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Premature ovarian failure (POF) is among the primary causes of ovarian dysfunction that severely affects women's physical and mental health. The main purpose of this study was to explore the expression level of Nerve growth factor-induced protein B (Nur77/NR4A1) in cyclophosphamide (CTX)-induced POF. We then tested whether Nur77 can exert a protective effect after CTX treatment and investigated the mechanism of Nur77's role during ovarian injury. CTX promotes follicular atresia by inducing redox imbalance, apoptosis, and senescence, thereby causing direct toxicity to gonads. Additionally, CTX decreases ovarian reserve consumption by stimulating the excessive activation of primordial follicles. Nur77 can be stimulated by oxidative stress, DNA damage, metabolism, inflammation, etc. However, its relationship with POF remains unelucidated. We here found that Nur77 is expressed at low levels in POF ovaries. Therefore, Nur77 was identified as a regulator of ovarian injury and follicular development. According to the results, Nur77 overexpression alleviated redox imbalances, reduced cell senescence and apoptosis, and improved follicular reserve. Nur77 protects ovarian function by restoring disordered sex hormone levels and estrus cycles and promoting follicle growth and development at all levels. Moreover, the rapamycin protein kinase (AKT)/mammalian target of the rapamycin (mTOR) is a crucial regulator of the primordial follicle pool and follicular development. A relationship was observed between Nur77 and AKT through string and molecular docking. Experiments confirmed the involvement of the AKT/mTOR signaling pathway in the regulatory role of Nur77 in ovarian function. Thus, Nur77 is a critical target for POF prevention and treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Men and women differ in the mental health issues they typically face. This study aims to describe gender differences in preferences for mental health treatment options and specifically tries to identify participants who prefer AI-based therapy over traditional face-to-face therapy. Method: A nationally representative sample of 2,108 participants (53% female) aged 18 to 74 years completed a choice-based conjoint analysis (CBCA). Within the CBCA, participants evaluated twenty choice sets, each describing three treatment variants in terms of provider, content, costs, and waiting time. Results: Costs (relative importance [RI] = 55%) emerged as the most critical factor when choosing between treatment options, followed by provider (RI = 31%), content (RI = 10%), and waiting time (RI = 4%). Small yet statistically significant differences were observed between women and men. Women placed greater importance on the provider, while men placed greater importance on cost and waiting time. Age and previous experience with psychotherapy and with mental health apps were systematically related to individual preferences but did not alter gender effects. Only a minority (approximately 8%) of participants preferred AI-based treatment to traditional therapy. Conclusions: Overall, affordable mental health treatments performed by human therapists are consistently favored by both men and women. AI-driven mental health apps should align with user preferences to address psychologist shortages. However, it is uncertain whether they alone can meet the rising demand, highlighting the need for alternative solutions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: We considered the suggestion that mental health is the product of two intersecting continua: psychological distress and mental wellbeing. Objectives: To understand prevalences of low mental wellbeing, depression and anxiety, and examine associations between them and with sociodemographic variables. Methods: In a cross-sectional survey in informal settlements, 4906 women aged 18–49 years answered questions on mental wellbeing (Short Warwick-Edinburgh Mental Wellbeing Scale: SWEMWBS) and symptoms of depression (Patient Health Questionnaire: PHQ-9) and anxiety (Generalised Anxiety Disorder: GAD-7). We used regression models to examine associations of lower mental wellbeing with symptoms suggesting moderate-to-severe depression and anxiety, and with sociodemographic characteristics. Results: About 15% of women reported symptoms of low wellbeing, 9% symptoms of moderate-to-severe depression, and 6% symptoms of moderate-to-severe anxiety. Women with low wellbeing did not necessarily report symptoms suggesting anxiety or depression, and women with anxiety or depression did not necessarily report low wellbeing. In adjusted models, poorer and less educated women were more likely to report low wellbeing. Symptoms of anxiety or depression were more likely to be reported by widowed, separated, or divorced women, women who were in paid employment, and women who used drugs or alcohol themselves or whose partners did. Women with low wellbeing had at least double the odds of reporting symptoms of moderate-to-severe depression or anxiety than women who reported greater wellbeing. Conclusion: The findings support the idea of two continua of mental health. How individual women cope with mental illness and nevertheless enjoy a state of wellbeing deserves more study. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Motherhood affects women's mental health, encompassing aspects of both wellbeing and illbeing. This study investigated stability and change in wellbeing (i.e., relationship satisfaction and positive affect) and illbeing (i.e., depressive and anxiety symptoms) from pregnancy to three years postpartum. We further investigated the mutual and dynamic relations between these constructs over time and the role of genetic propensities in their time-invariant stability. Data and methods: This four-wave longitudinal study included 83,124 women from the Norwegian Mother, Father, and Child Cohort Study (MoBa) linked to the Medical Birth Registry of Norway. Data were collected during pregnancy (30 weeks) and at 6, 18 and 36 months postpartum. Wellbeing and illbeing were based on the Relationship Satisfaction Scale, the Differential Emotions Scale and Hopkins Symptoms Checklist-8. Genetics were measured by the wellbeing spectrum polygenic index. Analyses were based on random intercept cross-lagged panel models using R. Results: All four outcomes showed high stability and were mutually interconnected over time, with abundant cross-lagged predictions. The period of greatest instability was from pregnancy to 6 months postpartum, followed by increasing stability. Prenatal relationship satisfaction played a crucial role in maternal mental health postpartum. Women's genetic propensity to wellbeing contributed to time-invariant stability of all four constructs. Conclusion: Understanding the mutual relationship between different aspects of wellbeing and illbeing allows for identifying potential targets for health promotion interventions. Time-invariant stability was partially explained by genetics. Maternal wellbeing and illbeing develop in an interdependent way from pregnancy to 36 months postpartum. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

STUDY QUESTION Is parity associated with all-cause and cause-specific mortality among women in a nationally representative cohort of the US population, and does depression mediate this association? SUMMARY ANSWER Nulliparous women have a higher risk of all-cause and cause-specific mortality, with depression partially mediating the relationship between parity and women's all-cause and cause-specific mortality. WHAT IS KNOWN ALREADY Parity, a significant state in reproductive life, has enduring implications for women's health. There is also a complex relationship between depression, a prevalent mental and emotional disorder, and female fertility. Previous studies have elucidated the relationships between parity and depression, both of which are associated with mortality. However, findings from studies examining parity and women's mortality have been inconsistent. Moreover, few studies have investigated whether the effect of parity on mortality is mediated by depression. STUDY DESIGN, SIZE, DURATION We conducted a cross-sectional study using data from seven cycles of the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) spanning 2005–2018. PARTICIPANTS/MATERIALS, SETTING, METHODS The study cohort comprised adult women with available parity and survival follow-up data. Parity data were self-reported and sourced from the Reproductive Health Questionnaire. Depression scores were derived from the Patient Health Questionnaire 9, and cause-specific deaths were identified using the International Statistical Classification of Diseases, 10th Revision (ICD-10). Weighted multivariable Cox regression was applied to analyze the association between parity, depression, and mortality. Weighted linear regression was performed to examine the relationship between parity and depression. Mediation analyses were employed to determine whether and to what extent depression mediated the effect of parity on mortality. MAIN RESULTS AND THE ROLE OF CHANCE Our study ultimately encompassed 16 962 American women. Following multivariable adjustment, compared to nulliparous women, those with one to three live births exhibited a 17% and 33% reduction in all-cause and cancer mortality, respectively (all-cause mortality: HR = 0.83, 95% CI = 0.69–0.99, P  =   0.040; cancer mortality: HR = 0.67, 95% CI = 0.45–0.99, P  =   0.045). Women with more than four live births demonstrated lower all-cause mortality and mortality from other (not cancer or cardiovascular disease) diseases (all-cause mortality: HR = 0.73, 95% CI = 0.58–0.93, P  =   0.011; other diseases mortality: HR = 0.66, 95% CI = 0.47–0.91, P  =   0.013). No correlation was detected between parity and the risk of cardiovascular disease mortality among women. Furthermore, depression was found to partially mediate the impact of parity on all-cause mortality and mortality from other diseases in women. LIMITATIONS, REASONS FOR CAUTION Firstly, a single index of parity was used as an exposure factor, and other reproductive factors such as birth spacing, age at first birth, and mode of delivery were not taken into account. Secondly, despite accounting for important potentially confounders in our analysis, such as BMI, smoking status, and educational level, the influence of unmeasured confounders (e.g. social class, latent reproductive system diseases) on reproductive behavior or mortality cannot be dismissed. Thirdly, women's vulnerability to depression fluctuates across reproductive stages, and the effect of depression on female fertility varies over time. Due to data constraints, we were unable to obtain information on women's mental health status at different reproductive stages. Fourthly, due to the data accessibility limitations of NHANES, we were unable to specifically explore the relationship between parity and different specific types of cancer, a limitation that may obscure potential correlations. Additionally, despite our efforts to control for various confounding factors in subgroup analyses, the smaller sample sizes in some subgroups may limit the statistical power, affecting the ability to detect effects. Finally, studies exploring the association between parity and depression are cross-sectional designs, making it difficult to infer causality. These results should be interpreted with caution, and further research is warranted to corroborate our findings. WIDER IMPLICATIONS OF THE FINDINGS Our study underscores the elevated risk of all-cause and cause-specific mortality in nulliparous women and reveals that depression partially mediates the negative correlation between parity and women's all-cause mortality and mortality from other diseases. These results should be interpreted with caution, and further investigation is needed to support our findings. STUDY FUNDING/COMPETING INTEREST(S) This work was supported by the National Key Research and Development Program of China (2023YFC2705700), the Key Research & Developmental Program of Hubei Province (2022BCA042), and the Interdisciplinary Innovative Talents Foundation from Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University (JCRCWL-2022-001). The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER N/A. