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G G Rhoads

Publications and source records attributed to G G Rhoads.

At least 73 records · Page 4Linked to original sources
PubMed1989

Does maternal employment affect breast-feeding?

A prospective survey of maternal employment and breast-feeding initiation and duration was conducted among 668 Black and 511 White women who delivered their first child in Washington, DC. Ninety-one percent of White women (n = 511) and 80 percent of Black women (n = 668) reported working during pregnancy. Black women who planned to return to work part time vs full time were more likely to breast-feed rather than formula-feed (adjusted odds ratio, 2.3; 95% confidence intervals (CI) = 1.4, 3.7). Using Cox regression, Black women who returned to work had a shorter duration of breast-feeding than those not returning to work (hazard ratio = 0.5 (CI = 0.3, 0.9]. Black and White women returning to professional occupations had a longer duration of breast-feeding compared to women returning to sales or technical positions (hazard ratio for Black women = 2.4 (CI = 1.4, 44); hazard ratio for White women = 1.6 (CI = 1.0, 2.5]. In addition, White women in professional occupations had a longer duration of breast-feeding than women in clerical positions (hazard ratio = 1.7 (CI = 1.1, 2.6]. Until employers in the United States develop a maternity policy which does not discourage breast-feeding, the recommended six months of breast-feeding will be difficult to achieve for most employed women.

Adult↗
PubMed1988

Syrup of ipecac. The case for distribution from physicians' offices.

Data from a nationally representative sample of household interviews were analyzed to examine public preparedness for childhood poisoning episodes. Eighty-eight percent (61% to 77% in nonwhite groups) of respondents from households with children younger than 10 years had heard of poison control centers and 70% (50% to 57% in nonwhites) stated that they had the telephone number of such a center. In contrast only 25% stated they had syrup of ipecac in their home. Among blacks and Hispanics this proportion was 9%. To explore possible reasons for this we telephoned a sample of 65 physicians listed in the greater Washington, DC, telephone directory as providers of care for infants and children. Of the 45 (69%) who agreed to be interviewed, 73% informed their patients about poison control centers and 53% provided the appropriate telephone number. Although 78% believed parents should have ipecac in the house, only three (7%) of 45 actually dispensed ipecac to parents. We conclude that ipecac is not widely available in the homes of American children. By regularly dispensing it in the course of pediatric care, physicians could largely remedy this deficiency.

Attitude of Health Personnel↗
PubMed1988

Breast-feeding incidence and duration in black and white women.

The influence of sociodemographic factors on the incidence and duration of breast-feeding was evaluated in 668 black and 511 white women delivering their first child in the metropolitan Washington, DC, area. Breast-feeding rates were 84% among white and 49% among black women. Maternal educational level was strongly associated with breast-feeding, whereas the effect of ethnicity was moderate. Women with some college or some graduate school education had adjusted odds of breast-feeding that were 2.6 (95% confidence limit 1.9 to 3.7) and 5.2 (95% confidence limit 2.7 to 10.2) times higher than women with a high school education or less. In contrast, the adjusted odds of breast-feeding were 2.0 (95% confidence limit 1.4 to 3.1) times higher for white women compared with black women. The odds of breast-feeding increased among black women if they attended childbirth classes, were married, or were older. Among black women, the frequency of breast-feeding decreased sharply by 1 month postpartum. Breast-feeding duration for black v white women was 74% v 90% at 1 month, 44% v 72% at 4 months, and 26% v 50% at 7 months postpartum. The majority of black women (53%) used formula supplements in the hospital, which was the only factor significantly related to a shortened duration in this group (P less than .01). The high rate of formula supplementation among black women and its strong association with shortened duration of breast-feeding point to a need for more advice and support and less reliance on formula during the hospital stay.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1987

Reasons for the rising cesarean delivery rates: 1978-1984.

