Perception of health, health behaviours and the use of prophylactic examinations in postmenopausal women.

BACKGROUND: Pro-health behaviours aim at disease prevention, recovery from an illness and maintenance of good health in a physical, mental and social sphere. The study had two main objectives: (a) to analyse health behaviours of postmenopausal women and their understanding of the notion of health, and (b) to analyse the relationship between individual categories of health behaviours and prophylactic activities undertaken by postmenopausal women. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted among a convenience sample of 510 postmenopausal women. Three study instruments were used: an original questionnaire and two instruments designed by Juczynski: the List of Health Criteria and the Health Behaviour Inventory. RESULTS: In the view of the respondents health was primarily synonymous with a feature, because the following three associations were given the highest priority when defining health: to be healthy means 'have all body parts functioning well' (M = 1.82), 'do not experience any physical problems' (M = 1.43) and 'not be sick, only occasionally suffer from flu, cold or indigestion'. The score for health behaviours was average (M = 86.18). The highest score was achieved in the area of prophylactic behaviours. General indicator of health-related behaviours was higher in women who rated their health as very good (p < 0.05). Women whose general indicator of health-related behaviours was higher regularly performed prophylactic gynaecological examinations (p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Results showed that women after menopause treat health mainly as a feature of their body and condition specific for this period of life. The analysis of postmenopausal women's health behaviours and their perception of health helped to identify areas that require the focus of medical personnel in regard to health promotion and prophylaxis. The average general indicator of health-related behaviours is positive for this group of women as it shows that they care about their health, especially in terms of prophylaxis.

Attitudes of Teenage Mothers towards Pregnancy and Childbirth.

The problem of early motherhood is still a serious medical and social problem in many countries around the world. The aim of this study was to analyze the attitudes of teenage mothers towards pregnancy and childbirth. A retrospective cross-sectional study was conducted with the use of an original questionnaire containing a test to measure attitudes on a five-point Likert scale and a Life Orientation Test-Revised (LOT-R) to assess dispositional optimism. The study involved 308 teenage mothers between 13 and 19 years of age. Attitudes of teenage mothers towards pregnancy and childbirth were more often positive (90.6%) than negative (9.4%). Sociodemographic features determining the attitudes of teenage mothers towards both their pregnancy and childbirth included their age, marital status, current occupation, and main source of income. The type of attitude adopted by teenage mothers towards pregnancy and childbirth was significantly related to the level of their dispositional optimism.

Evaluation of the health behaviors of women in multiple pregnancies - a preliminary study.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of the paper was to assess which health behavior indicators were characteristic for women with a multiple pregnancy. MATERIAL AND METHOD: The study involved 35 women in multiple pregnancies. The inclusion criteria were: the completion of the 22nd week of pregnancy (22 Hbd, i.e., 22 weeks and 1/7) and the consent of the women to participate in the study. We used an original questionnaire devised by us specifically for our study, as well as a standardized research tool, Juczynski's Health Behavior Inventory questionnaire, for the assessment of the pregnant women's health behaviors. RESULTS: The overall rate of health behaviors was high and was on average 93.9 ± 10.8 points (7 sten scores). Indicators of the health behaviors of women in multiple pregnancies were high across all categories. However, the highest rate was observed in preventive behaviors. CONCLUSIONS: The overall rate of health behaviors of women with a multiple pregnancy and all the individual behavior category indicators were high. However, the highest rate was for preventive behaviors. The indicator values of the health behaviors of the pregnant women in the study were not dependent on the variables adopted in this paper.

Psychosocial problems of women with stress urinary incontinence.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of the study was evaluation of the influence of stress urinary incontinence on women's quality of life. MATERIAL AND METHOD: The study covered 275 women between 30-65 years of age. The study was conducted using the following tools: Gaudenz Questionnaire, King's Health Questionnaire (KHQ), Female Sexual Function Index (FIFI) Questionnaire, and a questionnaire devised by the authors of the study. RESULTS: The study shows that the disease has a negative effect on evaluation of the quality of thee women's lives. The symptoms of stress urinary incontinence had a significant influence on the feeling of emotional comfort, social and professional activity of the surveyed women - respectively p= 0.000; p=0.000; p=0.000. Nearly every third woman (28.7%) felt great mental discomfort related to the disease symptoms, 31.7% a considerable discomfort, 33.1% a moderate, and very few women (6.5 %) claimed that the disease had a minimal effect on their emotional state. About two-thirds of the surveyed women (68.7%) were sexually active, and the remaining 31.3% declared the lack of sexual intercourse. CONCLUSIONS: The occurrence of stress urinary incontinence symptoms affects the quality of life of women, especially their mental state and interpersonal contacts. Most women with the symptoms of stress urinary incontinence fulfill their sexual needs; however, many of them do not feel complete satisfaction with their sex life.

