Role of guardians in adolescents'reproductive health behaviors in rural area

A cross-sectional community-based study was undertaken in Taikkyi Township during July 1997, to explore the guardians' attitudes and practices relating to adolescents' reproductive health behavior. Altogether 102 guardians who have adolescents between 10 to 19 years of age involved in the study. Majority of the guardians did not favor their adolescents on choosing their fiancees by themselves and having more than one fiancee. While 52 per cent thought adolescents should know about contraceptives before their marriage, 38.2 per cent thought they should not. Most of the guardians approved that dissemination of messages about sex education for the adolescents through mass media was an appropriate way. It was found that most did not allow their teens to discuss such things either in front of them or with others. But some of them (36.3 per cent) said they would respond about those things willingly if or when they were asked. By knowing sex education and reproductive health, about 48 per cent (46.2 per cent of the mothers and 53.6 per cent of the fathers) said adolescents will gain benefits. Regarding information on Reproductive Health, this study highlights the needs for proper education and counselling for guardians, especially on adolescents.

Cryptosporidiosis among children with diarrhoea and dysentery from Yangon Children's Hospital

Cryptosporidiosis among children who attended Yangon Children's Hospital from March to October 1996 was studied. A total of 396 stool samples were collected after admission to the hospital. Simultaneously, a set of questions was filled to ascertain the duration and motion of diarrhoea of children. Stool characteristics were also recorded. Cryptosporidium oocysts were detected by staining with Kinyoun's acid modified method by Haley and Standard 1973. Random samples of 238 male and 158 female children of ages ranging from one month to ten years old were included in this study. It was found that the duration of diarrhoea ranged from one to 150 days. Number of motions also ranged from one to 40 times per day. Diarrhoea with either blood or mucous (dysentery) was found in 61 cases (15.4 per cent). cryptosporidium oocysts were found in 5 cases (1.3 per cent) of children; three were from watery diarrhoea cases and two from dysentery cases. From the cases detected, the age range was from 10 months to five years and the duration of illness was from 3 to 30 days. Four cases were with moderate degree of dehydration and one case was associated with HIV infection.

Assessment of the erythrocyte protoporphyrin test for screening of iron deficiency anaemia

A total of 84 apparently healthy children between ages of 1-12 years were screened for iron deficiency with the erythrocyte protoporphyrin (EP) test. Serum iron, total iron binding capacity in serum, percent transferrin saturation, haematocrit and haemoglobin values were also determined together with the screening test. Comparing the relationship between EP and percent transferrin saturation, using a percent transferrin saturation value < 10 percent as the criterion of iron deficiency, the optimal cut off limit for the EP test appears to be 80 ug/dl of rbcs. At this level, this screening test showed a sensitivity of 74 percent and specificity of 95 percent and the positive and negative predictive values were 82 percent and 93 percent respectively. thus EP assay which is less expensive and easy to perform can be used as a screening test for the detection of iron deficiency.

Effect of insight meditation practice on drug addicts

Drawing upon the principles of human behaviour, this study suggests the positive use of insight meditation as an alternative to drug abuse and prevention of relapse. Randomized experimental trial involving (31) Myanmar Buddhist male drug addicts from DDTC, YPH are studied, using psychotic rating scale, anxiety, depression and psychopathic personality scores (Ohn Kyaw and Ohn Hlaing). The results showed that there is a significant reduction in anxiety and depressive scores in drug addicts, and they have a sense of psychological well being after meditation practice. However, the effects on relapse of these patients should be continued in later research studies.

A seven year study of haemolytic anaemias at the Rangoon General Hospital

1213 patients were diagnosed to have haemolytic anaemia during a seven year period from 1976 to 1982 at the Department of Clinical Haematology, Rangoon General Hospital. Hereditary haemolytic anaemias constituted the vast majority with 96.2 per cent of all cases and acquired haemolytic anaemias were found in only 3.8 per cent. Beter thalassaemia and Beter chain variants were the commonest (66.5 per cent) followed by glucose 6-phosphate dehydrogenase deficiency (19.7 per cent). Among the B chain varinats, haemoglobin E was the commonest abnormality being present in 31.1 per cent of all cases. Paroxysmal nocturnal haemoglobinuria, once thought to be rare, was slightly more common (1.81 per cent) than autoimmune haemolytic anaemia (1.73 per cent) even though both conditions formed only a minority.

