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Biomedical subjects

D R Woodward

Publications and source records attributed to D R Woodward.

18 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1998

Immunisation of babies. The mothers' perspective.

OBJECTIVES: It would appear that mothers are the main organisers for their child's immunisation. What do they know about immunisation? What are their reasons for having their child immunised? What are their experiences of the process and the difficulties they encounter? This study focuses on these questions. METHOD: A representative sample (n = 242) of mothers giving birth in southern Tasmania completed two questionnaires post partum, one during the first week and the other at 12 months. RESULTS: Primigravidae women were less well-informed about immunisation than multigravidae women. Almost all the mothers intended to immunise their babies for their child's welfare. However, at 54 weeks only 21% were fully immunised. General practitioners immunised 74% of the babies. Mothers were primarily responsible for arranging and overseeing the baby's immunisation. Problems included: lack of child care and of accompanying adults; post immunisation reactions (80% of babies); and inadequate information about immunisation reactions. Most mothers supported immunisation reminder systems and written records of immunisation. CONCLUSION: The general practitioner, the preferred provider of immunisation, can facilitate the translation of a mother's positive convictions into action important potential strategies include: mother friendly appointment systems; providing more information on immunisation, including possible reactions; general practice based immunisation outreach programs and domiciliary visiting.

Adult↗
PubMed1997

The Hobart Salt Study 1995: few meet national sodium intake target.

OBJECTIVE: To estimate 24-hour sodium and potassium excretion in an urban Australian population. DESIGN AND SETTING: Cross-sectional survey of an urban population in Hobart, Tasmania, in 1995. PARTICIPANTS: Systematic sample (87 men, 107 women) from the Commonwealth Electoral Roll of people aged 18-70 years on 30 June 1995 whose residential address was within 10 km of the Hobart General Post Office. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE: Conformity with the national target for sodium intake for the year 2000 of < or = 100 mmol/day. RESULTS: The target was met by 6% of men and 36% of women. This difference between the sexes was significant (P < 0.001), while differences between age groups and socioeconomic levels were not significant. CONCLUSION: Our findings confirm the low level of conformity with the national sodium target reported by the handful of Australian studies over the past decade. Given the major community costs associated with hypertension, our results highlight the need for effective and properly monitored action to reduce sodium intakes.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1996

Adolescents' reported usage of selected foods in relation to their perceptions and social norms for those foods.

This paper reports a study of factors associated with the consumption of 22 diverse foods among 2082 students aged 12-15 years in Tasmania, Australia. Students provided data by completing a printed questionnaire. Multiple linear regression was used to assess how well self-reported usual (past) frequency of consumption of a food could be estimated from their perceptions of the qualities of the food (their liking for it, its healthfulness) and their descriptive social norms for the food (its usage by parents and its usage by friends). For all foods, multiple R was significant (p < 0.0001), with values ranging from 0.28-0.64 (median for the 22 foods being 0.49). Standardized regression coefficients for liking and parental usage were highly significant (p < 0.0001) for all foods. However, consistently lower coefficients were found for friends' usage (11 with p < 0.01, but only three with p < 0.0001) and healthfulness (five with p < 0.01, but only one with p < 0.0001). The absolute and relative magnitudes of the regression coefficients varied substantially between the foods. Liking was a stronger predictor than parental usage for 11 of the foods, and parental usage out-ranked liking for the remaining 11. Regression coefficients for friends' usage and healthfulness were smaller than those for liking and parental usage for all foods studied.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1992

Selenium and human lactation in Australia: milk and blood selenium levels in lactating women, and selenium intakes of their breast-fed infants.

A series of 20 mother-infant pairs were studied in Brisbane, Australia, at 6-12 weeks postpartum. The mean selenium concentration in maternal blood was 101 (SD +/- 19) ng/g and in maternal serum 81(+/- 15) ng/g; serum values appeared low in comparison with those reported for lactating women from Japan and the USA, but similar to those from Finland and from a previous Australian study. Breast milk selenium concentrations (11.9 +/- 3.5 ng/g) were also low by international standards, but not as low as in New Zealand or Scandinavia. There was no correlation between selenium concentrations in milk and blood (or serum). The infants' 24-h breast-milk intakes were 856 +/- 172 g, and their 24-h selenium intakes 10.7 +/- 4.1 micrograms (compared to the Australian RDI of 10 micrograms).

Adolescent↗
PubMed1990

Interstate differences in trends in coronary mortality and risk factors in Australia.

