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Older Mothers (older + mother)
Selected AbstractsThe power of children over adults when obtaining sweet snacksINTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF PAEDIATRIC DENTISTRY, Issue 2 2003B. P. Roberts Summary. Background. There is evidence to suggest that the family is becoming a more democratic unit and that children are spending more on sweet snack items than ever before. A study was thus undertaken to investigate the influence of children on parental decision-making in relation to the use of sugary snacks. Methods. A cross sectional interview study; children aged 7,8 years from 20 inner-city Manchester primary schools were asked about their sweet eating, their pocket money and their perceived levels of influence or autonomy within the household. The parents of these children were also asked to fill in a questionnaire that mirrored the children's questions. Results. There was a moderate but significant correlation between the opinion of the parents and that of the children on the extent of influence (Pearson coefficient r = 0·25, P = 0·001). When the adults (n = 181) were split into age groups, , 29 years (n = 33), 30,35 years (n = 61) and , 36 years (n = 87), the study showed that the older the adult, the less the child seemed to get his or her own way. Spearman's rho = 0·16, P = 0·03 (children's view) and rho = 0·17, P = 0·02 (adult's view). The dominant factors were related to money in the children's opinion, although the adults' data suggested that older mothers (, 36 years) may be trying to limit their children's access to sweet snacks. Conclusions. Adults' efforts to limit their children's intake of sweet snacks and drinks are being undermined by earlier and earlier influences in the child's life and by access to money, which allows the child to out-manoeuvre his or her parents. This is compounded by the provision of additional income, mostly from grandparents. [source] Do differences in maternal age, parity and multiple births explain variations in fetal and neonatal mortality rates in Europe?PAEDIATRIC & PERINATAL EPIDEMIOLOGY, Issue 4 2009Results from the EURO-PERISTAT project Summary Perinatal mortality rates differ markedly between countries in Europe. If population characteristics, such as maternal age, parity or multiple births, contribute to these differences, standardised rates may be useful for international comparisons of health status and especially quality of care. This analysis used aggregated population-based data on fetal and neonatal mortality stratified by maternal age, parity and multiple birth from 12 countries participating in the EURO-PERISTAT project to explore this question. Adjusted odds ratios were computed for fetal and neonatal mortality and tested for inter-country heterogeneity; standardised mortality rates were calculated using a direct standardisation method. There were wide variations in fetal and neonatal mortality rates, from 3.3 to 7.1 and 2.0 to 6.0 per 1000 total and livebirths, respectively, and in the prevalence of mothers over 35 (7,22%), primiparae (41,50%) and multiple births (2,4%). These population characteristics had a significant association with mortality, although results were less consistent for primiparity. Odds ratios for older mothers and primiparae showed significant inter-country heterogeneity. The association between maternal age and fetal mortality declined as the prevalence of older mothers in the population increased. Standardised rates did not substantially change inter-country rankings and demographic characteristics did not explain the higher mortality observed in some countries. Our results do not support the use of mortality rates standardised for age, parity and multiple births for international comparisons of quality of care. Further research should explore why the negative effects of older maternal age decrease as delayed childbearing becomes more common and, in particular, whether this is due to changes in the social characteristics of older mothers or in health care provision. [source] Changing patterns of inequality in birthweight and its determinants: a population-based study, Scotland 1980,2000PAEDIATRIC & PERINATAL EPIDEMIOLOGY, Issue 5 2005Lesley Fairley Summary Birthweight is used as an indicator of individual and population health and is known to be strongly correlated with adult cardiovascular disease. This paper uses routinely collected maternity discharge data from Scotland between 1980 and 2000 to look at birthweight trends and the changes in the distribution of maternal risk factors for birthweight. We also examine the contributions of each of the risk factors to birthweight trends and investigate whether there has been a reduction in inequality in birthweight over time. Data from 1 282 172 singleton live births were used in the analysis. Both mean birthweight and low birthweight (LBW: <,2500 g) were used as outcomes. The risk factors studied were maternal age, parity, maternal height, marital status and occupational social class of the father. The slope and relative indices of inequality were used to measure the change in inequalities over time. Mean birthweight increased from 3320 g in 1980 to 3410 g in 2000, while the percentage LBW decreased slightly from 5.7% in 1980 to 5.4% in 2000. The prevalence of