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Homan P. Health consequences of structural sexism: Conceptual foundations, empirical evidence and priorities for future research. Soc Sci Med 2024; 351 Suppl 1:116379. [PMID: 38825372 PMCID: PMC11149901 DOI: 10.1016/j.socscimed.2023.116379] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/03/2023] [Revised: 10/18/2023] [Accepted: 10/26/2023] [Indexed: 06/04/2024]
Abstract
A nascent body of work has begun exploring the health consequences of structural sexism. This article provides an overview of the concept of structural sexism and an elaboration of the potential pathways connecting it to health. Next, it reviews existing measurement approaches and the current state of empirical evidence on the relationship between structural sexism and health in the United States. Finally, it highlights key priorities for future research, which include: expanding and refining measures, increasing public data availability, broadening the scope of inquiry to include a wider range of outcomes, exploring mechanisms, incorporating intersectionality, and applying a life course lens.
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Affiliation(s)
- Patricia Homan
- Florida State University, 636 West Call Street, Tallahassee, FL, 32306-1121, USA.
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Schilling LM, Fraumeni BR, Nacht AS, Abraham AG, Bauguess HD, Matesi G, Fringuello ME, Rashidyan L, Billups SJ. Improving Maternal Health Care Quality and Outcomes: Evaluation of a Pregnancy Medical Home. Am J Med Qual 2024; 39:123-130. [PMID: 38713600 DOI: 10.1097/jmq.0000000000000183] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/09/2024]
Abstract
Current maternal care recommendations in the United States focus on monitoring fetal development, management of pregnancy complications, and screening for behavioral health concerns. Often missing from these recommendations is support for patients experiencing socioeconomic or behavioral health challenges during pregnancy. A Pregnancy Medical Home (PMH) is a multidisciplinary maternal health care team with nurse navigators serving as patient advocates to improve the quality of care a patient receives and health outcomes for both mother and infant. Using bivariate comparisons between PMH patients and reference groups, as well as interviews with project team members and PMH graduates, this evaluation assessed the impact of a PMH at an academic medical university on patient care and birth outcomes. This PMH increased depression screenings during pregnancy and increased referrals to behavioral health care. This evaluation did not find improvements in maternal or infant birth outcomes. Interviews found notable successes and areas for program enhancement.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lisa M Schilling
- Department of General Internal Medicine, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, CO
| | - Brittney R Fraumeni
- Department of General Internal Medicine, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, CO
| | - Amy S Nacht
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, CO
| | - Alison G Abraham
- Department of Epidemiology, University of Colorado School of Public Health, Aurora, CO
| | - Hannah D Bauguess
- Department of General Internal Medicine, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, CO
| | - Gregory Matesi
- Department of General Internal Medicine, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, CO
| | - Melanie E Fringuello
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, CO
| | - Leah Rashidyan
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, CO
| | - Sarah J Billups
- Department of Clinical Pharmacy, University of Colorado School of Pharmacy, Aurora, CO
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Pablo MC, Ildefonso HA, Elisa CR. Respectful maternity care interventions to address women mistreatment in childbirth: What has been done? BMC Pregnancy Childbirth 2024; 24:322. [PMID: 38671343 PMCID: PMC11046783 DOI: 10.1186/s12884-024-06524-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/06/2023] [Accepted: 04/16/2024] [Indexed: 04/28/2024] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Over the last decade, there has been an increasing number of studies regarding experiences of mistreatment, disrespect and abuse (D&A) during facility-based childbirth. These negative experiences during labour have been proven to create a barrier for seeking both facility-based childbirth and postnatal health care, as well as increasing severe postpartum depression among the women who experienced them. This constitutes a serious violation of human rights. However, few studies have carried out specifically designed interventions to reduce these practices. The aim of this scoping review is to synthetise available evidence on this subject, and to identify initiatives that have succeeded in reducing the mistreatment, D&A that women suffer during childbirth in health facilities. METHODS A PubMed search of the published literature was conducted, and all original studies evaluating the efficacy of any type of intervention specifically designed to reduce these negative experiences and promote RMC were selected. RESULTS Ten articles were included in this review. Eight studies were conducted in Africa, one in Mexico, and the other in the U.S. Five carried out a before-and-after study, three used mixed-methods, one was a comparative study between birth centres, and another was a quasi-experimental study. The most common feature was the inclusion of some sort of RMC training for providers at the intervention centre, which led to the conclusion that this training resulted in an improvement in the care received by the women in childbirth. Other strategies explored by a small number of articles were open maternity days, clinical checklists, wall posters and constant user feedback. DISCUSSION These results indicate that there are promising interventions to reduce D&A and promote RMC for women during childbirth in health facilities. RMC training for providers stands as the most proven strategy, and the results suggest that it improves the experiences of care received by women in labour. CONCLUSION The specific types of training and the different initiatives that complement them should be evaluated through further scientific research, and health institutions should implement RMC interventions that apply these strategies to ensure human rights-based maternity care for women giving birth in health facilities around the world.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mira-Catalá Pablo
- Public Health Department, Miguel Hernández University, 03550, Alicante, Spain.