This study was undertaken to estimate the cesarean delivery rate in United States hospitals and to determine whether the reasons for rise in this rate have changed since the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development Consensus Development Conference on Cesarean Childbirth in 1979. The cesarean delivery rate steadily increased from 9.1% in 1974 to 14.7% in 1978, and to 21.2% in 1984. One-third of the rise in the cesarean rate from 1974-1978 was due to repeat cesareans, and 9% was due to fetal distress. Since 1978, 47% of the rise in the cesarean rate was attributed to repeat cesareans, and 16% to fetal distress. Less of the recent rise in the cesarean rate was due to dystocia and breech presentation. The rate of cesarean delivery among those with a previous cesarean was 96%. Deliveries complicated by fetal distress increased from 1% in 1978 to 6% in 1984. The incidence of breech presentation dropped by 18% (2.8-2.3%), which may indicate an increase in the successful use of external cephalic version. If the number of vaginal deliveries after cesarean increases in the future, then the overall cesarean delivery rate will decrease or stabilize. Additional efforts should be focused on the diagnostic categories of fetal distress and dystocia, because it is likely that the definitions of these complications are changing to include less severe forms.

Cesarean Section↗
PubMed1986

Lp(a) lipoprotein as a risk factor for myocardial infarction.

The Lp(a) lipoprotein is structurally related to low-density lipoprotein but is found in lower plasma concentration. It has been associated with coronary disease in several white populations. To test the generalizability of this association, we measured serum Lp(a) by quantitative immunoelectrophoresis in 303 Hawaiian men of Japanese ancestry with a prior myocardial infarction (MI) and in 408 population-based controls. Mean values were 17.1 and 13.7 mg/dL (0.171 and 0.137 g/L), respectively. Increased risk for MI was shown mainly for men in the upper quartile of the Lp(a) lipoprotein distribution (greater than or equal to 20.1 mg/dL [greater than or equal to 0.201 g/L]). Odds ratios at younger than 60, 60 to 69, and 70 years of age or older were 2.5, 1.6, and 1.2 times those for men in the lower three quartiles, respectively. In a multiple logistic model the association with MI remained significant and was not explained by differences in total cholesterol levels, high-density lipoprotein or low-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels, subscapular skin fold, systolic blood pressure, history of smoking, alcohol consumption, or age. We conclude that Lp(a) is an important attribute that should often be considered when coronary heart disease risk is assessed.

Aged↗
PubMed1986

Birth weight among women of different ethnic groups.

Differences in mean birth weight and low birth weight (less than 2.5 kg) are analyzed among Asians, blacks, Hispanics, and whites who were enrolled in the Northern California Kaiser-Permanente Birth Defects Study, a prospective study of 29,415 pregnancy outcomes. Large differences in birth weight among babies of different ethnic groups persist after controlling for the joint effects of maternal smoking and alcohol use during pregnancy, sex of child, parity, length of prenatal care, and maternal weight-for-height percentile. Compared with whites, the relative mean differences in birth weight are estimated as -246 g for blacks, -210 g for Asians, -105 g for Hispanics, and -140 g for others. The low-birth-weight rates and crude odds ratios are 7.70% (2.17) for blacks; 5.57% (1.57) for Asians; 5.52% (1.55) for others; 4.00% (1.13) for Hispanics; and 3.55% (1.00) for whites. After controlling for the effects of 22 factors, the odds ratios for a low-birth-weight infant are 2.41 for blacks, 1.37 for Asians, 1.93 for others, and 1.25 for Hispanics. It is concluded that factors currently used to control for ethnic differences in birth weight are insufficient to explain the observed differences.

Adult↗
PubMed1986

Smoking and drinking during pregnancy. Their effects on preterm birth.

The effects of cigarette smoking and alcohol consumption on the length of gestation were examined in a prospective study of 30,596 pregnant women in northern California. Preterm births (less than 37 weeks' gestation) were 20% more common in women smoking at least one pack of cigarettes per day. This effect was strongest for births occurring before 33 weeks, where the excess was 60%. This excess was not accounted for by differences in maternal age, education, ethnicity, time prenatal care began, drinking during pregnancy, or eight other potential confounding factors. The results indicate a probable effect of smoking on the time of parturition, which is additional to its well-known effect on intrauterine growth retardation. The effect of alcohol consumption on preterm births was also examined, but no consistent trends were found.

