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Biomedical subjects

I Swenson

Publications and source records attributed to I Swenson.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1996

Variations in Vietnamese marriages, births and infant deaths by months of the Julian calendar and years of the Vietnamese and Chinese astrological calendars.

The timing of births and marriages in Vietnam appears to have some statistically significant relationships with the signs of the Chinese and Vietnamese astrological calendars. Years considered to be good years have significantly more births and marriages than years that are not considered as desirable. Births and marriages also have some significant variations with seasons of the year. Infant deaths do not appear to have any significant relationships with the astrological signs although infant mortality has some significant relationships with seasons of the year. The findings indicate that there is some purposeful planning for marriages and births to coincide with optimal times defined in the astrological calendars.

Astrology↗
PubMed1993

Nursing administrators' responses to physically, mentally, and substance-impaired nurses.

Impaired nurses--whether the impairment is physical, mental, or substance use--can be a potential hazard in a healthcare setting, both to themselves and to patients. It is therefore imperative that nursing administrators identify such nurses in order to take the proper actions. But just how do administrators react toward nurses with impairments? The authors of this article present the results of a survey in an attempt to answer this question.

Decision Making, Organizational↗
PubMed1993

Determinants of birth intervals in Vietnam: a hazard model analysis.

There was absence of any regional differences in parity progressions and length of birth intervals, although urban-rural differences persisted at most birth orders, suggesting that, as in other studies, the urban-rural differentials are the primary source of variations in fertility between different areas of a country. The significantly higher probability of a subsequent birth after birth order 2 in areas with high infant mortality compared to those with low infant mortality suggests that women in the high-risk provinces may be more likely to advance beyond parity 2 and continue on into the advanced parities. The provinces identified as having high infant mortality had also been identified in other studies as the provinces with the highest crude birth rates and population growth rates, the least available family planning services, and highest crude death rates. Mothers' education was consistently related to the likelihood of another birth at each birth order, with the most-educated women experiencing a significantly lower probability of having a subsequent birth at every birth order. This concurs with results in other studies, suggesting that the woman's education is a prime determinant of fertility and that increasing the educational attainment of women is one of the most beneficial measures to reduce fertility. The significant relationship between the previous birth interval of the index child and the probability that the index child would be followed by a subsequent birth conforms with other studies of birth interval dynamics that suggest that pregnancy-spacing for a given woman remains constant throughout her reproductive career.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adolescent↗
PubMed1993

Selected determinants of fertility in Vietnam: age at marriage, marriage to first birth interval and age at first birth.

Data from the 4172 women aged 15-49 interviewed in the 1988 Vietnamese Demographic and Health Survey were used to examine age at marriage, marriage to first birth intervals and age at first birth. Differences between urban and rural areas, northern and southern provinces and by education of the women were analysed. The majority of the women had their first birth before age 20, but women with secondary education had a significantly higher age at first birth than those with little or no education, and women from the north had a significantly higher age at first birth than women from the south. Rural women and those with little or no education married at significantly younger ages than urban women and those with secondary education; these education effects were confirmed in a rural subsample of women. Women from rural areas and from the north had significantly shorter marriage to first birth intervals than urban women and those from the south, but there were no significant effects related to education.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1992

Hospital smoking policies: who enforces them?

As opprobrium is increasingly given to the act of smoking, many institutions--hospitals especially--are seeking to curtail the amount of smoking that occurs within their buildings through various policies. This, however, raises two necessary questions: What does policy enforcement mean? And who shall enforce the rules? The article below discusses the results of a survey of North Carolina hospitals that asked these questions and more.

Hospital Administration↗
PubMed1991

Nurses counseling patients about smoking cessation--why, when, and how.

In patient health education, nurses are a natural choice for on-the-spot counsellors and teachers. Yet many nurses feel uncomfortable about broaching subjects such as smoking cessation with their patients or the patients' families. The authors argue that it is time for nursing programs and hospitals to prepare and encourage nurses to take the initiative in smoking-cessation counseling.