| | - Hernández-Aguado Ildefonso
- Public Health Department, Miguel Hernández University, 03550, Alicante, Spain
- CIBER de Epidemiología y Salud Pública (CIBERESP), 28029, Madrid, Spain
| | - Chilet-Rosell Elisa
- Public Health Department, Miguel Hernández University, 03550, Alicante, Spain
- CIBER de Epidemiología y Salud Pública (CIBERESP), 28029, Madrid, Spain
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Dore EC, Shrivastava S, Homan P. Structural Sexism and Preventive Health Care Use in the United States. JOURNAL OF HEALTH AND SOCIAL BEHAVIOR 2024; 65:2-19. [PMID: 37675877 PMCID: PMC10918039 DOI: 10.1177/00221465231194043] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 09/08/2023]
Abstract
Preventive health care use can reduce the risk of disease, disability, and death. Thus, it is critical to understand factors that shape preventive care use. A growing body of research identifies structural sexism as a driver of population health, but it remains unknown if structural sexism is linked to preventive care use and, if so, whether the relationship differs for women and men. Gender performance and gendered power and resource allocation perspectives lead to competing hypotheses regarding these questions. This study explores the relationship between structural sexism and preventive care in gender-stratified, multilevel models that combine data from the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System with state-level data (N = 425,454). We find that in states with more structural sexism, both men and women were less likely to seek preventive care. These findings support the gender performance hypothesis for men and the gendered power and resource allocation hypothesis for men and women.
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Balistreri KS. Structural Sexism and Breastfeeding in the United States, 2016-2021. Matern Child Health J 2024; 28:431-437. [PMID: 38379060 DOI: 10.1007/s10995-023-03895-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 12/20/2023] [Indexed: 02/22/2024]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Recent studies demonstrate that structural sexism erodes women's health and impedes access to healthcare. This study extends this research to examine the relationship between structural sexism and breastfeeding initiation and duration in the United States. METHOD A multifaceted state-level structural sexism index was constructed and merged with responses from the 2016-2021 National Survey of Children's Health by state and child's birth year. For children ages six months to 5 years, the prevalence of being ever breastfed and breastfed for at least six months was measured across levels of structural sexism. Multivariable logistic regression analyzed the association of structural sexism with breastfeeding outcomes, net of individual and family characteristics. RESULTS Higher levels of structural sexism were associated with lower odds of breastfeeding initiation and lower odds of breastfeeding for at least six months net of family and child characteristics. In addition, sensitivity analyses show that variations in state breastfeeding laws did not explain these differences. DISCUSSION This study highlights structural sexism's role in limiting breastfeeding initiation and duration. Breastfeeding promotions and guidelines should consider the broader context of structural sexism.
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Garcia LM. Obstetric violence in the United States and other high-income countries: an integrative review. Sex Reprod Health Matters 2023; 31:2322194. [PMID: 38590127 PMCID: PMC11005882 DOI: 10.1080/26410397.2024.2322194] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/10/2024] Open
Abstract
Obstetric violence has been documented throughout the world, yet this human rights issue has mostly been investigated in middle- and low-income countries where the intensity and brutality of abuse and mistreatment is more easily recognised as problematic. This integrative review aimed to analyse sources about obstetric violence in high-income countries with the objective of identifying gaps in the research, challenges to the study of obstetric violence, and solutions to framing research that meets those challenges. A systematic search was conducted using the PubMed and CINAHL databases from February to June 2022. Empirical and non-empirical sources, published in English, with no date restrictions, were retrieved. Citation searching was also done. Forty-six sources were included. Identified gaps in the research were: (a) scarce attention to obstetric violence in most high-income countries; (b) most US sources are non-scientific and from outside the healthcare disciplines; (c) inconsistencies in terminology; (d) most studies were conducted with samples of women who had given birth, with scant research about healthcare providers and obstetric violence, and (e) the association between obstetric violence and traumatic birth was under-recognised. Identified challenges to the study of obstetric violence were: (1) factors that enable and perpetuate obstetric violence are multilevel and nonlinear; (2) the phenomenon is contextually complex; and (3) blind spots from routinised harmful practices and normalised mistreatment can prevent healthcare providers and birthing people from recognising obstetric violence. A systems approach and complexity theory are guiding frameworks recommended as solutions to the challenges of studying and correcting obstetric violence.
