Articles: disease.
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Neonatal tetanus (NT) can be effectively prevented through immunization and clean delivery practices. However, NT claimed the lives of over 433,000 infants in 1991. It is endemic in 90 countries throughout the world. ⋯ NT consistently clusters in geographical areas and population groups where shared practices or the environment enhance the risk of cord contamination. 80% of the newborns who died of NT in 1991 were born in South-East Asia or Africa. Of the 90 countries endemic for NT, 10% produce 80% of the world's NT deaths. NT also clusters at country level.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
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Poliomyelitis has been virtually eliminated from the industrialized countries by mass campaigns conducted with oral polio vaccine (OPV). In 1988, the World Health Assembly set the goal of global eradication of poliomyelitis by the year 2000. The current WHO strategy for eradication uses three primary activities beyond routine immunization with OPV. ⋯ Eradication of polio from the Region of the Americas is close and may have already been achieved. In other regions, the number of reported polio cases has declined, largely as a result of high immunization coverage. As more countries implement polio eradication strategies, the number of polio cases will continue to fall until eradication is achieved.
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Acta Genet Med Gemellol (Roma) · Jan 1992
ReviewDelayed interval delivery of two remaining fetuses in quintuplet pregnancy after embryo reduction: report and review of the literature.
A case report is presented with a prolonged interval between delivery of 25 days. A quintuplet pregnancy resulted from hormonal stimulation of ovulation. ⋯ Using tocolytic agents, the second twin (710 g) was born at 26 weeks of gestation. This case is discussed and a review of the literature is given.
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Historical Article
Abortion in Europe, 1920-91: a public health perspective.
This article grew out of a keynote address prepared for the conference, "From Abortion to Contraception: Public Health Approaches to Reducing Unwanted Pregnancy and Abortion Through Improved Family Planning Services," held in Tbilisi, Georgia, USSR in October 1990. The article reviews the legal, religious, and medical situation of induced abortion in Europe in historical perspective, and considers access to abortion services, attitudes of health professionals, abortion incidence, morbidity and mortality, the new antiprogestins, the characteristics of abortion seekers, late abortions, postabortion psychological reactions, effects of denied abortion, and repeat abortion. ⋯ Abortion is a social reality that can no more be legislated out of existence than the controversy surrounding it can be stilled. No matter how effective family planning services and practices become, there will always be a need for access to safe abortion services.
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This article presents results from a population-based study of the magnitude and causes of maternal mortality in the Giza governorate of Egypt in 1985-86. Deaths to women in the reproductive ages were identified through the death registration system. Family members of the deceased were interviewed using the "verbal autopsy" approach. ⋯ An average of 2.3 causes per maternal death were reported; the most common causes were postpartum hemorrhage (31 percent of cases) and hypertensive diseases of pregnancy, such as toxemia and eclampsia (28 percent of cases). Women experiencing hemorrhage, hypertensive diseases of pregnancy, or other serious complications must have easy access to hospital and maternity centers equipped for handling these conditions. Since most deliveries occur at home, many with the help of traditional birth attendants, TBAs will need training in early diagnosis, treatment, and/or effective referral of problem pregnancies.