Search PubMed⌕ Search

SEARCH · Search PubMed

Results for “Service Statistics”

Search indexed PubMed citations on genomics, clinical trials, systematic reviews and public health. Explore titles, authors and supplied subject terms, then open the PubMed record.

Quote a phrase for an exact phrase match. Source license links do not imply unrestricted reuse.

At least 145 records · Page 8Linked to original sources

The rate of ectopic pregnancy for 24,589 quinacrine sterilization (QS) users compared to users of other methods and no method in 4 provinces in Vietnam, 1994-1996.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the rates of ectopic pregnancy with the use of quinacrine sterilization (QS) compared to other methods and no method (non-users). METHODS: Four provinces were selected for their above average numbers of women who had undergone QS: Nam Dinh, Nam Ha, Hai Duong and Hung Yen. Case histories related to surgical treatment of all ectopic pregnancies in these 4 provinces from 1994 through 1996 were collected from all hospitals by researchers from the Ministry of Health in June 1997. Using a questionnaire designed for this study, 120 physicians interviewed every woman in her home who had had an ectopic pregnancy during this period. If deceased, a family member was consulted. All interviews were completed in September 1998. The numbers of users of each method and nonusers were calculated from service statistics and demographic data. RESULTS: Based on 2,551,355 woman-years of exposure, the rate of ectopic pregnancy among users per 1000 woman-years was calculated to be: 0.26 with QS; 0.42 with surgical sterilization (TL) and IUD; 0.45 with the Pill; 0.50 with condoms; 0.78 relying on withdrawal; and 1.18 among non-users. CONCLUSION: Ectopic pregnancy rates for QS, TL, IUD and the Pill were similar and much lower than the rate for non-users of contraception.

Adolescent↗

Randomized trial of suture versus electrosurgical bipolar vessel sealing in vaginal hysterectomy.

OBJECTIVE: To compare blood loss and procedure time of vaginal hysterectomy using an electrosurgical bipolar vessel sealer versus using sutures. METHODS: Sixty patients scheduled for vaginal hysterectomy in a single surgical practice were randomized to either electrosurgical bipolar vessel sealer or sutures as the hemostasis technique. Procedure time was defined as time from initial mucosal injection to closure of the vaginal cuff with satisfactory hemostasis. Blood loss was estimated by the anesthesia service. Statistical methodology included the Student t and Wilcoxon rank-sum tests, and all comparisons were two tailed, with P <.05 considered significant. RESULTS: Use of an electrosurgical bipolar vessel sealer resulted in shorter procedure times: The mean procedure time in the electrosurgical bipolar vessel sealer arm was 39.1 minutes (range 22-93) versus 53.6 minutes (range 37-160) for the suture arm (P =.003). Mean estimated blood loss was also statistically less with electrosurgical bipolar vessel sealer: 68.9 mL (range 20-200) versus 126.7 mL (range 25-600) for the suture arm (P =.005). Complication rate and length of stay did not differ by hemostasis technique. Seventy-eight percent of all cases were outpatient. CONCLUSION: Electrosurgical bipolar vessel sealer is an effective alternative to sutures in vaginal hysterectomy, resulting in significantly reduced operative time and blood loss.

Adult↗

Design and implementation of the United States National Animal Health Monitoring System 1994-95 Cattle on Feed Evaluation, and an evaluation of the impact of response biases.

The 1994-95 Cattle on Feed Evaluation was a cooperative project (sponsored by the United States Department of Agriculture) involving Washington State University, state agricultural departments, and several agencies of the United States Department of Agriculture). The project focused on cattle-on-feed operations in 13 states that accounted for over 85% of the United States cattle on feed inventory. Participants were selected from National Agricultural Statistics Service list frames. Questionnaires were administered by telephone to operations with a one-time capacity of fewer than 1000 cattle; larger operations were visited twice to administer questionnaires. The participation rate for the first phase of the study was 56.7%. Ninety-one percent of eligible operations completed the second phase of the study. Data summarized from this national study can be used to profile management practices on cattle-feeding operations in the United States. Differences between participants and non-participants did not appear to be great. However, one does need to be mindful of the fact that a small percentage of the producers accounted for the vast majority of feedlot cattle marketed when interpreting the results.