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Batram-Zantvoort S, Wandschneider L, Razum O, Miani C. A critical review: developing a birth integrity framework for epidemiological studies through meta-ethnography. BMC Womens Health 2023; 23:530. [PMID: 37817176 PMCID: PMC10565979 DOI: 10.1186/s12905-023-02670-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/17/2022] [Accepted: 09/21/2023] [Indexed: 10/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Over the past decade, there has been growing evidence that women worldwide experience sub-standard care during facility-based childbirth. With this critical review, we synthesize concepts and measurement approaches used to assess maternity care conditions and provision, birth experiences and perceptions in epidemiological, quantitative research studies (e.g., obstetric violence, maternal satisfaction, disrespect or mistreatment during childbirth, person-centered care), aiming to propose an umbrella concept and framework under which the existing and future research strands can be situated. On the 82 studies included, we conduct a meta-ethnography (ME) using reciprocal translation, in-line argumentation, and higher-level synthesis to propose the birth integrity multilevel framework. We perform ME steps for the conceptual level and the measurement level. At the conceptual level, we organize the studies according to the similarity of approaches into clusters and derive key concepts (definitions). Then, we 'translate' the clusters into one another by elaborating each approach's specific angle and pointing out the affinities and differences between the clusters. Finally, we present an in-line argumentation that prepares ground for the synthesis. At the measurement level, we identify themes from items through content analysis, then organize themes into 14 categories and subthemes. Finally, we synthesize our result to the six-field, macro-to-micro level birth integrity framework that helps to analytically distinguish between the interwoven contributing factors that influence the birth situation as such and the integrity of those giving birth. The framework can guide survey development, interviews, or interventional studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stephanie Batram-Zantvoort
- Department of Epidemiology and International Public Health, School of Public Health, Bielefeld University, Bielefeld, Germany.
| | - Lisa Wandschneider
- Department of Epidemiology and International Public Health, School of Public Health, Bielefeld University, Bielefeld, Germany
| | - Oliver Razum
- Department of Epidemiology and International Public Health, School of Public Health, Bielefeld University, Bielefeld, Germany
| | - Céline Miani
- Department of Epidemiology and International Public Health, School of Public Health, Bielefeld University, Bielefeld, Germany
- Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights Research Unit, Institut National d'Études Démographiques (Ined), Aubervilliers, France
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BROWN TYSONH, HOMAN PATRICIA. The Future of Social Determinants of Health: Looking Upstream to Structural Drivers. Milbank Q 2023; 101:36-60. [PMID: 37096627 PMCID: PMC10126983 DOI: 10.1111/1468-0009.12641] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/06/2022] [Revised: 10/15/2022] [Accepted: 01/06/2023] [Indexed: 04/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Policy Points Policies that redress oppressive social, economic, and political conditions are essential for improving population health and achieving health equity. Efforts to remedy structural oppression and its deleterious effects should account for its multilevel, multifaceted, interconnected, systemic, and intersectional nature. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services should facilitate the creation and maintenance of a national publicly available, user-friendly data infrastructure on contextual measures of structural oppression. Publicly funded research on social determinants of health should be mandated to (a) analyze health inequities in relation to relevant data on structural conditions and (b) deposit the data in the publicly available data repository.
