Contributions of Nursing and Midwifery Professionals to Women's Health. Reports from the Region of the Americas

The Pan American Health Organization, in recognition of the fundamental role of nursing and midwifery professionals in health systems, has published these reports to highlight the initiatives and contributions of these professionals with a focus on women's health. This publication helps to highlight the important work they do at different levels of care and professional settings, as well as the reality of women's health in the countries of the Region of the Americas. The related activities, stories, and cases illustrate the role of nursing and midwifery professionals in promoting universal access to health and universal health coverage, as well as their important contribution to health systems, universities, and schools in the countries of the Region.

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.

Exploring the Preferences of Women Regarding Sexual and Reproductive Health Care in the Context of Rheumatology: A Qualitative Study.

OBJECTIVE: To explore the sexual and reproductive health (SRH) care and counseling needs of young women with rheumatic diseases in the context of their rheumatology care. METHODS: Semistructured qualitative telephone interviews were conducted with female patients with rheumatic diseases ages 18-45 years (n = 30). Women were recruited from outpatient rheumatology clinics in western Pennsylvania. Interviews were audiorecorded and transcribed verbatim. A codebook was inductively developed based on the interview transcripts, and the finalized coding was used to conduct a thematic analysis. RESULTS: Four themes emerged from interviews: 1) women want rheumatologists to initiate conversations about SRH and to revisit the conversation over time; 2) women desire clear and complete information regarding fetal, pregnancy, and infertility risks associated with their diseases and disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs); 3) women want to be treated holistically, with SRH addressed in the context of their life circumstances and personal values in addition to their rheumatic diseases; 4) women generally feel that they are intermediaries between their rheumatologists and obstetrician-gynecologists (OB/GYNs), but preferred for providers to communicate directly with one another about their SRH. CONCLUSION: Patients strongly desired rheumatologists to play an active role in their SRH, by initiating family planning conversations, providing SRH education in the context of their diseases and DMARDs, and directly coordinating SRH care with OB/GYNs. To meet patients' SRH needs, further work is needed to clarify the specific role of rheumatologists in providing SRH care and to identify ways to better facilitate communication between rheumatologists and reproductive health care providers.

Determinants of rural-urban differences in health care provider visits among women of reproductive age in the United States.

BACKGROUND: Rural health disparities and access gaps may contribute to higher maternal and infant morbidity and mortality. Understanding and addressing access barriers for specialty women's health services is important in mitigating risks for adverse childbirth events. The objective of this study was to investigate rural-urban differences in health care access for women of reproductive age by examining differences in past-year provider visit rates by provider type, and quantifying the contributing factors to these findings. METHODS AND FINDINGS: Using a nationally-representative sample of reproductive age women (n = 37,026) from the Medical Expenditure Panel Survey (2010-2015) linked to the Area Health Resource File, rural-urban differences in past-year office visit rates with health care providers were examined. Blinder-Oaxaca decomposition analysis quantified the portion of disparities explained by individual- and county-level sociodemographic and provider supply characteristics. Overall, there were no rural-urban differences in past-year visits with women's health providers collectively (65.0% vs 62.4%), however differences were observed by provider type. Rural women had lower past-year obstetrician-gynecologist (OB-GYN) visit rates than urban women (23.3% vs. 26.6%), and higher visit rates with family medicine physicians (24.3% vs. 20.9%) and nurse practitioners/physician assistants (NPs/PAs) (24.6% vs. 16.1%). Lower OB-GYN availability in rural versus urban counties (6.1 vs. 13.7 providers/100,000 population) explained most of the rural disadvantage in OB-GYN visit rates (83.8%), and much of the higher family physician (80.9%) and NP/PA (50.1%) visit rates. Other individual- and county-level characteristics had smaller effects on rural-urban differences. CONCLUSION: Although there were no overall rural-urban differences in past-year visit rates, the lower OB-GYN availability in rural areas appears to affect the types of health care providers seen by women. Whether rural women are receiving adequate specialized women's health care services, while seeing a different cadre of providers, warrants further investigation and has particular relevance for women experiencing high-risk pregnancies and deliveries.

Midwives Uniquely Suited to Deliver Woman-Centered Care and Decrease Stigma for Women With Substance Use Disorders.

