Contraceptive attitudes and knowledge of female adolescents

Despite the recent decline in adolescent pregnancy rates, adolescent pregnancy continues to be a significant public health issue in the United States. The United States consistently reports the highest rate of adolescent pregnancy among developed countries. Adolescent mothers are more likely to have multiple pregnancies, to access welfare and other social services, and to be unmarried. Teen mothers are less likely to complete high school, enter college, and typically command much less earning power throughout their lifetime as compared to women who delay childbirth until later. Moreover, the United States spends approximately $9.1 billion annually on teen pregnancies. ^ Additionally disconcerting is recent data which demonstrates that the decline in teen pregnancy rates is leveling off and that the rate of adolescent pregnancy has increased for the first time since 1993. Contraceptive use is a key component to the prevention of adolescent pregnancy. Contraceptive nonuse and failure result in unintended pregnancies among adolescents. This review sought to assess the levels of knowledge and attitudes toward contraception among adolescent females.^ Levels of knowledge of contraception among adolescents are tolerable; however, there is substantial room for improvement. Misperceptions about the side effects and mechanisms of action of contraception are pervasive among this population. Adolescents who have low levels of knowledge regarding contraception tend to discontinue usage or use inconsistently. Attitudes toward contraception are greatly influenced by levels of knowledge. As a result, adolescents tend to develop more positive attitudes as misperceptions are abated. Moreover, clear disparities persist among adolescents with minority and young adolescents being at increased risk of pregnancy, poor contraceptive use, and insufficient knowledge about contraception.^ Understanding the level of knowledge of and attitudes toward contraceptives among adolescents is essential to the development of effective pregnancy prevention programs. In order to effectively reduce adolescent pregnancy, prevention initiatives must target the vulnerable populations and incorporate the necessary cultural components.^

Association of exogenous hormonal intake with the risk of development of hepatocellular carcinoma in women

Background. Primary liver cancer, the majority of which is hepatocellular carcinoma, is the third most common cause of mortality from cancer. It has one of the worst prognosis outcomes and an overall 5-year survival of only 5-6%. Hepatocellular carcinoma has been shown to have wide variations in geographic distribution and there is a marked difference in the incidence between different races and gender. Previously low-rate countries, including the US, have shown to have doubled the incidence of HCC during the past two decades. Even though the incidence of HCC is higher in males as compared to females, female hormones, especially estrogens have been postulated to have a role in the development of hepatocellular carcinoma on a molecular level. Despite the frequent usage of oral contraceptive pills (OCP) and previously, hormone replacement therapy (HRT), their role on HCC development has not been studied thoroughly. We aim to examine the association between exogenous hormone intake (oral contraceptives and post-menopausal hormone replacement therapy) and the development of HCC. Methods. This study is part of an ongoing hospital-based case-control study which is conducted at the Department of Gastrointestinal Oncology at The University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center. From January 2005 up to January 2008, a total of 77 women with pathologically confirmed hepatocellular carcinoma (cases) and 277 healthy women (controls) were included in the investigation. Information about the use of hormonal contraceptives, hormone replacement therapy and risk factors of hepatocellular cancer was collected by personal interview. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were done to estimate the crude odds ratios (OR) and adjusted odds ratios (AOR). Results. We found statistically significant protective effect for the use of HRT on the development of HCC, AOR=0.42 (95% CI, 0.21, 0.81). The significance was observed for estrogen replacement, AOR=0.43 (95% CI, 0.22, 0.83) and not for progesterone replacement, AOR=0.49 (95% CI, 0.10, 2.35). On the other hand, any hormonal contraceptive use, which encompasses oral contraceptive pills, implants and injections, did not show a statistical significance either in the crude OR=0.58 (95% CI, 0.33, 1.01) or AOR=0.56 (95% CI 0.26, 1.18). Conclusions. As corroborated by previous studies, HRT confers 58% HCC risk reduction among American women. The more important question of the association between hormonal contraceptives and HCC remains controversial. Further studies are warranted to explore the mechanism of the protective effect of HRT and the relationship between hormonal contraception and HCC.^

FACTORS INFLUENCING CHOICE OF CONTRACEPTIVE METHOD AMONG MARRIED FECUND WOMEN WHO INTEND NO ADDITIONAL BIRTHS: HEALTH BELIEF MODEL AND ECONOMIC PERSPECTIVES

