<p><i>Objectives: </i>To study indicators specifically reflecting the reproductive health of Ukrainian women and to analyse factors behind the indicators. </p><p><i>Methods:</i> Induced abortion and maternal mortality were studied in some countries/regions of the former Soviet Union, using official statistics. Abortion rates, contraceptive practices and intentions in Ukrainian women were analysed by a large self-completion survey in 1996, and by a classroom questionnaire to first year medical students in 1999 in Donetsk, Ukraine. Totally, 1694 women and 689 students participated. Perinatal mortality was studied, applying the Nordic-Baltic perinatal death classification to all cases in the Donetsk region in 1997-98 (n=1126) and in Denmark in 1996 (n=540). Clinical guidelines, use of technology and rates of interventions in the two regions were analysed. </p><p><i>Results:</i> Abortion remains a major method of fertility control and abortion-related mortality contributes to maternal deaths. Perinatal mortality rate is twice as high in the Donetsk region as in Denmark. A substantial proportion of sexually active women do not practice contraception. Modern methods of contraception are not widely used. There is a lack of knowledge in reproductive health issues and negative attitude to OCs. There is a positive attitude towards abortion as an acceptable fertility control method and of having abortion instead of using OCs or IUD. Poor economy is an obstacle to the use of contraceptive methods associated with a cost. Lack of experience with contraception reduces the intention to use any method in the future. Being single, younger than 19 years, living with parents, having a positive attitude towards abortion as fertility control method, having a history of previous childbirth and/or abortion are important factors associated with pregnancy termination. Antepartum deaths of growth-retarded fetuses, intrapartum and neonatal deaths associated with asphyxia are more common in Ukraine than in Denmark, particularly among premature infants. Lack of evidence-based clinical guidelines and adequate resources for fetal monitoring during pregnancy and labour, together with negative attitudes towards, and limited resources for, instrumental delivery, contribute to high perinatal mortality.</p><p><i>Conclusion:</i> Better reproductive education/information of all strata of society is needed. Implementation of evidence-based guidelines in perinatal medicine, where international collaboration can be of great value, should be a matter of high priority. </p>

<p>The appropriateness of universal screening for gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) has been strongly questioned, since it does not satisfy ethical principles for screening. </p><p> The aims of these studies were to determine the prevalence of GDM, expressed in terms of impaired glucose tolerance (IGT) and diabetes mellitus (DM), to evaluate different screening models using traditional anamnestic risk factors and repeated random B-glucose, to determine whether GDM increases risks for maternal complications such as preeclampsia, and to determine whether IGT during pregnancy, if left untreated, is associated with increased maternal or neonatal morbidity. </p><p> Of 4,918 pregnant non-diabetic women attending maternal health care, 73.5% agreed to have a 75 g oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT). GDM was diagnosed in 1.7%, IGT in 1.3% and DM in 0.4%. Traditional risk factor criteria were fulfilled by 15.8%. Prior GDM and a prior macrosomic infant showed the highest association with GDM. No selective or two-step universal screening model would have detected all cases of GDM. A constructed model comprising prior GDM, a prior LGA/macrosomic infant, or a cut-off random B-glucose level of 8 mmol/l as an indication for OGTT reduced the need for OGTT to 7.3% compared to the selective screening model with traditional risk factors. Such a universal two-step screening model had 100% sensitivity for DM, and 44.7% sensitivity for IGT.</p><p> The Swedish Medical Birth Register was used to evaluate GDM as risk factor for preeclampsia. GDM occurred in 0.8% and preeclampsia in 2.9% of 430,852 singleton pregnancies. There is an independent and significant association between GDM and preeclampsia. Obesity is a major confounding factor, but cannot explain the total excess risk. </p><p> In a prospective population-based case-control study 213 women with untreated IGT during pregnancy were identified. For each case, four controls were recruited from the same delivery department. The analyses confirmed that maternal and fetal morbidity were increased in the cases in terms of cesarean section rate, pre-term delivery, Erb’s palsy and admission to NICU. There was a marked, independent increase in the proportion of LGA infants (OR 7.3; 95% CI 4.1-12.7). To determine whether treatment has an effect when IGT is diagnosed during pregnancy, a randomized study is required.</p>