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Liu SY. Increased female political representation associated with lower county-level uninsured and preventable hospitalizations rates in the United States, 2013-2018. Public Health 2023; 216:7-12. [PMID: 36736102 DOI: 10.1016/j.puhe.2022.12.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/02/2021] [Revised: 12/02/2022] [Accepted: 12/17/2022] [Indexed: 02/04/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Although women comprise 50% of the population, females remain underrepresented in government. Inequitable female political representation, a form of structural sexism, may impact population health. Previous studies focused primarily on individual health behaviors and low- or middle-income countries. To date, no study has examined the association between female political representation and healthcare access and utilization, immediately policy-amenable outcomes, in the United States. STUDY DESIGN This was a repeated cross-sectional study. METHODS This study uses 2013-2018 county-level data from the County Rankings. I performed multilevel analyses to determine the relationships between state-level female representation (% female state legislators) and two outcomes-the percentage of county-level population under age 65 years without health insurance (primary outcome) and the county-level preventable hospitalization rates (secondary outcome of interest). Potential confounders included county-level and state-level characteristics such as the unemployment rate. I also examined whether associations differed by political party control of the state legislature. RESULTS In the fully adjusted model, one standard deviation difference in female political representation was associated with a decrease of 0.22 percentage points in county-level uninsured (95% confidence interval = -0.32, -0.12). The association between female political representation and preventable hospitalization rate differed according to state political party in control, with a decrease found only among counties in democratic/split controlled states (-80.51, 95% confidence interval = -149.65, -11.38). CONCLUSIONS The results suggest that policy intervention addressing the underrepresentation of women in government may help increase the proportion of uninsured and, under certain circumstances, decrease county-level unnecessary hospitalizations. However, further research is needed to better understand the role of political party control in modifying noted associations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sze Yan Liu
- Montclair State University, Department of Public Health, New Jersey, USA.
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Miani C, Wandschneider L, Batram-Zantvoort S, Covi B, Elden H, Nedberg IH, Drglin Z, Pumpure E, Costa R, Rozée V, Otelea MR, Drandić D, Radetic J, Abderhalden-Zellweger A, Ćerimagić A, Arendt M, Mariani I, Linden K, Ponikvar BM, Jakovicka D, Dias H, Ruzicic J, de Labrusse C, Valente EP, Zaigham M, Bohinec A, Rezeberga D, Barata C, Pfund A, Sacks E, Lazzerini M, Drandić Roda D, Kurbanović M, Virginie R, de La Rochebrochard E, Löfgren K, Miani C, Batram‐Zantvoort S, Wandschneider L, Lazzerini M, Valente EP, Covi B, Mariani I, Morano S, Chertok I, Hefer E, Artzi‐Medvedik R, Pumpure E, Rezeberga D, Jansone‐Šantare G, Jakovicka D, Knoka AR, Vilcāne KP, Liepinaitienė A, Kondrakova A, Mizgaitienė M, Juciūtė S, Arendt M, Tasch B, Nedberg IH, Kongslien S, Vik ES, Baranowska B, Tataj‐Puzyna U, Węgrzynowska M, Costa R, Barata C, Santos T, Rodrigues C, Dias H, Otelea MR, Radetić J, Ružičić J, Drglin Z, Ponikvar BM, Bohinec A, Brigidi S, Castañeda LM, Elden H, Sengpiel V, Linden K, Zaigham M, De Labrusse C, Abderhalden A, Pfund A, Thorn H, Grylka S, Gemperle M, Mueller A. Individual and country-level variables associated with the medicalization of birth: Multilevel analyses of IMAgiNE EURO data from 15 countries in the WHO European region. Int J Gynaecol Obstet 2022; 159 Suppl 1:9-21. [PMID: 36530006 DOI: 10.1002/ijgo.14459] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To investigate potential associations between individual and country-level factors and medicalization of birth in 15 European countries during the COVID-19 pandemic. METHODS Online anonymous survey of women who gave birth in 2020-2021. Multivariable multilevel logistic regression models estimating associations between indicators of medicalization (cesarean, instrumental vaginal birth [IVB], episiotomy, fundal pressure) and proxy variables related to care culture and contextual factors at the individual and country level. RESULTS Among 27 173 women, 24.4% (n = 6650) had a cesarean and 8.8% (n = 2380) an IVB. Among women with IVB, 41.9% (n = 998) reported receiving fundal pressure. Among women with spontaneous vaginal births, 22.3% (n = 4048) had an episiotomy. Less respectful care, as perceived by the women, was associated with higher levels of medicalization. For example, women who reported having a cesarean, IVB, or episiotomy reported not feeling treated with dignity more frequently than women who did not have those interventions (odds ratio [OR] 1.37; OR 1.61; OR 1.51, respectively; all: P < 0.001). Country-level variables contributed to explaining some of the variance between countries. CONCLUSION We recommend a greater emphasis in health policies on promotion of respectful and patient-centered care approaches to birth to enhance women's experiences of care, and the development of a European-level indicator to monitor medicalization of reproductive care.
