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Demographic Profile (demographic + profile)
Selected AbstractsPatterns and correlates of substance use amongst juvenile detainees in New South Wales 1989,99DRUG AND ALCOHOL REVIEW, Issue 1 2003JAN COPELAND Abstract In the decade 1989,99 there have been significant changes in the patterns of substance use in the Australian community. Juvenile offenders have been a sentinel population of these emerging trends. The social and personal costs associated with adolescent substance use, especially where it leads to increased criminal offending requires urgent attention. This study was a replication of the 1989 and 1994 surveys of young people in detention in New South Wales, Australia. The 300 voluntary participants from nine detention centres had a similar demographic profile to participants of the previous surveys. They were predominantly male (90%) with a mean age of 16.5 years and an over-representation of Aboriginal and Torres Straits Islander peoples. The patterns of lifetime alcohol and tobacco use were stable over the decade, with particular increases in amphetamine, opioid and cocaine use since 1994. The more concerning pattern of at least weekly substance use revealed significant increases in cannabis, opioid and cocaine use since 1994, but a significant decrease in the frequent use of alcohol. This study also reports on high levels of negative health and psychosocial consequences of substance use, including overdose, among this group. High levels of self-reported depression and suicidal behaviours, family and gender issues are also discussed. Encouragingly, there was a relatively high level of self-recognized treatment need for substance use and mental health problems among the sample. This highlights further the growing need for the development and dissemination of novel interventions that harness this willingness and actively engage, motivate and maintain these young people in accessible, appropriate and effective interventions. [source] Effects of routine education on people newly diagnosed with type 2 diabetesEUROPEAN DIABETES NURSING, Issue 3 2009A Clarke SRN, PhD Health Promotion & Research Manager Abstract Background: In Ireland, there is limited knowledge about the perceptions or behaviours of people newly diagnosed with diabetes and, due to the lack of a national register, poor knowledge of their demographic profile. Aim: To add to the body of knowledge about diabetes, to obtain perceptions of people newly diagnosed with type 2 diabetes who attend group diabetes education, and to examine their relationships with the adoption of diabetes self-management behaviours. Method: A correlational study was conducted among people attending routine group diabetes education at three diabetes clinics during 2006/7, from which a convenience sample of 168 (38%) participants were recruited. Results: Men newly diagnosed with diabetes were younger, waited less time to attend group diabetes education, had a more positive diabetes attitude and perceived themselves to have more social support than women. Women had better diabetes self-management dietary and medication adherence behaviours prior to attending group diabetes education than the men. Conclusion: People newly diagnosed with diabetes differ in their attitude, perceived support and self-efficacy to adopt dietary and exercise behaviours and have different behaviour change needs at diagnosis. Post-attendance at diabetes education, they adopt behaviours at variable rates and may not sustain the change. The study findings indicate that healthcare professionals should monitor continually the need for behavioural change, in particular physical exercise behaviours in women and dietary and medication adherence in men. They should also continuously assess the maintenance of diabetes self-management behaviours of all people with diabetes, while promoting confidence in achieving desired outcomes. Copyright © 2009 FEND [source] HIV and AIDS among fisherfolk: a threat to ,responsible fisheries'?FISH AND FISHERIES, Issue 3 2004Edward H. Allison Abstract Fishing communities are often among the highest-risk groups in countries with high overall rates of HIV/AIDS prevalence. Vulnerability to HIV/AIDS stems from complex, interacting causes that may include the mobility of many fisherfolk, the time fishermen spend away from home, their access to daily cash income in an overall context of poverty and vulnerability, their demographic profile, the ready availability of commercial sex in fishing ports and the subcultures of risk taking and hypermasculinity among some fishermen. The subordinate economic and social position of women in many fishing communities in low-income countries makes them even more vulnerable. HIV/AIDS in fishing communities was first dealt with as a public health issue, and most projects were conducted by health sector agencies and NGOs, focusing on education and health care provision. More recently, as the social and economic impacts of the epidemic have become evident, wider social service provision and economic support have been added. In the last 3 years, many major fishery development programmes in Africa, South/South-East Asia and the Asia-Pacific region have incorporated HIV/AIDS awareness in their planning. The HIV/AIDS pandemic threatens the sustainability of fisheries by eclipsing the futures of many fisherfolk. The burden of illness puts additional stresses on households, preventing them from accumulating assets derived from fishing income. Premature