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Biomedical subjects

O J Ransome

Publications and source records attributed to O J Ransome.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1990

Working while breast feeding among coloured women.

The influence of a wide variety of factors on infants' feeding patterns has frequently been reported. Of growing interest is the role played by economic issues in determining the duration of breast feeding. The present study describes the attitudes toward, beliefs about, and practices in relation to working while breast feeding amongst 220 'Coloured' (of mixed ethnic origin) women. Breast feeding rates are initially high but drop rapidly about the time mothers return to work. Approximately two-thirds of the women studied returned to work in the post partum period. Most report that breast feeding and working are incompatible.

Adult↗
PubMed1989

Factors influencing breast-feeding in an urban community.

In an attempt to answer the question of what influences mothers' decisions on how to feed their babies, a questionnaire was administered to 200 mothers when their babies were approximately 1 year of age. The questions covered a wide variety of factors, including socio-economic, educational, housing and family details, employment, ante- and perinatal experiences, maternal beliefs, support systems and actual feeding practices. Those mothers who had breast-fed their babies for longer than 36 weeks were compared with those who had stopped before 12 weeks. The most important factors distinguishing the two groups, as decided by stepwise regression analysis, were the beliefs that breast-feeding helps teething and does not make the baby irritable; also female babies were more likely to be breast-fed and the postnatal income of the mother was important. It is believed that these factors, together with the other, less statistically significant differences, should be used when formulating breast-feeding promotion strategies. The importance of income, and therefore of employment, underlines the necessity for legislation requiring large-scale employers of women to provide crèches and breast-feeding breaks for female staff.

Attitude↗
PubMed1989

Are regular 'top-up' transfusions necessary in otherwise well, growing premature infants?

To test the hypothesis that very low-birth-weight neonates who are otherwise well and are growing, are not compromised if their haemoglobin concentration is allowed to fall below 10 g/dl, 20 such neonates were randomly divided into two groups. The infants in one group received 'top-up' transfusions to keep their haemoglobin concentrations above 10 g/dl, while haemoglobin concentrations in the other group were allowed to fall below this level. Although the group which did not receive transfusions had significantly lower haemoglobin values, no significant differences in clinical well-being and daily mass gain were observed. The non-transfused group also had significantly higher reticulocyte counts. We conclude that it is not necessary to administer routine top-up transfusions to these infants.

Blood Transfusion↗
PubMed1988

Infant feeding in an urban community.

Two hundred randomly selected mothers were interviewed approximately 1 year post-partum to establish how they had fed their babies and the number of attacks of gastro-enteritis these infants had had; 129 of the babies were examined, primarily for their nutritional status. The majority of mothers (97%) began by breast-feeding and 50% were still doing so at 20 weeks. By 4 weeks 20% had introduced formula feeds. Although some mothers introduced solids very early, the overall pattern was very similar to UK data. The infants' mean weight and length compared well with the 50th centile on the Boston Growth Chart. Infants on prolonged breast-feeding were no better off nutritionally than those in whom breast-feeding was stopped before 12 weeks. It could not be demonstrated that prolonged breast-feeding in this community protected infants against gastro-enteritis, probably because few babies were exclusively breast-fed.

Breast Feeding↗
PubMed1988

Rheumatic fever in an urban community.

Forty-six children with acute rheumatic fever were admitted to Coronation Hospital, Johannesburg, between April 1981 and December 1984; 4 of them were admitted twice during this period. Their ages ranged from 4.5 years to 12.4 years. Carditis was present in 26 patients, arthritis in 22, chorea in 14, subcutaneous nodules in 3 and erythema marginatum in 2. Three patients died and a further 3 had to undergo emergency valve replacement for intractable cardiac failure. Thirty-five developed rheumatic heart disease; they all had mitral regurgitation. Compliance with prophylaxis was acceptable in only 22 cases.

Acute Disease↗
PubMed1987

C-reactive protein as a predictor of fetal and maternal infective morbidity and fetal mortality.

The value of maternal C-reactive protein (CRP) levels as predictors of fetal and maternal infective morbidity and fetal mortality was assessed prospectively over a 6-month period in all cases of premature rupture of the fetal membranes or suspected premature labour. Statistical analysis of results showed that CRP at a level of 1.32 mg/dl is a sensitive marker of infective morbidity in mother and neonate. Furthermore, there was a significant association between raised CRP levels and low-birth-weight babies, suggesting that intra-uterine infection is a major cause of prematurity in the study population.

