Mental health consequences of military sexual trauma: results from a national survey in the French military.

Background: Military sexual trauma (MST) is a major public health concern, given its prevalence and mental health sequelae. This phenomenon is particularly prevalent among women in the US military, although more cases involve men given their overrepresentation. Little is known about MST and its consequences in other military settings, including in Europe.

From sexual harassment to sexual assault: Prevalence and correlates of sexual trauma in the French military.

Background: Sexual harassment (SH) is prevalent in military settings and dependent on the workplace environment. Few studies have investigated this issue in non-US military settings nor have examined how contextual and individual factors related to Military Sexual Trauma (MST) vary by gender.

Methods: This study draws on a national sexual survey in the French military including 1268 servicemen and 232 servicewomen.

Sexual health in the French military: a multidimensional and gendered perspective.

Background: Sexual health in the military comprises a range of concerns including sexually transmitted infections (STI), unintended pregnancy, sexual violence and sexual dysfunction. This study aims to estimate the prevalence of sexual health concerns by gender in the French military and compare these prevalences to estimates in the general population.

Methods: COSEMIL, the first sexual health survey in the French military comprises a probability sample of 1500 military personnel.

Prevalence and risk factors of sexually transmitted infections among French service members.

Introduction: Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs) have always represented a public health concern in the military, yet most studies rely on self-reports among non-random samples of military populations. In addition, most of the studies exploring STI rates among the military focus on US service members. This paper assesses the prevalence and correlates of STIs in the French military using biomarkers and compares self-reported versus diagnosed STIs.

Ovulatory status and menstrual cycle duration assessed by self-collection of urine on pH strips in a population-based sample of French women not using hormonal contraception.

Background: Assessing menstrual cycle function in the general population using a non-invasive method is challenging, both in non-industrialized and industrialized countries.

Subjects And Methods: The Observatory of Fecundity in France (Obseff) recruited on a nationwide basis a random sample of 943 women aged 18-44 years with unprotected intercourse. A sub-study was set up to assess the characteristics of a menstrual cycle by using a non-invasive method adapted to the general population.

Frequency and correlates of unintended pregnancy risk perceptions.

Objectives: This study is to assess frequency and correlates of women's reports of unintended pregnancy risk in the general population in France.

Study Design: Data are drawn from the FECOND survey, a national probability survey on sexual and reproductive health conducted in France in 2010. We identified 2969 women ages 15-49years who had heterosexual intercourse in the 4weeks prior to the survey and who were at potential risk of unintended pregnancy.

Men's contraceptive practices in France: evidence of male involvement in family planning.

Objective: To describe contraceptive practices of men in a relationship in France, where use of female-controlled methods is predominant, and to explore their involvement in managing contraception within the couple.

Study Design: Data are drawn from a national probability cross-sectional survey on sexual and reproductive health conducted in France in 2010. The study sample comprised 3373 men aged 15-49, 1776 of whom were asked about their current contraceptive practices after they reported that they were fecund and sexually active and did not currently want a child.

Male experiences of unintended pregnancy: characteristics and prevalence.

Study Question: What are the characteristics and circumstances of pregnancies men report as unintended in France?

Summary Answer: Pregnancies reported as unintended were most prevalent among young men with insecure financial situations, less stable relationships and inconsistent use of contraception or false assumptions about their partner's use of contraception.

What Is Known Already: Efforts to involve men in family planning have increased over the last decade; however, little is known about factors associated with men's pregnancy intentions and associated contraceptive behaviours.

Study Design, Size, Duration: The data presented in this study were drawn from the nationally representative FECOND study, a population-based survey conducted in France in 2010.

Unplanned or unwanted? A randomized study of national estimates of pregnancy intentions.

Objective: To evaluate the effect of question wording on national estimates of pregnancy intentions.

Design: Data drawn from a national probability survey.

Setting: The FECOND study in France in 2010.

Timing of contraceptive initiation and association with future sexual and reproductive outcomes.

Study Question: Who initiates contraception before, at the time or after first sexual intercourse and how does timing of initiation affect future sexual and reproductive health (SRH) outcomes?

Summary Answer: Earlier initiation was associated with current utilization of more effective contraception, but had no impact on future unintended pregnancy, abortion or sexually transmitted infection rates, while later initiation was linked to higher rates of unintended pregnancies and abortions.

What Is Known Already: Contraceptive behaviour at first intercourse is associated with later SRH outcomes.

Study Design, Size, Duration: Data were drawn from the FECOND study, the last national SRH study in France, conducted in 2010-2011 by phone among 8645 individuals aged 15-49 years.

Effectiveness of family planning policies: the abortion paradox.

Objective: The relation between levels of contraceptive use and the incidence of induced abortion remains a topic of heated debate. Many of the contradictions are likely due to the fact that abortion is the end point of a process that starts with sexual activity, contraceptive use (or non-use), followed by unwanted pregnancy, a decision to terminate, and access to abortion. Trends in abortion rates reflect changes in each step of this process, and opposing trends may cancel each other out.

Estimates of unintended pregnancy rates over the last decade in France as a function of contraceptive behaviors.

Objective: We investigate trends in contraceptive behaviors in France and how they may have contributed to fluctuations in unintended pregnancy rates over time and across subgroups of the population between 2000 and 2010.

Study Design: Data are drawn from three national surveys in France, comprising 4714 women ages 15 to 49 in 2000, 8613 in 2005 and 5260 in 2010. We used multinomial and simple logistic regression models to explore trends in contraceptive behaviors over time.

IUD use in France: women's and physician's perspectives.

Objective: While the intra-uterine device (IUD) is the second most popular contraceptive method in France, its use remains low among women most at risk of unintended pregnancies. Acknowledging the conjoint role of women and physicians in contraceptive decision making, we investigate the determinants of IUD use and IUD recommendations from the user and prescriber perspectives.

Study Design: Data are drawn from 2 national probability surveys (population-based and physician surveys) on sexual and reproductive health in France.

Trends and determinants of use of long-acting reversible contraception use among young women in France: results from three national surveys conducted between 2000 and 2010.

Objective: To investigate trends and determinants in the use of long-acting reversible contraceptives (LARCs), including intrauterine devices and implants, over the last decade among young women in France.

Design: Data drawn from three cross-sectional national probability surveys.

Setting: Not applicable.

Maternal personal exposure to airborne benzene and intrauterine growth.

Background: Studies relying on outdoor pollutants measures have reported associations between air pollutants and birth weight.

Objective: Our aim was to assess the relation between maternal personal exposure to airborne benzene during pregnancy and fetal growth.

Methods: We recruited pregnant women in two French maternity hospitals in 2005-2006 as part of the EDEN mother-child cohort.