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Biomedical subjects

K S Joseph

Publications and source records attributed to K S Joseph.

7 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1991

Controlling Rh haemolytic disease of the newborn in India.

The question whether India should institute a national programme of Rh screening and postpartum Rh immune globulin prophylaxis needs to be addressed, especially because of the recent emphasis on primary maternal and child health care. Given the absence of relevant community based data, decision analysis techniques were used to address these issues. The results reveal that the estimated cost per case of Rh HDN prevented through postpartum immune globulin prophylaxis is lower than the cost per case of Rh HDN treated through a curative strategy. However, the financial and infrastructural requirements of the preventive programme mean that such prevention may not be feasible at present. With the achievement of the Indian Government's stated objectives of population control, however, disease incidence should fall by 30% from 5.90/1000 births in 1981 to 4.13/1000 births by the year 2000, even in the absence of a prophylaxis programme.

Decision Support Techniques↗
PubMed1989

The Matthew effect in health development.

A study was conducted examining the paradox that populations with a poor standard of health seem to achieve only meagre improvements over time, whereas those with a good standard of health seem to show continual, substantial improvement. The health states of 122 nations were measured by reference to their infant mortality in 1965 and the changes that occurred over the next 20 years. Countries with low infant mortality in 1965 (for example, Japan and East Germany) achieved substantial, further declines over the 20 years, whereas in countries such as Rwanda and Ethiopia infant mortality hardly declined at all or even increased (Ethiopia 165/1000 to 168/1000). In 48 countries for which data were available there was a close link between the change in health state of a people and the ratio of government expenditure on health and defence. As the ratio increased in favour of defence, so the improvement in health state of a people declined; the reverse was also true. At the primary care level disparity in uptake of care both among and within communities was associated with literacy and socioeconomic state, services inadvertently being aimed at those sections most likely to benefit. The forces that act to produce this setting of unequal care must be checked at both national and primary levels if we are to have "Health for All by the Year 2000."

Developing Countries↗
PubMed1988

Detecting bacteriuria in a primary maternal and child health care programme.

Urinary tract infection in pregnancy has not been adequately dealt with in developing countries, though its consequences are well recognised. This is primarily because of constraints on resources coupled with a lack of technological infrastructure. An evaluation of the Griess test for the mass screening of urinary tract infection among antenatal women was carried out prospectively using a case-control method. The Griess test was found to be a valid, reliable, and economical screening test for urinary tract infection which can be integrated into a primary maternal and child health care programme.

Bacteriological Techniques↗