The influence of selected ingredients of dietary supplements on skin condition.

Introduction and aim of the article. Healthy skin is an excellent barrier maintaining balance between the internal and external environment of the body. Because it is constantly changing as a result of, on the one hand, environmental factors and, on the other hand, the process associated with skin aging, it requires many nutrients and minerals that help maintain its homeostasis. The aim of this dissertation is to discuss the most commonly used ingredients in dietary supplements that improve the appearance and quality of the skin. Brief description of the state of the art. Quick pace of life, unbalanced diet and stress make it impossible to provide all the necessary components, which affects the proper functioning of the skin. That is why, the interest in dietary supplements as products that help to reduce the deficiencies of individual components is increasing. Supplements that affect the skin, hair and nails mainly consist of: vitamins C, E, A, B-vitamins, micro- and macronutrients and fatty acids. In this paper, some of the ingredients of skin affecting dietary supplements are discussed. A varied and proper diet should provide all the nutrients necessary for the correct functioning of the body. Dietary supplements are intended to supplement the normal daily food intake of nutrients which are not supplied with food in a sufficient quantity. Therefore, their use becomes relevant.

[The influence of pregnancy on sexual satisfaction among women]. / Wplyw ciazy na odczuwanie satysfakcji seksualnej kobiet.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of study was to investigate if and to what extent pregnancy affects sexual satisfaction of women. MATERIAL AND METHOD: A group of 130 pregnant women were surveyed.Ihe women were seen for check-ups in a randomly chosen out-patient clinic for women over the period of 6 months in 2007. They responded to a questionnaire constructed for the purpose of the survey. RESULTS: More than half respondents (52.3%) presented positive attitude towards sexuality associating sex with pleasure; the rest (40.7%) perceived having sex as dutiful activity to their partners. Negative experience caused by sexual activity was mentioned by 6.9% respondents, having sex was annoying for them. The freguency of sexual contacts was evaluated as too small by 98 (75.3%) and 82 (63.1%) respondents in the first and second tnmesters respectively. Satisfactory intimate relationships before pregnancy were reported by 86.1% women however in the first trimester of pregnancy 68.5% women had highly satisfactory sex with their partners which increased by 17.6% in the second trimester CONCLUSIONS: 1. Pregnancy decreases sexual satisfaction of women during the first Trimester of pregnancy. 2. Decreased satisfaction of having sex during the first trimester of pregnancy results from adaptative processes that are manifested as lowered mood experienced at that time. 3. In the second trimester when the pregnant woman begins to feel better, her satisfaction of having sex improves.

The role of age, environmental and occupational factors on semen density.

UNLABELLED: The problem of effect of the environment on human reproduction has been in the focus of researchers' interest for many years. OBJECTIVE: To examine the relationship between semen density in males with reproduction problems, and their age, living and working conditions. MATERIAL AND METHOD: The study covered 224 males with reproduction problems. The study had a prospective character and was conducted in three stages - the first stage was carried out using the questionnaire devised by the authors; the second and the third stages consisted in the examination and evaluation of male semen density. Statistical analysis was used to search for the relationship between these groups and variables adopted in the study, i.e. age, occupation performed, place of residence, self-reported housing conditions and material standard, reporting by the males in the study of arduousness of work or health hazards perceived by the males examined, and duration of employment in such conditions. RESULTS: The males in the study were divided into three groups according to their semen density. Group I (20 × 10(6) mln/ml or more) included 62 (27.7%) respondents, Group II (below 20 × 10(6) mln/ml) covered 121 males (54.0%), while Group III (only single spermatozoa or none) - 41 males (18.3%). Male semen density are significantly correlated with men's ages and jobs as well as the general evaluations of the jobs held by the men (p<0.05). No significant relationship is observed between living conditions, arduous work conditions and occupational hazards as perceived by males, or duration of employment in such conditions, and male semen density (p>0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The results obtained encourage continuation of the studies and cover a larger group of males with reproduction problems.

[Awaiting elective gynecological surgery--opinions of patients]. / Oczekiwanie na planowana operace ginekologiczna w ocenie kobiet.

