Extended Paid Maternity Leave Associated With Improved Maternal Mental Health In Hong Kong.

In July 2020, Hong Kong extended statutory paid maternity leave from ten weeks to fourteen weeks to align with International Labour Organization standards. We used the policy enactment as an observational natural experiment to assess the mental health implications of this policy change on probable postnatal depression (Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scores of 10 or higher) and postpartum emotional well-being. Using an opportunistic observational study design, we recruited 1,414 survey respondents with births before (August 1-December 10, 2020) and after (December 11, 2020-July 18, 2022) policy implementation. Participants had a mean age of thirty-two, were majority primiparous, and were mostly working in skilled occupations. Our results show that the policy was associated with a 22 percent decrease in mothers experiencing postnatal depressive symptoms and a 33 percent decrease in postpartum emotional well-being interference. Even this modest change in policy, an additional four weeks of paid leave, was associated with significant mental health benefits. Policy makers should consider extending paid maternity leave to international norms to improve mental health among working mothers and to support workforce retention.

Exclusive breastfeeding among Indonesian working mothers: does early initiation of breastfeeding matter?

BACKGROUND: Early initiation of breastfeeding (EIBF) is a starting point that lays the foundation for breastfeeding and bonding between mother and baby. Meanwhile, working mothers are one of the vulnerable groups for the success of exclusive breastfeeding (EBF). The study analyzed the role of EIBF on EBF among Indonesian working mothers. METHODS: The cross-sectional study examined secondary data from the 2021 Indonesian National Nutritional Status Survey. The study analyzed 4,003 respondents. We examined EBF practice as an outcome variable and EIBF as an exposure variable. We included nine control variables (residence, maternal age, marital, education, prenatal classes, wealth, infant age, sex, and birth weight). All variables were assessed by questionnaire. The study employed a binary logistic regression test in the last stage. RESULTS: The result showed that the proportion of EBF among working mothers in Indonesia in 2021 was 51.9%. Based on EIBF, Indonesian working mothers with EIBF were 2.053 times more likely than those without to perform EBF (p < 0.001; AOR 2.053; 95% CI 2.028-2.077). Moreover, the study also found control variables related to EBF in Indonesia: residence, maternal age, marital, education, prenatal classes, wealth, infant age, sex, and birth weight. CONCLUSION: The study concluded that EIBF was related to EBF. Indonesian working mothers with EIBF were two times more likely than those without to perform EBF. The government needs to release policies that strengthen the occurrence of EIBF in working mothers to increase EBF coverage.

COVID-19 en trabajadores activos durante la cuarentena. Realidad de un sector urbano de Caracas, Venezuela / COVID-19 in active workers during quarantine. Reality of an urban sector of Caracas, Venezuela

La pandemia por COVID-19 resultó un problema para la salud pública mundial, que impactó particularmente al sector de trabajadores que debían trabajar y estar expuestos durante el periodo de cuarentena. Objetivo, analizar la incidencia de COVID-19 y sus características en trabajadores(as) activos(as) durante 34 semanas. Investigación descriptiva y transversal. Población constituida por todos los trabajadores(as) activos de sectores priorizados, con diagnóstico confirmado de COVID-19. De los 1.186 casos confirmados, 658 casos (55%) correspondió a trabajadores activos, una incidencia de 1,7 casos x 1000 (mayor a la esperada), con predominio en trabajadores(as) del sector salud (267casos), choferes del transporte y trabajadores de funerarias (253 casos). El 68,7% menor de 40 años y predominio del sexo masculino (61,2%). En el personal de salud, el 30% correspondió a personal de enfermería y 22% en médicos. La tasa de mortalidad en la población de trabajadores activos fue de 0,07 x cada 1000, con un índice de mortalidad de 0,05 y un índice de recuperación del 95,5%, comportamiento similar al de la población general. Sin embargo, la tasa de letalidad (trabajadores activos positivos fallecidos) fue del 4,4% (29 casos), donde el 75% (22/29) fueron enfermeras y médicos, lo que confirmó al sector salud y trabajadores(as) de servicios, como población trabajadora altamente expuesta y vulnerable, lo que justificó priorizar las medidas de prevención en estos trabajadores, al iniciar el sistema de vigilancia epidemiológica, la vacunación y la dotación con uso adecuado de la protección personal(AU)

