Factors associated with the use of prenatal corticosteroids in the management of preterm delivery in Chinese hospitals.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the prevalence of the use of prenatal corticosteroids (PCS) in the management of preterm delivery and the factors associated with PCS administration. METHODS: A secondary analysis was performed of a cross-sectional study conducted in 21 Chinese healthcare facilities between November 2010 and January 2011. The medical records of women who delivered preterm were reviewed. Associations between PCS administration and individual and organizational-level factors were determined. RESULTS: The study population comprised 659 women who delivered at 20 facilities. PCS were given to 158 (68.1%) of 232 women delivering after 27-34 weeks of pregnancy and 119 (27.9%) of 427 delivering after 35-36 weeks. Teenaged girls were less likely to receive PCS after 27-34 weeks than were women aged 20-35 years (odds ratio [OR] 0.22; 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.07-0.70). Among women who delivered after 35-36 weeks, the odds of receiving PCS were lower in urban hospitals than in periurban or rural hospitals (OR 0.04; 95% CI 0.00-0.44), and there was significant hospital-level variance with regard to the administration of PCS (P<0.05). CONCLUSION: Generally, PCS were underprescribed to women at risk of preterm delivery and many women received the treatment after 35-36 weeks of pregnancy, when it might not have been effective.

[Status of mother's KAP on child immunization in minority areas, Guizhou Province].

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the status of mothers' knowledge, attitudes and practices (KAP) and its related factors and provide evidences for further effective implementation on childhood immunization in Guizhou Province. METHODS: This study was a cross-sectional study, in which 591 mothers of children under 2 years were surveyed with structured questionnaires in six selected counties of Qiandongnan Canton. RESULTS: Mothers' knowledge, attitudes and practices on childhood immunization were at a low level and influenced by educational background, county's economical level, mother's age, household size and ethnic groups. The childhood immunization was also at a low level. Among the 290 youngest children in a household survey, the coverage rate of all five vaccines (including HBV, BCG, OPV, DTP and measles vaccine) was 35.2%, and 12.3% of the surveyed children had never been immunized since birth. The main source of knowledge on immunization was interpersonal communication. CONCLUSION: Considering mothers' poor KAP status and low education level, health education on immunization should be implemented though interpersonal communication via assistant media, and educating emphases should be laid on some special-characteristics targets.