Attitude of Health Personnel↗
PubMed1991

Responses of schools of nursing to physically, mentally, and substance-impaired students.

Responses of schools of nursing to physically, mentally, and substance-impaired applicants and matriculating students were assessed in a 12% simple random sample (n = 132) of the 383 baccalaureate and 715 associate degree nursing schools and programs accredited by the National League for Nursing. A self-administered questionnaire concerning experiences, policies, procedures, and factors influencing decision-making was sent to the 132 deans and directors of the nursing schools and programs. Criteria for defining impairments, resources for developing criteria, methods of identifying impairments, actions taken, and individuals involved in the decision were also assessed. While the schools used external resources to guide decision-making, the majority of the responsibility was with the school of nursing faculty and administration. Schools offered a range of options for impaired individuals continuing in the program while under treatment; nevertheless, seeking treatment was a frequent requirement for continuation in the program.

Persons with Disabilities↗
PubMed1991

Community health nurses' knowledge of, attitudes toward, and involvement with adolescent contraceptive services.

A national sample of community health nurses were surveyed to assess their knowledge of, attitudes toward, and involvement with reproductive health services. Results indicated that slightly more than half of the nurses provided or administered contraceptive services to adolescents, although 73% worked in settings where contraceptive services were provided to adolescents. However, only 3.6% indicated that adolescents were their primary client population. The majority (64.3%) stated that they felt as prepared to work with adolescents as they did with adult clients. While 98% were aware that most adolescents are sexually active before seeking family planning services, a minority correctly answered questions about pregnancy and contraception among adolescents. Ninety-five percent agreed that contraceptives should be available to adolescents, and 90% agreed that parental consent should not be required for adolescents seeking contraceptive services. Yet only 21.5% were aware of the implications of the Adolescent Family Life Act.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1990

Public health nurses and family planning.

Unintended pregnancy is a health problem that is particularly important in the practice of public health nurses (PHNs). Data from 844 PHNs showed that they were likely to practice in settings that incorporate family planning services and were knowledgeable about specific family planning methods. They favored family planning services and an expanded supportive government role in both family planning and abortion. Since PHNs are an important resource for the community activism required to build the consensus needed to expand these services, a multiple-regression analysis was performed to determine predictors of activism. Political participation was the major predictor for activism on both family planning and abortion.

Community Participation↗
PubMed1990

Community health nurses and family planning services for men.

Current concerns about sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) and acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS), as well as unintended pregnancy, have drawn increasing attention to reproductive health services for men. This report presents information about responses by 844 community health nurses (CHNs) to a self-administered mailed questionnaire that included questions about the extent of the nurses' involvement in delivering or administering family planning services to men, their knowledge and attitudes about men and family planning, and their preparation for working with men. Our sample included CHNs in practice in five states and a sample of CHNs belonging to a national organization of public health nursing, in order to gain information about CHNs in practice in the field and CHNs more likely to be in an educational or administrative position and thus able to influence or to set policy. Two thirds of the nurses surveyed work with men in their reproductive years but only 17.8% delivered or administered family planning services to men (23% of the state sample and 12.5% of the organization sample). Deficits in knowledge about male birth control methods were identified; for example, only 32% knew the use-effectiveness rate of the condom. However, 90% of the CHNs knew the condom has to be put on before any genital contact is made. The CHNs' attitudes were positive; more than 90% said they felt men had equal responsibility with their partners in preventing unwanted pregnancies, using contraception, and contraceptive decision making. Yet, only 9.6% of the CHNs felt men have as much knowledge about contraception as women do. Seventy percent of the nurses felt tha sex education in schools was directed more to female students than to male students. More than 90% said they believed that family planning providers have a responsibility to provide services to men; but two thirds felt that nurses are not as well prepared to work with male as with female clients. Increased educational preparation may improve CHNs' knowledge about men and family planning and enable them to feel professionally prepared to deliver and administer the services they feel are necessary for male as well as female clients. There are 101,430 CHNs in the United States, working in public health departments or other service agencies in almost every community across the country. These CHNs are a major resource for the family planning field.

