Eligible Women (eligible + woman)

Distribution by Scientific Domains


Selected Abstracts


Cervical occlusion in women with cervical insufficiency: protocol for a randomised, controlled trial with cerclage, with and without cervical occlusion,

BJOG : AN INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF OBSTETRICS & GYNAECOLOGY, Issue 5 2007
NJ Secher
Objective, To evaluate the effect of double cerclage compared with a single cerclage. Design, Randomised, controlled multicentre trial. Setting, Ten different countries are participating with both secondary and tertiary centres. The countries participating are Denmark, Sweden, Germany, United Kingdom, Spain, South Africa, Australia and India. This gives both a broad spectrum of diversity global and local. We expect a total of 242 women enrolled per year. Population, Prophylactic study: 1History of cervical incompetence/insufficiency. (Delivery 15 to <36 weeks.) 2Congenital short cervix (secondary to maternal administration of diethyl stilbestrol) or traumatic/surgical damage rendering the vaginal approach difficult (e.g. conisation). 3Cervical suture applied in previous pregnancy, successful outcome. 4Previous failed cerclage. Therapeutic study: 5Secondary cerclage: Short cervix, without the membranes being exposed to the vagina. 6Tertiary cerclage: Short cervix, membranes exposed to the vagina. Observational study: Eligible women who refuse to be randomised will participate in an observational study. 7Repeat/requested cervical occlusion. Methods, The women will be randomised between a single (vaginal or abdominal) and a double cerclage. The cervical cerclage (McDonald or Shirodkar) as well as the abdominal suture will be performed with the same material and technique normally used by the participating department. Those randomised to the double cerclage will have their external os closed with a continuous nylon 2-0/3-0 suture, in addition to the standard single cerclage. Local guidelines concerning antibiotics, Heparin, bed rest, tocolytics etc. are followed and recorded in the follow-up form. Main outcome measures, Primary endpoint is take home baby rate. The secondary endpoints are gestational age at delivery, incidence of preterm birth (<34+0 days) and number of days in neonatal unit. [source]


Randomised controlled trial comparing the efficacy of same-day administration of mifepristone and misoprostol for termination of pregnancy with the standard 36 to 48 hour protocol

BJOG : AN INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF OBSTETRICS & GYNAECOLOGY, Issue 2 2007
J Guest
Objective, To determine the efficacy of oral mifepristone followed by vaginal misoprostol 6 hours later compared with the standard 36- to 48-hour regimen for medical termination of pregnancy. Design, Single centre, two arm, parallel, open randomised controlled trial. Setting, Medical termination service at a teaching hospital. Sample, Four hundred and fifty women undergoing medical termination of pregnancy at up to 63 days of gestation. Methods, Eligible women were randomised to receive mifepristone 200 mg orally followed by vaginal misoprostol 800 micrograms either 6 hours (n= 225) or 36,48 hours (n= 225) later. All participants were invited to attend for a follow-up pelvic ultrasound scan within 7 days following the misoprostol administration. For those women in whom products of conception remained at the follow-up ultrasound scan, expectant management ensued with weekly follow-up ultrasound scans until the termination was complete. They could elect to undergo an evacuation of uterus at any stage following the scan. Those women with a nonviable gestation sac at the follow-up scan were offered a further dose of vaginal misoprostol 800 micrograms or suction termination of pregnancy. Women with a continuing pregnancy were managed with surgical termination. Main outcome measure, Successful medical abortion defined as no requirement for medical or surgical intervention beyond the initial dose of misoprostol. Results, One hundred and sixty-five women (79%) in the 6-hour group and 197 women (92%) in the 36- to 48-hour group had a successful termination at first follow-up ultrasound or presumed on the basis of other considerations (those not seen for ultrasound but deemed successful by negative pregnancy test, products passed on ward or long-term assessment of notes). Twenty-two women (10%) in the 6-hour regimen required up to three further ultrasound scans after 7 days following the mifepristone administration in order to ensure that the termination process was complete. None of these women required a suction evacuation of uterus. In the 36- to 48-hour regimen, ten (5%) women had up to two further ultrasound scans to confirm a complete termination without the need for a surgical evacuation of uterus. Therefore, the overall successful termination rate in the 6-hour regimen was 89% (187/210) compared with 96% (207/215) in the 36- to 48-hour regimen (relative risk = 0.92, 95% CI 0.84,0.98). Repeat administration of misoprostol or surgical treatment was required in 23 women (11%) in the 6-hour group and 8 women (4%) in the 36- to 48-hour group. A viable pregnancy was found in five women (2%) in the 6-hour group and in three women (1%) in the 36- to 48-hour group. Conclusions, Oral mifepristone 200 mg followed by vaginal misoprostol 800 micrograms after 6 hours is not as effective at achieving a complete abortion compared with the 36- to 48-hour protocol. [source]


