Arrhythmias and conduction disturbances in children at the Department of Child Health, School of Medicine University of North Sumatra/Dr. Pirngadi Hospital Medan.

A retrospective study on arrhythmias and conduction disturbances was conducted in 1986 in the Division of Pediatric Cardiology of Dr. Pirngadi Hospital, Medan. There were 106 (35.33%) cases with arrhythmias and conduction disturbances out of 300 patients studied. The most common type of arrhythmia among the patients under 5 was intraventricular conduction defects, whilst in the age group of 5-10 were sinus tachycardia and intraventricular conduction defects, and in the age group of 10-15 was first degree A-V block. Rheumatic heart diseases and VSD were the most common cardiac diseases associated with arrhythmias, where the frequency were 18.86% and 10.37%, respectively. Arrhythmias associated with several extracardiac diseases were found in 60 (56.61%). Two out of 7 cases treated with antiarrhythmic agents died with SVT associated with bronchopneumonia, and atrial fibrillation associated with gastroenteritis, dehydration and malnutrition. Treatment against the main diseases (without antiarrhythmic agents) was done in the remainder. Even though the overall mortality rate was 13.20%, it was not due to arrhythmia itself but most of them died of non-arrhythmic origin.

Oxyuriasis at the Department of Pediatrics, Dr. Pirngadi Hospital, Medan.

During the period of 3 months (February-April 1987), a prospective study on oxyuariasis among children had been conducted at Child Health Department of Dr. Pirngadi Hospital Medan. All children over 8 months of age were included in this study. The diagnosis was based on the modified Scoth's technique. Oxyuriasis ova were found in 21 out 119 children (17.65%). The peak incidence was found in the school age.

Is family planning already accepted by the present generation? Freshmen's view on family planning at University of North Sumatera, Medan. (Third report).

PIP: A survey of 1997 freshmen entering the University of North Sumatera, Medan, on their attitude toward family planning was conducted in July 1985, and compared to results of 2 prior surveys taken in 1982 and 1977. The most common sources of knowledge about family planning were newspapers (14.5%), TV (11.5%) and health workers (4.1%). 41% of the students were 1st or 2nd born. Most expected to marry at 25-29 years of age, or after graduation, in line with the government family planning campaign. The average desired family size was 2.83 children, compared to 3.05 and 3.37 in prior surveys. 31.3% wanted 2 boys and 1 girl, 26.6% wanted 1 boy and 1 girl and 12.6% wanted 2 boys and 2 girls. The most popular single reason chosen for the expected family size was good family life, by 27.2%, according to the government slogan. Virtually no one chose future security or tradition as their primary reason. 97.8% expressed readiness to accept family planning, up from 72.7% in the 1st survey. Methods chosen were IUD by 35.0%, followed by pills and periodic abstinence. The survey demonstrates the effectiveness of government family planning education.^ieng