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Affiliation(s)
- Céline Miani
- Department of Epidemiology and International Public Health, School of Public Health, Bielefeld University, Bielefeld, Germany.,Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights Research Unit, Institut National d'Études Démographiques (INED), Aubervilliers, France
| | - Lisa Wandschneider
- Department of Epidemiology and International Public Health, School of Public Health, Bielefeld University, Bielefeld, Germany
| | - Stephanie Batram-Zantvoort
- Department of Epidemiology and International Public Health, School of Public Health, Bielefeld University, Bielefeld, Germany
| | - Benedetta Covi
- WHO Collaborating Centre for Maternal and Child Health, Institute for Maternal and Child Health IRCCS "Burlo Garofolo", Trieste, Italy
| | - Helen Elden
- Institute of Health and Care Sciences, The Sahlgrenska Academy at University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden.,Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Region Västra Götaland, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Ingvild Hersoug Nedberg
- Department of Health and Care Sciences, Faculty of Health Sciences, UiT The Arctic University of Norway, Tromsø, Norway
| | - Zalka Drglin
- National Institute of Public Health, Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Elizabete Pumpure
- Riga Maternity Hospital, Riga, Latvia.,Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Riga Stradins University, Riga, Latvia
| | - Raquel Costa
- Epidemiology Research Unit (EPIUnit), Institute of Public Health, University of Porto, Porto, Portugal.,Laboratory for Integrative and Translational Research in Population Health (ITR), Porto, Portugal.,Lusófona University/HEI-Lab: Digital Human-Environment Interaction Labs, Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Virginie Rozée
- Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights Research Unit, Institut National d'Études Démographiques (INED), Aubervilliers, France
| | - Marina Ruxandra Otelea
- University of Medicine and Pharmacy Carol Davila, Bucharest, Romania.,SAMAS Association, Bucharest, Romania
| | | | | | - Alessia Abderhalden-Zellweger
- School of Health Sciences (HESAV), HES-SO University of Applied Sciences and Arts Western Switzerland, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | | | - Maryse Arendt
- Beruffsverband vun de Laktatiounsberoderinnen zu Lëtzebuerg asbl (Professional association of the Lactation Consultants in Luxembourg), Luxembourg, Luxembourg
| | - Ilaria Mariani
- WHO Collaborating Centre for Maternal and Child Health, Institute for Maternal and Child Health IRCCS "Burlo Garofolo", Trieste, Italy
| | - Karolina Linden
- Institute of Health and Care Sciences, The Sahlgrenska Academy at University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | | | | | - Heloisa Dias
- Administração Regional de Saúde do Algarve, Algarve, Portugal
| | | | - Claire de Labrusse
- School of Health Sciences (HESAV), HES-SO University of Applied Sciences and Arts Western Switzerland, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Emanuelle Pessa Valente
- WHO Collaborating Centre for Maternal and Child Health, Institute for Maternal and Child Health IRCCS "Burlo Garofolo", Trieste, Italy
| | - Mehreen Zaigham
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Institution of Clinical Sciences Lund, Lund University, Lund, Sweden.,Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Skåne University Hospital, Malmö and Lund, Sweden
| | - Anja Bohinec
- National Institute of Public Health, Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Dace Rezeberga
- Riga Maternity Hospital, Riga, Latvia.,Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Riga Stradins University, Riga, Latvia
| | - Catarina Barata
- Instituto de Ciências Sociais, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Anouk Pfund
- School of Health Sciences (HESAV), HES-SO University of Applied Sciences and Arts Western Switzerland, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Emma Sacks
- Department of International Health, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Marzia Lazzerini
- WHO Collaborating Centre for Maternal and Child Health, Institute for Maternal and Child Health IRCCS "Burlo Garofolo", Trieste, Italy
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Abstract
OBJECTIVES We introduce a "childbearing biography" approach to show how multiple childbearing characteristics cluster in ways significant for midlife health. METHODS We analyze the National Longitudinal Survey of Youth 1979 (NLSY79; N = 3992) using mixed-mode Latent Class Analysis with eight childbearing variables (e.g., age at first birth, parity, birth spacing, and mistimed births) to identify how childbearing biographies are associated with midlife health, adjusting for key covariates-including socioeconomic status (SES) and relationship history. RESULTS We identify six childbearing biographies: (1) early compressed, (2) staggered, (3) extended high parity, (4) later, (5) married planned, and (6) childfree. Childbearing biographies are strongly associated with physical health but not mental health, with differences primarily explained by SES. DISCUSSION Different childbearing biographies are related to physical health inequalities above what is demonstrated by the typical use of one or two childbearing measures, providing a new perspective into the growing health gap among aging midlife women.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mieke Beth Thomeer
- Department of Sociology, 200297The University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, USA
| | - Rin Reczek
- Department of Sociology, 2647The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA
| | - Clifford Ross
- Department of Sociology, 200297The University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, USA
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