| 1. |
|
|
| 2. |
- Ekstrand Ragnar, Maria, et al.
(författare)
-
Important but far away : adolescents' beliefs, awareness and experiences of fertility and preconception health
- 2018
-
Ingår i: European journal of contraception & reproductive health care. - : TAYLOR & FRANCIS LTD. - 1362-5187 .- 1473-0782. ; 23:4, s. 265-273
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Objectives: The aim was to explore adolescents' beliefs and awareness regarding fertility and preconception health, as well as their views and experiences of information about fertility and preconception health directed at their age group. Methods: We performed seven semi-structured focus group interviews among upper secondary school students (n = 47) aged 16-18 years in two Swedish counties. Data were analysed by qualitative content analysis. Results: One theme ('important but far away') and five categories ('starting a family far down on the list'; 'high awareness but patchy knowledge of fertility and preconception health'; 'gender roles influence beliefs about fertility and preconception health'; 'wish to preserve fertility and preconception health in order to keep the door to procreation open'; 'no panacea - early and continuous education about fertility and preconception health') emerged from the interviews. Participants recognised the importance of preconception health and were highly aware of the overall importance of a healthy lifestyle. Their knowledge, however, was patchy and they had difficulties relating to fertility and preconception health on a personal and behavioural level. Participants wanted more information but had heterogeneous beliefs about when, where and how this information should be given. Conclusion: The adolescents wanted information on fertility and preconception health to be delivered repeatedly as well as through different sources.
|
|
| 3. |
- Niemeyer Hultstrand, Jenny, et al.
(författare)
-
Foreign-born women’s lifestyle and health before and during early pregnancy in Sweden
- 2020
-
Ingår i: European journal of contraception & reproductive health care. - : Informa UK Limited. - 1362-5187 .- 1473-0782. ; 25:1, s. 20-27
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Objectives: The aims of the study were to investigate foreign-born women’s lifestyle and health before and during early pregnancy and compare them with those of Nordic-born women.Methods: Women recruited at antenatal clinics in Sweden answered a questionnaire in Swedish, English or Arabic or by telephone interview with an interpreter. Questions covered pregnancy planning and periconceptional lifestyle and health. The responses of women born in or outside Europe were compared with those of Nordic-born women. The impact of religiousness and integration on periconceptional lifestyle and health was also investigated.Results: Twelve percent of participants (N = 3389) were foreign-born (n = 414). Compared with Nordic women, European and non-European women consumed less alcohol before conception (respectively, adjusted odds ratio [aOR] 0.38; 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.24, 0.58 and aOR 0.14; 95% CI 0.10, 0.19) and during early pregnancy (respectively, aOR 0.61; 95% CI 0.40, 0.91 and aOR 0.20; 95% CI 0.14, 0.29). Non-European women used less tobacco and were less physically active, but body mass index (BMI) did not differ between groups. Self-perceived health, stress and anxiety during early pregnancy did not differ, but non-European women more often had depressive symptoms (aOR 1.67; 95% CI 1.12, 2.51). Non-European women’s healthy lifestyle was associated with religiousness but not with the level of integration.Conclusions: Non-European women were overall less likely to engage in harmful lifestyle habits before and during early pregnancy but were more likely to suffer from depressive symptoms in comparison with Nordic women.
|
|
| 4. |
|
|
| 5. |
|
|
| 6. |
- Ekstrand Ragnar, Maria, et al.
(författare)
-
Development of an evidence-based website on Preconception health
- 2018
-
Ingår i: Upsala Journal of Medical Sciences. - : TAYLOR & FRANCIS LTD. - 0300-9734 .- 2000-1967. ; 123:2, s. 116-122
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Introduction: Many women and men lack knowledge about fertility, including timing of the fertile window, age-related decline, and lifestyle factors that may impair fertility. The Internet has become an important source of information, but evidence-based information on fertility and reproduction in Swedish on the Internet is limited. The present study aimed to develop and evaluate an evidence-based fertility awareness website, 'reproduktivlivsplan.se', to increase awareness of fertility and provide guidance for improved preconception health and care among individuals and healthcare providers. Methods: The website's content, design, and layout were evaluated qualitatively among a total of 20 nursing students. An expert group of researchers also provided feedback on the content. Finally, healthcare providers (n = 24) answered a questionnaire covering attitudes and views on the Reproductive Life Plan website as a tool for counselling. Results: The developing process resulted in a mobile-friendly website, 'reproduktivlivsplan.se' (in English: Reproductive Life Plan). The website, including the content and layout, was positively evaluated by most participants and was amended according to suggested improvements. Uppsala University was found to be a trustworthy source. Conclusion: The evidence-based website 'reproduktivlivsplan.se' was well received among users and healthcare providers and may provide guidance for improved preconception health and care if it becomes well known and frequently used.
|
|
| 7. |
- Håkansson, Dubravka I. G., et al.