The COVID-19 Pandemic was a problem for global public health, which particularly impacted the sector of workers who had to work and were exposed during the quarantine period. The objective was to analyze the incidence of COVID- 19 and its characteristics in active workers during 34 weeks. Descriptive and cross-sectional research. Population made up of all active workers in prioritized sectors, with a confirmed diagnosis of COVID-19. Of the 1,186 confirmed cases, 658 cases (55%) corresponded to active workers, an incidence of 1.7 cases per 1,000 (higher than expected), with a predominance of workers in the health sector (267 cases), transport drivers and funeral home workers (253 cases). 68.7% under 40 years of age and predominance of the male sex (61.2%). In health personnel, 30% corresponded to nursing personnel and 22% to doctors. The mortality rate in the population of active workers was 0.07 x every 1000, with a mortality rate of 0.05 and a recovery rate of 95.5%, behavior similar to that of the general population. However, the fatality rate (deceased positive active workers) was 4.4% (29 cases), where 75% (22/29) were nurses and doctors, which confirmed the health sector and service workers, as a highly exposed and vulnerable working population, which justified prioritizing prevention measures in these workers, by initiating the epidemiological surveillance system, vaccination and provision with adequate use of personal protection(AU)

Riesgo biológico en el personal de enfermería de la Unidad de Cuidados Intensivos del Hospital Alberto Sabogal Sologuren / Biological risk in the nursing staff of the Intensive Care Unit of the Alberto Sabogal Sologuren Hospital

Según la Organización Internacional del Trabajo (OIT) se estima que 2,34 millones de personas mueren cada año a causa de accidentes y enfermedades relacionados con el trabajo. Entre las áreas hospitalarias, la unidad de cuidados intensivos (UCI) es considerada como la más tensa, traumática y agresiva, que ha pesar de la pesada rutina de trabajo, los peligros a la que el personal de enfermería (enfermeros, técnicos y asistentes) está continuamente expuesto. No sólo el medio ambiente es insalubre, sino que dada la ocurrencia frecuente de situaciones de emergencia y la alta concentración de pacientes en estado crítico que se someten a cambios en su estado de salud. El personal de enfermería la UCI tienen un mayor riesgo relacionado con los peligros biológicos, ya que están expuestos a organismos infecciosos durante los procedimientos invasivos y no invasivos. En ese sentido, este trabajo busca indagar sobre percepción acerca de la exposición a los riesgos biológicos para las enfermeras que laboran en la UCI en el Hospital Alberto Sabogal Sologuren, Perú. Los resultados llevados con las trabajadoras de la salud de Unidad de Cuidados Intensivos en el Hospital Alberto Sabogal indicaron que en general, las enfermeras de ese centro asistencial hacen uso de buenas prácticas de riesgo, siendo el de mayor prevalecencia (71%) el relacionado con los principios de bioseguridad, y siendo el de menor cuidado (37%), el referente al lavado de las manos antes y después de tener contacto con los pacientes. Es preocupante, que un porcentaje bajo de enfermeras, entre un 5 y 22% respondieron algunas veces a las prácticas de riesgo, siendo un factor importante de contaminación o peligro con su salud(AU)

According to the International Labor Organization (ILO), an estimated 2.34 million people die each year from work-related accidents and diseases. Among the hospital areas, the intensive care unit (ICU) is considered the most tense, traumatic and aggressive, which has despite the heavy work routine, the dangers to which the nursing staff (nurses, technicians and assistants) They are continually exposed. Not only is the environment unhealthy, but given the frequent occurrence of emergency situations and the high concentration of critically ill patients undergoing changes in their health status. ICU nursing staff are at increased risk related to biohazards, as they are exposed to infectious organisms during invasive and non-invasive procedures. In this sense, this work seeks to investigate the perception of exposure to biological risks for nurses who work in the ICU at the Alberto Sabogal Sologuren Hospital, Peru. The results carried out with the health workers of the Intensive Care Unit at the Alberto Sabogal Hospital indicated that in general, the nurses of this care center make use of good risk practices, with the highest prevalence (71%) being related to the principles of biosafety, and being the least careful (37%), the reference to washing hands before and after having contact with patients. It is worrisome that a low percentage of nurses, between 5 and 22% sometimes responded to risk practices, being an important factor of contamination or danger to their health(AU)

Influence of UTCP on the employment of female workers and the supply of labor force.