WHY WAIT?: EXAMINING DELAYED WIC PARTICIPATION AMONG PREGNANT WOMEN

CONTEMPORARY ECONOMIC POLICY, Issue 4 2008
LAURA TIEHEN
Despite the benefits of prenatal participation in the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC), many eligible women either do not participate or begin participation late in their pregnancies. Using recent nationally representative data, we find that more disadvantaged women are more likely to access WIC and, with some notable exceptions, to participate earlier in their pregnancies. Hispanic women, especially those with language difficulties, enroll in WIC later in their pregnancies. Early WIC participation, particularly among teenagers, is less likely among women experiencing a first birth and depends on the mother's early recognition of her pregnancy. (JEL I18, I30) [source]


Safety of nevirapine in pregnancy

HIV MEDICINE, Issue 1 2007
U Natarajan
Background Nevirapine has been widely used in pregnancy for its efficacy, low pill burden, bioavailability and rapid transplacental transfer. Concern about nevirapine toxicity during pregnancy has emerged over recent years. Objectives The aims of the study were to document the frequency of cutaneous and hepatic toxicity secondary to nevirapine use during pregnancy and to compare rates in women starting nevirapine during the current pregnancy with those in women who had commenced nevirapine prior to the current pregnancy. Design This was a retrospective, comparative, five-centre study carried out in London, UK, in 1997,2003. Methods All HIV-1-infected women who received nevirapine as part of combination antiretroviral therapy (ART) during pregnancy were included in the study. Data on demographics, HIV infection risk, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) status, surrogate markers at initiation of therapy, other medications hepatitis B and C virus coinfection and clinical data relating to potential toxicity were collated and analysed. Results Fifteen of 235 eligible women (6.4%) developed rash and eight (3.4%) developed hepatotoxicity, including four with coexistent rash, giving a combined incidence of 19 potential cases of nevirapine toxicity during pregnancy (8.1%). Alternative causes of rash/hepatotoxicity were suspected in seven cases and only 10 mothers (5.8%) discontinued nevirapine. Of the 170 women who commenced nevirapine during this pregnancy, 13 (7.6%) developed rash and eight (4.7%) hepatotoxicity, a combined incidence of 10%. Only two of 65 women with nevirapine exposure prior to this pregnancy developed rash (3.1%). Conclusions Nevirapine-containing ART was well tolerated in this cohort of pregnant women. Although pregnancy did not appear to increase the risk of nevirapine-associated toxicity compared to published adult data, CD4 count may be less predictive of toxicity in pregnancy. [source]


Accessing rural populations: role of the community pharmacist in a breast and cervical cancer screening programme

JOURNAL OF EVALUATION IN CLINICAL PRACTICE, Issue 1 2007
Timothy R. McGuire Pharm.D. FCCP
Abstract Rationale, Community pharmacists are one of the most frequently visited health care providers in the USA. The article describes a demonstration project which used community pharmacists to educate and enrol low to moderate income and medically under-served women into a statewide breast and cervical cancer screening programme. Methods, The Nebraska Department of Health programme entitled, ,Every Woman Matters', funded through the Centers of Disease Control and Prevention, provided no cost or low cost mammography and pap smears to eligible women. Patient enrolment packets were distributed to 91 pharmacies expressing an initial interest in participating. These were reduced to 28 pharmacies based on their commitment level during the initial 3 months of the study. Results, One hundred and fourteen patient referrals were generated from the 28 network pharmacies; two from pharmacies in urban areas, and 112 referrals from rural sites. All referrals were from the 22 independently owned pharmacies in the study. Conclusions, Results suggest that the use of independent community pharmacies in the rural setting can be an effective method of recruiting women into public health programmes. [source]


