<p><strong>Syfte</strong></p><p>Syftet med studien var att undersöka om det fanns skillnader mellan kvinnor som blivit suturerade med ett snabbabsorberande monofilt suturmaterial, Caprosyn® och ett multifilt suturmaterial, Polysorb® då det gällde kvinnans uppfattning om hur bristningen läkte åtta veckor postpartum.</p><p><strong>Urval</strong></p><p>Ett konsekutivt randomiserat urval. Fyrahundratvå kvinnor som fått en bristning vid förlossningen randomiserades till att sutureras med antingen Caprosyn® eller Polysorb®. Den slutgiltiga svarsfrekvensen var 67 %, det största bortfallet var på förlossningsavdelningen.</p><p><strong>Metod</strong></p><p>En experimentell kvantitativ studie. Två enkäter användes i studien, en som barnmorskan besvarade direkt efter förlossningen om bristningens art samt en till de medverkande kvinnorna åtta veckor postpartum.</p><p><strong>Resultat</strong></p><p>Inga skillnader fanns mellan suturmaterialen då det gäller kvinnornas smärta i underlivet, obehag i underlivet, återupptagande av sexualliv, samlagssmärta, amning eller hur många kvinnor som sökt sjukvård samt varför de sökt sjukvård åtta veckor postpartum. Fler positiva kommentarer gavs av barnmorskorna om Polysorb® än om Caprosyn®. Om kvinnan ammade delvis och hade samlagssmärta var denna smärta större än för de kvinnor som ammade helt. Ju lägre kvinnan skattade sin förlossningsupplevelse desto mer smärta hade kvinnan vid samlag åtta veckor postpartum.</p><p><strong>Slutsats</strong></p><p>De två studerade suturmaterialen skiljer sig inte åt enligt de deltagande kvinnornas upplevelse åtta veckor efter förlossningen. Däremot fanns ett samband mellan smärta i underlivet och upplevelse av förlossningen samt mellan hur mycket kvinnan ammade och samlagssmärta. Sammanfattningsvis kan barnmorskor inom förlossningsvården använda sig av båda materialen vid suturering av bristningar efter förlossning utan att det påverkar kvinnans hälsa negativt.</p>

The aim with this thesis was to assess the impact of prenatal ultrasound exposure on psychotic illness, childhood brain tumors (CBT) and school achievement, and to evaluate prenatal X-ray exposure and the risk of CBT. In a cohort study, children born in Malmö 1973-1978, where prenatal ultrasound was used routinely, were considered exposed (n=13, 212) and children born at hospitals with no use of ultrasound, were considered unexposed (n=357,733). Exposed men had a tendency toward a higher risk of schizophrenia. For other psychoses there were no differences between groups. Other factors related to place of birth might have influenced the results. In a case control study, children born 1975-1984 with a diagnosis of CBT (n=512), and randomly selected control children (n=524) were included. Exposure data on X-ray and ultrasound from antenatal records was completed with information from the Medical Birth Register. We found no overall increased risk for CBT after prenatal X-ray exposure. When stratifying by histological subgroups, primitive neuroectodermal tumors had the highest risk estimates. For ultrasound exposure, no increased risk for CBT was seen and numbers of examinations or gestational age at exposure had no substantial impact on the results. In a follow-up of a randomized trial on prenatal ultrasound scanning 1985-87, we assessed the children’s school grades when graduating from primary school (15-16 years of age). We performed analyses according to randomization, ultrasound exposure in the second trimester and exposure at any time during pregnancy. There were no differences in school performance for boys or girls according to randomization or exposure in the second trimester. Boys exposed to ultrasound any time during fetal life had a reduced mean score in physical education and small, non-significant increased risk of poor school performance in general.

ABSTRACT Background Postpartum depression (PPD) occurs in 10% of women who have recently given birth. Postpartum depression is treatable but unidentified and untreated it could lead to serious consequences. There are multiple instruments for screening available. The Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale is the most frequently used and is regarded as the best instrument. Aim The aim of this study was to analyze to what extent and how midwifes and primary care nurses identify mothers with symptoms of depression respectively PPD. A further aim was to enquire if there are routines for follow up and if there is any collaboration among the professions? Method A descriptive and comparative design with collection of quantitative and qualitative data was chosen. Midwifes (n=20) and primary care nurses (n=26) at 9 primary care centres answered a questionnaire concerning PPD. Results Almost all of the primary care nurses reported that they used EPDS as a screening instrument. They also described signs of depression/PPD. Midwifes and primary care nurses had some education in PPD, but there was a need for more education. Even if there was some collaboration among the professions there still was a wish for an increase of co-working. Conclusion EPDS-screening and referrals to psychologist, physicians and psychiatrists are routines used to identify PPD and also for follow-ups. The midwifes have not received education and does not use EPDS-screening in the same extension as the primary care nurses.