death robs fishing communities of the knowledge gained by experience and reduces incentives for longer-term and inter-generational stewardship of resources. Recent projects championing local knowledge and resource-user participation in management need to take these realities into account. If the fishing communities of developing countries that account for 95% of the world's fisherfolk and supply more than half the world's fish are adversely impacted by HIV/AIDS, then the global supply of fish, particularly to lower-income consumers, may be jeopardized. [source] Globalisation and outsourcing: confronting new human resource challenges in India's business process outsourcing industryINDUSTRIAL RELATIONS JOURNAL, Issue 2 2010Sarosh Kuruvilla ABSTRACT In this article, we argue that the rapid growth of the outsourcing industry has resulted in both high turnover and labour shortages and at the same time provided employment opportunities to a new group of employees: young upwardly mobile college graduates. We argue that this particular demographic profile is prone to high turnover and presents new managerial challenges. We then examine the variety of recruitment and retention strategies that companies in the business process outsourcing industry are experimenting with and show that many novel HR strategies are being crafted to address the needs of this young middle-class workforce. We also examine macro efforts by state and central governments and the industry association to help resolve some of these problems. [source] Epidemiology of binge eating disorderINTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF EATING DISORDERS, Issue S1 2003Ruth H. Striegel-Moore Abstract Objective First described over 50 years ago, binge eating disorder (BED) only recently has become the focus of epidemiologic studies. This article provides a comprehensive review of these studies. Method Relevant studies were examined and summarized in the form of a narrative review. Results Similar to the early studies of bulimia nervosa (BN), the first generation of epidemiologic studies of BED is limited in scope or methodology. They focus on prevalence rates and provide only basic demographic characteristics and often use less than optimal sampling or assessment methods. Discussion Results suggest that the demographic profile of BED may be more diverse than that of BN. Future studies should evaluate complex etiologic models in representative samples that include men and a broader range of ethnic minority groups. © 2003 by Wiley Perodicals, Inc. Int J Eat Disord 34: S19,S29, 2003. [source] Clinical experience with infliximab among Filipino patients with rheumatic diseasesINTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF RHEUMATIC DISEASES, Issue 2 2006Sandra V. NAVARRA Abstract Aim:, To describe the clinical experience with infliximab among Filipino patients with rheumatic diseases, specifically disease indications, dose regimens, clinical response, and adverse events. Methods:, We reviewed the data on Filipino patients who were given infliximab by rheumatologists for a rheumatic disease indication. The case report form included demographic profile, underlying rheumatic disease, comorbidities, concurrent medications, dose and frequency of infliximab, physicians' assessment of clinical response, and adverse events. The frequency of doses, intervals between doses, and discontinuation status were recorded. Results:, Included were 64 patients (35 females), with a mean age of 44 years. Most (41%) had rheumatoid arthritis, followed by psoriasis/psoriatic arthritis (31.2%) and ankylosing spondylitis (17.2%). Average disease duration from diagnosis to initiation of infliximab therapy was 7.6 years ± 6.7 SD. Among 35 patients, the interval between maintenance infusions ranged from 6 to 13.6 weeks, with a mean of 8.27 weeks. Clinical response was good to excellent in more than 80% of patients. Discontinuation rate was 10.9% and 28.1% at 3 and 12 months, respectively. Infusion-related adverse events were mild and transient, and 14 (21.8%) cases of infection resolved with appropriate therapy. Infliximab was temporarily withheld in five (7.8%) patients with active tuberculosis. Summary:, These findings substantiate the superior clinical efficacy of infliximab and manageable adverse events among Filipinos with rheumatic diseases. It also demonstrates dose regimens in clinical practice in a third world setting with limited resources. [source] Managing Hypertension: State of the ScienceJOURNAL OF CLINICAL HYPERTENSION, Issue 2006Jerome D. Cohen MD Hypertension management is both routine and a challenge. Updated guidelines emphasize the need to achieve increasingly stringent blood pressure goals to reduce cardiovascular morbidity and mortality; however, the blood pressure of many patients who have been diagnosed with hypertension is not well controlled. Treating prehypertension nonpharmacologically may preempt the progression to hypertension, whereas early and aggressive management of hypertension with antihypertensive agents reduces short- and long-term cardiovascular risk. Treatment decisions should follow current guidelines while evaluating recently published clinical studies. When choosing between agents from different therapeutic classes or combining agents, physicians should consider current and targeted blood pressure levels, the patient's demographic profile, the presence or absence of compelling cardiovascular and metabolic indications, other comorbidities, and concurrent medication(s). [source] Obesity: attitudes of undergraduate student nurses and registered nursesJOURNAL OF CLINICAL NURSING, Issue 16 2009Man-Yuk Poon Aim., To investigate undergraduate student nurses' and registered nurses' attitudes towards obese persons and towards the management of obese patients. Background., Obesity is a global public health problem. Escalating rates of overweight and obesity are also taking a toll in Asian countries that have historically had much lower rates. Despite the growing prevalence of obesity worldwide, studies show that nurses and other health professionals hold negative attitudes towards obese people, which may affect the care of obese patients. Design., Cross-sectional study. Methods., A self-administered questionnaire was completed by 352 undergraduate student nurses and 198 registered nurses. The questionnaire consisted of the Fat Phobia Scale, the Attitudes Toward Obese Adult Patients Scale and a demographic profile. Data were analysed using descriptive statistics and student's t -tests. Results., Overall mean scores on the Fat Phobia Scale (3·53 SD 0·47) indicated average levels of fat phobia and mean scores on the Attitudes Toward Obese Adult Patients scale (2·64 SD 0·51) indicated neutral attitudes towards obese patients. Registered nurses had significantly higher levels of fat phobia and more negative attitudes than did student nurses. The majority of participants perceived that obese people liked food, overate and were shapeless, slow and unattractive. Additionally, over one-half of participants believed that obese adults should be put on a diet while in hospital. Conclusions., Results of this study show that both registered nurses and student nurses have negative perceptions of obesity and are unlikely to attribute positive characteristics to obese individuals. That registered nurses hold more negative attitudes towards obese person is cause for concern. Relevance to clinical practice., Given the increasing prevalence of obesity and the disproportionate number of obese persons affected by many health conditions, current and future nurses should have positive professional attitudes towards obese individuals. Obesity needs to more be adequately addressed, both in basic nursing education programs and in continuing professional education for practising nurses. [source] Narrating the negative consequences of elder care and familial obligation in Atlantic Canada,JOURNAL OF COMMUNITY & APPLIED SOCIAL PSYCHOLOGY, Issue 5 2003D. Hodgetts Abstract At a time when renewed emphasis is being placed on the role of the family in providing care for elderly people, shifts in family structures and the demographic profile of societies such as Atlantic Canada are impacting on community structures foundational to familial caregiving practices. Research shows that family members who attempt to provide familial care without adequate support risk negative health and interpersonal consequences. Hence many find it necessary to reflect upon their familial obligations. This article investigates the storytelling processes through which caregivers, aged between 45 and 55 years (N = 26), make sense of their efforts to provide care. We explore the ways in which participants in four focus groups and 12 interviews refer to negative consequences of caring in order to navigate dilemmas arising from their enactment of familial obligations in the absence of adequate support. Copyright © 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] Consumer preference for production-derived quality: analyzing perceptions of premium chicken production methodsAGRIBUSINESS : AN INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL, Issue 3 2009Brian Innes The authors assess consumer interest in a food product containing production-derived attributes. They use the French Label Rouge system in the Ontario chicken market as an example of a producer-controlled quality system. Conjoint analysis reveals a significant proportion of respondents value nonprice attributes; medication and housing had the highest importance scores, followed by price and brand ownership. Cluster analysis of the part-worth utilities revealed three consumer segments: price conscious consumers; consumers focused on naturalness; and those focused on animal health. Segments do not appear to differ on the basis of socioeconomic and demographic profile of respondents. However, multiitem scales reflecting attitudes towards production systems vary significantly across segments. Price-conscious respondents show agreement with use of medication and express concern over quality. Respondents in the naturalness segment express concern over quality, locality of production and impact of production methods on own health. Animal-health-conscious respondents show agreement with the use of medications, concern over quality, locality and impact of production methods on own health, but neutrality towards byproducts and traditional production methods. [EconLit citations: D120, Q130]. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. [source] The anatomy of Liberal support in Britain, 1974,1997BRITISH JOURNAL OF POLITICS & INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS, Issue 1 2002Andrew Russell This article uses data from the British Election Study series since 1974 and qualitative data from interviews with key party personnel to investigate the social and political basis of Liberal support in Britain. There are three main sections to the article: the first deals with the social and demographic profile of the Liberal vote, while the second examines the political characteristics of its supporters. In the final section these findings are used to assess the Liberal Democrats' electoral strategy at the 2001 General Election and beyond. We find that Liberals tend to be drawn from a similar social background to Conservative supporters (particularly in term of class), but politically there has been an increasingly close relationship between the Liberal Democrats and the Labour Party. [source] Combined hepatocellular and cholangiocarcinomaCANCER, Issue 7 2002Demographic, clinical, prognostic factors Abstract BACKGROUND Tumors with combined hepatocellular and cholangiocellular features are well known histopathologically but their clinical behavior is poorly understood. The objectives of the current study were to define the demographic profile of the patients in whom these uncommon tumors occur and to evaluate treatment outcome in comparison with that in patients with either hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) or peripheral cholangiocarcinoma (CC) alone. METHODS Twenty-seven patients with combined tumors were identified from a prospective database. Pathologic specimens were analyzed to confirm the diagnosis. Demographics, clinical data, and survival were analyzed. Outcome after resection was compared with that of patients with CC and with a matched group of patients with HCC. RESULTS The gender distribution of the combined tumors (52% men and 48% women) was intermediate between HCC (67% men and 33% women) and CC (30% men and 70% women) (P = 0.03). The incidence of positive hepatitis B or C serology and cirrhosis was similar in patients with combined tumors and those with CC (15% and 0% vs. 13% and 4%, respectively); similarly, patients of Asian heritage constituted 7% and 9%, respectively, of the patients with these tumors. By contrast, cirrhosis (41%) and positive hepatitis serology (56%) were far more common in patients with HCC, and 19% of these patients were of Asian heritage. Twenty-one of 27 patients with combined tumors (78%) underwent resection. All 6 patients with combined tumors that were not amenable to resection died of disease within 18 months. After resection, the 5-year survival was lowest in patients with combined tumors (24%) but was not significantly different from that in patients with CC (33%) or HCC (37%). The liver was the most common site of recurrence in all three groups. CONCLUSIONS The demographic and clinical features of patients with combined tumors were most similar to those of patients with CC. Most important, combined tumors were not found to be associated with chronic liver disease; consequently, the resectability rate was higher for these tumors than typically is reported for HCC. Resection was associated with long-term survival in some patients, but recurrent hepatic disease was common. The presence of cholangiocellular differentiation appeared to worsen the prognosis when compared with pure HCC, although this difference did not reach statistical significance. Cancer 2002;94:2040,6. © 2002 American Cancer Society. DOI 10.1002/cncr.10392 [source] College Students Classified as Having Learning Disabilities and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder and the Foreign Language RequirementFOREIGN LANGUAGE ANNALS, Issue 3 2003Richard L. Sparks EdD College students classified as having attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) are often assumed by educators and service providers to have problems that impair FL learning. To date, no empirical studies have investigated this assumption. In the two studies reported here, college students classified as LD or as both LD and having ADHD (LD/ADHD) who had either substituted courses for the FL requirement (petition) or had fulfilled the requirement by passing FL courses (nonpetition) were compared in terms of demographic, cognitive, and academic achievement profiles, and FL grades. In the first study, few differences were found in demographic, cognitive, and achievement profiles between petition students classified as LD or LD/ADHD. In the second study, no significant differences in demographic profiles were found among groups classified as petition LD, petition LD/ADHD, nonpetition LD, and nonpetition LD/ADHD. On cognitive and academic achievement measures, the nonpetition LD/ADHD group scored significantly higher than the petition LD group on measures of IQ, reading, math, and scholastic achievement (ACT). The results of both studies appear to be counterintuitive because students with two disabilities (LD and ADHD) were found to exhibit cognitive ability, academic achievement, and FL grades greater than or equal to students with LD alone. Findings suggest that students classified as both LD and ADHD may not necessarily experience serious problems with FL learning. [source] Allodynia in Migraine: Association With Comorbid Pain ConditionsHEADACHE, Issue 9 2009Gretchen E. Tietjen MD Background., Cutaneous allodynia (CA) in migraine is a clinical manifestation of central nervous system sensitization. Several chronic pain syndromes and mood disorders are comorbid with migraine. In this study we examine the relationship of migraine-associated CA with these comorbid conditions. We also evaluate the association of CA with factors such as demographic profiles, migraine characteristics, and smoking status that may have an influence on the relationships of CA to pain and mood. Methods., Data are from a cross-sectional multicenter study of comorbid conditions in persons seeking