Why do WIC participants fail to pick up their checks? An urban study in the wake of welfare reform.
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OBJECTIVES: This study explored whether work or immigration concerns affect women's participation in the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC). METHODS: The sample included women who had withdrawn from the WIC program and current WIC clients from 1 center in New York City. Logistic regression analyses were used to predict noncollection of checks; demographic characteristics, program participation, and problems with the WIC program were independent variables. RESULTS: Strong predictors of noncollection of checks were job conflicts, transportation or illness problems, and WIC receipt by the woman herself (rather than by her children). CONCLUSIONS: Employment conflicts were related to failure to pick up WIC checks; immigration concerns were not. As a means of enhancing WIC participation, flexibility is recommended in terms of center hours, locations, and staffing and program check distribution policies. (+info)
Disclosure of HIV infection: how do women decide to tell?
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This descriptive study explores the phenomenon of disclosure of HIV infection by women. Specifically, we examined women's level of disclosure to various groups and how these disclosure decisions are made. The sample consisted of 322 HIV-infected women residing in the southern US. Participants were predominantly African-American, single women of reproductive age with yearly incomes less than $10,000. Data were collected at the first interview of a longitudinal study of reproductive decision making. Findings showed that the majority of the women had disclosed to some sex partners, close family and friends, and health care professionals. However, for a group of women, disclosure of HIV infection is a difficult issue supporting the need for health education and counseling. Qualitative data were analyzed using content analysis and revealed three major categories describing how women make disclosure decisions: full disclosure, criteria for disclosure and emotional disclosure. Quantitative analysis revealed few demographic differences among women in the three disclosure categories. These findings provide insight that can assist those working with HIV-infected women in helping them decide not only to whom they disclose, but how best to disclose. (+info)
Understanding influences on smoking in Bangladeshi and Pakistani adults: community based, qualitative study.
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OBJECTIVE: To gain detailed understanding of influences on smoking behaviour in Bangladeshi and Pakistani communities in the United Kingdom to inform the development of effective and culturally acceptable smoking cessation interventions. DESIGN: Qualitative study using community participatory methods, purposeful sampling, one to one interviews, focus groups, and a grounded approach to data generation and analysis. SETTING: Newcastle upon Tyne, during 2000-2. PARTICIPANTS: 87 men and 54 women aged 18-80 years, smokers and non-smokers, from the Bangladeshi and Pakistani communities. RESULTS: Four dominant, highly inter-related themes had an important influence on smoking attitudes and behaviour: gender, age, religion, and tradition. Smoking was a widely accepted practice in Pakistani, and particularly Bangladeshi, men and was associated with socialising, sharing, and male identity. Among women, smoking was associated with stigma and shame. Smoking in women is often hidden from family members. Peer pressure was an important influence on smoking behaviour in younger people, who tended to hide their smoking from elders. There were varied and conflicting interpretations of how acceptable smoking is within the Muslim religion. Tradition, culture, and the family played an important role in nurturing and cultivating norms and values around smoking. CONCLUSION: Although there are some culturally specific contexts for smoking behaviour in Bangladeshi and Pakistani adults-notably the influence of gender and religion-there are also strong similarities with white people, particularly among younger adults. Themes identified should help to inform the development and appropriate targeting of smoking cessation interventions. (+info)
Womens' opinions on antenatal care in developing countries: results of a study in Cuba, Thailand, Saudi Arabia and Argentina.
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BACKGROUND: The results of a qualitative study carried out in four developing countries (Cuba, Thailand, Saudi Arabia and Argentina) are presented. The study was conducted in the context of a randomised controlled trial to test the benefits of a new antenatal care protocol that reduced the number of visits to the doctor, rationalised the application of technology, and improved the provision of information to women in relation to the traditional protocol applied in each country. METHODS: Through focus groups discussions we were able to assess the concepts and expectations underlying women's evaluation of concepts and experiences of the care received in antenatal care clinics. 164 women participated in 24 focus groups discussion in all countries. RESULTS: Three areas are particularly addressed in this paper: a) concepts about pregnancy and health care, b) experience with health services and health providers, and c) opinions about the modified Antenatal Care (ANC) programme. In all three topics similarities were identified as well as particular opinions related to country specific social and cultural values. In general women have a positive view of the new ANC protocol, particularly regarding the information they receive. However, controversial issues emerged such as the reduction in the number of visits, particularly in Cuba where women are used to have 18 ANC visits in one pregnancy period. CONCLUSION: Recommendations to improve ANC services performance are being proposed. Any country interested in the application of a new ANC protocol should regard the opinion and acceptability of women towards changes. (+info)
Isolated case of bioterrorism-related inhalational anthrax, New York City, 2001.
