scholarly journals Neonatal morbidity among African refugee women in Israel: a case–control study

BMJ Open ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (12) ◽  
pp. e050778
Author(s):  
Amit Ovental ◽  
Reut Doyev ◽  
Laurence Mangel ◽  
Jacky Herzlich ◽  
Amir Hadanny ◽  
...  

ObjectivesReports on neonatal morbidity (NM) among refugees in developed countries remain inconsistent. We aimed to compare NM among infants of African refugees in Israel to the native population based on a large population sample.DesignA case–control study.SettingA tertiary hospital in Israel.ParticipantsData on hospital-based live births of refugee women and their newborns who were born in 2014 and 2017 were retrieved from medical records. Perinatal and neonatal data were compared between the refugee group and the native residents matched for gestational age and year of birth as well as within the refugee group.Primary outcomePrevalence of NM among African refugees in Israel.ResultsNewborns delivered by 357 refugee women (mean age 30.2 years) and 357 controls (mean age 32.2 years) were analysed. Both groups were similar for the newborns’ weight and gestational age. There were no significant differences in NM between the groups. A within-refugee comparison conducted between 2014 and 2017 yielded significant differences in birth weight (3051.4 vs 3373.6 gr, p<0.001, 95% CI (198.3 to 446.2), d=0.56), the number of twin deliveries (10 vs 4, p=0.002, Φ=0.173), the number of neonates evaluated as small for gestational age (15 vs 10, p=0.003, Φ=0.167) and the use of human milk (71% vs 93%, p<0.001, Φ=−0.298).ConclusionsWe conclude that NM among neonates born to refugee mothers was not higher than that of neonates born to native Israeli mothers. We suggest that successful implementation of health policies for refugees has improved their accessibility to mother–child health services.

2019 ◽  
Vol 45 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Mulunesh Alemu ◽  
Mulatu Ayana ◽  
Hailemariam Abiy ◽  
Biniam Minuye ◽  
Wubet Alebachew ◽  
...  

Abstract Background Neonatal sepsis is one of the leading causes of neonatal morbidity and mortality. Despite implementing of different preventive interventions, the burden of neonatal sepsis is reporting in different areas of Ethiopia. For further interventions, identifying its determinants is found to be crucial. Objective This study aimed to identify determinants of neonatal sepsis in the Northwest part of Ethiopia. Methods Unmatched case-control study was conducted among 246 neonates admitted in neonatal intensive care unit, Northwest Ethiopia. Study participants were selected from February 1st to March 30th 2018. Data was collected through face to face interview and review of neonates’ medical records using pretested structured questionnaire. Data was entered into Epi Data version 4.2.0.0 and further transferred to SPSS statistical software version 25 for analysis. All independent variables with p-value < 0.25 in Bivariable analysis were entered into multivariable logistic regression analysis. Finally, variables with p-value < 0.05 were considered as determinants of neonatal sepsis. Results A total of 82 cases and 164 controls were included in this study. Neonates with gestational age < 37 weeks [AOR = 6.90; 95% CI (2.76, 17.28)], premature rupture of membrane [AOR = 2.81; 95% CI (1.01, 7.79)], not crying immediately at birth and have received resuscitation at birth [AOR = 2.85; 95% CI (1.09, 7.47)] were found to be predictors of neonatal sepsis. Conclusions and recommendations Premature rupture of membrane was found to be obstetric-related determinant of neonatal sepsis. Gestational age < 37 weeks, not crying immediately at birth, and have received resuscitation at birth were found to be neonatal-related risk factors of neonatal sepsis. Infection prevention strategies need to be strengthening and/or implementing by providing especial attention for the specified determinants.


Author(s):  
Beril Yasa ◽  
Seyma Memur ◽  
Dilek Y. Ozturk ◽  
Onur Bagci ◽  
Sait I. Uslu ◽  
...  

Objective Novel coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a disease associated with atypical pneumonia caused by the severe acute respiratory syndrome-coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2). The first cases of COVID-19 were reported in Wuhan at the end of 2019. Transmission usually occurs via infected droplets and close personal contact; the possibility of vertical transmission is still under debate. This retrospective study aimed to analyze clinical characteristics of premature infants born to mothers with symptomatic COVID-19 disease. Study Design This case control study compared the clinical and laboratory data of 20 premature infants born to mothers infected with SARS-CoV-2 with sex and gestational age–matched historical controls. Results The median gestational age and birth weight in both groups were similar. Respiratory distress developed in 11 (55.5%) infants in study group and 19 (47.5%) infants in control group. Mechanical ventilation and endotracheal surfactant administration rates were similar. Median duration of hospitalization was 8.5 (2–76) days in study group and 12 days in historical controls. Real-time reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction tests (RT-PCR) of nasopharyngeal swab samples for SARS-CoV-2 were found to be negative twice, in the first 24 hours and later at 24 to 48 hours of life. No neutropenia or thrombocytopenia was detected in the study group. Patent ductus arteriosus, bronchopulmonary dysplasia, and necrotizing enterocolitis rates were similar between groups. No mortality was observed in both groups. Conclusion To the best of our knowledge, this is one of the few studies evaluating the clinical outcomes of premature infants born to SARS-CoV-2 infected mothers. There was no evidence of vertical transmission of SARS-CoV-2 from symptomatic SARS-CoV-2-infected women to the neonate in our cohort. The neonatal outcomes also seem to be favorable with no mortality in preterm infants. Key Points