treatment in headache clinics. Diagnosis of migraine was determined by a physician based on the International Classification of Headache Disorders-II criteria. Participants completed a self-administered questionnaire ascertaining sociodemographics, migraine-associated allodynia, physician-diagnosed comorbid medical and psychiatric disorders, headache-related disability, current depression, and anxiety. Results., A total of 1413 migraineurs (mean age = 42 years, 89% women) from 11 different headache treatment centers completed a survey on the prevalence of comorbid conditions. Aura was reported by 38% and chronic headache by 35% of the participants. Sixty percent of the study population reported at least one migraine-related allodynic symptom, 10% reported ,4 symptoms. Symptoms of CA were associated with female gender, body mass index, current smoking, presence of aura, chronic headaches, transformed headaches, severe headache-related disability, and duration of migraine illness from onset. The prevalence of self-reported physician diagnosis of comorbid pain conditions (irritable bowel syndrome, chronic fatigue syndrome, fibromyalgia) and psychiatric conditions (current depression and anxiety) was also associated with symptoms of CA. Adjusted ordinal regression indicated a significant association between number of pain conditions and severity of CA (based on symptom count). Adjusting for sociodemographics, migraine characteristics, and current depression and anxiety, the likelihood of reporting symptoms of severe allodynia was much higher in those with 3 or more pain conditions (odds ratio = 3.03, 95% confidence interval: 1.78-5.17), and 2 pain conditions (odds ratio = 2.67, 95% confidence interval: 1.78-4.01) when compared with those with no comorbid pain condition. Conclusion., Symptoms of CA in migraine were associated with current anxiety, depression, and several chronic pain conditions. A graded relationship was observed between number of allodynic symptoms and the number of pain conditions, even after adjusting for confounding factors. This study also presents the novel association of CA symptoms with younger age of migraine onset, and with cigarette smoking, in addition to confirming several previously reported findings. [source] Sexual dimorphism in limb bones of ibex (Capra ibex L.): mixture analysis applied to modern and fossil dataINTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF OSTEOARCHAEOLOGY, Issue 5 2007H. Fernández Abstract Estimating sex ratios of fossil bone assemblages is an important step in the determination of demographic profiles, which are essential for understanding the palaeobiology and palaeoethology of any particular species, as well as its exploitation patterns by humans. This is especially true for ibex (Capra ibex), which was a main source of food for hominids during Pleistocene times. Classical methods for determining sexual dimorphism and sex ratio, such as analyses using uni- and bivariate plots, are based on an arbitrary fixing of limits between sexes. Here we use a more robust statistical method termed mixture analysis (MA) to determine the sex of postcranial remains (long bones, metapodials and tarsals) from ibex. For the first time, we apply MA to both a modern and a fossil sample of one species, by using metric data taken from (i) a collection of present-day ibex skeletons and (ii) a Palaeolithic sample of the same species. Our results clearly show that the forelimb (humerus and radius) is more dimorphic than the hindlimb (femur and tibia) and is therefore better suited for sexing ibex. It also appears that metapodials should be used carefully for estimating sex ratios. On the basis of these results, we propose a classification of bone measurements that are more or less reliable for sexing ibex. The results of MA applied to the ibex fossil bones from the Upper Palaeolithic site of the Observatoire (Monaco) lead us to the conclusion that this assemblage consists of a majority of males. The quantitative estimations calculated by the MA make it possible to compare the size of Pleistocene and modern ibex for the whole set of variables used in this study. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] Paleodemography of a medieval population in Japan: Analysis of human skeletal remains from the Yuigahama-minami siteAMERICAN JOURNAL OF PHYSICAL ANTHROPOLOGY, Issue 1 2006Tomohito Nagaoka Abstract The purpose of this study is to obtain demographic data regarding the medieval population buried at the Yuigahama-minami site in Kamakura, Japan, and to detect a secular trend in the life expectancy of Japanese population over the last several thousand years. The Yuigahama-minami skeletal sample consists of 260 individuals, including 98 subadults (under 20 years old) and 162 adults. A Yuigahama-minami abridged life-table analysis yielded a life expectancy at birth (e0) of 24.0 years for both sexes, a life expectancy at age 15 years (e15) of 15.8 years for males, and an e15 of 18.0 years for females. The reliability of the estimated e0 was confirmed by analysis of the juvenility index. Demographic profiles comparing the Yuigahama-minami series with other skeletal series indicated that both the survivorship curve and life expectancy of the Yuigahama-minami sample are similar to those of the Mesolithic-Neolithic Jomon population, but are far lower than those of the early modern Edo population. These comparisons strongly suggest that life expectancy changed little over the thousands of years between the Mesolithic-Neolithic Jomon