Synthetic soft tissue substitutes: 2001.

The human face ages in a predictable fashion. Well-described changes in the lip and perioral region include progressive deepening of the nasolabial folds and atrophy of the lips. Conventional face lifting and endoscopic and resurfacing techniques do not adequately address many of these changes. As such, soft tissue filler materials are often used. This article outlines the history of soft tissue augmentation and discusses the risks and benefits of current synthetic materials.

Unintended and unwanted pregnancy in St. Lucia.

Among 200 mothers interviewed in St. Lucia, 82.5% described their pregnancy as unintended and 44% as unwanted; 80% of women having an intended pregnancy and 94.6% having an unintended pregnancy were unmarried and 18.5% were teenagers. Mothers of unintended pregnancies were significantly younger, were of significantly higher parity and had begun sexual relations at a significantly earlier age than mothers of intended pregnancies; and, unlike mothers of planned pregnancies, their desired interpregnancy interval was significantly longer than the actual interval. These results and the sporadic and ineffective use of contraception in St. Lucia emphasize the need for improvements in fertility regulation in that country.

PIP: Between June 13 and July 30, 1993, in St. Lucia, 200 mothers who had just delivered at Victoria Hospital were interviewed so researchers could examine unintended and unwanted pregnancies and their socioeconomic and demographic determinants. 165 pregnancies (82.5%) were unplanned. Unmarried women comprised 96.4% of women having an unintended pregnancy and 80% of those having an intended pregnancy. 18.5% of all pregnancies occurred to teenagers. Women who had completed an unplanned pregnancy were younger than those who had completed a planned pregnancy (20 years, 21.2% vs. 5.7%; p 0.01). Mothers of unintended pregnancies had a significantly higher parity than those of intended pregnancies (parity =or 4, 16.7% vs. 0; p 0.005). The actual interpregnancy interval among mothers of unintended pregnancies was much shorter than the desired interval (p 0.005). Women with unintended pregnancies were significantly younger at age of first intercourse than women with intended pregnancies (p 0.005). 88 of the unintended pregnancies (53.3%) (44% of all pregnancies) were unwanted pregnancies. Among unintended pregnancies, mothers who wanted their pregnancy were more likely than those who did not want their pregnancy to have had at least some post-primary school education (p 0.01) and have a high personal income (p 0.001). 87.9% did not use a consistent family planning method around the time of conception. 28% of women with unintended pregnancies had never used a contraceptive method. The leading reason for not using contraception effectively were carelessness (about 40%) and fear of side effects (26%). These findings suggest the need for a policy aimed to reduce the incidence of unintended pregnancy in St. Lucia. The policy should include counseling on use of contraceptives and the risks associated with unintended and unwanted pregnancy.

Unintended and unwanted pregnancy in St. Lucia

Among 200 mothers interviewed in St. Lucia, 82 percent described their pregnancy as unintended and 44 percent as unwanted; 80 percent of women having an intended pregnancy and 94.6 percent having an unintended pregnancy were unmarried and 18.5 percent were teenagers. Mothers of unintended pregnancies were significantly younger, were significantly higher parity and had begun sexual relations at a significantly earlier age than mothers of intended pregnancies; and unlike mothers of plannerd pregnancies, their desired interpregnancy interval was significantly longer than the actual interval. These results and the sporadic and ineffective use of contraception in St. Lucia emphasize the need for improvements in fertility regulation in that country (AU)

Unintended and unwanted pregnancy in St. Lucia

Among 200 mothers interviewed in St. Lucia, 82//described their pregnancy as unintended and 44//as unwanted; 80//of women having an intended pregnancy and 94.6//having an unintended pregnancy were unmarried and 18.5//were teenagers. Mothers of unintended pregnancies were significantly younger, were significantly higher parity and had begun sexual relations at a significantly earlier age than mothers of intended pregnancies; and unlike mothers of plannerd pregnancies, their desired interpregnancy interval was significantly longer than the actual interval. These results and the sporadic and ineffective use of contraception in St. Lucia emphasize the need for improvements in fertility regulation in that country

Unintended and unwanted pregnancy in Halifax: the rate and associated factors.

We present the results of a study designed to assess the incidence of unintended and unwanted pregnancies in Halifax, Nova Scotia, and to characterize the socioeconomic and demographic factors associated with women at high risk. Of 200 pregnancies, 32.5% were unintended and 16.5% unwanted. This, together with the rate of therapeutic abortions among Halifax area women, suggests that approximately 45% and 32% of conceptions leading to viable pregnancies are unintended and unwanted, respectively. Contrary to data collected in 1971, the majority of these women were single. Marital status and parity were significant determinants of both pregnancy intention and wantedness. According to these results, unintended and unwanted pregnancies continue to occur at high rates among certain groups of women living in the Halifax region, despite improvements in the efficacy and availability of contraceptives.

PIP: In Canada during June-July 1992, 200 postpartum mothers at the Grace Maternity Hospital in Nova Scotia completed a questionnaire so researchers could examine unplanned and unwanted pregnancies in metropolitan Halifax. Most of the pregnancies (67.5%) were planned. Women with unintended pregnancies were younger than those with intended pregnancies (p 0.005). Married women were significantly more likely to have an intended pregnancy than single women (odds ratio [OR] = 15.53; p 0.001). The more children a woman had, the more likely that a pregnancy was unintended (p 0.05). Women with unplanned pregnancies tended to have never used contraception (25% vs. 14%; p 0.05) or have used withdrawal as their principal method of family planning (25% vs. 5%; p 0.001). Women with planned pregnancies were much more likely to have used oral contraceptives as their principal method of family planning (64% vs. 24%; p 0.001). Most women with unintended pregnancies (86.5%) did not use effective birth control around the time of conception. The leading reasons for unintended pregnancy were carelessness (37%) and unintended intercourse (25%). Contraceptive failure was responsible for 13.5% of unintended pregnancies. Most unintended pregnancies (51%) were also unwanted, resulting in 16.5% of all 200 pregnancies being unwanted. Single women were much more likely to have an unwanted pregnancy than married women (OR = 17) or women living with a partner (OR = 5.8) (p 0.01). The more children a woman had, the more likely that a pregnancy was unwanted (p 0.01). Renters were more likely to have an unwanted pregnancy than did owners (OR = 6.5; p 0.05). Program planners and administrators planned to use these results to determine resource allocations to high risk populations. The results suggest the need for improved birth control counseling and to learn more about the decision women not planning or wanting to conceive to discontinue contraception. Widespread acceptance of emergency contraception would reduce unwanted pregnancies.