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Biomedical subjects

I Wolffers

Publications and source records attributed to I Wolffers.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed1994

[Prevention of neonatal tetanus in developing countries hampered by local organization and limited knowledge of health personnel and traditional midwives; North Sulawesi (Indonesia)].

OBJECTIVE: Evaluation of the policy to prevent neonatal tetanus in North-Sulawesi (Indonesia). DESIGN: Descriptive and questionnaire study. SETTING: Twelve villages in the district of Minahassa, Sulawesi, Indonesia. METHOD: The policy aimed at preventing neonatal tetanus was studied during the period April-June 1992. The relevant knowledge was tested of the community health workers (CHWs, n = 142) and traditional birth attendants (TBAs, n = 37) active in the 12 villages. To this purpose, 54 and 27 workers, respectively, were interviewed using a standard questionnaire. RESULTS: Not all women were vaccinated sufficiently to prevent their unborn children from tetanus; mostly, adequate vaccination records were lacking. 33% of the TBAs were unaware that neonatal tetanus can be prevented by hygienic delivery; in this respect there was no difference between trained and untrained TBAs. Of the CHWs, 39% were familiar with the correct vaccination policy and 26% did not know that pregnant women have to be vaccinated. 70% of the CHWs and TBAs wrongly believed that neonatal tetanus no longer occurred in their village. CONCLUSION: CHWs and TBAs showed little interest in neonatal tetanus, so that they were lacking in motivation regarding hygienic delivery procedures and preventive tetanus toxoid vaccination. Implementation of a good preventive programme in developing countries mostly requires organizatory rather than biomedical improvement.

Adult↗
PubMed1994

[Use of alternative treatments by HIV-positive and AIDS patients in The Netherlands].

OBJECTIVE: To analyse the use of alternative treatments by HIV-positive and AIDS patients. DESIGN: Questionnaire. SETTING: Members of the HIV association, the Dutch association of haemophilia patients, and people under treatment of a certain alternative healer. METHOD: 708 questionnaires were sent out. RESULTS: Of 206 respondents with HIV/AIDS 30.6% used alternative treatments. Of these 24% had already used alternative methods before the diagnosis, 27% started with alternative therapy after the HIV-positive diagnosis, and 13% did so when the number of CD4+ T-cells began to decrease. The treatments were mostly mega-vitamin treatment (51%), psychological techniques (46%) and homeopathy (40%). Half the patients using alternative therapies did so on instigation and with support of their family physician. Many patients (37%) felt better using alternative therapy and 34% were satisfied with it because it gave them the feeling they were actively increasing their own resistance capacity.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗
PubMed1989

Traditional practitioners' behavioural adaptations to changing patients' demands in Sri Lanka.

Patients' expectations cause traditional practitioners to adapt their method of working. They can adopt therapeutic techniques from cosmopolitan medicine. Another possibility is to raise the image of the traditional healer by stressing the differences with cosmopolitan medicine. A third possibility is to concentrate on those patients' demands not well catered for by modern doctors. The data presented are based on extensive interviews with 78 indigenous Sri Lanka practitioners, 14 of which are briefly described. About 50% of the practitioners in our survey are working in cosmopolitan style. They attract more patients than those who do not and they can ask higher fees. Yet, those who still work traditionally play an important role in Sri Lanka health care. The different adaptations of indigenous practitioners to modernization reflect the changing demands of patients.

Age Factors↗
PubMed1988

Illness behaviour in Sri Lanka: results of a survey in two Sinhalese communities.

Although cosmopolitan medicine plays an increasingly important role in developing countries, people still use indigenous medicines. A 1983 survey in two Sinhalese communities in Sri Lanka investigated the patients' use of cosmopolitan or traditional treatments for various illnesses. It appears that for acute complaints, or when a child seems seriously ill, people use cosmopolitan medicine. For common ailments which are known to be self-limiting, people use traditional home remedies and consult Ayurvedic practitioners. In chronic complaints some patients use cosmopolitan medicine, while others prefer the Ayurvedic system or use both kinds of medicine. For a 'snakebite' or a 'fracture' people prefer the local specialists and for mental illnesses they consult the adura and Buddhist clergy; as a last resort they turn to the cosmopolitan facility. Ayurvedic medicine does not play a role of any importance in the treatment of mental disease. The aduras in the rural areas and the Buddhist monks and priests in the more urban areas have a clear function in the management of mental disease. Institutionally trained Ayurvedic practitioners have a less clear function, since they often dispense cosmopolitan medicines.

Common Cold↗
PubMed1987

Drug information and sale practices in some pharmacies of Colombo, Sri Lanka.

Three researchers posed as clients in 28 pharmacies in the capital of Sri Lanka. Tetracyclin, a prescription-only drug, could be obtained in all pharmacies without a doctor's prescription. No information was provided with its sale. Personnel in the pharmacies had no pharmaceutical qualification and knew little about the products they sold. They obtained most of their drug-related information from commercial/sales representatives.

Developing Countries↗
PubMed1986

[Moroccan drugs].

Explore the source record for details and available documents.

Drug Therapy↗