Women’s Health Bulletin
Volume:7 Issue: 3, Sep 2020

Context: The high incidence of unplanned pregnancy among adolescents is a significant public health issue contributing to maternal and child mortality. This review aimed at identifying risk factors influencing unplanned pregnancy and measures applied by nurses to provide quality healthcare services to rural adolescents. Evidence Acquisition: We conducted a narrative review on risk factors influencing unplanned pregnancy and measures taken by nurses to provide quality healthcare services to adolescents. An ecological model was adopted in guiding the analysis. The data source were the research and review articles published in peer-reviewed journals using PubMed, Science direct, Scopus, Google Scholar, and Web of Science. We hired two independent reviewers for data extraction. Initially, the records of 843 articles were assessed, out of which 60 articles met the inclusion and exclusion criteria, hence included in the review. The model recognizes multiple levels of influence on health behaviours, including intrapersonal factors (individual’s educational status, sexual activity and contraceptives use), interpersonal factors (poor parent-adolescent communication, influence of peers and media), organizational factors (sexual and reproductive health (SRH) education and services), contextual factors (socio-cultural norms), and public policy (which provides no accessibility to quality SRH services for adolescents). Youthfriendly SRH education and services were some of the identified Nurses’ roles in preventing unplanned pregnancy among rural adolescents. The review identified five major risk factors influencing unplanned pregnancy among rural adolescents, namely educational level, use of contraceptives, peer influence, quality of sexuality education, and availability of youth-friendly SRH services. Roles of nurses in providing quality healthcare services to rural adolescents for the prevention and management of unplanned pregnancy were discussed.

Low back pain (LBP) is one of the prevalent injuries among athletes. This study aimed to compare the mechanical energy transfer of gait in female athletes with and without non-specific chronic low back pain. In this cross-sectional study, based on convenience sampling method, we selected a total of 14 females with NSCLBP and 14 females without a history of LBP who referred to Tehran physiotherapy clinics . To capture marker trajectories and ground reaction forces, we used a Vicon 6 camera motion capture system (Vicon MX, Oxford Metrics, UK), which was synchronized with two ground embedded force plates (Kistler, Winterthur, Switzerland). We performed gait analysis in the biomechanics laboratory of the University of Social Welfare and Rehabilitation Sciences. The independent t-test analyzed the data. All analyses were performed at a confidence level of 95% (P<0.05). The mechanical energy transfer in female athletes with LBP differed from athletes without LBP (P=0.037). There were no significant statistical differences between the ankle and knee joints regarding mechanical energy transfer (P>0.05). Our study showed that female athletes with LBP had higher eccentric mechanical energy compensation coefficient in the hip joint, which is possibly a compensatory mechanism for lumbosacral region disorders.

Sexual relationship between young women and older men is a major contributor to women’s risk of HIV/AIDS and other sexually transmitted infections (STIs). This study assessed the knowledge, attitude, and behavioural intentions for intergenerational sexual relationships (IGS) among young female students in Nigeria. We conducted study between July and August 2018 using a descriptive cross-sectional design. Using convenience sampling method, we selected 160 young female students enrolled in a Joint Universities Pre-Degree Educational Programme in a Nigeria university. For data collection, we employed a self-report questionnaire. Data were analysed by use of a Chi-square test. Alpha was set at 5%. The study revealed that 60% of the respondents had a moderate level of knowledge regarding IGS. More than half (56.3%) of the respondents had indifferent attitudes towards IGS. About two-thirds (62.5%) of the respondents had a moderate level of behavioural intentions. The main motive of young girls for IGS was to get money and gifts (83.8%). There was a significant association between monthly stipend (P≤0.0001), level of knowledge (P≤0.0001), attitude (P≤0.0001), and overall behavioural intentions to practice IGS among the students. The study concluded that female students had a moderate level of behavioural intentions to practice intergenerational sexual relationships. There is a need for appropriate health interventions that will address both present and future engagement in intergenerational sexual relationships among young women and prevent negative health outcomes from unsafe sex among this age group.

patellofemoral pain syndrome (PFPS) is one of the most common knee injuries, which is caused by the abnormal position of patella. The present study was conducted to compare the effects of an eight-week training in both Total Resistance exercise (TRX) and physioball groups on the amount of pain and motor function of non-athletic women with patellofemoral pain syndrome.

In this semi-experimental study, 30 non-athletic women suffering from patellofemoral pain syndrome were randomly divided into two groups. The first group performed TRX exercises (15 people), and the second group performed physioball exercises (15 people). Both groups received 3 practice sessions per week for a period of 8 weeks. The visual analog scale (VAS), pain scale and Kujala Patellofemoral questionnaire (KPQ) were employed before and after the exercise to assess the pain and motor function. Paired T-test and independent t-test were used. The significance level was considered as P≤0.05.

The results revealed that there was no significant difference between functional disability (P=0.14) before and after the exercise protocol (pre- and post-test) in the physioball group. Meanwhile, there was a significant difference in pain (P=0.028). The results for the TRX group indicated that there was a significant difference in pain (P=0.001) and functional disability (P=0.001) between pre- and post-test exercises.

The findings of our study revealed that the eight weeks of the strength training program (TRX and physioball) might be beneficial in a conservative treatment plan for reducing the pain intensity and improving the functional disability for subjects with PFPS.

