In Australia more than one woman dies every fortnight as a result of childbearing - some could be preventable - according a study in published by Wiley-Blackwell in the Australian and New Zealand Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology.
The paper entitled "Making Pregnancy Safer in Australia: the Importance of Maternal Death review" outlines the maternal death monitoring and review process in Australia and presents the salient features from the recently published Australian maternal death report - calling for an improvement in the review process to prevent further avoidable maternal deaths.
"Despite being the marker of the health system's performance, maternal deaths appear to have low priority in Australia- due to poor resourcing and underreporting of deaths and Indigenous status. The monitoring and reporting system needs to be strengthened in rigor", says author of the paper, Associate Professor Sue Kildea, from Charles Darwin University's Graduate School for Health Practice.
The latest report shows Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women and rural and remote dwelling women are more at risk of maternal death in Australia. The importance of reviewing how and why women die in childbirth is hence brought to the fore. This study finds that leading causes of direct and indirect maternal deaths were infection, cardiac deaths, amniotic fluid embolism, psychiatric deaths, obstetric hemorrhage and hemorrhage from other causes. The paper emphasizes the need for key professionals like midwives, general practice obstetricians and obstetric specialists to work within effective health systems, to give women and newborns consistent access to skilled care throughout the reproductive cycle.
Maternal death review is an essential component of any maternity service. This study reinforces the need to further investigate Australia's review process, and to allocate more resources to improve the quality, timeliness and capacity of maternal death and severe maternal morbidity review in Australia." "We are not doing as well as other similar countries in this respect".
This paper is published in the April 2008 issue of Australian and New Zealand Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology (Vol. 48, Issue 2, 2008).
Please click here to view article online
About Australian and New Zealand Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology
The Australian and New Zealand Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology (ANZJOG) is an editorially independent publication owned by the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (RANZCOG) and the RANZCOG Research foundation. ANZJOG aims to provide a medium for the publication of original contributions to clinical practice and/or research in all fields of obstetrics and gynaecology and related disciplines. Articles are peer reviewed by clinicians or researchers expert in the field of the submitted work. Please click here to view article online
About Wiley-Blackwell
Wiley-Blackwell was formed in February 2007 as a result of the acquisition of Blackwell Publishing Ltd. by John Wiley & Sons, Inc., and its merger with Wiley's Scientific, Technical, and Medical business. Together, the companies have created a global publishing business with deep strength in every major academic and professional field. Wiley-Blackwell publishes approximately 1,400 scholarly peer-reviewed journals and an extensive collection of books with global appeal. For more information on Wiley-Blackwell, please visit blackwellpublishing or interscience.wiley.
About Wiley
Founded in 1807, John Wiley & Sons, Inc. has been a valued source of information and understanding for 200 years, helping people around the world meet their needs and fulfill their aspirations. Since 1901, Wiley and its acquired companies have published the works of more than 350 Nobel laureates in all categories: Literature, Economics, Physiology/Medicine, Physics, Chemistry and Peace.
Our core businesses include scientific, technical, medical and scholarly journals, encyclopedias, books, and online products and services; professional/trade publishes books, subscription products, training materials, and online applications and websites; and educational materials for undergraduate and graduate students and lifelong learners. Wiley's global headquarters are located in Hoboken, New Jersey, with operations in the U.S., Europe, Asia, Canada, and Australia. The Company's Web site can be accessed at wiley. The Company is listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbols JWa and JWb.
John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
суббота, 24 сентября 2011 г.
суббота, 17 сентября 2011 г.
Opinion Pieces Examine Obama's Commitment To Reduce The Need For Abortion
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution on Wednesday published two opinion pieces debating whether President-elect Barack Obama will fulfill his pledge to reduce the need for abortions. Summaries appear below.
~ Alexia Kelley, Atlanta Journal-Constitution: "The time is ripe to break the abortion stalemate," Kelley, executive director and co-founder of Catholics in Alliance for the Common Good, writes in an opinion piece. Although Obama "supports a woman's right to choose an abortion, his commitment to poverty reduction, affordable health care and addressing the root causes of abortion is encouraging," Kelley writes. She continues that the Democratic Party's platform "[f]or the first time" includes references to the "essential role social and economic supports play in reducing abortion." This approach, as well as Obama's outreach to religious Americans, "bodes well for continued dialogue and the potential for new coalitions and fresh solutions," Kelley writes. She continues that officials should address economic and social issues through a "comprehensive abortion prevention strategy" to "make real progress reducing the number of abortions" in the U.S. According to Kelley, "Reducing the abortion rate by 95% in 10 years is an essential and achievable goal." However, she writes, "[p]eople of faith have a particular responsibility to both collaborate with and challenge the new administration" (Kelley, Atlanta Journal-Constitution, 1/14).
