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Biomedical subjects

M G Wagner

Publications and source records attributed to M G Wagner.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1992

Infertility in industrialized countries: prevalence and prevention.

We discuss the prevalence and aetiology of infertility and the relevance of this information for national infertility services and prevention programmes. The prevalence of infertility in industrialized countries has been said to be as high as 10-20%. This estimate, and the argument that little can be done to prevent infertility, have been used as justification for increased government investment in, or expansion of, services for medically assisted conception. However, population prevalence surveys indicate that far fewer couples of reproductive age are actually infertile. For example, a recent survey in the United States reported that 8.5% of married couples with a wife age 15-44 were infertile. 4% of the sample were childless and reported having a condition which impaired fecundity, while less than 2% were childless, had impaired fecundity and were over 35 years of age. Other studies show that nearly a third of couples have difficulty conceiving at some point during their reproductive lives but few actually remain childless. A significant proportion of infertility could be prevented through more aggressive application of standard public health measures.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1992

Perinatal care in the Soviet Union: a time of transition.

Recent Soviet reforms in health care policy and financing are expected to have a significant impact on perinatal services. Efforts are under way to upgrade the care of pregnant and birthing women. This paper describes some aspects of the current system of perinatal care and prospects for future change.

Child↗
PubMed1991

Turkey-baster babies: a view from Europe.

Classification of artificial insemination as a medical procedure has largely endured because the practice met the perceived needs of clients, physicians, and society. For nearly two decades, however, the success of self-insemination has challenged both the necessity of involving physicians in the process and the traditional understanding of the procedure as therapy for infertile couples. Demedicalization of artificial insemination as a matter of policy would entail changes in law, custom, and attitudes. The advent of safe and effective self-insemination makes critical a public debate on the issues of reproductive freedom, the meaning of parenthood, and the interests of children.

Europe↗
PubMed1989

Are in-vitro fertilisation and embryo transfer of benefit to all?

The efficacy, safety, costs, and benefits of in-vitro fertilisation and embryo transfer (IVF/ET) have been reviewed. IVF/ET benefits only a small proportion of infertile women, it is expensive, and has serious health risks. Therefore policies for the management of infertility in which most financial and manpower resources are applied to prevention of infertility must be developed. Health authorities should also require accreditation of IVF/ET programmes, certification of providers, and ongoing monitoring of clinics. Full and accurate information on IVF/ET must also be disseminated, so that individuals seeking treatment for infertility can make the best informed choice about their care and health authorities can decide the place of IVF/ET in their infertility services.

Costs and Cost Analysis↗
PubMed1989

An epidemiologic investigation of alcohol-dependent schizophrenics.

Most clinicians agree that alcoholism is frequent in schizophrenic patients. However, little is known about the clinical or familial characteristics of this group. We compared alcoholic schizophrenics and nonalcoholic schizophrenics with respect to sociodemographic and clinical characteristics and the rate of various psychiatric illnesses among their first-degree relatives. The only difference in the sociodemographic characteristics was a higher proportion of males among the alcoholic schizophrenics. Clinically, the alcoholic schizophrenics were more likely to report experiencing hallucinations, depressive episodes, manic episodes (females only) and multiple substance abuse (males only). In addition, the male alcoholic schizophrenics were younger at first hospitalization than the male nonalcoholic schizophrenics. This effect was reversed for females. The relatives of alcoholic schizophrenics were 2.6 times more likely to be alcoholic than the relatives of the nonalcoholic schizophrenics. The morbidity for other psychiatric disorders was similar in the two groups.

Adult↗
PubMed1986

Whither goest nutrition?

Three aspects of nutrition are identified. They are food, its production and availability, eating, human metabolism. Nutrition is multifactorial. Medical men are not taught about nutrition. They are concerned with illness, not health. Science, caught up in a Cartesian dichotomy, is hampered by a reductionist approach. The World Health Organisation recommends that nutrition should be approached from the standpoint of health promotion. The implications of such an approach are expounded.

Education, Medical↗