Journal of women's health
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Journal of women's health · Dec 2022
Gender Representation Among United States Medical Board Leadership.
Objective: To assess the gender composition of the American Board of Medical Specialties' (ABMS) member boards and evaluate the equitable inclusion of women and a subset of women physicians. Methods: The gender of individuals on 24 boards as of March 1, 2022, was assessed. Two benchmarks-parity (50:50 representation) and equity (compared to the proportion of practicing physicians in each medical specialty)-were utilized to determine if women are equitably represented on medical boards. ⋯ Conclusions: This study reveals mixed results in the equitable inclusion of women on ABMS boards. Our findings suggest that progress should not be assumed and that it may be subject to setbacks when it occurs. There is a need to continue to monitor the equitable inclusion of women on ABMS boards.
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Background: Despite nearly one in five U. S. women of reproductive age reporting a disability, limited research exists on opioid behaviors in this vulnerable population. This study examined associations between disability and past-year prescription opioid use and misuse, and described types of opioids, sources, and motives for opioid misuse among nonpregnant women of reproductive age. ⋯ For their last opioid misuse, 5.2% attained the opioids from a dealer or stranger, and 22.1% used opioids to get high. Conclusion: Women with disabilities are at an amplified risk for prescription opioid use and misuse. Improved medical provider education, training and capacity, and reinforcing related community-based support programs for this population are imperative.
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Journal of women's health · Dec 2022
Preterm Delivery and Increased Risk of Recurrent Cardiovascular Events in Australian Women.
Background: Women with a history of preterm delivery (PTD) have significantly increased risk of experiencing cardiovascular disease (CVD) later in life. However, the risk of long-term recurrence of CVD in this population remains unknown. Materials and Methods: The study was based on a cohort of Victorian women who had a singleton birth between 1999 and 2008. ⋯ A history of PTD was shown to be associated with significantly increased risk of recurrent CVD, while adjusting for all covariates, including indigenous status, with an adjusted hazard ratio (aHR) of 1.70 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.54-1.86, p < 0.0001). Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women had substantially increased risk of experiencing recurrent CVD after birth over their lifetime (aHR: 3.22, 95% CI: 2.39-4.35, p < 0.0001). Conclusions: Recognizing PTD as a nontraditional risk factor of CVD may play a role in the formulation of care plans for primary and secondary CVD prevention in women with such a history.
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Journal of women's health · Nov 2022
Sufficiency of Health Information During Pregnancy: What's Missing and for Whom? A Cross-Sectional Analysis Among Veterans.
Background: Women Veterans often experience trauma and physical and mental health conditions that increase risk of adverse pregnancy outcomes. Information provision during pregnancy may facilitate improved outcomes. However, little evidence exists about information women Veterans receive during pregnancy, and their perceptions of it. ⋯ History of depression (β = -0.35, p = 0.03), current depressive symptoms (β = -0.66, p = 0.001), military sexual trauma (β = 0.37, p = 0.03), and experience of violence (β = 0.66, p = 0.03) were associated with lower sufficiency of information scores. Conclusion: Results indicate need for enhanced and tailored provision of information for Veterans during pregnancy, particularly among those with experience of trauma, past depression diagnoses, and current depressive symptoms. This may include optimizing care coordination and increasing access to childbirth education classes and doula support.