The study aimed at assessing the prevalence of premenstrual symptoms and of premenstrual syndrome (PMS) and premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD) in a population-based sample of women of the entire reproductive age range, as well as to analyse predictors of PMS and PMDD in terms of socio-demographic, health status and health behavioural factors. A set of questions on PMS-based on the premenstrual syndrome screening tool developed by Steiner et al., translated into German and piloted-was integrated into the written questionnaire of the 2007 Swiss Health Survey. Weighted prevalence rates and multivariable regression analysis for the outcome variables PMS and PMDD were calculated. A total of 3,913 women aged 15 to 54 years answered the questions on PMS symptoms, and 3,522 of them additionally answered the questions on interference of PMS with life. Ninety one percent of the participants reported at least one symptom, 10.3% had PMS and 3.1% fulfilled the criteria for PMDD. The prevalence of PMS was higher in non-married women, in women aged 35-44 years and in women of the Italian-speaking region of Switzerland. Both PMS and PMDD were strongly associated with poor physical health and psychological distress. Socio-cultural factors seem to determine the prevalence, perception and handling of PMS. Considering the association with poor physical health and high psychological distress, a broader underlying vulnerability in women qualifying for PMDD must be assumed and should be taken into account in clinical management as well as in future research in this field.
Aim Little is known about the impact of gender on oral health, besides the influence of reproductive factors on female dentition. The aim of this study was to analyse gender differences with regard to oral health and oral health behaviour in the Swiss adult population, using data from the Swiss Health Survey of 2002. Subjects and methods The Swiss Health Survey regularly collects detailed information on health and health determinants of a random sample of the Swiss population aged 15 years and older. A written questionnaire including items on oral health was filled in by 7,115 men and 9,026 women in 2002. Weighted prevalence rates were calculated, and multivariate logistic regression analyses used to evaluate the role of gender for complete and functional dentition and for oral health behaviour. Finally, the multivariate model was stratified for men and women and run for the outcome "complete dentition". Results Women had a higher prevalence of visits to the dentist in the last 12 months (64% versus 60% men), of visits to dental hygienists (39% versus 34%), and of frequent tooth brushing (several times a day) (82% versus 66%). Adjusting for preventive behaviour, sociodemographic and socio-economic variables in multivariate analyses, female gender was positively associated with the prevalence of visits to the dentist (OR 1.33, 95% CI 1.24-1.43) and of frequent tooth brushing several times a day (OR 2.57, 95% CI 2.36-2.79), but not with complete dentition (OR 1.01, 95% CI 0.93-1.09). In the stratified analysis, associations of complete dentition with socioeconomic status, oral hygiene and preventive behaviour were stronger in men than in women. Conclusion Gender plays an important role in oral health. Adult women report a more pronounced preventive oral health behaviour than men; their dentition, however, is not more often complete. Mechanisms involved in women's oral health are probably more complex than those underlying men's oral health. An in-depth gender analysis is needed to shed more light upon this issue.
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