many risk factors changed; there has been an increase in the proportion of older mothers, single mothers, taller mothers and mothers with undetermined social class. Although most risk factors had a significant change in effect over time, the inequalities in birthweight between groups did not appear to diminish over time. Both the slope and relative index of inequality had a quadratic relationship over time, with the inequalities in birthweight being greatest in the early 1980s and late 1990s. [source] Does Maternal Age Affect Children's Test Scores?THE AUSTRALIAN ECONOMIC REVIEW, Issue 1 2010Andrew Leigh We estimate the relationship between maternal age and child outcomes, using indices aimed at measuring overall outcomes, learning outcomes and social outcomes. In all cases, we find evidence that children of older mothers have better outcomes. Not only do children born to mothers in their twenties do better than children born to teen mothers, but children born to mothers in their thirties do better than children born to mothers in their twenties. However, when we control for other socioeconomic characteristics, such as family income, parental education and single parenthood, the coefficients on maternal age become small and statistically insignificant. The only exception is an index of social outcomes, which is positively associated with maternal age, even controlling for socioeconomic factors. For cognitive outcomes, young motherhood appears to be a marker, not a cause, of poor child outcomes. [source] Values of Children, Parent,Child Relationship, and Social Change in Korea: Indigenous, Cultural, and Psychological AnalysisAPPLIED PSYCHOLOGY, Issue 3 2005Uichol Kim Les recherches sur les valeurs que les parents attribuent aux enfants se demandent pourquoi les gens décident ou non d'avoir des enfants et s'intéressent au nombre d'enfants qu'ils choisissent d'avoir. On décrit dans la première partie de cet article la relation parents-enfants traditionnelle, la structure familiale et les changements sociaux qui se sont produits ces cinquante dernières années en Corée du sud. On présente dans la deuxième partie les résultats de l'étude de 1972 sur les valeurs attribuées aux enfants réalisée en Corée du sud (Lee & Kim, 1975). Dans la dernière partie, on expose une recherche empirique sud-coréenne portant sur un échantillon de 314 jeunes mères et 395 mères plus âgées. Il apparaît que les bénéfices psychologiques sont les raisons majeures qui justifient le choix d'avoir un enfant et que les contraintes personnelles et financières sont les motifs dominants de ne pas en avoir. Ces résultats mettent en défaut les modèles économiques et utilitaires et soulignent l'importance des facteurs psychologiques, relationnels et culturels. Research on parents' attribution of value to children examines why people decide to have children or not and the number of children they choose to have. In the first part of this paper, the traditional parent,child relationship, family structure, and social changes that have occurred in South Korea during the past 50 years are reviewed. In the second section, the results of the 1972 Values of Children Study conducted in South Korea (Lee & Kim, 1975) are reviewed. In the final section, an empirical study conducted in South Korea with a sample of 314 young mothers and 395 older mothers is reported. The results indicate that psychological benefits are the most important reasons for having a child and personal and financial constraints are the most important reasons for not having a child. These results challenge the economic and utilitarian models and suggest the importance of understanding the psychological, relational, and cultural factors. [source] Trends in mode of delivery during 1984,2003: can they be explained by pregnancy and delivery complications?BJOG : AN INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF OBSTETRICS & GYNAECOLOGY, Issue 7 2007CM O'Leary Objectives, To describe trends in mode of delivery, to identify significant factors which affected mode of delivery, and to describe how these factors and their impact have changed over time. Design, Total population birth cohort. Setting, Western Australia 1984,2003. Participants, The analysis was restricted to all singleton infants delivered at 37,42 weeks of gestation with a cephalic presentation (n= 432 327). Methods, Logistic regression analyses were undertaken to estimate significant independent risk factors separately for elective and emergency caesarean sections compared with vaginal delivery (spontaneous and instrumental), adjusting for potential confounding variables. Main outcome measures, Trends in mode of delivery, demographic factors, and pregnancy and delivery complications. Estimated likelihood of elective caesarean section compared with vaginal delivery and emergency caesarean section compared with vaginal delivery. Results, Between 1984,88 and 1999,2003, the likelihood of women having an elective caesarean section increased by a factor of 2.35 times (95% CI 2.28,2.42) and the likelihood of an emergency caesarean section increased 1.89 times (95% CI 1.83,1.96). These caesarean section rate increases remained even after adjustment for their strong associations with many sociodemographic factors, obstetric risk factors, and obstetric complications. Rates of caesarean