ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: The study was done to assess knowledge, attitudes and practices of women within the child bearing age with regard to smoking and exposure to environmental tobacco smoke (ETS) on children's health. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: A cross-sectional study with quantitative and qualitative components was designed to collect data from women in the child-bearing age. The sample comprised of persons from the two largest combined family planning and antenatal clinics in Kingston, Jamaica. RESULTS: The women surveyed had a fair level of knowledge about ETS health risks, negative attitudes to smoking in general, and most supported a ban on smoking in public places. Significant knowledge differences existed between young and older women and between smokers and non-smokers. CONCLUSION: Women with the highest level of knowledge were the non-smokers: of the low knowledge score group (current smokers), 50% were in the 15-24-year age range. There is a need for more public education on smoking and the consequences ofenvironmental tobacco smoke exposure on children s health.
OBJETIVO: El estudio fue realizado para evaluar los conocimientos, actitudes y prácticas de las mujeres en edad de procrear, en relación con el hábito de fumar y la exposición al humo de tabaco ambiental (HTA) sobre la salud de los niños. SUJETOS Y MÉTODOS: Se diseñó un estudio transversal con componentes cuantitativos y cualitativos con el propósito de recopilar datos de las mujeres en edad fértil. La muestra abarcó personas de las dos clínicas más grandes en Kingston, que combinan la atención prenatal con la planificación familiar. RESULTADOS: Las mujeres encuestadas tenían un nivel razonable de conocimientos acerca de los riesgos del HTA para la salud, actitudes negativas hacia el hábito de fumar en general, y la mayoría apoyaban la prohibición de fumar en lugares públicos. Se hallaron diferencias significativas en el conocimiento existente entre las mujeres jóvenes y mayores, así como entre las fumadoras y no fumadoras. CONCLUSIÓN: Las mujeres con el más alto nivel de conocimientos fueron las no fumadoras. Del grupo de bajo puntaje de conocimiento (actuales fumadoras), el 50% estaban en el rango de edad de 15-24 años. Existe una necesidad de mayor educación pública acerca del hábito de fumar y las consecuencias de la exposición al humo de tabaco ambiental sobre la salud de los niños.
Subject(s)
Adolescent , Adult , Female , Humans , Young Adult , Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice , Smoking/adverse effects , Tobacco Smoke Pollution/adverse effects , Educational Status , Employment , Jamaica , Smoking/prevention & control , Tobacco Smoke Pollution/prevention & controlABSTRACT
Asherman's syndrome is an uncommon finding at hysterosalpingography for infertility. Modern day management entails hysteroscopic confirmation and adhesiolysis. We present one such case of a young woman who had secondary infertility after dilatation and curettage, and who was diagnosed and treated with a successful outcome.
Subject(s)
Humans , Female , Adult , Pregnancy , Gynatresia , Hysteroscopy , Tissue Adhesions , Infertility, Female/etiology , Infertility, Female/therapy , Pregnancy OutcomeABSTRACT
The effects of industrial exposure on the eyes, ears respiratory, blood function, liver function, kidney function, skin function and the reproductive system was assessed by a cross-sectional method for four groups on the Island of Grand Bahamas in the Bahamas. These groups were students, teachers, workers in the industries and a radom selection of residents from the community. In order to evaluate the findings, the exposed cases were those members of the above groups that either went to school, taught, worked in or lived in the exposed area, a 5 mile radius around the industrial site, for a minimum of 5 years. No association was found between expsure to the pollution and disorders of either the respiratory system, blood function based on exams and/or lab results, however, slight associations although none of them significant were indicated from reported past histories in either one or several of the four (4) study groups. These alleged disorders included hypertension, diseases of the genito-urniary tract, gastro-intestinal disorders, and to a lesser extent respiratory disorders and symptoms associated with coughs, colds, and fevers. For disorders of the eye and skin, observed through physical examinations, the results indicated several significant associations. For the eye these included chronic conjunctivitis in the workers and community groups. While eye opacities were initially recorded, the method of these examinations must be questioned and therefore the findings will not be quoted until further study and analysis. The skin exams showed excess cases of acute eczema in the groups of exposed workers, teachers and those from the communities and of ulcerative lesions in the exposed group from the community as well as from the sample of students
Subject(s)
Adult , Female , Humans , Adolescent , Environmental Exposure , Environmental Pollution , Air Pollution , BahamasABSTRACT
Spleen cells from an AKR/J X DBA/2J F1 mouse immunized with NZB/BIN spleen cells were fused with SP2/0-Ag14. Two hybrid cell lines, B220-1 and B220-2, were established that secreted antibody to the B-lineage specific B220 antigen. B220-1 and B220-2 are present on 45-55% of splenic and bone marrow lymphocytes and absent from thymus. By flow cytometry, all immunoglobulin-bearing cells were stained by these monoclonal antibodies. Although these monoclonals do not stain thymocytes, they do react weakly with Lyt-2+ peripheral T cells. Dual parameter analysis of B lymphocytes using RA3-3A1 or 14.8 show that these monoclonals recognized the same population. Prior incubation with RA3-3A1 or 14.8 was unable to completely block the binding of B220-1 or B220-2, implying that the epitopes recognized are different from the previously described monoclonal antibodies. Immunoprecipitation of the splenic lymphocyte reveals a molecule which migrates on SDS-PAGE as a single band with MW of 220,000 daltons. Expression of the distinct antigens recognized by B220-1 and B220-2 varied among mouse strains, indicating previously unappreciated polymorphism of the B220 molecule. These monoclonals are useful for cytotoxic elimination of B cells and for three-color flow cytometry.