• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
• /
• v.14 no.3
• /
• pp.2119-2125
• /
• 2013

Background: The aim of the study was to determine risk factors for cervical cancer for women in Izmir. Methods: This cross-sectional, descriptive field covered a population of 4319 women of reproductive age (15-49) (household registration in the Mukhtar's office-2007). A total of 1,637 women were included in the sample given a four-part questionnaire through face-to-face interview by visiting the women in their homes in order to determine socio-demographic factors, obstetric history, genital hygiene and the use of family planning methods. In addition, during the data collection process, the women were given group training in order to raise awareness of cervical cancer. The number and percentage distributions of the data were calculated. Results: While the average age of the women was $31.9{\pm}9.77$ (Min: 15.00-Max: 49.00), education level of 43.4% of them was elementary school only. It was determined that 70.3% of the women experienced at least one pregnancy, 71.0% had vaginal delivery and 75.9% used a contraceptive method. In the study it was determined that among the cervical cancer related risks vaginal delivery, vaginal lavage and having three or more pregnancies had the highest rates, while having sexual intercourse before 16 years of age and having more than one sexual partner constituted lower rates. The rate of the women who stated not having a smear in the last three years was 82.4%. Conclusions: Considering the case in terms of having Pap smear test, women's awareness on the risk factors and early diagnosis of cervical cancer was found to be low. Due to this reason, awareness of women has to be raised through education.

• Women's Health Nursing
• /
• v.2 no.1
• /
• pp.53-67
• /
• 1996

A total health state evaluation of Korean female elderlies was made by using the questionary scheme measuring the physical, mental and social functions of the elderlies, in order to investigate the critical factors for the health maintenance of female elderlies and to develop their preventive nursing program. A total of 280 subjects over 65 years old living in Seoul and the suburban area were selected and interviewed during the period of September and October in 1995. The materials collected were analyzed statistically by using SAS data processing program, and the results and recommendations are summarized as follows. 1. The physical health state of Korean elderly women was evaluated to be satisfactory by showing an average score of 3.722 in 5.0 full-score scale. But this score was lower than those evaluated for the elderlies combined both sexes(4.054). The mental health state of the subjects was also evaluated as high scoring 3.484, possibly due to the fact that 78% of the subjects lived together with their children's family. On the other hand, the social health state of the subjects was relatively low scoring 2.585, mainly due to that 80% of them was widows which was resulted by the 6-7 years longer life-expectancy of Korean women. 2. A significant differences in the physical health state scores between different age groups was observed, indicating the rapid ageing process occurring in this age group. The family structure was appeared to be an important factor influencing the physical health state of the female elderlies ; the physical health score of the women with her husband only was higher than that of those living with children's families, and the lowest score was obtained from those living alone. 3. The age was the most important factor determining the mental health state of the subjects, while the religion, educational status, marriage state and family structure did not significantly influenced the mental health state of the aged women. 4. The social health state of the subject was deeply influenced by the marriage state and family structure, showing significantly lower scores with widowers compared to the married couples. Those living with their married spouse only obtained the highest social health score, while those living along showed the lowest score. The parent and grandparentship of those living with their children and the religion, especially Catholic and Protestant, had positive influence on the social health state of the aged women. 5. The mental health state of aged women showed significant correlation with the factors determining the physical health, except for digestive system related ability and sexual ability and the highest extra home ability. 6. The mental health state of aged women showed significant correlation with the factors determining social health, especially with the parent and grandparentship and the family relative's role. From these results, the following recommendations are made. 1. Since the physical, mental and social health states of aged people are deeply influenced by the sex and the average values of the both sex can create misleading figures, the health evaluation of the elderlies should be made separately by sex. 2. Since the health state of aged women is highly influenced by their family structure, the spouse's role and living with married couple only should be emphasized in respect of preventive health care. 3. The social activity programs and grandparentship teaching programs should be prepared in the nursing care program for aged people.

