de las mujeres(AU)

The general panorama of the perception and experiences of Venezuelan women, in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, is explored from research situated, through a survey applied online between September and December 2020, resulting in 523 surveys answered, from all regions of the country. 70 closed-ended and open-ended questions were used. A methodology of information gathering and quantitative analysis was used, with an interpretative approach, from critical epidemiology and feminist epistemology. As a result of the pandemic and prevention and containment measures, as of 2020, some production and social reproduction activities are relocated. The distancing and confinement of people in their homes generated great impact. The burden of coping with the pandemic has a higher cost for women, who are the majority among health workers and those who experience extreme situations, with a high impact on their own health. the online research, it is extracted that women had a high rate of economic-productive activity, with important direct participation as providers of health care and with a high concentration of domestic and family care responsibilities, invading feelings of exhaustion, uncertainty and hopes for the future. Given this, the achievement of gender justice in the processes of social reproduction is at stake, attending to the areas of work, care and social security, in favor of the dignity and well-being of people, particularly women(AU)

Expectativas y realización profesional en Cirugía General y subespecialidades quirúrgicas: situación actual de los cirujanos jóvenes en Córdoba / Expectations and professional fulfillment in general surgery and surgical sub-specialties: current situation of young surgeons in Cordoba

RESUMEN Antecedentes: en la Argentina, la especialidad Cirugía General se encuentra en crisis y esta situación alarmante se halla vinculada a las malas condiciones laborales del cirujano general. Objetivo: describir la percepción que el cirujano joven tiene al terminar su programa de formación, en relación con su perspectiva laboral, actividad quirúrgica y académica. Material y métodos: estudio transversal basado en una encuesta dirigida a cirujanos jóvenes en Córdoba, Argentina. Resultados: participaron 53 encuestados. El 58% eran hombres y la mediana de edad fue 32 años. El 72% ejercía Cirugía General y el 55% trabajaba en el sector privado. El 34% pertenecía a la Asociación de Cirugía de Córdoba y el 23% a la Asociación Argentina de Cirugía. En cuanto a la experiencia profesional, el 53,1% eran cirujanos junior y el 64% eran competentes para realizar procedimientos de baja o mediana complejidad. En relación con la perspectiva laboral, el 89% consideró que el cirujano joven no consigue salida laboral rápida y el 96,2% refirió que sus prácticas no eran bien remuneradas. Respecto de la calidad de vida personal y laboral, el 57% manifestó frustración e incertidumbre económica. En cuanto a las cirujanas, la tasa de inequidades de género y hostigamiento sexual en el ámbito laboral fue del 73% y 50%, respectivamente. Conclusión: encontramos la percepción de un bajo nivel de competencia para las cirugías de mayor complejidad y una baja tasa de adherencia a sociedades quirúrgicas. Debido a la escasa oferta laboral existe gran frustración e incertidumbre económica. Actualmente, predomina y persiste el maltrato y hostigamiento hacia las cirujanas.

ABSTRACT Background: In Argentina, the specialty of general surgery is in crisis, and this alarming situation is associated with the poor working conditions of general surgeons. Objective: The aim of this study is to describe the perception of young surgeons at the end of their training program, in relation to their job prospects, surgical and academic activity. Material and methods: We conducted a cross-sectional study based on a survey responded by young surgeons in Cordoba, Argentina. Results: The survey was responded by 53 young surgeons; 58% were men and median age was 32 years. Seventy-two percent practiced general surgery and 55% worked in the private setting. Thirtyfour percent were members of Asociación de Cirugía de Córdoba and 23% belonged to Asociación Argentina de Cirugía. As for professional experience, 53.1% were junior surgeons and 64% were capable of performing low or medium complexity procedures. Eighty-nine percent considered that young surgeons do not get a job quickly and 96.2% reported that they were not well paid for their practice. When asked about their personal and professional quality of life, 57% expressed frustration and economic uncertainty. Among women surgeons, 73% reported gender inequities and 50% reported sexual harassment in the workplace. Conclusion: Young surgeons perceived they had low level of competencies for high complexity surgical procedures and reported low rate of membership in surgical societies. Most of them feel frustrated due to scarce job opportunities and expressed economic uncertainty. Nowadays, abuse and harassment of women surgeons still prevails and persists.

Assessment of Burnout Levels Before and During COVID-19 Pandemic: A Web-Based Survey by the (Italian) Association of Medical Endocrinologists (AME).

