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Background & Objective: Pregnancy in women diagnosed with Type-1 diabetes mellitus poses a higher risk of experiencing complications related to the health of the fetus, the mother, and the newborn, along with potential obstetric issues. The objective of this study was to examine the maternal and fetal outcomes, as well as complications faced by pregnant women with type-1 diabetes, and to identify potential preventable factors. Methods: This retrospective cohort study, conducted at Baqai Institute of Diabetology and Endocrinology (BIDE), Baqai Medical University, Karachi, Pakistan (January 2022 - January 2023), focused on registered pregnancies of women with Type-1 diabetes. A predesigned questionnaire recorded demographic information, diabetes and obstetric history, clinical details, treatment specifics, maternal, perinatal, and neonatal outcomes. Results: This study included 100 women with pre-existing Type-1 diabetes (mean age: 15.11 ± 5.64 years at diabetes diagnosis). Of these, 72% reported unplanned pregnancies, with a mean HbA1C at conception 8.29%. Median gestational age at delivery was 32.15 ± 10.82 weeks. Delivery outcomes included 40% normal vaginal deliveries and 60% C-sections (9% emergency, 51% elective). Stillbirths occurred in 14 cases, while 16 women experienced one miscarriage, seven had two, and 10 had three miscarriages. Glycemic targets (fasting) were achieved in 55 women, and post-meal targets only in 29, whereas, neonatal complications included hypoglycemia in 13 and low birth weight in 12 neonates. Conclusion: The high frequency of unplanned pregnancies and cesarean sections along with poor management of prepregnancy care and poor glycemic control results in compromised maternal and perinatal outcomes in this high-risk group. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Pre-conception care (PCC) is a set of interventions that aim to identify and modify biomedical, behavioural and social risks to women's health and pregnancy outcomes. Materials and Methods: It was an observational descriptive cross-sectional study conducted in the obstetrics and gynaecology (OBGY) outpatient department (OPD) of a tertiary care teaching institute in a rural set-up. Two hundred women in the first trimester of pregnancy were interviewed using a pre-designed and pretested questionnaire following informed verbal consent. The study was conducted between May and September 2019. The study excluded women in the 2nd or 3rd trimester of pregnancy, inpatient department (IPD) patients and those unwilling to participate. Results: The study revealed that 25.5% of the women had conceived between 14 and 19 years of age. Fifty-four percent of the pregnancies were unplanned. Merely 14.5% had consulted and 15% had their laboratory investigations performed before pregnancy. Only 11% had received pre-conception folic acid supplementation. Pregnancies with birth spacing <2 years accounted for 15%. The proportion of women with known risk factors was 38% being underweight, 9.5% being overweight, 8% being of short stature (height ≤145 cm), 63% having anaemia (haemoglobin <12 g/dL), 10% with a previous history of abortion, 3.5% with systemic diseases, 4.5% with poor oral hygiene, 1% with domestic violence, 3% with medication, 3% with tobacco addiction and 4.5% with radiation/environmental toxin exposure. One percent had the hepatitis B vaccine and 0.5% had the influenza vaccine. Conclusion: From our study, we conclude that the PCC services are meagre, and unhealthy women who conceive without adequate PCC are prone to maternal and foetal health complications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article investigates how issues related to abortion have been portrayed in American television from 2005 to 2021 through a feminist analysis of the melodramatic series Grey's Anatomy. Using a comparative analysis between two female characters facing accidental pregnancies, this work examines how they are portrayed when pondering over the possibility of terminating their pregnancies and investigates male behavior regarding women's decisions. In addition, it scrutinizes how shifts in contemporary feminism might have influenced these depictions. Drawing from an interdisciplinary approach on feminist television scholarship, this paper encompasses theoretical works related to motherhood, abortion, postfeminism, and popular feminism. It also investigates how the polysemic meaning intertwines patriarchal and feminist readings in a mass-culture product, and how the transition from postfeminism to popular feminism into mainstream texts has affected the display of women's bodily autonomy by depicting these plots in a less punitive way towards women than before. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Background: Pre-conception care (PCC) is a set of interventions that aim to identify and modify biomedical, behavioural and social risks to women's health and pregnancy outcomes. Materials and Methods: It was an observational descriptive cross-sectional study conducted in the obstetrics and gynaecology (OBGY) outpatient department (OPD) of a tertiary care teaching institute in a rural set-up. Two hundred women in the first trimester of pregnancy were interviewed using a pre-designed and pretested questionnaire following informed verbal consent. The study was conducted between May and September 2019. The study excluded women in the 2nd or 3rd trimester of pregnancy, inpatient department (IPD) patients and those unwilling to participate. Results: The study revealed that 25.5% of the women had conceived between 14 and 19 years of age. Fifty-four percent of the pregnancies were unplanned. Merely 14.5% had consulted and 15% had their laboratory investigations performed before pregnancy. Only 11% had received pre-conception folic acid supplementation. Pregnancies with birth spacing

Cystic fibrosis (CF) causes infertility and subfertility due to various factors, including altered cervical mucus, delayed puberty, and hormonal imbalances. With the introduction of the CFTR modulator therapy elexacaftor-tezacaftor-ivacaftor, we have observed an increase in unplanned pregnancies among women undergoing ETI treatment in our CF center, despite repeated recommendations for strict fertility monitoring. It appears that these pregnancies are more likely attributed to reduced attention to the possibility of conception rather than contraceptive failure. The perception of subfertility developed by women with CF over time, before the era of modulators, can influence their long-term habits and lead to the underuse of contraceptive methods. While further research is needed to fully understand the effects of ETI on fertility, healthcare providers should be attentive to the fertility concerns of women with CF, particularly those treated with modulators in adulthood. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: In 2016 the Port Moresby General Hospital in Papua New Guinea introduced a midwife led postpartum contraception service to educate patients and provide contraceptive implants. This study examines the factors that were associated with immediate postpartum uptake of the implants.Study Design: We conducted a cross-sectional study of patients on the hospital postnatal ward who gave birth between March 2017 and January 2018. Patients aged 16-45 who had a vaginal birth with a singleton, live baby not requiring admission to the special care nursery were eligible for inclusion and invited to complete a survey prior to discharge.Results: Of 2082 patients approached, all consented to participate in the survey. Of those completing the survey, 531 (25.5%) chose to have the contraceptive implant provided immediately postpartum. Excluding patients who chose tubal ligation (n = 330), in multivariable analysis, higher odds of implant uptake was associated with no prior contraception use compared to prior use (aOR 1.38; 95% CI 1.07 -1.77), unplanned pregnancy compared to planned (aOR 1.37, 95% CI 1.07-1.79), and having received antenatal education about the implant compared to no information (AOR 1.65, 95% CI 1.23-2.10).Conclusions: Antenatal education about the contraceptive implant impacted on likelihood of immediate postpartum method uptake. Patients who had no prior use of contraception and those with unplanned pregnancies were also more likely to request the implants, suggesting that the midwife-led postpartum service is successfully reaching patients with a previous unmet need for contraception.Implications: This study demonstrates successful delivery of a postpartum implant program in a setting where community access to contraception is limited. Antenatal information and education can support implant uptake and that the program provides the opportunity for birth spacing and limiting in patients with a previous unmet need. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Specific and sensitive nutrition fulfillment programs have been carried out to reduce the incidence of stunting in Indonesia, but the results are still not optimal. Handling stunting should not only focus on the nutrition fulfillment sector. A fundamental factor to consider as the root cause of high stunting in Indonesia is unwanted or unplanned pregnancies.