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On October 31, 2001, in New York City, a 61-year-old female hospital employee who had acquired inhalational anthrax died after a 6-day illness. To determine sources of exposure and identify additional persons at risk, the New York City Department of Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and law enforcement authorities conducted an extensive investigation, which included interviewing contacts, examining personal effects, summarizing patient's use of mass transit, conducting active case finding and surveillance near her residence and at her workplace, and collecting samples from co-workers and the environment. We cultured all specimens for Bacillus anthracis. We found no additional cases of cutaneous or inhalational anthrax. The route of exposure remains unknown. All environmental samples were negative for B. anthracis. This first case of inhalational anthrax during the 2001 outbreak with no apparent direct link to contaminated mail emphasizes the need for close coordination between public health and law enforcement agencies during bioterrorism-related investigations. (+info)
Knowledge and attitudes of economically disadvantaged women regarding exposure to environmental tobacco smoke: a Michigan, USA study.
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BACKGROUND: Exposure to environmental tobacco smoke (ETS) is a global public health problem which is particularly acute in groups where smoking rates are higher than in the general population. A study was undertaken to investigate knowledge, attitudes and preventive efforts with regard to exposure to ETS in a sample of economically disadvantaged women residing in Michigan, USA. METHODS: Analysis-of-variance techniques were used to investigate how knowledge, attitudes and preventive efforts regarding exposure to ETS relate to demographic variables such as smoking status, ethnicity, education, employment, and income; and analysis-of-covariance techniques were applied to determine the degree to which knowledge, attitudes, age, smoking status, ethnicity, education, employment, income and home environment predict these women's preventive efforts regarding exposure to ETS. RESULTS: Generally, women with no high school diploma and women who were smokers were less knowledgeable about the adverse health effects of exposure to ETS, had worse attitudes concerning exposure to ETS and were less likely to take preventive steps to limit their exposure to ETS than were women who had more formal education or who were nonsmokers, respectively. The primary predictors of preventive efforts were knowledge, attitudes and smoking status. CONCLUSIONS: The results suggest that educational efforts focusing on increasing knowledge and improving attitudes regarding exposure to ETS, as well as providing practical strategies for limiting exposure to ETS, should be developed and delivered to at-risk populations. (+info)
A case-control study of female-to-female nonintimate violence in an urban area.
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OBJECTIVES: The aims of this study were to describe the characteristics surrounding female-to-female nonpartner violence and to identify independent factors associated with risk of female-to-female intentional injuries. METHODS: A case-control investigation was conducted among women who resided in an urban, low-income community and presented for emergency department care for injuries inflicted by female nonpartners. RESULTS: Women were typically victimized by women they knew (88%), in outdoor locations (60%), and in the presence of others (91%). Those found to be at risk for injury typically were young and socially active, used marijuana, and had experienced other kinds of violence. CONCLUSIONS: The present results showed that women injured by female nonpartners had limited resources, experienced disorder in their lives, and were the victims of violence within multiple relationships. (+info)
Overrepresentation of women veterans among homeless women.
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OBJECTIVES: This study estimated the proportion of veterans among homeless women and their risk of homelessness relative to that of nonveterans. METHODS: Data came from 2 surveys of homeless women (1 clinical and 1 nonclinical) and 1 survey of domiciled women. RESULTS: The proportion of veterans (4.4%, 3.1%) among homeless women was greater than the proportion among domiciled women (1.3%, 1.2%). When we computed odds ratios for being a veteran among homeless women compared with nonhomeless women, homeless women were significantly more likely than nonhomeless women to be veterans. CONCLUSIONS: Women veterans are at greater risk for homelessness than are nonveterans. Further study is needed to determine whether increased risks for veterans are a product of military service or reflect volunteers' self-selection into the armed forces. (+info)