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The article presents a study which investigated the relationship between personal characteristics and health status among rural southern African-American menopausal women. It notes that favorable self-perceived physical health status is associated with knowledge on menopause, social support and being a full-time employee. It also highlights symptoms and treatment of menopause. Measures supporting self-care practices among African-Americans should be developed.

The article presents a study which examines the traditional cultural practices and experiences that influence Swazi women's vulnerability to human immunodeficiency virus/acquired immune deficiency syndrome (HIV/AIDS). It also investigates the factors that contribute to HIV/AIDS transmission including the Swazi culture, the minority status of Swazi women, and the virginity cure myth. Conclusions and recommendations of the study relating to public policy are also discussed.

To examine in-depth the lives of women whose partners attempted to kill them, and to identify patterns that may aid in the clinician's ability to predict, prevent, or counsel about femicide or attempted femicide. Qualitative analysis of 30 in-depth interviews. Six U.S. cities. Thirty women, aged 17–54 years, who survived an attempted homicide by an intimate partner. All but 2 of the participants had previously experienced physical violence, controlling behavior, or both from the partner who attempted to kill them. The intensity of the violence, control, and threats varied greatly, as did the number of risk factors measured by the Danger Assessment, defining a wide spectrum of prior abuse. Approximately half (14/30) of the participants did not recognize that their lives were in danger. Women often focused more on relationship problems involving money, alcohol, drugs, possessiveness, or infidelity, than on the risk to themselves from the violence. The majority of the attempts (22/30) happened around the time of a relationship change, but the relationship was often ending because of problems other than violence. Clinicians should not be falsely reassured by a woman's sense of safety, by the lack of a history of severe violence, or by the presence of few classic risk factors for homicide. Efforts to reduce femicide risk that are targeted only at those women seeking help for violence-related problems may miss potential victims. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article details some of the key elements related to feminism in American society. It suggests that the meaning and significance of a feminist perspective need to be reexamined for their importance and utility in this dynamic and rapidly changing society. A discussion of the meaning of feminism provides a framework for the article. Issues related to cultural diversity and the need for competent health care delivery for all people are some major themes. The other emphasis is related to research and women. Numerous challenges are outlined. A feminist perspective is recommended as a conceptual model through which health care reform can be enhanced. If feminism were embraced, the health status of people would be improved. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

MHealth provides a new way of promoting hypertension self-management behaviors. However, the acceptance, feasibility, and effectiveness of interventions incorporating mHealth technology have been understudied in African-Americans with hypertension. This study aimed to explore participants' (n = 30) experiences using a community and technology-based intervention to self-manage their hypertension (COACHMAN). Focus groups were conducted with African-Americans living with hypertension. Focus groups were audio-recorded, and the data were transcribed verbatim and analyzed qualitatively using thematic analysis. Regarding the use of mHealth-enabled self-management hypertension interventions to support hypertension control among African-Americans, the thematic analysis produced the following five barrier themes: (a) lack of knowledge regarding how to use technology, (b) resistance to learning new technology, (c) lack of access to technology, (d) privacy and security concerns, and (e) issues with the medication management support features. Facilitator themes that emerged from the thematic analysis were all related to the intervention components, which were: (a) reminders, (b) rewards, and (c) education modules. This study focused on mHealth barriers and facilitators as described by African-Americans living with hypertension. Results provide a starting point for developing a mHealth intervention for African-Americans that incorporates a self-management program., Competing Interests: The authors have no conflicts of interest to disclose., (Copyright© by the National Black Nurses Association, Inc.)

Across the world, suicidal behaviors are responsible for more than one million deaths each year. In Haiti, suicidal behaviors were found to be related to intimate partner violence (IPV) against women. This study was conducted after the 2010 earthquake in Haiti and women were asked about IPV before and after that event. A sample of women between 18 and 44 years of age responded to a questionnaire about physical, psychological, or sexual abuse by an intimate or non-intimate partner. The women were divided into two groups: (a) women who were abused by partners (n = 133) and (b) women who were not abused (n = 75). Those who were abused had 2.2 times higher odds for suicidal thoughts and 1.9 times higher odds for suicidal attempts and were significantly more likely to suffer from depression and PTSD. For each 1-unit increase in a measured PTSD score, the odds of being abused increased by 105.7%. For each 1-unit increase in the measured depression score, the odds of being abused increased by 14.9%., Competing Interests: The authors have no conflicts of interest to disclose., (Copyright© by the National Black Nurses Association, Inc.)

