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Biomedical subjects

D C Geddis

Publications and source records attributed to D C Geddis.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1994

Alcohol consumption by New Zealand women during pregnancy.

AIMS: Despite the known negative effects of alcohol consumption during pregnancy, there is little basic epidemiological information on this group of women. The present study aims to provide such information. METHODS: The Plunket National Child Health Study is a longitudinal study of 4286 New Zealand children, based on an ethnically stratified and geographically representative random sample of children born between 2 July 1990 and 30 June 1991. The drinking habits of the mothers of these children are examined. RESULTS: During pregnancy 41.6% of women consumed alcohol. Compared with abstainers, they tended to be older, have higher educational qualifications, lower parity, higher socioeconomic status and be European or Maori. Of those women who consumed alcohol, the frequency of consumption was rare (between one and three times in pregnancy) in 13.6% of cases, occasional (more than three times in pregnancy but less than weekly) in 67.7% of cases, and frequent (more than once a week) in 18.7% of cases. Those who frequently consumed were more likely to have higher socioeconomic status. For pregnant women in New Zealand, the sociodemography of those having high rates of alcohol consumption does not coincide with the sociodemography of those who have high rates of smoking. CONCLUSIONS: Programmes aimed at reducing alcohol consumption during pregnancy should take account of the at-risk groups of women as identified above. In particular they should include women of higher socioeconomic status in their target groups.

Adult↗
PubMed1992

The demographic characteristics of early and late attenders for antenatal care.

In the Royal New Zealand Plunket Society's 1990-91 Cohort study, 581 of 4,286 women questioned (13.7%) had not initiated antenatal care until after the first trimester. These late attenders were more likely to be non-European or of high parity; 42.9% of Pacific Islander mothers and 28.9% of Maori mothers did not initiate antenatal care until after the first trimester. Late attenders were also more likely to be unmarried, of lower socioeconomic status, young or with lower educational attainment. The reason for delayed antenatal care needs to be investigated and mothers who are high parity and non-European need to be particularly targeted to encourage them to attend for antenatal care early.

Adult↗
PubMed1991

The normal growth patterns of New Zealand preschool children.

This study was designed to update New Zealand Growth Charts for preschool children. The heights, weights and head circumferences of 12,311 children aged one month to five years were recorded. From this data growth charts were constructed. Since significant differences were found between the measurements for boys and girls, separate graphs were constructed. We strongly advise that these graphs be used by all health professionals involved with child health surveillance of the 0-5 age group.

Body Height↗
PubMed1991

Evaluation of the routine examination of nine month old infants.

During the month of March 1988, 880 (85.6%) of the 1027 babies born in New Zealand during the first week of June 1987 were examined by either a Plunket nurse or a paediatrician. Sixty-nine percent of the babies were European, 16.9% Maori, 6.8% from the Pacific Islands and 4.4% other nationalities. Previously unknown conditions or abnormalities that required further assessment or treatment were discovered in 8.3% of babies. Abnormalities were found in: 7.3% of European infants; 10.1% of the Maori infants; 18.3% of the Pacific Island infants and 2.6% of the others. Other topics considered of significance to the examiner but not directly associated with the nine month examination (eg, maternal health problem), were recorded in 24% of cases. There was no significant difference across the three main ethnic groups. Similar results were recorded irrespective of whether the examination was undertaken by a doctor or a nurse. We believe the nine month examination should be continued but the present policy of recommending that preferably general practitioners carry out the examination should be reassessed.

Congenital Abnormalities↗
PubMed1990

Factors influencing the use of infant car restraints.

Over a six-week period 100 mothers in Dunedin, New Zealand obtained General Motors infant car seats from a rental scheme. In interviews conducted in the maternity hospital, before the seats had been used, the mother's perceptions of the comfort and ease of use of the seat were recorded. All mothers rated the seats as very safe. From details of 2,830 car trips undertaken by these mothers while their infants were 0-3 months old and from a further 687 journeys by 85 of those mothers when their infants were 4-6 months old we found that an infant car seat was used for only 72% of journeys with the younger infant compared to 91% of journeys with the older infant. Those mothers who had rated the seat--before ever using it--as appearing uncomfortable or difficult to use were less likely to make use of it. The seat was least likely to be used when the mother was going out for more than two hours in the evening for some purpose that involved only a short car journey.

Accidents, Traffic↗
PubMed1990

Sleep patterns of New Zealand infants during the first 12 months of life.

The sleeping patterns of 874 infants aged 1-12 months were recorded by parents over a 6 day period. The most striking feature of the results was the wide range in total hours slept by infants of the same age, for example, the average total sleeping time per 24 h period for 4 month old infants was 14.8 h with a range of 11.0-19.3 h. Furthermore, over the 6 day period, individual infants showed wide variations in their sleeping times with a range as great as 12 h. Despite these wide variations, several clear trends emerged: from 1 to 8 months, a decrease with age of the average number of hours slept per 24 h period; and from 8 to 12 months, and a continuing shift towards a dominance of night over day sleep. The frequency of night wakings was, on average, 77%, a finding that contrasted sharply with parental perception of frequency of night waking; the transition from bassinet/carrycot to cot was most common between 3 and 4 months of age; 25% of babies slept with the light on, 9% used a dummy, and 37% sucked their fingers; first-born infants woke significantly less often at night than those with one or more sibling. These results provide an important comparative data set on the sleep patterns of infants.