BACKGROUND: Some endocrinologists were involved in the management of patients with suspected or confirmed COVID-19 during the first wave of the pandemic. This study aims to analyze burnout levels among the Association of Medical Endocrinologists (AME) members before and during the pandemic. METHODS: We recruited two AME members samples at two different times: before COVID-19 (n = 811) and during the first wave of the ongoing pandemic (n = 579). Both the samples filled the Maslach Burnout Inventory. We performed MANOVAs to evaluate demographic and COVID-19 related differences in burnout levels and Pearson's Chi-square test to compare burnout severity before and during the pandemic. RESULTS: Women reported higher Emotional Exhaustion and reduced Professional Accomplishment than men. The oldest physicians had lower levels of Emotional Exhaustion and Depersonalization and higher Professional Accomplishment than younger workers. Independent contractors displayed lower levels of burnout compared to established contractors. Finally, the pandemic, per se, did not lead to changes in burnout levels. DISCUSSION: Women and young physicians are at higher risk of burnout. It is also possible that front- line professionals are at higher risk during a health care crisis. Moreover, it is likely that the length of exposure to the pandemic has not been sufficient to impact burnout levels. CONCLUSION: Short-term exposure to pandemic-related activities seemed to have a low impact on burnout severity, except for physicians directly involved in managing COVID-19 cases. It is strongly recommended the availability of psychological support in public hospitals.

Predictors of women empowerment knowledge and attitude among Saudi academic and administrative staff: A cross-sectional study.

The KSA 2030 vision makes special reference to women's empowerment as an important strategy for Saudi community transformation. Studies related to women's empowerment, especially in the Saudi context, are still not enough and unclear. The current study explored the predictors of women empowerment knowledge and attitudes among Saudi academic and administrative staff. A cross-sectional study was conducted at 15 Saudi government-owned universities. A multistage cluster sampling technique was used to select 5587 participants during the period April to September 2020. The study instrument consisting of three main parts; basic demographic data, questionnaire assessed the knowledge regarding women's empowerment, and women empowerment attitude scale. The results showed good knowledge of empowerment among the women with 75.5% of the participants demonstrating good knowledge. The total women empowerment attitude was positive among 65.9% of the participants. The association between demographic data and women empowerment knowledge and attitude showed a significant association with marital status, residence, education, and occupation (p <0.05). Linear regression on marital status, education, residence, and occupation, are confirmed as significant predictors of women empowerment knowledge and attitude (p <0.05). Mother's education level is shown as a predictor for women empowerment attitude (p>0.005). Three-quarters of Saudi academic and administrative staff have a good women empowerment knowledge score, and more than two-thirds have a positive attitude. Demographic characteristics are important predictors for women empowerment knowledge and attitude. The results of this study will help decision-makers to design and implement goal-directed women empowerment programs.

Women empowerment among academic and administrative staff in Saudi universities: A cross-sectional study.

Women in Saudi Arabia constitute nearly 50% of the population, but their participation in economic and social activities are far below the kingdom's potential. According to the 2030 vision, women empowerment is an essential requirement for community transformation and development. The study aims to explore women empowerment among academic and administrative staff in Saudi Universities. A cross-sectional research design was conducted at 15 Saudi governmental universities. A multistage cluster sampling technique was followed to select 5587 participants. The data collection starts from April to September 2020. The current study results illustrate statistically significant differences between academic and administrative staff in the total women empowerment score and all of its dimensions (p <0.05). The majority of academic staff (84.4%) have high personal empowerment compared to 73.7% of the administrative staff. The study concluded that women empowerment is higher among academics compared to administrative staff in Saudi Universities.

Part-time work and other occupational risk factors for suicide among working women in the Swiss National Cohort.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to describe the factors associated with mortality by suicide among working women focusing on work-related factors. METHODS: The study population consisted in all Swiss residents recorded in the 1990 and/or the 2000 compulsory national censuses and were linked to emigration and mortality registers. We selected all women aged 18-65 and at work at the official census dates. Following work-related variables were available: socio-economic status, weekly hours of work, the sector of activity and the job title coded according to the International Standard Classification of Occupations (ISCO). The risk of suicide was modelled using negative binomial regression. RESULTS: The cohort comprised 1,771,940 women and 2526 deaths by suicide corresponding to 24.9 million person-years. The most significant non-occupational predictors of suicide were age, period, civil status, religion, nationality and geographical regions. Adjusted on these factors, part-time work was associated with increased suicide rates. According to job codes, health and social activities, in particular care-worker had the highest suicide risks. CONCLUSION: Suicide among working women depended on work-related factors even taking into account other socio-demographic factors.