This research examined to what extent Health Belief Model (HBM) and socioeconomic variables were useful in explaining the choice whether or not more effective contraceptive methods were used among married fecund women intending no additional births. The source of the data was the 1976 National Survey of Family Growth conducted under the auspices of the National Center for Health Statistics. Using the HBM as a framework for multivariate analyses limited support was found (using available measures) that the HBM components of motivation and perceived efficacy influence the likelihood of more effective contraceptive method use. Support was also found that modifying variables suggested by the HBM can influence the effects of HBM components on the likelihood of more effective method use. Socioeconomic variables were found, using all cases and some subgroups, to have a significant additional influence on the likelihood of use of more effective methods. Limited support was found for the concept that the greater the opportunity costs of an unwanted birth the greater the likelihood of use of more effective contraceptive methods. This research supports the use of HBM and socioeconomic variables to explain the likelihood of a protective health behavior, use of more effective contraception if no additional births are intended.^

Unsafe abortion: A neglected crisis in women's health

Women around the world risk their lives to end unwanted pregnancies. Created in 2003 and recently converted to a digital format, this short film highlights the toll that unsafe abortion takes on women and the comprehensive approach that Ipas takes to saving women's lives by improving access to safe abortion and contraception. Since this film was made, deaths from unsafe abortion have thankfully decreased to approximately 47,000 each year. However, the estimated number of unsafe abortions has risen to more than 21 million annually, largely due to the increase in population. We have a long way to go before the scourge of unsafe abortion is eliminated.

First-trimester medical abortion with mifepristone 200 mg and misoprostol: a systematic review

http://download.journals.elsevierhealth.com/pdfs/journals/0010-7824/PIIS0010782412006439.pdf

“Dishonourable disobedience” – Why refusal to treat in reproductive healthcare is not conscientious objection

In medicine, the vast majority of conscientious objection (CO) is exercised within the reproductive healthcare field – particularly for abortion and contraception. Current laws and practices in various countries around CO in reproductive healthcare show that it is unworkable and frequently abused, with harmful impacts on women's healthcare and rights. CO in medicine is supposedly analogous to CO in the military, but in fact the two have little in common. This paper argues that CO in reproductive health is not actually Conscientious Objection, but Dishonourable Disobedience (DD) to laws and ethical codes. Healthcare professionals who exercise CO are using their position of trust and authority to impose their personal beliefs on patients, who are completely dependent on them for essential healthcare. Health systems and institutions that prohibit staff from providing abortion or contraception services are being discriminatory by systematically denying healthcare services to a vulnerable population and disregarding conscience rights for abortion providers. CO in reproductive healthcare should be dealt with like any other failure to perform one's professional duty, through enforcement and disciplinary measures. Counteracting institutional CO may require governmental or even international intervention.

Achievements of the FIGO Initiative for the Prevention of Unsafe Abortion and its Consequences in South-Southeast Asia.

Since 2008, the FIGO Initiative for the Prevention of Unsafe Abortion and its Consequences has contributed to ensuring the substitution of sharp curettage by manual vacuum aspiration (MVA) and medical abortion in selected hospitals in participating countries of South-Southeast Asia. This initiative facilitated the registration of misoprostol in Pakistan and Bangladesh, and the approval of mifepristone for "menstrual regulation" in Bangladesh. The Pakistan Nursing Council agreed to include MVA and medical abortion in the midwifery curriculum. The Bangladesh Government has approved the training of nurses and paramedics in the use of MVA to treat incomplete abortion in selected cases. The Sri Lanka College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists, in collaboration with partners, has presented a draft petition to the relevant authorities appealing for them to liberalize the abortion law in cases of rape and incest or when lethal congenital abnormalities are present. Significantly, the initiative has introduced or strengthened the provision of postabortion contraception.

