PubMed Health⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

R W Rochat

Publications and source records attributed to R W Rochat.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

Mortality associated with sterilization: preliminary results of an international collaborative observational study.

Sterilization is the contraceptive method most widely used worldwide, yet the case-fatality rate of deaths attributable to sterilization is not known. We used data collected from 1971-1979 from 28 countries by Family Health International to estimate case-fatality rates. We adjusted these rates for individuals lost to follow-up. Of 41,834 sterilizations, 23 resulted in deaths temporally associated with the procedure used. The adjusted attributable case-fatality rates were 13.4 per 100,000 for interval procedures, 53.3 per 100,000 for postabortion procedures, and 43.4 per 100,000 sterilizations after vaginal delivery. Multiple factors contributed to the deaths, including pre-existing health problems, infection and anesthesia. Prevention of deaths resulting from sterilization depends on complete ascertainment of deaths associated with sterilization and careful investigation to determine preventable risk factors. We conclude that, overall, sterilization in these programs was conducted with very low attributable mortality.

Female↗

Causes of maternal mortality in the United States.

Among 2475 maternal deaths that occurred in the United States from 1974 to 1978, 408 were related to pregnancies with abortive outcomes, and 2067 were related to other causes. Ectopic pregnancy was the most frequent cause of death in the former group. Embolism, hypertensive disease of pregnancy, obstetric hemorrhage, and obstetric infection were the most common causes of death in the latter group. Women who were 30 years of age or older or of minority race were at increased risk of death. Nationwide surveillance of maternal mortality is feasible and should help to increase the safety of childbearing.

Abortion, Spontaneous↗

Perinatal and maternal mortality in a religious group avoiding obstetric care.

We investigated perinatal and maternal deaths occurring among women who were members of a religious group in Indiana; these women received no prenatal care and gave birth at home without trained attendants. Members of the religious group had a perinatal mortality rate three times higher and a maternal mortality rate about 100 times higher than the statewide rates. These findings suggest that, even in the United States, women who avoid obstetric care have a greatly increased risk of perinatal and maternal death.

Adult↗

Sterilization-associated deaths: a global survey.

Except for data from several geographically limited studies, little is known globally about the number and causes of death associated with surgical sterilization. To identify clinical characteristics and problems leading to deaths related to the procedures, the International Planned Parenthood Federation ( IPPF ) and the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) in the United States collaborated in a global mail survey of 4642 physicians. Usable responses were received from 1298 physicians (28%) in 80 countries. Fifty-five sterilization-associated deaths which occurred from January 1, 1980 to June 30, 1982 were reported. The most frequently reported causes of death were infection, anesthetic complications, and hemorrhage. There were some regional differences in the relative frequencies of these causes. Most cases did not involve surgical accident. The characteristics most frequently associated with the reported fatal procedures were: interval sterilizations, minilaparotomy incision, tubal ligation and general anesthesia. Most deaths were attributable to the surgical sterilization procedure.

Adolescent↗

Alcohol consumption among Mexican American and Anglo women: results of a survey along the U.S.--Mexico border.

A household probability survey of 1233 Mexican American women and 798 Anglo women residing along the U.S.-Mexico border was conducted. A higher proportion of abstainers was found among the Mexican Americans than among the Anglos in almost every social and demographic category examined (age, marital status, education and employment status). Because the level of alcohol consumption increased markedly with the years of education completed, almost all of the overall ethnic differences observed could be accounted for by the generally lower level of education among the Mexican Americans. However, ethnic subgroups of Mexican American women reported different levels of alcohol consumption that could not be accounted for by differences in education, suggesting that additional ethnic factors contribute to drinking patterns.

Adolescent↗

An assessment of the incidence of maternal mortality in the United States.

Recent studies in several states have found that the incidence of maternal mortality is higher than traditional vital statistics reports indicate. Since no comprehensive national study has been done to evaluate the completeness of maternal mortality ascertainment through the national vital statistics reporting system, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) undertook such a study with the assistance of the National Center for Health Statistics and state health departments. The state health departments provided CDC with death certificates for all pregnancy-related deaths occurring during 1974-78. We reviewed and classified these certificates using both International Classification of Diseases, Adapted, Eighth Revision (ICDA-8) and International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision, Clinical Modification (ICD-9-CM) maternal death codes. We found that the actual incidence of maternal mortality for 1974-78 was approximately 20 per cent and 30 per cent greater than that published in national vital statistics reports using ICDA-8 and ICD-9-CM, respectively.

