Knowledge and discriminatory attitudes towards HIV/AIDS among the women of reproductive age group of Pakistan using the Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey(MICS)

Background Human immunodeficiency virus/acquired immunodeficiency syndrome(HIV/AIDS)has become a major worldwide public health issue,with a focus on developing nations.Despite having a very low HIV prevalence,South Asia faces serious issues with stigma and false information because of a lack of awareness.This stigma highlights significant gaps in popular awareness while also sustaining unfavorable attitudes towards those living with HIV/AIDS.Pakistan is ranked second in South Asia for the rapidly increasing AIDS epidemic.Thorough information and optimistic outlooks are essential for successful HIV/AIDS prevention,control,and treatment.But false beliefs about how HIV/AIDS spreads lead to negative perceptions,which highlights the need to look into how women’s knowledge and attitudes about HIV/AIDS in Pakistan are influenced by sociodemographic traits and autonomy.Methods The purpose of this study is to evaluate Pakistani women’s discriminatory attitudes and level of awareness on HIV/AIDS.This study used data(the women in reproductive age 15-49 years’dataset)from the Pakistan Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey to conduct an analytical cross-sectional analysis.To represent the respondents’attitudes and knowledge towards people living with HIV(PLHIV),two composite variables were developed and composite scored.Binary logistics regression was used to identify predictor variables and chi-square was used for bivariate analysis.Results The findings reveal that almost 90%of Pakistani women have poor knowledge and attitude with HIV/AIDS.In Punjab,72.8%of rural residents have low knowledge,whereas only 20.6%of young individuals(15-<25 years old)show the least amount of ignorance.Education is shown to be crucial,and“Higher”education is associated with superior knowledge.Urban dwellers in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa typically have more expertise.Knowledge of HIV is positively correlated with education;those with higher education levels know a lot more(odds ratio[OR]=5.419).Similarly,quintiles with greater incomes show a higher likelihood of knowing about HIV(OR=6.745).The study identifies age,wealth index,place of residence,educational attainment,and exposure to contemporary media as significant predictors influencing HIV knowledge and attitudes among women in these provinces.Conclusion The majority of respondents had negative opinions regarding the virus,and the majority of women in the study knew very little about HIV.Individuals who live in metropolitan areas,have higher incomes,are better educated,are exposed to contemporary media,and are generally more aware of HIV and have more positive attitudes towards HIV/AIDS,or PLHIV.The study found that,in comparison to those living in urban environments,those from rural areas with low socioeconomic level have a negative attitude and inadequate understanding.

Group Images of Korean Women on Douyin:Representation,Generation,and Identification

Since 2023,the slogan“Question Korean women,understand Korean women,learn Korean women”has become popular in Chinese social networks.Previously,Chinese netizens have not paid such attention to women from other countries.In response to this phenomenon,this paper combines neoliberal feminist theories with thematic analysis to obtain a total of 80 valid samples from the Douyin platform to analyze the image of Korean women disseminated on the Douyin platform.Finally,it is concluded that the image of Korean women’s strict self-discipline,internal and external cultivation,sobriety of thought,and the spirit of courageous struggle have to a certain extent promoted the awakening of self-consciousness of female netizens in China;on the other hand,it is also necessary to realize that the image of Korean women disseminated in Douyin is not completely true,and it is also necessary to be alert to the phenomenon that the gender dichotomy has been reduced to the attraction of network traffic and capital as a sharp weapon.

Knowledge, attitudes and practice survey on Zika virus infection among pregnant women in Brunei Darussalam

To assess the knowledge, attitudes, and practices(KAP) on Zika virus infection among pregnant women in Brunei Darussalam by a cross-sectional survey. Methods: Between February and June 2017, we recruited 234 pregnant women from all government healthcare centres at Brunei-Muara district, using a modified systematic sampling approach. A pre-tested and self-administered questionnaire was used and data analysis was conducted using descriptive statistics and multiple logistic regression analyses. Results: The study participants were mainly Malay(87.2%) and their mean age was 28.0 years. The median knowledge score was 13, out of a possible score of 28. Most participants(92.7%) knew that Zika virus was transmitted by mosquito bites whereas some(34.6%) knew that sexual transmission was also possible. Media(radio, television or newspapers) was the preferred source of updated information on Zika virus, followed by healthcare workers(44.0%), government announcements(43.2%), and social media(38.0%). Pregnant women who were 25 years old or older [Adj. OR=3.62(95% CI: 1.57, 9.51)], not Malays [Adj. OR=3.32(95% CI: 1.35, 8.55)], and had an average monthly household income of more than BND $3 000 [Adj. OR=4.06(95% CI: 1.81, 19.44)] were more likely to score higher for knowledge on Zika virus. The median prevention practice score was 23, out of a possible score of 36. Most participants reported wearing covering clothes(98.3%) and kept their living surroundings clean(99.6%). Most participants(88.0%) agreed that Zika is an important issue in their community. Conclusion: We found a lack of knowledge on Zika virus infection among pregnant women attending government maternal and child healthcare centres in Brunei Darussalam, in particular that Zika virus can be sexually transmitted. Such information could be well disseminated at the healthcare centre level. Health literacy studies should be conducted to understand the facilitators and barriers of KAP on Zika virus infection among pregnant women.