Effectiveness of medical abortion with mifepristone and buccal misoprostol through 59 gestational days

BACKGROUND: From 2001 to March 2006, Planned Parenthood Federation of America (Planned Parenthood) health centers throughout the United States provided medical abortions principally by a regimen of oral mifepristone, followed 24-48 h later by vaginal misoprostol. In late March 2006, analyses of serious uterine infections following medical abortions led Planned Parenthood to change the route of misoprostol administration and to employ additional measures to minimize subsequent serious uterine infections. In August 2006, we conducted an extensive audit of medical abortions with the new buccal misoprostol regimen so that patients could be given accurate information about the success rate of the new regimen. OBJECTIVES: We sought to evaluate the effectiveness of the buccal medical abortion regimen and to examine correlates of its success during routine service delivery. METHODS: In 2006, audits were conducted in 10 large urban service points to estimate the success rates of the buccal regimen. Success was defined as medical abortion without vacuum aspiration. These audits also permitted estimates of success rates with oral misoprostol following mifepristone in a subset in which 98% of the subjects stemmed from two sites. RESULTS: The effectiveness of the buccal misoprostol-mifepristone regimen was 98.3% for women with gestational ages below 60 days. The oral misoprostol-mifepristone regimen, used by 278 women with a gestational age below 50 days, had a success rate of 96.8%. CONCLUSION: In conjunction with 200 mg of mifepristone, use of 800 mcg of buccal misoprostol up to 59 days of gestation is as effective as the use of 800 mcg of vaginal misoprostol up to 63 days of gestation.

La política demográfica del tercer gobierno peronista: justificaciones, repercusiones y resistencias a las restricciones al control de la natalidad (1973-1976)

Desde mediados de la década del '50, el tamaño de la población comenzó a ser considerado en relación a necesidades geopolíticas y proyectos de desarrollo, mientras proliferaban organismos internacionales decididos a influir sobre las conductas reproductivas de los países del Tercer Mundo. En este contexto, Argentina defendió su autonomía e intentó diseñar una política de población que atendiera a su particular situación de caída demográfica. El tercer gobierno peronista incluyó esta problemática en su plan de gobierno y fue más allá de lo discursivo al implementar, por primera vez en el país, medidas coercitivas sobre el libre acceso a la anticoncepción. Estas disposiciones generaron importantes debates sociales que se expresaron en los medios de prensa escrita, al interior de la corporación médica y en las calles, a través del accionar del movimiento feminista y el Frente de Liberación Homosexual. En este artículo nos proponemos iluminar este aspecto poco estudiado por la historiografía, reconstruyendo la cosmovisión de la época sobre el problema demográfico, las contradicciones al interior del gobierno respecto a las medidas a seguir, sus repercusiones y las resistencias que generaron. Consideramos necesario conocer con mayor profundidad este tema y sus perdurables consecuencias negativas en la 'cultura anticonceptiva' del país.

La política demográfica del tercer gobierno peronista: justificaciones, repercusiones y resistencias a las restricciones al control de la natalidad (1973-1976)

Desde mediados de la década del '50, el tamaño de la población comenzó a ser considerado en relación a necesidades geopolíticas y proyectos de desarrollo, mientras proliferaban organismos internacionales decididos a influir sobre las conductas reproductivas de los países del Tercer Mundo. En este contexto, Argentina defendió su autonomía e intentó diseñar una política de población que atendiera a su particular situación de caída demográfica. El tercer gobierno peronista incluyó esta problemática en su plan de gobierno y fue más allá de lo discursivo al implementar, por primera vez en el país, medidas coercitivas sobre el libre acceso a la anticoncepción. Estas disposiciones generaron importantes debates sociales que se expresaron en los medios de prensa escrita, al interior de la corporación médica y en las calles, a través del accionar del movimiento feminista y el Frente de Liberación Homosexual. En este artículo nos proponemos iluminar este aspecto poco estudiado por la historiografía, reconstruyendo la cosmovisión de la época sobre el problema demográfico, las contradicciones al interior del gobierno respecto a las medidas a seguir, sus repercusiones y las resistencias que generaron. Consideramos necesario conocer con mayor profundidad este tema y sus perdurables consecuencias negativas en la 'cultura anticonceptiva' del país.

