Variability in Reproductive Choices: A Comprehensive Analysis of Women's Working Status and Fertility Behavior in Pakistan.

The relationship between women's working status and fertility behavior has been a topic of interest for researchers and policymakers. The societal shifts over time, particularly the increasing participation of women in the workforce, have transformed traditional roles. Women, once primarily perceived as caregivers, are now assuming roles of economic independence. This transformation prompts a re-evaluation of the traditional association between women's working status and fertility behavior. This study aims to investigate the impact of women's working status on fertility behavior using a multistage stratified sampling design. A total of 408 women aged 15 to 49 years were recruited from 2 strata: working and non-working women. The data were collected through face-to-face interviews using a structured questionnaire. Descriptive statistics, cluster analysis, and generalized additive models were used for in-depth analysis of the dataset. An examination of fertility patterns indicates that, on average, working women bear 2.90 live children, while their non-working counterparts have an average of 3.52 children. Stillbirth was reported in 13% of housewives and 15.1% of working women. However, further analysis revealed that the relationship between women's employment status and fertility behavior varied depending on Social and Cultural Norms, Reproductive Rights, Workplace Policies, Economic Independence, Age, and Life Stage. Our findings suggest that promoting access to family-friendly policies and services, as well as challenging gender norms and cultural values, could help address the impact of women's employment on fertility behavior.

Comparative study of exclusive breastfeeding practice among employed mothers and housewives in Tanzania.

BACKGROUND: Exclusive breastfeeding (EBF) is a global concern as it is associated with infant protection against gastrointestinal infections, reduces newborn mortality and prevents a child from becoming overweight or obese. Even though some studies have reported high EBF practices among housewives compared to employed mothers, the influences of practices among the two groups are little documented. OBJECTIVES: The study aimed at comparing the EBF among employed mothers and housewives in Tanzania. METHODOLOGY: The study was a facility-based comparative cross-sectional study, with a sample size of 246 mothers of children less than 6 months. Convenience sampling was used to select participants. Data were collected by using a validated questionnaire and analyzed by Statistical Package for Social Science, version 23, through descriptive statistics (frequency, proportion and mean) and inferential statistics (Chi-square test (χ2) and binary logistic regression). RESULTS: The findings show that 106 (80.9%) of housewives had good EBF compared to 78 (67.8%) employed mothers, which was a significant difference (χ2 = 5.57; P = 0.019). One hundred and seven (81.7%) housewives had adequate knowledge of EBF compared to 84 (73%) employed mothers, but the knowledge between them was not significantly different (χ2 = 2.63; P = 0.071). For employed mothers, only age was significantly associated with EBF (χ2 = 39.49; P = 0.006), while for housewives, none of the sociodemographic characteristics was significantly associated with EBF. CONCLUSION: EBF practice was higher among housewives as compared to employed mothers. Age was significantly associated with good practice of EBF among employed mothers. The effort should be strengthened to help employed mothers aged below 28 years to practice EBF. Different programs and approaches that are developed and implemented should target this age group to increase the rate of EBF.

A study on the impact of road traffic noise exposure on work efficiency of housewives.

Housewives are individuals who take on the caregiving role in the family in virtually every society and while discharging their duties experience serious psychological difficulties due to external environmental pollutants like air, noise, etc., which influences their efficiency of performing household activities. This study hypothesizes a causal association between perception of traffic noise and the reduction in performance of housewives in their daily household activities. A simple mediation model was utilized for the study with traffic noise perception as the exposure variable. The sensitivity to traffic noise, annoyance caused due to traffic noise, and the effect of traffic noise on housewives were evaluated using questionnaire survey. Of the respondents, 57.33% reported high level of traffic noise perception, while 65.81% reported high annoyance due to traffic noise perception. Of the respondents, 88.69% reported higher levels of agreement with regard to negative effect of traffic noise on their household activities. The results supported the hypothesis with respondents belonging to high and moderate noise perception groups reporting a higher reduction in performance as compared to those belonging to the low noise perception group at higher values of sensitivity. There was no significant direct effect among those who perceived traffic noise as high and moderate. However, the indirect path revealed that there was a significantly higher reduction in performance among those belonging to the high and moderate noise perception group as compared to those belonging to the low noise perception group while those who perceived traffic noise as high and moderate did not differ significantly only at higher levels of sensitivity. Using OGRS computational tool, a sensitivity value of 5.586 was identified as the Johnson-Neyman boundary of significance for the direct effect. The results from the study highlight the need for including environmental noise related regulations with regard to residential structures by the concerned authorities and also the need for undertaking more rigorous studies by health authorities and organizations so that the effects are minimized if not eliminated completely.