section were higher in older mothers, especially those older than 40 years of age (elective caesarean section, OR 5.42 [95% CI 4.88,6.01]; emergency caesarean section, OR 2.67 [95% CI 2.39,2.97]), and in nulliparous women (elective caesarean section, OR 1.54 [95% CI 1.47,1.61]; emergency caesarean section, OR 3.61 [95% CI 3.47,3.76]). Conclusions, Our data show significant changes in mode of delivery in Western Australia from 1984,2003, with an increasing trend in both elective and emergency caesarean section rates that do not appear to be explained by increased risk or indication. [source] Premature death among teenage mothersBJOG : AN INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF OBSTETRICS & GYNAECOLOGY, Issue 8 2004Petra Otterblad Olausson Objective Some data suggest an association between teenage childbearing and premature death. Whether this possible increase in risk is associated with social circumstances before or after childbirth is not known. We studied premature death in relation to age at first birth, social background and social situation after first birth. Design Population-based cohort study. Setting Women born in Sweden registered in the 1985 Swedish Population Census. Population Swedish women born 1950,1964 who had their first infant before the age of 30 years (N= 460,434). Methods Information on the women's social background and social situation after first birth was obtained from Population Censuses. The women were followed up with regard to cause of death from December 1, 1990 to December 31, 1995. Mortality rate ratios and 95% confidence intervals (CI) were calculated. Main outcome measures Mortality rates by cause of death. Results Independent of socio-economic background, teenage mothers faced an increased risk of premature death later in life compared with older mothers (rate ratio 1.6, 95% CI 1.4,1.9). The increased risk was most evident for deaths from cervical cancer, lung cancer, ischaemic heart disease, suicide, inflicted violence and alcohol-related diseases. Some, but not all, of these increases in risk were associated with the poorer social position of teenagers mothers. Conclusions Teenage mothers, independent of socio-economic background, face an increased risk of premature death. Strategies to reduce teenage childbearing are likely to contribute to improved maternal and infant health. [source] The rise of multiple births in BrazilACTA PAEDIATRICA, Issue 8 2008Clécio Homrich da Silva Abstract Aim: The aim of this study was to assess the rise in multiple births and its influence on trends of low birth weight (LBW) rates in Porto Alegre, Brazil. Methods: This is a registry-based study of live births from 1994 to 2005 obtained from the national live birth information system. Chi-square tests for trends were assessed for LBW and multiple birth rates. The impact of multiple births on LBW trends was assessed by sequential modelling, including year and further adjustment for multiple births. Risk factors for multiple births were assessed using the Poisson regression. Results: A total of 263 252 live births were studied. The LBW rate increased from 9.70% to 9.88% (p < 0.001) and the multiple birth rate rose from 1.95% to 2.53% (p < 0.001). LBW rate increased among twins, from 57.14% to 63.46% (p = 0.001). The twin birth rate rose by 24.7%, while the rate of triplets or higher-order increased by 150%. Multiple births may be responsible for 23.9% of the increase in the LBW rate over the period. Mothers with higher levels of schooling, older mothers and mothers delivering in private hospitals were more likely to deliver multiple births. Conclusions: It seems that both the increase in multiple births and in the LBW among multiple births contributed to this rise in overall LBW rate. [source] Early motherhood and disruptive behaviour in the school-age childACTA PAEDIATRICA, Issue 1 2004P Trautmann-Villalba Aim: To determine the significance of young maternal age, family adversity and maternal behaviour during mother-toddler interaction in the prediction of child disruptive behaviour at age eight. Methods: From an ongoing longitudinal study of infants at risk for later psychopathology (n= 362), 72 young mothers aged between 15 and 24 y (median 22 y) at first birth were compared with 197 primiparous older mothers ranging in age from 25 to 41 y (median 29 y). Family adversity at childbirth was assessed using a modified version of Rutter's Family Adversity Index (FAI) and measures of child disruptive behaviour at age eight were obtained using Achenbach's Teacher Report Form (TRF). An observational procedure was used to assess maternal behaviour during mother-child interaction at the age of 2 y. Results: Young mothers encountered more adverse family characteristics and were more inadequate, restrictive and more negative during interaction with their toddlers. Their school-aged children showed higher scores on all disruptive behaviour scales of the TRF. Hierarchical regression analyses revealed that family adversity and maternal behaviour during toddler interaction could account for most of the association between early motherhood and child disruptive behaviour. Conclusion: The impact of young motherhood on child mental health is not confined to teenage mothers and is mainly attributed to psychosocial and interactional factors. [source] |