Articles: disease.
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Vitamin A deficiency is a major public health problem among preschool-aged children in many developing countries. In Bangladesh, a national nutritional surveillance system was initiated in 1990 to monitor 1) the occurrence of vitamin A deficiency by history of night blindness and 2) the routine coverage of national twice-yearly prophylactic vitamin A capsule (VAC) distribution. This study comprised data collected from June 1990 to August 1994. ⋯ Night blindness was inversely related to the level of routinely attained coverage, and the degree of protection was associated with the time interval between the moment of VAC receipt and the moment of data collection. Although the prevalence of vitamin A deficiency in Bangladesh has been considerably lower in the 1990s than it was in the 1980s, it is still prevalent at all socioeconomic levels. Supplementation with high-dose VACs is an effective strategy for reducing night blindness, but the efficiency of the program will improve when coverage in the rural areas increases.
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The health system in Cuba guarantees accessibility to the entire population, is free of charge, and covers the spectrum from vaccinations to sophisticated interventions. The results are impressive: Cuba's health figures are on a par with developed countries that have 20 times the budget. The country is experiencing a difficult period because of the collapse and loss of support from the Soviet Union; over 30 years' trade embargo by the United States; and the gradual change from a centrally planned economy towards more of a free market system. ⋯ Doctors and nurses continue to work towards the goal of health for all Cubans, even though their salaries are minimal. Signs of negligence or corruption, often seen in other socialist countries where incentives for output are lacking, are unknown. Topics such as family planning and AIDS deserve immediate attention.
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Meningococcal disease is still a serious public health problem in many countries. A vaccine produced by Cuba was the first product against B meningococcus available on a large scale. In an attempt to control the increasing incidence of this serogroup in greater Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, the vaccine was used in 1990 in children aged 6 months-9 years. About 1.6 million children were vaccinated. ⋯ The results suggest that the vaccine produced by Cuba may offer protection against serogroup B meningococcal disease, but its effects may not be homogeneous.
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Comparative Study Clinical Trial Controlled Clinical Trial
Value of sedative premedication in female sterilization via minilaparotomy: a prospective study of two local anaesthesia regimen.
A prospective study of two local anaesthesia regimen for female sterilization is presented. A total of 1,077 female clients were sterilized via minilaparotomy under local anaesthesia (ML/LA) as outpatients. The clients underwent pre-operative screening and received pre-operative and continuing counselling. ⋯ D. 4.5) minutes. Clients who were pre-medicated with pethidine were more likely to have multiple post-operative complaints, especially dizziness, faintness, headache, nausea and vomiting. This study found no significant difference in the clinical performance of female sterilization by minilaparotomy, duration of operation, length of incision, amount of local anaesthesia required or perception of pain between clients who were premedicated with intramuscular pethidine and those who were not.