and medieval periods, but then improved remarkably during the few hundred years between the medieval period and early modern Edo period. The short-lived tendency of the Yuigahama-minami sample does not contradict the archaeological hypothesis of unsanitary living conditions in medieval Kamakura. This is the first investigation to address the demographic features of a medieval population in Japan, and will help refine our understanding of long-term trends in the demographic profiles of inhabitants of Japan. Am J Phys Anthropol, 2006. © 2006 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source] SITEs revisited: Socioeconomic and demographic contours of small island tourist economiesASIA PACIFIC VIEWPOINT, Issue 1 2010Jerome L. McElroy Abstract This study attempts to do three things: (i) provide a review of recent advances in the small island economy literature using the tourism penetration index, (ii) update the impact of tourism across the same global sample of 36 small islands (less than 1 million in population and 5000 km2 in area) introduced in APV 47 (1) 2006, and (iii) employing an abbreviated version of the destination life cycle as a development paradigm, construct three different socioeconomic and demographic profiles based on low, intermediate and high tourism impact. Results using cross-sectional data of 27 indicators reveal three statistically distinct profiles that demonstrate three stages of economic development. Specifically, the findings contrast the low-income, labour-exporting, least tourism-penetrated MIRAB-type (Migrant/Remittances and Aid/Bureaucracy) emerging islands with their more advanced intermediate impact neighbours. In turn, the latter fall at a significant distance from the most successful small island tourist economy (SITE) destinations. Thus, this study further refines the characteristics of SITE islands and confirms the viability of tourism in general and the destination life cycle in particular as an effective engine and model, respectively, of island development. [source] Use of ,dual protection' and other combinations of contraceptive methods in AustraliaAUSTRALIAN AND NEW ZEALAND JOURNAL OF PUBLIC HEALTH, Issue 6 2007Nick Parr Abstract Objective: To examine the demographic profiles of contraceptive users in Australia, paying particular attention to the use of condoms with other methods. Method: Data from a specific section on contraceptive use in the 2005 Wave 5 of the nationwide, longitudinal Household Income and Labour Dynamics in Australia (HILDA) were analysed. The section was restricted to 2,221 women aged 18-44; women were excluded if they were pregnant or subfecund, or if they or their partner had been sterilised. Results: Two-thirds of respondents were using contraception, including more than 15% who indicated use of more than one method. The contraceptive pill (39%) was the most widely used method, followed by the condom (28%). Women using sex-related methods were more likely to be using more than one method. More than one-quarter of pill users (28%) were using condoms as well. The combination of pill and condom was significantly associated with age, being a student, and country of birth. Less than 3% of women reported using rhythm methods and of these two-thirds were using another method. Conclusions: Dual protection provided by the combination of the condom with the pill or other methods has become an important factor in the prevention of sexually transmitted infections and unwanted pregnancies, but continuing education on dual protection and better access to treatment is still necessary for both men and women, particularly among at-risk groups. [source] Maternal factors and the probability of a planned home birthBJOG : AN INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF OBSTETRICS & GYNAECOLOGY, Issue 6 2005S. Anthony Objectives In the Netherlands, approximately one-third of births are planned home births, mostly supervised by a midwife. The relationship between maternal demographic factors and home births supervised by midwives was examined. Design Cross-sectional study. Setting Dutch national perinatal registries of the year 2000. Population All women starting their pregnancy care under the supervision of a midwife, because these women have the possibility of having a planned home birth. Methods The possible groups of birth were as follows: planned home birth or short stay hospital birth, both under the supervision of a midwife, or hospital birth under the supervision of an obstetrician after referral from the midwife during pregnancy or birth. The studied demographic factors were maternal age, parity, ethnicity and degree of urbanisation. Probabilities of having a planned home birth were calculated for women with different demographic profiles. Main outcome measure Place of birth. Results In all age groups, the planned home birth percentage in primiparous women was lower than in multiparous women (23.5%vs 42.8%). A low home birth percentage was observed in women younger than 25 years. Dutch and non-Dutch women showed almost similar percentages of obstetrician-supervised hospital births but large differences in percentage of planned home births (36.5%vs 17.3%). Fewer home births were observed in large cities (30.5%) compared with small cities (35.7%) and rural areas (35.8%). Conclusions This study demonstrates a clear relationship between maternal demographic factors and the place of birth and type of caregiver and therefore the probability of a planned home birth. [source] | ||||||||||||||||||||||