Syfte Syftet med studien var att undersöka om det fanns skillnader mellan kvinnor som blivit suturerade med ett snabbabsorberande monofilt suturmaterial, Caprosyn® och ett multifilt suturmaterial, Polysorb® då det gällde kvinnans uppfattning om hur bristningen läkte åtta veckor postpartum. Urval Ett konsekutivt randomiserat urval. Fyrahundratvå kvinnor som fått en bristning vid förlossningen randomiserades till att sutureras med antingen Caprosyn® eller Polysorb®. Den slutgiltiga svarsfrekvensen var 67 %, det största bortfallet var på förlossningsavdelningen. Metod En experimentell kvantitativ studie. Två enkäter användes i studien, en som barnmorskan besvarade direkt efter förlossningen om bristningens art samt en till de medverkande kvinnorna åtta veckor postpartum. Resultat Inga skillnader fanns mellan suturmaterialen då det gäller kvinnornas smärta i underlivet, obehag i underlivet, återupptagande av sexualliv, samlagssmärta, amning eller hur många kvinnor som sökt sjukvård samt varför de sökt sjukvård åtta veckor postpartum. Fler positiva kommentarer gavs av barnmorskorna om Polysorb® än om Caprosyn®. Om kvinnan ammade delvis och hade samlagssmärta var denna smärta större än för de kvinnor som ammade helt. Ju lägre kvinnan skattade sin förlossningsupplevelse desto mer smärta hade kvinnan vid samlag åtta veckor postpartum. Slutsats De två studerade suturmaterialen skiljer sig inte åt enligt de deltagande kvinnornas upplevelse åtta veckor efter förlossningen. Däremot fanns ett samband mellan smärta i underlivet och upplevelse av förlossningen samt mellan hur mycket kvinnan ammade och samlagssmärta. Sammanfattningsvis kan barnmorskor inom förlossningsvården använda sig av båda materialen vid suturering av bristningar efter förlossning utan att det påverkar kvinnans hälsa negativt.

Introduction: Blood- and injection phobia is an anxiety disorder with a prevalence of approximately 3-5% in the general population. The etiology is often a combination of genetic factors and a conditioning experience. The symptoms of blood- and injection phobia are dizziness, confusion, nausea, epigastria discomfort, anxiety and sometimes panic attacks when receiving injections, seeing blood or having a blood sample taken. Unique for this specific phobia is the high probability of fainting when the phobic situation is encountered if there is no possibility to escape or to avoid the stimuli. During pregnancy and labor, women with blood- and injection phobia are exposed to most of their fears and they therefore find themselves in anxiety-ridden situations. Stress and anxiety during pregnancy is known to be risk factors for adverse obstetric and neonatal outcomes. Studies have shown an altered hypothalamic-adrenal-pituitary axis in women with stress or/and anxiety during pregnancy and increased cortisol concentrations can imply negative consequences for the unborn child. Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is known to be effective in treating specific phobias such as blood- and injection phobia. Aim: The prevalence, obstetric and neonatal consequences, impact on the hypothalamic adrenal-pituitary axis and treatment aspects of blood- and injection phobia in a pregnant population have not been investigated before. The aims of this thesis were to study each of these phenomena. Material and methods: During 2005 a total of 1606 pregnant women were approached at their first visit in an antenatal care clinic in the southeast region in Sweden. They were asked to complete the “Injection Phobia Scale-Anxiety” questionnaire. All women who scored ≥ 20 on the “Injection Phobia Scale-Anxiety” questionnaire (N=347), were interviewed and either diagnosed for blood- and injection phobia or dismissed. In total, 110 women were diagnosed as having blood- and injection phobia. Among the women who scored &lt;20 on the “Injection Phobia Scale-Anxiety” questionnaire, 220 women were randomly stratified for age and parity as a control group. The women in the study population answered questionnaires in gestational week 25, 36 and postpartum concerning symptoms of blood- and injection phobia, depression and anxiety. Samples of cortisol in the saliva were collected in the morning and evening in gestational week 25 and 36 in both groups of pregnant women. The medical records from the antenatal care visits, the delivery and postpartum check-up was used to collect data of importance. A treatment study was conducted using a two session cognitive behavioral therapy in a group of pregnant woman with blood- and injection phobia. Results: The prevalence of blood- and injection phobia is 7 % in a pregnant population. Pregnant women with blood- and injection phobia stated more often a fear of childbirth (p&lt;0.001) and were more frequently delivered by elective cesarean section (p=0.032). The incidence of having a baby diagnosed with a complication (p=0.001) was also higher among these women. The women with blood- and injection phobia had increased cortisol concentrations in the saliva compared to the healthy controls (p=0.014). A two-session CBT in group for pregnant women with blood- and injection phobia reduced phobic (p&lt;0.001) anxiety (p&lt;0.001) and depressive (p&lt;0.001) symptoms during pregnancy. Conclusions: Blood- and injection phobia during pregnancy is rather common. Pregnant women with blood- and injection phobia are more likely to be delivered by elective cesarean section and having a baby born with a complication compared to women not suffering from this specific phobia. Untreated blood- and injection phobia during pregnancy increases salivary cortisol concentrations indicating an altered hypothalamic-adrenal-pituitary axis during these weeks of pregnancy. To enhance psychological well being in pregnant women with blood- and injection phobia a two-session program providing CBT for groups of pregnant women is valuable and produces stable results for at least 3 months after delivery.

