Background: China accounts for a quarter of the total number of induced abortion worldwide. Induced abortion is considered as one of the risk factors for adverse pregnancy outcome in subsequent pregnancy. The effects of induced abortion on premature delivery were investigated in both China and western countries, and most of the studies showed that increased risk of preterm birth was associated with increasing number of induced abortion. However, the association between low birth weight (LBW) and multiple induced abortions is still controversial. Objectives: To explore the association between LBW and previous induced abortion history, and to investigate the effects of preterm birth on the association. Methods: This case-control study used data from the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU), Nan Fang Hospital, between December 2011 and June 2012. We recruited 402 LBW (less than 2500 g) infants as our case group and 407 normal weight infants as the control group. Chi-square test and t-test were used for descriptive analysis. Multivariate logistic regression was run to yield odds ratios (OR) of LWB for multiple induced abortion adjusting for sex, birth order, maternal previous diseases and age, antenatal care received, and inter-pregnancy interval. Mediation effect of preterm status was investigated. Results: We observed a higher proportion of women with multiple induced abortions in LBW group (18.4% versus 11.1%, p value=0.003). Mothers with previous multiple induced abortion were 68.3% (95% confidence interval (CI): 11.0% to 155.3%) more likely to have LWB infants, compared with those who did not have induced abortion history or only once. After adjustment also for preterm status, the adjusted OR reduced to 1.332 (95% CI: 0.682 to 2.602) and the association became non-significant. Mediation test confirmed that preterm status was a mediator factor between multiple induced abortion and LBW. Conclusion: Overall, multiple abortions had an effect on LBW mainly through shortening the gestational duration of infants. Either premature delivery or LBW, the effect of multiple abortions on subsequent pregnancy was confirmed in this study. To reduce the perinatal mortality and morbidity, it is not enough only through postpartum care for preterm birth and LBW. The prevention and intervention strategies are urgently needed for reducing the induced abortion rate. / published_or_final_version / Public Health / Master / Master of Public Health

Regression problems in which predictors are measured with error have been studied by statisticians and researchers for many years. Measurement error in predictors creates biases in estimated regression coefficients, and hence models that address this are extremely important. These models are especially important in perinatal research since errors in gestational age can have serious effects. / The presence of measurement error in gestational age can lead to poor estimation of fetal growth and risk of mortality and morbidity, and can compromise statistical analyses [32, 39]. Since various obstetric choices are made based on birth weight distributions by gestational age, it is important to obtain plausible birthweight-gestational-age combinations. / Berry et al. [3] propose a Bayesian approach to modeling a flexible regression function in the presence of measurement error, where the regression function is modeled using smoothing splines and regression P-splines. These methods are applied to population-based data from U.S. birth certificates, which results in realistic birthweight-gestational age combinations.

The predictors of birthweight (scBWT) in normal pregnancy are well established. The objectives of this study were to characterize and determine predictors of scBWT among women diagnosed with scGDM. A cohort of 436 scGDM full-term pregnancies (followed 1978-1989) were examined using data abstracted from the Royal Victoria Hospital Antenatal Diabetic Clinic charts and McGill Obstetric and Neonatal Database. Women were treated with insulin and/or diet. Dietary treatment (mean 2047 kcal/d) significantly decreased the rate of weight gain and mean fasting plasma glucose (scFPG). Regression analysis identified several predictors of scBWT (mean 3520 g): prepregnancy body mass, height, smoking, pre-diagnostic rate of weight gain, scFPG, gestational age, infant gender, and length of treatment. Stratification by body mass indicated that among non-obese women with scGDM, scFPG and length of treatment were not significant predictors of scBWT. In conclusion, since women with normal pregravid mass and prediagnostic weight gain are at lower risk of high scBWT, these require consideration, in addition to plasma glucose criteria, when treating scGDM.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--RAND Graduate School, 1994. / "RGSD-112." "Dissertation." Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis (M.S.)--West Virginia University, 1999. / Title from document title page. Document formatted into pages; contains vi, 51 p. Vita. Includes abstract. Includes bibliographical references (p. 33-36).

Thesis (M.Med.Sc.)--University of Hong Kong, 2004. / Also available in print.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--RAND Graduate School, 1994. / "RGSD-112." "Dissertation." Includes bibliographical references.

No description available.

Thesis (PhD. (Clinical Psychology)) --University of Limpopo, 2008 / Low-birth-weight/premature children seem to be vulnerable to psychiatric, neuropsychological and other deficiencies. Limited research is available in the South African context about these ever-increasing phenomena. The aim of this study was to investigate the magnitude and characteristics of internalising (Separation Anxiety, Overanxious and Major Depressive Disorders) and externalising symptoms (Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity, Oppositional Defiant and Conduct Disorders) among low-birth-weight children in comparison with normal-birth-weight children, as well as to establish neuropsychological deficiencies (motor, visual-spatial, memory and executive functioning) between the birth weight groups, analysed as a function of gender and age. The sample (158 children) was selected from nine urban mainstream primary schools in the Tshwane North and South districts by means of stratified random sampling. Low-birth-weight children (weighing below 2 000 g) (N=79) were matched with normal-birth-weight children (above 3 000 g) (N=79) according to age, gender, language and socio-economic status. The neuropsychological test battery and self-reporting questionnaire were individually administered to the sample at the selected schools during school hours. Teachers and parents of selected participants were requested to complete a rating scale. As expected, low birth weight is associated with a tendency towards increased internalising and externalising psychological symptoms, as well as poorer neuropsychological functioning. This was particularly significant in the domains of internalising symptoms (depression), externalising symptoms (hyperactivity/impulsiveness, inattention, Oppositional Defiant Disorder and Conduct Disorder) and neuropsychological impairments (motor, visual-spatial/visual-motor, memory and executive functioning). The neuropsychological impairments observed in this study among the LBW children probably increase the risk of subsequent externalising (conduct and oppositional behavioural problems) and internalising (depressive) psychological symptoms. These impairments are possibly exacerbated by inattention and hyperactivity/ impulsiveness. Reciprocal interaction seems to take place between the psychological symptoms andneuropsychological functions. Only a few gender differences were observed. Neuropsychological deficits were observed both in the 6 to 9 and 10 to 13 age groups, indicating deficient resolution of impairments with increasing age. Increased pre-, peri- and postnatal complications in the low-birth-weight group may predispose these children biologically to neuropsychological deficiencies and subsequent internalising/externalising symptoms. These impairments most probably affect academic, emotional, social and other significant areas of functioning, increasing public health cost.

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