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: By studying Mainland Chinese immigrant women who married Hong Kong men, this study examined the association between their perceived discrimination and psychological distress after the 2019–2020 social movement in Hong Kong. Additionally, this study examined the indirect effects of individual coping strategies (tolerance of uncertainty) and couples' coping strategies (common dyadic coping), guided by the cultural and developmental psychopathology framework. Method: Ninety-nine Mainland Chinese immigrant women who married Hong Kong men participated in this cross-sectional survey. Results: We found a positive association between perceived discrimination and psychological distress (r =.50, p <.01). Reduced uncertainty tolerance and low levels of common dyadic coping both showed indirect effects on the discrimination–psychological distress association. Tolerance of uncertainty had a larger indirect effect than common dyadic coping. Conclusions: Focusing on the psychological adjustment of immigrant women facing discrimination, our findings underscore the importance of preserving individual- and couple-level resources. Public Significance Statement: Guided by the cultural and developmental psychopathology framework, this study identified two indirect effects (reduced tolerance of uncertainty and impaired common dyadic coping) on the discrimination–psychological distress association among Mainland Chinese immigrant women married to Hong Kong men. Our findings highlight the importance of both individual and couples' resources to facilitate these immigrant women's mental health, which can inform future intervention programs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mental illness was a common sickness in the Straits Settlements. The British established mental hospitals in order to treat the patients. The women labourers working under the Straits Settlements were too attached with ethnic herbs and traditional beliefs that have been passed down through generations, causing them to resist modern treatment. The traditional practice brought pointless results, and many of them were left untreated. Previous research showed that traditional medical practice caused health problems leading to mental illness among the women labourers and the British took their responsibility lightly to educate the women labourers on modern treatment. This study aims to highlight the practice of mental remedies and the evolution of treatment that could be seen in the 1900s. The British carried out many persuasive stages to gain the women labourers' trust towards modern treatment and hospital. First, they offered treatment at home. Second, the mental hospital. Findings showed that the acceptance of modern medication among the women labourers started in 1915. This article involved qualitative method through content analysis mostly from the Straits Settlements Annual Reports. Throughout the discussion, it was observed that the women labourers preferred the occupational therapy method offered by the mental hospital. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Adverse delivery outcomes is a major re-productive health problem that affects the physical and mental health of pregnant women. Obviously, obstetric clinical data has periodically time series characteristics. This paper proposed a three stage adverse delivery outcomes prediction model via the fusion of multiple time series clinical data. The first stage is data aggregation, in which the data set is collected from the obstetric clinical data and divided based on time series features. In the second stage, a multi-channel gated cycle unit is used to solve the calculation error caused by irregular sampling of time series data. The hidden layer feature vector is connected with the fully connected layer, reshaped into a new one-dimensional feature, and fused with the non-time series data into a new data set. The third stage is the prediction stage of adverse delivery outcomes. By connecting the multi-channel gated cycle unit with the extreme gradient lift, the data transmitted in the corresponding channel is used in the feature extraction stage, in which the weighted entropy-based feature extraction is adopted. With the help of the extracted features, a hybrid artificial neural network architecture (MGRU-XGB) was developed to predict adverse delivery outcomes. The experimental results showed that the hybrid model had the best prediction performance for adverse delivery outcomes compared with other single models in terms of sensitivity, specificity, AUC and other evaluation indexes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article analyzes the trajectory of Ana Vásquez Bronfman, a Chilean psychologist and writer exiled in France in 1974. Her work focused on the psychological consequences of exile and political repression in the population of Latin American refugees in France, especially in children and adolescents. Her scientific and literary work is highlighted, as well as her reflection on Jewish identity and her encounter with feminism. The article also mentions the COLAT group in Belgium, which was dedicated to the treatment and prevention of psychosocial problems in exiles, and the Franja magazine, which disseminated research on the situation of children and adolescents in exile. The document provides a list of bibliographic references related to the topic of political exile in Latin America. [Extracted from the article]

This study aimed to explore the relationship between Black cultural identity body image and mental well-being among Black Americans and Black immigrant women who attend predominately white universities (PWIs). As part of the Multi-Site University Study of Identity and Culture (MUSIC) survey, participants completed the Brief Inventory of Body Image, which included questions such as "I'm proud of my body," "I often feel ugly," 'I have a good figure," "I'm ashamed of my body," and "I am anxious about the way I look." The results showed that there were several similarities between the subgroups in the correlations between body image and mental health indices, such as social anxiety, depression, psychological well-being, and self-esteem. Both Black American and Black immigrant college-aged women had a positive association between body image and indicators of Black women's sense of self, like self-esteem and psychological well-being. They also had a negative association between body image and mental health, such as social anxiety and depression. However, there was one key difference in that Black American women had a stronger association between their sense of self and self-esteem and psychological well-being compared to Black immigrant women. These findings support other studies that suggest Black women tend to have a stronger positive body satisfaction relative to their overall mental well-being. The study has important implications for the understanding of Black women, ethnic identity, body image, and mental health, which are discussed in the paper. Plain Language Summary: Examining body image issues among Black women and its impact on their mental health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: This study aimed to compare the effectiveness of Paradox Timetable Cure (PTC), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy Matrix (ACTM), and Emotion-Focused Therapy (EFT) on differentiation and emotional self-regulation in women experiencing marital conflicts. Methods: The research employed a quasi-experimental design with pre-test, post-test, and follow-up stages. The study sample consisted of 60 women with marital conflicts, selected through purposive sampling from an initial group of 154. The participants were randomly assigned to four groups: PTC, MACT, EFT, and a control group, each containing 15 members. The intervention included ten 90-minute sessions for each therapy group, while the control group received no treatment. Data were collected using the Differentiation of Self Inventory and the Emotion Regulation Questionnaire. Repeated measures ANOVA and Bonferroni post hoc tests were used for data analysis. Findings: The results indicated significant improvements in differentiation and emotional self-regulation across all three therapeutic approaches compared to the control group. ACTM and EFT were found to be slightly more effective than PTC in enhancing differentiation and emotional self-regulation (MACT and EFT p = .000, PTC p = .004 in differentiation; ACTM and EFT p = .000, PTC p = .001 in emotional self-regulation). Conclusion: All three therapeutic approaches--PTC, MACT, and EFT--were effective in improving differentiation and emotional self-regulation in women with marital conflicts. However, ACTM and EFT demonstrated marginally higher effectiveness compared to PTC. These findings suggest the utility of these therapies in clinical settings for addressing marital conflicts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Despite growing evidence of an increased risk of suicidality among female survivors of intimate partner violence (IPV), no scientific research has explored this topic in Ghana, where male-partner violence is not uncommon. Using thematic analysis to analyze and synthesize 30 in-depth interviews with female survivors in the Eastern Region of Ghana, this study explored the suicidal behaviors of women in abusive intimate relationships. The findings showed IPV profoundly affected women, exposing them to complex intersecting economic, physical, and psychosocial health problems. Many saw suicide as a solution to their traumatic experiences. The results suggest the need for policymakers to create violence prevention programs and introduce community-based mental health programs, especially those targeting female survivors of violence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