Alcohol Drinking↗
PubMed1986

Early growth predicts timing of puberty in boys: results of a 14-year nutrition and growth study.

Diet and growth were studied prospectively in 78 boys ages 6 months to 14 years. All boys were well nourished and not grossly obese. Pubertal development was evaluated at age 14 years, and the results correlated with diet and early growth. No nutrients were significantly correlated with the stage of pubertal development. Boys with more advanced pubic hair development (Tanner greater than 3) and longer penile length (greater than or equal to 10 cm) had been significantly heavier at ages 6 months, 2 years, and 4 years (all P less than 0.025). Muscle mass, as estimated by the cross-sectional muscle area of the upper arm, had been significantly greater in the early maturers at the same ages (P less than 0.025 in seven of nine comparisons). Although the more sexually mature boys also had been taller and had had larger skinfolds at virtually all measurements from age 6 months to 4 years, the differences were less pronounced. In this adequately nourished male population, body size in the first years of life was significantly correlated with the timing of puberty.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1985

Genetics of the Lp lipoprotein in Japanese-Americans.

Segregation analysis of four Lp assays on 557 children in 227 families reveals a dominant major gene and a residual heritable component that may reflect one or more alleles of weaker effect. Close or moderate linkage to esterase-D (ESD) is excluded.

Aged↗
PubMed1985

The effect of partial gastrectomy on lipoproteins and other characteristics.

Among 6860 50-77 year old men of Japanese ancestry examined in Honolulu 291 were known to have had a gastrectomy for benign gastric (189) or duodenal (102) ulcer, and 132 had documented peptic ulcer disease treated medically. Total serum cholesterol averaged 12 mg% lower in the surgical group than in the general population (p less than 0.01) while the medically treated men had intermediate values. Fasting lipoprotein determinations done in a sub-sample showed that the lower total cholesterol in the surgical group was due to depressed LDL, while HDL was higher in the operated men than in either the general population or the medically treated patients (p less than 0.01). The surgical patients were heavier users of cigarettes, beer and coffee and averaged about 10 lb. lighter than either the medically treated patients or the rest of the population. However, in multivariate analysis these differences did not not account for the differences in lipoproteins. A small decrement in blood pressure in the surgical patients as compared to the rest of the population became non-significant when weight and others factors were taken into account.

Aged↗
PubMed1985

Epidemiology of vomiting in early pregnancy.

Factors associated with early pregnancy vomiting were investigated in 9098 first-trimester registrants in the Collaborative Perinatal Project. Vomiting in the absence of hyperemesis or gastroenteritis was noted in 56% of all women, and was more common among primigravidas (P = .002), younger women (P less than .001), women with less than 12 years of education (P less than .001), nonsmokers (P less than .001), and women weighing 77.1 kg (170 lb) or more (P = .003). Adjustment for confounders did not change these associations. Women reporting vomiting were less likely to experience miscarriage or stillbirth (P = .002) and delivery before 37 weeks' gestation (P = .004), but there was no difference in infant birth weight between mothers with and without vomiting (P = .48). Women who vomit in one pregnancy are more likely to vomit in subsequent pregnancies than are comparable women who did not vomit.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1984

Coitus during pregnancy: is it safe?

The relation between third-trimester coitus and adverse perinatal outcome was studied in 39 217 pregnancies from the Collaborative Perinatal Project. Coital frequencies reported at 28-29 weeks, 32-33 weeks, and 36-37 weeks were each positively related to subsequent length of gestation (p less than 0.001), both before and after adjusting for multiple covariates. Perinatal mortality was compared among women reporting different frequencies of coitus per month. The adjusted odds ratios (compared with women having no coitus) for women having coitus 0.1-2.0, 2.1-4.0, and greater than 4.0 times per month were 0.74, 0.89, and 0.87 for coitus at 28-29 weeks; 0.82, 0.82, and 0.99 for coitus at 32-33 weeks; and 1.15, 1.11, and 1.45 for coitus at 36-37 weeks. None of these odds ratios was statistically significant. Thus, in this data set there was no association between coitus in pregnancy and adverse outcome of pregnancy.

Actuarial Analysis↗