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First Antenatal Visit (first + antenatal_visit)
Selected AbstractsTen Years' Experience of Antenatal Mean Corpuscular Volume Screening and Prenatal Diagnosis for Thalassaemias in Hong KongJOURNAL OF OBSTETRICS AND GYNAECOLOGY RESEARCH (ELECTRONIC), Issue 3 2000Dr. S. Y. Sin Abstract Objective: To determine the prevalence of thalassaemia carriers in Hong Kong. Subjects and Methods: From 1988 to 1997, 25834 (53.7%) of 48089 mothers were screened for thalassaemias by mean corpuscular volume (MCV) at the first antenatal visit. Results: In the screened population of 25834, 2229 (8.6%) had MCV , 75 fl. Of these, 1121 (4.3%) were ,-thal, 715 (2.8%) were ,-thal, 23 (0.1%) were ,,-thal, 57 (0.2%) were other haemoglobin variants, and 281 (1.1%) had either iron deficiency or uncertain causes. Out of 200 pregnancies at risk for homozygous ,-thal-1 and 32 at risk for ,-thal major, 27 homozygous ,-thal-1 and 7 ,-thal major were identified, compared favourably with the expected figures of 23 and 9. Conclusion: Antenatal screening for thalassaemias by MCV is simple, effective and reliable. Universal screening has a different impact as bone marrow or cord blood stem cell transplant provides cure for ,-thal major. At risk couples have, as an alternative to termination of pregnancy, the option of early detection and treatment for their affected newborns or fetuses. [source] Smoking pattern during pregnancy in Hong Kong ChineseAUSTRALIAN AND NEW ZEALAND JOURNAL OF OBSTETRICS AND GYNAECOLOGY, Issue 3 2008Grace W. S. KONG Background: While the prevalence of young female smokers is rising among the Hong Kong Chinese population, data on their smoking pattern during pregnancy are limited. Aims: To investigate the smoking habit of Hong Kong Chinese women and their partners during pregnancy. Methods: Postal questionnaires were sent to 479 couples to explore their smoking patterns during pregnancy at one to two years after the index delivery. Results: Questionnaires were completed by 247 subjects. Among 117 women who were ever-smokers, 26% had stopped smoking before the index pregnancy, while 60% stopped and 14% reduced smoking during the pregnancy. Most women stopped smoking in the first trimester (93%) and prior to the first antenatal visit (79%). Those who used to smoke fewer cigarettes before pregnancy were more likely to stop smoking during pregnancy but women with a history of recreational drug use were more likely to continue smoking during pregnancy. The post-partum smoking relapse rate was 59% in women who had stopped smoking before or during their pregnancy. Only 2.6% of the partners who were ever-smokers stopped smoking before the pregnancy while smoking habits remained unchanged in 52%. Conclusions: Approximately one-fifth of an unselected sample of Hong Kong mothers had a history of smoking prior to pregnancy. Pregnancy is an opportune time to implement smoking intervention programs for female smokers and their partners with an emphasis on the maintenance of post-partum smoking abstinence. [source] Social influences for smoking in pregnancy in south western Sydney antenatal clinic attendeesAUSTRALIAN AND NEW ZEALAND JOURNAL OF OBSTETRICS AND GYNAECOLOGY, Issue 3 2007Mohammed MOHSIN Abstract This study examined the needs of and barriers to smoking cessation of 677 women who attended antenatal clinics in south-west Sydney. More than a quarter (26.3%) of the mothers reported smoking at their first antenatal visit. Smokers were more likely to be teenagers, single mothers and less likely to have formal education or employment. They were less aware of the potential health risks of smoking in pregnancy (SIP). High levels of SIP remain a public health problem, and effective interventions are needed. [source] A survey of pregnant women's attitude towards breech delivery and external cephalic versionAUSTRALIAN AND NEW ZEALAND JOURNAL OF OBSTETRICS AND GYNAECOLOGY, Issue 3 2000Tak Yeung Leung SUMMARY A structured interview survey was carried out in 150 women who came for their first antenatal visit in a university hospital in Hong Kong between June and July 1998. Their opinions and perceptions of fetal and maternal safeties on different modes of delivery for both cephalic and breech presentation, and external cephalic version (ECV) were surveyed. Their decisions on the management of term breech-presenting pregnancy were examined. Most women (92%) preferred vaginal delivery to Caesarean delivery (CS) in case of cephalic presentation, mainly because it was a natural way of parturition. They perceived that vaginal delivery was safer than CS for both mothers and babies, but the reverse was true for breech presentation. About 82% chose ECV as the first choice of managing breech