Repeat caesarean section

A report of 376 cases of Repeat C.S. is submitted and analysed with respect to maternal mortality, morbidity, rupture uterus, and perinatal mortality. Most of the cases were booked cases i.e. 88.58 per cent Total no: of elective C.S. was 210 and total no: of elective C.S. was 166. Blood transfusion was given in 64 cases and total 155 units of blood was used. There were 7 respiratory tract infection, 9 wound sepsis, 2 lleus cases. And one case of foocal fistula which needed resection anastomosis. There was no maternal death due to repeat section. Perinatal mortality was 2.17 per cent and corrected perinatal mortality was 1.06 per cent which is not higher than the results of other studies. Rupture of the uterus was seen in 3 cases with previous scar, admitted as an emergency. 2 were in-complete and one was complete rupture.

Burmese female pelvis

Inlet - Antero-posterier -10.7 cm, Transverse -11.8 cm. Midpelvis - Antero-posterior -10.8 cm, Transverse -9.2 cm. Outlet -Posterior sagiltal - 6.7 cm, Transverse -10.2 cm. The average Burmese female pelvis is smaller than the average British, American, Philippine or Chinese female pelvis. Inlet antero-posterior diameter of 10 cm. and interspinous diameter of 1.7 cm. are found to be the borderline between adequacy and contraction. Biplane contraction presents a more serious problem then the contraction of either plane separately. The average height or a Burmese female is 4 ft. 11 half inches. Burmese females who are either 4 ft. 9 inches high or shorter would be regarded as of 'Short stature' and difficult labour anticipated. Burmese females have a higher incidence of anthropoid and android pelves than the British or American females. Burmese females have a higher incidence of gynaecoid, platypelloid and android pelves and a lower incidence of anthropoid pelvis than the Philippino females.Burmese females have a higher incidence of platypelloid and android pelves and a lower incidence of gynaecoid and anthropoid pelves than the Chinese females. The anthropoid or long ovoid pelvis is the most favouable type, then gynaecoid, platypelloid and the least favourable is the android. The anthropoid pelvis is more common among the tall females and the platypelloid among the short.

The evaluation of postmaturity by combined diagnostic roentgenology and vaginal cytology

Cases past term were investigated for postmaturity by combined antenatal roentgenography and vaginal cytology. Postmaturity in infants was confirmed by postnatal roentgenography of the knee and foot for upper tibia and cuboid ossification centres.No diagnostic cellular pattern was found peculiar to postmaturity alone. A positive correlation was obtained between increasing pyknotic cell percentage and placental insufficiency reflected by increasing foetal distress and a fall in birth weight above a pyknotic cell percentage of 5 per cent in vaginal smears. An 85 per cent correlation was obtained between antenatal radiography and sub- sequent postnatal confirmation of postmaturity of the foetus. False positives and false negatives were equally distributed.The foetal mortality was nil, and it is felt that timely induction and Caesarian section were responsible for this. Vaginal cytology offers a useful ancillary diagnostic weapon in placental insufficiency associated with postmaturity and can also be used in other obstetrical conditions associated with placental insufficiency such as antenatal hypertension preeclampsia.

Molegrapy in the diagnosis of hydatidiform mole

Abdominal molegraphy was used to examine 31 patients suspected of vesicular mole. There was 96.4 per cent accuracy in 27 cases of mole including one case of vesicular mole with pregnancy. 3 cases turned out to be intrauterine pregnancy, 2 of which aborted but one had a normal full time delivery. One was a case of retained placenta after abortion. When the vesicles are outlined with the radio opaque substance in molegraphy and gives a typical picture it offers a specific and final diagnosis of hydatidifrom mole. Molegraphy is definitely an accurate means for the diagnosis of hydatidiform mole in places where the highly sophisticated methods of diagnosis like Sonar and different hormonal assays are not readily available.