Background Women facing problematic pregnancies, defined as "unplanned, mistimed, unwanted, or otherwise difficult," either have abortions or make adjustments to welcome these pregnancies. These adjustments are understudied. Pregnancy resource centers that provide counseling and services to assist in the process of welcoming pregnancies have been the focus of controversy due to their refusal to counsel or refer for abortions. This survey of a national population of women seeks to quantify changes in attitudes toward problematic pregnancies that are not aborted and to gauge levels of contact with pregnancy help centers and perceptions of harm or benefits attributed to those contacts. Methodology A national research firm was enlisted to obtain 1,000 surveys completed by female residents of the United States aged 41-45, inclusive. Women reporting a history of abortion were surveyed along one path. For those who did not have abortions but reported a problematic pregnancy, questions were presented to assess changes in attitude toward their pregnancy from the date they first learned they were pregnant to 90 days later, their considerations of abortion, whether they had contact with a pregnancy help center, and their assessment of that contact on either harming or improving their lives. Results Among 275 respondents who had no history of abortion but had ultimately welcomed a problematic pregnancy, 112 (40.7%) had been at higher risk of abortion. Positive attitudes toward their pregnancies increased most rapidly for women who had been at higher risk of abortion but were lower on the day they first learned they were pregnant. Overall, 34 (12.4%) reported they had contacted a pregnancy help center that did not refer for abortions. Another 37 (13.5%) were uncertain if they had contacted an organization fitting that description. Both groups reported the contact improved their lives, on average. Negative assessments were uncommon and all were of a small degree. Conclusions Women facing problematic pregnancies who did not choose abortion experienced rapid improvements in feelings of wantedness, timeliness, acceptance, welcoming, and desirability toward the pregnancy. The rate of improvement was most rapid among those who had investigated and considered abortion. Women reporting contact with pregnancy help centers almost always assess it as having improved their lives., Competing Interests: Human subjects: Consent was obtained or waived by all participants in this study. Sterling Institutional Review Board issued approval 10225. Animal subjects: All authors have confirmed that this study did not involve animal subjects or tissue. Conflicts of interest: In compliance with the ICMJE uniform disclosure form, all authors declare the following: Payment/services info: Charlotte Lozier Institute. Financial relationships: All authors have declared that they have no financial relationships at present or within the previous three years with any organizations that might have an interest in the submitted work. Other relationships: The author is an advocate for post-abortion counseling programs for women seeking help after unwanted or coerced abortions., (Copyright © 2024, Reardon et al.)

Background & aim: Despite the success of family planning programs in Iran in the recent decades, considerable proportions of pregnancies are still unintended and can be a cause of poor mental and physical health of the mother and child. The aim of this study was to investigate some important factors affecting uplanned pregnancies among married women in Semnan province, one of the developed provinces of Iran with below replacement fertility level. Methods: The data for this study were drawn from a cross-sectional survey conducted in Semnan province in 2014. A total of 363 married women within the age range of 15-49 years who were pregnant or had the history of at least one delivery were considered. The study sample was selected using multi-stage stratified sampling method. The data were collected using a self-structured questionnaire with 90 items and Cronbach's alpha coefficient of 0.88. Data analysis was performed in SPSS (version 20) using Crammer’s V coefficients and Chi-square tests. Logistic regression analysis was also applied to model the risk of unintended pregnancies based on selected covariates. Results: According to the results, around 18.2% of the pregnancies were unplanned, 7.7% and 10.5% of which were mistimed and unwanted, respectively. Based on the logistic regression analysis, birth cohort, number of children ever born, and contraceptive methods had significant effects on the risk of unintended pregnancies. Furthermore, about 48% of the women experiencing unintended pregnancy were using a traditional contraceptive method before or at the time of the conception. Conclusion: As the findings indicated, the women who used contraceptive method, as well as those with higher number of children and younger birth cohorts had higher risk of unplanned pregnancies. It should be noted that the majority of unplanned pregnancies among the women in younger birth cohort were mistimed pregnancies. So it is recommended to continue offering family planning and health services to these women in order to prevent unplanned pregnancy, unsafe abortion, and many chronic diseases.