La política demográfica del tercer gobierno peronista: justificaciones, repercusiones y resistencias a las restricciones al control de la natalidad (1973-1976)

Desde mediados de la década del '50, el tamaño de la población comenzó a ser considerado en relación a necesidades geopolíticas y proyectos de desarrollo, mientras proliferaban organismos internacionales decididos a influir sobre las conductas reproductivas de los países del Tercer Mundo. En este contexto, Argentina defendió su autonomía e intentó diseñar una política de población que atendiera a su particular situación de caída demográfica. El tercer gobierno peronista incluyó esta problemática en su plan de gobierno y fue más allá de lo discursivo al implementar, por primera vez en el país, medidas coercitivas sobre el libre acceso a la anticoncepción. Estas disposiciones generaron importantes debates sociales que se expresaron en los medios de prensa escrita, al interior de la corporación médica y en las calles, a través del accionar del movimiento feminista y el Frente de Liberación Homosexual. En este artículo nos proponemos iluminar este aspecto poco estudiado por la historiografía, reconstruyendo la cosmovisión de la época sobre el problema demográfico, las contradicciones al interior del gobierno respecto a las medidas a seguir, sus repercusiones y las resistencias que generaron. Consideramos necesario conocer con mayor profundidad este tema y sus perdurables consecuencias negativas en la 'cultura anticonceptiva' del país.

Long-term suppression of Leydig cell steroidogenesis prevents Leydig cell aging

Male aging is accompanied by reduced testosterone production by the Leydig cells, the testosterone-producing cells of the testis. The mechanism by which this occurs is unknown. Based on the observations that reactive oxygen is capable of damaging components of the steroidogenic pathway and that reactive oxygen is produced during steroidogenesis itself, we hypothesized that long-term suppression of steroidogenesis might inhibit or prevent age-related deficits in Leydig cell testosterone production. To test this, we administered contraceptive doses of testosterone to groups of young (3 months old) and middle-aged (13 months old) Brown Norway rats via Silastic implants to suppress endogenous Leydig cell testosterone production. After 8 months, the implants were removed, which rapidly (days) restores the ability of the previously suppressed Leydig cells to produce testosterone. Two months after removing the implants, when the rats of the two groups were 13 and 23 months of age, respectively, the Leydig cells in both cases were found to produce testosterone at the high levels of young Leydig cells, whereas significantly lower levels were produced by the 23-month-old controls. Thus, by placing the Leydig cells in a state of steroidogenic “hibernation,” the reductions in Leydig cell testosterone production that invariably accompany aging did not occur. If hormonal contraception in the human functions the same way, the adverse consequences of reduced testosterone in later life (osteoporosis, reduced muscle mass, reduced libido, mood swings, etc.) might be delayed or prevented.

Percepção e orientação de condutas de conselheiros tutelares sobre práticas sexuais de menores de 18 anos

A abertura política do Brasil à democracia promoveu uma série de mudanças legislativas e de organização do Estado. Na área da infância e adolescência, após a promulgação do Estatuto da Criança e do Adolescente (ECA), foram criados conselhos de nível federal, estadual e municipal, com o objetivo de promover e defender os direitos dessa população específica. Também foram formados os Conselhos Tutelares compostos por membros da sociedade civil, diretamente eleitos pela população, com a função de informar e promover esses direitos localmente. Utilizando a metodologia qualitativa-quantitativa do Discurso do Sujeito Coletivo, a pesquisa analisou a percepção e opinião dos conselheiros tutelares a respeito de situações que envolvem a prática sexual voluntária heterossexual e homossexual de adolescentes da faixa etária de 12 a 17 anos. Os dados foram colhidos com o uso de questionários semiestruturados para autopreenchimento, apresentados em visita técnica aos membros dos 44 Conselhos Tutelares do município de São Paulo. Além do perfil social e familiar, foram coletadas opiniões dos conselheiros quanto à autonomia dos adolescentes e suas noções de desrespeito legal, além de sugestões de orientação de condutas frente a três casos hipotéticos de prática sexual realizada por adolescentes. Responderam à pesquisa 80 (36,4 por cento ) conselheiros de um total de 220, de 29 (65,9 por cento ) dos 44 Conselhos Tutelares da cidade. Observou-se que apresentaram tendência a reproduzir os modelos tradicionais negativos da sociedade brasileira no julgamento da prática sexual de adolescentes, avaliando sua ocorrência pela ótica moral e de opinião de familiares e outros adultos. Mais da metade não associa tais práticas a impactos específicos sobre a saúde e os direitos sexuais e reprodutivos dos adolescentes, nem realiza encaminhamentos para sua promoção. Adotam noções desiguais de gênero do senso comum, que remetem à preocupação com a imagem e impactos da publicização da sexualidade de meninas, não fazendo o mesmo para adolescentes meninos e veem as práticas homoafetivas sob a ótica da violência e sedução, associando-as à necessidade de orientação psicológica e problemas de saúde mental. Considera-se que conselheiros tutelares estão pouco preparados para lidar com a sexualidade de adolescentes e normalmente treinados para avaliá-la tal qual a violência sexual que acomete crianças. Como possuem status local de legitimidade, são procurados e tem poder de averiguação e encaminhamento público de ocorrências, terminando por, muitas vezes, desrespeitar os direitos humanos de adolescentes quanto à expressão e vivência da sexualidade e da prática sexual saudável. Considera-se fundamental discutir o papel dos Conselhos Tutelares frente aos direitos de adolescentes, de forma que ao contrário do proposto na democratização do país, não se configurem como mais um instrumentos de exercício de poder para perpetuar desigualdades sociais. Na área da sexualidade, a defesa dos direitos de adolescentes passa pelo respeito a sua sexualidade, acesso à informação, à garantia de serviços públicos que efetivamente os atendam para proporcionar exames, contracepção, prevenção de doenças sexualmente transmissíveis, etc., com respeito a sua cidadania, especificidades, necessidades, autonomia e dignidade pessoal, promovendo-os e defendendo-os frente a famílias, comunidade, a toda a sociedade e ao próprio poder público.

