Biomedical subjects

S S Morris

Publications and source records attributed to S S Morris.

39 records · Page 3Linked to original sources

PubMed1982

Feeding behaviors, food attitudes, and body fatness in infants.

One hundred and thirty-four infants were studied at 3 and 9 months of age to determine possible behavioral causes of fatness. A feeding behaviors interview and a semantic differential to measure mothers' attitudes toward food were developed. A stepwise multiple regression procedure revealed that none of the independent variables significantly predicted the dependent variable of infant triceps skinfold thickness at the age of 9 months. Even so, care should be exercised in instructing caregivers concerning specific feeding behaviors to use with infants.

Adult↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Patterns of malaria morbidity and mortality in children in northern Ghana.

A malaria prevalence survey was carried out in young children in northern Ghana between October 1990 and September 1991, in an area with continuous mortality and morbidity surveillance. There was marked seasonal variation in malaria deaths, reported fevers, parasite rates and mean parasite densities, with parasite rates reaching 85-94% in the wet season. The monthly numbers of malaria deaths were highly correlated with rainfall in the previous 2 months (r = 0.90, P < 0.001). Parasite rates were highest in the oldest children (5-7 years), but parasite densities and rates of febrile illness were highest in those 6-11 months old. Haemoglobin levels were also at their lowest in this age group. The predominant species, Plasmodium falciparum, was present in 71% of all blood films. Febrile illness was well recognized by mothers, but it was not possible to construct a simple clinical diagnostic algorithm which would identify even 50% of children with high levels of malaria parasitaemia (> or = 4000 parasites/microL). Malariometric indicators appear to have changed little in this area since a previous survey in 1955.

Age Factors↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Associations between respiratory illness and PM10 air pollution.

In this study, the association between daily morbidity and respirable particulate pollution (i.e., particles with a mass median aerodynamic diameter of < or = 10 microns [PM10]) was evaluated in the general population of Anchorage, Alaska. Using insurance claims data for state employees and their dependents who lived in Anchorage, Alaska, the authors determined the number of medical visits for asthma, bronchitis, and upper respiratory infections. The number of visits were related to the level of particulate pollution in ambient air measured at air-monitoring sites. This study was conducted during a 3-y period, which included several weeks of higher-level particulate pollution that resulted from a volcanic eruption (i.e., August 1992). The particulate pollution was measured by the Anderson head sampler (24-h accumulation). The medical visits of the population at risk were also tallied daily. To help confirm whether PM10 exposure was a risk factor in the exacerbation of asthma, we used a regression analysis to regress daily asthma visits on PM10 pollution levels, controlling for seasonal variability. A significant positive association between morbidity and PM10 pollution was observed. The strongest association was with concurrent-day PM10 levels. The relative risk of morbidity was higher with respect to PM10 pollution during warmer days.

Air Pollution↗