ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: To test whether the proposed features of the Obstetric Transition Model-a theoretical framework that may explain gradual changes that countries experience as they eliminate avoidable maternal mortality-are observed in a large, multicountry, maternal and perinatal health database; and to discuss the dynamic process of maternal mortality reduction using this model as a theoretical framework. METHODS: This was a secondary analysis of a cross-sectional study by the World Health Organization that collected information on more than 300 000 women who delivered in 359 health facilities in 29 countries in Africa, Asia, Latin America, and the Middle East, during a 2-4-month period in 2010-2011. The ratios of Potentially Life-Threatening Conditions, Severe Maternal Outcomes, Maternal Near Miss, and Maternal Death were estimated and stratified by stages of obstetric transition. The characteristics of each stage are defined. RESULTS: Data from 314 623 women showed that female fertility, indirectly estimated by parity, was higher in countries at a lower obstetric transition stage, ranging from a mean of 3 children in Stage II to 1.8 children in Stage IV. Medicalization increased with obstetric transition stage. In Stage IV, women had 2.4 times the cesarean deliveries (15.3% in Stage II and 36.7% in Stage IV) and 2.6 times the labor inductions (7.1% in Stage II and 18.8% in Stage IV) as women in Stage II. The mean age of primiparous women also increased with stage. The occurrence of uterine rupture had a decreasing trend, dropping by 5.2 times, from 178 to 34 cases per 100 000 live births, as a country transitioned from Stage II to IV. CONCLUSIONS: This analysis supports the concept of obstetric transition using multicountry data. The Obstetric Transition Model could provide justification for customizing strategies for reducing maternal mortality according to a country's stage in the obstetric transition.
RESUMEN OBJETIVO: Evaluar si las características propuestas del Modelo de Transición Obstétrica, un marco teórico que puede explicar los cambios graduales que experimentan los países a medida que eliminan la mortalidad materna evitable, se pueden observar en una amplia base de datos de salud materna y perinatal de varios países; y tratar sobre el proceso dinámico de reducción de la mortalidad materna utilizando este modelo como marco teórico. MÉTODOS: Este estudio consistió en un análisis secundario de un estudio transversal realizado por la Organización Mundial de la Salud que recopiló información sobre más de 300 000 mujeres que dieron a luz en 359 establecimientos de salud de 29 países de África, Asia, América Latina y Oriente Medio, durante un período de 2 a 4 meses en el 2010 y el 2011. Se calcularon los índices de afecciones potencialmente mortales, resultados maternos graves, morbilidad materna extremadamente grave, y muerte materna, y se estratificaron según las etapas de transición obstétrica. Se definen las características de cada etapa. RESULTADOS: Los datos de 314 623 mujeres indicaron que la fecundidad femenina, calculada indirectamente por el número de partos, fue mayor en los países que se hallaban en las primeras etapas de la transición obstétrica, desde un promedio de 3 hijos en el estadio II a 1,8 en el estadio IV. El nivel de medicalización de los establecimientos de salud de los países participantes, definido por el número de partos por cesárea y el número de partos inducidos, tuvo tendencia a aumentar según avanzaba la etapa de transición obstétrica. En el estadio IV, las mujeres tuvieron 2,4 veces más partos por cesárea (15,3% en el estadio II y 36,7% en el estadio IV) y 2,6 veces más inducciones de parto (7,1% en el estadio II y 18,8% en el estadio IV) que las mujeres en el estadio II. A medida que avanzaban las etapas de transición obstétrica, también se incrementaba la media de edad de las mujeres primíparas. La ocurrencia de rotura uterina mostraba una tendencia descendente, y se reducía 5,2 veces, de 178 a 34 casos por 100 000 nacidos vivos, a medida que un país efectuaba la transición del estadio II al IV. CONCLUSIONES: Este análisis apoya el concepto de transición obstétrica utilizando datos de varios países. El Modelo de Transición Obstétrica podría justificar la adaptación de las estrategias para reducir la mortalidad materna según la etapa de transición obstétrica en que se halla un país.
