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Full-Text Articles in Medicine and Health Sciences
A Stakeholder Examination Of Gestational Weight Gain Guidelines, Melissa Kwitowski
A Stakeholder Examination Of Gestational Weight Gain Guidelines, Melissa Kwitowski
Theses and Dissertations
Obesity is a significant health concern for women of childbearing age. More than 40% of women have a Body Mass Index (BMI) in the overweight or obese ranges at the time they conceive, posing significant health risks for both mother and child. Excessive weight gain during pregnancy is common and associated with numerous deleterious complications. The Institute of Medicine published gestational weight gain (GWG) guidelines based on prepregnancy BMI. However, more than 50% of women gain in excess of these recommendations. Further, many women report receiving minimal guidance from their healthcare providers regarding weight gain, nutrition, and physical activity during …
The Association Between Prenatal Care Content And Quality With Preterm Birth And Maternal Postpartum Health Behaviors, Susan Cha
Theses and Dissertations
Background: Health policies that seek to improve pregnancy outcomes focus on increasing the availability and access to prenatal care (PNC) services based on studies that support an association between insufficient PNC and adverse birth outcomes. These studies employ PNC utilization indices that measure the adequacy of PNC use, but these indices fail to account for the content or specific components of PNC. Objectives: The purpose of this study was to utilize PRAMS and birth certificate data to evaluate the content and quality of PNC in Virginia, and its impact on preterm birth and maternal postpartum health behaviors. Methods: Data was …
Intimate Partner Violence And Pregnancy: Data From The Chicago Women's Health Risk Study, Anne Zehner
Intimate Partner Violence And Pregnancy: Data From The Chicago Women's Health Risk Study, Anne Zehner
Theses and Dissertations
Background: Intimate partner violence (IPV) during pregnancy increases the risks of adverse outcomes for both mothers and their unborn children, including maternal and fetal death. However, more research is needed to determine if IPV increases in frequency or severity during pregnancy and to determine what the risk factors are for IPV during pregnancy. Objectives: To use data from the Chicago Women’s Health Risk Study to determine (1) if abuse is more prevalent during the pregnancy period, 2) if abuse during the pregnancy period increases in frequency or severity, 3) if pregnant women who are abused are at increased risk for …
Examination Of Birth Outcomes With Mode Of Delivery For Breech Presentation, Kelly Marie Arey
Examination Of Birth Outcomes With Mode Of Delivery For Breech Presentation, Kelly Marie Arey
Theses and Dissertations
Introduction: Approximately 3% to 4% of all pregnancies at term will have a fetus with a breech presentation. Studies have shown that the US has almost completely abandoned vaginal delivery for breech presentation through the influence of the "Term Breech Trial" (TBT) which concluded that a policy of planned caesarian section would reduce perinatal mortality, late neonatal mortality, and serious neonatal morbidity by approximately two-thirds for term fetuses. However, the recommendations are still being challenged by others.Objectives: The purpose of the study was to describe who in Virginia is having a vaginal delivery for a breech presentation and to determine …
Factors Associated With High Sexual Risk Behavior In Single Women, Thomas B. M. Leecost
Factors Associated With High Sexual Risk Behavior In Single Women, Thomas B. M. Leecost
Theses and Dissertations
Objective: This study was to identify factors associated with High Sexual Risk Behavior (HSRB) in single Afro American women seen in an Epidemiology/Sexual transmitted disease (EPID/STD) Clinic in Richmond, Virginia from January 2006 through April 2006.Method: Participants were 154 single women (no history of marriage) between the ages of 18-30 visiting the EPID/STD clinic for the first time.Demographic information was obtained from their records. A volunteer interview was given that contained 101 variables to evaluate for High Sexual Risk Behavior (HSRB). HSRB was defined to response 'yes' to the question, "During the past 3 months did you have sex with …
Predictors Of Primary Elective Cesarean Delivery Among Apparently Healthy Pregnant Women In Virginia, Brooke W. Rossheim
Predictors Of Primary Elective Cesarean Delivery Among Apparently Healthy Pregnant Women In Virginia, Brooke W. Rossheim
Theses and Dissertations
Objectives. The purpose of this cross-sectional study was to evaluate whether certain maternal variables were associated with the performance of a primary cesarean delivery rather than a spontaneous vaginal delivery among apparently healthy pregnant women in the Commonwealth of Virginia.Methods. This study utilized the 2004 Virginia Statistics File for Live Births which contained 103,830 records. From this dataset, the following groups of women were excluded: multiparous women, women who had had a previous delivery by any method, women with medical and obstetric problems, women with any labor and delivery complications, women with premature births and women with multiple gestations. The …