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to investigate the rates, predictors, and associated sexual risk indices of young men's nonconsensual condom removal (also known as stealthing). Methods: Participants were 626 male inconsistent condom users aged 21–30 years recruited from an urban area in the Pacific Northwest. Participants completed survey measures assessing sexual aggression history, sexual aggression-related attitudes, sexually transmitted infection history, unplanned pregnancies, and nonconsensual condom removal experiences. Results: Almost 10% of the participants (n = 61) reported engaging in nonconsensual condom removal since the age of 14 years, with an average of 3.62 times (SD = 3.87) and range of 1–21 times (maximum possible). After controlling for condom use self-efficacy, men with greater hostility toward women (odds ratio = 1.47) and more severe sexual aggression history (odds ratio = 1.06) had significantly higher odds of engaging in nonconsensual condom removal behavior. χ2 analyses demonstrated that men who had a history of nonconsensual condom removal were significantly more likely to have had a sexually transmitted infection diagnosis (29.5% vs. 15.1%) or have had a partner who experienced an unplanned pregnancy (46.7% vs. 25.8%). Conclusions: Nonconsensual condom removal, which involves elements of both sexual risk and sexual aggression, confers multiple sexual risks to its recipients, thus meriting increased clinical and research attention. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nearly 20% of women presenting with breast cancer in the UK are of reproductive age. The aim of our study was to assess fertility outcome in relation to intent to conceive in patients who had completed breast cancer treatment. Between July 2011 and December 2013, women, aged less than 43 years at the time of diagnosis, were asked during their follow-up in breast cancer clinic, to complete a questionnaire on intentions to conceive and pregnancy outcome. A total of 175 women completed the questionnaire at a median time of 6 years from time of diagnosis. Their median age at the time of diagnosis was 37 years and at the time of the survey was 43 years. At the time of the survey, 42% (72/175) had completed their family, 41% (72/175) reported that they would like to have children and 4% (7/175) did not wish to have children. Twenty-seven respondents had actively tried to conceive, and of those 13 (48%) had a live birth. There were 12 unintended pregnancies; the majority of which were terminated (58% (7/12)) with only 3 live births. Among those who did not wish to conceive, only 32% (36/111) reported using contraception. This is a retrospective study investigating menstrual function, contraceptive methods and fertility outcomes of young breast cancer survivors. This study highlights the need for healthcare professionals to provide long-term contraceptive advice to women who do not wish to conceive. • At least 40% of women diagnosed wit breast cancer under the age of 43 still desire to conceive after completing cancer treatment. • Large proportion of women who did not use contraception in spite of having regular periods and reporting no intention to conceive. • This study established an unexpected high proportion of unintended pregnancies, 58% of which required terminated. • Its imperative for healthcare professionals to provide patients with advice not only on fertility but also contraception during and after chemotherapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The rate of preexisting diabetes mellitus (DM) in Saudi Arabia is one of the highest in the world. The role of preconception care (PCC) is well-established as a means of improving pregnancy outcomes in DM. Objectives: To assess the rate of preconception counseling, the level of PCC knowledge, and the rate of unplanned pregnancies in Saudi women with DM. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among 355 Saudi women aged 18–49 years with self-reported DM. The study questionnaire contained variables about the provision of preconception counseling, knowledge of PCC facts, and the number of unplanned pregnancies after developing DM. The level of PCC knowledge was evaluated using a modified Likert scale. Statistical Package for Social Sciences 20 was used for statistical analysis. Descriptive statistics, mean and standard deviation, and percentages were calculated; t-test was used for statistical significance. Results: About one-third of the participants had received preconception counseling after being diagnosed with DM. Counseling on PCC for older and married participants was significantly less. Of the 355 participants, 42.8% had little or no PCC knowledge. All pregnancies that occurred after developing DM were unplanned. Conclusions: The rate of preconception counseling, the level of PCC knowledge in the studied Saudi women with DM is suboptimal, and none of the pregnancies that occurred after developing DM was planned. The study highlights the need for PCC programs that target all Saudi women of child-bearing age with DM, and their families starting at the age of puberty and at diagnosis of type 2DM, to optimize women's health and improve pregnancy outcomes.