Animal Feed↗

The availability of state-level data on interstate cattle movements in the United States.

Knowledge about the patterns of animal movement--particularly feeder-cattle movement--within the USA is necessary in order to anticipate how diseases might be spread geographically. This study was conducted to explore the availability of interstate-level movement data which might be used to develop a more coherent national picture of interstate feeder-cattle movement. State Statistical Offices of the National Agricultural Statistics Service, 1996 (NASS) and Departments of Agriculture in all 50 states were contacted to determine the type of information collected regarding the import and export of feeder cattle. Eighteen of the 50 states contacted recorded updated import and export information by using certificates of veterinary inspection and (occasionally) entry permits for verification. The 18 states were: Alabama, Colorado, Florida, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Texas, West Virginia, Wisconsin, and Wyoming. Profiles of import and export data from Kansas, Texas, Colorado and Iowa (the primary receivers of 51% of total 1995 imports) were developed. These four states received at least 50% of their cattle imports from < 9 different states. As a result, approximately half of the nation's import movement can be explained by a total of 13 states and Mexico (excluding duplicates). Also, > 50% of the exports from Kansas, Texas, Colorado, and Iowa go to < or = 3 states. This import and export information confirms conclusions of others that cattle tend to move toward the center of the USA. However, if more states kept comprehensive, up-to-date records of movement information, knowledge about cattle-movement patterns in the USA would be importantly increased. The lack of specific notations on certificates of veterinary inspection can lead only to perceived trends; the present records have limited value in tracking animal movement.

Animal Welfare↗

Maternal mortality in Greece (1980-1996).

OBJECTIVE: To use data from the National Statistical Service of Greece to examine trends in maternal mortality and risk factors for maternal deaths. STUDY DESIGN: Maternal mortality in Greece has been studied from years 1980 to 1996 in total, by cause of death, by residency (urban/rural) and by maternal age. The maternal mortality ratio (MMR) has been defined as the number of deaths per 100,000 live births. RESULTS: From years 1980 to 1996, there have been 136 maternal deaths (MMR: 7). The number of deaths has significantly decreased during this period and six major causes of death have been identified, resulting in 80% of maternal deaths. A simulation of maternal mortality between urban and rural areas has been achieved during the last decade. Also, maternal mortality rises dramatically with age. CONCLUSIONS: Although overall rates of maternal mortality in Greece have been significantly decreased over the last years, an improved recording of maternal deaths is necessary for identifying preventable factors and developing effective interventions.

Adult↗

Reassessment of the incubation time in a controlled clinical comparison of the BacT/Alert aerobic FAN bottle and standard anaerobic bottle used aerobically for the detection of bloodstream infections.

This study assessed the minimum incubation time required to detect bloodstream infections during a controlled clinical comparison of the performance characteristics of the BacT/Alert aerobic FAN bottle and the standard anaerobic bottle used aerobically except on a selective basis. Blood was collected from adults with suspected bloodstream infections and inoculated into each bottle, which was monitored in the BacT/Alert Microbial Detection System. The anaerobic bottle was vented before incubation except when cultures were obtained from patients on the colorectal and gynecologic surgical and emergency services. Statistical analysis was limited to those culture sets in which each bottle was inoculated with > or = 8 mL of blood and bacterial growth was considered to be clinically significant. A total of 682 positive cultures from 243 patients satisfied the inclusion criteria. Significantly more isolates of Staphylococcus aureus (p < 0.001), S. epidermidis (p < 0.001), other coagulase-negative staphylococci (p < 0.001), Enterococcus spp. (p = 0.04), Escherichia coli (p = 0.03), all Enterobacteriaceae (p < 0.001), Pseudomonas aeruginosa (p = 0.001), and Candida spp. (p < 0.001) were detected by the aerobic FAN bottle. Significantly more septic episodes due to S. aureus, S. epidermidis, other coagulase-negative staphylococci, Enterobacteriaceae, P. aeruginosa, and Candida spp. were detected by the aerobic FAN bottle. Significantly more bacterial isolates were detected by the aerobic FAN whether or not antibiotics were being administered at the time of blood culture, whereas there were significantly fewer positive cultures in the vented standard anaerobic bottle when patients were receiving antimicrobial therapy than when they were not. All but 5% of positive cultures were detected within three days. Only six of the cultures requiring four or five days of incubation represented true misses, and only one of these six resulted in a change in therapy which, however, did not affect the patent's outcome.