From Housewives to Employees, the Mental Benefits of Employment across Women with Different Gender Role Attitudes and Parenthood Status.

Previous studies suggest that paid employment can improve workers' mental health status by offering a series of manifest and latent benefits (i.e., income, self-achievement and social engagement), which motivates policymakers' ongoing promotion of labour force participation as an approach to protect women's mental health status. This study extends the literature by investigating the mental health consequences of housewives' transition into paid employment across different gender role attitude groups. In addition, the study also tests the potential moderating role of the presence of children in relationships. This study yields two major findings by using nationally representative data (N = 1222) from the United Kingdom Longitudinal Household Study (2010-2014) and OLS regressions. First, from the first wave to the next, housewives who transitioned into paid employment reported better mental health status than those who remained housewives. Second, the presence of children can moderate such associations, but only among housewives with more traditional gender role attitudes. Specifically, among the traditional group, the mental benefits of transition into paid employment are more pronounced among those without children. Therefore, policymakers should develop more innovative approaches to promote housewives' mental health by considering a more gender-role-attitudes-sensitive design of future labour market policies.

Skin aging associated with chromium among rural housewives in northern China.

Previous studies have found associations between chromium exposure and skin damage. However, few studies have focused on both chromium and skin aging. This study aimed to assess the degree of skin aging symptoms and estimate the relationship between hair chromium and skin aging among rural housewives. We recruited 405 subjects in Shanxi Province of northern China and analyzed 397 eligible hair samples with inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). The subjects' skin aging symptoms were assessed with SCINEXA™ (SCore of INtrinsic and EXtrinsic skin Aging). After adjusting for age and other important covariates, the regression results showed more severe skin aging symptoms in women with a higher level of hair chromium and presented an increasing linear trend. Vegetables, fruits, and beans might be a source of chromium exposure. We concluded that skin aging might be positively associated with hair chromium. It is necessary to take measures to reduce chromium exposure to prevent skin aging.

Mental Health States of Housewives: an Evaluation in Terms of Self-perception and Codependency.

Housewives are individuals who assume the role of caregiver in the family in almost every society and experience serious psychological difficulties in line with this role. These psychological difficulties may develop due to the pathological relationships that women have, especially with their family members. In this context, the study aims to examine the mental health states of housewives within the framework of codependence and self-perceptions. This study, which was planned as descriptive, relational, and cross-sectional, by online questionnaire method, consists of 371 housewives. Personal information form, Codependency Assessment Tool (CODAT), social comparison scale (SCS), and the Symptom Checklist-90-Revised (SCL-90-R) were used to collect data. In the analysis of the research, a structural equation model was established by using SPSS 25 and AMOS 23 package programs. It was found that the mean age of the housewives included in the study was 35.19 ± 9.85 and 35.5% of the participants were university graduates, 13.2% lived in an extended family, 13.7% had a poor relationship with their spouse, and 51.5% were only responsible for housework. Besides, according to the results of the study, it was found that the total mean score of SCS was 75.16 ± 21.73, SCL-90-R was 1.96 ± 0.95, and CODAT was 76.16 ± 17.75. In the case of analysis, there was strong correlation between the mental status of housewives and both their codependency levels and their self-perceptions. It has been determined that increased levels of codependency and negative self-perception of housewives increase the psychological symptoms experienced.