For years, older women accused of witchcraft have been persecuted and forced into sanctuaries known as witch camps. This highlights a lack of public policies and social support for older women facing disabilities, aging, and dementia. Labelling them as witches and isolating them from their families and familiar surroundings profoundly impacts their emotional well-being. However, little is known about the mental health of older women in witch camps in northern Ghana. This study interviewed 15 women from the Gambaga witches camp, identifying five main themes and 21 related sub-themes: 'Physical and Mental Health Issues,' 'Psychological Impacts of Displacement and Trauma,' 'Social Isolation and Emotional Distress,' 'Living Conditions,' and 'Community Support and Strategies for Improving Well-being.' The sub-themes included 'Physical problems (chronic body pain) impacting upon general health and well-being', 'Anxiety and nervousness', 'Sleep and restlessness- "can't sit still", 'Suicidal thoughts and anger', 'Forgetfulness', 'Concentration and confusion', 'Loneliness, sadness from family disconnection' and 'stigma – self and others', 'Loss of respect and dignity ('Dariza')', 'Frailty and loss of independence', 'Feelings of helplessness, unhappiness, and despair', 'Lack of family support and dignity', 'Lack of basic needs, and inadequate social facilities'. Findings revealed the negative effects of cultural beliefs and discrimination on the mental health of these women. Addressing public stigma and challenging these beliefs can improve healthcare and outcomes, allowing older women to stay connected with their families, reduce depression, and lead meaningful lives. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Physiological and psychosocial changes experienced by women during the perinatal period may put them at risk for postpartum mental health disturbances. Accumulating evidence suggests that dietary patterns may influence mental health through the modulation of the gut microbiota and its effects on host immune activity. Thus, targeting the gut microbiota via dietary intake could serve as both a preventative and therapeutic strategy in improving perinatal mental health. Objectives: Here, we present a protocol for a prospective cohort study that primarily aims to determine if diet quality during pregnancy is protective against postpartum depression severity. Secondary objectives will examine if microbiota- and blood-based inflammatory markers may be associated with the relationship between prenatal diet quality and postpartum depression severity, as well as with associations between additional dietary and mental health outcomes. Methods and Analysis: Dietary patterns and mental health symptoms will be documented in 100 pregnant women at 4 time points during pregnancy and postpartum. Participants will also provide stool and blood samples at the same time points to determine microbiota composition and predicted function and inflammatory factors, respectively. Stool microbiota will be analyzed using 16S ribosomal RNA gene sequencing and bioinformatics tools (QIIME 2/PICRUSt2). Inflammatory factors will be determined using high-sensitivity antibody-based immunoassays. Statistical analyses will include linear mixed models and hierarchical linear mixed effect models. Ethics: The study was approved by the Research Ethics Boards of the Royal Ottawa Health Care Group (#2022002) and of the University of Ottawa (#H-06-22-8013). Informed consent will be obtained from all participants before their enrollment. Discussion: Findings from this study will help develop evidence-based dietary recommendations and potential interventions for women susceptible to or suffering from postpartum mental health issues that are accessible, noninvasive, and have potential to play a role in prevention and treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: After natural disasters, the occurrence of mental health problems and adverse effects on reproductive health in women of reproductive age can be attributed to a multitude of factors, including the deterioration of health facilities, a shortage of qualified health professionals, a lack of socio-economic stability, and a paucity of familial and community support. Methods: The descriptive correlational study was conducted through social networks with 405 women who had experienced the disaster of the century 8 months after (between November and December 2023) the earthquake. The snowball sampling method was used to obtain the research data. The questionnaire form, developed for the purpose of data collection, was disseminated to women who consented to participate in the study through social networks. The data were evaluated using a variety of statistical techniques, including number, percentage, mean, standard deviation, independent sample t-test, one-way analysis of variance, and structural equation modeling. Results: According to the results of linear regression analysis, these were found to be predictors of the desire to avoid pregnancy: having housing problems (β-coefficient 0.173; p =.008), having a damaged home (β-coefficient. 276; p =.009), sleep patterns (β-coefficient 0.433; p =.022), eating habits (β-coefficients 0.248, 0.044), use of psychiatric medication (β-coefficient 0.436, p =.003), and problems related to the food and water supply (β-coefficient 0.127, p =.003). In addition, a structural equation model (SEM) was established to examine the relationship between these variables and mental well-being and pregnancy avoidance. Only the model constructed with mental well-being demonstrated significance in the SEM analysis. Conclusions: This study shows that women's mental health is negatively affected in unpredictable emergencies such as earthquakes and that poor mental health negatively affects pregnancy planning. The findings of the study may help to guide health professionals working in the field of women's health to protect women's mental health in emergency situations, to provide counseling about pregnancy planning, and to provide social and psychological support programs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Body image dissatisfaction, leading to a variety of negative emotions and adverse pregnancy or birth outcomes. Studies on body image interventions for pregnant and postpartum women have been reported, yielding mixed results. Existing evidence lacks a comprehensive review of the effectiveness of body image interventions for pregnant and postpartum women. Objective: The aim of this study was to systematically review interventions which aimed at improving body image during pregnancy and postpartum in women of childbearing age, and further to explore their effectiveness. Methods: A comprehensive literature search was conducted using electronic databases, including PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, Cochrane Library, CINAHL, SinoMed, CNKI, and Wanfang Database, to retrieve relevant studies. Body image was reported employing descriptive analysis, whereas the Cochrane Handbook tool was used to evaluate the quality and potential bias of each included study. Results: Following established inclusion and exclusion criteria, 11 studies were identified from an initial 1,422 records for further analysis, involving 1290 participants. This systematic review grouped body image interventions into lifestyle interventions and psychological interventions based on their content. These interventions yielded more pronounced positive effects on improving body image in pregnant and postpartum women when compared to control groups. And, the statistical difference on psychological interventions is more significant on the whole. Conclusions: Our work offers a comprehensive overview of the effectiveness of body image interventions for pregnant and postpartum women. Psychological interventions are considered to be a suitable measure to improve body image for pregnant or postpartum women. Additional research and practical applications are recommended to enhance the mental health and well-being of perinatal women. Trial registration: PROSPERO registry: CRD42024531531. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Despite its known benefits, breastfeeding rates among mothers with perinatal mental health conditions are staggeringly low. Systematic evidence on experiences of breastfeeding among women with perinatal mental health conditions is limited. This systematic review was designed to synthesise existing literature on breastfeeding experiences of women with a wide range of perinatal mental health conditions. Methods: A systematic search of five databases was carried out considering published qualitative research between 2003 and November 2021. Two reviewers conducted study selection, data extraction and critical appraisal of included studies independently and data were synthesised thematically. Results: Seventeen articles were included in this review. These included a variety of perinatal mental health conditions (e.g., postnatal depression, post-traumatic stress disorders, previous severe mental illnesses, eating disorders and obsessive-compulsive disorders). The emerging themes and subthemes included: (1) Vulnerabilities: Expectations versus reality; Self-perception as a mother; Isolation. (2) Positive outcomes: Bonding and closeness; Sense of achievement. (3) Challenges: Striving for control; Inconsistent advice and lack of support; Concerns over medication safety; and Perceived impact on milk quality and supply. Conclusions: Positive breastfeeding experiences of mothers with perinatal mental health conditions can mediate positive outcomes such as enhanced mother/infant bonding, increased self-esteem, and a perceived potential for healing. Alternatively, a lack of consistent support and advice from healthcare professionals, particularly around health concerns and medication safety, can lead to feelings of confusion, negatively impact breastfeeding choices, and potentially aggravate perinatal mental health symptoms. Appropriate support, adequate breastfeeding education, and clear advice, particularly around medication safety, are required to improve breastfeeding experiences for women with varied perinatal mental health conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Endometriosis and provoked vestibulodynia (PVD) are prevalent pain conditions among women of reproductive age, significantly impacting their quality of life and psychological well-being. However, comprehensive evidence regarding the lifelong health and socioeconomic outcomes for these individuals remains scarce. Additionally, many prior studies rely on limited and sometimes unrepresentative samples. This study aims to inform on the long-term consequences of these disorders by examining health, fertility, and employment outcomes in a cohort of women diagnosed with endometriosis and/or PVD, tracing their experiences from childhood to their 40s. Leveraging nationwide administrative data from Sweden and employing a matched case-control design, we investigate both similarities and differences between women with these diagnoses and those without. Our findings indicate that women diagnosed with endometriosis and/or PVD demonstrate elevated healthcare utilization patterns, commencing in their early teenage years and progressively increasing over time. Notably, disparities in labor market outcomes emerge in their 20s, showcasing lower labor earnings and a rise in sickness benefit receipt. Moreover, our results show a higher likelihood among these women to experience mental health disorders and concurrent chronic pain diseases, as well as infertility. While the association between endometriosis and infertility is well-documented, this study offers novel insights into a potential similar link between PVD and infertility. Our study informs healthcare professionals and policymakers about the considerable burden of compromised health, adverse psychosocial well-being, and reduced productivity in the labor market faced by young women with these common pain conditions. These findings underscore the urgency of addressing the multifaceted challenges encountered by individuals diagnosed with endometriosis and PVD across their lifespan. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction As female active duty populations increase in all military environments, it is critical that women's health be addressed in a comprehensive manner. The study's results will be utilized to assist Navy health care leaders in addressing female force readiness policies, treatment gaps, and training specific to women's mental health. Materials and Methods In total, 212 active duty participants were recruited from the Navy's mental health specialties. The survey was hosted on the U.S. Government's MAX.gov survey website and received Institutional Review Board and Survey Review Board approval per Navy and Defense Health Agency requirements. Participants recorded their experiences with various patient presentations using Likert scale assessments, indicated their comfort in prescribing medication to patients with 11 distinct presenting concerns, and responded to six questions regarding their training and clinical experience in the field of women's mental health. Results Differences were noted for provider gender, treatment setting, patient sex, provider rank, and years of independent practice. Female providers were more likely than males to report that their female patients presented with 15 of the 21 measured issues. Providers located at MTFs were significantly more likely than providers in operational billets to report female patients presenting with certain conditions and reported being more comfortable prescribing medication. Eighty percent of respondents authorized to prescribe medicine rated themselves as very or extremely comfortable prescribing medications to their patients for all specified conditions except two: women who are breastfeeding and women who are pregnant. Senior officers reported the most comfort prescribing medication to women who are planning to become pregnant and women who have experienced perinatal loss. Only a minority of providers (20%, female; 33%, males) reported receiving women's mental health education during their training. Of those who did receive training, it was limited to post-partum and pregnancy. Most participants (93%) agreed that women's mental health should be incorporated into training programs for military providers. Conclusions This exploratory study highlights that provider variables impact assessment and treatment of and for patients. The study highlights the interplay of gender, treatment setting, experiences, and level of comfort are associated with provider assessment of presenting concerns. The authors hope this study will help in prioritizing women's mental health practices, mental health training, and research, and in informing policy and decision-making. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study presented in this article is part of the project 'Finding Viability in Daily Life'. In the project, participant-produced photographs of situations of well-being were used in interviews. A knowledge gap was identified: media-specific aspects of photographic material used in related research were not considered. In this study, photographs taken by twelve women aged 27–54 with a stress-related illness were examined. The research questions was: How are situations of well-being visually represented in photographs produced by the participants in the project, and how are these situations described in words by the participants? The results show that a typical photograph had a balanced composition, depicted a closed space with isolated object/s situated close to the beholder, and was taken from above. Indoor settings were more dominant than outdoor ones. The outdoor settings showed an open space and horizontal depictions more often than the indoor ones. A typical photograph depicted an activity or objects related to activities. By portraying calm and manageable spaces, the photographs visually suggested that qualities like balance and control are important aspects of experiencing well-being. These qualities of spaces for experiencing well-being were confirmed in interviews with the participants and by previous studies in the project. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Puberty is a life milestone that marks the transition from childhood to adulthood. An ambispective Chongqing Pubertal Timing (CQPT) cohort was started in 2014 to understand pubertal timing and identify environmental risk factors. Methods: A total of 1429 children and adolescents were recruited and have been followed up once every 6 months for 8 years in a district of Chongqing, China. Data were collected via questionnaires for social and family environment, health conditions, gestational and maternal information, and in-person physical examinations by trained medical school graduate students in follow-ups. Environmental exposures of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), neonicotinoids, and heavy metals in urine samples were measured at different time points. Results: The mean ages at pubertal onset were 10.20 for thelarche, 11.62 for pubic hair development, and 11.84 for menarche in girls, and 11.16 for genital development, 11.66 for testicular enlargement, and 12.71 for first spermatorrhea in boys. Four OH-PAHs were associated with delayed timing of menarche, thelarche, pubic hair, and axillary hair development in girls, and thiacloprid was found to potentially impact genital stages in boys and axillary hair development in girls. Conclusions: We built a cohort to provide evidence of regional pubertal timing of boys and girls and the significant environmental factors. Further health outcomes, especially mental health and women's health and its long-term health implications, will be followed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: In the aftermath of natural disasters, understanding the intricate links between mental health and physiological responses, such as menstrual cycle patterns, becomes crucial. This study explores the relationship between post‐traumatic stress and menstrual irregularities among women of reproductive age residing in regions affected by the 2023 earthquake in Turkey. Methods: 309 women of reproductive age living in 11 provinces affected by the earthquake centered in Kahramanmaraş on February 6, 2023 and declared as disaster areas constituted the study sample. Data were collected online using Google forms nine months after the earthquake. The collected data were obtained using the Participant Information Form, Impact of Events Scale and Post‐traumatic Stress Disorder‐Short Form. In the data analysis, descriptive statistics such as count, percentage, median, minimum, and maximum were used, along with statistical tests including the Mann–Whitney U test, chi‐squared test, multiple logistic regression analysis, and ROC analysis. Results: In the study, an increase in menstrual irregularities among women was observed following the earthquake (%14.3 to %44.8, p <.001). Risk factors for menstrual irregularities included post‐traumatic stress symptoms, comorbid chronic diseases, and smoking. The prevalence of PTSD was found to be 22.7% and this was associated with women with menstrual irregularities. Setting the cut‐off score of the IES‐R scale at 45.50 resulted in higher sensitivity for detecting irregular menstrual cycles. Conclusions: Women's menstrual cycles are affected after an earthquake. Therefore, post‐earthquake mental health recovery programs should specifically address the protection of women's physical and mental health. This comprehensive approach can reduce the effects of earthquake‐induced stress and trauma. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background/Objectives: Global fertility rates are declining due to metabolic and mental health challenges in women trying to conceive. The Healthy Early Life Moments in Singapore (HELMS) program aims to address these challenges through mobile health (mHealth)-enabled lifestyle interventions. However, the lack of validated evaluation tools for such programs makes it difficult to assess their feasibility and acceptability. To tackle this, a comprehensive evaluation questionnaire was developed and validated to determine if the HELMS preconception program's implementation outcomes were achieved. Methods: The questionnaire development process included a literature review and a two-step validation process: content validation by five content experts and face validation by 20 HELMS participants. Content validation was assessed using the scale content validity index (S-CVI) based on relevance, clarity, simplicity, and ambiguity. Face validation with participants evaluated these criteria and the ease of completing the questionnaire. Internal consistency was assessed using Cronbach's alpha among 49 participants. Results: The questionnaire achieved good S-CVI values for relevance (0.93), clarity (0.91), simplicity (0.94), and ambiguity (0.71). After expert feedback, the revised version scored highly among HELMS participants for relevance (100%), clarity (95%), simplicity (95%), and non-ambiguity (90%). A Cronbach's alpha of 0.93 indicated good internal consistency. Conclusion: The HELMS evaluation questionnaire shows promise for evaluating similar mHealth-based lifestyle intervention programs globally. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Straits Settlements, a collective colony under the administration of British Malaya, was a very unhealthy area in the early years of the nineteenth century. One of the most common sicknesses was mental illness, which could not be cured by medicines. The number of women suffering from mental illness was higher than in men, and it was found that there were many internal and external causes. The increasing number of women patients affected the role of mental hospitals, which were not only for treatment purposes, but also for business. This study will discuss the factors causing women to suffer from mental illness, and the role of the asylum for women mental patients in the nineteenth century. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: Despite the need and uptake of mental health support by women with endometriosis, no research to date has explored their experience of psychological therapy. We aimed to understand the factors that predict engagement in psychological therapy by Australian women with endometriosis and to qualitative explore their experience of psychological support. Design: Mixed‐methods design. Methods: A total of 200 women with self‐reported endometriosis were recruited from the community. We explored; (1) the demographic and clinical predictors of engagement in psychological therapy, (2) the psychological approaches that seem most valuable to women in the management of endometriosis and (3) their experience engaging in psychological therapy for endometriosis. Results: Nearly half of women reported to have seen a psychologist within the past year, particularly for pain. Younger age (OR,.94; 95% CI,.886–.993), depressive symptoms (OR, 1.05; 95% CI, 1.002–1.099), and working part time compared to full time (OR, 2.17, 95% CI, 1.012–4.668), increased the likelihood of engaging in psychological therapy. Template thematic analysis identified three themes; (1) endometriosis and pain have multi‐faceted psychological effects, (2) psychological support is sought to adjust and live with endometriosis and (3) there are helpful and unhelpful psychological tools for women with endometriosis. Conclusions: Our findings support the use of psychological therapy in the management of endometriosis, and the need for psychological therapy to acknowledge the chronicity and impact of symptoms, to enlist multidisciplinary support and to consider alternative options. Further advocacy is required to educate women on the benefits of psychological therapy for endometriosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Little is known about how neighborhood socioeconomic disadvantage influences sexual minority women's (e.g., lesbian, bisexual) mental health and whether minority stress moderates these associations. We examined the association between neighborhood deprivation and mental health and the potential moderating effects of minority stressors in a community-based sample of sexual minority women. Methods: Using data from Wave 4 of the Chicago Health and Life Experiences of Women study (N = 359, surveyed 2017–2019), we examined associations between census-tract deprivation—measured using the area deprivation index—and days of poor mental health, with moderation by minority stressors (LGBT community connectedness, internalized homophobia, concealment, stigma consciousness, gender presentation). We controlled for individual and neighborhood demographics and other stressors. Results: Higher area deprivation was unrelated to days of poor self-rated mental health in adjusted models, but effects were heterogeneous by gender presentation and LGBT community connectedness. As deprivation increased, more masculine and androgynous women evidenced no increased risks of poor mental health. However, among women presenting as neither masculine nor androgynous, risks were positively associated with deprivation (IRRs: 1.44 and 1.34, respectively). Unexpectedly, women with higher levels of LGBT community connectedness (IRR: 1.48) reported worse mental health as deprivation increased. No other minority stressor moderated associations. Conclusions: Gender presentation appears to be a key factor in the impact of neighborhood deprivation on poor mental health among sexual minority women; the relationship may be more complicated for community connectedness. Our findings suggest that to improve sexual minority women's mental health, interventions targeting deprivation ought to complement interventions targeting sexual minority stigma. Policy Implications: To improve mental health among sexual minority women, advocates must promote both broad economic policies and specific protective, anti-stigma policies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Unpaid care work is mainly performed by women, whose mental health is more affected by caregiving burden and work-family conflict compared to men. COVID-19 containment measures may have exacerbated existing gender inequalities in both unpaid care work and adverse mental health outcomes. This scoping review provides an overview of recent evidence on the impact of COVID-19 containment measures on unpaid care work and mental health for subgroups of caregivers at the intersection of gender and other social differences (e.g., ethnicity, age, class) in Europe. Methods and analysis: Our study was informed and guided by Arksey and O'Malley's methodological framework. We searched six academic databases (Medline, PsycInfo, Scopus, CINAHL, Social Sciences Abstracts, Sociological Abstracts, ASSIA) and hand-searched the reference lists of selected articles to identify relevant peer-reviewed research articles published between 1 March 2020 and 7 September 2022. In addition, we conducted a grey literature search using Google Scholar and a targeted hand search on known international and European websites. We included studies that reported gender-disaggregated results on unpaid care work and mental health in the context of COVID-19 containment measures in Europe. Two reviewers independently screened all abstracts and full texts for eligibility and extracted the relevant data. The results were synthesised narratively. Results and discussion: Our results suggest a greater gender gap in unpaid care work division and, to a lesser extent, in mental health, which is unfavourable towards women and mothers. Despite this, we see a break in the traditional division of childcare, with fathers taking on a greater role in family work, which makes us optimistic about the division of care work in the post-COVID-19 era. This research also shows that among European women, population groups often understudied, such as women who are single parents, disabled or of colour, have the highest increase in unpaid care work and greatest deterioration in wellbeing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Premenstrual exacerbation of an existing psychiatric disorder refers to the worsening of symptoms inherent to the condition during the premenstrual phase. Research consistently indicates that hormonal fluctuations during the menstrual cycle present a unique period of vulnerability for the onset or exacerbation of psychiatric symptoms, impacting diagnosis, risk assessment, and treatment. This review sought to elucidate the phenomenon of premenstrual exacerbation and its impact across a spectrum of psychiatric illnesses, including mood, anxiety, psychotic, obsessive-compulsive, personality, and trauma-related disorders. Despite the expanded research in recent years on premenstrual dysphoric disorder and premenstrual syndrome, premenstrual exacerbation remains underexplored and poorly defined. This review offers significant contributions to the diagnosis and management of psychiatric conditions, advocating for heightened awareness and novel treatment approaches in the context of premenstrual exacerbation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: The infertile patient's knowledge, attitude, and practice (KAP) toward embryo transfer may affect treatment outcomes and the mental health of women who underwent in vitro fertilization-embryo transfer (IVFET). This study aimed to investigate the KAP of embryo transfer among women who underwent IVF-ET. Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted on women who underwent IVF-ET at our Hospital between May 2023 and November 2023, using a self-designed questionnaire. Results: A total of 614 valid questionnaires were finally included. The mean KAP scores were 19.46 ± 5.06 (possible range: 0 28), 39.41 ± 5.20 (possible range: 12-60), and 48.02 ± 6.75 (possible range: 0-60), respectively. The structural equation model demonstrated that knowledge has a direct effect on attitude (β=0.27, p < 0.001) and attitude has a direct effect on practice (β= 0.55, p < 0.001) and anxiety (β= 0.59, p < 0.001). Moreover, multivariable linear regression analysis showed that anxiety score [coefficient = 0.09, 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.03-0.16, p = 0.003], BMI (coefficient = 0.09, 95%CI: 0.03--0.16, p = 0.003), education (coefficient = 5.65-6.17, 95%CI: 1.09-10.7, p < 0.05), monthly per capita income (coefficient = 1.20-1.96, 95% CI: 0.21-3.07, p = 0.05), reasons for IVF (coefficient = -1.33-1.19, 95%CI: -2.49-0.09, p <0.05), and more than5yearsof infertility (coefficient = -1.12, 95% CI: -2.11-0.13, p = 0.026) were independently associated with sufficient knowledge. Knowledge (coefficient = 0.19, 95% CI: 0.12-0.26, p < 0.001), anxiety (coefficient = 0.39, 95% CI: 0.34--0.45, p < 0.001), monthly per capita household income >10,000 (coefficient = 1.52, 95% CI: 0.61-2.43, p < 0.001), and three or more cycles of embryo transfer (coefficient = -2.69, 95% CI: -3.94-1.43, p < 0.001) were independently associated with active attitude. Furthermore, attitude (coefficient = 0.21, 95% CI: 0.11-0.30, p < 0.001) and anxiety (coefficient = 0.57, 95% CI: 0.49-0.65, p < 0.001) were independently associated with proactive practice. Discussion: Women who underwent IVF-ET had inadequate knowledge and negative attitudes but proactive practice toward embryo transfer, which were affected by anxiety, income, and reasons for IVF. It is necessary to strengthen the continuous improvement of patient education to improve the management of embryo transfer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The integration of patient portals into health systems has the potential to increase access for women. For example, within a mental health context, women are at a higher risk of developing anxiety and depression but may experience barriers in accessing care. Therefore, the aim of this rapid review was to understand what is currently known about patient portal use among women. The objectives were (1) To discover pertinent facilitators for women when using patient portals; (2) To discern if women face individual barriers to accessing patient portals; and (3) To explore the potential role of patient portals for women's mental health care. Methods: A rapid review methodology was implemented using the Cochrane Rapid Reviews Methods Group, as well as a grey literature scan. Inclusion criteria included articles that focused on women's use of patient portals within healthcare settings. Four databases were searched, including Embase, MEDLINE (Ovid), CINAHL and PsycINFO in September 2023. Two independent reviewers performed screening, data extraction, and analysis. Results: This search resulted in screening 1385 titles and abstracts, and 82 articles for full-text eligibility. 