Author(s):  
Rajeev Gandham ◽  
CD Dayanand ◽  
SR Sheela

Introduction: Pre-eclampsia is a pregnancy specific disorder, characterised by the onset of hypertension and proteinuria. Pre-eclampsia is the leading cause of maternal, perinatal morbidity and mortality. The exact cause of pre-eclampsia is not known clearly and needs to be explored. Aim: To evaluate the maternal serum apelin 13 levels among pre-eclampsia and healthy pregnant women and also, to find the association between apelin 13 and blood pressure. Materials and Methods: A case-control study was conducted between Department of Biochemistry and Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, RL Jalappa Hospital and Research Centre, Kolar, Karnataka, India. After approval from the Institutional Ethics Committee and written informed consent from study subjects, a total of 270 pregnant women were recruited for this study. Among them, 135 pre-eclamptic women were considered as cases and 135 normotensive healthy pregnant women served as controls. According to the pre-eclampsia severity, cases were grouped into mild (n=47) and severe pre-eclampsia (n=88). Blood samples were collected from all the study subjects and was analysed for apelin 13 by Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA) method. Maternal and foetal adverse outcomes were recorded. Results were expressed as mean±Standard Deviation (SD). Categorical variables were expressed in percentages. Spearman’s correlation was applied and p<0.05 was considered significant. Results: The mean gestational age was 36.66±3.69 weeks which was, significantly low in pre-eclamptic women compared with healthy pregnant women. BMI (26.94±3.81 kg/m2), systolic (157.82±15.14 mmHg), diastolic (101.68±11.02 mmHg) and Mean Arterial Pressure (MAP) (120.20±11.12 mmHg), pulse rate (88.14±5.82 bpm), Aspartate Transaminase (AST) (25.25±12.49 IU/L) and Alanine Transaminase (ALT) (19.01±10.95 IU/L) were significantly increased in pre-eclamptic women when compared with control group. Mean maternal serum apelin 13 (341.44±218.63 pg/mL) concentrations were significantly lower in pre-eclampsia compared with healthy pregnant women. Maternal serum apelin 13 concentrations were negatively correlated with Systolic Blood Pressure (SBP) (r = -0.196), Diastolic Blood Pressure (DBP) (r = -0.172) and MAP (r =-0.204). Adverse maternal outcomes such as epigastric pain 75 (55.55%), oedema 62 (45.92%) and persistent headache 35 (25.92%) were higher in pre-eclamptic group. Additionally, adverse foetal outcomes were more in pre-eclamptic cases including significantly decreased birth weight (2.40±0.65), babies requiring Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) admission were 54 (40%), preterm birth (≤37 wks) in 50 (37.03%), Respiratory Distress Syndrome (RDS) 31 (22.96%), Small for Gestational Age (SGA) in 4 (2.96%) and Intra Uterine Death (IUD) in 11 (8.14%) babies. Conclusion: It was concluded from the present study that there was low maternal serum apelin 13 concentrations in pre-eclampsia and had negative correlation with blood pressure, suggesting its potential role in the pathophysiology of pre-eclampsia.


Neonatology ◽  
2014 ◽  
Vol 105 (1) ◽  
pp. 74-78 ◽  
Author(s):  
Isabelle M.C. Ree ◽  
Vivianne E.H.J. Smits-Wintjens ◽  
Esther G.J. Rijntjes-Jacobs ◽  
Iris C.M. Pelsma ◽  
Sylke J. Steggerda ◽  
...  

Psychiatria ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (2) ◽  
pp. 88-91
Author(s):  
Soraia Antunes Ribeiro ◽  
Daniela Agostinho David ◽  
Ilda Vieira Murta ◽  
João Mariano Marques ◽  
Vítor Daniel Vaz ◽  
...  

2020 ◽  
Vol 39 (11) ◽  
pp. 3402-3407 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ibrahim Abdollahpour ◽  
Dejan Jakimovski ◽  
Nitin Shivappa ◽  
James R. Hébert ◽  
Farhad Vahid ◽  
...  

PLoS Medicine ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 17 (8) ◽  
pp. e1003271 ◽  
Author(s):  
Barrett M. Welch ◽  
Alexander P. Keil ◽  
Thomas J. van ‘t Erve ◽  
Leesa J. Deterding ◽  
Jason G. Williams ◽  
...  

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