Women's empowerment and elective cesarean section for a single pregnancy: a population-based and multivariate study in Vietnam.

BACKGROUND: Women's empowerment, and maternal and neonatal health are important targets of the Sustainable Development Goals. Our objective is to examine the relationship between women's empowerment and elective cesarean section (ECS), focusing on Vietnam, a country where the use of CS has increased rapidly in recent decades, which raises public health concerns. METHODS: We hypothesized that in the context of the developing biomedicalization of childbirth, women's empowerment increases the use of ECS due to a woman's enhanced ability to decide her mode of delivery. By using microdata from the 2013-2014 Multiple Indicator Clusters Survey, we conducted a multivariate analysis of the correlates of ECS. We studied a representative sample of 1343 institutional single birth deliveries. Due to higher ECS rates among multiparous (18.4%) than primiparous women (10.1%) and the potential interaction between parity and other correlates, we used separate models for primiparous and multiparous women. RESULTS: Among the indicators of women's external resources, which include a higher level of education, having worked during the previous 12 months, and having one's own mobile phone, only education differed between primiparous and multiparous women, with a higher level among primiparous women. Among primiparous women, no resource indicator was significantly linked to ECS. However, considering women's empowerment facilitated the identification of the negative impact of having had fewer than 3 antenatal care visits on the use of ECS. Among multiparous women, disapproval of intimate partner violence (IPV) was associated with a doubled likelihood of undergoing ECS (odds ratio = 2.415), and living in an urban area also doubled the likelihood of ECS. The positive association with living in the richest household quintile was no longer significant when attitude towards IPV was included in the model. In both groups, being aged 35 or older increased the likelihood of undergoing ECS, and this impact was stronger in primiparous women. CONCLUSIONS: These results underline the multidimensionality of empowerment, its links to other correlates and its contribution to clarifying the influence of these correlates, particularly for distinguishing between medical and sociocultural determinants. The results advocate for the integration of women's empowerment into policies aimed at reducing ECS rates.

Work and breast milk feeding: a qualitative exploration of the experience of lactating mothers working in ready made garments factories in urban Bangladesh.

BACKGROUND: In Bangladesh 65% of children under 6 months of age were exclusively breastfed with maternal employment being a risk factor that has jeopardized exclusive breastfeeding. As Ready Made Garment (RMG) factories have been the largest employer of low income women in Bangladesh, the objective of our study was to explore the barriers and facilitators of breastfeeding and perceptions about use of expressed breast milk among mothers who worked in the RMG sector. METHODS: This formative research was conducted during July-September 2015 in two slums of Dhaka among RMG workers who were mothers and the caregivers of 0-12 month old infants. Qualitative data was obtained from purposively selected participants of 8 in-depth interviews and 4 focus group discussions (mothers and caregivers), and 2 key informant (RMG factory official) interviews. Mothers were from multiple RMG factories while factory officials were from a single factory. Thematic analysis was conducted. RESULTS: The main themes of qualitative exploration were knowledge and experience of breastfeeding; structural barriers (home and workplace); consequences of inadequate breastfeeding; and perception and experience of using expressed breast milk. Despite knowledge both of the benefits of breast milk and of the importance of breastfeeding for 6 months, most mothers introduced formula as early as 2 months to prepare for their return to work. Barriers such as excessive workload, inadequate crèche facilities at work, and lack of adequate caregivers at home impeded exclusive breastfeeding. Mothers and caregivers had very little knowledge about the use of expressed breast milk and were concerned about contamination. CONCLUSION: As RMG factories are the largest employer of low-income women in Bangladesh, facilitating RMG factory working mothers' ability to use breast milk could help to promote infant health and help women remain in the workforce.

Impact of an Infant Friendly Business Designation.

In response to suboptimal breastfeeding rates, North Dakota added a provision to SB 2344 (public indecency legislation) creating an Infant Friendly business designation for employers providing specified lactation accommodations to employees. However, there has been no evaluation of this designation to determine effectiveness. The purpose of this article is to examine the impact of the Infant Friendly business designation in North Dakota on breastfeeding continuation rates within the context of the social ecological model (SEM). Between November 2016 and March 2017, an 85-item online questionnaire, designed using the SEM, was distributed to working women across the state using various sampling methods. T tests, analysis of variance, and regression were used to analyze results. Designated (intervention) and nondesignated (control) businesses were targeted. There was no statistically significant difference in breastfeeding duration between designated and nondesignated businesses. There was a 2-month difference in duration between continually designated businesses and those with lapsing designations. Twenty-eight percent of the women working for Infant Friendly businesses were aware that their businesses were designated, indicating a lack of awareness regarding the designation. The designation is a starting point for worksite breastfeeding support. A policy promotion plan based on the SEM targeting individual awareness and employee education may improve the designation's effectiveness.

