This is a descriptive study of carers of dependent elderly in inner city Dublin, outlining their awareness, use of and satisfaction with day services. A striking finding from this work, consistent with other studies, is the heavy burden of care which is shouldered by informal carers which should be acknowledged by society. The study highlights a) that levels of use of domiciliary care by carers appear to be very low, b) that there is some evidence of targeting of domiciliary services to the more dependent elderly, c) that day centres and clubs are popular and acceptable to a minority of carers, d) that many carers have no informal help, e) where informal help is available, relatives of carers play a very important role in facilitating carers to accept formal domiciliary care. Recommendations include, a) improving the level and range of provision of domiciliary care, b) alerting professionals such as general practitioners and public health nurses to their role as informant and facilitator of formal care to carers, c) formulating a plan to encourage uptake of domiciliary services by carers, d) review of care provided in day centres.

Aged↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Influences on breast feeding initiation and duration.

The study objectives were to establish the prevalence of breast feeding at birth, at four and twelve weeks after birth and describe the factors associated with its initiation and duration. The study population consisted of all babies born in May 1993 (n = 162) to mothers resident in Kildare. The response rate was 145/162 (89 percent). Mothers were visited within fourteen days of the birth. Breast feeding mothers were re-visited when the baby was four to six weeks old and at twelve to fourteen weeks. Interviews were conducted using an interviewer administered questionnaire. Fifty-five mothers (38%) chose to breast feed at birth. Twelve (8%) had stopped by the first, ten (7%) by the second and fourteen (10%) by the third visit. Higher social class and maternal grandmother having breast fed were significantly associated with initiation (p < 0.05 and p < 0.0005 respectively). Smokers and non-working mothers were significantly less likely to breast feed and smokers had a significantly shorter duration of breast feeding but these associations disappeared on social class adjustment.

Adolescent↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Isolated adrenal cortex cells in suspension: stimulation and inhibition of steroidogenesis by analogues of ACTH.

Explore the source record for details and available documents.

Adrenal Cortex↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Hepatitis A outbreak in an institution.

In February 1996, four serologically confirmed cases of hepatitis A virus (HAV) occurred in one household. Investigation showed that the source was a family member with sub-clinical HAV who attended a Unit for Learning Disabilities. Reports of two further cases in the institution followed and control measures were instigated. Contacts were unwilling to accept human normal immunoglobulin (HNIG). Following salivary antibody and serological testing, hepatitis A vaccine was offered to the non-immune. An investigation found that sub-clinical infection was significantly associated with being less than 5 years old (RR = 6.07, p < 0.005) and being in one particular classroom (RR = 6.21, p < 0.0005). None of the staff in the institution became infected. In all, 31 cases of hepatitis A (18 clinical and 13 subclinical cases) occurred. This paper (a) describes an outbreak of hepatitis A (b) refers to the use of a salivary antibody test (assay performance to be published elsewhere) (c) identifies factors associated with the acquisition of HAV and (d) endeavours to assess the effectiveness of the vaccine to contain the outbreak.

Academies and Institutes↗