Factors associated with physical spousal abuse of women during pregnancy in Bangladesh.
CONTEXT: Violence toward pregnant women is a gross violation of human rights with adverse health consequences for the woman and potentially for her fetus; however, few studies have examined factors associated with such abuse in developing countries or with population-based data. METHODS: A sample of 2,553 ever-pregnant...

Informed consent or institutionalized eugenics? How the medical profession encourages abortion of fetuses with down syndrome.
ABSTRACT: Many women are unprepared to make prenatal decisions about fetuses diagnosed with Down Syndrome because of societal pressures to have "normal" children, a negative view of persons with disabilities by many in society, a fear of legal liability by those in the medical community, the lack of genuine...

Greene on green.
Dr. Alan Greene, the pediatrician, father of four and online parenting guru, has a perfect surname for launching his latest title: Raising Baby Green: The Earth-Friendly Guide to Pregnancy, Childbirth and Baby Care (John Wiley & Sons, $16.95). The eco-expert dispenses advice that will be familiar to...

We do babies! The trials, tribulations, and triumphs of pregnancy and parenting in the academy.
One might say that 2005-2006 was a productive time for us. In addition to the usual scholarship, we experienced another form of production--procreation! Shortly into the spring semester, MK, the department chair, learned that four faculty (of eleven total) were pregnant. Eight of us (see Table 1) recently met...

Obesity an increasing risk in childbirth, UK.
A confidential inquiry into maternal and child health which reviews maternity care in the UK every three years, reports that obesity is a growing risk factor and the chief concern in the deaths of women during pregnancy and childbirth. Of the 295 women who died from pregnancy-related causes in...

Reducing harmful traditional practices in Adjibar, Ethiopia: lessons learned from the Adjibar Safe Motherhood Project.
ABSTRACT This paper assesses the impact of the Adjibar Safe Motherhood Project and derives lessons of value to future interventions. Amongst the participatory qualitative methods used were 15 group discussions, eight semi-structured interviews, a number of opportunistic informal discussions and observation. The information gathering was...

Botox treats kids with cerebral palsy.
Byline: Vasundhara Sanger MUMBAI: Botox has been largely publicised to smoothen out frown lines between eyebrows and foreheads of aging divas and fashionistas. However, it's not just the cosmetics surgeons who are seeking it out as a remedy. Dr Ashok N Johri, Hon. professor of Orthopaedic Surgery...

Every death counts: saving the lives of mothers, babies and children in South Africa.
The major health challenges affecting the lives of women, babies and children in South Africa are pregnancy and childbirth complications, newborn illness, childhood illness, HIV and AIDS, and malnutrition. The country needs to address these 'Big 5' in order to meet the Millennium Development Goals (MDG) for maternal, newborn...

Of HIV, grief and top.
To the Editor: We write in response to J V Larsen's letter on the psychological effects of termination of pregnancy among women living with HIV, which appeared in the February 2008 edition of the SAMJ. (1) Dr Larsen stated that '... there is strong evidence that a decision for...

Sensual and sexual marital contentment in parents of small children--a follow-up study when the first child is four years old.
Becoming a parent for the first time contributes to many changes in a couple's relationship. These changes may be both positive and negative and affect both partners in the relationship. In contrast to earlier studies focusing on the experience of becoming a first-time parent (Ahlborg, Dahlof, & Hallberg, 2005;...