Women’s Attitudes and Knowledge towards the Use of Contraceptive Methods

Background: Contraceptive use reduces the need for abortion by preventing unwanted pregnancies, and the causes of maternal death worldwide. Contraceptive use helps women to plan their pregnancies and contributes for population growth. This study aims to analyze the attitudes and knowledge of the women attending Van Norma Clinic for the use of contraceptive methods. Methods: A cross-sectional study was used to analyze the information. A convenience sampling method has been used to select the 100 women who attended Van Norman Clinic in Family planning service in the period of the study of four months (April to July, 2020). A self-administered questionnaire with four parameters addressing importance of using contraceptive methods, the factors affecting the women’s attitudes for not using contraceptive methods, types of contraceptive methods currently used, advantages and disadvantages of using contraceptive methods was used to collect data. Results: Research findings show that the majority of respondents knew the importance of using contraceptive methods like preventing unwanted pregnancies (97%), spacing pregnancies (96%), planning pregnancies (92%), and getting well (70%). Two factors affecting women for not using contraceptive methods had been identified such as religion (73%) and fear (70%). In addition, the women attending Van Norman Clinic prefer using implants (99%) and injectable (99%). It is clear that women do not know the consequences related to the nonuse of contraceptive methods. Some recommendations have been made to the health care facilities, parents, women themselves, churches’ leaders and government in general. Conclusion: Factors which influence women’s attitudes for not using contraceptive methods were notified in our study such as religion (73.0%) and fear (70.0%) which was explained by the fact that in Burundi most people are catholic which is the most religion prohibiting the use of contraceptive methods. However, the participants’ knowledge was significantly good as their score was more than 50% for all variables.

Performance of Sickle SCAN^®in the Screening of Sickle Cell Disease in Kisangani Pregnant Women and Attitude towards Results

In the Democratic Republic of the Congo, the sickle cell trait carriage is estimated at 25%. Routine neonatal screening is not a common practice, leading to a very late diagnosis. In this study, the screening of pregnant women was assessed as well as their attitudes. This is an analytical cross-sectional study conducted in 245 pregnant women, sampled by convenience in four hospitals in Kisangani city (Democratic Republic of Congo) and screened using the sickle SCAN® test, from February 1 to July 31, 2019. The sensitivity and specificity of the latter were determined using liquid chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry as the gold standard. The attitudes of 240 pregnant women without previous screening history were assessed upon the announcement of the results. The sensitivity of screening for hemoglobin (Hb) AA and Hb AS was 96.69% and 98.39%, respectively;while the specificities were 99.43% and 96.32%, respectively. The Kappa coefficient (κ) was excellent. Concerning attitudes, Hb SS pregnant women and 55.17% of AS pregnant women worried when the results relating to their hemoglobin status were announced. The sickle SCAN® test was found reliable for sickle cell disease screening in Kisangani. The announcement of the results, mainly positive, raises worry among pregnant woman. Therefore, we recommend the involvement of a clinician psychologist for pre-screening counselling and for results announcement, as well as early newborns and unmarried teenage girls screening.

Attitude and practice of family planning methods among Roma women living in northern Turkey

Objective:This study aims to investigate the attitude and practice of family planning (FP) methods among Roma women living in northern Turkey.Methods:A total of 120 Roma women living in northern Turkey participated in this descriptive study.Data were collected using a questionnaire.The scale of FP attitude was used.Results:The mean age of participants was 28.9± 1.8.Among the participants,37.5% (45/120) were primary school graduates,70.8% (85/120) were unemployed,73.4% (88/120) were in a consensual marriage and 94.2% (113/120) had children.The majority or 85.8% (103/120) of the participants stated that they used FP methods.Intrauterine device (57.4%,69/120) and withdrawal method (22.3%,27/120) were the most frequently used FP methods.Conclusions:The rates at which Roma women use FP were high.Their attitudes towards FP tended to be negative and the methods used were primarily related to females.