Providing a Dental Home for Pregnant Women: A Community Program to Address Dental Care Access , A Brief Communication

JOURNAL OF PUBLIC HEALTH DENTISTRY, Issue 3 2008
Peter Milgrom
Abstract Objective: This paper describes a community-based intervention to provide a dental home for women covered by Medicaid in Klamath County, Oregon. In 2001, 8.8 percent of pregnant women served by Medicaid in Oregon received care. The long-term goal of the program is to promote preventive oral care for both mothers and their new infants. Methods: Pregnant women received home/Women, Infant and Children visits and were assigned a dental home under a dental managed care program [Dental Care Organization (DCO)]. All initial care was provided at the Oregon Institute of Technology Dental Hygiene Clinic under the contract with the DCO. Emergency, preventive, and restorative care was provided. Results: Between February 2004 and January 2006, 503 pregnant women were identified; 421 women were contactable. Of these, 339 received home visits (339/421, 80.5 percent) and 235 received care (235/339, 69.3 percent). Overall, 55.8 percent of eligible women received care (235/421). Most who did not have a visit either moved or were not the caretaker of the baby. The missed appointment rate was 9 percent. Conclusion: A community health partnership led to a successful and sustainable model extending care to pregnant women and is being extended to promote preventive care for both new mothers and their offspring. [source]


Determinants of Antenatal Care Utilization in Three Rural Areas of Vietnam

PUBLIC HEALTH NURSING, Issue 4 2007
Lieu Thi Thuy Trinh
ABSTRACT Objective: To identify factors associated with any use of antenatal care (ANC), gestational age at entry to ANC, number of visits, and overall ANC utilization in the three provinces of Long an, Ben tre, and Quang ngai. Data: The Vietnam-Australia Primary Health Care Project conducted cross-sectional surveys in 1998,1999. Data from 1,335 eligible women were available for analysis. Methods: Explanatory variables were selected using the Andersen Health Seeking Behavior Model and analyzed using multivariate regression techniques. Results: External environment, predisposing characteristics, and need, which existed before contact with ANC providers, were most related to using any ANC and gestational age at entry to ANC. However, ANC services provided to women and personal health care during pregnancy, which could have resulted from initial contact with ANC providers, were most related to continuation of ANC visits and overall ANC utilization. Significant variability in the use of ANC existed between provinces and between subsets of women in each province. Conclusion: To have more women who attend ANC and attend early, promotion should be targeted at high-risk groups of women. However, to improve the number of ANC visits and overall utilization, the quality of ANC services should be improved. [source]


Breast Cancer Incidence in a Cohort of Women with Benign Breast Disease from a Multiethnic, Primary Health Care Population

THE BREAST JOURNAL, Issue 2 2007
Maria J. Worsham PhD
Abstract:, Women with benign breast diseases (BBD), particularly those with lesions classified as proliferative, have previously been reported to be at increased risk for subsequent development of breast cancer (BC). A cohort of 4970 women with biopsy-proven BBD, identified after histopathology review of BBD biopsies, was studied for determination of subsequent development of BC. We report on 4537 eligible women, 28% of whom are African-American, whose BBD mass was evaluable for pathologic assessment of breast tissue. Ascertainment of subsequent progression to BC from BBD was accomplished through examination of the tumor registries of the Henry Ford Health system, the Detroit SEER registry, and the State of Michigan cancer registry. Incidence rates (IR) are reported per 100,000 person years at risk (100 k pyr). Poisson regression models were used to evaluate the association of demographic and lesion characteristics with BC incidence, using person years at the time of BBD diagnosis as the offset variable. The estimated overall BC IR for this cohort is 452 (95% confidence interval [CI] = 394,519) per 100 k pyr. Incidence for women age 50 and older is 80% greater than for younger women (p = 0.007, IRR = 1.8, 95% CI = 1.36,2.36). Neither marital status (p = 0.91, IRR = 0.97, 95% CI = 0.73,1.29) nor race (p = 0.67, IRR = 0.9, 95% CI = 0.54,1.48) is associated with differences in BC IR. Compared with women having nonproliferative lesions, the risk for BC is greater for women with atypical ductal hyperplasia of (IRR = 5.0; 95%CI = 2.26,11.0; p < 0.001) and other proliferative lesions (IR = 1.7, 95% CI = 1.02,2.95; p = 0.04). BC risk for woman with atypical lesions is significantly higher than for women with proliferative lesions without atypia (IRR = 2.58, 95% CI = 1.35,4.90; p = 0.0039). Neither race nor marital status was a factor for BC incidence from BBD in this cohort. Age retained its importance as a predictor of risk. BBD lesion histopathology in the outcome categories of either proliferative without atypia or proliferative with atypia are significant risk factors for BC, even when adjusted for the influence of demographic characteristics. The risks associated with BBD histological classifications were not different across races. [source]


