OBJECTIVE To evaluate the evidence on the efficacy of psychosocial interventions for improving pregnancy rates and reducing distress for couples in treatment with assisted reproductive technology (ART). DESIGN Systematic review and meta-analysis. DATA SOURCES PsycINFO, PubMed, EMBASE, CINAHL, Web of Science and The Cochrane Library between 1978 and April 2014. STUDY SELECTION Studies were...

BACKGROUND Abuse and violence against women constitute a global public health problem and are particularly important among women of reproductive age. The literature is not conclusive regarding the impact of violence against pregnant women on adverse pregnancy outcomes, such as preterm birth, small for gestational age and postpartum depression. Most studies have been conducted on relatively smal...

AIMS Violence against women is an important risk factor for unintended pregnancy and contraceptive use, although less is known about this relationship among youth. This study aims to investigate linkages between sexual violence and unintended pregnancy among Colombian female youth (aged 13-24). METHODS Using the nationally representative Colombian Demographic and Health Survey (2005), the ass...

BACKGROUND In the first year after childbirth, 94% of women experience one or more major health problems (urinary incontinence, faecal incontinence, perineal pain, back pain). Difficulties in intimate partner relationships and changes affecting sexual health are also common. The aim of this study is to investigate changes in women's health from early pregnancy until four years after the birth o...

BACKGROUND Lifetime co-occurrence of violence victimisation is common. A large proportion of victims report being exposed to multiple forms of violence (physical, sexual, emotional violence) and/or violence by multiple kinds of perpetrators (family members, intimate partners, acquaintances/strangers). Yet much research focuses on only one kind of victimisation. The aim of this study was to inve...

OBJECTIVE This paper explores the relationship between domestic violence against women inflicted by husbands, unwanted pregnancy and pregnancy termination of Bangladeshi urban women. MATERIALS AND METHODS The study used the nationally representative 2007 Bangladesh Demographic and Health Survey (BDHS) data. The BDHS covered a representative sample of 10,996 ever married women from rural and u...

BACKGROUND Threatened premature labor (TPL) is a severe obstetric complication which affects the mental and physical health of both the mother and fetus. Family resilience may have protective role against psychological distress in women experiencing these pregnancy complications. There may be resilience related risk factors in TPL women, and interplays may exist among psychological variables an...

Uncovering hidden determinants of health Jeanne Chai et al. (331–339) study the association between child growth and violence in the home. Transforming society for better health outcomes Cicely Marston et al. (376–382) explain why community participation is crucial. Towards fair assessments Laura Frost et al. (393–395) explain why many voices are needed to understand health and development issues.

OBJECTIVE We sought to estimate the association between intimate partner violence, a prevalent psychosocial stressor, and the incidence of type 2 diabetes in women. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS In 2001, 68,376 Nurses' Health Study II participants answered questions on physical, sexual, and psychological intimate partner violence in adulthood (age ≥18 years) and reported the years in which any ...

Background: Pregnancy has been identified as a vulnerable period for both the initiation and escalation in severity of domestic family violence. There is significant dearth scholarly literature documenting relationship violence with mental health quality life among pregnant women Nepal.Methods: Baseline data 140 enrolled trial psychosocial intervention abused were analysed. Face-to-face intervi...