Depressive Symptoms and Food Intake among Weight-Preoccupied Women: Do Eating Behaviors and Attitudes or BMI Mediate This Association?

Associations between depressive symptoms, dysfunctional eating behaviors and attitudes, higher food intake and body mass index (BMI) have been previously observed. However, few studies have assessed these variables in the same study. The first objective is to compare, in a natural setting environment, the profile of women reporting lower or higher levels of depressive symptoms in terms of food intake, eating behaviors and attitudes, and BMI. The second objective is to test mediational models for which the link between depressive symptoms and food intake would be mediated by eating behaviors and attitudes or BMI. Weight-preoccupied women were recruited (n = 323), and their level of depressive symptoms was assessed using the Beck Depression Inventory. The median score was used to create two groups (lower ≤ 13;higher > 13). A web-based food-frequency questionnaire, the Three-Factor Eating Questionnaire, and the Intuitive Eating Scale were completed. BMI was calculated from reported body weight and height. Compared to women with a lower level of depressive symptoms, those with a higher level of depressive symptoms reported a higher energy intake (p = 0.02), and a higher consumption of savoury foods (p = 0.02). These women also had higher scores of disinhibition (p p = 0.0002), ate less intuitively (p p = 0.005). Association between depressive symptoms and energy intake was mediated by disinhibition, susceptibility to hunger and eating for physical rather than emotional reasons, while the role of BMI was less clear. Regarding another component of food intake, association between depressive symptoms and consumption of savoury foods was mediated by disinhibition and eating for physical rather than emotional reasons. In summary, it seems essential to be aware of the presence of depressive symptoms and to pay attention to eating behaviors and attitudes in interventions among weight-preoccupied women.

Attitude, Practice, and Factors Affecting Contraceptive Use among Women Attending Postnatal Care in a Tertiary Health Facility in Jos North LGA, Plateau State, Nigeria

The high population growth rate has been associated with the increased level of poverty, morbidity, mortality, and decreased life expectancy. Modern contraception is an important factor in controlling fertility through prevention of unintended and unwanted pregnancies. Contraception (birth control) prevents pregnancy by interfering with the normal process of ovulation, fertilization, and implantation. Contraceptive use is still very low in Nigeria and Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), where the levels of fertility and unmet need for family planning are high. The attitude of women toward contraception will usually affect the practice and utilization of contraceptives. The objective of this study is to assess the attitude, prevalence, and factors affecting contraceptive use among women attending Postnatal care in a tertiary health facility in Jos North L. G. A Plateau State, Nigeria. There was a descriptive cross-sectional study done between September to October 2019, with a sample size of 250 women. Respondents were determined using a multi-stage sampling method. Data collection was done using an interviewer-administered, pre-tested, structured questionnaire. The data was collected, entered, and analyzed using IBM Statistical package for social sciences (SPSS) version 20.0. Most women have a positive attitude 162 (64.8%) toward contraception while 88 (35.2%) had negative attitude toward contraception. Three quarters (75.2%) of women are willing to use contraception. The prevalence of contraceptive use among respondents was 35.6% while the prevalence of previous use of contraceptives among the respondents was 71.2%. Fifty (27.9%) used condom (barrier method), 40 (22.9%) used withdrawal method. Majority of the other respondents were spread across OCPs, injectables and implants. Major factors affecting the use of contraceptives were majorly attributed to informed choice with 60.1%, Partner’s decision (44.1%) and mild or no adverse reaction (12.8%). While major factors preventing use were lack of interest in 69.4%, partners’ decision in 14.9% and fear of side effects 12.5% of respondents. Respondents showed a wide acceptance of family planning services as majority of them see it as beneficial and are willing to go for another method after current pregnancy.

Women's Image of Nurturers in Anderson's Stories

Women's image of nurturers is successfully portrayed in Sherwood Anderson's stories.Anderson places hopes on women for two reasons:Women retain nurturing impulses which benefit men,and with their tenderness,understanding and love they can comfort the frustrated,defeated men;Women are less defeated by modern life and with their wisdom and ability to deal with the realities of life,they may help men out of their impotence and frustration.This paper gives a detailed analysis of the female characters'image of nurturers in these stories.