In recent years, China has introduced the Universal Two-Child Policy (UTCP), which means that a couple can have two children. The implementation of this policy may affect female employment. Based on this background, this work aims to the impact of UTCP on the number and employment of Chinese women workers, and find out the countermeasures for the adverse impact of the policy. Firstly, the role of the Propensity Score Matching-Differences in Differences model is introduced, and the average and dynamic effects of UTCP on women's employment are discussed by using the Propensity Score Matching model. Secondly, the survey data on issues related to female employment after the implementation of UTCP from 2016 to 2020 is analyzed. Finally, a conclusion is drawn according to the survey data. The results demonstrate that the implementation of UTCP widens the income gap between men and women. Meanwhile, the younger the couple, the greater the income gap. Besides, the unemployment rate changes slightly after the introduction of the policy. As the growth rate of female income is significantly lower than that of men of the same age, UTCP has little impact on the employment of Chinese female workers, but has a great impact on the quality of employment. Among all the respondents, the proportion of employed men is higher than employed women, which is about 64% ~ 65%. However, it is still unknown whether age, education, family characteristics, nationality, occupations, and economic development of the province have a certain impact on female income, which is worth noting by follow-up research. On the whole, the full liberalization of the second child has little impact on the employment of female workers in China, but has a great impact on the quality of employment. The present work lays a foundation for the study of the impact of UTCT on female employment in future, and offers a certain reference for the further study of the impact of the policy on employment in the future.

Factors related with the incidence of acute respiratory infections in toddlers in Sleman, Yogyakarta, Indonesia: Evidence from the Sleman Health and Demographic Surveillance System.

Various factors associated with Acute Respiratory Infections (ARI) in toddlers have been widely observed, but there are no studies using data from the Sleman Health and Demographic Surveillance System (HDSS). This study aimed to determine the factors associated with ARI in children under five in Sleman, Yogyakarta, Indonesia. This research was an observational analytic study with a cross-sectional design, using secondary data from the Sleman HDSS. Data of 463 children under five who met the inclusion and exclusion criteria were used in this study. Inclusion criteria were toddlers who have complete observed variable data. The variables observed were the characteristics of children under five, the attributes of the mother, the physical condition of the house, the use of mosquito coils, sanitation facilities, and sources of drinking water. The exclusion criteria were toddlers with pulmonary tuberculosis in the past year. Data analysis used chi-squared tests for bivariate analysis and multivariate logistic regression analysis. The results showed that working mothers had a greater risk of ARI under five children with OR 1.46 (95% CI = 1.01-2.11), and groundwater as a water source was a protective factor against the occurrence of ARI in toddlers with OR 0.46 (95% CI = 0.26-0.81). After a logistic regression analysis was performed, only the drinking water source variable had a statistically significant relationship with the incidence of ARI in children under five with OR = 0.47 (95% CI = 0.268-0.827). Research on the relationship between water quality and the incidence of ARI in children under five is needed to follow up on these findings.

Women empowerment and skilled birth attendance in sub-Saharan Africa: A multi-country analysis.

INTRODUCTION: In 2017, the highest global maternal deaths occurred in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). The WHO advocates that maternal deaths can be mitigated with the assistance of skilled birth attendants (SBAs) at childbirth. Women empowerment is also acknowledged as an enabling factor to women's functionality and healthcare utilisation including use of SBAs' services. Consequently, this study investigated the association between women empowerment and skilled birth attendance in SSA. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This study involved the analysis of secondary data from the Demographic and Health Surveys of 29 countries conducted between January 1, 2010, and December 3, 2018. For this study, only women who had given birth in the five years prior to the surveys were included, which is 166,022. At 95% confidence interval, Binary Logistic Regression analyses were conducted and findings were presented as adjusted odds ratios (aORs). RESULTS: The overall prevalence of skilled birth attendance was 63.0%, with the lowest prevalence in Tanzania (13.8%) and highest in Rwanda (91.2%). Women who were empowered with high level of knowledge (aOR = 1.60, 95% CI = 1.51, 1.71), high decision-making power (aOR = 1.19, 95% CI = 1.15, 1.23), and low acceptance of wife beating had higher likelihood of skill birth attendance after adjusting for socio-demographic characteristics. Women from rural areas had lesser likelihood (OR = 0.53, 95% CI = 0.51-0.55) of skilled birth attendance compared to women from urban areas. Working women had a lesser likelihood of skilled birth attendance (OR = 0.91, 95% CI = 0.88-0.94) as compared to those not working. Women with secondary (OR = 2.13, 95% CI = 2.03-2.22), or higher education (OR = 4.40, 95% CI = 3.81-5.07), and women in the richest wealth status (OR = 3.50, 95% CI = 3.29-3.73) had higher likelihood of skilled birth attendance. CONCLUSION: These findings accentuate that going forward, successful skilled birth attendant interventions are the ones that can prioritise the empowerment of women.