Adult↗

Incidence of facial fractures resulting in hospitalisation in New Zealand from 1979 to 1988.

The incidence and aetiology of facial fractures resulting in admission to public hospitals in New Zealand in 1987 were investigated retrospectively from data collected by the Health Statistical Services. Data were analysed by the age group, ethnic origin and gender of those affected. During 1987 the overall incidence of facial fractures was 47.9/100,000 of the population. The highest incidence was for Maori males at 152/100,000. A comparison with data for the period 1979 to 1988 showed a decrease for the population as a whole but an increase for those who declared themselves to be Maori. Assault was the most common cause of facial fractures resulting in hospitalisation for both males and females. Sport was the second most common cause of facial fractures with rugby football contributing two-thirds of these. These results indicate where future preventive measures should be targeted.

Adolescent↗

Prevalence and impact of upper and lower gastrointestinal symptoms in the Greek urban general population.

OBJECTIVES: To study the prevalence of gastrointestinal symptoms in the Greek urban general population, their associations with patient characteristics, and their effect on patients' daily activities. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The study included 700 adults from the Athens-Piraeus area selected by a 2-stage scheme based on the official maps of the Hellenic Statistic Service. Structured questionnaires were completed through personal interviews. Dyspepsia, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) were diagnosed according to widely accepted definitions. RESULTS: Of the 700 individuals, 53% reported > or = 1 gastrointestinal symptom during the past week and 55% during the past 6 months (dyspepsia: 48%, GERD: 38%, IBS: 21%). Only one disorder was diagnosed in 25% (dyspepsia: 18%, GERD: 7%), and > or = 2 disorders in 75% of symptomatic individuals. Dyspepsia or GERD was predominant in 7% and 16% and IBS in 28% and 19% of the patients with relevant symptoms during the past week and the past 6 months, respectively (p = 0.017). Substantial symptoms during the past 6 months were reported by 60% of the symptomatic individuals. Affected daily activities were reported by 22% of symptomatic and 5% of asymptomatic individuals (p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Gastrointestinal symptoms are highly prevalent in the Greek urban general population and are substantial in the majority of symptomatic individuals. Dyspepsia and GERD are reported much more frequently than IBS symptoms, but there is a significant overlap between symptomatic diagnoses, while the predominant diagnosis may change over time. Gastrointestinal symptoms have a significant impact on patients' daily activities.

Activities of Daily Living↗

Hospitalization rates for cholelithiasis and acute cholecystitis doubled for the aged population in Greece over the past 30 years.

OBJECTIVE: Gallbladder disease is becoming increasingly prevalent in Western countries and is a common cause of hospitalization. The objective of this study was to determine time trends in cholelithiasis and acute cholecystitis for hospitalization and disease case fatality in Greece between 1970 and 1998. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Data were obtained from the Annual Bulletin for the Social Welfare and Health Statistics of the National Statistics Service of Greece. Percentage changes in time trends were estimated by comparing the median values of the initial (1970-78) to the last (1989-98) 10-year study period for cholelithiasis and acute cholecystitis at discharge and for all deaths attributed to the disease. RESULTS: Over the study period, age-standardized hospitalization rates for cholelithiasis increased. The median hospitalization rate between the initial and last (178 and 258 per 100,000 of the population, respectively) 10-year study period increased by 44.7%, but peaked to 70.1% and 208.3% for the 70-79 and >80 years age groups, respectively. Case fatality rate declined by 56.8% and the median value was 0.24 per 100 patients hospitalized during the last 10-year period. CONCLUSIONS: Hospitalization rates for cholelithiasis and/or acute cholecystitis increased by 45%, and doubled for elderly patients, while the case fatality rate of the disease halved in Greece over the past 30 years.