Passive smoking and insomnia in rural Chinese nonsmoking housewives: An environmental and genetic perspective.

Active smoking has been a risk factor for insomnia, however, little is known about the effect of passive smoking on insomnia. Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are potential contents in tobacco smoke. We aimed to investigate the association between passive smoking exposure and insomnia, plus the modification effects of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) related to PAHs metabolism. A cross-sectional study with 392 nonsmoking women was conducted in a rural area of Shanxi Province, China. A structured questionnaire was used to collect the information on passive smoking exposure, insomnia and other health-related factors via face-to-face interviews. We simultaneously collected participants' hair samples to measure the concentrations of 26 PAHs. Whole blood samples were collected to test 9 SNPs related to PAHs metabolism. Logistic regression analysis was conducted to evaluate the association between passive smoking and insomnia, as well as the relation between passive smoking and PAHs concentrations. We further examined the potential interaction effects between passive smoking and SNPs on insomnia. 118 (30.1 %) were exposed to passive smoking and 128 (32.7 %) suffered from insomnia. Passive smoking nearly doubled the probability of insomnia with adjusted odds ratio and 95 % confidence interval of (1.99: 1.16, 3.39). Dose-response association between passive smoking and insomnia was observed by passive smoking frequency (P trend < 0.001). Among the 7 PAHs measured with detection rates > 70 %, no specific PAH was detected to be associated with passive smoking exposure after Bonferroni correction. The mutant genotypes of CYP1B1 (rs1056836), AHR (rs2066853), and AHRR (rs2292596) were detected to have synergetic effects with passive smoking on insomnia after multivariate adjustment. We found a positive association between passive smoking status and insomnia among nonsmoking women. This association could be modified by SNPs related to PAHs metabolism. PAHs might not be the environmentally potential mechanism involved in the insomnia caused by tobacco smoke exposure.

Passive Smoking Is Associated with Multiple Heavy Metal Concentrations among Housewives in Shanxi Province, China.

BACKGROUND: Passive smoking may increase the content of heavy metals in housewives. However, this association remains a subject of debate. Female passive smoking is widespread, particularly in Chinese rural areas. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to assess the association between heavy metal accumulation and passive smoking status among rural housewives. METHODS: 405 women were recruited in Shanxi Province of Northern China, and 384 (94.8%, 384/405) participants were included in the final study, of whom 117 women were exposed to passive smoking. The information on their basic characteristics was collected via a structured questionnaire. We used inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) to analyze the concentrations of nine heavy metals, including cadmium (Cd), germanium (Ge), arsenic (As), lead (Pb), titanium (Ti), copper (Cu), iron (Fe), cobalt (Co), and chromium (Cr), in hair samples. RESULTS: The results indicated that higher As, Ge, Ti, and Fe concentrations were significantly associated with passive smoking. After adjusting for potential confounders, the adjusted odds ratios and the 95% confidence intervals of As, Ge, Ti, and Fe were (1.80 (1.13-2.90), p = 0.028), (1.78 (1.14-2.80), p = 0.007), (1.70 (1.09-2.67), p = 0.019), and (1.67 (1.07-2.63), p = 0.035), respectively. The statistically significant linear trend of the adjusted odds ratios at different levels further supported their association. CONCLUSION: Our research concluded that exposure to environmental tobacco smoke might contribute to As, Ge, Ti, and Fe accumulation among housewives.

Association of Rare Earth Elements with Passive Smoking among Housewives in Shanxi Province, China.