~ Jonathan Merritt, Atlanta Journal-Constitution: "In years past, abortion has been a black and white issue," Merritt, national spokesperson for the Southern Baptist Environment and Climate Initiative writes, adding that abortion-rights advocates "have been villainized as murderers" while abortion-rights opponents "have been called religious fanatics." Merritt writes that the abortion debate recently "has evolved with the inclusion of one simple word: reduction," adding that reduction has "struck a chord with Americans on both sides of the issue." Merritt asks whether Obama will "make good on his promises" to reduce the number of abortions, whether abortion reduction will be a "priority" for the Obama administration and whether Obama has the "resolve to spend the necessary political capital" to reduce abortion. Merritt writes, "Unfortunately, by all indications, the answer to each of these questions is 'no.'" He continues that "Obama has an abysmal record when it comes to abortion," citing Obama's statement in 2007 that he would sign the Freedom of Choice Act. According to Merritt, FOCA "would invalidate almost every restriction" on abortion and would result in "more abortion, not less." He adds that it would be "unfortunate for America" if Obama does not reduce abortion because "[b]oth pro- and antiabortion rights voters have finally found something on which we can agree." Merritt concludes, "If Obama wants to add another mark on the checklist under 'unprecedented and historical,' he will fulfill his promise to reduce the multitudinous number of abortions currently allowed by the United States" (Merritt, Atlanta Journal-Constitution, 1/14).
Reprinted with kind permission from nationalpartnership. You can view the entire Daily Women's Health Policy Report, search the archives, or sign up for email delivery here. The Daily Women's Health Policy Report is a free service of the National Partnership for Women & Families, published by The Advisory Board Company.
© 2009 The Advisory Board Company. All rights reserved.
~ Alexia Kelley, Atlanta Journal-Constitution: "The time is ripe to break the abortion stalemate," Kelley, executive director and co-founder of Catholics in Alliance for the Common Good, writes in an opinion piece. Although Obama "supports a woman's right to choose an abortion, his commitment to poverty reduction, affordable health care and addressing the root causes of abortion is encouraging," Kelley writes. She continues that the Democratic Party's platform "[f]or the first time" includes references to the "essential role social and economic supports play in reducing abortion." This approach, as well as Obama's outreach to religious Americans, "bodes well for continued dialogue and the potential for new coalitions and fresh solutions," Kelley writes. She continues that officials should address economic and social issues through a "comprehensive abortion prevention strategy" to "make real progress reducing the number of abortions" in the U.S. According to Kelley, "Reducing the abortion rate by 95% in 10 years is an essential and achievable goal." However, she writes, "[p]eople of faith have a particular responsibility to both collaborate with and challenge the new administration" (Kelley, Atlanta Journal-Constitution, 1/14).
~ Jonathan Merritt, Atlanta Journal-Constitution: "In years past, abortion has been a black and white issue," Merritt, national spokesperson for the Southern Baptist Environment and Climate Initiative writes, adding that abortion-rights advocates "have been villainized as murderers" while abortion-rights opponents "have been called religious fanatics." Merritt writes that the abortion debate recently "has evolved with the inclusion of one simple word: reduction," adding that reduction has "struck a chord with Americans on both sides of the issue." Merritt asks whether Obama will "make good on his promises" to reduce the number of abortions, whether abortion reduction will be a "priority" for the Obama administration and whether Obama has the "resolve to spend the necessary political capital" to reduce abortion. Merritt writes, "Unfortunately, by all indications, the answer to each of these questions is 'no.'" He continues that "Obama has an abysmal record when it comes to abortion," citing Obama's statement in 2007 that he would sign the Freedom of Choice Act. According to Merritt, FOCA "would invalidate almost every restriction" on abortion and would result in "more abortion, not less." He adds that it would be "unfortunate for America" if Obama does not reduce abortion because "[b]oth pro- and antiabortion rights voters have finally found something on which we can agree." Merritt concludes, "If Obama wants to add another mark on the checklist under 'unprecedented and historical,' he will fulfill his promise to reduce the multitudinous number of abortions currently allowed by the United States" (Merritt, Atlanta Journal-Constitution, 1/14).