Lack Of Knowledge Of Mother-To-Child Transmission In Kenya Among Women Ages 15-49, Nisha Warrier
Lack Of Knowledge Of Mother-To-Child Transmission In Kenya Among Women Ages 15-49, Nisha Warrier
Theses and Dissertations
Purpose: The epidemic of mother-to-child transmission (MTCT) of HIV/AIDS in resource-poor countries is dramatic; it is responsible for nearly 90% of childhood infections. The primary purpose of analysis was to understand the distribution of factors and their association with lack of knowledge of MTCT in Kenya. In parallel, another aim was to identify the relationship between media, particularly frequency of radio exposure, and lack of knowledge.Methods: This study used the 2003 Kenya Demographic and Health Survey (DHS) collected for 8,195 women, ages 15-49. Descriptive analysis, univariate analysis, and logistic regression were completed on SPSS 14 software.Results: In the sample, 1151 …
Predictors Of Induced Abortion Among Female Youth Center Users In Port-Au-Prince, Haiti, Rachel Barker
Predictors Of Induced Abortion Among Female Youth Center Users In Port-Au-Prince, Haiti, Rachel Barker
Theses and Dissertations
Objective: Induced abortions occur in every country in the world. However sixty percent of the world's women live in countries where abortion is illegal. 19 million pregnancies end in unsafe and/or illegal abortions. Annually, 68,000 women die from unsafe abortions. Legal or not, unsafe abortion is one of the great neglected problems of health care in developing countries like Haiti and is a serious concern to women during their reproductive lives. Methods: The data for this study was collected from youth centers (ages 15-24) and used to estimate percentage distributions of abortion ratios by selected characteristics of women, particularly age …
Predictors Of Early Onset Of Sexual Intercourse In Male And Female Residents Of The United States, Brianna Michele Magnusson
Predictors Of Early Onset Of Sexual Intercourse In Male And Female Residents Of The United States, Brianna Michele Magnusson
Theses and Dissertations
Abstract Purpose: The United States has the highest rate of teen pregnancy of any industrialized nation. Adolescents who have their first sexual intercourse at a young age are at increased risk for teen pregnancies and acquiring a sexually transmitted disease. This study examines predictors of early onset sexual intercourse in male and female residents of the United States. Methods: A nationally representative sample of N=7,643 females and N=4.928 males ages 15-44 was procured from the 2002 National Survey of Family Growth (NSFG), Cycle 6. Age at first sexual intercourse was used to define early onset of sexual debut(<18 years). Socio-demographic and behavioral characteristics of the respondents, demographic and selected reproductive characteristics of the respondent's parents were examined using multiple logistic regression modeling. Results: Non-fispanic black, being raised without both parents, having a mother less than 18 years old at the age of first birth and age difference between partners were significant predictors of early onset of sexual intercourse for both males and females. Maternal education less than high school was a significant protective factor for female respondents [OR=0.72 (95%CI=0.58- 0.90)] and paternal education completed high school only [OR=1.4 (95% CI=l. 1-1.7)] was a significant risk factor for male respondents. Conclusions: Racelethnicity, age difference between partners, not being raised by both parents, having a mother who had her first birth before the age of 18 and parental education are important predictor variables. Further study should be conducted to investigate the protective effect of lack of maternal education for female respondents. Intervention programs for teen pregnancy and sexually transmitted infection prevention should target these at risk groups.
Is Number Of Pregnancies A Risk Factor For Heart Attack In Women?, Pavan Kumar Irukulla
Is Number Of Pregnancies A Risk Factor For Heart Attack In Women?, Pavan Kumar Irukulla
Theses and Dissertations
Background: Studies regarding number of pregnancies and coronary heart disease have shown inconsistent results. In the present study, we assessed the association between number of pregnancies and heart attack (HA) in women.Methods: Using data from NHANES III a cross sectional data analysis of 10634 women aged 17 and above was conducted. We considered socio-demographic factors and other potential risk factors including physical activity, smoking, alcohol, diabetes, hypertension, hypercholesterolemia, BMI, age, and family history of heart attack. We conducted Bivariate analysis to determine prevalence and crude odds ratios. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was used to adjust for confounding variables using SPSS. …