Living, and giving life, with HIV
New guidelines improve pregnancy, labour, and delivery care for HIV-positive women. These updated recommendations allow for longer, healthier pregnancies and increased chances of healthy, HIV-free offspring.
Prenatal Care
Articles tagged with Prenatal Care
Preeclampsia solutions sought
The first International Preeclampsia Summit is being held to bring together experts in the field to discuss ways to intervene and reduce maternal illness and death due to preeclampsia. The summit aims to prioritize appropriate treatment options for this top cause of maternal mortality.
Women vets get less on-site specialty care at VA facilities
A study found that VA facilities in the US offer limited on-site specialty care for women veterans, with most services provided off-site through contracts. Facilities with more specialist physicians and separate women's health budgets offered more specialized services on-site.
Parents may make informed care decisions about newborn heart conditions despite timing of diagnosis
Researchers found that both groups of parents reported making active, informed decisions for their babies' heart surgery. Fathers in the prenatal diagnosis group had less anxiety and higher optimism than those with postnatal diagnoses. The study suggests that parental informed consent is related to the timing of the child's diagnosis.
Caesarean rates unaffected by level of nursing care
A study published in JAMA found that continuous care from nurses did not significantly reduce caesarean delivery rates. However, the majority of women preferred this type of care, highlighting the need for widespread changes to hospital practices and caregivers' attitudes.
Puerto Rican women influenced more by quality of medical care than doctor's ethnicity
A study of Puerto Rican women found that their level of satisfaction with obstetrical care is significantly influenced by institutional settings, medical staff characteristics, and the continuity of care. Latino physicians are culturally sensitive, but their ethnicity does not affect patient satisfaction.
Despite resources, at-risk infants in US fare no better, researchers find
Researchers analyzed care in US, Australia, Canada, and UK to find similar survival rates for low-birth-weight babies. The US spent more on neonatal intensive care but less on reproductive and prenatal care.
Dartmouth team finds uneven relationship between newborn intensive care and death rates
A Dartmouth study reveals uneven regional distribution of newborn specialists and intensive care beds, correlating poorly with improved survival rates. The research suggests that increasing neonatal resources beyond a certain point may not lead to further gains in outcomes.
Home care from advanced practice nurses key to better health for at-risk pregnant mothers and their infants - at reduced costs to the healthcare system
Advanced practice nurse home visits significantly lower infant mortality, preterm births, and rehospitalizations. The intervention also yields substantial savings to the healthcare system.
Nurse clinicians at UCSF's perinatal AIDS center optimize care for pregnant HIV-infected women and their babies
The Bay Area Perinatal AIDS Center's coordinated care model significantly reduces HIV transmission from mother to child. Nurse clinicians focus on the challenges of caring for HIV-infected mothers, implementing interventions such as coordinated medication schedules.
Among Puerto Ricans, immigrant status overrated as barrier to adequate prenatal care
Research reveals psychological uncertainty about pregnancy is a major barrier, rather than immigrant status, for Puerto Rican women seeking adequate prenatal care. Despite being U.S. citizens, some women report inadequate care due to unwanted pregnancies or lack of awareness.
Jefferson researchers find access to new methods of HIV prevention for pregnant women and newborns may depend on where they were receiving care
Researchers found that HIV-infected pregnant women receiving care at specialized centers or state-funded sites were more likely to receive antiretroviral therapy, reducing transmission by up to two-thirds. The study highlights the importance of access to quality medical care in preventing mother-to-newborn transmission of AIDS.
May/June 1999 Table Of Contents
This issue of Public Health Reports features articles on occupational pesticide poisoning, an outbreak of Echovirus 30 infections among child care center staff and parents, and the prevalence of asthma among American Indian and Alaska Native children. The journal also includes viewpoints on Medicaid managed care and public health data,...
University Of North Carolina-Chapel Hill (UNC-CH) Study: Parents' Wishes, Uncertainty Determine Resuscitation Of Premature Infants
A UNC-CH study reveals that premature infants are resuscitated primarily based on parents' preferences and medical uncertainty, rather than solely on the prognosis of survival. The study found that resuscitation generally postpones death by only a few days but does not contribute substantially to over-treatment.
The United States Should Adopt Nurse-Midewifery As Standard Of Care For Normal Deliveries
The article recommends adopting nurse-midwifery as the standard of care for normal deliveries in the US, citing its cost-effectiveness and ability to mitigate low birth weight and infant mortality. Nurse-midwives' non-interventionist approach can provide high-quality care with equivalent outcomes to physicians.
Women With Low-Risk Pregnancies Receive Fewer Obstetrical Interventions When Cared For By Midwives, Compared To Women Attended By Physicians
A University of Washington study found that patients of certified nurse-midwives used 12% fewer resources than those of physicians, with lower rates of continuous fetal monitoring and epidural anesthesia. Midwives also delivered babies with a lower Caesarean-section rate compared to obstetricians.