Data Collection↗

Neonatal transport in Georgia: implications for maternal transport in high-risk pregnancies.

We analyzed population-based data from the Georgia Neonatal Surveillance Network from 1974 to 1978 to determine the effect of the hospital of delivery on the neonatal mortality rate (NMR) of infants later admitted to neonatal intensive case units (NICUs). The NMR of 3,524 infants transported from primary centers to NICUs was significantly higher [relative risk (RR) = 2.1; 95% CL = 1.9 to 2.3] than that of 10,764 infants born in tertiary centers and admitted directly to an NICU. This effect persisted even after adjustment for birth-weight differences (RR = 1.6; 95% CL = 1.5 to 1.8). The relative risk in favor of delivery in a tertiary center increased with increasing birth weight. However, the proportion of infants of less than 1,000 gm surviving was higher for transported infants and increased with distance transported. This finding suggests that, at these very low birth weights, the hardiest infants were selectively transported. A surprising finding was the very low proportion of low-birth-weight infants delivered in primary centers and transported to NICUs (eg, 32% of infants weighing between 1,001 and 1,200 gm). Our findings support previous reports that delivery in a hospital with an NICU is preferable to later neonatal transport and suggest that efforts to increase the rate of maternal transport in high-risk pregnancies can lead to a substantial reduction in infant deaths.

Adolescent↗

Mortality from abortion and childbirth. Are the statistics biased?

Critics have challenged previous comparisons of mortality from legal abortion and childbirth for containing biases in the crude data that spuriously favor the safety of abortion. To evaluate this concern, we reviewed the sources of mortality data on which these comparisons are based and examined the completeness of abortion mortality statistics, the completeness of childbirth mortality statistics, and the accuracy of the denominators for both these events. We found the evidence to be consistent in two directions: (1) abortion deaths appear to be more completely ascertained than childbirth deaths; (2) use of different denominator estimates has relatively little impact on the comparison. From this evidence, we conclude that the crude data are biased in a direction that overestimates the abortion risks for the women relative to the risks of childbearing.

Abortion, Legal↗

Reproductive mortality in the United States.

Maternal mortality in the United States has declined by 50% during the last decade. This decline took place at the same time as changes in the availability and use of contraceptive measures, including temporary contraceptives and sterilization. To examine the impact of these changes on mortality we estimated the reproductive mortality rate, which includes pregnancy-related deaths as well as deaths from the side effects of contraceptive methods. The estimated reproductive mortality rate fell by 73% from 1955 to 1975. The decrease was greater for women younger than 35 years. The slower decline for women aged 35 years and older was due to oral-contraception-related deaths. By 1975, pregnancy prevention was responsible for nearly as many deaths as pregnancy itself. The reproductive mortality rate is more appropriate than the maternal mortality rate for evaluating the health risks of reproduction and contraception. We urge that national surveillance of maternal mortality should be expanded to include deaths associated with contraceptive methods.

Abortion, Induced↗

Sterilization-attributable deaths in bangladesh.

From January 1, 1979, to March 31, 1980, 20 sterilization-attributable deaths were identified in Dacca and Rajshahi Divisions, Bangladesh. The leading cause of death from tubectomy was anesthesia overdose and from vasectomy, scrotal infection. Overall. The sterilization-attributable death-to-case rate was 21.3 deaths/100,000 procedures. The health impact of contraceptive sterilization is highly favorable: for each 100,000 tubectomies performed, the cost in lives (19) is offset by approximately 1015 maternal deaths averted.

Adult↗

Sterilization in Bangladesh: mortality, morbidity, and risk factors.