Midwives are being called to serve a growing population of vulnerable women, those with substance use disorders (SUDs). Increasing numbers of women across the lifespan are being diagnosed with SUDs. In addition, women with SUDs are experiencing very unique and distinct differences in stigma related to their substance use. This stigma is coming from varied sources and through many different forms including mislabeling, misinformation, the media, and a devalued maternal/child relationship. Mothers frequently experience different types of adverse health encounters during the perinatal and postpartum period that also contribute to stigma. Midwives are positioned to provide woman-centered care in a variety of practice settings as integral members of interprofessional teams. Midwives can decrease the stigma women with SUDs are experiencing while improving the health of women, mothers, and families worldwide.

[Neonatal deaths in a highly vulnerable area in Santos, São Paulo State, Brazil: examining healthcare issues from women's perspective]. / Óbitos neonatais em região de alta vulnerabilidade do Município de Santos, São Paulo, Brasil: examinando questões assistenciais na perspectiva das mulheres.

The study analyzed the life and healthcare stories of women living in the Northwest Zone of the city of Santos, São Paulo State, Brazil, who had experienced neonatal deaths between January 2015 and July 2016. The study used triangulation of data from documents from the surveillance division, field diaries from visits to services, and interviews with the women. The interviews provided the main body of empirical data, based on narratives of the women's sexual and reproductive history, prenatal care, childbirth, and the experience of neonatal death. Of the 15 eligible cases, 8 women were interviewed, 6 of whom over 30 years of age and 2 under 30 years, all African-Brazilians, natives of Santos, and working in unskilled occupations. The data yielded the following results: (1) histories of unplanned pregnancies with various gestational risk factors; (2) the women's acknowledgment that they had experienced good access to health services; (3) questions concerning the need for tests and test results, understanding of complications, explanation of treatment approaches, and referrals; (4) prematurity, present in all the cases; (5) pain during labor, abandonment, and transfer to other services due to lack of beds in the neonatal ICU; (6) lack of integration between levels of care; and (7) after the infant's death, limited approaches and little orientation on comprehensive care related to the neonatal death. In conclusion, although the prenatal care was positively rated by the women, there was no comprehensive care for them in relation to the experience of neonatal death, with dialogue and an offer of more adequate contraceptive methods given their health history, as well as counseling on the emotional distress resulting from these experiences.

O estudo analisou a trajetória de vida e de cuidado de mulheres residentes na zona noroeste do Município de Santos, São Paulo, Brasil, que passaram pela experiência de óbitos neonatais entre janeiro de 2015 a julho de 2016. Realizou-se triangulação de dados de documentos da seção de vigilância, diários de campo de visitas aos serviços e entrevistas com as mulheres. Essas constituíram o principal eixo da produção de dados empíricos, por meio de narrativas sobre a história sexual e reprodutiva, cuidado pré-natal, ao parto e a experiência do óbito neonatal. De 15 casos elegíveis, entrevistaram-se oito mulheres, seis com mais e duas com menos de 30 anos, negras, naturais de Santos, em ocupações de baixa qualificação. Como resultados do conjunto dos dados observou-se: (1) históricos de gestações não planejadas e diversos fatores de risco gestacionais; (2) reconhecimento pelas mulheres de que tiveram bom acesso aos serviços de saúde; (3) questionamentos relativos a: necessidade de exames e retornos, valorização de intercorrências, esclarecimento de condutas e encaminhamentos; (4) prematuridade, envolvida em todos os casos; (5) sobre o parto relatam dor, abandono e transferência por falta de leito em UTI neonatal; (6) falta de integração entre os níveis de atenção; e (7) após o óbito, abordagens restritas e pouco orientadas para uma atenção integral relativas ao evento do óbito neonatal. Conclui-se que embora o cuidado pré-natal tenha sido bem avaliado pelas mulheres, não se verifica, quanto à experiência do óbito neonatal, um cuidado integral para essas mulheres, com diálogo e oferta de métodos contraceptivos mais adequados ao seu histórico, ou relativamente ao sofrimento mental resultante dessas experiências.