Women on the Frontline: A Changed Workforce and the Fight Against COVID-19.

COVID-19 is a worldwide pandemic, with frontlines that look drastically different than in past conflicts: that is, women now make up a sizeable majority of the health care workforce. American women have a long history of helping in times of hardship, filling positions on the home front vacated by men who enlisted as soldiers during World War I and similarly serving in crucial roles on U.S. military bases, on farms, and in factories during World War II. The COVID-19 pandemic has represented a novel battleground, as the first in which women have taken center stage, not only in their roles as physicians, respiratory therapists, nurses, and the like, but also by serving in leadership positions and facilitating innovations in science, technology, and policy. Yet, the pandemic has exacerbated multiple pain points that have disproportionally impacted women in health care, including shortages in correctly sized personal protective equipment and uniforms, inadequate support for pregnant and breastfeeding providers, and challenges associated with work-life balance and obtaining childcare. While the pandemic has facilitated several positive advancements in addressing these challenges, there is still much work to be done for women to achieve equity and optimal support in their roles on the frontlines.

Work, race and breastfeeding outcomes for mothers in the United States.

BACKGROUND: In the United States, mothers' employment status and occupation are related to breastfeeding. However, it is unclear whether not working leads to longer breastfeeding duration even when compared to professional/managerial jobs, which tend to accommodate breastfeeding better than service/manual labor jobs. Furthermore, occupation and breastfeeding are racially patterned, and it is possible that race could moderate the relationships between mother's work and breastfeeding. METHODS: Using data from the Panel Study of Income Dynamics, we modeled breastfeeding duration based on mother's employment/occupation (not working, professional/managerial work, or service/labor work) during the first 6 months postpartum, as well as mother's race (White, Black or other) and other potential confounders. We used zero-inflated negative binomial regression models and tested an interaction between employment/occupation type and race. Predictive margins were used to compare breastfeeding duration among subgroups. RESULTS: Mothers working in service/labor occupations had the shortest breastfeeding duration of the three employment/occupation groups, and there was no significant difference in duration between not working and professional/managerial occupation. White mothers had longer breastfeeding duration than Black mothers on average. When we included an interaction between employment/occupation and race, we found that among White mothers, non-working mothers breastfed the longest, while mothers in service/labor work breastfed for the shortest duration, but among Black mothers, mothers in professional/managerial work breastfed for longer than mothers in the other two work categories. DISCUSSION: Race moderated the relationship between employment status/occupation type and breastfeeding such that, for White mothers, not working was the most advantageous circumstance for breastfeeding, in line with traditional work-family conflict theory. In contrast, for Black mothers, professional/managerial work was the most advantageous circumstance. These findings support the idea of the Market-Family Matrix, which allows that different work scenarios may be more or less advantageous for parenting behaviors like breastfeeding, depending on mothers' circumstances.

How Does Representation of Women on Editorial Boards Compare Among Orthopaedic, General Surgery, and Internal Medicine Journals?

