Is gender inequity a risk factor for men reporting poorer self-rated health in the United States?

Theoretical approaches suggest that gender inequity increases men's health risks. Previous findings from the United States support this contention, however only a small number of health outcomes have been explored. This study extends the range of health outcomes examined by using a cross-sectional, multilevel analysis to investigate whether measures of state-level gender inequity are predictors of men's self-rated health.

Does gender inequity increase men's mortality risk in the United States? A multilevel analysis of data from the National Longitudinal Mortality Study.

A number of theoretical approaches suggest that gender inequity may give rise to health risks for men. This study undertook a multilevel analysis to ascertain if state-level measures of gender inequity are predictors of men's mortality in the United States. Data for the analysis were taken primarily from the National Longitudinal Mortality Study, which is based on a random sample of the non-institutionalised population.

The legal and non-legal barriers to abortion access in Australia: a review of the evidence.

Objectives: In Australia, about one in four pregnancies results in an induced abortion. The termination of a pregnancy is still, however, a criminal act in most jurisdictions, and access to abortion is not without barriers. This paper analyses existing access barriers and their implications.

Use of pregnancy counselling services in Australia 2007-2012.

Objective: To assess the uptake of Medicare Benefit payments for non-directive pregnancy support counselling which commenced in November 2006.

Methods: Counts of services for pregnancy counselling from 1 July 2007 to 30 June 2012, where a Medicare rebate was paid, were used to calculate age-, state- and provider-specific rates per 100,000 women aged 15-44 years, and rates per 100,000 births for each study year.

Results: Rates of Medicare rebates for pregnancy counselling were low, with a mean of 90.

Who's cheating? Agreements about sexual exclusivity and subsequent concurrent partnering in Australian heterosexual couples.

Unlabelled: Background Concurrent relationships are a driver of generalised epidemics of sexually transmissible infections (STIs). In Australia, explicit negotiation of agreements about sex outside regular relationships has been recommended in health promotion for gay men but not for heterosexuals.

Objective: To ascertain the annual incidence of concurrency among people in ongoing male-female relationships according to their reported expectations of exclusivity.

Incidence and persistence/recurrence of men's sexual difficulties: findings from the Australian Longitudinal Study of Health and Relationships.

This study presents data on the prevalence, incidence, and persistence/recurrence of 8 sexual difficulties among men. Participants were 3,157 Australian men who were administered 2 computer-assisted interviews approximately 12 months apart. Analyses were based on a weighted sample of 2,158 men who were 20-64 years of age, sexually active in the past 12 months, and in the same heterosexual relationship at both interviews.

A population-based study investigating the association between sexual and relationship satisfaction and psychological distress among heterosexuals.

This study examined whether sexual/relationship satisfaction are differentially associated with mental health issues. Using data from a population-based computer-assisted telephone survey, the authors included in this study 3,800 respondents who had a regular heterosexual partner. The authors used 2 methods of scoring the K6 to produce measures of moderate psychological distress and serious psychological distress.

Incidence and persistence/recurrence of women's sexual difficulties: findings from the Australian Longitudinal Study of Health and Relationships.

This study presents data on the prevalence, incidence, and persistence/recurrence of 8 sexual difficulties among women. Australian women participated in 2 computer-assisted interviews approximately 12 months apart. Analyses were based on a weighted sample of 2,252 women who were 20-64 years of age, sexually active in the past 12 months, and in the same heterosexual relationship at both interviews.

Demographic predictors of consistency and change in heterosexuals' attitudes toward homosexual behavior over a two-year period.

This study investigated demographic predictors of consistency and change in heterosexual people's attitudes toward homosexual behavior. A nationally representative sample of Australian men and women were recruited via random digit dialling in 2004 through 2005. Participants completed annual computer-assisted telephone interviews over the next five years.

Who gets tattoos? Demographic and behavioral correlates of ever being tattooed in a representative sample of men and women.

Purpose: Despite recent increases in the popularity of tattooing, little is known about the prevalence and characteristics of adults who have ever been tattooed. We investigated demographic and behavioral correlates of ever getting tattooed in an adult population.

Methods: Computer-assisted telephone interviews were completed by a representative sample of 8656 men and women ages 16-64 years in Australia.

An examination of the health and wellbeing of childless women: a cross-sectional exploratory study in Victoria, Australia.

Background: Childlessness among Australian women is increasing. Despite this, little is known about the physical and mental health and wellbeing of childless women, particularly during the reproductive years. The aims of this exploratory study were to: 1) describe the physical and mental health and wellbeing and lifestyle behaviours of childless women who are currently within the latter part of their reproductive years (30 - 45 years of age); and 2) compare the physical and mental health and wellbeing and lifestyle behaviours of these childless women to Australian population norms.

Sexual practices and the duration of last heterosexual encounter: findings from the Australian longitudinal study of health and relationships.