presentation, mainly because a successful version allowed a natural way of delivery. Only 2% of women considered ECV ineffective, and 13.3% and 18.7% considered it not safe for mothers and fetuses respectively. Therefore, ECV should be an available option in all obstetric units. Adequate counselling and explanation would improve the acceptance of ECV. [source] Maternal smoking during pregnancy predicts nicotine disorder (dependence or withdrawal) in young adults , a birth cohort studyAUSTRALIAN AND NEW ZEALAND JOURNAL OF PUBLIC HEALTH, Issue 4 2009Frances V. O'Callaghan Abstract Objective: To investigate whether maternal smoking during pregnancy predicts offspring nicotine disorder (dependence or withdrawal) at 21 years. Method: Participants comprised a prospective birth cohort involving 7,223 singleton children whose mothers were enrolled between 1981 and 1983 at the first antenatal visit to the Mater Mothers' Hospital, Brisbane, Queensland. The present sub-cohort consisted of 2,571 youth who completed the Composite International Diagnostic Interview-computerised version (CIDI-Auto) that assesses nicotine dependence and withdrawal according to DSM-IV diagnostic criteria at the 21-year follow-up. Results: 12.8% of offspring met criteria for nicotine dependence and 8.5% met criteria for withdrawal. 16.6% met criteria for either dependence or withdrawal. Smoking during pregnancy resulted in offspring being more likely to have dependence or withdrawal at 21 years than offspring of mothers who never smoked (age adjusted odds ratio 1.53 (95% CI: 1.19-1.96). Conclusions: Findings emphasise the long-term adverse effects of maternal smoking during pregnancy, including nicotine dependence in young adult offspring. Implications: Public health approaches should strengthen arguments for mothers to cease smoking during pregnancy in view of the long-term health implications for offspring, and reinforce measures to help smokers among pregnant women and women of childbearing age to stop. [source] An epidemic of parvovirus B19 in a population of 3596 pregnant women: a study of sociodemographic and medical risk factorsBJOG : AN INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF OBSTETRICS & GYNAECOLOGY, Issue 5 2000Inge Panum Jensen Consultant Objectives To estimate the incidence of human parvovirus B19 among pregnant women before and during an epidemic, to elucidate possible sociodemographic and medical risk factors during pregnancy and to estimate the association between parvovirus B19 infection and negative pregnancy outcome. Design Prospective study among pregnant women followed from their first antenatal visit before 24 full weeks of gestation until delivery. Setting Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Odense University Hospital, Denmark, November 1992 to February 1994. Methods 3596 pregnant women were invited to participate. The women were examined at first antenatal visit in the period from November 1992 to February 1994 and at delivery. The last delivery was in August 1994 and samples were thus collected before and during a large parvovirus B19 epidemic in Denmark January to September 1994. A blood sample for parvovirus B19 serology was taken at enrolment and from the umbilical cord at delivery. Three questionnaires were completed during 2nd and 3rd trimesters and a registration form at delivery. In total, 3174 (87.6%) were enrolled and 79.5% completed the study. Results The prevalence of B19 IgG seropositivity at the first antenatal visit before 24 full weeks of gestation was 66%. The cumulative prevalence proportion of acute parvovirus B19 infection during pregnancy among IgG negative women was found to be 10.3% (IgM seropositivity and/or IgG sero-conversion). The IgG seroconversion incidence increased significantly from 1.0% to 13.5% among 932 seronegative pregnant women before and during the epidemic, respectively (P < 0.001). Independent risk factors related to increased risk of B19 infection during pregnancy, adjusted for other sociodemographic and medical factors, were: children at home (adjusted OR 2.1, 95% CI 1.3,3.2); serious medical disease (adjusted OR 3.0, 95% CI 1.0,8.5); and a stressful job (adjusted OR 1.8, 95% CI 1.0,3.3). Parvovirus B19 IgM seropositivity was associated with events of late spontaneous abortions and stillbirths (crude OR 9.9; 95% CI 3.3,29.4). Conclusion Before and during an epidemic of acute B19 infection incidences were measured among pregnant women to be 1.0% and 13.5%, respectively. Three factors, significantly increasing the risk of acute B19, were identified as: having children at home; suffering from serious medical diseases; and having a stressful job. IgM positivity for parvovirus B19 was associated with negative outcome of pregnancy. [source] | ||||||||||