El estudio analizó la trayectoria de vida y cuidado de mujeres, residentes en la zona noroeste del municipio de Santos, estado de São Paulo, Brasil, que pasaron por la experiencia de muertes neonatales, de enero de 2015 a julio de 2016. Se realizó una triangulación de datos con documentos de la sección de vigilancia, diarios de campo de visitas a los servicios de salud y entrevistas con las mujeres. Estas constituyeron el principal eje de la producción de datos empíricos, a través de relatos sobre su historial sexual y reproductivo, cuidado prenatal, momento del parto y experiencia de muerte neonatal. De los 15 casos elegibles, se entrevistaron a 8 mujeres, 6 con más y 2 con menos de 30 años, negras, oriundas de Santos, en ocupaciones de baja cualificación. Como resultados del conjunto de datos se observaron: (1) historiales de embarazos no deseados y diversos factores de riesgo gestacionales; (2) reconocimiento de las mujeres que tuvieron un buen acceso a los servicios de salud; (3) interrogantes relacionados con: necesidad de exámenes y seguimiento, valoración de complicaciones, aclaración de conductas y derivaciones a otros servicios; (4) prematuridad, implicada en todos los casos; (5) sobre el parto, relatan dolor, abandono y traslados por falta de camas en UCI neonatal; (6) falta de integración entre los niveles de atención; y (7) tras el fallecimiento, existen planteamientos limitados y poco orientados a una atención integral, relacionada con el evento del óbito neonatal. Se concluye que aunque el cuidado prenatal haya sido bien evaluado por las mujeres, no se verifica, en cuanto a la experiencia de la muerte neonatal, un cuidado integral hacia esas mujeres, con un diálogo y oferta de métodos contraceptivos más adecuados a su historial, o en relación al sufrimiento mental resultante de esas experiencias.

Seeking culturally safe care: a qualitative systematic review of the healthcare experiences of women and girls who have undergone female genital mutilation/cutting.

OBJECTIVE: To explore the experiences of accessing and receiving healthcare related to female genital mutilation/cutting (FGM/C) across the life course from the perspective of women and girls who have undergone FGM/C. DESIGN: A systematic review of qualitative research studies using a thematic synthesis approach. METHODS: Inclusion criteria were qualitative studies (including grey literature) of any design, from Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) countries, of any date and any language. Sixteen electronic databases were searched from inception to December 2017, supplemented by reference list searching. Papers were screened, selected and quality-appraised by two reviewers using established tools from the Joanna Briggs Institute. NVivo software was used to extract study characteristics and code study findings. An inductive thematic synthesis approach was undertaken to identify descriptive themes and interpret these into higher order analytical constructs. Confidence in the review findings was assessed using Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development and Evaluations-Confidence in Evidence from Reviews of Qualitative Research (GRADE-CERQual). RESULTS: Fifty-seven papers (from 55 distinct studies) from 14 different OECD countries were included (50% published within the last 8 years). One-third of studies focused exclusively on maternity care experiences, whereas others covered a range of foci. No studies reported explicitly on girls' experiences or on experiences of health service-led safeguarding interventions. Only three studies addressed psychological care. The synthesis developed 17 descriptive themes, organised into 5 analytical constructs. These related to communication, access to care, experiences of cultural dissonance/integrity, disempowering care experiences and positive care encounters. The themes illuminate significant challenges to obtaining timely and holistic care (especially for deinfibulation), and highlight different ways in which women may experience care as disrespectful, unsafe and disempowering. Key elements of 'culturally safe care' are identified. CONCLUSIONS: This review has highlighted key knowledge gaps, especially around (1) girls'/unmarried women's experiences and (2) the impact of recent safeguarding interventions. There is an ongoing need for community engagement, service development and staff training. PROSPERO REGISTRATION NUMBER: CRD420150300012015.

Coordinating Care for Reproductive Health Malignancies in the Veterans' Health Administration: Promising Practices, Ongoing Challenges, and Future Research.