Adult↗

Increased risk of agricultural injury among African-American farm workers from Alabama and Mississippi.

Research on the epidemiology of agriculture-related injuries has largely ignored African-Americans and farm workers. This cohort study is the first to estimate injury rates and to evaluate prospectively risk factors for agriculture-related injuries and compare them among African-American and Caucasian farmers and African-American farm workers. A total of 1,246 subjects (685 Caucasian owners, 321 African-American owners, and 240 African-American workers) from Alabama and Mississippi were selected from Agricultural Statistics Services databases and other sources and were enrolled between January 1994 and June 1996. Baseline data included detailed demographic, farm and farming, and behavioral information. From January 1994 to April 1998, subjects were contacted biannually to ascertain the occurrence of an agriculture-related injury. Injury rates were 2.9 times (95% confidence interval (CI): 2.0, 4.3) higher for African-American farm workers compared with Caucasian and African-American owners. Part-time farming (relative risk (RR) = 2.0, 95% CI: 1.3, 2.5), prior agricultural injury (RR = 1.5, 95% CI: 1.0, 2.1), and farm machinery in fair/poor condition (RR = 1.8, 95% CI: 1.2, 2.7) were also independently associated with injury rates. The results demonstrate the increased frequency of agricultural injury among farm workers and identify a number of possible ways of reducing them.

Accidents, Occupational↗

Estimating maternal mortality in Djibouti: an application of the sisterhood method.

In many developing countries even crude estimates of the level of maternal mortality are lacking and the prospects of fulfilling this need using conventional sources of vital registration and health service statistics are not encouraging. The constraint this imposes on the effective planning, management and evaluation of the programmes now being launched to reduce these neglected deaths is self-evident. It is less obvious how the majority of developing countries can be expected to meet the call for reliable estimates of maternal mortality by 1995. The sisterhood method provides a means of obtaining population-based estimates using household surveys for data collection. This paper describes the application of the method in Djibouti in the context of a rapid multi-purpose household survey in difficult field circumstances. In recent years the reduction of the level of maternal mortality in developing countries has become a priority for both national governments and international agencies. Attention has been drawn to the wide range of levels within and between countries and to the huge discrepancies in the lifetime risk of maternal death for women in the developed compared with the developing world. This risk has been estimated to range from 1 in 19 in West Africa to almost 1 in 10,000 in Northern Europe.

Adolescent↗

Using HIV surveillance data: recent experiences and avenues for the future.

HIV surveillance systems provide information that is crucial to our understanding of epidemic dynamics among different populations in different settings. Surveillance data are also used for advocacy, to inform policies and programming, and for monitoring. Multiple data sources may be used and will expand in the future as service statistics from prevention and treatment programmes become available. Important and new priorities in HIV surveillance data use at the national and local levels can build on past experience with surveillance reports, national estimates, advocacy materials, and communications to the media. A new framework, integrated analysis of data from expanded surveillance systems and other sources, is proposed to inform improved programming. The approach allows making effective programme choices, based on the analysis of biological and behavioral data and the coverage of interventions in an integrated fashion. The comparison of surveillance data with financial data provides added insights in the adequacy of the response. These findings and experiences set a new agenda for technical and structural directions to improve data use in countries.

Communication↗

Measuring trends in prevalence and incidence of HIV infection in countries with generalised epidemics.