Mortality from coronary heart disease has declined by approximately 50% in Australia over the past 20 years and now accounts for approximately 25% of all deaths. Most of the decline in mortality from all causes in each State of Australia over the period 1972-1988 is due to the decline in mortality from coronary heart disease. In Tasmania, the rate of decline in mortality from all causes is significantly less in both sexes (P less than 0.01) than in the mainland States, and the discrepancy is due to a lesser decline in mortality from coronary heart disease (P less than 0.01). Trends in deaths related to hypertension show no differences between Tasmania and the other States, which suggests that the discrepancy with coronary heart disease is due to factors other than the prevalence and/or treatment of hypertension. Analysis of trends data on cigarette smoking prevalence, and cross-sectional data on plasma cholesterol levels and diet, shows that Tasmanian differences in food intake (including fat and cholesterol), in plasma cholesterol levels and (to a lesser extent) in cigarette smoking are consistent with, but are unlikely to explain completely, the slower rate of decline in mortality from coronary heart disease.

Australia↗
PubMed1990

Do ambient temperature and humidity influence the breast-milk intake of babies?

This study explored the possible effect of ambient temperature and humidity on the breast-milk intakes of Australian infants (n = 35) aged 6-12 weeks. Over a 24 h period, each baby was fed only on milk from the breast; milk intakes, temperature and humidity were monitored. Milk intakes--determined by test-weighing the baby, with a correction for evaporative losses during feeds--showed a mean of 830 g/24 h, with median 818 and s.d. 152. The mean correction for evaporative losses was 46 g/24 h; omission of this correction would have led to an average underestimate of 5.5% in 24 h intakes. Ambient conditions varied substantially between subjects: 24 h mean temperatures ranged from 14 to 28 degrees C, and humidities from 48 to 97%. Over these ranges, breast-milk intakes did not appear to be significantly influenced by ambient temperature or ambient humidity; however, the rate of evaporative losses increased by 0.008 g/min for each 1 degree C rise in ambient temperature.

Australia↗
PubMed1989

The fat content of suckled breast milk: a new approach to its assessment.

Using a modification of the "interrupted feed" technique (Woolridge et al., 1982, Early Hum. Dev., 6, 265-272), the authors devised an equation relating milk fat content at any point during a feed from a breast to the volume consumed since the start of the feed. Hence, an equation was obtained to estimate the mean fat content (MF) of milk consumed during a feed from the fat content of small samples of fore-milk (Fb) and hind-milk (Fe): MF = 0.57Fb + 0.43Fe The authors argue that their approach yields a closer approximation to the true value of MF than previously described estimators of MF.

Adult↗
PubMed1989

Human milk fat content: within-feed variation.

Changes in milk fat content during individual breast-feeds were studied using a modification of the interrupted feed technique (Woolridge et al. (1982): Early Human Dev., 6, 265-272). Each feed was interrupted once, for weighing the baby and obtaining a small milk sample; weighing and milk sampling were also done at the start and end of the feed from that breast. Mathematical analysis of 52 feeds from the first breast offered at a feeding episode, and 39 second-breast feeds, showed a similar pattern on both types. The fat content rose in line with (Vi/Ve)1.35 (V being the volume consumed since the feed from that breast began). However, first-breast feeds showed sharp initial and final rises in fat content. The authors propose a mechanism to explain the difference in pattern between first- and second-breast feeds.

Adult↗
PubMed1988

Changes in milk composition during lactation in the potoroo, Potorous tridactylus (Marsupialia: Potoroinae).

Milk samples from captive potoroos were analysed for composition during weeks 3-25 of the lactation period. During pouch residence, up to week 16, carbohydrate levels were high, ranging from 9 g 100 ml-1 at week 5 to 15 g 100 ml-1 at week 15; fat levels were consistently low, at around 2 g 100 ml-1; protein levels gradually increased from 5 g 100 ml-1 before week 10 to 12 g 100 ml-1 at week 16. Growth rates during this period increased exponentially, from 1 g week-1 at week 3 to 40 g week-1 at week 16. Thereafter, as the young left the pouch, marked changes were seen in carbohydrate and fat levels: by week 25, carbohydrate levels had fallen to 2 g 100 ml-1, and fat levels had risen to 26 g 100 ml-1. Protein levels increased moderately, reaching 15 g 100 ml-1 by week 25. Growth rates further increased during this period, to reach 60 g week-1 by week 25. Thus, trends in milk composition previously observed in Macropus species were observed also in the potoroo, suggesting a consistent pattern across the macropodid family. Carbohydrate levels in potoroo milk tend to be higher than in other macropodids, but total milk intake is as important as composition in determining growth rates.

Animals↗
PubMed1986

What influences adolescent food intakes?

One-day dietary records were obtained from 1055 boys and girls, a representative sample of high-school students (ages 11-16 years) in Tasmania, Australia. This study reports the impacts of a variety of physical, behavioural and social characteristics on average (median) intakes of 15 food categories. Influences varied markedly between food categories, and between boys and girls. Among the influences noted were: girls consumed less milk, potatoes, cakes and desserts with increasing fatness; boys consumed more red meats and confectionery with increasing alcohol usage; use of vitamin supplements was associated with higher milk intake among girls, and higher intakes of green vegetables among boys; citrus and berry fruit intakes increased with social status in both sexes; boys at catholic schools ate more bread, cakes and desserts.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1985

What sort of teenager has low intakes of energy nutrients?