BACKGROUND: Women have historically been underrepresented as editors of peer-reviewed medical journals. Studies have demonstrated that there are differences in editorial board reviewer behavior based on gender, suggesting that greater representation by women on editorial boards may improve the quality and diversity of the review process. Therefore, the current representation of women on the editorial boards of orthopaedic journals, particularly compared with peer-reviewed surgical and medical journals, is of interest. QUESTIONS/PURPOSES: (1) What is the representation of women as members of editorial boards of prominent orthopaedic surgery journals? (2) How does it compare with representation on the editorial boards of journals in general surgery and internal medicine? METHODS: The top 15 journals with a strong clinical emphasis based on Impact Factor (Clarivate Analytics) calculated by the 2018 Journal Citation Reports were identified for orthopaedic surgery, general surgery (and all general surgical subspecialties), and internal medicine (with representative internal medicine subspecialties). Clinical publications with their primary editorial office located in the United States led predominantly by physicians or basic scientists were eligible for inclusion. The members of an editorial board were identified from the journals' websites. The gender of editors with gender-neutral names (and editors whose gender we considered uncertain) was identified by an internet search for gender-specific pronouns and/or pictures from an institutional profile. Fisher exact tests and t-tests were used to analyze categorical and continuous variables, respectively. Significance was set at p < 0.05. RESULTS: Of the editors analyzed, women made up 9% (121 of 1383) of editorial boards in the orthopaedic journals with the highest Impact Factors, compared with 21% (342 of 1665) of general surgery journals (p < 0.001) and 35% (204 of 587) of internal medicine journals (p < 0.001). The overall mean composition of editorial boards of orthopaedic journals was 10% ± 8% women, compared with that of general surgery, which was 19% ± 6% women (p < 0.001), and that of internal medicine, which was 40% ± 19% women (p < 0.001). CONCLUSION: Women make up a smaller proportion of editorial boards at orthopaedic surgery journals than they do at general surgery and internal medicine journals. However, their representation appears to be comparable to the proportion of women in orthopaedics overall (approximately 6%) and the proportion of women in academic orthopaedics (approximately 19%). Ways to improve the proportion of women on editorial boards might include structured mentorship programs at institutions and personal responsibility for championing mentorship and diversity on an individual level. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Increasing representation of women on editorial boards may improve the diversity of perspectives and quality of future published research, generate visible role models for young women considering orthopaedics as a career, and improve patient care through enriching the diversity of our specialty.

Research Conducted in Women Was Deemed More Impactful but Less Publishable than the Same Research Conducted in Men.

Background: Female scientists, who are more likely than their male counterparts to study women and report findings by sex/gender, fare worse in the article peer review process. It is unknown whether the gender of research participants influences the recommendation to publish an article describing the study. Materials and Methods: Reviewers were randomly assigned to evaluate one of three versions of an article abstract describing a clinical study conducted in men, women, or individuals. Reviewers assessed the study's scientific rigor, its level of contribution to medical science, and whether they would recommend publishing the full article. Responses were analyzed with logistic regression controlling for reviewer background variables, including sex and experience level. Results: There was no significant difference in perceived research rigor by abstract condition; contribution to medical science was perceived to be greater for research conducted in women than men (odds ratio = 1.7; p = 0.030). Nevertheless, reviewers were almost twice as likely to recommend publication for research conducted in men than the same research conducted in women (predicted probability 0.606 vs. 0.322; p = 0.000). Conclusions: These results are consistent with abundant data from multiple sources showing a lower societal value placed on women than men. Because female investigators are more likely than male investigators to study women, our findings suggest a previously unrecognized bias that could contribute to gender asymmetries in the publication outcomes of peer review. This pro-male publication bias could be an additional barrier to leadership attainment for women in academic medicine and the advancement of women's health.

Situación actual de la mujer en Urología en Colombia / Current situation of women in Urology in Colombia

INTRODUCCIÓN Y OBJETIVOS: Existe la creencia de que la urología es una especialidad de hombres. Según la American-Urology-Association, en 2013 las mujeres representaban el 7,7% de los urólogos en EE.UU. Actualmente, de 678 urólogos adscritos a la Sociedad Colombiana de Urología, 61 son mujeres (9%), y de 102 residentes, 41 (40%), son mujeres. El objetivo de este estudio es demostrar las tendencias de trabajo de las urólogas, las tendencias a futuro de las residentes, e identificar si los pacientes tienen preferencias en cuanto a la atención según el género de(la) urólogo(a). MATERIAL Y MÉTODOS: Estudio de corte observacional descriptivo con encuestas anónimas realizadas a urólogas, residentes y pacientes. Las preguntas evaluaban las características demográficas de los encuestados; las preguntas a urólogas evaluaban sus tendencias de trabajo, las de las residentes sus planes a futuro como urólogas, y las de los pacientes su deseo de ser valorados en consulta y operados por un urólogo o una uróloga. RESULTADOS: Cincuenta y tres urólogas respondieron la encuesta. El promedio de edad fue 37 años, la mayoría (54%) trabajan en Bogotá. Dieciocho (34%) se han subespecializado, la mayoría en andrología (16%), endourología (16%) y urología pediátrica (16%). La mayoría (73,6%) operan entre 5-20 horas semanales, y las principales cirugías que realizan son colocación de cinta libre de tensión, resección transuretral de próstata, y varicocelectomía. Dieciocho (34%) refieren acoso laboral por el hecho de ser mujer. Treinta y seis de 41 residentes respondieron la encuesta. El promedio de edad era 28 años. El promedio de publicaciones académicas era de 3 (0-12). Ochenta por ciento desean realizar una subespecialización en el futuro, de las cuales 24% lo harían en endourología,17,2% en pediatría o uroginecología, y 10,3% en oncología. Cuarenta y un por ciento refieren acoso laboral por el hecho de ser mujer. Ciento ochenta y ocho pacientes respondieron la encuesta, siendo 96 hombres y 87 mujeres, de los cuales, 44,1% prefieren ser atendidos en consulta por una uróloga, y 49,2% prefieren ser operados por un urólogo. CONCLUSIONES: El número de mujeres urólogas ha aumentado exponcialmente en los últimos años, al igual que el porcentaje de mujeres en la residencia. Las residentes desean subespecializarse en diversos campos de la urología. Los pacientes prefieren ser atendidos en consulta por una uróloga, pero ser operados por un urólogo aunque las mujeres siguen prefiriendo ser operadas por una mujer

INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVES: There are 61 (9%) female urologist enrolled at Sociedad Colombiana de Urología. 41 (40%) of urology residentes in Colombia are women. The aim of this study is to demonstrate the work tendencies of female urologist, female residents and patient’s preferences regarding the gender of their urologist. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Descriptive observational sectional study with anonymous surveys carried out to practicing female urologists, female residents, and patients. The questions evaluated the demographic characteristics of the surveyed individuals; the questions for female urologists evaluated their work tendencies; for the residents we evaluated their plans as urologists; and the patients were asked about their preferences to be evaluated in medical consultation and to have a surgery performed by either a male or female urologist. RESULTS: The survey was answered by 53 female urologists. The average age was 37 years, the majority (54%) worked in Bogotá. 34% have subspecialized, the majority in andrology (16%) endourology (16%) and pediatric urology (16%). Most of them (73.6%) perform surgery between 5-20 hours weekly, and the most performed surgery was varicocelectomy. 34% referred to have been harassed in their work environment based on their gender. Thirty-six female residents answered the survey. The average age was 28 years. The average number of academic publications was 3. 80% wish to achieve a sub-specialization, of which 24% would do it in endourology. 41% referred to have been harassed. 188 patients answered the survey, 96 men and 87 women; 44.1% preferred to be attended in medical consultation by a female urologist, and 49.2% preferred to be operated by a male urologist. CONCLUSIONS: The number of female urologists has exponentially increased, just as the percentage of female residents. Female residents wish to subspecialize in diverse areas. Patients prefer to be attended by a female urologist in medical consultation but prefer to have surgery performed by a male urologist

Inequalities in Cervical Cancer Screening Uptake Between Chinese Migrant Women and Local Women: A Cross-Sectional Study.

INTRODUCTION: Uptake of cervical cancer screening services in Chinese migrant workers is unknown and may be lower than non-migrant workers in China. METHODS: We conducted a cross-sectional study among migrant and non-migrant women aged 21-65 at 7 provinces across China and administered a questionnaire investigating knowledge and attitudes regarding cervical cancer, human papillomavirus (HPV), and HPV vaccine. We used multivariable logistic regression to evaluate odds of previous cervical cancer screening in migrant workers. RESULTS: 737 women participated in the study. Mean age was 41.9 ± 7.2 years. 50.2% of the participants were migrant workers. 27.6% of the migrant workers reported previous cervical cancer screening compared to 33.2% of local participants. 36.6% migrant workers reported awareness of HPV compared to 40.2% of local participants. In adjusted analysis migrant status was not associated with increased odds of previous cervical cancer screening (aOR = 1.11 95%CI: 0.76-1.60). High school or higher education compared to less than high school education and employer-sponsored insurance compared to uninsured were associated with increased odds of previous cervical cancer screening (aOR = 2.15 95%CI: 1.41-3.27 and aOR = 1.67 95% CI: 1.14-2.45, respectively). Having heard of HPV compared to no awareness of HPV was associated with increased odds of cervical cancer screening (aOR = 2.02 95%CI: 1.41-2.91). Awareness of HPV among migrant workers was associated with increased odds of cervical cancer screening compared to migrant and local participants without awareness (aOR = 2.82 95% CI: 1.70-4.69 and 2.97 95%CI: 1.51-5.83, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: Efforts to increase education opportunities, provide insurance, and promote HPV awareness could increase cervical cancer screening uptake in migrant women in China.