This study aims to research the progress and evolution of the Swedish medical discourse regarding childbed fever. Several texts that are considered to be part of said discourse have been chosen, the earliest being Dr. Joseph Elliot's book regarding childbed fever from 1844 and the latest being two articles from the Swedish midwifery and women's health journal Jordemodern from 1903. During this time several discoveries on the subject of hygiene and antiseptics took place in Europe, leading to a quick development in the medical field eventually making its way to Sweden. This knowledge led to a hypothesis that the definition, belived causes and desirable measures taken to control the outbreaks of childbed fever, would change from 1844 to 1903.  By analyzing these sources through a genus theoretical framework a change was indeed found. The disease was originally belived to be airborne and none of the taken measures had any effect. By 1903 the germ theory had arrived and settled in the Swedish medical discourse and it became widely known that the disease was transmitted from doctors and midwifes to the patient by contact and appropriate measures could be taken.  Lastly the studiy aims to present a viable way to use this information in a classroom situation related to the syllabus for both primary and upper secondary school.

<p>This study, based on daily recordings of infant feeding, comprised 506 infants from Uppsala, Sweden. All mothers had had previous breastfeeding experience of at least 4 months, and were planning to breastfeed the index child for ≥6 months.</p><p>Among exclusively breastfed infants there were wide variations in breastfeeding frequency and suckling duration per 24 hours both between infants and in the individual infant over time in the first 6 months. Most infants had an average of 1.0-2.9 feeds per night. Infants using a pacifier had fewer feeds and a shorter total suckling duration per 24 hours, and stopped breastfeeding earlier than infants not using a pacifier. These associations were not found for thumb sucking.</p><p>Accustoming the infants to solids was a lengthy process, the longer the younger the infant at introduction, and was associated with small changes in pattern and duration of breastfeeding. In contrast, formula was usually given in large amounts from the beginning, and when formula was given regularly the daily breastfeeding frequency and suckling duration declined swiftly. The younger an infant at the start of regular formula feeds, the shorter the breastfeeding duration. Occasional formula feeds did not affect the breastfeeding duration.</p><p>It is important for health personnel and parents to keep in mind that exclusively breastfed infants are not a homogeneous group, but rather members of distinct 'breastfeeding entities'. Moreover, if the aim is to introduce other foods 'under the protection of breast milk' it is important to realise that formula is also 'another food' and needs to be treated as such.</p>