Although surgical sterilization in Bangladesh is common and has been designated as the primary means of helping the country slow its population growth, no reliable information exists regarding the procedure's safety. To define the types and rates of medical complications associated with sterilization, we followed 5042 women and 264 men undergoing sterilization. The problems that increased most markedly after the procedure compared with before included painful urination, shaking chills, fever for at least 2 days, and frequent urination. Most of the postoperative problems could be predicted by the presence of the same problem before the operation. Factor analysis of complaints in those persons who did not have a specific preoperative complaint showed that complaints clustered into three groups: urinary tract symptoms (urinary urgency and frequency), skin problems (bleeding from the incision, sore with pus, and stitches or skin breaking open), and general complaints (weakness and dizziness). The patient's sex, the sponsor and patient load of the sterilization center, and the dose of sedatives administered to women were significantly associated with specific postoperative complaints. Five women died during the study, resulting in a death-to-case rate of 9.9/10,000 procedures tubectomies; four deaths were due to respiratory arrest caused by oversedation.

Adult↗

Lung cancer mortality and smoking habits: Mexican-American women.

Lung cancer mortality was reported to be higher among Mexican-American women as compared with Anglo women from 1950 until 1970; however, smoking habits of Mexican-American women have not been adequately described. This study updates lung cancer mortality data in Texas, describes smoking patterns of 1,255 Mexican-American women from a household survey in the four states bordering Mexico, and compares these findings to a reference group of Anglo women residing in the same area. In 1970, lung cancer mortality rates were similar for Mexican-American and Anglo women in Texas; however, by 1974-1976 Mexican-American women in Texas had a 40 per cent lower rate than Anglo women and by 1979, a 49 per cent lower rate. In our 1979 survey results, Mexican-American women reported lower levels of smoking, both in prevalence and amount smoked, as compared with Anglo women. The lower prevalence was reported for all social and demographic categories examined. The relatively low lung cancer mortality rate is most likely due to relatively low levels of cigarette smoking among Mexican-American women. Based on the trend in lung cancer deaths and our survey findings, we would anticipate a continuing low level of lung cancer mortality among Mexican-American women.

Adult↗

Trends in the incidence of breastfeeding for Hispanics of Mexican origin and Anglos on the US-Mexico border.

In 1979 the Centers for Disease Control conducted a household probability survey of reproductive aged women living in 51 selected US countries on the US-Mexico border. Information on the incidence of breastfeeding for the period 1971-1979 was analyzed on 345 Anglo women and 689 Hispanic women of Mexican origin. Results indicated that the Anglos are following the national trend of increased breastfeeding, but Hispanics show no indication of an increase in the practice of breastfeeding.

Adolescent↗

Family planning and abortion: have they affected fertility in Tennessee?

In Tennessee between 1975 and 1978, birth rates among teenagers decreased while they increased among older age groups. This trend was unlike previous years and coincided temporally with the increased availability of legal abortion services in Tennessee and the special efforts to prevent unwanted pregnancies among teenagers. Increased use of family planning services was significantly associated with the drop in the fertility rate for Black teenagers; legal abortion use was significantly associated with the change in the fertility rate for Black females aged 20 years or older.

Abortion, Legal↗

Deaths from contraceptive sterilization in bangladesh: rates, causes, and prevention.

This report summarizes the second of 2 epidemiologic investigations of deaths attributable to sterilization in Bangladesh. All deaths resulting from sterilizations performed nationwide between September 16, 1980, and April 15, 1981, were investigated and analyzed. Nineteen deaths from tubal sterilization were attributed to 153,032 sterilization operations (both tubal sterilization and vasectomy), for an overall death-to-case rate of 12.4 deaths per 100,000 operations. This rate is lower than that (21.3) for operations performed in Dacca and Rajshahi Divisions from January 1, 1979, to March 31, 1980, although this difference is not statistically significant. Anesthesia overdosage, tetanus, and hemorrhage were the leading causes of death. Improvements in anesthesia management, surgical asepsis, and postoperative monitoring of vital signs should make sterilization operations even safer. Although tubal sterilizations performed in Bangladesh cost some lives, they avert far more maternal deaths. The net health impact is strongly favorable: For every 100,00 tubal sterilizations performed, approximately 100 deaths are prevented.

Anesthesia↗