Efficacy of micronised vaginal progesterone versus oral dydrogestrone in the treatment of irregular dysfunctional uterine bleeding: A pilot randomised controlled trial

AUSTRALIAN AND NEW ZEALAND JOURNAL OF OBSTETRICS AND GYNAECOLOGY, Issue 6 2009
Savas KARAKUS
Background:, The vaginal route is more effective than the other drug delivery routes for some specific indications. Aim:, To compare the efficacy of a vaginal progesterone preparation with that of oral dydrogesterone. Methods:, A total of 69 women with irregular dysfunctional uterine bleeding were randomly assigned into one of two groups: oral dydrogesterone group (n = 35) and vaginal progesterone group (n = 34). At the end of a three-month treatment period, the women were re-evaluated. The endometrial histology findings and menstrual cycle characteristics were used as primary outcome measures. Pearson chi-square and Fisher's exact test were used for data analysis. Results:, Findings from 54 eligible women were evaluated. There was no statistically significant difference in both menstrual recordings and endometrial histology results between the groups. Conclusions:, Vaginal micronised progesterone could be an alternative to oral preparations in the treatment of dysfunctional uterine bleeding. This needs to be further evaluated in adequately controlled randomised trials against other effective treatments. [source]


Choosing medical or surgical terminations of pregnancy in the first trimester: What is the difference?

AUSTRALIAN AND NEW ZEALAND JOURNAL OF OBSTETRICS AND GYNAECOLOGY, Issue 2 2009
Felicity GOODYEAR-SMITH
Background: Women seeking termination of pregnancy in Auckland, New Zealand can chose between medical and surgical options up to eight weeks gestation. Aims: To assess demographic differences or changes over time between proportions of women choosing medical or surgical abortions at a single centre and determine whether changing the mifepristone,misoprostol interval from two to one day impacted on outcomes. Methods: Retrospective audit of two consecutive years (December 2005,November 2006 and December 2006,November 2007) of first-trimester surgical and medical terminations where the mifepristone-misoprostol interval was reduced from two to one day between years. Analysis using descriptive statistics and assessment of probability of observed differences between groups. Results: A total of 1495 terminations were performed in 2005,2006 and 1588 in 2006,2007. No significant difference (P = 0.4) of eligible women choosing medical (21% and 23%) or surgical abortion between years. Ethnicity, age and residency status did not influence choice. Medical termination of pregnancy was more likely in women who were without previous children (P = 0.009), pregnancies (P = 0.02) or terminations (P = 0.04). Medical termination was similarly effective within six hours with either two- or one-day intervals. Conclusions: Both medical and surgical first-trimester abortions are safe and effective. It is optimal to be able to offer women choice. Reducing the medical interval to one day does not increase adverse outcomes. [source]


A qualitative study of pharmacists' views on offering chlamydia screening to women requesting emergency hormonal contraception

BJOG : AN INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF OBSTETRICS & GYNAECOLOGY, Issue 1 2010
G Thomas
This was a qualitative study to understand why pharmacists, asked to offer free chlamydia postal screening to Emergency Hormonal Contraception clients, had not offered screening to all eligible women. Twenty-six pharmacists completed exit interviews and 12 agreed to semi-structured in-depth interviews. Although pharmacists were keen to expand their services, they were reluctant to offer chlamydia screening to women who were married or in a long term relationship. To avoid offence they selected women based on age, education and ethnicity. The rationale for chlamydia screening in pharmacy-based EHC schemes is compromised if pharmacists do not offer screening comprehensively. [source]


Compliance with routine antenatal rhesus D prophylaxis and the impact on sensitisations: observations over 14 years