Birth-preparedness and complication readiness (BPCR) is an evidence-based strategy for reducing maternal and neonatal mortality. This study aimed to assess the knowledge and practice regarding BPCR and the associated factors among rural women in south Karnataka. In this cross-sectional study, 100 mothers who had delivered in the previous year were randomly selected from 17 villages near Bangalore, south India and interviewed using the JHPIEGO BPCR Tools and Indicators for Maternal and Newborn Health from 2016 to 2017. The association between various exposure variables and knowledge and practice of BPCR was investigated with Chi-square test and Fischer’s exact test; a P value of The proportion of women with adequate knowledge and practice of BPCR was 8% and 38%, respectively. All women identified a health facility for delivery, 73% arranged advance emergency transport, 50% saved money; however, only 4% identified a potential blood donor in spite of 88% being aware of their blood group. Though severe bleeding was a commonly stated danger sign, prior arrangement for blood was not practiced. This issue is of public health importance as haemorrhage continues to be one of the leading causes of maternal mortality. The knowledge and practice of BPCR among rural women who had delivered in the previous year were low. Knowledge and practice of BPCR were associated with higher maternal education and higher socio-economic status. It is recommended that pregnant women and their families receive information regarding BPCR during routine antenatal visits and during home visits from village level workers.

women have been exposed to growing symptoms of depression by urban life as well as endangering their mental health. Researches show that the effect of landscape components can be virtually seen in films and images. However, the main point is to rank the effectiveness of components in providing an appropriate virtual environment for women`s health. Tehran has gardens where effective components on mental health are hidden. These gardens are suitable samples for evaluating landscape architecture components from users’ views, especially women in virtual environment. This research introduced the effective components on mental health based on universal research. By determining these components in the gardens of Tehran, we assessed their effectiveness in six selected qualified spots of public gardens in Tehran with multimedia questionnaires in virtual space from 300 women who went to garden in three completely similar areas from 8 A.M to 12 A.M. The method of this research was set in the category of Structured Analysis research with Generalized Least Squares tested via by a software AMOS version 24. A significant positive association existed between the details of the gardens and their direct impact on the reduction of depression symptoms (CR>0.7, RMSEA: 0.025, P=0.008, P<0.05). Geometry and color by potential effectiveness and sound, material, water and vegetation were considered effective in women`s reactions to reduce depression symptoms. Iranian gardens have the effective components based on health patterns. Pattern of public gardens in Tehran are shown as an appropriate icon to have an effect on mental health of women in virtual environment to reduce depression symptoms.

Identification of body mass and physical activity status in women may be helpful for improving their reproductive health. The purpose of the current research was to analyze and compare the body mass index (BMI) and physical activity level (PAL) among women with and without infertility. This descriptive-analytical research was conducted on 150 infertile women who referred to therapeutic centers of Shahrekord to treat infertility and 150 fertile women using filed study method. Physical activity questionnaire was then filled in by these women. The height and weight were measured using Seca stadiometer and digital scale based on standard methods, and then, BMI was calculated and the values were compared. The Mann-Whitney test was used to analyze data and the significance level was considered P<0.05. The physical activity score of infertile women was estimated to be low in this study that indicates sporting inactivity or very low PAL in subjects. The overall prevalence of underweight, normal weight, overweight, and obesity in infertile subjects were 8.7%, 26.7%, 34.7%, and 30%, respectively. The frequency of overweight and obesity was reported to be significantly higher in these subjects. The physical activity score of fertile women was estimated to be medium, and the prevalence of underweight, normal weight, overweight, and obesity in fertile subjects were 29.8%, 40.4%, 17.2%, and 11.3%, respectively. Results from the study emphasize the importance of body composition and creation of interest among women to do exercise and gain normal weight and keep it off to achieve healthy fertility

Exercise is believed to be a non-pharmacological approach to treat hypertension. The present study was conducted to investigate the impact of high-intensity interval training (HIIT) and isometric handgrip (IHG) exercise on hemodynamic responses of High blood pressure women. In this experimental study 45 sedentary women (age, 45±5 years) from the Al-Zahra Heart Hospital, Shiraz-Iran (2019) with pre to stage 1 hypertension, without any chronic disease, who volunteered to participate in the research. The subjects were randomly divided into three groups of 15 members: Acute HIIT, Acute IHG exercise, and control. Blood pressure (systolic, diastolic, and mean), rate pressure product and heart rate were measured employing Aneroid Sphygmomanometer Polar HR recorder at the pre-workout time, 0 (immediately after exercise), 5, 10, 15, 30, 45, 60 minutes during the recovery period. The data were analyzed using repeated-measures ANOVA and Bonferroni post hoc test. Our results revealed a significant difference among the study groups regarding blood pressure factors (systolic and mean), heart rate and rate pressure product (P=0.001). The significant decrease in blood pressure in HIIT (P=0.001) and IHG (P=0.001) groups during 60 and 30 minutes of recovery was equal to 10 and 7 mmHg, respectively, and no significant difference was observed in the control group at different times. In response to the HIIT protocol, the heart rate and rate pressure product were significantly higher than the IHG and control groups. Over the recovery period, there was a significant improvement in hemodynamic factors of hypertensive women independent of the type of exercise. However, HIIT training had a longer lasting decrease in blood pressure.