This study investigated the association between sexual practices and duration of a sexual encounter. Using data from a population-based computer-assisted telephone survey of 8,656 Australians aged 16 to 64 years, four distinct patterns of sexual practices among respondents were found: "basic sexual encounter" (involving mainly kissing, cuddling, stroking one's partner and being stroked, and vaginal intercourse), "basic sexual encounter plus oral sex," "all assessed sexual practices" (all sexual behaviors included in the survey), and "mainly vaginal intercourse" (characterized by lower levels of kissing, cuddling, and stroking). For both men and women, respondents classified in the basic sexual encounter plus oral sex, and all assessed sexual practices clusters reported significantly longer durations than those in the basic sexual encounter group, whereas respondents in the mainly vaginal intercourse cluster reported shorter durations.

Association between sexual behavior and cervical cancer screening.

Background: Not much is known about whether women who follow Pap testing recommendations report the same pattern of sexual behavior as women who do not.

Methods: Data come from part of a larger population-based computer-assisted telephone survey of 8656 Australians aged 16-64 years resident in Australian households with a fixed telephone line (Australian Longitudinal Study of Health and Relationships [ALSHR]). The main outcome measure in the current study was having had a Pap test in the past 2 years.

High prevalence of symptoms associated with ovarian cancer among Australian women.

Background: Symptoms associated with ovarian cancer are often vague and non-specific, such as abdominal bloating and pain. Presently, nothing is known about the prevalence of these symptoms among women in the community.

Aims: To identify the prevalence and correlates of symptoms associated with ovarian cancer in a nationally representative sample of Australian women.

Provision of the emergency contraceptive pill without prescription: attitudes and practices of pharmacists in Australia.

Background: As 5 years have elapsed since the emergency contraceptive pill (ECP) was made available without prescription in Australia, information was sought about the current attitudes and practices of pharmacists in relation to their increased role in ECP provision.

Study Design: A mail survey was implemented; questionnaires were distributed to 750 pharmacies across Australia during 2008-2009. Descriptive statistics were calculated and multiple logistic regression was used to examine factors associated with declining to dispense ECP.

Pharmacy access to the emergency contraceptive pill: a national survey of a random sample of Australian women.

Background: The emergency contraceptive pill (ECP) has the potential to assist in reducing unintended pregnancy and abortion rates. Since its rescheduling to pharmacy availability without prescription in Australia in January 2004, there is little information about Australian women's knowledge, attitudes and use of the ECP. The aim of this study was to measure the knowledge about the ECP and sociodemographic patterns of and barriers to use of the ECP.

Knowledge of human papillomavirus (HPV) and the HPV vaccine in a national sample of Australian men and women.

Background: Human papillomavirus (HPV) knowledge has rarely been investigated in the context of a national vaccination program. The present study investigated HPV knowledge after the introduction of a national HPV vaccination program in Australia using a national sample of men and women.

Methods: Questions assessing HPV knowledge were part of a broader national study of health and relationships administered via a computer-assisted telephone interview.

Hysterectomy trends in Australia--between 2000/01 and 2004/05.

Background: Hysterectomy is a major and common surgical procedure that has the potential to provide relief from ongoing gynaecological problems, but is often associated with negative impacts on health and wellbeing. Research indicates that hysterectomy rates and trends vary widely between and within countries; yet little is known about patterns in Australia.

Aims: This research aimed to describe hysterectomy rates and trends in Australia between 2000/01 and 2004/05.

National prevalence of urogenital pain and prostatitis-like symptoms in Australian men using the National Institutes of Health Chronic Prostatitis Symptoms Index.

Study Type: Prognosis (cohort).

Level Of Evidence: 2a.

Objective: To provide a summary, using the National Institutes of Health Chronic Prostatitis Symptoms Index (NIH-CPSI), of the prevalence of prostatitis-like symptoms in a population-based sample of Australian men.

Prevalence and correlates of three types of pelvic pain in a nationally representative sample of Australian women.

Objective: To identify the prevalence and correlates of three types of pelvic pain (dysmenorrhoea, dyspareunia, and other chronic pelvic pain [CPP]) in a nationally representative sample of Australian women.

Design And Setting: The CPP survey was part of a broader national study of health and relationships. Computer-assisted telephone interviews were administered to a random sample of 8656 Australian households; 4366 women aged between 16 and 64 years were interviewed in 2004 and 2005.

The Australian longitudinal study of health and relationships.

Background: Ensuring the sexual and reproductive health of the population is essential for the wellbeing of a nation. At least three aspects of sexual and reproductive health are among the key policy issues for present Australian governments: maintaining and increasing the birth rate; reducing the abortion rate; and preventing and controlling Chlamydia infections. The overall aim of the Australian Longitudinal Study of Health and Relationships is to document the natural history of the sexual and reproductive health of the Australian adult population.

Travel undertaken by women accessing private Victorian pregnancy termination services.

Objective: To investigate the extent and cost of travel undertaken by women accessing Victorian termination of pregnancy services.

Design, Setting And Participants: This was a multi-centre, cross-sectional observational study of women receiving privately funded pregnancy termination services, conducted between November 2002 and June 2003 at eight major pregnancy termination service providers in Victoria.

Main Outcome Measures: Distance travelled, money and time expended undertaking travel, and reasons women chose particular clinics.