Women and postfertilization effects of birth control: consistency of beliefs, intentions and reported use

BACKGROUND: This study assesses the consistency of responses among women regarding their beliefs about the mechanisms of actions of birth control methods, beliefs about when human life begins, the intention to use or not use birth control methods that they believe may act after fertilization or implantation, and their reported use of specific methods. METHODS: A questionnaire was administered in family practice and obstetrics and gynecology clinics in Salt Lake City, Utah, and Tulsa, Oklahoma. Participants included women ages 18–50 presenting for any reason and women under age 18 presenting for family planning or pregnancy care. Analyses were based on key questions addressing beliefs about whether specific birth control methods may act after fertilization, beliefs about when human life begins, intention to use a method that may act after fertilization, and reported use of specific methods. The questionnaire contained no information about the mechanism of action of any method of birth control. Responses were considered inconsistent if actual use contradicted intentions, if one intention contradicted another, or if intentions contradicted beliefs. RESULTS: Of all respondents, 38% gave consistent responses about intention to not use or to stop use of any birth control method that acted after fertilization, while 4% gave inconsistent responses. The corresponding percentages for birth control methods that work after implantation were 64% consistent and 2% inconsistent. Of all respondents, 34% reported they believed that life begins at fertilization and would not use any birth control method that acts after fertilization (a consistent response), while 3% reported they believed that life begins at fertilization but would use a birth control method that acts after fertilization (inconsistent). For specific methods of birth control, less than 1% of women gave inconsistent responses. A majority of women (68% or greater) responded accurately about the mechanism of action of condoms, abstinence, sterilization, and abortion, but a substantial percentage of women (between 19% and 57%) were uncertain about the mechanisms of action of oral contraceptives, intrauterine devices (IUDs), Depo-Provera, or natural family planning. CONCLUSION: Women who believe that life begins at fertilization may not intend to use a birth control method that could have postfertilization effects. More research is needed to understand the relative importance of postfertilization effects for women in other populations, and in relation to other properties of and priorities for birth control methods. However, many women were uncertain about the mechanisms of action of specific methods. To respect the principles of informed consent, some women may need more education about what is known and not known about the mechanisms of action of birth control methods

The Vaccination Model in Psychoneuroimmunology Research: A Review

This chapter explores the reasoning behind using the vaccination model to examine the influence of psychosocial factors on immunity. It then briefly discusses the mechanics of the vaccination response and the protocols used in psychoneuroimmunology vaccine research, before giving examples from the research literature of the studies examining relationships such as the association between stress and vaccination response. It also explores the ways the vaccination model can be used to answer key questions in psychoneuroimmunology, such as the following: “Does it matter when stressful life events occur relative to when the vaccine is received?” “What are the effects of prior exposure to the antigen?” “Do other psychosocial factors influence vaccine response besides stress?” Finally, it briefly considers the mechanisms underlying psychosocial factors and vaccination response associations and the future research needed to understand these better, and indeed to use current and future knowledge to improve and enhance vaccine responses in key at-risk populations

Mood changes in the course of preparation for the Brazilian university admission exam - a longitudinal study Alterações de humor ao longo da preparação para o vestibular - um estudo longitudinal

OBJECTIVE: Academic examinations are an important source of stress for students. This study is intended to assess senior high school students' mood changes during the preparation for a very important academic examination, the Brazilian university admission examination. METHOD: Positive and Negative Affect Schedule - Expanded Form was used to assess the students three times in the course of the months preceding the examination. RESULTS: ANOVA for repeated measures showed that Negative Affect increased as the examination approached, and that this increment was already present months before the examinationtookplace. Asingle conditionallyindependent random effect model showed that time spent studying was associated with fluctuations in mood. CONCLUSION: Teenagers, in preparation for a very important examination, may present mood disturbances associated with both the proximity of the examination and their study load months before the examination actually takes place. Other stressing factors may play a role in these findings and should be further investigated.<br>OBJETIVO: Exames acadêmicos são uma fonte importante de estresse para estudantes. Este estudo teve como objetivo avaliar alterações de humor em estudantes de terceiro ano do Ensino Médio ao longo da preparação para um exame acadêmico de grande importância, o vestibular. MÉTODO: Positive and Negative Affect Schedule - Expanded Form foi utilizado para avaliar os estudantes três vezes ao longo dos meses antecedendo o exame. RESULTADOS: ANOVA para medidas repetidas mostrou que o afeto negativo aumentou com a aproximação do exame e que esse aumento já estava presente meses antes dele acontecer. Um modelo de efeitos aleatórios com independência condicional mostrou que o tempo de estudo estava associado às flutuações de humor. CONCLUSÃO: Adolescentes em preparação para exames muito importantes podem apresentar um distúrbio de humor associado à proximidade do exame e à quantidade de estudo meses antes que ele ocorra. Outros estressores podem estar associados a esses achados e devem ser investigados