Thesis (Ph. D.)--Michigan State University, 2004. / Includes bibliographical references. Also available online (PDF file) by a subscription to the set or by purchasing the individual file.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--Michigan State University, 2004. / Includes bibliographical references.

The purpose of this study will be to compare unwed mothers with married pregnant mothers on the Depression, Psychopathic Deviate and Hypomania scales of the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory. The major hypothesis is that the scores of the unwed mother will reflect more psychopathology which will be taken to indicate that the unwed mother's problems antedate their pregnancy. (The term, "psychopathology," as used herein is defined as any maladaptive behavior which is a result of inadequate personality development.)

ABSTRACT Childhood lead exposure is increasingly becoming a public health concern in developing and developed countries. Children are particularly vulnerable because of their developing body systems and mouthing behaviours. Recent studies have shown that lead exposure during pregnancy could cause harmful effects in unborn babies, subsequently causing ill health during later childhood. Lead poisoning prevention strategies should address exposures before, during and after pregnancy. To develop an appropriate framework for childhood lead exposure preventive strategies, the knowledge, perceptions, and behaviours of pregnant women in relation to child lead hazards had to be explored. The purpose of this study was to investigate the knowledge, perceptions and behaviours of pregnant women in relation to child lead hazards. To answer the research question, objectives were formulated which were to explore the knowledge of pregnant women regarding the sources and routes of exposure, the health effects of lead and mechanisms to protect children against lead exposure. The study objectives were achieved by administering an exploratory structured questionnaire. A non-probability convenience sample of 119 pregnant women was selected for data collection. Data was analysed using STATA 9.0 software. The results showed that only 13 participants (11%) had heard of lead before and the majority of participants (89%, n=107) had not heard of lead before. Four participants (31%, n=13) did not know if lead could be harmful to the health of children. Nine participants (69%, n=13) however, thought that lead could harm the health of children. Six participants (46%, n=13) did not know the health and social problems that lead exposures could cause in children. High risk factors in the living environment of the study population included informal housing, overcrowded living conditions, flaking and peeling paint, poor hand wash behaviour and smoking. The study concluded that there were low levels of knowledge, lacking perceptions and high-risk behaviours and practices amongst pregnant women in relation to child lead hazards. It further concluded that there were high-risk activities and conditions in the living environment of the studied population.

A research report submitted to the Faculty of Health Sciences (School of Public Health), The University of the Witwatersrand, in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Public Health in the field of Social Behaviour Change and Communication. June , 2017 / Introduction Proper access to antenatal care services and skilled birth attendants during delivery is key to reducing maternal deaths. But studies show that women in rural communities in Nigeria, do not access Ante-Natal Care (ANC) and a lower proportion deliver in a health facility. An internationally funded maternal and child health program in Enugu State, Nigeria introduced the concept of using the support group to improve uptake of antenatal care services and health facility delivery services. The support group comprised of pregnant women who encouraged and supported each other from pregnancy through to delivery in a health facility. However there was no documented evidence to show that the support groups actually influenced women’s intention to deliver in a health facility. This research work is being carried out to address this gap – by providing evidence on whether the support groups influenced women’s intention to deliver in a health facility. Methods Following informed consent, a qualitative study was conducted. Data was collected from women aged between 18 years and 49 years who were in a support group in seven health facilities in Nkanu West Local Government Area (LGA) of Enugu State, Nigeria. Seven Focus Group Discussions (FGD) and In-depth Interviews (IDI) were conducted. The data analysis was done using NVIVO software. All field notes were checked against translated interviews to ensure completeness and correctness. Inter-coding agreement, triangulation of data was done to ensure consistency. A descriptive analysis of the findings against theoretical framework was done and all findings also linked to objectives of the study. ii Results The pregnant women support group is shown to influence pregnant women’s intention to deliver in a health facility. Reasons for joining the group included; increasing knowledge about pregnancy and the benefits of ANC attendance and health facility delivery, socio-economic and spiritual support. However, the intention to deliver in a health facility is influenced by other factors such as; good and caring attitude of health workers, availability of qualified health workers, and better health infrastructure to respond to complications and emergencies. Other influences such as mother-in-law and spouses were also identified. The members of the group enjoyed benefits such as; visitation and presentation of gifts by support group members upon delivery, post- natal care and sometimes financial support. Despite these benefits, the goal of having a safe delivery remained the ultimate benefit of being a member of the support group. The existence, management and survival of the group other than by its members were dependent on the health facility workers. Conclusion The study demonstrated that the support group intervention did influence pregnant women’s intention to deliver in a health facility. But, the intention to deliver in a health facility was also driven by other factors such as; availability of skilled health workers, improved infrastructure and the cost of health services. / MT2017