BACKGROUND: Rare earth elements (REEs) are emerging contaminants. Previous studies reported the association between REEs and active smoking, but little is known about the effects of passive smoking on this condition. In China, female passive smoking is widespread, particularly in rural areas. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to estimate the relationship between REEs accumulation and passive smoking among rural housewives. METHODS: We recruited 385 subjects in Shanxi Province of northern China, of whom 117 housewives were exposed to passive smoking, and 268 were not. We analyzed 15 REEs in the hair of housewives with ICP-MS, including lanthanum, cerium, praseodymium, neodymium, samarium, europium, gadolinium, terbium, dysprosium, holmium, erbium, thulium, ytterbium, lutetium, and yttrium. RESULTS: The results indicated higher levels of 14 REEs except for Sm in both the univariate and adjusted models among the housewives exposed to passive smoking. The increasing linear trend of adjusted odds ratios of 15 REEs supported their association. The Bayesian kernel machine regression (BKMR) models showed that 15 REEs had a significant overall effect, and Eu had a single-exposure effect with passive smoking. CONCLUSION: We concluded that passive smoking might be associated with increased exposure to REEs among rural housewives.

The impact of a peer-based education on fruits and vegetables intake among housewives.

BACKGROUND: Evidence indicates the lower intake of fruits and vegetables than the recommended daily amount. Study aimed at determining the effects of peer education intervention on the consumption of fruits and vegetable in housewives. METHODS: A quasi-experimental was conducted with 130 housewives referring to health care centers in Bandar Abbas, Iran. Sixty-five subjects were recruited in each of the intervention and the control groups. Intervention group were divided into three subgroups each receiving a seven-sessions educational programs (lecturing and group discussion) through peers about the importance of benefits of fruits and vegetables consumption. Participants were followed for two months. Data were collected using a questionnaire in two stages of pre- and post-intervention. Differences in the outcome before and after the intervention were tested using T-test and paired T-test. RESULTS: The daily servings of fruits and vegetables in the intervention group increased from 1.73 to 4.20 and in the control group from 1.96 to 2.16; a statistically significant difference was also observed between the groups (P < 0.001). After the intervention benefits and self-efficacy of fruits and vegetables consumption significantly increased and perceived barriers of fruits and vegetables consumption significantly decreased in the intervention group (P < 0.001). CONCLUSION: Peer education improves benefits and self-efficacy, reduces barriers, and increases the daily servings of fruits and vegetables in housewives.

Direct and Indirect Effects of Indoor Particulate Matter on Blood Indicators Related to Anemia.

Exposure to indoor particulate matter (PM) is a potential risk factor that increases systemic inflammation and affects erythropoiesis. This study investigated the association between exposure to indoor PM and blood indicators related to anemia (BIRA) in housewives. Indoor PM and blood folate status are important factors in the risk of anemia. This was a housewife cohort study; we recruited 284 housewives in Seoul and Ulsan, Republic of Korea. Indoor exposure to PM2.5 and PM10 was measured by gravimetric analysis and sensors. We investigated the BIRA, such as hemoglobin (Hb), hematocrit, mean corpuscular volume (MCV), mean corpuscular Hb (MCH), and mean corpuscular Hb concentration (MCHC). Statistical analysis was performed by multiple linear regression model and mediation analysis. The association between BIRA and PM was assessed by multiple linear regression models fitted by mediation analyses. The increase in the level of indoor PM2.5 was associated with a decrease in MCV (Beta coefficient (B): -0.069, Standard error (SE): 0.022) and MCH (B: -0.019, SE: 0.009) in gravimetric measurements. The increase in the level of indoor PM2.5 was associated with a decrease in Hb (B: -0.024, SE: 0.011), hematocrit (B: -0.059, SE: 0.033), and MCV (B: -0.081, SE: 0.037) and MCH (B: -0.037, SE: 0.012) in sensor measurements (PM2.5-Lag10). Further, we identified a serum folate-mediated PM effect. The indoor PM exposure was significantly associated with decreased Hb, MCV, and MCH in housewives. Taken together, our data show that exposure to indoor PM is a risk factor for anemia in housewives. Blood folate concentration can be a mediating factor in the effect of indoor PM on BIRA. Therefore, folate intake should be recommended to prevent anemia in housewives. Moreover, indoor PM exposure should be managed.