(författare)
-
Navigating the Minefield : Women's Experiences of Abortion in a Country with a Conscience Clause—The Case of Croatia
- 2021
-
Ingår i: Journal of International Women's Studies. - : Bridgewater State College. - 1539-8706. ; :1, s. 166-180
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Many countries around the world have a conscience clause allowing physicians and health care providers to opt-out of performing abortions. This practice of conscientious objection to abortion care affects both healthcare providers and women's access to abortion care. In Croatia, a conscience clause was introduced in 2003. Nonetheless, women's experiences of abortion after the introduction have not been previously studied. The aim of our study was to explore women's experiences of abortion and conscientious objection in a country with a conscience clause. The study has a qualitative inductive and explorative design. We interviewed seven (7) women in Croatia with experience of an unwanted pregnancy or abortion and analyzed the interviews using thematic content analysis. Our findings revealed one overarching theme: ‘Navigating the minefield—women's experiences of abortion in a country with a conscience clause’ and three categories: ‘Experiencing abortion—to endure a vulnerable situation,’ ‘The conscientious objection in practice—causing obstacles and stigma,’ and ‘Views on abortion—socio-cultural and religious influence’. The women perceived the abortion decision as being difficult and expressed feelings of shame, guilt, and fears of being judged in line with the general attitude toward abortion in society. They described the conscientious objection as having consequences in public healthcare by limiting their access to abortion care and affecting treatment in terms of i.e. derogatory comments, limited or lacking information about the abortion procedure and/or absent contraceptive counseling post abortion. According to the women, a shift towards more conservative ideas towards abortion seem to have taken place in the Croatian society. The conscientious objection was believed to reinforce a moralizing view of sexuality, where the women’s decisions regarding abortion became a collective concern causing stigma and involuntary social alienation. The conscientious clause made the women feel they had to navigate a ‘minefield,’ where their dependency situation and vulnerability in the abortion situation were reinforced by social stigma.
|
|
| 8. |
- Kolak, Mia, et al.
(författare)
-
Immigrant men 's perceptions and experiences of accompanying their partner for contraceptive counselling provided by midwives in Sweden : a qualitative study
- 2024
-
Ingår i: PLOS ONE. - : Public Library of Science (PLoS). - 1932-6203. ; 19:1
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- BackgroundMale involvement in maternal health care has proven to be beneficial for improving maternal and child health and is often crucial in areas of family planning and contraceptive use. However, compared to male involvement in maternal health care, male involvement in contraceptive counselling is complex and controversial and thus faces certain challenges. Immigrant men in Sweden are often accompanying their partner for contraceptive counselling. Little is known about their presence and role.AimTo explore how immigrant men from the Middle East and Afghanistan perceive and experience accompanying their partner for contraceptive counselling provided by midwives in Sweden.MethodsInductive qualitative content analysis guided the interpretation of data based on 21 individual in-depth interviews.FindingsBalancing conflicting values and norms about sexual and reproductive health and rights including family planning was challenging and confusing when living in Sweden. Contraceptive counselling was perceived as a joint visit, and men were often acting as decision makers. The midwife's role as a contraceptive counsellor was perceived as trusted, but knowledge was lacking about the Swedish midwifery model and the Swedish healthcare system. Providers' ways of communicating sensitive information were crucial. Without marriage contraceptive counselling was unthinkable.ConclusionHighlighting male engagement and including men's sexual and reproductive health at policy levels are necessary for improving women's sexual and reproductive health and rights. Additional and new ways of contraceptive counselling and midwifery services, such as outreach work and joint visits, are needed in order to reach both men and women.
|
|
| 9. |
- Makenzius, Marlene, et al.
