Canonical correlation analysis of the determinants of menopausal symptoms

To describe the intensity and determinants of symptoms commonly attributed to the menopause among a random sample of women aged 50 to 59 years, selected from the total population of a geographically defined area. Data were collected based on a cross-sectional design using structured questionnaire and face-to-face interview survey. Households. Four hundred and fifty women, aged 50 to 59 years, randomly selected from Alexandria residents by the method of cluster sampling. Self-reported symptoms, factor scores for menopausal symptoms extracted by factor analysis, and an index for the number of experienced symptoms.77.5% of currently married women and 800.3% of unmarried women reported moderate-to-severe symptoms with significant differences between the two groups in intensity of vasomotor [more intense among married], psychological, and miscellaneous [more intense among unmarried]. Canonical correlation revealed seven significant roots among married women explaining 82.2% of variance in menopausal symptoms and four among the unmarried explaining 57.5% of variance. Among married women, the prominent factors in relation to menopausal symptoms are duration of hormone use, obesity, knowledge and attitude concerning menopause, pattern of menopause, and physical activity. Among the unmarried, there were also correlations of menopausal symptoms with same factors in addition to work, education, and time since last menses. Though menopause is a natural biological process, it has been shaped by social, economic, medical, and reproductive factors. Putting these factors in mind of health care workers can help women to go through this passage of life with no or minimal discomfort

construction of a standard symphysis pubis-uterine fundus distance chart for pregnant Egyptian women

A standard chart for the symphysis pubis-uterine fundus distance in 100 pregnant Egyptian women with uncomplicated pregnancies and deliveries was constructed. An early ultrasound scan was used as the reference point. Individual charts were also constructed for primipara and multipara as well as tables for women delivering of male or female babies. These charts offer a simple and practical method for screening the small for dates fetuses when used in the antenatal clinic

use of the symphysis-fundus distance chart as a screening test for the diagnosis of intrauterine growth retardation

A standard chart for the symphysis pubis-uterine fundus [S-F] distance was compared to a single ultrasound measurement of the fetal biparietal diameter [BPD] performed between 32 and 34 weeks, for the diagnosis of small for dates [SFD] and large for dates [LFD] fetuses in 100 women with high risk pregnancies. The weight of the newborn was taken as the reference point. The results showed that the S-F distance was superior to the BPD in the diagnosis of SFD babies [85.71% compared to 57.14%] as well as in the diagnosis of LFD babies [100% compared to 38.46%]. Both methods were equally accurate in diagnosing the appropriate for dates [AFD] fetuses [71.67% and 73.33%, respectively]. Both methods had a similar incidence to false positive results [17% and 18% respectively], but the BPD had a higher incidence of false negative results [20%] compared to the S-F distance method [2%]