Socio-psychological distress, violence, and food insecurity in women undergoing gynecological examinations: insights from a cross-sectional study of an Italian Tertiary Clinic.

Background: The reality of gynecological patients represents a distinct subgroup of the population in which social and psychological distress can coexist alongside the burden of the disease. "Unmet social needs," including social distress, which encompasses gender and family violence, abuse, unemployment, and food insecurity, are now widely recognized as critical determinants of health. Some studies have examined the social needs experienced by patients with gynecological disorders, but primarily in gynecologic oncology patients.