Explaining the problems faced by Iranian housewives during the COVID-19 quarantine period, and their adaption strategies: A qualitative study.

BACKGROUND: Housewives have several problems during the quarantine phase; so, the current study was designed to describe the challenges faced by Iranian housewives during the quarantine period in relation to COVID-19 and compatibility measures for it. METHODS: The current research employed a qualitative methodology and a traditional content analysis method on 34 quarantined women in Tehran. Purposive sampling and snowballing were used to find participants, and semi-structured interviews were used to gather data. The Guba and Lincoln criteria were also employed to assess the quality of the study findings. RESULTS: After analyzing the data, 4 main categories and 18 subcategories were extracted, including (1) individual problems (personal health problems, life with fear and anxiety, low mental health, lifestyle imbalance, Internet addiction); (2) family problems (violence and conflict in the family, tension in managing family members, disruption of the educational and economic situation of family members, intensification of domestic tasks and roles); (3) social problems (social isolation, disregard for social customs, restricted access to cyberspace); and (4) compatibility strategies (spirituality, strengthening family relationships, division of tasks between family members, optimal use of leisure, positive use of cyberspace, development of individual skills). CONCLUSION: Their problems can be ameliorated by providing contraception to housewives, improving their mental health and reducing their worries and fears, modeling a healthy lifestyle during quarantine, offering solutions that reduce violent behavior and manage family conflict, and expanding their access to virtual communications.

Vitamin D Deficiency and Associated Risk Factors in Muslim Housewives of Quetta, Pakistan: A Cross-Sectional Study.

Background Vitamin D (Vit-D) plays a central role in calcium homeostasis and maintains skeletal integrity. Housewives in Quetta, Pakistan are at increased risk of vitamin D deficiency (VDD). They spend a greater part of their day in cleaning, washing, cooking, managing daily groceries, and other household chores. Thus, little time is left for self-care and outdoor activities. They wear hijab and have very little exposure to sunlight. In addition, their diet is deficient in Vit-D-rich food items, rendering them at high risk of VDD. Fear of getting tanned, melasma, and preference for a fair complexion further limit their sun exposure. This study evaluates the prevalence of VDD in housewives and determines its various risk factors to recommend screening guidelines for VDD. Methods A cross-sectional study was performed between November 2020 and April 2021 and recruited housewives aged >18 from the outpatient department of a tertiary care hospital in Quetta. Informed consent was obtained from all participants. VDD was defined as a serum 25(OH)-D level <20 ng/mL (50 nmol/L). Sociodemographic variables and information about the dietary habits, perception, attitudes towards sunlight, and daily duration of sunlight exposure were collected. Mean and standard deviation (SD) were calculated for continuous variables and counts, and proportions were calculated for categorical variables like education, age. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were performed to determine the risk factors and associations of VDD. Data were analyzed by SAS/STAT software (version 9.4). Results Among 151 housewives, 58.9% of housewives had VDD. VDD group had a higher proportion of females aged 18-30 years and a lower proportion of graduates. The reported use of Vit-D supplements was much lower in the VDD group compared with the non-deficient group, 38.2% versus 71.0 %, P-value <0.001. History of fragility fractures was reported by 10.1% of housewives in the VDD group compared to 4.8% in the non-deficient group, P-value: 0.03. Around 77.5% of housewives in the VDD group spent 15 minutes or less outdoors versus 51.6% in the non-deficient group; 55.1% of housewives in the VDD group reported that they never consumed milk versus 17.7 % in the non-deficient group, P-value <0.00001. In the univariate logistic regression model, housewives with an 11-12th grade of education had 4.80-fold higher odds of VDD compared to those who had undergraduate or graduate degrees (OR: 4.80, 95 % CI: 1.07-21.45). Housewives who never consumed milk had 9.72-fold (95 % CI: 3.69-25.58) higher odds of VDD compared to those who consumed milk on daily basis. Odds of VDD were 3.61-fold (95% CI: 1.06-12.31) higher in those who never consumed fish as compared to those who ate fish at least 1-2 days/week. In multivariate logistic regression, age group 18-30 (OR: 17.07, 95% CI: 1.18-246.86), and never consuming milk (OR: 7.33, 95 % CI: 1.99-26.89) were independently associated with VDD. Conclusion VDD is highly prevalent (58.9%) in housewives of Quetta. It is the need of time to increase awareness regarding the health benefits, sources, and deficiency symptoms of Vit-D. Our study revealed VDD in housewives irrespective of education and income. Dietary supplementations were greater predictors of VDD. Daily sun exposure should be encouraged, and food items should be fortified with Vit-D. Recommendations for Vitamin D screening would be a good step, especially in Muslim housewives.