• Women's Health Nursing
• /
• v.16 no.3
• /
• pp.255-265
• /
• 2010

Purpose: This study's aim was to investigate participation in Pap smear screening among married immigrant women and their behavior and its related factors. Methods: A survey was conducted among 165 married immigrant women in Gyeongsangnam-do from January 1 to March 20, 2010. Results: Results in this study showed that 51.5% have never participated in Pap Smear screening. Among those who have participated in the Pap Smear screening, 10.9% had regular screening, while 37.6% had irregular screening. Pap smear screening behavior was significantly different according to the experiences in health checkup ($x^2$=34.009, p<.001)', whether or not there was a hospital the woman regularly visited ($x^2$=7.768, p=.021) and perceived barriers (F=3.214, p=.043). Conclusion: For improvement of Pap smear participation, this study proposes to develop various nursing intervention programs which can improve perceived barriers in regards to the related variables. In addition, it is necessary to come up with a strategy to advertise the participation in Pap smear screening in a systematic and continuous manner in order to raise womens' awareness and to make married immigrant women realize the importance of regular Pap smear screenings.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
• /
• v.16 no.15
• /
• pp.6303-6309
• /
• 2015

Differences in socioeconomic status (SES) such as income levels may partly explain why breast cancer screening (BCS) disparities exist in countries where health care services are free or heavily subsidized. However, factors that contribute to such differences in SES among women living in well resourced Middle East countries are not fully understood. This quantitative study investigated factors that influence SES and BCS of Arab women. Understanding of such factors can be useful for the development of effective intervention strategies that aim to increase BCS uptake among Arab women. Using data from a cross-sectional survey among 1,063 Arabic-speaking women in Qatar, age 35+, additional data analysis was performed to determine the relationship between socioeconomic indicators such as income and other factors in relation to BCS activities. This study found that income is determined and influenced by education level, occupation, nationality, years of residence in the country, level of social activity, self-perceived health status, and living area. Financial stress, unemployment, and unfavorable social conditions may impede women's participation in BCS activities in well resourced Middle East countries.

• Journal of Families and Better Life
• /
• v.25 no.4
• /
• pp.17-29
• /
• 2007

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of family of origin experiences on self-esteem and marital conflict among married men and women. For this purpose, a survey was conducted using self-administered questionnaires with 311 married men and women. The results of the study were as follows: First, men and women's family of origin experience(family of origin health, parents' marital conflict, triangulation) were correlated with self-esteem and marital conflict. Second, results of multiple regression analyses showed that men and women's self-esteem was most powerful predictors of marital conflict. Finally, men's family of origin experiences(family of origin health, parents' marital conflict, triangulation) had a direct effect on marital conflict, and family of origin health had a indirect effect through men's self-esteem on marital conflict. Women's parents' marital conflict, triangulation had a direct effect on marital conflict, and family of origin health had a indirect effect through women's self-esteem on marital conflict.

• Women's Health Nursing
• /
• v.12 no.1
• /
• pp.29-36
• /
• 2006

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to investigate postmenopausal women's risk factors and subjective symptoms of coronary artery disease, their knowledge about the risk factors and their performance of health behaviors. Method: The subjects were 285 women aged between 50~60 who had naturally reached menopause. We interviewed them using a questionnaire on the subjects' risk factors of coronary artery disease, their knowledge about the risk factors and their performance of preventive health behaviors. Collected data was analyzed through t-test, ANOVA & Duncan test. Results: Risk factors of coronary artery disease observed in the subjects were diabetes (10.9%), hypertension (22.8%) and hyperlipidemia (14.7%). Symptoms of coronary artery disease were experienced more by those who had diabetes, smoked, had a history of coronary artery disease, and thought that they might have coronary artery disease. With regard to the subjects' knowledge about the risk factors of coronary artery disease, the average score was 13.88 out of 20 points. Conclusion: The results of this study suggest that postmenopausal women have several risk factors of coronary arterial disease but they did not have sufficient knowledge about the risk factors and did not manage the factors appropriately.