(författare)
-
Women's decision-making related to induced abortion : a cross sectional study during a period of Covid-19 pandemic, in Sweden.
- 2023
-
Ingår i: European journal of contraception & reproductive health care. - : Taylor & Francis Group. - 1362-5187 .- 1473-0782. ; 28:1, s. 44-50
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- OBJECTIVES: To investigate women's decision-making on induced abortion.MATERIALS AND METHODS: A multi-centre cross-sectional survey among 623 abortion-seeking women in Sweden (2021). The perceived difficulty to decide on abortion was measured using a 7-point Likert scale, and analysed with univariate and multivariate analysis (odds ratios [OR], 95% confidence intervals [CI]).RESULTS: About half (n = 322;52%) scored 1-4, suggesting the decision was perceived as easier compared to those (n = 292;48%) who scored 5-7. Reasons for the abortion were: poor economy (n = 166;27%), too early in the relationship (n = 154;25.1%), want to work first (n = 147;23.9%), want to study first (n = 132;21.5%), uncertain about the relationship (104;16.9%), and too young (n = 104;16.9%). Predictors for perceiving the decision as difficult: partner's hesitance (OR = 3.18, CI:1.76-5.73), being born outside the Nordic countries (OR = 2.23, CI:1.28-3.87), having discussed the decision with someone (OR = 2.42, CI:1.67-3.50), age ≥30 (OR = 2.22, CI:1.03-4.76), the Covid-19 pandemic (OR = 2.08, CI:1.20-3.59), and the desire to have children in the future (OR = 1.96, CI:1.18-3.28). After confirmed pregnancy, poor mental well-being was more common among those who scored 5-7 (n = 140;47.9%) compared to those who scored 1-4 (n = 122;37.9), p = .029.CONCLUSION: Women's decision-making on abortion is complex; in times of crises, the decision procedure may be even more difficult. This valuable knowledge could be used to improve and promote satisfactory counselling beyond medical routines.
|
|
| 10. |
- Niemeyer Hultstrand, Jenny, et al.
(författare)
-
Contraceptive use among women seeking an early induced abortion in Sweden
- 2023
-
Ingår i: Acta Obstetricia et Gynecologica Scandinavica. - : Wiley. - 0001-6349 .- 1600-0412. ; 102:11, s. 1496-1504
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Introduction: In spite of societal efforts to strengthen women's sexual and reproductive health in Sweden, many women have unmet contraceptive needs and the abortion rate remains high. The aim of this study was to investigate contraceptive use among abortion-seeking women. Material and methods: Swedish-speaking women seeking an induced abortion up to the end of gestational week 12 at seven hospitals filled out an anonymous paper questionnaire between January and June 2021. Data were analyzed using frequencies and cross-tabulations, and the Chi-square test was used to compare age-groups. Valid percentages are presented. Results: In total, 623 women participated. Median age was 29 years and 13% were born outside the Nordic countries. In the year preceding the abortion, condoms (37%, n = 228) were the most commonly used contraceptive method, followed by short-acting reversible contraception (SARC) (35%, n = 213) and withdrawal (25%, n = 152). Around one in five (n = 113) had not used any method in the year preceding the abortion. Sixteen percent (n = 96) had changed contraceptive method in the last year. At the time around conception, 15% (n = 90) reported use of SARC and 2% (n = 12) of long-acting reversible contraception (LARC). Four out of 10 women (n = 268) reported non-use of contraception at the time around conception, with a higher proportion among adolescents (70%, n = 30, P = 0.001). Among the women who responded to why they had not used any method (n = 387), the main reasons were that they did not believe they could become pregnant at that time (37%, n = 144) or had negative experiences from using contraceptives (32%, n = 123). A majority (88%, n = 527) planned to use contraception after the abortion. Of the women who had decided on method, 55% (n = 271) planned to use LARC, and 38% (n = 188) planned to use SARC. Conclusion: The unmet need for contraception appears to be high among abortion-seeking women in Sweden. Many had discontinued contraception use during the last year, and the main reasons for avoidance were beliefs that one could not become pregnant and negative experiences of contraceptives. The underestimation of pregnancy risk indicates limited fertility awareness, thus our recommendation would be to strengthen the sexual and reproductive knowledge among this group.
|
|