PURPOSE: To establish if and to what extend women find the time of waiting for an elective gynecological operation difficult, how it is manifested and what the conditioning factors are. MATERIAL AND METHOD: The investigation was carried out in the group of 272 women who during two months of 2008 were admitted to one of the four selected hospitals for an elective gynecological operation. A questionnaire has been designed solely for the purpose of the pilot study 25 women participated in the study. RESULTS: The respondents reported 717 concerns that occurred within the period of waiting for the surgery; the most frequent among them were fear of being diagnosed with cancer (27.6%), postoperative pain (26.7%) postoperative complications (19.1%). More than half of the respondents (58.5%) waited for the surgery for 2-3 months or longer. Every fifth woman complained about problems with being admitted to hospital and every fourth woman expected emotional support from medical staff. 91.2% respondents had searched for additional information about their disease. CONCLUSIONS: 1. Waiting for elective gynecological operation may create a difficult situation for many women what was confirmed by a vast number and nature of their concerns, frequent expectations of emotional support and search for additional information about their disease. 2. Problems with being admitted to a health care institution and long period of waiting for the operation (> 1 month) are quite common and these factors may contribute to further worsening of the quality of patients' life during the preoperative period. 3. Demographic parameters assumed for the purpose of this analysis do not differentiate the parameters tested, with the exception of the place of inhabitance factor that turned out to be associated with the expectations of emotional support. 4. The degree of hospital reference significantly differentiates tested parameters.

The socio-economic conditioning of difficulties in adaptation to pregnancy following assisted reproductive techniques.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of the study was to analyse the demographic, social and economic conditioning of the adaptation process in women who became pregnant following assisted reproductive techniques. STUDY DESIGN: The analysis was performed with the use of a questionnaire, which was designed to evaluate, among other factors, the attitudes of women towards their pregnancies. The study group included 250 primiparae in whom pregnancy had resulted either from artificial insemination by their husband or a donor or from in vitro fertilisation. RESULTS: Two subgroups were identified. The first consisted of women who were well adapted to pregnancy (n=90, 36%), while the second included those subjects who experienced difficulties in adapting (n=160, 64%). The adaptation of women to pregnancy was significantly different (p<0.05) with regard to age, education and environment, as well as housing and material conditions, and, moreover, with regard to the duration of infertility treatment and the costs incurred. The type of assisted reproductive technique that could have initiated the pregnancy also turned out to be vital. Whether the women were in permanent employment was not significant (p>0.05). CONCLUSIONS: More difficulties in adapting to pregnancy as a result of assisted reproductive techniques were reported by younger women (up to 30 years of age), by those inhabiting a rural environment and by those who had had a better education or who were living in better socio-economic conditions. Moreover, those subjects who benefited from more expensive and more complicated procedures, and thus incurred higher treatment costs, also experienced substantial difficulties.

Difficulties in adaptation to pregnancy following natural conception or use of assisted reproduction techniques: a comparative study.

BACKGROUND: To evaluate the influence assisted reproduction techniques (ARTs) may have on women's adaptation to resulting pregnancies. METHODS: Retrospective assessment of how women adapt to their pregnancies following ART. A questionnaire was used that ranked their attitudes according to the 5-grade Likert scale. The study included 250 women who gave birth to their first child. Of these pregnancies, 125 had been obtained by means of ART; the remaining 125 were naturally conceived. RESULTS: Difficulties in adaptation to pregnancy were significantly more frequent in women whose pregnancies resulted from the use of ARTs than in those who had conceived naturally (p = 0.000005). The subjects in the first group were significantly older (p = 0.04), more affluent (p = 0.000005) and had more frequently interrupted their professional work than women in the latter group. The two groups did not differ with regard to frequency of hospitalisations. CONCLUSIONS: ART significantly increases difficulties in adaptation to resulting pregnancies. The main factors responsible for these difficulties are age, socio-economic conditions and interruption of professional activity.

Breast self-examination among Polish women of procreative age and the attached significance.

The aim of the study was to check whether and how frequently Polish women of procreative age examine their breasts, what this is conditioned by, and whether such self-examination has diagnostic significance. In this study, survey by questionnaire of 492 women of procreative age was conducted. Breast self-examination (BSE) was conducted by 82.9% of the respondents, out of which 33.7% conducted regular monthly examinations. The demographic variables assumed in this study proved to be statistically significant (P < .05) for younger single women with medical education and living under conditions of higher economic standard. The diagnostic significance attached to BSE was closely connected with the professional background of the respondents and the actual conducting of BSE. An opinion that BSE has diagnostic value was expressed in the group of medical professionals significantly more frequently than in the group of women representing other professions (P = .0000009). Such an opinion was also held significantly more often in the group of women performing BSE than in the group of women who had no such habit (P < .0000001). A majority of women of procreative age perform BSE; however, only a third perform that regularly, every month. Factors determining the conduction of BSE include age, profession, marital status, and standard of living conditions. The diagnostic significance attached to BSE is closely connected with the professional background of the respondents and actual conducting of BSE. Breast self-examination has not been satisfactorily popularized among Polish women. Greater involvement in educational activities of medical personnel may improve the present situation.