Eating disorders, body image, and dichotomous thinking among Japanese and Russian college women

This study explored cross-cultural differences between Japan and Russia in terms of women’s body images, proneness to eating disorders, and the effects of dichotomous thinking. Participants included 419 Japanese and 187 Russian college women who completed the Dichotomous Thinking Inventory (DTI), the 26-item version of the Eating Attitudes Test, and responses regarding nine figures representing female body shapes. The mean age of the participants was 19.8 years, with no significant age differences between the countries. The results showed that Japanese women have leaner ideal body images than Russian women, whereas there were no cross-cultural differences in the participants’ real body images. DTI scores among Russian participants were higher than DTI scores among Japanese participants, which indicated that Russian women think more dichotomously than Japanese. Structural equation modeling indicated a significantly negative effect of dichotomous thinking only on real body image in Russia;the ideal body image had greater effects on eating disorder in Russia than in Japan.

Imaging Beyond the Angiogram in Women with Suspected Myocardial Infarction and No Obstructive Coronary Artery Disease

A subset of women referred to the cardiac catheterization lab for suspected myocardial infarction thought to be due to a culprit artery are found to have no obstructive coronary artery disease by angiography.The mechanism by which these women have myocardial injury varies and is not usually clear by history and angiography alone.Additional imaging,including modalities such as cardiac MRI,intravascular imaging,and computed tomography may be helpful to clarify diagnoses and direct treatment.

Novel Imaging Approaches for the Diagnosis of Stable Ischemic Heart Disease in Women

Conventional recommendations for diagnostic testing for the evaluation of stable ischemic heart disease in women have largely paralleled those in men.Although they are designed primarily for the identifi cation of obstructive coronary artery disease(CAD),traditional approaches can lead to overtesting in women without differentiating who is truly at risk.Several unique factors related to the presentation,diagnosis,and underlying pathophysiology of stable ischemic heart disease in women necessitate a more specific approach to the assessment of their risk,complete with separate guidelines when appropriate.This overview highlights how advanced noninvasive imaging tools,including cardiac computed tomography angiography,positron emission tomography,and cardiac magnetic resonance imaging,are enabling very sensitive assessments of anatomic atherosclerotic plaque burden,macrovessel-and microvessel-related ischemia,and myocardial fi brosis,respectively.Moving forward,effective diagnostic testing will need to identify women at high risk of adverse cardiovascular events(not anatomically obstructive CAD per se)without overtesting those at low risk.Judicious application of novel imaging approaches will be critical to broadening the defi nitions of CAD and ischemia to better refl ect the whole spectrum of pathological phenotypes in women,including nonobstructive CAD and coronary microvascular dysfunction,and aid in the development of needed evidence-based strategies for their management.

A New Page for Women's Reproductive Health in Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine

The integrated traditional Chinese and western medicine (ICWM) of obstetrics and gynecology (OBS/GYN) emerged eventually with more than 40 years’ hard struggle, and one of the most promising articles is the integration of the masterpieces of menstrual disorder and infertility in TCM and the virtual explosion of new knowledge and methods in

Determinants of Fertility Desires among HIV Positive Women Living in the Western Highlands Province of Papua New Guinea

The objective of this study was to identify determinants of fertility desires in HIV positive women living in the Western Highlands Province, Papua New Guinea, a male-dominated, patrimonial society. A cross-sectional study was conducted to collect data in February, 2010. Two hundred and ninety one HIV-infected women participated in personal interviews using a structured questionnaire. Sixty-six percent of the respondents were in polygamous relationships. Thirty-four percent of the participants desired a child in the future. Chi-square tests revealed that variables associated with desire for a child were age, marital status, number of children, current co-habitation with a partner, duration of time with a partner, receipt of the bride price, domestic physical violence, sexual activity in the previous three months, partner’s desire for a child, and current contraceptive use. Using multiple logistic regression, a partner’s positive desire for a child was the strongest predictor, with an odds ratio of 13.04 (95% CI = 5.6 -29.91). Fertility desires were largely influenced by dominant culturally sensitive issues and the family-oriented culture. The integration of effective counseling and reproductive healthcare service into HIV clinics is recommended. Holistic, culturally-relevant and family-oriented reproductive health counseling should provide more positive outcomes for both HIV-infected women and their children.

Korean New Women： Korean New Women＇s Fluctuation in International and Korean Contexts

In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, ＂New Woman＂ was an international phenomenon. Although various national contexts contributed many different shades of meaning to the concept of ＂New Woman＂ in each country, New Women across the world shared common ground. In the 1920s, when American New Women experimented with their new identity, New Women in Korea also discovered a new sense of selfhood and confidence to make inroads into public spheres. Under Japan＇s colonial rule （1910-1945）, Korean women, valued as a national hidden reservoir, gained access to education and made attempts to remove traditional constraints. Despite different situations surrounding Korean and American New Women, their recognition, pursuit, and places in history echoed one another＇s. The bold and innovative nature of Korean New Women has attracted much academic as well as public attention. Most of the rich body of scholarship on this topic focuses on famous figures whose flamboyant defiance met a tragic end or on the sacrifices and failures of New Women＇s pursuit in confronting nationalism. The nation is an important and useful framework in history, but additional factors should be considered for a better understanding of New Women. Not only does this paper consider national context, it also pays much needed attention to an international connection in women＇s history.

