Journal of women's health
-
Journal of women's health · Jan 2009
The impact of race and ethnicity on receipt of family planning services in the United States.
This study sought to examine the independent effect of patient race or ethnicity on the use of family planning services and on the likelihood of receiving counseling for sterilization and other birth control methods. ⋯ Minority women were more likely to receive counseling about sterilization and other birth control methods. However, there were no differences in access to family planning services by race or ethnicity. Future studies are needed to examine the quality and content of contraceptive counseling received by minority compared with nonminority women.
-
Journal of women's health · Jan 2009
Maternal serum granulocyte colony-stimulating factor levels and spontaneous preterm birth.
Preterm birth (PTB) remains a cause of substantial morbidity with an elusive etiology. Previous studies suggested an association of PTB with elevated serum levels of granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) at 28 weeks gestation. G-CSF, a hematopoietic cytokine, mediates the increase in leukocytes in pregnancy and may play a role in placentation. We evaluated the association between maternal serum G-CSF in the first and second trimesters and PTB. ⋯ Acute effects of G-CSF on PTB have been suggested. In our study we observed an association of higher serum G-CSF levels early in the second trimester with PTB, suggesting PTB as the culmination process beginning early in, if not before, pregnancy.