Clinics in obstetrics and gynaecology
-
Hypertensive diseases are among the most common of all pregnancy complications. Significant elevations of blood pressure can be missed if inflexible criteria are used. ⋯ The antihypertensive drugs in current use have a good safety record with regard to both mother and baby. The management of hypertension during pregnancy ideally requires the close cooperation of obstetrician and physician.
-
Certain infections, such as UTI, may have an increased incidence during pregnancy owing to physiological changes. Between 2 and 10% of pregnant women have covert or asymptomatic bacteriuria which is associated with an increased incidence of acute symptomatic UTI in later pregnancy if left untreated. Thus antenatal screening to detect the presence of bacteriuria is justified. ⋯ Most antibiotics cross the placenta and are excreted in breast milk. Some agents, such as the beta-lactams, are considered safe in pregnancy and breast-feeding women while other antibiotics are contraindicated owing to risk of toxicity (often rare) or teratogenicity (often theoretical). Caution is necessary with many agents which may cause side effects or toxicity although this does not necessarily contraindicate their use in pregnancy.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)
-
Abortion is a universal phenomenon, occurring throughout recorded history and at all levels of societal organization. Techniques are highly varied, as are the circumstances under which it is practised. The status of and attitudes towards abortion in Western civilization are variable and have, in most cases, been changing. ⋯ More recent polls demonstrate little attitudinal change since 1972-1973: between 80% and 90% of Americans approve of abortion in the case of poor health, a seriously defective fetus, or rape, and between 40% and 50% indicate approval for all other reasons as well. Only 10% of the American population would like to see abortion prohibited under all circumstances. Sociodemographic analyses indicate that individuals who disapprove of abortion differ from those who approve of its availability in that they are more likely to be Roman Catholic or fundamentalist Protestant; are, in general, more strongly committed to organized religion; are on the traditional/conservative end of the spectrum with regard to women's role in life, premarital sex, sex education and civil liberties; and tend to have achieved a relatively low educational level. 'Pro-life' and 'pro-choice' activists tend to be women who are completely different from one another in sociodemographic characteristics and in overall values, particularly as these relate to traditional versus modern female roles.
-
Clin Obstet Gynaecol · Mar 1986
Comparative StudyRole of abortion in control of global population growth.
No nation desirous of reducing its growth rate to 1% or less can expect to do so without the widespread use of abortion. This observational study, based on the experience of 116 of the world's largest countries, supports the contention that abortion is essential to any national population growth control effort. The principal findings are: Except for a few countries with ageing populations and very high contraceptive prevalence rates, developed countries will need to maintain abortion rates generally in the range of 201-500 abortions per 1000 live births if they are to maintain growth rates at levels below 1%. ⋯ The data in this report suggest that actual alternatives are high death rates of infants and children or widespread use of contraception and abortion. African nations tend to have the very lowest abortion rates and the very highest infant and child death rates. To avoid a world with deteriorating social, economic and political stability, with the concomitant loss of personal and national security, we must ensure that safe abortion is made available to all who wish to use this service.