C-Reactive Protein↗
PubMed1987

Haemothorax of the newborn--an unusual cause of respiratory distress. A case report.

A newborn baby with acute respiratory distress caused by tension haemothorax is described. An abnormal clotting profile indicated that the haemothorax was possibly due to a clotting deficiency. Ultrasonography was useful in establishing that the cause of the radio-opacity was fluid. The baby's problem was rapidly resolved by drainage and blood transfusion.

Hemothorax↗
PubMed1986

Urinary tract infection in childhood.

The importance of establishing significant bacteriuria in the diagnosis of urinary tract infection and the need for a keen awareness of its presence, particularly in young children, is stressed. The approach to the diagnosis, investigation, management and follow-up of children with urinary tract infection is described.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1986

Facilities for children in state and provincial hospitals.

A limited survey of provincial and state hospital facilities for children in the RSA was carried out through a questionnaire. Replies were received from 195 hospitals from the provinces of the Cape, Transvaal and Natal as well as from the independent homeland of Ciskei. These hospitals represented 90.3% of the beds in these areas. It was found that there were many more black children per available bed than white (632 v. 416) and that beds for black children had a much higher occupation rate than those for whites (+/- 85% v. +/- 50%). Rural black children were considerably worse off than their urban counterparts. Many hospitals did not have full-time medical officers to look after their paediatric patients. It is recommended that future resources be directed at improving facilities for rural black children and opening lines of communication between existing rural hospitals and the large academic hospitals.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1986

Systemic lupus erythematosus with nephritis in children. A report of 6 cases.

Six children with systemic lupus erythematosus treated over the last 10 years are described. There are 3 boys and 3 girls and their ages at presentation ranged from 9.25 to 15 years; follow-up ranges from 11 months to 12 years. The modalities of treatment, methods of follow-up, and regular assessment of lupus activity are discussed with a brief review of the relevant literature. One patient has progressed to end-stage renal failure and is awaiting renal transplantation. Of the others, 2 have mild renal impairment and 3 have normal renal function. We believe that an aggressive therapeutic approach with meticulous follow-up can improve the outlook in children with this condition.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1984

Early introduction of milk feeds in acute infantile gastro-enteritis. A controlled study.

A blind controlled trial was performed to test the hypothesis that early introduction of full-strength cow's milk (FCM) during an attack of acute infantile gastroenteritis does not prolong the course of the illness. A total of 74 children matched for age was admitted to the trial, which compared the effect of FCM with that of graduated milk (the strength of which was gradually increased). Thirteen children (17.5%) were withdrawn because of lactose malabsorption; of those remaining, 29 were given FCM and 32 graduated milk. The mean duration of diarrhoea was 2,62 days for those on FCM and 2,64 days for those given graduated milk (P = 0,71, not significant). Early introduction of FCM therefore does not prolong the course of acute infantile gastroenteritis. Because of the prevalence of malnutrition in South Africa the practice of giving clear fluids or diluted milk during an attack of gastro-enteritis is unnecessary and dangerous.

Acute Disease↗
PubMed1983

Paediatricians in the RSA, 1981-2000.

A survey of all paediatricians registered with the South African Medical and Dental Council in July 1981 was conducted and the results were correlated with the child population as determined by the 1980 census. There were 201 active paediatricians, of whom 55% were employed in hospitals and 45% in private practice; 83% were resident in areas in which there were teaching hospitals, while only 23% of the total number of children resided in these areas. Sixty per cent of the children (95% of whom were Black) lived in predominantly rural areas where there were no paediatricians. The number of paediatricians in South Africa is expected to rise rapidly during the next 2 decades. We are therefore faced with the problem of having a paediatrician corps which although adequate in number is badly distributed, resulting in the rural population being grossly under-serviced. Possible solutions are presented.

Age Factors↗
PubMed1983

Pharyngeal carriage of group A beta-haemolytic streptococci in coloured and Indian schoolchildren.

Throat swabs for group A beta-haemolytic streptococci were taken from 120 Coloured children and 126 Indian children at approximately 3-monthly intervals during 1980. The prevalence of positive throat swabs was related to crowding at home as measured by the number of people per bedroom. Coloured homes were much more crowded than Indian homes, but no statistical relationship was found between the number of persons per bedroom and the positivity rates. Both groups of children had high positivity rates in summer (24,4% and 21,3% for Coloureds and Indians respectively) but low rates in spring (4,3% and 3,4% respectively). These positivity rates do not support the provision of primary prophylaxis against acute rheumatic fever for these children.

Black or African American↗