Search PubMed⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

M J Sparrow

Publications and source records attributed to M J Sparrow.

12 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1992

Prevalence of genital human papillomavirus infection in Wellington women.

OBJECTIVES: To determine prevalence of human papillomavirus (HPV) in Wellington women, to identify risk factors for HPV infection, to correlate presence of HPV with cervical cytology, and to identify characteristics of women infected with HPV but with normal cytology. DESIGN: Demographic, social, personal and clinical data were collected by a confidential self-administered coded questionnaire. The presence of DNA from HPV types 6/11, 16 + 18 and 31 + 33 in cervical scrapes was determined by dot-blot DNA hybridisation. All data were correlated with cervical cytology results. SETTING AND SUBJECTS: Two thousand and twenty one women attending family planning clinics in the Wellington region participated in the study. The mean age of participants was 26 years, 33.3% currently smoked, 72.3% used hormonal contraceptives, 31.4% were married, and 91.4% were of European origin. RESULTS: We found 10.9% of the study group infected with HPV. HPV types 16 and/or 18 predominated, being detected in 71.5% of HPV-positive women either alone or with other types. Of those infected 26.2% had multiple infections. Dysplasia (n = 87) or atypia (n = 84) were observed in 26.7% of infected women (n = 221) and 6.25% of uninfected women (n = 1792). Over 8% of women with normal smears were HPV positive, and types 16/18 were most common in these women. CONCLUSIONS: Women with cervical dysplasia or atypia were six times more likely to have HPV infection than other women. The main risk factor for HPV infection, particularly with types 16 and/or 18, was multiple (> 5) sexual partners in the last year independent of other variables. Multivariate analysis of data showed no independent association between HPV infection and ethnicity, educational background, smoking history, marital status, contraceptive use, age at first sexual intercourse, or number of lifetime sexual partners.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1991

Trends in the contraceptive practices of women seeking abortions in the 1980s.

The demographic features and contraceptive practices of 1000 women attending Parkview clinic of Wellington Hospital for termination of pregnancy were studied over an eight month period in 1988-9. Comparisons were made with a previous study at the same clinic in 1980-1. The overall abortion rate has increased from 6.8/1000 women in the Wellington statistical area in 1981 to 9.8 in 1989. The proportion of Pacific Island and Asian women presenting for abortions is high and has increased disproportionately between 1981 and 1989. The abortion rate has also increased in lower socioeconomic groups in 1989. The proportion of women using contraception at the time of conception increased from 50% in 1981 to 68.5% in 1989. The methods used by women presenting for abortion have changed significantly. There has been an increase in the proportion of women using condoms (from 13.3% to 36.2%) and the oral contraceptive pill from (14% to 21.4%).

Abortion Applicants↗
PubMed1990

Premenstrual syndromes defined by symptom-sets.

An analysis is made of the pattern of presenting premenstrual symptoms in randomly selected general practice patients from the Wellington region, New Zealand. Participants, 1826 healthy women 16-54 years old whose characteristics were reasonably representative of the adult female population, were asked about their general, obstetrical and gynaecological health. For the 1456 women who had menstruated within the last month or so, detailed questions were asked about the last menstrual cycle. Each woman was assigned to one of seven premenstrual symptom sets. Three groups had 'pure' symptoms, ie a predominant single symptom (breast tenderness, bloating or irritability). Three groups had 'mixed' symptom-sets. The largest of the 'mixed' groups was formed by the women who reported breast tenderness, bloating and irritability together with tension and depression. Women in this group were most likely to rate their symptomatology as severe. The last group contains a large number of women with miscellaneous symptoms. Characteristics of these groups are outlined. The study highlights the importance of distinguishing among premenstrual syndromes as this can foster more effective clinical management.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1989

Pregnancies in reliable pill takers.

This study is an extension of a previous study on oral contraceptive pill method failure in reliable pill takers. It documents 137 cases which presented during the 3 year period from December 1985 to December 1988. The most important new finding is that smoking is a significant risk factor in failure on the combined pill (67% were smokers, n = 118), but not on the progestagen-only pill, although the numbers in the latter group were small (n = 19). Diarrhoea and/or vomiting (46%) and drug interactions (33%) are confirmed as important predisposing factors. Systemic illness and/or severe psychological stress may also affect pill utilisation and such factors were found in 47%. Menstrual disturbances were found in 32% of women on the combined pill and 68% of these were smokers. Multiple factors were present in most cases (79%). Repeat failures occurred in 25%.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1989

Postcoital contraception: a family planning study.