Orientador: Lenice do Rosário de Souza / Resumo: Introdução: aproximadamente 39.000.000 de pessoas vivem com HIV/aids no mundo, sendo 757.042 no Brasil, notificados desde 1980 até junho de 2014, e estima-se 12.000 casos de mulheres gestantes infectadas por ano. Na infecção pelo HIV, além da depleção intensa de linfócitos T CD4+ no intestino, ocorre comprometimento de vários mecanismos protetores epiteliais, fatores que causam danos na barreira intestinal e resultam na translocação microbiana, induzindo aumento da ativação imune sistêmica e inflamação crônica. No entanto, a translocação microbiana na infecção pelo HIV tem sido pouco investigada durante a gestação, período em que a mulher é suscetível a infecções bacterianas. Objetivo: estudar marcadores de translocação microbiana e inflamação em gravidas infectadas pelo HIV. Casuística e métodos: foram estudadas 30 voluntárias, sendo 12 gestantes infectadas pelo HIV (G1), 10 gestantes não infectadas (G2) e, oito mulheres infectadas pelo HIV não grávidas (G3), mas dentro da faixa etária reprodutiva. Foram coletados dados referentes à idade, idade gestacional (IG), carga viral plasmática do HIV (CV), contagem de linfócitos T CD4+ e nadir de T CD4+. A translocação microbiana foi avaliada por dosagem plasmática de CD14 solúvel (sCD14) pelo método imunoenzimático (ELISA) e, o estado inflamatório, pela análise de IL- 17, IL-10, IL-8, IL-1β, IL-6, IL-12p70 e TNF-α por citometria de fluxo (CBA). Para a análise estatística paramétrica foi utilizado o teste ANOVA, seguido de Tukey-Kra... (Resumo completo, clicar acesso eletrônico abaixo) / Abstract: Introduction: Approximately 39.000.000 million people are living with HIV/AIDS worldwide and 757.042 in Brazil, reported from 1980 to June 2014, and it is estimated 12.000 cases of HIV-infected pregnant women annually. In HIV infection, besides the intense basal CD4+ T lymphocytes depletion, occurs impairment of various epithelial protective mechanisms, factors that contribute to intestinal barrier damages and result in microbial translocation, leading to increased systemic immune activation and chronic inflammation. However, microbial translocation in HIV infection has been poorly investigated during pregnancy, period which women are susceptible to bacterial infections. Objective: to study microbial translocation markers and the inflammatory status in HIV-infected pregnant women. Patients and Methods: We studied 30 volunteers, 12 HIV-infected pregnant women (G1), 10 HIV-uninfected pregnant women (G2) and 8 HIV-infected nonpregnant women (G3) in the same reproductive age than the other groups. Data were collected regarding age, gestational age (GA), plasma HIV viral load (VL), lymphocyte CD4+ T count and nadir. The microbial translocation was evaluated by measurement of plasmatic soluble CD14 (sCD14), performing the immunoenzymatic method (ELISA) and of inflammatory cytokines (IL-17, IL-10, IL-8, IL-1β, IL-6, IL -12p70 and TNF-α) by flow cytometry (CBA). The parametric statistical analysis was performed using ANOVA followed by Tukey-Kramer post-hoc test, and for non-parametri... (Complete abstract click electronic access below) / Mestre

Master of Dental Surgery / In setting out this thesis, an attempt has been made to give a detailed investigation of the gingival changes which may take place in pregnancy and with particular reference to pregnancy gingivitis or, as it is referred to in this thesis: gingivitis gravidarum. Gingivitis gravidarum is that gingivitis which occurs in the pregnant state and is attributable to, or aggravated by the gravid state. A clinical survey has been carried out and a detailed study of all available literature made. As a result of this study, comparisons are drawn between Australian born and immigrant groups. There are many unsolved problems concerning the condition, and although this investigation does not cover any new ground in the light of world research, it is, to the best of my knowledge, the first time that a survey as comprehensive as this has been made in this country.

Thesis (M.S.)--Calvary Theological Seminary, 2000. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves [74]-78).

Master of Dental Surgery / In setting out this thesis, an attempt has been made to give a detailed investigation of the gingival changes which may take place in pregnancy and with particular reference to pregnancy gingivitis or, as it is referred to in this thesis: gingivitis gravidarum. Gingivitis gravidarum is that gingivitis which occurs in the pregnant state and is attributable to, or aggravated by the gravid state. A clinical survey has been carried out and a detailed study of all available literature made. As a result of this study, comparisons are drawn between Australian born and immigrant groups. There are many unsolved problems concerning the condition, and although this investigation does not cover any new ground in the light of world research, it is, to the best of my knowledge, the first time that a survey as comprehensive as this has been made in this country.

Thesis (M. P. H.)--University of Hong Kong, 2005. / Also available in print.