<p>Studies were performed on methodological issues on vitamin A intake, status and improvement in three Asian countries, to improve the dietary approach recommended by FAO/WHO to alleviate vitamin A deficiency in low-income countries.</p><p>The reliability of the practical 24-hour dietary recall method to assess individual intake of vitamin A during pregnancy was investigated in Central Java, Indonesia. The usual mean intake of vitamin A can be reliably measured, but data on attenuation of simple regression coefficients suggest that it is difficult to establish associations between vitamin A intake and some health outcome. The majority of women was below the recommended daily intake of vitamin A in all three trimesters and strategies to improve vitamin A intake in all women are thus needed.</p><p>The applicability of the simplified "Helen Keller International Food Frequency Method" to assess community risk of vitamin A deficiency in South Asia, even though it excludes breastmilk and animal milk, was tested in rural Bangladesh and rural India. Breast milk was found to be an important source of vitamin A even in the second and third years of life in rural areas of Bangladesh. Similarly, animal milk is likely to be an important source of vitamin A among preschoolers in certain areas of India. The method should be revalidated to make it a useful tool even in settings where breastmilk and animal milk are common in the diets of preschool children.</p><p>Whether it is possible to improve vitamin A status with dark green leafy vegetables in children free of <i>Ascaris lumbricoides</i> was investigated in northern Bangladesh. A substantial increase in serum β-carotene was seen after supplementary feeding of these vegetables for 6 weeks. The impact on serum retinol concentrations was less substantial.</p>

<p>From January, 1988, to December, 1993, 113 patients with FIGO stage IA-IIC epithelial ovarian carcinoma were treated with postoperative radiotherapy. The median follow-up period was 74 months. Tumor recurrences were recorded in 33 cases (30%). The cancer-specific survival rate was 72%. Tumor grade was a significant (P = 0.007) and independent prognostic factor in the multivariate analysis. In a smaller series of 106 patients, a number of prognostic factors (age, FIGO stage, histopathological type, and tumor grade) were studied in relation to regulators of apoptosis (p53, bcl-2, and bax) and growth factor receptors (HER-2/neu and EGFR). Immunohistochemical techniques were used. In a separate series of 103 patients, the DNA content (flow cytometry) and p53 status of the tumors were also studied and related to the same clinicopathological factors. P53 was associated with tumor grade (P = 0.007) and survival status (P = 0.046). In a Cox multivariate analysis, tumor grade (P = 0.0006), bax status (P = 0.020), and EGFR status (P = 0.018) were significant and independent prognostic factors. DNA ploidy of the tumors was strongly associated with tumor grade. </p><p>From January, 1994, to December, 1998, a series of 109 patients with ovarian carcinomas (FIGO IA-IIC) were treated with postoperative adjuvant chemotherapy. The same prognostic factors were studied in this series. The median follow-up was 48 months and the cancer-specific survival rate was 75%. Twenty-five (25%) tumor recurrences were recorded. The most favorable survival rate was seen in patients with tumors negative for p53 and positive for bcl-2 or bax. In a multivariate analysis, tumor grade (P = 0.014) and p53 status (P = 0.020) were independent prognostic factors.</p><p>Clinical, histopathological and biological prognostic factors should be combined in prognostic models to render patient-tailored therapy possible and to define different prognostic groups for future clinical studies of adjuvant therapy in early stage ovarian carcinomas.</p>

<p>Men’s violence against women is a universal issue affecting health, human rights and gender-equality. In pregnancy, violence is a risk for both the mother and her unborn child.</p><p>The overall aims were: to determine the prevalence of such violence in a Swedish pregnant population, to investigate pregnant women’s attitudes to questioning about exposure to violence, and to evaluate experience gained by antenatal care midwives having routinely questioned pregnant women regarding violence.</p><p>All women registered for antenatal care in Uppsala, Sweden, during 6 months were assessed regarding acts of violence. The Abuse Assessment Screen (AAS) was used twice during pregnancy and again after delivery when the women were asked an open-ended written question regarding attitudes to questioning about violence. Midwives’ experiences regarding routine assessment were evaluated in focus group discussions.</p><p>The AAS questions were answered by 93% (1,038) of those eligible. Physical abuse by a partner or relative during or shortly after pregnancy was reported by 1.3%, and by 2.8% when the year preceding pregnancy was included. Lifetime sexual abuse was reported by 8.1%. Repeated questioning increased the abuse detection rate. Abused women reported more previous ill-health, and women physically abused during pregnancy more pregnancy terminations than did non-abused women. Abuse assessment was found entirely acceptable by 80%, both acceptable and unacceptable/disagreeable by 5% and solely unacceptable/ disagreeable by 3%, while 12% were neural. Abused and non-abused women did not differ regarding disinclination to answer the abuse questions. According to the midwives the delicacy of the subject and the male partners’ presence were the most prominent remaining obstacles to routine determination of violence. </p><p>Routines are required to make questioning about violence an integral part of antenatal care. This would necessitate a private appointment for the woman, knowledge among care providers about the nature of men’s violence, and awareness of referral options.</p>