• Korean Journal of Adult Nursing
• /
• v.21 no.4
• /
• pp.367-378
• /
• 2009

Purpose: The purpose of the study was to understand and describe health-related experience of women with physical disabilities, using feminist qualitative approach. Methods: Eight women with physical disabilities participated to the study. Their mean age was 43, ranging from 39 to 67 years old. The data were collected by individual in-depth interviews and all interviews were audio-taped and transcribed verbatim. The transcribed data were analyzed using traditional qualitative content analysis from a feminist perspective. Results: Six major categories emerged from the data. Category 1: "Isolation and alienation from the world.", Category 2: "A distorted self-image of physically disabled body.", Category 3: "Difficulties due to a fixed gender role.", Category 4: "Constant suffering from chronic pain.", Category 5: "Health problems that they have to endure by themselves.", Category 6: "Sublimation through self-reliance." The results of the study show how Korean women with physical disabilities suffer from social stigma, indifferences, and discriminations and struggle to survive in these unfriendly surroundings. Conclusion: The results of the study would help health professionals in designing effective intervention to improve health and to empower women with physical disabilities by providing deep understanding and critical insights of those women.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
• /
• v.52 no.2
• /
• pp.109-114
• /
• 2019

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to characterize Indonesian women's knowledge of HIV/AIDS and to investigate the effects of socio-demographic characteristics thereupon with the goal of supporting the prevention and early detection of HIV/AIDS. Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted using secondary data from the standard Indonesian Demographic and Health Survey (IDHS) in 2012. A total of 34 984 subjects ranged in age from 15 years to 49 years. Data were analyzed using the chi-square test and logistic regression to identify the effects of socio-demographic characteristics on Indonesian women's knowledge of HIV/AIDS. Results: All socio-demographic characteristics except marital status were related to knowledge of HIV/AIDS among Indonesian women in the univariate analysis (p<0.05). Multivariate analysis revealed that only age group, education level, location of residence, and wealth index were related to Indonesian women's knowledge of HIV/AIDS (p<0.05). Conclusions: Indonesian women's insufficient knowledge related to HIV/AIDS shows that the provision of accurate and comprehensive information related to HIV/AIDS are components of prevention and control interventions that should be improved. With greater knowledge, women are expected to be more likely to determine their own and their partners' human immunodeficiency virus status and to take appropriate preventive steps.

• Research in Community and Public Health Nursing
• /
• v.31 no.4
• /
• pp.405-415
• /
• 2020

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to identify the factors of health beliefs, cultural barriers, and intentions of cervical cancer screening behaviors in married immigrant women and provide information for the development of intervention programs. Methods: The subjects were 207 married immigrant women living D and S cities, and G and Y counties. The data were collected from April to June 2019, using a self-report structured questionnaire that was translated into English, Chinese, Vietnamese, and Korean, and analyzed by the SPSS/WIN 24.0 program. Results: As a result of this study, it was found that the intention of cervical cancer screening for married immigrant women were high when they had a job (β=-.17, p=.014), experience of Pap testing within the past year (β=-.28, p<.001), experience of cervical cancer prevention education (β=-.18, p=.008), and a higher perceived sensitivity (β=.18, p=.016). All of these variables together explained 22% of the intention of cervical cancer screening behaviors in immigrant women married to Korean men. Conclusion: In order to increase the cervical cancer screening behaviors in married immigrant women, intervention strategies to increase perceived susceptibility and decrease cultural barriers for immigrant women should be developed.

• Korean Journal of Health Education and Promotion
• /
• v.26 no.3
• /
• pp.15-23
• /
• 2009

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to investigate self-rated health status and its influencing factors among low-income middle-aged women. Methods: Data on 594 women between the ages of 40 and 59 were collected from November 2007 to January 2008. Structured questionnaires were used to collect data. The following instruments-self efficacy, family support, health promotion behavior- were used in the study after some adaption. Results: The score for the health promotion behavior was 2.94(exercixe), 3.78(nutrition), 3.35(stress), 3.06(Health examination). The score for the self-efficacy was 3.47 and family support was 3.75. In the relationship between demographic and self-rated health status, there were significant differences in job, education level, self efficacy, family support, health promotion behavior. In hierarchy multiple regression analysis, the variables affecting the self-rated health status were job, education, exercise, health examination, family support, self efficacy. Conclusion: Self-efficacy and family support need to be considered in planning health program to improve self-rated health status among middle-aged women.