Reprinted with kind permission from nationalpartnership. You can view the entire Daily Women's Health Policy Report, search the archives, or sign up for email delivery here. The Daily Women's Health Policy Report is a free service of the National Partnership for Women & Families, published by The Advisory Board Company.
© 2009 The Advisory Board Company. All rights reserved.
суббота, 10 сентября 2011 г.
False Alarm At Breast Cancer Screening Causes Substantial Negative Psychological Impact
Today preventive medicine screening programs for cancers including breast cancer are recommended to the healthy population to reduce mortality of cancer. When women receive abnormal breast cancer screening results, later confirmed as false alarms, it causes anxiety, sense of dejection, sleeping problems, negative impact on behavior, and sexuality and exaggerated breast self examination. Women also feel less attractive and try to keep themselves busy to take their mind off things. Some women report sick leave as a consequence of the abnormal screening mammography.
The article "Validation Of A Condition-Specific Measure For Women Having An Abnormal Screening Mammography," by John Brodersen MD, GP, PhD student, Hanne Thorsen MD, PhD, and Svend Kreiner MSC appears in the July/August 2007 issue of Value in Health, the official journal of the International Society of Pharmacoeconomics and Outcomes Research (ISPOR).
Currently used questionnaires are not able to measure all the harms related to screening. Therefore, a new questionnaire for women having an abnormal screening mammography was tested in a population of women attending breast cancer screening.
In most cancer screening programs thousands of screens have to occur to prevent one death of cancer, while hundreds will have false alarms. In breast cancer screenings, the ratio between prevented deaths and false alarms are 1:200. The inadequacy of the current information given to women at invitation to breast cancer screening combined with the substantial negative psychological impact from the large number of false alarms makes it important to improve the information of the benefits and harm of screening mammography so that women are able to make an informed choice.
Value in Health (ISSN 1098-3015) publishes papers, concepts, and ideas that advance the field of pharmacoeconomics and outcomes research and help health care leaders to make decisions that are solidly evidence-based. The journal is published bi-monthly and has a regular readership of over 3,000 clinicians, decision-makers, and researchers worldwide.
ISPOR is a nonprofit, international organization that strives to translate pharmacoeconomics and outcomes research into practice to ensure that society allocates scarce health care resources wisely, fairly, and efficiently.
Value in Health Volume 10 Issue 4 - July/August 2007
ABSTRACT
ispor
The article "Validation Of A Condition-Specific Measure For Women Having An Abnormal Screening Mammography," by John Brodersen MD, GP, PhD student, Hanne Thorsen MD, PhD, and Svend Kreiner MSC appears in the July/August 2007 issue of Value in Health, the official journal of the International Society of Pharmacoeconomics and Outcomes Research (ISPOR).
Currently used questionnaires are not able to measure all the harms related to screening. Therefore, a new questionnaire for women having an abnormal screening mammography was tested in a population of women attending breast cancer screening.
In most cancer screening programs thousands of screens have to occur to prevent one death of cancer, while hundreds will have false alarms. In breast cancer screenings, the ratio between prevented deaths and false alarms are 1:200. The inadequacy of the current information given to women at invitation to breast cancer screening combined with the substantial negative psychological impact from the large number of false alarms makes it important to improve the information of the benefits and harm of screening mammography so that women are able to make an informed choice.
Value in Health (ISSN 1098-3015) publishes papers, concepts, and ideas that advance the field of pharmacoeconomics and outcomes research and help health care leaders to make decisions that are solidly evidence-based. The journal is published bi-monthly and has a regular readership of over 3,000 clinicians, decision-makers, and researchers worldwide.
ISPOR is a nonprofit, international organization that strives to translate pharmacoeconomics and outcomes research into practice to ensure that society allocates scarce health care resources wisely, fairly, and efficiently.
Value in Health Volume 10 Issue 4 - July/August 2007
ABSTRACT
ispor
суббота, 3 сентября 2011 г.