Study protocol for a randomized controlled trial to improve the quality of life of housewives with musculoskeletal disorders: a health promotion intervention based on a participatory ergonomic approach-the Housewives Ergonomic Intervention (HEI) trial.

BACKGROUND: A variety of household chores expose women to a variety of biomechanical and psychosocial risk factors. A result of this is many housewives with musculoskeletal disorders. Given the interactive effects of these risk factors, it is necessary to consider multiple strategies to mitigate their effects. Accordingly, the present study will investigate the impact of a health promotion training program based on a participatory ergonomic approach towards a reduction in the prevalence of musculoskeletal disorders and an improvement in the quality of life of housewives. METHODS: Iranian housewives aged 20-65 years currently attending a specialist health clinic due to a painful musculoskeletal complaint will be invited to join the study. Recruitment will continue until a sample of 160 women provides informed consent to participate. The study will be conducted using a mixed-methods protocol in two phases. In the first phase, psychosocial and biomechanical risk factors will be identified using a qualitative approach. In the next phase, the results from the qualitative approach will be used to develop a conceptual framework based on health promotion theories and an intervention program based on a participatory ergonomic approach designed. Participants will be randomly allocated into one of four groups: (1) biomechanical intervention group, (2) psychosocial intervention group, (3) multidisciplinary intervention group (both biomechanical and psychosocial intervention), and (4) a control group. Data will be collected using Rapid Entire Body Assessment (REBA), Visual Analog Scale (VAS), Work Ability Score (WAS), Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS), and the 36-item Short-Form health survey (SF-36) at baseline in 3-month and 6-month follow-up assessments. The impact of the three interventions on musculoskeletal disorders, work ability, stress, and quality of life will then be evaluated. DISCUSSION: The study will provide a practical approach to reducing stress, reducing musculoskeletal disorders, enhancing the ability to work, and improving the quality of life of women with musculoskeletal disorders associated with housework. If the designed interventions in the present study are effective, they will have the great practical potential for generalization to all housewives. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov IRCT20200602047640N . Registered on 07 September 2020 with the IRCTID.

Health damage to housewives by contaminants emitted from coal combustion in the Chinese countryside: focusing on day-to-day cooking.

PURPOSE: The study aimed to estimate the health damage and find out the main exposure pathways of housewives posed by polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and heavy metals (HMs) from coal combustion in rural areas of China. METHODS: We obtained the concentrations of 16 PAHs and 8 HMs from published literatures and the Monte Carlo simulation was used to process and analysis the data. Sensitivity analysis was also applied to clear parameter uncertainty and the health damage of housewives was quantitatively evaluated by loss of life expectancy. RESULTS: Housewives' carcinogenic risks from PAHs exposure were in descending order of inhalation > ingestion > dermal contact, while exposed to HMs were ingestion > dermal contact > inhalation. The carcinogenic risks from PAHs primarily originated from benzo[a]pyrene (BaP), dibenz[ah]anthracene (DahA) and benzo[b]fluorathene (BbF). For HMs, arsenic posed the highest carcinogenic risk to housewives, with a contribution of 92.98%. In addition, the life expectancy loss of housewives exposed to PAHs was 469.04 min from inhalation and 51.82 min for HMs from ingestion. CONCLUSION: Through a comprehensive assessment of the health risks in housewives exposed to emissions from coal combustion, we can gain insight into the hazards from PAHs and HMs in housewives, and take measures to reduce their exposure risks.