Support for Breastfeeding Employees: Assessing Statewide Worksite Lactation Support Recognition Initiatives in the United States.

BACKGROUND: Although the reasons for discontinued breastfeeding are multifactorial, an unsupportive work environment is consistently reported as a barrier to continued breastfeeding. In the United States, several state breastfeeding advocates have taken a distinctive approach to promote worksite lactation support by developing statewide recognition initiatives aimed at incentivizing employers to support breastfeeding employees by offering public recognition for the worksites' efforts. RESEARCH AIM: To identify and describe statewide worksite lactation support recognition initiatives in the United States. METHODS: Between May 2016 and June 2017, semi-structured phone interviews were conducted with breastfeeding experts in each U.S. state (N = 60 participants) for this cross-sectional study. Experts in states with a recognition initiative were asked about the background, structure, and requirements of the initiative. RESULTS: Twenty-six states had a current initiative, and some had requirements for providing a private space (n = 19; 73%) and time (n = 18; 69%) for employees to express human milk, as well as a written worksite lactation support policy (n = 10; 38%). CONCLUSIONS: This was the first study in which researchers systematically identified ongoing worksite lactation support recognition initiatives in the United States. The results of this work also served to highlight both the similarities and the variety between initiatives. Future researchers should aim to determine the components of an initiative that increase employer support and, in turn, breastfeeding rates.

Cross-Sectional Association Between Employment Status and Self-Rated Health Among Middle-Aged Japanese Women: The Influence of Socioeconomic Conditions and Work-Life Conflict.

BACKGROUND: Few studies examining the impact for women of employment status on health have considered domestic duties and responsibilities as well as household socioeconomic conditions. Moreover, to our knowledge, no studies have explored the influence of work-family conflict on the association between employment status and health. This research aimed to investigate the cross-sectional associations between employment status (regular employee, non-regular employee, or self-employed) with self-rated health among Japanese middle-aged working women. METHODS: Self-report data were obtained from 21,450 working women aged 40-59 years enrolled in the Japan Public Health Center-based Prospective Study for the Next Generation (JPHC-NEXT Study) in 2011-2016. Multivariate odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated for poor self-rated health ('poor' or 'not very good') by employment status. Sub-group analyses by household income and marital status, as well as mediation analysis for work-family conflict, were also conducted. RESULTS: Adjusted ORs for the poor self-rated health of non-regular employees and self-employed workers were 0.90 (95% CI, 0.83-0.98) and 0.84 (95% CI, 0.75-0.94), respectively, compared with regular employees. The identified association of non-regular employment was explained by work-family conflict. Subgroup analysis indicated no statistically significant modifying effects by household income and marital status. CONCLUSION: Among middle-aged working Japanese women, employment status was associated with self-rated health; non-regular employees and self-employed workers were less likely to report poor self-rated health, compared with regular employees. Lowered OR of poor self-rated health among non-regular employees may be explained by their reduced work-family conflict.

Gestão de marketing e o sexismo na comunicação: o papel da liderança / Gestión de marketing y el sexismo en la comunicación: el papel del liderazgo / Marketing management and sexism in promotion: the role of leadership

RESUMO Estudos indicam que as mulheres enfrentam mais dificuldades nas áreas empresariais (gestão, contabilidade, finanças, ciências do comportamento e gestão de pessoas) do que os seus colegas homens, devido a considerações estereotipadas sobre o seu papel, que têm consequências negativas nas oportunidades no local de trabalho. Neste sentido, a liderança surge, nesta investigação, com um papel reforçado e como uma ferramenta crucial no apoio à gestão do marketing (em específico, o caso da comunicação e da publicidade) e na sua relação com o sexismo e a igualdade do género. Em específico, torna-se necessário compreender até que ponto a comunicação social e a indústria publicitária influenciam os estereótipos que vão ditar a ascensão ou não da liderança feminina. O presente trabalho visa contribuir, em nível teórico, para a compreensão deste fenómeno, reunindo alguns dos principais contributos da literatura. Estudos futuros deverão conduzir os investigadores no sentido de testar empiricamente qual o papel da liderança na definição das políticas e planos de comunicação das organizações (em específico, a promoção da igualdade de género). Numa perspetiva interdisciplinar, o presente estudo pretende contribuir para o marketing e para o comportamento organizacional. Futuros trabalhos deverão conduzir à elaboração de focus group e entrevistas em profundidade reunindo alguns agentes da tomada de decisão (na ótica da empresa) e consumidores (na ótica da procura).

