Articles: mortality.
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To test the hypothesis that both body mass index (expressed as the ratio of weight in kilograms per height in meters squared) and the ratio of waist circumference to hip circumference are positively associated with mortality risk in older women. ⋯ Waist/hip circumference ratio is a better marker than body mass index of risk of death in older women. Waist/hip circumference ratio should be measured as part of routine surveillance and risk monitoring in medical practice.
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The objective of the study was to assess the prevalence of unclassified hypertension during pregnancy and its consequences on infant's health in an African urban setting: Pikine, a suburb of Dakar, Senegal. A cross-sectional study of a random sample of pregnant women and a prospective study, from the inclusion to seven days after delivery, were performed. 886 women attending the prenatal centers were included in the cross-sectional study. 471 pregnant women were included in the follow-up study. The prevalence of DBP > or = 120 mmHg was 0.7%; 5.7% of the women had DBP > or = 95 mmHg. ⋯ Using 95 mmHg as a cutpoint, the relative risk of adverse outcome associated with a DBP > or = 95 mmHg was 2.5 (CI 95%: 1.4-4.3). This risk was significantly increased among women who reported difficult living conditions. Eight percent of the adverse outcomes of pregnancy, 10% of the low birth weights and 8% of the perinatal mortality were found to be associated with DBP > or 95 mmHg.
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A system has been established to document births and deaths in children in a large, rural, West African population, using community reporters. Causes of death in children under the age of 5 years were investigated using post-mortem questionnaires completed by field assistants. There was a marked seasonal incidence of all major causes of death with peak rates in the rainy season. ⋯ Other major causes of death were malaria, acute gastro-enteritis and chronic diarrhoea with malnutrition. Mortality from all the major causes of death decreased with increasing village size. Our findings have implications for interventions against childhood mortality.
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One hundred and fifty six babies with birth weight between 1500-2000 g and 103 full term-appropriate for gestational age (FT-AGA) babies delivered at University Hospital, District Hospital and village homes were included for a comparative study of mortality, morbidity and growth pattern. The low birth weight (LBW) babies from the three centres had similar birth weight and gestational age. Neonatal mortality rates for the LBW babies were similar at the three centres. ⋯ However, the differences were statistically significant mostly in the preterm group. The weight gain of all LBW babies was similar up to 3 months of age. The findings of an identical outcome for the LBW babies at village level to those managed at hospitals is an encouraging trend to increasing domiciliary care for LBW babies.