In cancer care, communication and coordination across the cancer continuum is paramount for delivering effective, high-quality, patient-centered care. However, achieving optimally coordinated cancer care is inherently challenging, especially in the case of Veterans Administration (VA) care for women's reproductive health cancers. Given the relatively small number of women Veterans requiring care for reproductive malignancies, VA often must rely on community providers to deliver this care, necessitating coordination across two or more health care systems. Recently, VA has invested heavily in improving care for women Veterans through several initiatives and efforts. This article reviews VA's successes, challenges, and future opportunities in research and innovation in the context of care coordination across the cancer continuum (i.e., prevention and screening, diagnosis and treatment, survivorship care, palliative and supportive care) for women Veterans with reproductive health malignancies. We describe how coordination of VA care for reproductive health malignancies currently reflects a mix of successes that demonstrate use of strong evidenced-based practices and challenges, with solutions yet to be fully developed and implemented. We conclude that there are a multitude of opportunities for future research, interventions, and potential avenues for implementing innovative approaches to coordinate VA reproductive cancer care across the cancer continuum.

Climatério, enfrentamento e repercussões no contexto de trabalho: vozes do Extremo Norte do Brasil / Menopause, coping and impact at the work context: voices from the Extreme North of Brazil / Climaterio, enfrentamiento y repercusiones en el contexto de trabajo: voces del Extremo Norte de Brasil

Esta pesquisa tem por objetivo investigar as consequências do climatério no comportamento da mulher no seu lócus laboral. É um trabalho ancorado no método de levantamento de dados e caracteriza-se por ser de natureza descritiva e exploratória. As informações foram categorizadas, pré-codificadas e organizadas qualitativamente, com base na análise de conteúdo proposta por Bardin. Os sujeitos do estudo foram 15 mulheres entre 40 e 60 ou mais anos, profissionais da saúde em uma unidade de saúde da família, em uma cidade do Extremo Norte do Brasil. Dentre as estratégias de enfrentamento utilizadas estão: as atividades físicas (caminhadas na praça, passeio de bicicleta), hábitos alimentares adequados (produtos naturais, tais como soja, linhaça, alimentação sem gordura, pouco sal), religiosidade (Deus, Bíblia, orações, ir à igreja) e a busca por assistência médica (visitas ao ginecologista e a procura pelo serviço médico na unidade de saúde). Observou-se que o climatério é um período importante, porém nem sempre compreendido e atendido de maneira adequada, e que essa fase ainda é vista como um período negativo, que pode alterar a vida conjugal e familiar.

This research aims to investigate the consequences in climacteric women's behaviour in their job locus. It is a work anchored in the data collection method and characterized as descriptive and exploratory in nature. Data were categorized, pre-coded and organized qualitatively, based on the content analysis and interpretation proposed by Bardin. The subjects of the study were 15 women between 40 and 60 years or older, health professionals at a family health unit in a city in the Far North of Brazil. Among the coping strategies used are the following: physical activity (walking in the street, bike ride), proper eating habits (natural products such as soy, flaxseed, no fat diet, low salt), religion (God, the Bible, prayers, go to the church). Besides that, searching for medical care (visits to the gynaecologist and the search for medical service at the clinic). Menopause is an important period of the female life, but it is not always properly understood and cared in an adequate way.

Esta investigación tiene por objetivo investigar las consecuencias del climaterio en el comportamiento de la mujer en su domicilio laboral. Es un trabajo anclado en el método de levantamiento de datos y se caracteriza por ser de naturaleza descriptiva y exploratoria. La información se clasificó, precalifica y organizó cualitativamente, sobre la base del análisis de contenido propuesto por Bardin. Los sujetos del estudio fueron 15 mujeres entre 40 y 60 o más años, profesionales de la salud en una unidad de salud de la familia, en una ciudad del Extremo Norte de Brasil. (Entre las estrategias de enfrentamiento utilizadas están: las actividades físicas (caminatas en la plaza, paseo en bicicleta), hábitos alimentarios adecuados (productos naturales, tales como soja, linaza, alimentación sin grasa, poco sal), religiosidad (Dios, Biblia, oraciones, ir a la iglesia) y la búsqueda de asistencia médica (visitas al ginecólogo y la demanda por el servicio médico en la unidad de salud). Se observó que el climaterio es un período importante, pero no siempre comprendido y atendido de manera adecuada, y que esa fase todavía es vista como un período negativo, que puede alterar la vida conyugal y familiar.

Comparison of preventive health service provision before and after reorganization of primary care in Turkey: a community-based study.