Researcher Finds Link Between Chlamydia And Cervical Cancer
The human papillomavirus (HPV), an infectious disease of the skin and inner membranes, is considered one of the most common sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) in the world and a necessary agent of cervical cancer. Research now shows that Chlamydia increases this risk.
Jeff Korte, Ph.D., principal investigator of a National Cancer Institute funded study and assistant professor at the Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC), tracked HPV infections in 68 women with existing STDs to analyze the impact of genital infections over a two-year period. Korte found that HPV infections lasted longer if Chlamydia also was present. "HPV persistence is one of the most important risk factors for cervical cancer", said Korte. "If an HPV infection persists longer, it is more likely to be accompanied by a serious lesion and progress to cancer".
Prevention is through vaccination, which protects against the four HPV types. Since the majority of HPV-positive people contract the disease within a few years of sexual activity, there is a push to vaccinate young adolescents. Current vaccines have been approved for women ages nine to 26, but targeted to girls 11 to 13.
Though the HPV vaccine is a socially controversial issue, the spread of HPV is a major public health concern. Therefore, investigators from MUSC's College of Nursing and the Hollings Cancer Center Office of Prevention and Control are working on a National Cancer Institute funded study to determine perceptions about the HPV vaccine and identify both facilitators and barriers among specific demographics. "The HPV vaccine will change how we screen for cervical cancer in the United States," said Sharon Bond, study investigator and certified nurse midwife at MUSC. "The vaccines give us the capability to virtually eradicate a common cancer-causing virus that claims the lives of more than 250,000 women around the world every year."
About MUSC
Founded in 1824 in Charleston, The Medical University of South Carolina is the oldest medical school in the South. Today, MUSC continues the tradition of excellence in education, research, and patient care. MUSC educates and trains more than 3,000 students and residents, and has nearly 10,000 employees, including 1,300 faculty members. As the largest non-federal employer in Charleston, the university and its affiliates have collective annual budgets in excess of $1.3 billion. MUSC operates a 600-bed medical center, which includes a nationally recognized Children's Hospital and a leading Institute of Psychiatry. For more information on academic information or clinical services, visit musc.edu or muschealth.
Medical University of South Carolina
171 Ashley Ave.
Charleston, SC 29425
United States
musc.edu
Jeff Korte, Ph.D., principal investigator of a National Cancer Institute funded study and assistant professor at the Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC), tracked HPV infections in 68 women with existing STDs to analyze the impact of genital infections over a two-year period. Korte found that HPV infections lasted longer if Chlamydia also was present. "HPV persistence is one of the most important risk factors for cervical cancer", said Korte. "If an HPV infection persists longer, it is more likely to be accompanied by a serious lesion and progress to cancer".
Prevention is through vaccination, which protects against the four HPV types. Since the majority of HPV-positive people contract the disease within a few years of sexual activity, there is a push to vaccinate young adolescents. Current vaccines have been approved for women ages nine to 26, but targeted to girls 11 to 13.
Though the HPV vaccine is a socially controversial issue, the spread of HPV is a major public health concern. Therefore, investigators from MUSC's College of Nursing and the Hollings Cancer Center Office of Prevention and Control are working on a National Cancer Institute funded study to determine perceptions about the HPV vaccine and identify both facilitators and barriers among specific demographics. "The HPV vaccine will change how we screen for cervical cancer in the United States," said Sharon Bond, study investigator and certified nurse midwife at MUSC. "The vaccines give us the capability to virtually eradicate a common cancer-causing virus that claims the lives of more than 250,000 women around the world every year."
About MUSC
Founded in 1824 in Charleston, The Medical University of South Carolina is the oldest medical school in the South. Today, MUSC continues the tradition of excellence in education, research, and patient care. MUSC educates and trains more than 3,000 students and residents, and has nearly 10,000 employees, including 1,300 faculty members. As the largest non-federal employer in Charleston, the university and its affiliates have collective annual budgets in excess of $1.3 billion. MUSC operates a 600-bed medical center, which includes a nationally recognized Children's Hospital and a leading Institute of Psychiatry. For more information on academic information or clinical services, visit musc.edu or muschealth.
Medical University of South Carolina
171 Ashley Ave.
Charleston, SC 29425
United States
musc.edu
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