[The influence of age, place of living, education and number of earlier pregnancies on attendance of pregnant women to screening tests--questionnaire study]. / Wplyw wieku, miejsca zamieszkania, wyksztalcenia i Iiczby wczesniejszych ciaz na zglaszalnosc ciezarnych do badan przesiewowych- badanie ankietowe.

UNLABELLED: The aim of this study was to assess attendance at the screening programme in pregnancy and the influence of age, number of past pregnancies, level of education and place of residence on the attendance. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Our study was performed on the basis of an anonymous questionnaire handed out 543 women aged 16-45, on the third day of their puerperal, in one of the five obstetric wards in southern Poland. The questionnaire contained questions about participation in recommended for pregnant women screening tests such as: fasting blood glucose level measurement, oral glucose tolerance test, blood type test, measurement of hepatitis B surface antigen and antibodies to VDRL, Rubella, Toxoplasma gondii, hepatitis C virus at least once during pregnancy. RESULTS: The highest attendance rate was related with blood type test, whereas the lowest was related with measurement of antibodies to hepatitis C virus (95.6% vs 22.7%, p < 0.001). A very low percentage of pregnant patients measured Rubella antibodies (29.1%). A larger proportion of the respondents checked antibodies against Toxoplasma gondii (41.6%). The attendance at fasting blood glucose level was 66.9 % and at oral glucose tolerance test was 63.7%. The attendance according as age, place of living, number of past pregnancies and level of education was described in detail. CONCLUSION: Despite current recommendations of Polish Gynecological Society and the ordinance of polish Minister of Health the percentage of women participating in screening tests during pregnancy is still insufficient. Age, place of residence and education remain strong factors influencing attendance at the screening programme in pregnancy.

Intake of iodine-containing multivitamin preparations by pregnant women from the Krakow region of Poland.

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to evaluate the number of women who take multivitamin formulations containing iodine. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A 34-question questionnaire was given to 500 women during their puerperal stay in two obstetrics/gynaecology wards in Krakow. RESULTS: 295 pregnant women (59%) took iodine-containing formulations. 205 pregnant women (41%) took multivitamin preparations without iodine. 49.7% of the women (91 out of 183) who inhabited rural areas and small towns were not supplemented with iodine during pregnancy. Women in Krakow took iodine-containing multivitamin formulations in 61.2% of cases. Women with primary and secondary education did not use iodine supplementation in 48.3% and 50.3% of cases respectively. Women with a university education did not use supplementation in 38.6% of cases. The prevalence of women using iodine-containing multivitamin preparation was similar in each age group. CONCLUSIONS: The promotion of iodine supplementation to pregnant women should be augmented at each level of contact with medical staff. Medical staff should be reminded about such promotion at each level of medical care and training (general practitioner, obstetrics/gynaecology specialist, endocrinologist, postgraduate training).