[Women and sex-specific health research in the German Society for Social Medicine and Prevention]

Since the 1970s women's health research has put gender-specific topics on the agenda of health research and practice. Based on a social science approach, it focuses on social conditions of the maintenance of women's health and of their needs in prevention, health promotion, medical treatment, and rehabilitation. Besides an analysis of woman-specific topics (such as sexual violence or drug abuse) women's health research addresses questions of gender bias in health research. In Germany, guidelines are lacking that ensure appropriate attention to gender issues for health research. The section "Woman-specific and gender-specific health research" of the German Society for Social Medicine and Prevention (DGSMP) intends to intensify the discussion on the gaps in health research and prevention and on the development of guidelines to detect gender bias. The main goal is to implement the concept of gender mainstreaming in public health.

[Life situation of parents of twins and triplets: a qualitative study]

BACKGROUND

Starting in the middle of the 1980s, an increasing incidence of multiple pregnancies in Germany has been reported, with assisted reproduction mainly contributing to this increase. In the management of multiple pregnancies, the main focus is on optimising the obstetric care. The difficult socio-economic and psychosocial situation of parents of multiples, however, is often underestimated.

METHODS

The present study examines the life situation of parents of twins and triplets using focus groups as a qualitative research method. Nineteen mothers and fathers of twins and triplets were interviewed in four focus groups. Main topics were the parental reaction to the diagnosis of multiple pregnancy, the first time at home with the multiples, special situations and wishes and ideas for a better care during multiple pregnancy.

RESULTS

The diagnosis of multiple pregnancy was made at early gestational age, with the parental reactions being described between "happiness" and "shock". With this diagnosis, however, the future parents feel alone. Caring for the babies is leading to the limits of parent's ability to take stress. Marital problems and social isolation are discussed controversially. Exceptional situations such as illness of the mother require fast and un-bureaucratic solutions.

CONCLUSIONS

The interviews suggest that special problems of multiple parenthood such as social isolation, marital and psychic problems are not necessarily related to higher order multiples or handicapped children. It appears to be essential to offer a more individual care for women expecting multiples, whereas the main resource for improving care is in providing contact and information possibilities.

[Health-related behavior and coping with problems by adolescents in relation to social change in new unified Germany]

Young people in East Germany are faced with problems specific to their development which are added to through adjusting to conditions caused by transformation. Psychosocial pressure, attitudes to personal health and resources to problem solving in interaction with each other form a significant part of young people's lives. They shall be represented in selected conclusions below. In a questionnaire of 1764 young people themes to relating attitudes to personal health, psychosocial pressure as well as personal problem solving were raised. A main concern of social change raised by parents' new employment situation hasn't led to any negative attitudes to personal health nor to social pressure which surpasses the results of other investigations. At the time of investigation (1993) young people have coped altogether well with the social changes.