Articles: health.
-
A cluster survey on neonatal tetanus (NNT) mortality was conducted in Kano Metropolis, Northern Nigeria, to investigate epidemiological factors associated with NNT mortality. The survey was a two-stage cluster sampling technique and lasted for two weeks. A total of 2,623 live-births were recorded over a 12-month period. ⋯ Of the epidemiological factors investigated, only antenatal care, tetanus toxoid coverage, hospital delivery, poor cord management and traditional surgery showed significant association with NNT death. It is suggested that an appropriate community-specific prevention strategy for the region should include health education to improve utilisation of antenatal and hospital-delivery facilities, discourage traditional surgery and improve tetanus toxoid coverage. A case is also made for training and involvement of traditional birth attendants (TBAs) since most deliveries occurred outside hospitals and related facilities.
-
The use of caesarean section (C. S.) has been analysed in the 12 hospitals of the Midlands Province of Zimbabwe during a 2-year period. Maternal mortality rate, perinatal mortality rate, low birthweight rate, percentage of high risk pregnancy, C. ⋯ S. differentiated the 12 hospitals into two groups. Although there was no difference in the number of high risk patients in these two groups, outcomes were much better in the hospitals with a high ID rate than in the hospitals with a high C. S. rate, suggesting that attitudes of medical staff can influence both the mode of delivery and the perinatal outcome in a developing country.
-
To identify ways to improve the operation of blood-screening programs and to decrease the inappropriate use of blood by evaluating blood-transfusion practices and blood-banking services in a Kenyan hospital. ⋯ Improved laboratory services, reduction of unnecessary transfusions, and increased recruitment of volunteer donors are critical for improving the appropriate and timely use of blood and reducing transfusion-associated HIV transmission.
-
Induced abortion is one of the most difficult sociomedical problems facing the Indonesian government. While well-known in traditional society, the practice was discouraged by all Indonesian religious groups, and forbidden by the Dutch colonial authorities. ⋯ Medical and community groups campaigned for a more liberal abortion law to protect legal practitioners and stamp out illegal traditional practices. Their efforts appeared to bear fruit in the draft Health Law, but when the law was passed by the legislature in late 1992, the issue was again clouded by contradictions and inconsistencies.