BJOG : AN INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF OBSTETRICS & GYNAECOLOGY, Issue 7 2006
IZ MacKenzie
Documented routine antenatal anti-D prophylaxis was given to 90% and 81,87% of eligible women at 28 and 34 weeks of gestation, respectively, during the early 1990s and early 2000s. With increasing experience and education, a significant improvement in the timing of the first (OR 0.26, 95% CI 0.16,0.41: P < 0.0001) and second injections (OR 0.40, 95% CI 0.26,0.61: P < 0.0001) occurred during the latter period. Despite these improvements, there was no reduction in the sensitisation rate at 0.4%. However, this low rate occurred despite significant proportions of women delivering more than 42 days after the second injection. Fifteen of the 16 sensitised women had received routine antenatal prophylaxis. [source]


Recurrences and second primary breast cancers in older women with initial early-stage disease

CANCER, Issue 5 2007
Ann M. Geiger MPH
Abstract BACKGROUND. The association between common breast cancer therapies and recurrences and second primary breast cancers in older women is unclear, although older women are less likely to receive common therapies. METHODS. Women aged ,65 years who were diagnosed with stage I or II breast cancer and who underwent mastectomy or breast-conserving surgery (BCS) from 1990 to 1994 were identified from automated data from 6 healthcare systems and then were followed for 10 years or until breast cancer recurrence, disenrollment, or death. Trained abstractors reviewed medical records to obtain recurrence, tumor, treatment and demographic data. The authors used proportional hazards models to examine predictors of recurrent and second primary breast cancers adjusted for demographic and tumor factors. RESULTS. Of 1837 eligible women, 34% were ages 65 to 69 years, 46% were ages 70 to 79 years, and 20% were aged ,80 years. In multivariable models that used mastectomy as the reference group, BCS without radiation therapy was associated with an increased risk of any recurrent and second primary breast cancer (hazard ratio [HR], 1.6; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.1,2.3), particularly with the subgroup of women with local and regional recurrence (HR, 3.5; 95% CI, 2.0,6.0). Tamoxifen use for <1 year versus ,5 years exhibited a borderline association with any recurrent or second primary breast cancer (HR, 1.9; 95% CI, 0.9,4.2). CONCLUSIONS. Radiation therapy after BCS and 5 years of tamoxifen use were beneficial in reducing recurrences and second primary breast cancers in older women, regardless of their age or comorbidity burden. Cancer 2007. © 2007 American Cancer Society. [source]


Screening women at high risk for breast cancer with mammography and magnetic resonance imaging,

CANCER, Issue 9 2005
Constance D. Lehman M.D., Ph.D.
Abstract BACKGROUND The authors compared the performance of screening mammography versus magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in women at genetically high risk for breast cancer. METHODS The authors conducted an international prospective study of screening mammography and MRI in asymptomatic, genetically high-risk women age , 25 years. Women with a history of breast cancer were eligible for a contralateral screening if they had been diagnosed within 5 years or a bilateral screening if they had been diagnosed > 5 years previously. All examinations (MRI, mammography, and clinical breast examination [CBE]) were performed within 90 days of each other. RESULTS In total, 390 eligible women were enrolled by 13 sites, and 367 women completed all study examinations. Imaging evaluations recommended 38 biopsies, and 27 biopsies were performed, resulting in 4 cancers diagnosed for an overall 1.1% cancer yield (95% confidence interval [95%CI], 0.3,2.8%). MRI detected all four cancers, whereas mammography detected one cancer. The diagnostic yield of mammography was 0.3% (95%CI, 0.01,1.5%). The yield of cancer by MRI alone was 0.8% (95%CI, , 0.3,2.0%). The biopsy recommendation rates for MRI and mammography were 8.5% (95%CI, 5.8,11.8%) and 2.2% (95%CI, 0.1,4.3%). CONCLUSIONS Screening MRI in high-risk women was capable of detecting mammographically and clinically occult breast cancer. Screening MRI resulted in 22 of 367 of women (6%) who had negative mammogram and negative CBE examinations undergoing biopsy, resulting in 3 additional cancers detected. MRI also resulted in 19 (5%) false-positive outcomes, which resulted in benign biopsies. Cancer 2005. © 2005 American Cancer Society. [source]