Relationship between Physical Activity and Cardiovascular Risk Factors: A Cross-Sectional Study among Low-Income Housewives in Kuala Lumpur.

Cardiovascular disease is a significant public health concern worldwide, including in Malaysia. Various attempts have been made to resolve this issue. One of the most important methods of controlling cardiovascular risk factors is physical exercise. However, today's women, especially housewives, are often identified by a lack of physical activity. This is alarming to society, as cardiovascular disease can affect the quality of their life. The aim of this study is to determine the relationship between physical activity and cardiovascular risk factors among low-income housewives in Kuala Lumpur. A total of 63 housewives participated in this cross-sectional study. All participating housewives were asked to fill out a sociodemographic questionnaire and the short version of the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ). To evaluate cardiovascular risk factors, anthropometric measurements and blood samples were taken. Findings showed that an average of 70.5 ± 232.4 min/week was spent on moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA), which indicated a low level of physical activity. Data showed that 90.5% of the subjects had low physical activity, 6.3% were moderate, and 3.2% were considered as having a high level of physical activity. For body mass index (BMI), 58.7% of the respondents were obese, 28.6% were overweight (29.10 ± 5.67 kg m-2), and 81.0% of subjects had a waist circumference (WC) value above the normal range (92.74 ± 16.40 cm). A two-way ANOVA test revealed significant mean differences between systolic blood pressure (mm/Hg) and age groups (p > 0.05). Nevertheless, there was a significant association between MVPA and cardiovascular risk factors using negative binomial regression (p < 0.01). The findings of this study highlight the need for health promotional programs to raise awareness, educate, and engage low-income housewives in lifestyle-enhancing behaviors.

Differences in overweight/obesity prevalence by demographic characteristics and self-weight misperception status.

BACKGROUND & AIMS: Increasing the prevalence of overweight and obesity is one of the main concerns of health systems of the world. This research was conducted to estimate the prevalence of overweight/obesity and its related factors in the Eastern part of Iran. METHODS: An analytical, cross-sectional study was conducted among 1048 inhabitants aged between 15 and 64 years who lived in Gonabad and Bajestan, two districts locating in the East of Iran, in 2016. A probability proportional to size stratified sampling was used to select the participants. We applied a checklist to collect the required data. Analyzing the data, we used t-test, χ2, and ANOVA. A significant level of 0.05 was considered in this study. RESULTS: Total prevalence of overweight/obesity was 43.8%. There were significant associations between overweight/obesity and age (P < 0.001), sex (P = 0.008 in Gonabad, P = 0.004 in Bajestan), marital status (P < 0.001, in Gonabad, P = 0.001 in Bajestan), and job (P < 0.001). There was also a discrepancy between the participants' self-perception of weight and their real weight status. CONCLUSION: The findings of the present study showed a high prevalence of overweight/obesity among women, government employees, and married individuals. Therefore, focusing on these groups in implementing weight control interventions is recommended. According to the high prevalence of obesity in housewives as well as the role of women to control the normal weight of their family members via providing healthy food, it seems that one of the most effective groups in the programs would be housewives. Besides, strengthening health literacy is recommended to eliminate self-weight misperception.

Caring for Family Members With Alzheimer's and Burnout Syndrome: Impairment of the Health of Housewives.