Projecte RIU: cambios percibidos por agentes de salud y profesionales tras una intervención en salud en un barrio en situación de vulnerabilidad

Objetivo: Describir los cambios percibidos por la población y los profesionales en relación con la salud y el uso de servicios tras la intervención RIU con agentes comunitarios en un barrio vulnerable. Diseño: Estudio descriptivo cualitativo con entrevistas individuales y grupales y observación participante de octubre de 2008 a julio de 2009. Emplazamiento: Barrio Raval (Algemesí-Valencia). Participantes: Selección por muestreo opinático de 7 mujeres agentes de salud, todas las que finalizaron la intervención, y 10 profesionales implicados en la misma. Método: Con las mujeres se mantuvo una entrevista grupal a los 6 meses, y una entrevista grupal y 7 individuales a los 9 meses de intervención. Se realizó un análisis temático de tipo descriptivo desde el modelo de promoción de salud. Con los profesionales se utilizó observación participante en una reunión a los 9 meses, analizándose las notas de campo según: valoración del proyecto, cambios detectados, dificultades y recomendaciones. Resultados: Las mujeres adquirieron información sobre salud, anticoncepción, embarazo y servicios sanitarios; señalaron cambios en autocuidados y habilidades sociales y liderazgo; interiorizaron el rol de agente de salud difundiendo lo aprendido y manifestando mejor autoestima y reconocimiento social. Provocaron cambios en su entorno relativos al cuidado de la salud y el acceso a los servicios. Los profesionales no incorporaron a su trabajo la perspectiva comunitaria; valoraron el proyecto, coincidieron con las mujeres en la mejora del acceso y uso de servicios y en el acercamiento población-profesionales. Conclusiones: RIU aumenta las capacidades de las personas participantes, su reconocimiento social y mejora el acceso y uso de servicios sanitarios.

Sexual health and socioeconomic-related factors in Spain

Purpose: The aim of the present study was to describe sexual health in Spain according to three important indicators of the World Health Organization definition and explore the influence of socioeconomic factors. Methods: We performed a population-based cross-sectional study of sexually active people aged 16-44 years residing in Spain in 2009 (2365 women and 2532 men). Three main aspects of sexual health were explored: sexual satisfaction, safe sex, and sexual abuse. The independent variables explored were age, age at first intercourse, reason for first intercourse, type of partner, level of education, country of origin, religiousness, parity, and social class. Bivariate and multivariate logistic regression models were fitted. Results: Both men and women were quite satisfied with their sexual life, their first sexual intercourse, and their sexual relationships during the previous year. Most participants had practiced safe sex both at first intercourse and during the previous year. Levels of sexual abuse were similar to those in other developed countries. People of disadvantaged socioeconomic position have less satisfying, more unsafe, and more abusive sexual relationships. Women experienced more sexual abuse and had less satisfaction at their first intercourse. Conclusions: The state of sexual health in Spain is relatively good. However, we observed inequalities according to gender and socioeconomic position.