Humanitarian workers in disaster settings report a dramatic increase in gender-based violence (GBV). This was true after the 2010 Haiti earthquake when women and girls lost the relative security of their homes and families. Researchers from the United States Virgin Islands and the United States mainland responded by collaborating with Haitian colleagues to develop GBV-focused strategies. To start, the research team performed a situational analysis to insure that the project was culturally, ethically, and logistically appropriate. The aim of this paper is to describe how the situational analysis framework helped the researchers effectively approach this community. Using post-earthquake Haiti as an exemplar, we identify key steps, barriers, and facilitators to undertaking a situational analysis. Barriers included logistics, infrastructure, language and community factors. Facilitators included established experts, organizations and agencies. Researchers in such circumstances need to be respectful of community members as experts and patient with local environmental and cultural conditions.

Objective: This study examines the associations of childhood attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) risk status with subsequent parental social network characteristics and caregiver strain in adolescence; and examines predictors of adolescent mental health service use., Methods: Baseline ADHD screening identified children at high risk (n = 207) and low risk (n = 167) for ADHD. At eight-year follow-up, parents reported their social network characteristics, caregiver strain, adolescents' psychopathology and mental health service utilization, whereas adolescents self-reported their emotional status and ADHD stigma perceptions. Analyses were conducted using ANOVAs and nested logistic regression modeling., Results: Parents of youth with childhood ADHD reported support networks consisting of fewer spouses but more healthcare professionals, and lower levels of support than control parents. Caregiver strain increased with adolescent age and psychopathology. Increased parental network support, youth ADHD symptoms, and caregiver strain, but lower youth stigma perceptions were independently associated with increased service use., Conclusions: Raising children with ADHD appears to significantly impact parental social network experiences. Reduced spousal support and overall lower network support levels may contribute to high caregiver strain commonly reported among parents of ADHD youth. Parental social network experiences influence adolescent ADHD service use. With advances in social networking technology, further research is needed to elucidate ways to enhance caregiver support during ADHD care.

The purpose of this study was to determine the factors that are associated with African-American (AA) women's decisions to participate in genetic research. Using a descriptive correlational design, a convenience sample of African-American women (age ≥ 40) was recruited from various locations in the Midwest. During semi-structured interviews, demographics, psychological factors, knowledge of and attitudes toward genetics were collected. Of the 98 women (mean age 53), 66% indicated that they were unwilling to participate, despite having positive attitudes. Correlations were found between genetic knowledge and attitudes toward genetics (r = .35, p = .001), and decision-making to participate and attitudes toward genetics (r = .40, p = .001). Data revealed decisions were largely associated with their lack of knowledge and resulting perceptions. Efforts should be made to inform African-American women about the benefits of the new science through planned, culturally specific, and sensitive interventions that incorporate genetic and health literacy programs.

Menopause affects all women regardless of race, socio-economic backgrounds, and geographic locale. Annually, about 1.7 million women reach menopause in the United States. African-American women experience more health disparities, higher poverty levels, have more disabilities, more severe physiological symptoms of menopause, limited health insurance, more hypertensive and diabetic related conditions, and shorter life spans when compared with their White counterparts. African-American menopausal women have not been adequately included in scientific research and health-policy related studies that have addressed their health status and wellbeing. The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between personal characteristics and health status among rural southern African-American menopausal women. This descriptive correlational study used secondary data obtained from 206 southern rural African-American women between 40 and 60 years of age. The study findings revealed that knowledge on menopause, social support, being employed full-time, and decision-making were significantly associated with favorable self-perceived physical health status.

This study examined a culturally-specific dance intervention on functional capacity in African American women at three time points. The intervention was two times per week for 8 weeks using two African American churches randomly assigned to either the experimental or comparison group, had 126 participants, ages 36-82 years. Analysis of covariance revealed that both groups improved over time and the only significant difference between groups was at 18 weeks. The increase at 18 weeks in the experimental group remained when controlling for baseline covariates. This study supported culturally-specific dance as an intervention to improve functional capacity in African American women.

Suicide rates among American Indian Alaska Native (AIAN) children and adolescents are the highest in the United States. Risk factors for suicide among AIAN youth include: strained interpersonal relationships, family instability, depression, low self-esteem, and alcohol use or substance abuse. Protective factors include: caring family relationships, supportive tribal leaders, and positive school experiences. Carefully planned, culturally sensitive, comprehensive programs that address the social determinants of health outcomes such as poverty, school failure, familial conflicts, and limited access to health care, should be the focus of blueprints for change for these vulnerable children. Moreover, culturally competent providers are key elements associated with reducing the suicide rates among AIAN children and adolescents.

Violence against African American women, specifically intimate partner abuse, has a significant impact on their health and well being. Intimate partner femicide and near fatal intimate partner femicide are the major causes of premature death and disabling injuries for African American women. Yet, despite this, there is a paucity of research and interventions specific and culturally relevant for these women. This article focuses on issues relevant to intimate partner violence and abuse against African American women by examining existing empirical studies of prevalence and health outcomes of intimate partner violence against women in general, plus what limited research there is about African American women, specifically. It includes a discussion of specific recommendations for research, practice, education, and policy to reduce and prevent intimate partner violence against African American women.