Over 50% of pregnancies in slums are unintended, signifying unmet family planning (FP) needs. In Cameroon, about 60% of city dwellers live in slums where basic health services including FP is lacking. With an acute shortage of health personnel in Africa, community health workers (CHWs) can play a vital role in administering basic FP services. The Cameroon Baptist Convention Health Services implemented a pilot project to reduce the unmet FP needs in urban slums through utilization of CHWs. We found that with adequate training and support, CHWs can successfully provide basic FP services in urban slums., Competing Interests: The Authors declared no conflict of interest, (African Journal of Reproductive Health © 2023.)

Background: The Solomon Islands is a Pacific nation with a maternal mortality of 114 per 100 000 births. Around 57% of pregnancies are unintended and only 15% of women attend their first antenatal visit in the first 12 weeks as recommended by the World Health Organization. Aims: We sought to examine the socio‐demographic predictors of unintended pregnancy and late antenatal booking (>18 weeks) among women attending antenatal care in Honiara. Materials and methods: From January 2014 to May 2015 we undertook a cross‐sectional survey using a structured questionnaire on women presenting to the National Referral Hospital and community clinics in Honiara for antenatal care. Results: Of 1441 women, 41.0% of pregnancies were intended, 55.7% were ambivalent and 3.3% were fully unintended. Unintended pregnancy was significantly associated with being unemployed (adjusted odds ratio (aOR) 1.45, P = 0.024), being a teenager at first intercourse (aOR 1.53; P = 0.004), shared family planning decision making (aOR 0.54; P = 0.006) living with a husband (aOR 0.31 P < 0.001) and a short interpregnancy interval (OR 4.48, P ≤ 0.001). Late booking occurred in 1168 (84.7%) women and independent predictors of this included ambivalent or unintended pregnancy (aOR 1.74, P = 0.005) and multiparity (aOR 2.05, P = 0.001). Conclusions: Unintended pregnancy and late antenatal booking remain a challenge to improving maternal health in the Solomon Islands. Investments in family planning could target reproductive health education and post‐partum family planning. Improving the quality of antenatal care as well as addressing social determinants of health, including gender equity, education and employment of women, is required if maternal mortality is to be reduced. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The rate of preexisting diabetes mellitus (DM) in Saudi Arabia is one of the highest in the world. The role of preconception care (PCC) is well-established as a means of improving pregnancy outcomes in DM. Objectives: To assess the rate of preconception counseling, the level of PCC knowledge, and the rate of unplanned pregnancies in Saudi women with DM. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among 355 Saudi women aged 18-49 years with self-reported DM. The study questionnaire contained variables about the provision of preconception counseling, knowledge of PCC facts, and the number of unplanned pregnancies after developing DM. The level of PCC knowledge was evaluated using a modified Likert scale. Statistical Package for Social Sciences 20 was used for statistical analysis. Descriptive statistics, mean and standard deviation, and percentages were calculated; t-test was used for statistical significance. Results: About one-third of the participants had received preconception counseling after being diagnosed with DM. Counseling on PCC for older and married participants was significantly less. Of the 355 participants, 42.8% had little or no PCC knowledge. All pregnancies that occurred after developing DM were unplanned. Conclusions: The rate of preconception counseling, the level of PCC knowledge in the studied Saudi women with DM is suboptimal, and none of the pregnancies that occurred after developing DM was planned. The study highlights the need for PCC programs that target all Saudi women of child-bearing age with DM, and their families starting at the age of puberty and at diagnosis of type 2DM, to optimize women's health and improve pregnancy outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Unplanned pregnancies among adolescents constitute a global public health concern. Although preventable, it remains common and is usually associated with negative health and socioeconomic outcomes for the baby, the adolescents themselves, the family and society at large. Health care services in South Africa are dealing with high numbers of adolescent girls with unplanned pregnancies seeking professional help with their pregnancies. Support for adolescent girls in choices about decision making on pregnancy prevention is often not available from the family, school, community, or health care services. The purpose of this study was to explore and describe the factors contributing to the prevalence of unplanned pregnancies in adolescent girls in Hammanskraal. One-to-one interviews using semi-structured questions were used to collect data. Sixteen adolescent girls with unplanned pregnancies were interviewed. Purposive sampling was used to select participants for the study. The findings revealed that lack of personal knowledge, empowerment, and reflection, limited flexibility in health care environment, restrictive social norms, poverty, and substance abuse contributed to the occurrence of unplanned pregnancies in adolescent girls. The findings suggest the need for a programme for the prevention of unplanned pregnancies in adolescent girls through emancipated decision-making. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article describes the factors influencing the utilisation of the female condom (FC2) among healthcare providers, which is part of a study that aimed at developing strategies to improve the utilisation by the patients of FC2 in prevention of STIs, HIV and AIDs and unplanned pregnancies. Like other women in the world, female healthcare providers are also biologically two to four times more vulnerable to STIs, HIV and AIDs infections than men. Women are also vulnerable to unplanned pregnancies. However, the utilisation of FC2 by healthcare providers is still inadequate. A qualitative, exploratory and descriptive research approach was used in this study. Purposive sampling was used to select the participants, because only healthcare providers responsible for the provision of FC2 were selected. In-depth individual interviews were used during data collection. Data were analysed following the qualitative data analysis methods. Factors influencing the utilisation of FC2 were identified as the main category during data analysis. The study confirmed that the healthcare providers are unable to utilise the FC2 because of: the shape and size of the FC2; complexities of the female genital organs hindering procedure; partners' reaction to FC2; and cultural background around accepting FC2 use. The development of strategies to enable healthcare providers to use FC2 was recommended, in order to ensure protection and prevention of STIs, HIV and AIDs and unplanned pregnancies among healthcare providers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Contraceptive failure is the primary cause of unintended pregnancy in the United States. With obesity rates at epidemic proportions, any association between obesity and strategies that prevent undesired pregnancies constitutes a significant public health and economic concern. Unfortunately, the relationship between obesity and contraception has not been extensively studied. Evidence from several epidemiological studies suggests that obesity may increase failure of some hormonal contraceptives resulting in unplanned pregnancies. Obesity may make procedure-dependent contraceptive methods (i.e., sterilization and intrauterine devices) more technically challenging for the provider to perform. Hormonal contraceptives, on the whole, do not appear to adversely affect body weight and provide important noncontraceptive benefits (i.e., cancer protection). Some surgical interventions to treat bariatric issues may compromise the efficacy of orally dosed contraceptive methods. Overall, the Society of Family Planning strongly encourages the use of both hormonal and nonhormonal methods of contraception in obese women desiring pregnancy prevention with very few restrictions. Further studies are needed to determine the interrelationship between obesity and contraception. In addition, future contraceptive efficacy studies need to include women of differing BMIs to better reflect the population of women using these methods. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Cohabiting women are less likely to plan their pregnancies than married women. Research on marital and pregnancy statuses remains distinct and, consequently, the effects of both variables are confounded. The aim of the present study was to examine the moderational role of pregnancy planning in the relationship between marital status and future parents' wellbeing. A sample of 154 French-Canadian couples expecting their first child completed assessments of pregnancy planning and of well-being (i.e., anxiety, depression, satisfaction with life, and dyadic adjustment) during the third trimester of pregnancy. Results show that pregnancy planning efforts contribute to future parents' well-being only if they are married. Similarly, marriage offers more benefits than cohabitation, but only if partners have planned the pregnancy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article focuses on prenatal care. Health and social sciences research demonstrates that adequacy of prenatal care has a direct relationship to pregnancy outcome. Adequate prenatal care begins in the first trimester and continues on a regular schedule until delivery. Lack of adequate prenatal care is associated with poor pregnancy outcomes, including high rates of infant and neonatal death, premature birth, birth defects, maternal death, and birth complications. Demographic studies indicate that the typical nonusers of prenatal services are Black women, teenage girls, women with more than four previous births, single women, poor women, and women without high school education. Despite substantial funding, vital statistics continue to show that a significant number of women do not obtain adequate prenatal care. Most studies of nonuse of prenatal care either assess prenatal program effectiveness in reducing poor pregnancy outcome or identify demographic characteristics of nonusers of services.