RESUMEN Los estudios indican que las mujeres se enfrentan a más dificultades en las áreas empresariales (gestión, contabilidad, finanzas, ciencias de comportamiento y gestión de personas) que sus colegas varones, debido a consideraciones estereotipadas sobre su papel, que tienen consecuencias negativas en las oportunidades en el lugar de trabajo. En este sentido, el liderazgo surge en esta investigación con un papel reforzado y como una herramienta crucial en el apoyo a la gestión del marketing (en particular, el caso de la comunicación y la publicidad) y en su relación con el sexismo y la igualdad de género. En concreto, es necesario comprender hasta qué punto la comunicación social y la industria publicitaria influencian los estereotipos que van a dictar la ascensión o no del liderazgo femenino. El presente trabajo pretende contribuir, en nivel teórico, a la comprensión de este fenómeno, reuniendo algunas de las principales contribuciones de la literatura. Los estudios futuros deben conducir a los investigadores a probar empíricamente cuál es el papel del liderazgo en la definición de las políticas y planes de comunicación de las organizaciones (en particular, la promoción de la igualdad de género). En una perspectiva interdisciplinaria, el presente estudio pretende contribuir al marketing y al comportamiento organizacional. Los futuros trabajos conducen a la elaboración de focus group y entrevistas en profundidad reuniendo algunos agentes de la toma de decisión (en la óptica de la empresa) y consumidores (en la óptica de la demanda).

ABSTRACT Studies show us that women face more difficulties in business (management, accounting, finance, behavioral sciences and people management) than their male counterparts because of stereotypical considerations about their role, which have negative consequences on opportunities on the workplace. So, leadership emerges in this research with a reinforced role and as a crucial way in supporting marketing management (specifically the case of communication and advertising) and in its relation to sexism and gender equality. It is necessary to understand to what extent the media and the advertising industry influences the stereotypes that will dictate the rise or not of female leadership. The present work aims to contribute, theoretically, to the understanding of this phenomenon, gathering some of the main contributions of the existent literature. Future studies should lead researchers to empirically test the role of leadership in shaping organizations' communication policies and plans (specifically, promoting gender equality). In an interdisciplinary perspective, this study intends to contribute to marketing and to organizational behavior. Future work will help to the elaboration of a focus group and in-depth interviews bringing together some decision-making agents (in the company's perspective) and consumers (from a demand perspective).

Do personal resources matter beyond job demands and job resources? Main and interaction effects on health-related outcomes among women working within the welfare sector.

BACKGROUND: Overall, health-related correlates of job demands and job resources are well-known. However, in today's working life, personal resources are considered to be of increasing importance. Beyond general mental ability, knowledge regarding personal resources remains limited. This is particularly so among women working in the welfare sector, a sector mainly employing women and with the work typically involving clients. OBJECTIVE: This study investigated the importance of job demands, job resources, and personal resources for health-related outcomes, as well as the mitigating effects of resources, among women working within the Swedish welfare sector. METHODS: Self-reports from 372 women employed within the welfare sector were analyzed using hierarchical multiple regression. RESULTS: Overall, increasing job demands were associated with poorer health outcomes while increasing job resources and personal resources were associated with better health. Additionally, lower control aggravated the effects of quantitative job demands on health outcomes while lower feedback mitigated the effect of qualitative demands. However, personal resources had no moderating effect. CONCLUSIONS: Job resources seem more pertinent to health than personal resources, at least among women working within the welfare sector in Sweden.

Menopause and the NHS: caring for and retaining the older workforce.

Menopause is a natural transition affecting most women between the ages of 45 and 55. Three-quarters of women will experience mild to moderate menopausal symptoms and a further quarter will report them as severe. Symptoms can include night sweats, hot flushes, poor concentration, tiredness, poor memory and lowered confidence. The workplace can exacerbate these symptoms and for some women can influence their decision to stop working earlier than previously intended. The need for support and understanding from managers is crucial and can make a major difference to how a woman deals with her menopause. Many women enter the menopause at the peak of their productive lives. These women have valuable skills, knowledge and experience that employers need to retain, so they should be developing resources to help navigate this normal and natural stage of the ageing process.