Community Health Nursing↗
PubMed1989

Fatal multisystem disease with immune enteropathy heralded by juvenile rheumatoid arthritis.

The prognosis of juvenile rheumatoid arthritis (JRA) is generally good, although premature death occurs in a subset of children. Secondary infections, chronic amyloidosis, and heart disease have been reported as common causes. Our experience indicates that JRA can also herald the development of a severe immune enteropathy. In the case presented, typical JRA was followed by fulminant hepatitis; skin rashes; recurrent, severe, watery diarrhea; malabsorption; and ultimately death. Biopsies of the small bowel exposed to the patient's serum revealed deposition of complement and immunoglobulins in the epithelium. Although not widely appreciated, JRA can herald a multisystem syndrome characterized by severe immune enteropathy.

Arthritis, Juvenile↗
PubMed1989

A content analysis of educational media about menstruation.

Researchers and practitioners frequently have criticized educational media's coverage of menstruation as being too oriented toward the "hygienic crisis" while de-emphasizing the emotional and other developmental aspects of puberty. In the present study, 31 audiovisual media currently available for sale/rental were reviewed for content related to the physical and psychological aspects of menstruation, the portrayal of adolescent girls, parents, and peers, and the relationship of menstruation to the developmental process. Seven films were produced by sanitary product manufacturers; 24 by other commercial filmmakers. The majority of the media depicted female anatomy by animated images and related the menstrual process to pubertal development. The relationship between menstruation and reproduction was mentioned in three cases. In general, variations in physical and emotional responses were described as normal. In all cases, fear and embarrassment were acknowledged. Openness in discussions among peers and with female adults was emphasized.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1989

Fertility, menstrual characteristics, and contraceptive practices among white, black, and Southeast Asian refugee adolescents.

This study compares fertility and menstrual characteristics and contraceptive practices of white, black, and Southeast Asian refugee adolescents participating in the Minneapolis Health Department's Maternal and Infant Care Program between 1980 and 1982. Mean ages were similar among all racial groups; however, half the Hmong adolescents had a live birth as compared to less than 25% of the other racial groups. More than 75% of the Hmong and other Southeast Asian adolescents were married as compared to 11% of the whites and 8% of the blacks. Menarche was significantly later (2 years) for Hmong and other Southeast Asians, and the interval between menarche and first pregnancy was significantly shorter for the Hmong. While more than half of the whites and blacks previously used contraception, 14% of the Hmong and 29% of the other Southeast Asians had used contraception. Oral contraceptives were the most frequently used method for whites, blacks, and Southeast Asians; the Hmong were equally likely to choose oral contraceptives or barrier methods. The Hmong were less likely to choose contraception postpartum than were the other groups.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1988

Imagery associated with menstruation in advertising targeted to adolescent women.

Education about menstruation is not restricted to school instruction or information provided by adults and peers; exposure to advertisements in teen media provides imagery depicting menstruation and feminine role expectations. This paper analyzes the imagery in advertisements for sanitary products and products for the relief of menstrual symptoms. A 25% random sample of Seventeen magazine issues from 1976 to 1986 stratified by year were reviewed. A total of 135 ads for sanitary products and 32 ads for products for the relief of menstrual discomfort were analyzed. Each ad was examined for recurrent themes in text, context and tone. Data collected were examined for similarities in themes across both product type and time. The ads depict menstruation as a "hygienic crisis" that is best managed by an effective "security system" affording protection and "peace of mind." The failure of adequate protection places the woman at risk for soiling, staining, embarrassment and odor. Menstruating women are depicted as dynamic, energetic and always functioning at their optimal level. Such imagery may encourage guilt and diminished self-esteem in the adolescent who experiences discomfort. A lack of maternal, teacher or male figures in the ads is evident; the importance of peer support is reinforced.

Adolescent↗