[Contemporary spouses and family childbirth]. / Wspólczesni malzonkowie wobec porodu rodzinnego.

Contemporary science is aiming at restoring the childbirth its family character. However, realization of this undertaking demands care from parents' side, who should aim at gaining the highest quality of experiences connected with the childbirth. The aim of this work was to check whether contemporary spouses decide on the family childbirth in hospital, what are the conditions of such decisions and what are the women's experiences connected with giving the birth. 180 women have taken part in the research in their procreational age. Taking part in this research was voluntary and anonymous, the choice of fate. The results of this work showed that the majority (71.1%) of women had delivered the child in a traditional way, however the decision on the form of the delivery depended on their job activity and whether it was a planned pregnancy. In the opinion of women (72.8%) the delivery was a source of negative feelings, however it was the case in the majority of women who gave birth in a traditional way.

The role of physical activity in preparing women for pregnancy and delivery in Poland.

Our aim in conducting this study is to document different forms of recreational activities chosen by women before and during pregnancy and to answer the question of how women prepared themselves physically to deliver their babies. We included 266 women who were in the third trimester of their pregnancies in this study. (The women were randomized.) Methods of recreation were divided into two groups: active (involving physical exercise) and passive (physical exercise not involved). From our findings we suggest that pregnancy dramatically changes the behavior of women with regard to physical recreation. There was a lack of professional preparation for delivery; only 12% of women in this study took part in so-called delivery classes.

[The attitude of women in reproductive age toward breast self-examination]. / Kobiety w wieku rozrodczym wobec samobadania piersi.

The aim of the study was to answer the question--do women at procreative age practise breast self-examination, how often do they make such examination and what are the purposes? The study was carried out in 149 female students from the Faculty of Nursing and Health Studies at the University Medical School in Lublin. The study was carried out on the basis of author's questionnaire. The results showed that 79.9% of all respondents practise breast self-examination but not all of them regularly. Well-off women more often practise breast self-examination than the poor ones. Concern about their own health was the main cause for breast self-examination. Women who have not practiced this examination said they have not been doing it because they were afraid of noticing some changes.

[Perception of neoplasms and prophylactic measures]. / Postrzeganie choroby nowotworowej a podejmowanie dzialan profilaktycznych.

OBJECTIVES: Breast cancer is one of the most frequently medical problems of Polish women. DESIGN: The aim of the study was to answer the question, if imagination of neoplasm disease influence the undertaking of prophylactic activity by nurses and midwives. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Study was carried out among 202 female students from the Faculty of Nursing and Health Studies at the University Medical School in Lublin. Study was carried on the basis of the author's questionnaire. RESULT: Nearly half (99, that is 49.0%) respondents associated neoplasm's disease with suffering resulting in death. The majority (146, it means 72.3%) of women said that they had informed others of guidelines on breast self-control. Only 31.7% of respondents wrote that they practise breast self-examination on a regular basis. CONCLUSIONS: Imagination of neoplasm's disease did not influence regularity of self-examination and undertaking of prophylactic activity against breast cancer.

[Attitude of medical personnel regarding prophylaxis of neoplasms of the reproductive organs and the breast]. / Personel medyczny wobec profilaktyki raka narzadu rodnego i sutka.

OBJECTIVES: Breast cancer is one of the most frequent medical problems of women in Poland. DESIGN: The aim of the study was to verify, whether and how far nurses and midwives keep fundamental rules of prophylaxis of breast cancer and that of reproductive organs and whether the fact of taking care of a patient with cancer influence their health's behaviour. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Questionnaire study was carried out among 202 people. RESULTS: Only 17.8% of all respondents have not taken any actions to protect themselves against tumours disease. The others tried to assume a healthy life style and took advantage of prophylactic examinations. The variables accepted in the study did not differentiate the surveyed behaviour. CONCLUSIONS: Majority of nurses and midwives have taken prophylactic activity of breast cancer. The fact of taking care of a patient with cancer did not influence their health's behaviour.