AIM: To investigate the changes in the provision of preventive health services in terms of woman and child health after reorganization of the primary health care services. BACKGROUND: The primary care system in Turkey has undergone fundamental changes as a part of Health Transformation Program during last decade. But there was no community-based study to evaluate these changes. METHOD: This community-based and cross-sectional study was conducted in 2010, just before the reorganization of primary care services and in 2015, five year after the reforms. The 30×7 cluster sampling method was used in Zümrütevler quarter of Maltepe District. The socio-demographic characteristics of the participants, the presence of the physician who can be consulted for any health problem, the presence of smokers at home were questioned. The women aged 18 years or older and gave consent provided information about history of pregnancy and birth, the number of follow-ups during pregnancy, family planning method usage, cervical and breast cancer screening, breastfeeding duration, vaccinations, and prophylactic iron and vitamin D supplementation for their children. FINDINGS: After the reorganization of primary care, more people stated that they had physicians to whom they could consult for all kinds of health problems (27.8 versus 44.7%; P<0.001) and that physician was the primary care physician (30.2 versus 64.7%; P<0.001). The reported frequency of at least one smoker at home was decreased after reorganization of primary care (63.6 versus 53.1%; P=0.034). There were no significant differences in terms unplanned pregnancy, the use of family planning method, the number of pregnancy follow-ups and the frequency of Pap smears and mammography. There are no significant differences in terms of healthy children follow-ups, vaccination, vitamin D and iron supplementation (P>0.05). It was found that the duration of total breastfeeding increased after reorganization of primary care (P<0.001).

Óbitos neonatais em região de alta vulnerabilidade do Município de Santos, São Paulo, Brasil: examinando questões assistenciais na perspectiva das mulheres / Neonatal deaths in a highly vulnerable area in Santos, São Paulo State, Brazil: examining healthcare issues from women's perspective / Mortalidad neonatal en una región de alta vulnerabilidad del municipio de Santos, estado de São Paulo, Brasil: examinando cuestiones asistenciales desde la perspectiva de las mujeres

Resumo: O estudo analisou a trajetória de vida e de cuidado de mulheres residentes na zona noroeste do Município de Santos, São Paulo, Brasil, que passaram pela experiência de óbitos neonatais entre janeiro de 2015 a julho de 2016. Realizou-se triangulação de dados de documentos da seção de vigilância, diários de campo de visitas aos serviços e entrevistas com as mulheres. Essas constituíram o principal eixo da produção de dados empíricos, por meio de narrativas sobre a história sexual e reprodutiva, cuidado pré-natal, ao parto e a experiência do óbito neonatal. De 15 casos elegíveis, entrevistaram-se oito mulheres, seis com mais e duas com menos de 30 anos, negras, naturais de Santos, em ocupações de baixa qualificação. Como resultados do conjunto dos dados observou-se: (1) históricos de gestações não planejadas e diversos fatores de risco gestacionais; (2) reconhecimento pelas mulheres de que tiveram bom acesso aos serviços de saúde; (3) questionamentos relativos a: necessidade de exames e retornos, valorização de intercorrências, esclarecimento de condutas e encaminhamentos; (4) prematuridade, envolvida em todos os casos; (5) sobre o parto relatam dor, abandono e transferência por falta de leito em UTI neonatal; (6) falta de integração entre os níveis de atenção; e (7) após o óbito, abordagens restritas e pouco orientadas para uma atenção integral relativas ao evento do óbito neonatal. Conclui-se que embora o cuidado pré-natal tenha sido bem avaliado pelas mulheres, não se verifica, quanto à experiência do óbito neonatal, um cuidado integral para essas mulheres, com diálogo e oferta de métodos contraceptivos mais adequados ao seu histórico, ou relativamente ao sofrimento mental resultante dessas experiências.