Assessment of breast self- examination practice and associated factors among female workers in Debre Tabor Town public health facilities, North West Ethiopia, 2018: Cross- sectional study.

BACKGROUND: Although breast Self-Examination is no longer tenable as a standard method to detect early breast cancer, world health organization recommends breast self -examination for raising awareness of women about breast cancer. Secondary prevention through monthly breast self-examination is the best option to tackle the rising incidence of breast cancer. Therefore, the aim of this study was to assess breast self -examination practice and associated factors. METHODS: This cross-sectional study was conducted from April 23 to May 23, 2018. A total of 421 female workers in Debre Tabor Town public health facilities were included. The study participants were selected using simple random sampling technique from the study population. The collected data were checked for completeness. The data were entered and cleaned using EpiData version 3.1 then exported to SPSS version 20 for analysis. Crude odd ratio and probability value were identified for each independent variable and all independent variables with probability value of less than 0.2 were entered into multivariables logistic regression. Statistically significant associated factors were identified based on probability value (p-value) less than 0.05 and adjusted odd ratio with 95% confidence interval. RESULT: The mean age of participants was 25.2 (S.D = 4.12) and 137 (32.5%) of the participants had practiced breast self -examination and 64 (15.2%) of them performed it monthly. Family history of breast cancer (adjusted OR = 6.5, CI = 1.54-21.4), Knowledge about breast -self examination (adjusted OR = 5.74, CI = 2.3-14.4) and self- efficacy in practicing breast self -examination (adjusted OR = 4.7, CI = 1.84-12.11) were significantly associated with breast self -examination practice. CONCLUSIONS: The study showed that the prevalence of breast self-examination was low. Family history of breast cancer, knowledge about breast self -examination and self- efficacy in practicing breast self- examination did have statistically significant association with breast self-examination practice.

Fertility intentions for a second child among urban working women with one child in Hunan Province, China: a cross-sectional study.

OBJECTIVES: The objective of this study was to describe the fertility intentions of urban working women whose family planning has been limited to one child since the universal two-child policy was adopted and to explore factors associated with intentions to not have a second child. STUDY DESIGN: This is a cross-sectional study. METHODS: This study was conducted among 703 urban working women with one child using a self-administered questionnaire from May to August 2016 in Hunan, China. Data were collected on the women's sociodemographic characteristics, attitudes towards having another child and fertility intentions. A descriptive analysis, chi-square test and logistics regression were used for data analysis. RESULTS: The ideal number of children among the urban working women was 2.03 ± 0.35. Fewer than half (32.4%) of working women with one child clearly intended to have another child. Not having another child was independently associated with family type, husband's age, age of the first child, attitude of the husband and parents-in-law, whether the parents-in-law provided economic support and the influence of friends. Participants showed lower second-child intentions with increasing age of the partner and first child (P value = 0.002, 0.026). Participants whose parents-in-law provided economic support were less likely to not want a second child than those whose parents-in-law did not provide economic support (P value = 0.037). Those with husbands and parents-in-law with supportive attitudes were less likely to not want another child (P value = 0.001, 0.022). Participants whose friends positively influenced them to have another child were less likely to intend to not have another child (P value = 0.000). CONCLUSIONS: There is no guarantee that the universal two-child policy will be enough to prompt an increase in fertility among urban working women with one child in Hunan Province. Supplementary measures are urgently needed to create a favourable environment for childbearing in China.

Long-Term Effects of Age Discrimination on Mental Health: The Role of Perceived Financial Strain.

OBJECTIVES: This study examines the role of work-related perceived age discrimination on women's mental health over the life course and tests whether financial strain mediates this relationship. METHODS: Using the National Longitudinal Survey of Mature Women (1967-2003), we employ nested growth curve models to evaluate whether perceived age discrimination at work influences women's depressive symptoms and life satisfaction and whether perceived financial strain mediates this relationship. RESULTS: Women who experienced age discrimination had greater overall depressive symptoms but not after controlling for financial strain. We found evidence that age discrimination affected financial strain, which, in turn, increased women's depressive symptoms. Women who reported age discrimination had lower odds of being in higher categories of overall life satisfaction; financial strain partially mediated the relationship but age discrimination remained a significant predictor. DISCUSSION: Despite legal protection, age discrimination at work is frequent and has significant effects on women's mental health over the life course. Financial strain partially mediates this relationship, pointing to financial implications of perceived age discrimination for women and their families. Our findings have important policy and workplace implications, calling attention to ageism as a potent stressor for working women's mental health beyond those tied to sex or race.