15 articles were included in the review. Data were extracted and analyzed, guided by the research objectives. Facilitators to patient portal use included processes that enhanced user engagement, the provision of portal tools, and management of health care features. Barriers included health equity factors and use of medical jargon. Applications to mental health care included how use of portals eased women's anxiety and increased their sense of internal control. Conclusions: The results of this review indicate that interrelated factors influence women's experiences with using patient portals. By understanding facilitators and barriers to portal use, and applications for mental health care, we can understand how to improve women's use of portals in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pregnancy represents a crucial timepoint to screen for disordered eating due to the significant adverse impact on the woman and her infant. There has been an increased interest in disordered eating in pregnancy since the COVID-19 pandemic, which has disproportionately affected the mental health of pregnant women compared to the general population. This systematic review is an update to a previous review aiming to explore current psychometric evidence for any new pregnancy-specific instruments and other measures of disordered eating developed for non-pregnant populations. Systematic searches were conducted in PubMed, ProQuest, PsycInfo, CINAHL, Scopus, MEDLINE, and Embase from April 2019 to February 2024. A total of 20 citations met criteria for inclusion, with most studies of reasonable quality. Fourteen psychometric instruments were identified, including two new pregnancy-specific screening instruments. Overall, preliminary psychometric evidence for the PEBS, DEAPS, and EDE-PV was promising. There is an ongoing need for validation in different samples, study designs, settings, and administration methods are required. Similar to the original review on this topic, we did not find evidence to support a gold standard recommendation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The government's COVID-19 measures, including a nationwide lockdown and social distancing, presented a challenge for Johane Marange Apostolic Church (JMAC) in their implementation. Unfortunately, the women in the church could not voice their concerns about the leadership's shortcomings in this area. This study utilizes Gender justice theory to investigate how JMAC's teachings on polygamous marriages impacted the mental health of women during the pandemic. Through purposive sampling, interviews, and secondary sources, it was discovered that women in polygamous marriages in JMAC struggled mentally during COVID19 due to their roles as wives and their positionsin the church. While the church allows polygamous marriages, the study suggests that women's decision-making power should be elevated, and men should take more responsibility as breadwinners. The study also recommends that the church's teachings should be more adaptable during future pandemics to improve the mental health and well-being of women. Ultimately, the study proposes that congregants should be free to choose. The implication of the study will be for a paradigm shift in the beliefs and practices of JMAC, which encourage polygamy and result in mental health challenges during pandemics like COVID-19. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sexual safety behaviors (SSB) may constitute a relevant factor for the development and maintenance of sexual dysfunctions. The present study aims to improve the understanding of SSB in women. A total of N = 923 women completed an online survey consisting of the Questionnaire on Behaviors Before and During Sexual Activities, a measure of SSB, and a set of other questionnaires that assessed sexual dysfunctions, anxiety, depression, and other clinically relevant variables. Exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses of the QBSA revealed a robust three-factor solution with 1) cognitive and behavioral avoidance, 2) use of lubricants, and 3) thought and body control. While some SSB were generally common in women, others discriminated well between women with sexual dysfunctions, women with sexual problems, and women without impairment. SSB was significantly negatively associated with women's level of sexual functioning and positively with repetitive and negative thought processes, depression, and anxiety. Overall, the concept of SSB can be reliably measured and SSBs correlate meaningfully with variables measuring women's mental health. We argue that the concept of SSB should be further developed as it can enrich present sexual therapeutic treatment approaches, especially in the context of cognitive-behavioral therapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic that engulfed the world from 2019 to date has not only exposed the failure by national governments to decisively deal with the pandemic, it has also posed serious questions about the intersections of COVID-19, women and mental health issues in Africa. It appears as if previous epidemics such as HIV and AIDS and Ebola, just to mention a few, have not fully equipped people on how to deal with emergencies such as the COVID-19 crisis. This article is an attempt to unravel the tumultuous terrain that characterise the impact of COVID-19 on women's mental health in Zimbabwe. It draws from lessons learnt through the COVID-19 experiences across all the sectors of human life. Adopting a narrative methodological approach, the study explored the impact of COVID-19 on people's (particularly women's) mental health. Using the biopsychosocial model of mental health as the prism through which issues at hand are dissected, the article argues that the COVID-19 pandemic is taking advantage of the faulty lines that exist on issues about women, gender and religion to expose women to major mental health challenges. The study also found out that men, too, were victims of GBV as the 'stay-at-home' decree emasculated them of their 'man ego' normally expressed by providing for the family. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pandemic-related stressors are many and they are known to cause mental health challenges to people. Research has shown that women are disproportionately affected by the effects of pandemics on mental health than their male counterparts (Manyonganise, 2022). It has also shown that the elderly people are at risk of the pandemic-related mental health challenges because of their advanced age that undermines their resilience. There is not much literature on how the elderly women in some cultural contexts form a formidable resource in mobilizing emotional and practical resilience in times of pandemics. The available literature has not emphasized the fact that every society has its own conceptualization of pandemics and unique strategies of mobilizing resilience. This study, therefore, explores the agency of the elderly women in indigenous response initiatives to COVID-19-related impacts on mental health using the case of the Ndau people of south-eastern Zimbabwe. The study argues that 'elderly people' are not a homogeneous group. They are found in diverse cultural contexts that have a bearing on their response to pandemics. Therefore, there is need for sensitivity to religio-cultural contexts when dealing with the impacts of pandemics on communities' mental health. The conceptualization, and strategies employed to mitigate the effects of pandemics on mental health are context specific. The African ecofeminist theory informs this empirical qualitative phenomenological study that takes an ethnographic research design. In-depth interviews were used to gather data. The Ndau people were chosen on the bases of the researcher's cultural familiarity and, the non-homogenous character of the religio-cultures of African communities. The study makes a unique contribution to scholarship as it seeks to emphasize on the agency of the elderly women in building local communities' resilience to pandemic-related mental health challenges, with less emphasis on the common narrative of their victimhood. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The worldwide pandemic of coronavirus (COVID-19) that shook the world in disturbing ways has impacted on women more than men in a multifaceted manner. The worst being an increase of mental health cases among women. At the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic, governments across the world had to put their respective countries under lockdown measures. People were urged to stay at home, regularly wash their hands, and maintain social distance when out in public spaces. In Zimbabwe, the COVID-19 pandemic affected everyone, but more disproportionately women. Such women constituted a larger percentage of people who lived with and were affected by mental health challenges and disorders. The COVID-19 pandemic led to mental health problems due to disease experience, physical distancing, stigma, discrimination and job losses. Health care workers, patients suffering from COVID-19 related illnesses and those suffering from other chronic conditions, children, youths and women experienced post-traumatic disorders, anxiety, depression and insomnia. Hence, the main purpose of the study was to explore the impact of COVID-19 pandemic on the mental health of indigenous Ndebele women within the Gwanda district. The study employed a qualitative methodological approach and a descriptive case study design. It used purposive sampling to select fifty participants and in-depth interviews and focus group discussions as the research instruments. The findings revealed that indigenous Ndebele women within Gwanda district were dealing with great mental pressure, which caused an imbalance in their lives. It was also found out that the loss of control over the decisions and actions of women in African indigenous cultures due to patriarchal and cultural systems, impacted on their mental health. The conclusion was that COVID-19 heavily affected Ndebele women's mental health in Gwanda district. Given this scenario, it is necessary that sustainable intervention mechanisms are put in place to deal with mental health cases in general and help women with mental health challenges in particular during and after pandemics. The recommendations were that various advocacy strategies be used by the government especially local governments, since it is essential to include African indigenous women in recovery initiatives and ensure that critical resources are availed. The article fits into the theme of Women, COVID -19 and Mental Health in Africa: An African Interventionist Perspective. Since the outbreak of the COVID-19 on indigenous Ndebele women in Gwanda district mental health problems intensified. The types of mental health problems and strategies suggested assist various policy makers with ways of overcoming mental health problems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Covid-19 pandemic presented a lot of macro and micro challenges throughout the entire world. While some of these impacts were immediately felt, others have long term consequences. Some of the major impacts were the macroeconomic challenge which left many governments, organisations and individuals in a state of disarray - causing a lot of physical and mental health issues among both men and women. However, research suggests that women were disproportionately affected by mental health issues. This is because women especially in Sub-Saharan Africa are considered to be 'vulnerable' to several of the major challenges facing the continent and the burdens they carry make them susceptible to mental health problems. Against this background, this study explores three key areas: the relationship between patriarchy and gender-based violence during COVID-19 in Africa, how the pandemic exacerbated existing gender inequalities, and the impact of COVID-19 on women's mental health. This study is a literature review that draws on academic journals, books, reports, media sources and electronic databases. The study concludes that the COVID-19 pandemic disproportionately impacted African women, leading to a rise in gender-based violence, a widening of existing gender inequalities, and a negative impact on women's mental health. The study recommends strengthening existing traditional social support structures, such as families and women's groups, to better equip them to assist women during crises. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mental health is posited as a vital constituent of health and well-being. Good mental health is represented by a balance between the mind, body, spirit and context which should all be in tangent. Globally, it has been noted that mental disorders rank among the top ten leading causes of health encumbrance. This dire situation has been compounded by the novel COVID-19 pandemic outbreak which exacerbated the global number of mental disorders, with women carrying a higher risk due to their role as primary caregivers. Using a phenomenological study and drawing from Christian women in Harare, this study sought to explore the common risk factors that expose women to the possibility of developing mental health disorders. Research findings indicated varied stressors including gender-based roles, intimate partner violence, lower socio-economic status and household financial instability due to the COVID-19 induced economic recession during the COVID-19 lockdown period as triggers of mental health disorders. Religio-cultural factors, stigma and discrimination associated with mental health disorders were equally identified as inhibitors to women's mental healthcare needs. Study participants also cited heightened reverence to God as well as the use of indigenous practices as coping mechanisms. Such a scenario brought to the fore a practice of religious syncretism among the research participants. The study therefore recommends gender-sensitive as well as culturally-sensitive mental health coping mechanisms and practices to mitigate the challenge of mental disorders, especially among women. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study sought to find out intersections of Covid-19, women's mental health, and religion in Masvingo District, Zimbabwe, during the first 35 days of the lockdown. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews from a purposefully selected sample of 15 Christian women and three clergymen in Masvingo District, Zimbabwe. Participation was voluntary and all participants gave their consent. Confidentiality and anonymity were maintained by not identifying participants by their real names. Data were thematically analysed. Findings show that while Covid-19 negatively affected all people in terms of mental health and psychological well-being, the burden weighed heavily on women on account of their caregiving role in the public and private spheres as well as their domestic responsibilities. The study also revealed that Covid-19 and its management were associated with heightened levels of anxiety and depression. Religion gave women hope. A sense of closeness to God gave the women resilience amidst the pandemic. Religious messages and prayers for the sick and bereaved, though at some point hampered by movement restrictions and digital challenges, were helpful mechanisms of stress reduction. It is recommended that the government and other stakeholders including faith communities adopt a gendered approach to provide psychosocial support and enhance women's coping capacity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Objectives: Although physical health is always studied for women with diabetes, the mental health aspect is generally overlooked for this chronic disease. The present study aimed to examine the prevalence of psychosomatic symptoms, namely, fibromyalgia syndrome, depression, anxiety, and insomnia, and how these symptoms related to the medications used in a cohort of women diagnosed with type 2 diabetes (DM) in Jordan. Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional study recruited women diagnosed with type 2 diabetes, and validated scales (PSRS, PHQ-9, GAD-7, and ISI-A) for fibromyalgia syndrome, depression, anxiety, and insomnia were used. The associations between the different medications used and the dependent variables were examined using four separate multivariate logistic regression models. Results: Data were analyzed from 213 participants. Of them, 27.2% met the threshold for fibromyalgia syndrome diagnosis, 38% met the threshold for severe depression, 36.2% met the threshold for severe anxiety, and 39.9% met the threshold for severe insomnia. Fibromyalgia syndrome symptoms were significantly associated with glimepiride (OR = 1.92, CI = 1.00–3.68), β-blockers (OR = 2.21, CI = 1.03–4.70), diuretics (OR = 3.13, CI = 1.26–7.78), herbal remedies (OR = 2.12, CI = 0.98–4.55), and prescriptions for centrally acting medication (OR = 2.78, CI = 1.24–6.29). Significant associations were found between depression and diuretics (OR = 2.62, CI = 1.05–6.67), over-the-counter nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) (OR = 3.49, CI = 1.69–7.23), and herbal remedies (OR = 5.07, CI = 2.40–10.69). In addition, anxiety was significantly related to diuretics (OR = 2.48, CI = 1.02–6.02), and OTC NSAIDs (OR = 2.60, CI = 1.29–5.21). Significant associations were evident between insomnia and β-blockers (OR = 3.23, CI = 1.51–6.95), acetaminophen (OR = 2.09, CI = 1.06–4.08), NSAIDs (OR = 4.61, CI = 2.18–9.76), and herbal remedies (OR = 5.95, CI = 2.71–13.07). Conclusions: Medications are associated with high burden of fibromyalgia syndrome, depression, anxiety, and insomnia. These findings underscore the importance of revising and optimizing the pharmacotherapy of these vulnerable patients, performing close mental health monitoring and the implementation of non-pharmacological interventions by integrating mental health services for women with chronic diseases such as diabetes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Objectives: The current war on the Gaza strip and the circulating violent content is believed to negatively impact the mental health of the Palestinians living in refugee camps outside their homeland. This study explores the prevalence and correlates of depression, anxiety, and insomnia in a cohort of female Palestinian refugees in Jordan who have family members entangled in the persistent conflict in the Gaza strip. Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional study employed validated tools to assess depression, anxiety, and insomnia in women residing in a Gaza camp located in Jerash, Jordan. The correlates were determined by regression analysis. Results: The study unearths disconcerting statistics from 177 recruited women, revealing alarmingly high rates of severe depression (73%), anxiety (60%), and insomnia (65%). Multivariable analysis revealed that severe depression was significantly associated with prior diagnosis with chronic diseases (OR = 3.0, CI = 1.36–6.58), and having a first-degree relative in Gaza (OR = 0.42, CI = 0.20–0.85). Additionally, severe insomnia was associated with "losing relatives or friends in the war" (OR = 3.01, CI = 1.41–6.44), and "losing connection with families and friends" (OR = 3.89, CI = 1.58–9.53). Conclusions: The implications of these results are profound, underscoring the immediate and imperative need for both medical and psychiatric interventions aimed at addressing the substantial psychological burden borne by this population because of the ongoing conflict. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) increase risk for mental illness in women and their children, and dysregulation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis may play a role. The impact of ACEs on the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis may be strongest when ACEs occur prepubertally and in people who are exposed to abuse ACEs. To test this, we measured salivary cortisol in 96 mother-infant dyads while mothers were separated from their infants, who were experiencing a laboratory stressor. Mothers completed the Adverse Childhood Experiences Questionnaire; ACEs that occurred prepubertally (pACEs) were measured, and mother-infant dyads were grouped based on maternal pACE history as follows: no pACEs, ≥1 pACEs with abuse, or ≥1 pACEs but no abuse. Mothers with ≥1 pACEs exhibited decreases in cortisol (relative to preinfant stressor), which differed significantly from the cortisol increase experienced by mothers with no pACEs, regardless of abuse presence (p =.001) or absence (p =.002). These pACE groups did not differ from one another (p =.929). Significant sex differences in infant cortisol were observed in infants of mothers with ≥1 pACEs (regardless of abuse) but not in infants of mothers with no pACEs. When mothers had experienced ≥1 pACEs, males showed decreases in cortisol in response to a stressor whereas females demonstrated increases, and males and females differed significantly when their mothers had ≥1 pACEs with (p =.025) and without (p =.032) abuse. Regardless of maternal exposure to childhood abuse, in response to a stressor, pACEs were associated with lower cortisol response in mothers and sex differences in 6-month-old infants, with males showing a lower cortisol response than females. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Mental health of women with fetal anomaly diagnoses is understudied. • Emotion regulation and inflammation may predict risk of poor mental health. • Reappraisal and IL-6 predicted resilience and depressive symptoms. • Reappraisal and insurance status predicted anxiety and posttraumatic stress symptoms. Fetal anomalies occur in approximately 3% of pregnancies and receiving the diagnosis may be a potentially traumatic experience for families. The mental health of mothers receiving diagnoses and what predicts resilience or poor mental health is understudied. Emotion regulation is an important, modifiable, transdiagnostic factor of mental health, and may be protective post-diagnosis. Evaluating biomarkers of stress, including IL-6 and Allostatic Load (AL), can also serve as early indicators of risk, indicative of early intervention. This study assessed whether reappraisal, suppression, IL-6, and AL was associated with mental health outcomes and resilience in women after receiving a fetal anomaly diagnosis. Pregnant women (N=108) presenting to a fetal concerns clinic for initial consultation completed measures of emotion regulation (i.e., reappraisal and suppression), depression, anxiety, posttraumatic stress symptoms, and resilience between 2019–2022. A blood draw was used to assess IL-6 and create composite allostatic load measure including: IL-6, blood pressure, heart rate, glucose, cortisol, and body mass index. Linear regressions controlling for age, gestational age, and perceived fetal diagnosis severity, demonstrated that IL-6 was negatively associated with resilience and positively associated with depression. Reappraisal was positively associated to resilience and negatively associated with depression, anxiety, and PTSD, whereas state insurance status was positively associated to anxiety and PTS symptoms. Suppression and allostatic load were not significant. Women experiencing fetal anomaly diagnosis represent an understudied population with unaddressed mental health needs. Reappraisal serves as not only a protective factor, but one that can be enhanced to promote maternal resilience and mental health. Furthermore, elevated IL-6 may be a critical early indicator of potential intervention needs among women who are pregnant, to mitigate negative psychological states and enhance resilience. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: In order to experience all the processes of pregnancy and childbirth in a healthy way, it is necessary that the perception of traumatic birth is not high and the affecting factors should be known. This study was conducted to evaluate the factors affecting pregnant women's perception of traumatic childbirth. Methods: A cross-sectional and descriptive study consisted with 305 pregnant women, who was in the last trimester of their pregnancy. Data collected face-to-face using the Perception of Traumatic Childbirth Scale and the socio-demographic, obstetric and birth-related information form. Results: All of the pregnant women included in the study were married and their mean age was 28.04±5.20 years. The mean score of the pregnant women from the scale was 56.46±1.56 (Min-Max=0-120). Statistical significance was found between the score obtained from the scale and income status, the total number of miscarriages/mortal deliveries, mode of termination of the last delivery, fear experienced at the last delivery and anxiety experienced at the last delivery.Conclusion: A thorough understanding of the factors that influence and/or increase the perception of traumatic childbirth could contribute to the development of birth services as well as the protection and promotion of women's and pregnant's mental well-being.

AbstractLimited research on sexual minority women migrants demonstrate that they face elevated rates of mental health problems compared to their heterosexual and male counterparts, and less is known about their healthcare seeking behaviours. This study aimed to identify barriers and facilitators to mental and physical healthcare utilisation among first-generation (foreign-born) Arab sexual minority women migrants in the USA and to assess whether Penchansky and Thomas’ theory of access can be used to understand their healthcare utilisation behaviours. We conducted 20 semi-structured interviews via Zoom. Employing community-engaged research methods, four advisors, Arab sexual minority women migrants and a mental health service provider, assisted in recruitment and thematic data analysis providing a rich and nuanced understanding of study findings. Five main themes demonstrated the pivotal role of cultural humility from providers and access to medical insurance in shaping healthcare-seeking decisions. Difficulties finding therapists and navigating the referral process and wait times encouraged participants to seek care outside of the USA in their Arab countries of origin. Stigma and social support further influenced participants’ decisions to seek mental healthcare. The study findings inform policy and practice to foster the development of inclusive healthcare services grounded in cultural humility and to develop support groups specifically for Arab sexual minority women migrants to the USA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Depression is a common mental disorder with a much higher prevalence in women than in men. Although there has been a gradual increase in research on the association between reproductive health and depression, there is still some inconsistency in the evidence of the relationship between pregnancy loss and depression. This study aimed to investigate the relationship between pregnancy loss and depressive symptoms. Methods: We analyzed data from the 2007–2020 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES), which included female participants aged 20 to 80 years. Pregnancy loss was determined based on participants' self-reported number of pregnancies and pregnancy outcomes. Depressive symptoms were measured using the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9, score ≥ 10). Multivariate logistic regression, smoothed curve fitting, and generalized additive modeling were used to examine the association between pregnancy loss and depression. We also performed sensitivity analyses and subgroup analyses to verify the robustness and specificity of the findings. Results: A total of 12,873 female participants were included in our study, of which 1,595 (12.39%) were categorized as depressed. Multivariate logistic regression results indicated that experiencing a pregnancy loss increased the risk of prevalence of depression in women (for 1 loss: OR = 1.31, 95% CI 1.15,1.50; for 2 or more losses: OR = 1.58, 95% CI 1.38, 1.81). When sensitivity analyses were performed, an association between pregnancy loss and depression was found in both multivariate linear regressions with PHQ-9 scores as a continuous variable and multivariate logistic regressions with a threshold of 5 PHQ-9 scores. The association between pregnancy loss and depression remained stable across subgroups. Conclusion: Pregnancy loss correlated with elevated PHQ-9 scores and a heightened risk of depression in adult women across the United States. Focusing on the incidence of adverse pregnancy events in the female population may help prevent or early recognize the onset of depression. Highlights: We analyzed the relationship between pregnancy loss and depression in American adult women. The sample size was large and nationally representative. Pregnancy loss was associated with higher PHQ-9 scores and an increased likelihood of depression among adult women. Our study is expected to provide more effective strategies to mitigate the impact of adverse pregnancy events on women's mental health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Women's mental health during the perinatal period is a major public health problem in Pakistan. Many challenges and competing priorities prevent progress to address the large treatment gap. Aim To quantify the long-term impacts of untreated perinatal depression and anxiety in economic terms, thus highlighting its overall burden based on country-specific evidence. Cost estimates were generated for a hypothetical cohort of women giving birth in 2017, and their children. Women and children experiencing adverse events linked to perinatal mental health problems were modelled over 40 years. Costs assigned to adverse events included were those linked to losses in quantity and quality-of-life, productivity, and healthcare-related expenditure. Present values were derived using a discount rate of 3 %. Data were taken from published cohort studies, as well as from sources of population, economic and health indicators. The total costs were $16.5 billion for the cohort and $2680 per woman giving birth. The by far largest proportion referred to quality-of-life losses ($15.8 billion). Productivity losses and out-of-pocket expenditure made up only a small proportion of the costs, due to low wages and market prices. When the costs of maternal suicide were included, total costs increased to $16.6 billion. Important evidence gaps prevented the inclusion of all cost consequences linked to perinatal mental health problems. Total national costs are much higher compared with those in other, higher middle-income countries, reflecting the excessive disease burden. This study is an important first step to inform resource allocations. • Perinatal mental health problems are a major public health problem in Pakistan. • This study is the first to quantify the costs of perinatal mental health problems in a lower-middle income country. • Costs of $6.2 billion nationally exceed those found in higher middle income countries. • Estimates highlight the urgent need to allocate resources to meet Strategic Development Goals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: In recognition of the burden of Perinatal Mental Health problems, NHS England invested £365 million to transform women's access to mental health care, including investment in Community Perinatal Mental Health Services. This study examined how elements of provider care affected women's engagement with these services. Methods: Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 139 women and explored their experiences of care from 10 different Community Perinatal Mental Health Teams; including which service components participants believed made a difference to their initial and continued engagement. Realist analysis was used to create context-mechanism-outcome configurations (CMOCs) across interviews, since not all parts of the configurations were always articulated within singular interviews. Results: Four key pillars for engagement were identified: perinatal competence, relationship building, accurate reassurance, and reliability. The way perinatal competencies were relayed to women mattered; compassion, understanding and consistency were critical interactional styles. The extent to which these factors affected women's engagement varied by their context and personal characteristics. Conclusions: As mental health problems increase, disproportionately affecting vulnerable populations, it is critical to continue to ensure support is not only available, but appropriately meets the needs of those individuals. Our findings suggest that key staff behaviours applied at the right time can support women's engagement and potentially contribute to better treatment outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]