Articles: disease.
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Detailed standardized annual reports are analysed for 17 rural hospitals in four African countries, with admission figures of 1.2 million patients (excluding deliveries) and more than 67,000 deaths over a period of 16 years. The countries involved are Zambia, Tanzania, Kenya and Ghana. Figures on admission, causes of death and clinical case fatality rates are presented per country and per 4-year calendar period for the most important infectious diseases. ⋯ A need for detailed studies with good "standardized" hospital records is emphasized. Representative data are needed from all hospitals in a given catchment area, with defined diagnoses for diseases and details regarding age and sex. This kind of information is highly desirable for planning and operation of curative and preventive medical care in developing countries.
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Detailed knowledge of anticipated casualties is essential for the medical officer preparing to support a mission. To accurately describe the injuries inflicted upon the 2/75th Ranger Battalion involved in Operation Just Cause, 471 (75.5%) Rangers were personally interviewed. The average Ranger was 23 years old, an E-4 with 3 years of active duty service, and in a good to excellent fitness category. ⋯ Most of the injuries were musculoskeletal (sprains) and non-surgical, with 90% occurring during the insertion. The lower extremity, particularly the ankle, was the most frequently injured area. It is hoped that this study will assist those who are planning to support future, similar nighttime parachute operations.
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We investigated whether reported psychiatric morbidity was increased after termination of pregnancy compared with other outcomes of an unplanned pregnancy. ⋯ The findings on DSH are probably explicable by confounding variables, such as adverse social factors, associated both with the request for termination and with subsequent self-harm. No overall increase in reported psychiatric morbidity was found.
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Isotretinoin is effective in treating severe acne, but it is also teratogenic. To minimize pregnancies among exposed women, the manufacturer, together with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, implemented a multicomponent Pregnancy Prevention Program in 1988. We report the results of an ongoing survey designed to assess compliance with this program. ⋯ The pregnancy rate among women receiving isotretinoin therapy was substantially lower than that in the general population and was compatible with the characteristics and behavior of the enrolled women.
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Randomized Controlled Trial Clinical Trial
Results of a model AIDS prevention program for high school students in the Philippines.
To describe the sexual practices of high school students; to describe the process of development of a school-based AIDS prevention program; and to evaluate the effect of this program on students' AIDS-related knowledge, attitudes and AIDS-preventive behaviors. ⋯ A sizable number of Filipino high school students are sexually active but condom use is low. School-based AIDS prevention programs can be developed and implemented in developing countries with the assistance of school personnel to address sexual issues. Our program was successful in increasing AIDS-related knowledge and improving attitudes towards people with AIDS. Supplementation with other preventive activities may be needed to achieve lasting changes in students' risk-taking behavior.