An alternative statistical technique, based on analysis of the 25th percentile, was used to examine teenagers' diets. The technique was developed to identify personal characteristics that affected the prevalence of low energy and nutrient intakes. It provided useful information not obtainable from methods based on average intakes. The study sample was a representative sample of 1055 high-school students in Tasmania, Australia, aged 11-16 years. Among girls, different characteristics had the greatest influence on the prevalence of low intakes ('low' being defined as below the 25th percentile for girls). Fatness had the greatest influence for several dietary components. Fatter girls were more likely to have low intakes of energy, carbohydrate, iron, calcium and niacin-equivalent, and also of 'empty-energy' foods. School type had the greatest influence for fat, riboflavin and vitamin A. Exercise had the greatest influence for protein, low intakes being more usual among the least active girls. Among boys, height and age generally had the greatest influence on the prevalence of low intakes ('low' being defined as below the 25th percentile for boys). Taller and older boys were less likely to have low intakes. This was attributed partly to increased physiological needs, but peer-group influences appeared more important in relation to food choices. Thiamin was unusual, in that recent use of analgesics had the greatest influence on the prevalence of low intakes.

Adipose Tissue↗
PubMed1985

What sort of teenager has high intakes of energy and nutrients?

An alternative statistical technique, based on analysis of the 75th percentile, was used to examine teenagers' diets. The technique was developed to identify personal characteristics that affected the prevalence of high energy and nutrient intakes. It provided useful information not obtainable from methods based on average intakes. The study sample was a representative sample of 1055 high-school students in Tasmania, Australia, aged 11-16 years. Among girls, the prevalence of high intakes of energy and several nutrients was not affected by any of the fifteen characteristics studied. (In this context, 'high' was defined as above the 75th percentile for girls.) Fatter, heavier girls were less likely to have high intakes of carbohydrate, iron and niacin-equivalent, and also of meat and 'empty-energy' foods. Girls from small families were less likely to have high calcium intakes, and girls from government schools less likely to have high thiamin intakes. Among boys, age generally had the greatest influence on the prevalence of high intakes ('high' being defined as above the 75th percentile for boys). Older boys were more likely to have high intakes of energy and most nutrients, as well as meat, cereals and fruit and vegetables. These age-related changes were, however, rather asynchronous. High fat intakes were more common among boys who had drunk more than five glasses of alcoholic beverages in the preceding week. High Ca intakes were more frequent among those who exercised vigorously, and high vitamin A intakes less common among the sons of well-educated mothers.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1984

Major influences on median energy and nutrient intakes among teenagers: a Tasmanian survey.

This report explores the characteristics that influenced median intakes of energy and ten nutrients in a representative sample of 1055 adolescents (11-16 years) in Tasmania, Australia. Among girls, the characteristic with greatest influence on intakes was different for different nutrients. Thus, median intakes of fat, iron, thiamin and niacin-equivalent were lower in heavier, fatter girls. Girls from larger families consumed more riboflavin, while girls with poorly educated mothers consumed less vitamin A. Girls who regularly took vitamin supplements had higher median intakes of (food-derived) calcium. Among boys the increase of intakes of energy and nutrients with age overshadowed the influence of other characteristics. Among younger boys the characteristic with greatest influence varied. Those with highly educated fathers had lower median intakes of energy and carbohydrate; those who exercised vigorously consumed more fat; those who smoked 'heavily' (greater than 10 cigarettes in the previous week) consumed more thiamin and niacin-equivalent. Among older boys the characteristic with greatest influence varied. Those who drank 'heavily' (greater than five glasses in the previous week) had higher intakes of energy and fat. Those from professional-managerial households consumed more thiamin. For vitamin C, there was no sex difference in intakes. Social status had the greatest influence, with children from professional-managerial households eating more. Food choices underlying these differences in energy and nutrient intakes were explored.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1977

Rat casein: isolation and characterization of two major fractions.

1. In rat milk, casein exists as particles of 77 nm mean diameter, similar in appearance to the casein micelles in the milk of other species. 2. The heterogeneity of rat casein was investigated by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and by chromatography on DEAE-cellulose, both in the presence of 8 M-urea. 3. The chromatography yielded two fractions, D2 and D4. 4. In chemical composition, D2 resembles the kappa-caseins of other species, while D4 resembles the alpha 5-caseins of other species. 5. D2 is soluble in 80 mM-CaCl2 at 37 degrees C, but D4 is insoluble under these conditions. 6. In 80 mM-CaCl2 at 37 degrees C, D2 prevents the precipitation of D4 by the formation of particles similar to those found in rat milk.

Animals↗