Being a housewife may already be a psychosocial risk factor leading to chronic stress and burnout, and this may be aggravated when the housewife must also become the caregiver of a family member with Alzheimer's. The burnout syndrome and how it can affect general health and the presence of emotional disorders were studied in housewives who were family caregivers of an Alzheimer's patient. The sample selected was made up of 193 housewives, 96 of whom were also caregivers for a family member with Alzheimer's. Sociodemographic measures used were the Maslach Burnout Inventory and The General Health Questionnaire. Burnout was found in a significant percentage of participants. Emotional exhaustion, effect on general health, and presence of emotional disorders were higher in caregivers. Emotional exhaustion, general health, and anxiety were more influential, while depersonalization affected the appearance of depressive symptoms more. Being a caregiver and emotional exhaustion appeared to be the best predictors of emotional disorders. It was confirmed that emotional exhaustion influenced appearance of anxiety and depression equally in both groups. In the case of caregivers, an exhaustion-illness spiral was produced. In this group, emotional exhaustion seemed to become more severe as a consequence of the presence of chronic illnesses, and possibly influence the number of hours spent on care and having children living at home. Future research should analyze in greater depth and in a larger sample, the role of these variables and widen the focus of attention to personal variables that could be acting as protective factors and could be subject to intervention. The discussion concludes with some actions that should be included in prevention programs for the groups studied.

Association of maternal determinants with low birth weight babies in tea garden workers of Assam.

AIM: This study was aimed to evaluate the association of maternal determinants with birth weight (BW) of babies in tea garden workers (TGW) and housewives (HW). METHODS: A total of 175 subjects were recruited from Assam Medical College, Dibrugarh, India. In this cross-sectional study, maternal determinants, BW of babies and placental weight were explored in TGW (n = 102) and HW (n = 73). These factors were assessed and correlated by logistic regression models. RESULTS: A higher incidence of low birth weight (LBW) was found in mothers working in the tea garden (48.04%) as compared to HW (10.96%). Activity of plucking of leaves in tea garden by women had a higher risk for LBW babies (adjusted odd ratio [AOR] 4.33, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.38-13.57, P = 0.012) and decreased placental weight (AOR 11.42, 95% CI 1.18-126.02, P = 0.036) as compared to HW considered as reference group. Women who worked continuously in the tea garden during 9 months of pregnancy also revealed an elevated risk for LBW (AOR 5.32, 95% CI 1.34-21.09, P = 0.017). CONCLUSION: This study suggests the activity of plucking of tea leaves by women is associated with LBW of babies and decreased placental weight. Particularly, if mothers worked continuously in the tea garden during 9 months of pregnancy, it also increased the risk of delivering LBW babies. This exploratory study provides an important platform for further prospective studies, which could be focused on the potential consequences of maternal occupational exposures during pregnancy on fetal development.

Tailored feedback reduced prolonged sitting time and improved the health of housewives: a single-blind randomized controlled pilot study.

Reducing sitting time, independent of physical activity, is important for health. However, few reports have been published regarding physical activity of housewives compared to that of employed women. We examined strategies to shorten housewives' sitting time using a single-blind randomized controlled trial. Forty-eight housewives (38.0 ± 4.5 years old) were randomly assigned to one of three groups: pamphlet, self-feedback, and tailored feedback groups. All participants received a pamphlet describing the risks of prolonged sitting. The self-feedback and tailored feedback groups were also given feedback on sitting time by a smartphone application. The tailored feedback group received individual suggestions regarding lifestyle to shorten sitting time. We measured physical activity using an accelerometer and health-related quality of life using the Short-Form 8. The longest prolonged sitting time significantly decreased over time, a significant reduction was observed after the intervention only in the tailored feedback group. Vitality, mental health, and role emotional components of health-related quality of life showed a significant improvement with time but no significant differences were observed among the study groups. We suggested an easy approach to shortening prolonged sitting time in housewives using a pamphlet and feedback by smartphone. However, tailored consulting was necessary to yield a more effective result.