The study analyzed the life and healthcare stories of women living in the Northwest Zone of the city of Santos, São Paulo State, Brazil, who had experienced neonatal deaths between January 2015 and July 2016. The study used triangulation of data from documents from the surveillance division, field diaries from visits to services, and interviews with the women. The interviews provided the main body of empirical data, based on narratives of the women's sexual and reproductive history, prenatal care, childbirth, and the experience of neonatal death. Of the 15 eligible cases, 8 women were interviewed, 6 of whom over 30 years of age and 2 under 30 years, all African-Brazilians, natives of Santos, and working in unskilled occupations. The data yielded the following results: (1) histories of unplanned pregnancies with various gestational risk factors; (2) the women's acknowledgment that they had experienced good access to health services; (3) questions concerning the need for tests and test results, understanding of complications, explanation of treatment approaches, and referrals; (4) prematurity, present in all the cases; (5) pain during labor, abandonment, and transfer to other services due to lack of beds in the neonatal ICU; (6) lack of integration between levels of care; and (7) after the infant's death, limited approaches and little orientation on comprehensive care related to the neonatal death. In conclusion, although the prenatal care was positively rated by the women, there was no comprehensive care for them in relation to the experience of neonatal death, with dialogue and an offer of more adequate contraceptive methods given their health history, as well as counseling on the emotional distress resulting from these experiences.

Resumen: El estudio analizó la trayectoria de vida y cuidado de mujeres, residentes en la zona noroeste del municipio de Santos, estado de São Paulo, Brasil, que pasaron por la experiencia de muertes neonatales, de enero de 2015 a julio de 2016. Se realizó una triangulación de datos con documentos de la sección de vigilancia, diarios de campo de visitas a los servicios de salud y entrevistas con las mujeres. Estas constituyeron el principal eje de la producción de datos empíricos, a través de relatos sobre su historial sexual y reproductivo, cuidado prenatal, momento del parto y experiencia de muerte neonatal. De los 15 casos elegibles, se entrevistaron a 8 mujeres, 6 con más y 2 con menos de 30 años, negras, oriundas de Santos, en ocupaciones de baja cualificación. Como resultados del conjunto de datos se observaron: (1) historiales de embarazos no deseados y diversos factores de riesgo gestacionales; (2) reconocimiento de las mujeres que tuvieron un buen acceso a los servicios de salud; (3) interrogantes relacionados con: necesidad de exámenes y seguimiento, valoración de complicaciones, aclaración de conductas y derivaciones a otros servicios; (4) prematuridad, implicada en todos los casos; (5) sobre el parto, relatan dolor, abandono y traslados por falta de camas en UCI neonatal; (6) falta de integración entre los niveles de atención; y (7) tras el fallecimiento, existen planteamientos limitados y poco orientados a una atención integral, relacionada con el evento del óbito neonatal. Se concluye que aunque el cuidado prenatal haya sido bien evaluado por las mujeres, no se verifica, en cuanto a la experiencia de la muerte neonatal, un cuidado integral hacia esas mujeres, con un diálogo y oferta de métodos contraceptivos más adecuados a su historial, o en relación al sufrimiento mental resultante de esas experiencias.

Country assessment framework for the integrated delivery of long-term care: working document: WHO European Framework for Action on Integrated Health Services Delivery

This document aims to provide guidance for assessing the integrated delivery of health and social services for long-term care. The assessment framework, which takes on a services and system perspective, serves as a blueprint for collecting data, structuring country visits, synthesizing information and drafting an assessment report. The framework identifies the main components for an assessment according to care needs, entitlements, health and social services, care pathways, the organization of providers and system enablers. Gender and human rights are streamlined throughout the framework and its taxonomy. The document also includes pointers for initial desk research, with a rich list of sources to access data and conduct research, with questionnaires for administrating interviews and outlines for conducting workshops and focus groups.

Heart Centers for Women: Historical Perspective on Formation and Future Strategies to Reduce Cardiovascular Disease.

Heart Centers for Women (HCW) developed as a response to the need for improved outcomes for women with cardiovascular disease (CVD). From 1984 until 2012, more women died of CVD every single year in comparison with men. Initially, there was limited awareness and sex-specific research regarding mortality or outcomes in women. HCW played an active role in addressing these disparities, provided focused care for women, and contributed to improvements in these gaps. In 2014 and 2015, death from CVD in women had declined below the level of death from CVD in comparison with men. Even though awareness of CVD in women has increased among the public and healthcare providers and both sex- and gender-specific research is currently required in all research trials, not all women have benefitted equally in mortality reduction. New strategies for HCW need to be developed to address these disparities and expand the current HCW model. The HCW care team needs to direct academic curricula on sex- and gender-specific research and care; expand to include other healthcare professionals and other subspecialties; provide new care models; address diversity; and include more male providers.