Birth Order↗
PubMed1986

Establishment and evaluation of a pilot child car seat rental scheme in New Zealand.

The method of operation of a pilot car seat rental scheme is described. It is unique in that there are sufficient seats to accommodate every newborn infant in the city. Both infant and child seats are available. The pattern of use since the establishment of the scheme in December 1981 is reported. Currently 60% to 70% of parents rent infant seats and 35% to 40% rent child seats. Yearly roadside observations have shown a steady increase in the number of restrained children. In 1981 no infants traveled in approved restraints. In 1984 66% did so. The 1984 results for other age groups were: 6 to 18 months of age, 88%; 18 months to 21/2 years of age, 82%; 21/2 to 31/2 years of age, 66%; 31/2 to 41/2 years of age, 62%. At this time no legislation applied to children less than 8 years of age. The success of this pilot scheme suggests it should be expanded on a national scale.

Accidents, Traffic↗
PubMed1985

Evaluation of Dunedin Plunket family units.

The 249 new cases who presented to Dunedin's two family units during an eight month period in 1983 are described. Data including demographic details, the nature of the presenting problems, the types and frequency of interventions used, and the outcome as perceived by unit staff, referring agency and the child's mother, were collected. Commonly the presenting problem was but one of several identified by unit staff. The number and duration of family unit contacts did not differ greatly for different types of presenting problems. Outcome ratings by the involved health care workers agreed closely with those who made the referral (usually Plunket nurses) and suggested a definite improvement in the majority of cases. There was a high level of consumer satisfaction. Family units are still evolving and adapting to suit local needs, and it seems that they are providing an efficient and effective service which is unique in New Zealand.

Child Care↗
PubMed1984

The exposure of pre-school children to water hazards and the incidence of potential drowning accidents.

Pre-school drownings are a common cause of death and nearly all occur within the child's everyday environment. This study is the first attempt to (a) determine the rate of exposure of a nationwide sample of 8430 New Zealand children aged 1-3 years, to water hazards in their everyday environment and (b) obtain the number of potential drowning accidents suffered by the sample since birth. Sixty percent of the children were exposed to one and usually several, water hazards. Domestic swimming pools were the single most common hazard (39%). Sixty-three percent of these pools had no safety features. Eight-eight percent of the children's parents supported the mandatory fencing of domestic pools. Since birth, 734 of the children had experienced a total of 867 water accidents where but for a chance finding drowning could have resulted. Medical treatment was sought for 10%. Forty-eight percent occurred in a bath or a domestic swimming pool.

Accident Prevention↗
PubMed1982

How children travel in cars in New Zealand.

Two years ago a nationwide observation survey of children (0-14 years) in cars demonstrated that only 20 percent were appropriately restrained. Parent education material was prepared and the law was altered so that children over eight years of age were required to use a seat belt. A repeat observation study was undertaken to determine what effect, if any, these measures had produced. Altogether 21 554 children 0-14 years were observed. Twenty-five percent were appropriately restrained. The older the child, the less likely he was to be restrained. Fifty-six percent of children over eight years of age, and travelling in the front seat were wearing seat belts--unchanged from 1978. However only 23 percent of a random sample of 1000 adults correctly identified the new traffic rule. It is necessary to improve current attempts at health education. Any future legislative changes should be widely publicised.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1982

Parent education: its effect on the way children are transported in cars.

The effect of health education material on how parents transported their children in cars was observed. The study sample consisted of 380 mothers in a maternity hospital. There were three groups. One served as a control; another received pamphlets on child car safety; the third received pamphlets and viewed a film. How their babies were transported home was recorded and repeat observations noted six months later on 288 infants. Initially 18 percent of the controls transported their infants appropriately. At follow-up the percentage was 62. The equivalent percentages for group 2 were 37 and 60, for group 3, 49 and 62. The early changes between the control group and the others were significant (p less than 0.01, and p less than 0.001). Therefore this health education material should be routinely distributed in maternity hospitals. We did not explore the reasons for the improvement after six months in all groups, but it cannot be attributed to the material.

Automobiles↗
PubMed1982

Use of restraint systems by preschool children in cars.

Many deaths and injuries would be prevented if children in cars were adequately restrained. Cars were stopped at random and the use of child car seats by 853 children aged between 6 months and 4 years was ascertained. One hundred and thirty-three (65%) of the children aged between 6 and 11 months were travelling in seat restraints. Thirty-five (30%) of the children aged between 3 and 4 years were similarly restrained. Thus there was a significant decline in the use of child car seats within the age range for which they are suitable. There are several possible explanations for this finding and it is suggested that not only should efforts be made to encourage parents to provide car restraints for their infants but that attention should be focused on the reasons for this decline in the use of seat restraints.

Age Factors↗