Search PubMed⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

B Dujardin

Publications and source records attributed to B Dujardin.

5 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1992

Value of the alert and action lines on the partogram.

A partogram based on a World Health Organisation model has been used for many years in the peripheral maternity clinics of Pikine, Senegal, to monitor labour. We have assessed the value of the partogram and efficacy of the alert and action lines. 1022 pregnant women were monitored by partogram during 4 months. The alert line was crossed in 100 (9.8%) of these cases and the frequency of neonatal resuscitation was higher for this group (relative risk 4.0, 95% confidence interval 2.3-7.1; p less than 0.0001), as was the number of "fresh" stillbirths (5.3, 1.8-15.6; p less than 0.01) (recent death may have occurred during labour). Among the women who crossed the alert but not the action line, neonatal resuscitation was also four times more likely than for the normal labour group (4.0, 2.1-7.6; p less than 0.001), and the fresh stillbirth rate was higher but not significantly so. For women who crossed both lines, the fresh stillbirth rate was ten times higher than for women in the normal labour group (9.9, 2.8-34.7; p less than 0.001). Crossing the alert line had a sensitivity of 27%, a specificity of 93%, and a positive predictive value of 17% for neonatal resuscitation. If the action line was chosen as the decision level, the positive predictive value remained the same but the sensitivity was only 8%. Health workers intervened (eg, artificial rupture of the membranes, administration of oxytocics) in half the dystocic cases. Of the women who did not receive any such treatment 44% crossed the action line compared with only 26% of those who did receive treatment (p = 0.06). The results show the usefulness and efficacy of the partogram and underscore the value of medical intervention as soon as the alert line is crossed.

Bias↗
PubMed1992

Epidemiology's contribution to health service management and planning in developing countries: a missing link.

Two hypotheses are examined in the light of experience and the literature: (1) health service planning requires little epidemiological information, and (2) health services rarely get useful answers to relevant epidemiological questions. In the first hypothesis, the theoretical robustness of the concept of a minimum package of activities common to all facilities belonging to the same level of the system and the extent to which it is unaffected by variations in the frequencies of most diseases are examined. Semi-quantitative analyses and analysis of routine entries and participation suffice to adapt this package to the local context. Some of the methods which give a fundamental role to epidemiological information are criticized. With regard to the second hypothesis, the pertinent contributions epidemiology may make to health service organization are reviewed. These include identification of diseases that justify special activities (health maps and interepidemic surveillance), determination of the activities that should be added to the health centres, the political usefulness of rare impact assessments, and the relevant demographic elements. Finally an epidemiological agenda is proposed for specialized centres, districts, universities, and the central decision-making level of health ministries in developing countries.

Adult↗
PubMed1991

[The initiative for a risk-free motherhood: which perspectives?].

The "Safe Motherhood Initiative" started off with a first conference held in Nairobi in February 1987. In 1989, several conferences were organised throughout the world which led to a new current of opinion in favour of maternal health improvement. Governments, decision markers and aid agencies have been called upon to support such Initiative. In this paper, we review the main characteristics of the Safe Motherhood Initiative and analyse two main constraints which were insufficiently discussed during the conferences. The first one is the need to increase the efficiency of the existing health system. The second one is the problem which arises from poor acceptability by the populations of certain health activities promoted by the Initiative. By giving various examples, we describe how these factors may restrict its expected results. Proposals are made to increase the efficacy of the programmes and of activities promoted by the Initiative and to ensure its mid-range continuation. The authors suggest that specific attention and more resources have to be given to achieving specific operational researches, by taking into account the health behaviour of the populations, the characteristics of the existing health services and the resources available. Such research will lead to improved maternal health activities.

Cultural Characteristics↗
PubMed1977

[Human celosomias].

Definition and nomenclature of celosomia are based on a historical review which provides a system of classification. Morphology and organogenesis of celosomia were studied on 64 embryonic and foetal bodies. The anatomical study of 6 cases of human celosomia provided a definition of the characteristics of major celosomia, by showing the constant elements of the syndrome (particularly the parietal malformation) and the anomalies frequently found in each of the different types:--anterior (or superior) celosomia;--middle celosomia, including laparoschisis;--posterior (or inferior) celosomia, among which exstrophy of the bladder may be either one of the constant elements of the syndrome, or a limited form of the inferior celosomia;--total celosomia, of which one case was studied for this report, and of which the major forms, the schistosomia, chelinosomia and strophosomia types, seem to constitute forms of transition with other types of monstruosity. With improved knowledge of anatomy and organogenesis the possibilities of treatment have improved over the past few years, but still remain limited in the more monstrous forms of celosomia.

Abdomen↗