Introduction: Pregnancies affected with neural tube defects (NTDs) are mostly associated to maternal deficiency of folic acid (FA). Although supplementation is recommended for all women of childbearing age, the incidence of NTDs in Puerto Rico has not shown a significant decrease., Objective: The goal of this study was to assess the awareness and level of knowledge of FA supplementation among women attending prenatal clinics, and correlate this knowledge with the source ofinformation and the actual use of FA. A secondary objective was to corroborate or abrogatethe association of the lack of FA supplementation with the occurrence of unplanned pregnancies., Methods: This descriptive study was conducted at the High-Risk Prenatal Care Clinicsof the Adults University Hospital from August 2015 to November 2015. The answers to a non-validated self-administered questionnaire were assessed and then analyzed with Epi Info 7., Results: From a total of 200 Hispanic female participants, 87.0% were Puerto Rican, most (69.0%) had an education above high school level and 54.5% had a low-income status. Overall, 66.5% were taking FA at the time of the interview, 77% understood that the best time to start FA supplementation was prior to conception, but only 23% of the participants actually began preconceptional FA intake. Unplanned pregnancies were reported in 70.5%. Most referred to have received information about FA benefits from a healthcare professional, yet many could not identify all of FA benefits., Conclusion: Although most participants were aware of the best time to begin FA supplementation, the majority began intake once pregnancy was discovered; timing related to the 70.5% unplanned pregnancies. Information received is not sufficient sincemost women are not entirely clear about the benefits of FA supplementation, despite their source of information. In caring for women of childbearing age, further investigation is required to optimize educational strategies and methodologies.

Introduction: Sexually transmitted infections and unplanned pregnancies are two great concerns in the reproductive health. Different agents are used for male contraception but it is necessary to introduce other compounds that have antimicrobial properties in order to reduction of sexually transmitted diseases as well as male contraception. The aim of this study was to purify new spermicidal peptides with antimicrobial properties from Paederus dermatitis (Pd). Materials and Methods: The peptide purification was done with gel filtration and Reverse-Phase High Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC). The sequencing was carried out by Mass/Mass. The antimicrobial activity was tested by Radial Diffusion Assay (RDA) and Minimal Inhibitory Concentration (MIC) methods. After preparation of normozoospermic specimens, different doses of 3, 7.5, 15, 30 and 125 μg/ml were tested at different time intervals (0.3, 5, 10, 15 min). Eosin staining method was applied for sperm viability detection. Results: The results showed that the sarcotoxin Pd showed considerable antimicrobial activity against Gram positive and Gram negative bacteria [minimum inhibitory concentrations (MIC), 6.12-19.24 μg/ml] as well as fungi (MIC, 18.62 to 25.26 μg/ml). In addition, this new peptide showed no hemolytic activity against human red blood cell. This peptide is composed of 34 amino acids and its sequence is: GWLKKIGKKIE RVGQHTRGLGIAQIAANVAATA. Total spermicidal activity was shown after addition of 125 μg/ml for 0.3 min. Conclusion: Preliminary results showed potential spermicidal as well as antimicrobial activities of sarcotoxin Pd. It seems this peptide is potential candidate in order to use in male contraception which can be used as a spermicidal agent in male condoms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]