Postmenopausal women with hyperandrogenemia:Three case reports

BACKGROUND Diagnosing hyperandrogenemia in postmenopausal women is very difficult.It occasionally manifests as excessive hair growth or with no clinical manifestations,and is therefore often misdiagnosed or missed altogether.Ovarian steroid cell tumors that cause hyperandrogenemia in women account for approximately 0.1%of all ovarian tumors.Due to the low incidence,corresponding imaging reports are rare,so ovarian steroid cell tumors lacks typical imaging findings to differ-entiate it from other ovarian tumors.Therefore,we summarized its clinical and imaging characteristics through this case series,and elaborated on the differential diagnosis of steroid cell tumors.CASE SUMMARY We report three cases of postmenopausal women with hyperandrogenemia.Only 1 patient showed virilization symptoms,the other two patients were completely asymptomatic.All patients underwent total hysterectomy+bilateral adnexe-ctomy.Histological results showed one case of Leydig cell tumor and two cases of benign,non-specific steroid cell tumor.After the operation,the androgen levels of all patients returned to normal,and there was no clinical recurrence since follow-up.CONCLUSION Although virilization caused by increased serum testosterone levels is an important clinical feature of ovarian steroid cell tumors,it is often asymptomatic.A solid,slightly hypoechoic,round or oval mass with uniform internal echo,richer blood flow in the solid part,and low resistance index are typical imaging features of ovarian steroid cell tumors.Diagnosis of ovarian steroid cell tumors after menopause is challenging,but surgery can be used for both diagnosis and clear treatment.

The Linguistic Means of Representing Women in the Doukhobor Russian Psalms

This paper analyzes the language employed in the representations of women in Doukhobor Russian ritual texts called ＂ncanMbf＇ （psalms） from the viewpoint of linguistic text analysis performed in the Russian tradition of folklore stylistics. While addressing the representations of Biblical female characters, such as the Holy Virgin Mary Magdalene, the Heavenly Bride, and the Whore of Babylon, along with the portrayals of Doukhobor and other women, the paper identifies stylistic features in their textual descriptions. The study establishes connections between Doukhobor texts and Russian folklore and liturgical tradition. The paper strives to identify the place of Doukhobor psalms as an integral part of the Russian literary and folklore heritage

The Apocalypse of Love--An Analysis of Symbolism in D. H. Lawrence Women in Love

D.H.Lawrence is a great writer and Woman in Love is considered as his masterpiece and one of the undoubted classic ofthe 20tb century. Through his flexible application of symbolism, the novel is presented with fragmentary scenes instead of the usual plots, and a lot of separate and unrelated images are employed to reflect the mental conflicts among the major characters. By analyzing the symbolism in this paper, the author hopes to find the importance of symbolism in strengthening the distinct characteristics, enhancing the development of the plot, and hence the emphasis of the theme of the novel.

The Reasons Why Women Do Not Participate in the Papsmear Screening and Testing Program in Sweden

Cervical cancer is the second most common type of cancer among women worldwide. In Sweden cervical cancer is the fifteenth most common cancer among women and accounts for 1.9 percent of all female cancers. The Swedish Pap smear screening program is enabling early detection of cell changes in order that treatment may be administered to prevent the development of cancerous cells. There are approximately four hundred and fifty cases of cervical cancer detected each year in Sweden and of these cases, approximately seventy five percent occur in women who do not participate in the screening and testing program. The purpose of this study was to illustrate and examine the reasons why women did not participate in the program even though they had received a notice that they had an appointment for a Pap smear test. In the study fourteen women from a district in the west of Sweden were interviewed. In order to analyse the interviews a qualitative content analysis according to Lundman and Graneheim was used. The analysis resulted in the development of three categories which were identified as communication, treatment and subterfuge (reasons or excuses for not participating). The theme of the study was the professional treatment of the women’s conditions. In the interviews the women emphasize the importance of professional treatment that is administered with respectful and sympathetic care throughout the whole healthcare system regardless of where and when the visit was conducted. Efficient organization and clear communication would minimize the inconvenience for the women during their visit.