Trauma-informed care in general practice: Findings from a women's health centre evaluation.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Trauma and adversity have serious health consequences, particularly when experienced in early life. These health consequences can be significantly lessened if young people access appropriate care when needed. In 2004, the Blue Mountains Women's Health and Resource Centre created a Young Women's Clinic (YWC) that began providing drop-in appointments for women aged 12-25 years with a general practitioner, nurse or counsellor, as well as a group art program. METHOD: A qualitative evaluation of services provided by the YWC was conducted, drawing on 13 years of client and staff experiences. The evaluation framework was drawn from the recommendations of the NSW Centre for Advancement of Adolescent Health, the Australian Women's Health Network and the World Health Organization report on People-centred and integrated health services. RESULTS: The following principles of trauma-informed care were identified in the study: recognising the impact of trauma on consultations; tailoring consultation length to client needs; providing trauma therapy as well as physical healthcare; offering long-term, safe relationships with staff; trauma-sensitive gynaecological care; and the importance of self-care for health practitioners. DISCUSSION: Our findings demonstrate the importance of holistic general practice services in preventing and managing the long-term health consequences of adversity and trauma.

"I just wish that everything is in one place": facilitators and barriers to continuity of care among HIV-positive, postpartum women with a non-communicable disease in South Africa.

HIV and non-communicable diseases (NCD) are co-epidemics in South Africa. Comorbid individuals must engage in lifelong care. Postpartum HIV-positive women in South Africa are at high risk of dropping out of HIV care. We explored healthcare utilization among postpartum women requiring chronic management of HIV and NCD. From August - December 2016, we enrolled 25 women in Soweto, South Africa, and conducted one-time interviews. All participants were adult (≥18 years), HIV-positive, postpartum, and diagnosed with a NCD that required further evaluation after delivery. We developed a conceptual model that describes how maternal factors, interaction with environments, and social networks influence follow up engagement. Barriers to follow-up included separate visit days, increased time commitment, transportation and logistics, unfamiliar clinic environments, and disrespectful staff. Factors facilitating patient engagement included social support and partner disclosure. Women were more likely to turn to friends and family for advice regarding HIV or the NCD, rather than a clinic. Women prioritized infant care after delivery, suggesting that baby care may be an entry point for improving maternal care after delivery. Our results support advocating for better integration of services at the primary care level as a method to improve continuity of care for both women and children.

Medicina alternativa y complementaria: ¿Qué experiencias tienen las personas al utilizarla? / Alternative and Complementary Medicine: What experiences do people have using it?

Introducción: El incremento del uso de la Medicina Alternativa y Complementaria (MAC) se puede sustentar en la eficacia reportada y escasos efectos secundarios. Sin embargo, no hay suficientes investigaciones sobre posibles complicaciones e interacciones con los medicamentos convencionales. Objetivo: Describir las experiencias de mujeres que hayan utilizado la medicina alternativa y complementaria Metodología: Investigación cualitativa con diseño fenomenológico descriptivo. La recolección de datos se realizó a través de entrevistas a profundidad, con una guía que incluyó los temas relacionados con el fenómeno a investigar, observación y notas. El análisis se realizó según lo propuesto por Krueger: lectura, transcripción, codificación, formación de temas y sub temas, se aplicaron los criterios de rigor y el consentimiento informado. Hallazgos: Se encontró que los principales motivos por los cuales las entrevistadas acudieron a la medicina alternativa fueron por recomendación de familiares o conocidos así como la asequibilidad de la misma. Las entrevistadas admiten utilizar 1 o más métodos alternativos, de los cuales sobresale la herbolaria, para tratar patologías específicas y/o síntomas generales. Sobre sus emociones y sentimientos que les causó el uso de la MAC sobresalen la confianza y bienestar que les genera. También se identificó una creencia sobre la inocuidad de los remedios herbolarios ya que creen que son inofensivos. Conclusiones: La experiencia de las participantes con la MAC fue en lo general positiva y ninguna reportó efectos secundarios por el uso de la misma. Por esta sensación de bienestar percibida, las personas tienen una gran confianza en sus efectos sanadores.