The New Zealand Family Planning Association undertook a prospective study of Yuzpe's postcoital method of contraception (0.1 mg ethinyloestradiol and 1 mg d1-norgestrel taken within 72 hours of unprotected intercourse and repeated 12 hours later). The study also used pills containing levonorgestrel. Both pill formulations were equally effective. All participants were drawn from six family planning branches throughout the country. The study covered a period of one year. There were 909 participants with 8% lost to follow up. Strict criteria excluded women on medication or hormone therapy. The ages ranged from 11 to 43 years with 92% aged 19 years and under. Results revealed an overall failure rate of 2.3% and a significantly higher failure rate (4.49%) if the method was taken after 48 hours of unprotected intercourse and a significantly lower failure rate (1.22%) if taken before 12 hours of unprotected intercourse. Vomiting occurred in 17% but it did not affect the failure rate.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1989

Treatment of premenstrual symptoms in Wellington women.

A survey of 1826 women in the Wellington region was carried out. Participants were asked about their general and gynaecological health, as well as detailed questions about their last menstrual cycle. The majority (1456) had had a menstrual period within the last month or so. Eighty five percent of these women noted premenstrual symptoms of some kind, and were asked about a variety of self-help measures, and medical help, for these, and whether the advice and/or treatment was in fact helpful. Nine hundred and ninety women had tried self-help while four hundred and sixteen had sought medical help. The most commonly tried self-help measures were exercise, rest and vitamin B6. Half the women had tried each of these. Overall, there was a marked placebo response, but exercise, rest and keeping a written diary of symptoms were all helpful in over eighty percent of those who tried them. Doctors offered a wide range of treatments, including vitamin B6, diuretics, oral contraceptives and mefanamic acid, but the effect of these was difficult to evaluate further. When the sample was subdivided into clusters of women who shared similar symptoms, significant differences in the effectiveness of different self help measures emerged. Four different premenstrual syndromes are suggested: PMS-breast, PMS-bloat, PMS-irritable and intolerant, and PMS-various.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1987

The prevalence of premenstrual symptoms in Wellington women.

A survey of 1826 women in the Wellington region was carried out. Participants were asked about their general and gynaecological health and their menstrual, contraceptive and obstetric history. Detailed questions were asked about the menstruating women's last menstrual cycle. Subjects were premenopausal women attending a random sample of general practice surgeries for any reason. The achieved sample is not intended as a cross-section of the Wellington community, but is nevertheless reasonably representative of the general adult female population aged 20 to 45. Most women volunteered one or more premenstrual symptoms; and about half of the women said these symptoms were such that they affected their lives.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1987

Pill method failures.

This is a study over a four year period from November 1981 to December 1985 documenting 163 cases of pill method failures in reliable pill takers. In over one third of these cases (36%) there were no predisposing factors. Significant factors which were associated with failure were diarrhoea and/or vomiting in 35%, and breakthrough bleeding on the combined pill in 21%. While there is controversy in the literature about the role of antibiotics in causing pill failure, this study found 23% of failures associated with antibiotic use. Two failures occurred on anticonvulsant medication. Recommendations are made for improved instructions to patients.

Abortion, Induced↗
PubMed1978

Sex information and attitudes in young people.

A questionnaire survey was conducted in the Wellington area among 696 senior secondary school pupils. The first part of the questionnaire studied aspects of sexual knowledge and the sources of information. The general level of knowledge was good at an elementary level but less than adequate when more detailed knowledge was considered. The role of peers, parents and schools was complementary. In the second part of the questionnaire a standard attitude test was administered. A majority of young people in this survey supported a standard of permissiveness with affection and did not support a double standard giving greater rights to males. Boys were more permissive than girls.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1978

"Precordial catch": a benign syndrome of chest pain in young persons.

A common syndrome of brief, sharp, severe precordial pain in 45 healthy young persons is described. The pain occurs at variable intervals, out of the blue. It typically occurs during rest or very mild activity and never on exertion. The onset is usually in adolescence. Most patients were of light or medium build, were nonsmokers and essentially healthy. It affects males and females. Recognition of the syndrome of precordial catch and reassurance of its benign nature will allay anxiety.

Adolescent↗