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.

Rebirth in a COVID hospital: a point of view.

BACKGROUND: Since COVID-19 was declared a pandemic, governments have taken actions to limit the transmission of the virus such as lockdown measures and reorganization of the local Health System. Quarantine measures have influenced pregnant women's daily lives. The aim of this study was to understand the impact of the changes imposed by COVID-19 emergency on the well-being of pregnant women and how the transformation of Schiavonia Hospital into a dedicated COVID hospital affected their pregnancy experience. METHODS: A cross-sectional survey was conducted. Pregnant women who gave birth in Schiavonia Hospital during the period May-September 2020 have been included. The assessment examined clinical characteristics, attitudes in relation to the pandemic and how it affected birth plans, perception of information received, and attitudes regards giving birth in a COVID hospital. RESULTS: One hundred four women responded to the survey, with an enrolment rate of 58%. About the influence of COVID-19 pandemic, 51% of respondents reported changing some aspect of their lifestyle. The identification of Schiavonia Hospital as COVID hospital did not modify the trust in the facility and in the obstetrics ward for the 90% of women, in fact for the 85.6% it was the planned Birth Center since the beginning of pregnancy. The communication was complete and exhaustive for 82.7% of the respondents. CONCLUSIONS: Despite the COVID hospital transformation, the women who came to give birth at Schiavonia Birth Center rated the healthcare assistance received at high level, evidencing high affection for the structure and the healthcare workers.

Postnatal care utilisation among women in rural Ghana: analysis of 2014 Ghana demographic and health survey.

BACKGROUND: Maternal mortality is high in Ghana, averaging 310 maternal deaths per 100,000 live births in 2017. This is partly due to inadequate postnatal care especially among rural communities. Ghana can avert the high maternal deaths if women meet the World Health Organisation's recommended early postnatal care check-up. Despite the association between geographical location and postnatal care utilisation, no study has been done on determinants of postnatal care among rural residents in Ghana. Therefore, this study determined the prevalence and correlates of postnatal care utilization among women in rural Ghana. METHODS: The study utilised women's file of the 2014 Ghana Demographic and Health Survey (GDHS). Following descriptive computation of the prevalence, binary logistic regression was fitted to assess correlates of postnatal care at 95% confidence interval. The results were presented in adjusted odds ratio (AOR). Any AOR less than 1 was interpreted as reduced likelihood of PNC attendance whilst AOR above 1 depicted otherwise. All analyses were done using Stata version 14.0. RESULTS: The study revealed that 74% of the rural women had postnatal care. At the inferential level, women residing in Savanna zone had higher odds of postnatal care compared to those in the Coastal zone [AOR = 1.80, CI = 1.023-3.159], just as among the Guan women as compared to the Akan [AOR = 7.15, CI = 1.602-31.935]. Women who were working were more probable to utilise postnatal care compared to those not working [AOR = 1.45, CI = 1.015-2.060]. Those who considered distance as unproblematic were more likely to utilise postnatal care compared to those who considered distance as problematic [AOR = 1.63, CI = 1.239-2.145]. CONCLUSIONS: The study showed that ethnicity, ecological zone, occupation and distance to health facility predict postnatal care utilisation among rural residents of Ghana. The study points to the need for government to increase maternal healthcare facilities in rural settings in order to reduce the distance covered by women in seeking postnatal care.

Infant sleep during COVID-19: Longitudinal analysis of infants of US mothers in home confinement versus working as usual.

OBJECTIVES: This study longitudinally compared the sleep of infants in the United States whose mothers were in home confinement to those whose mothers were working as usual throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. METHODS: Mothers of 572 infants (46% girls) aged 1-12 months (M = 5.9, standard deviation = 2.9) participated. Assessments were conducted on 4 occasions from late March to May 2020. Infant sleep was measured objectively using auto-videosomnography. Mothers reported their sheltering status, demographic characteristics, and infant sleep. RESULTS: Infants of mothers in home confinement had later sleep offset times and longer nighttime sleep durations, compared to infants of mothers who were working as usual. At the end of March, these infants also had earlier bedtimes, more nighttime awakenings, and more parental nighttime visits, but differences were not apparent during April and May. CONCLUSIONS: Living restrictions issued in the United States may have led to longer sleep durations and temporary delays in sleep consolidation for infants of mothers in home confinement.