<p>Antenatal care has been associated with improved maternal and perinatal outcomes but there is no agreement on the most effective model in terms of content as well as the number and timing of visits. A cluster randomised controlled trial was conducted in a rural area of Zimbabwe to assess a 5-visit goal-oriented antenatal care model against standard care. In the same population was also determined the sensitivity of factors used for risk screening to predict pregnancy complications and the effectiveness of the referral system in managing women with identified risk markers or pregnancy complications. </p><p>Pregnancy records of 10 572 out of total 13 517 recruited women were available for analysis. The new model did not change the number of visits but resulted in better use of health care. The classical risk screening system had low predictive value and identified too large a risk group for referral. Nulliparous women had an increased risk for pregnancy complications whereas women with previous uncomplicated pregnancies were at low risk of complications even with high parity. Multiparous women with previous complications had an increased risk of complications but better utilisation of health care services for delivery reduced adverse perinatal outcomes. There was a functional referral system in Gutu and women complied with referral indications but efficiency of the system was reduced by failure of care providers to comply with referral recommendations. </p><p>Antenatal care can be improved in a rural setting through a focussed programme and the unpredictability of many pregnancy complications limits the value of antenatal risk screening. Until universal access to essential obstetric care facilities is attained in low resource settings, a critical re-examination of risk factors could avoid overburdening the referral system.</p>

<p>The concept of exclusive breastfeeding in relation to daily feeding practices and to health and growth of infants in an affluent society was examined. In a descriptive longitudinal prospective study 506 mother-infant pairs were followed from birth through the greater part of the first year. Feeding was recorded daily, and health and growth were recorded fortnightly. </p><p>Large individual variations were seen in breastfeeding patterns. A wide discrepancy between the exclusive breastfeeding rates obtained from "current status" data and data "since birth" was found.</p><p>Using a strict definition of exclusive breastfeeding from birth and taking into account the reasons for giving complementary feeding, the study showed that many exclusively breastfed infants had infections early in life, the incidence of which increased with age, despite continuation of exclusive breastfeeding. However, truly exclusively breastfed infants seem less likely to suffer infections than infants who receive formula in addition to breast milk. Increasing formula use was associated with an increasing likelihood of suffering respiratory illnesses. The growth of exclusively breastfed infants was similar to that of infants who were not exclusively breastfed. </p><p>The health of newborn infants during the first year of life was associated with factors other than feeding practices alone. Some of these factors may be prenatal, since increasing birth weight was associated with an increasing likelihood of having respiratory symptoms, even in exclusively breastfed infants. However, exclusive breastfeeding was shown to be beneficial for the health of the infant even in an affluent society. </p>

The concept of exclusive breastfeeding in relation to daily feeding practices and to health and growth of infants in an affluent society was examined. In a descriptive longitudinal prospective study 506 mother-infant pairs were followed from birth through the greater part of the first year. Feeding was recorded daily, and health and growth were recorded fortnightly. Large individual variations were seen in breastfeeding patterns. A wide discrepancy between the exclusive breastfeeding rates obtained from "current status" data and data "since birth" was found. Using a strict definition of exclusive breastfeeding from birth and taking into account the reasons for giving complementary feeding, the study showed that many exclusively breastfed infants had infections early in life, the incidence of which increased with age, despite continuation of exclusive breastfeeding. However, truly exclusively breastfed infants seem less likely to suffer infections than infants who receive formula in addition to breast milk. Increasing formula use was associated with an increasing likelihood of suffering respiratory illnesses. The growth of exclusively breastfed infants was similar to that of infants who were not exclusively breastfed. The health of newborn infants during the first year of life was associated with factors other than feeding practices alone. Some of these factors may be prenatal, since increasing birth weight was associated with an increasing likelihood of having respiratory symptoms, even in exclusively breastfed infants. However, exclusive breastfeeding was shown to be beneficial for the health of the infant even in an affluent society.

