Management of rupture of membranes at term in low-risk obstetric population

To compare the outcomes of expectant versus active management of patients presenting with premature rupture of membranes [PROM] at term. Design: Observational case-control study over a period of 30 months. Setting: King Abdulaziz University Hospital, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. Subjects: All obstetric patients with no obstetric risk factors other than PROM at term were included in the present study. Each patient was matched with a control case who had started labor with intact membranes. Outcome Measures: Duration of labor, fetal distress, intrapartum pyrexia. rate of cesarean section delivery, and Apgar scores at birth. The duration of labor was shorter in patients with PROM compared to the control group, but the difference was not statistically significant. Furthermore, cesarean section rate was 4.5% in the PROM group versus 7.6% in the control group. Among patients with PROM who received active management, the rates of intrapartum pyrexia and cesarean sections were almost twice that in patients who were managed expectantly. In the absence of other maternal and/or obstetric risk factors, PROM does not seem to constitute additional obstetric risks. Furthermore, expectant management of PROM in anticipation of spontaneous uterine contractions increases the changes of normal delivery without an increase in fetal and/ or maternal morbidity

Cardiovascular disease health risk appraisal in king abdulaziz university, Jeddah

A Health Risk Appraisal program was used in King Abdulaziz University to assess the health status of university staff and employees. The program was accepted by all the participants and was a first step in detecting the cardiovascular disease [CVD] risk factors aiming to modify the negative attitude and practice. Unfavorable habits were reported by the participants: 24.0% were current smokers, 50.0% were overweight, and 65.0% consumed a high-fat diet. Moreover, hypertension accounted for 22.0% and diabetes for 9.0%. The men practiced these unfavorable habits more than the women. Hypercholesterol aemia accounted for 9.0% and was significantly related to old age [40 years and over] and smoking habits. The 5-year risk of CVD predicts that 24.0% of men and 9.0% of women are at highest risk to develop CVD in the coming half decade. Health strategies are recommended to decrease the risk of CVD and improve the quality of life

Maternal knowledge, attitudes and practices as predictors of diarrhoeal disease in Saudi children under 3 years of age

Diarrhoeal disease continues to be a leading cause of morbidity and mortality in many developing countries. This study demonstrates the importance of behavioral risk factors as determinants of diarrhoeal, disease. The study design used is incidence-base, case control design. The cases were obtained from Primary Health Care Centers [PHCC] in Makkah area, Saudi Arabia, during October 1994 to January 1995. The studied sample consisted of 319 cases and 312 controls < 3 years of age. The results showed that mothers of cases were significant inferior knowledge about aetiology and transmission of diarrhoeal disease than did mothers of controls. Poor hygiene was significantly high in households of cases for two items; disposal of faeces in latrine and presence of toilet papers [p < 0.05]. Assuming causal association between the risk factors and diarrhoeal disease, up to 60% of diarrhoeal disease in the study population may be attributable to the Studied behavioral factors

Adolescent pregnancy: are there biological barriers for pregnancy outcomes?

The present prospective study comprised 111 adolescent [< 20 years] and 637 non- adolescent [20+ years] pregnant women, at the main maternity hospital and 79 primary health care centers in Taif area. Their demographic, behavioral, nutritional and socio economic data were analyzed with birth outcomes to compare the latter in the two study groups. The pregnancy outcomes considered were fetal growth retardation [small-for-date], low birth weight, and preterm delivery. Adolescent mothers were found to be more likely to deliver low birth weight infants even after controlling for major risk factors. The possibility of biological barriers to favorable outcome of pregnancy in adolescent mothers could not be overruled. However, more studies are needed to look at biological age rather than chronological age and to determine outcomes of pregnancy such as intra-uterine growth retardation and preterm delivery more accurately before drawing any conclusion