Subject(s)
World Health Organization , Maternal Mortality , Risk Factors , Maternal HealthABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the impact of the manuscript requirement policy on research publications from the Royal Thai College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (RTCOG) residency training program. MATERIAL AND METHOD: Names and research titles of RTCOG residents from 1994 to 2003 were used to search for publications in the Medline system and Thai Index Medicus. RESULTS: There were 759 residents with 188 (24.8%) articles published. The publications per year varied from 4.8% to 17.0%. Residents were the first authors of 75 articles (39.9%). One hundred and thirteen articles (60.11%) were published in local medical journals. The majority of articles published in international journals (65.3%) were published in the Journal of the Medical Association of Thailand. After initiation of the publication promotion policy in 1999, the number of publications in which residents were not the first authors increased from 39.8% to 60.2%. CONCLUSION: The manuscript requirement policy can maintain the research publication rate.
Subject(s)
Female , Gynecology/education , Humans , Internship and Residency/statistics & numerical data , Manuscripts as Topic , Obstetrics/education , Organizational Policy , Publishing/statistics & numerical data , Schools, Medical , ThailandABSTRACT
Cervical cancer kills about 6,000 Thai women annually and has been for decades. The age-standardized incidence ratio (ASR) is 20.9 per 100,000 women-years. A multi-province survey by the Thai National Cancer Institute found that coverage of the previous cervical cancer screening program (i.e. the opportunistic Pap smear) was only 5%. Visual inspection with acetic acid (VIA) and cryotherapy, a secondary prevention program, could be a more practical approach for cervical cancer prevention, particularly in low resource, rural, and remote settings. The authors are expanding this program throughout Thailand (in conjunction with the use of the Pap smear when appropriate) with an 80% coverage target. Using both approaches in a complementary fashion should significantly reduce the incidence and mortality of cervical cancer among Thai women.
Subject(s)
Acetic Acid/diagnosis , Cryotherapy/methods , Female , Humans , Mass Screening , Thailand , Uterine Cervical Neoplasms/prevention & controlABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effectiveness of vaginal douching with 1 per cent povidone-iodine in reducing febrile and infectious morbidities after total abdominal hysterectomy (TAH). METHOD: The authors conducted a randomized controlled trial in 300 patients undergoing elective TAH in three hospitals in Northeast Thailand: a university, a regional and a general hospital. The patients were randomly allocated to the intervention or control groups. Patients in the intervention group received pre-operative vaginal douching with 1 per cent povidone-iodine while patients in the control group did not. External evaluators not apprised of the intervention assessed febrile and infectious morbidities. RESULTS: 300 patients were enrolled in the study. The incidences of febrile morbidity in patients with and without pre-operative vaginal douching were 25 and 35 per cent, respectively, though not statistically significant (risk difference -9.6%, 95% CI -19.9%, 0.8%, adjusted odds ratio 0.6, 95% CI 0.3%, 1.0%). A statistically significant difference in infectious morbidity was found between the groups (8 vs 19%, risk difference -10.0%, 95% CI -17.8%, -2.2%, adjusted odds ratio 0.4, 95% CI 0.2%, 0.9%). CONCLUSION: Pre-operative vaginal douching with 1 per cent povidone-iodine significantly reduces infectious morbidities after TAH.
Subject(s)
Administration, Intravaginal , Adult , Aged , Anti-Infective Agents, Local/administration & dosage , Female , Fever/prevention & control , Humans , Hysterectomy , Infections/drug therapy , Infection Control/methods , Middle Aged , Povidone-Iodine/administration & dosage , Treatment Outcome , Vaginal Douching/methodsABSTRACT
The objective of the study was to assess the diagnostic performance of the reagent strip in screening for asymptomatic bacteriuria in pregnant women using urine culture as a gold standard. This study comprised 204 asymptomatic pregnant women who attended their first antenatal care at Srinagarind Hospital, Khon Kaen University from April 1, 1999 to June 30, 1999. Women with symptoms of urinary tract infection, antibiotic treatment within the previous 7 days, pregnancy-induced hypertension, bleeding per vagina and history of urinary tract diseases were excluded. Urine specimens were collected by clean catched midstream urine technique for urinalysis, reagent strip test and urine culture. Diagnostic performance of reagent strip in terms of sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive value was analyzed. Urine reagent strip test had a sensitivity of 13.9 per cent, a specificity of 95.6 per cent, a positive predictive value of 46.1 per cent, a negative predictive value of 80.6 per cent in detecting asymptomatic bacteriuria in pregnant women.