The aim of this thesis was to explore the prevalence of parentally experienced infant sleep problems, with special interest in severe problems, in a total community sample of 2 518 infants aged between 6 and 18 months. Factors associated with severe sleep problems were sought. Parents reported 16 % of the infants to have difficulties in falling asleep at night, and 30 % to have frequent night waking. Severe sleep problems were associated with frequent night meals, psychosocial problems in the family, exhaustion and depression in the mother, and parental stress. An association with infant difficultness, high activity and problematic behaviour was also found. In a five-year prospective study a group of children fulfilling specific criteria for severe sleep problems in infancy (N=27) was followed after an interventional sleep programme and compared with a control group regarding sleep characteristics, behaviour and development. One month after an interdisciplinary treatment programme, combining behavioural technique with family work, the average number of times the case babies woke up had diminished from 6.0 to 1.8 times per night. A 92 % rate of improvement was reported. The changes were stable over time. Comparisons with the controls during five years revealed no significant group difference in sleep characteristics. Concerning behaviour and development, however, there were significant differences. At the age of 5.5 years, seven of the children in the former sleep problem group met the criteria for the diagnosis of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder. No control child qualified for the diagnosis.

Objectives: To study indicators specifically reflecting the reproductive health of Ukrainian women and to analyse factors behind the indicators. Methods: Induced abortion and maternal mortality were studied in some countries/regions of the former Soviet Union, using official statistics. Abortion rates, contraceptive practices and intentions in Ukrainian women were analysed by a large self-completion survey in 1996, and by a classroom questionnaire to first year medical students in 1999 in Donetsk, Ukraine. Totally, 1694 women and 689 students participated. Perinatal mortality was studied, applying the Nordic-Baltic perinatal death classification to all cases in the Donetsk region in 1997-98 (n=1126) and in Denmark in 1996 (n=540). Clinical guidelines, use of technology and rates of interventions in the two regions were analysed. Results: Abortion remains a major method of fertility control and abortion-related mortality contributes to maternal deaths. Perinatal mortality rate is twice as high in the Donetsk region as in Denmark. A substantial proportion of sexually active women do not practice contraception. Modern methods of contraception are not widely used. There is a lack of knowledge in reproductive health issues and negative attitude to OCs. There is a positive attitude towards abortion as an acceptable fertility control method and of having abortion instead of using OCs or IUD. Poor economy is an obstacle to the use of contraceptive methods associated with a cost. Lack of experience with contraception reduces the intention to use any method in the future. Being single, younger than 19 years, living with parents, having a positive attitude towards abortion as fertility control method, having a history of previous childbirth and/or abortion are important factors associated with pregnancy termination. Antepartum deaths of growth-retarded fetuses, intrapartum and neonatal deaths associated with asphyxia are more common in Ukraine than in Denmark, particularly among premature infants. Lack of evidence-based clinical guidelines and adequate resources for fetal monitoring during pregnancy and labour, together with negative attitudes towards, and limited resources for, instrumental delivery, contribute to high perinatal mortality. Conclusion: Better reproductive education/information of all strata of society is needed. Implementation of evidence-based guidelines in perinatal medicine, where international collaboration can be of great value, should be a matter of high priority.

The appropriateness of universal screening for gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) has been strongly questioned, since it does not satisfy ethical principles for screening. The aims of these studies were to determine the prevalence of GDM, expressed in terms of impaired glucose tolerance (IGT) and diabetes mellitus (DM), to evaluate different screening models using traditional anamnestic risk factors and repeated random B-glucose, to determine whether GDM increases risks for maternal complications such as preeclampsia, and to determine whether IGT during pregnancy, if left untreated, is associated with increased maternal or neonatal morbidity. Of 4,918 pregnant non-diabetic women attending maternal health care, 73.5% agreed to have a 75 g oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT). GDM was diagnosed in 1.7%, IGT in 1.3% and DM in 0.4%. Traditional risk factor criteria were fulfilled by 15.8%. Prior GDM and a prior macrosomic infant showed the highest association with GDM. No selective or two-step universal screening model would have detected all cases of GDM. A constructed model comprising prior GDM, a prior LGA/macrosomic infant, or a cut-off random B-glucose level of 8 mmol/l as an indication for OGTT reduced the need for OGTT to 7.3% compared to the selective screening model with traditional risk factors. Such a universal two-step screening model had 100% sensitivity for DM, and 44.7% sensitivity for IGT. The Swedish Medical Birth Register was used to evaluate GDM as risk factor for preeclampsia. GDM occurred in 0.8% and preeclampsia in 2.9% of 430,852 singleton pregnancies. There is an independent and significant association between GDM and preeclampsia. Obesity is a major confounding factor, but cannot explain the total excess risk. In a prospective population-based case-control study 213 women with untreated IGT during pregnancy were identified. For each case, four controls were recruited from the same delivery department. The analyses confirmed that maternal and fetal morbidity were increased in the cases in terms of cesarean section rate, pre-term delivery, Erb’s palsy and admission to NICU. There was a marked, independent increase in the proportion of LGA infants (OR 7.3; 95% CI 4.1-12.7). To determine whether treatment has an effect when IGT is diagnosed during pregnancy, a randomized study is required.

Antenatal care has been associated with improved maternal and perinatal outcomes but there is no agreement on the most effective model in terms of content as well as the number and timing of visits. A cluster randomised controlled trial was conducted in a rural area of Zimbabwe to assess a 5-visit goal-oriented antenatal care model against standard care. In the same population was also determined the sensitivity of factors used for risk screening to predict pregnancy complications and the effectiveness of the referral system in managing women with identified risk markers or pregnancy complications. Pregnancy records of 10 572 out of total 13 517 recruited women were available for analysis. The new model did not change the number of visits but resulted in better use of health care. The classical risk screening system had low predictive value and identified too large a risk group for referral. Nulliparous women had an increased risk for pregnancy complications whereas women with previous uncomplicated pregnancies were at low risk of complications even with high parity. Multiparous women with previous complications had an increased risk of complications but better utilisation of health care services for delivery reduced adverse perinatal outcomes. There was a functional referral system in Gutu and women complied with referral indications but efficiency of the system was reduced by failure of care providers to comply with referral recommendations. Antenatal care can be improved in a rural setting through a focussed programme and the unpredictability of many pregnancy complications limits the value of antenatal risk screening. Until universal access to essential obstetric care facilities is attained in low resource settings, a critical re-examination of risk factors could avoid overburdening the referral system.

Hyaluronan is an important component of the lung extracellular matrix, with a high capacity for water immobilization, but information on perinatal changes in the lung hyaluronan concentration and their association with changes in the lung water content is limited. In this study, conducted both in rabbit pups and in human infants, we investigated changes in the hyaluronan concentration and distribution in the lung and in the lung water content after preterm or term birth, and changes produced by common antenatal and postnatal pathological conditions and treatments. In rabbit pups, we found a gradual decrease in lung hyaluronan concentration and in the intensity of alveolar hyaluronan staining with advancing gestational age at birth in late gestation, but no further changes during the first 7-9 days of life. The lung water content was uniformly high before birth, but decreased significantly after preterm delivery or at birth at term. Postnatal exposure of newborn preterm or term rabbit pups to hyperoxia for 4-9 days resulted in an increase in both lung hyaluronan concentration and lung water content. This was accompanied by more intense hyaluronan staining, mainly in the alveolar walls. Antenatal exposure of rabbit pups to betamethasone or terbutaline resulted in a lower lung hyaluronan concentration at preterm birth, associated with less intense hyaluronan staining in alveolar walls, without altering the lung water content. Betamethasone exposure had a maximal effect at 25 days of gestation (term = 31 days), decreasing thereafter with advancing gestation, while terbutaline exposure resulted in a gradually increasing effect during late gestation, with a maximum at 29 days. In deceased infants born at a gestational age of &lt; 32 weeks, the lung hyaluronan concentration at death was most strongly associated with the gestational age at birth. It also covaried with sex, antenatal steroid administration, intrauterine bleeding, mode of delivery, birth weight, IRDS, and surfactant treatment. In infants born at a gestational age of &gt; 33 weeks there was a weaker association between lung hyaluronan concentration and gestational age. In this group, the lung hyaluronan concentration was associated with administration of a high concentration of oxygen, and covaried with maximal ventilatory pressure, and lung water content.