OBJECTIVE: Review of recent data and practice to derive guidance on questions relating to the measurement and analysis of trends in HIV prevalence and incidence. RESULTS: HIV prevalence among pregnant women attending antenatal clinics (ANCs) remains the principal data source to inform trends in the epidemic. Other data sources are: less available, representative of a small section of the population (sex workers, occupational groups), subject to additional bias (for example, voluntary counselling and testing service statistics), or are not yet available for multiple years (national surveys). Validity of HIV prevalence results may change over time due to improvements in HIV tests per se and implementation of laboratory quality assurance systems. The newer laboratory tests for recent infections require further validation and development of methodology to derive estimates of HIV incidence. CONCLUSIONS: Issues to consider during statistical analyses of trends among ANC attendees are: inclusion of consistent sites only, use of confidence intervals, stratification by site when performing a statistical test for trend, the need for at least three observations in a surveillance system with data collection every one to two years, and sound judgement. Trends in HIV prevalence among pregnant 15-24 year olds attending ANCs can be used to approximate trends in incidence. Indepth small area research studies are useful to inform the interpretation of surveillance data and provide directly measured trends in prevalence and incidence. Modelling can assess changes over time in prevalence, incidence, and mortality at the same time. Modelling tools need to be further developed to allow incorporation of estimates of HIV incidence and mortality, as these data are likely to become available in the future. To increase their explanatory power, models should also be extended to incorporate programmatic inputs.

Attitude to Health↗

Epidemiology of spinal cord injury in New Zealand.

Spinal cord injury (SCI) is a catastrophic and costly result of both intentional and unintentional injury. We present data from the Health Statistics Services files of New Zealand for the year 1988 on the epidemiology of SCI resulting in morbidity. New Zealand has one of the highest rates of SCI in the western world and since 1979 this has been increasing. It occurs most often to young, caucasian men and is typically the result of motor transport crashes. The ethnicity adjusted rates show high rates for Maori males. Children in New Zealand have greater than 4 times the risk of an SCI than American children. The rehabilitation and hospital costs for SCI are among the highest for all injuries. There were a higher number of high cervical injuries than reported in previous series and 92% of SCI were incomplete indicating the high rehabilitation potential of the sample. Some measures are suggested to reduce the incidence of SCI.

Accidents, Traffic↗

Normal values of transfer factor and transfer coefficients in healthy males and females.

A population study was performed to obtain local normal values of the transfer factor for a respiratory laboratory providing a routine hospital service. Statistical analysis of the results obtained showed similar results to those of previous investigators for the transfer factor and alveolar volume. The transfer factor was found to be dependent on height, age and sex, while the alveolar volume depended only upon height and sex. Unlike previous investigations, however, the present study showed that the transfer coefficient was the same for women as for men and was related solely to age.

Adolescent↗

A survey of a Canadian on-line substance abuse prevention initiative for adolescents and young adults.

Electronic Zoot is a Canadian youth-oriented, computer bulletin board system based in Edmonton. The system is designed to teach its users about the risks associated with substance use and abuse. More than 600 of Electronic Zoot's users were surveyed to obtain demographic data and information about attitudes. The majority of the users of the system were male. Most users were between 11 and 25 years of age and a disproportionately high number were from rural communities. It was found that peer support was a primary component of this telehealth service. Statistically significant age differences revealed that the system's younger users were more likely than its older users to be influenced by the drug education message of the bulletin board system. In addition, it was noted that on-line surveys are easy to conduct and greatly facilitate the collection of longitudinal telehealth data.

Adolescent↗

[Epidemiological and clinical outlook of chronic Chagas' heart disease in Mexico].

OBJECTIVE: To compare the epidemiological and clinical characteristics of chronic Chagas' heart disease to other dilated cardiomyopathies. METHODS: A study comprising 128 patients from a heart disease center was carried out from 1993 to 2003. Of them, 51 (40%) were Trypasonoma cruzi positive. Epidemiological data was obtained through interviews and clinical and serological data from health services. Statistic analysis was conducted using the Chi-square, Fischer, Mann-Whitney or Students' t-test as well as multivariate analysis. RESULTS: Chronic Chagas' disease patients were older (55+/-10 years old) than those patients with cardiopathy (42+/-17 years old). Most of them were born in rural areas (90% vs 68%), lived in poor (75% vs 16%), crowded households (45% vs 20%), together with domestic animals (71% vs 61%) and were aware of the Chagas' vector (73% vs 25%). Rhythm and conduction ECG abnormalities as well as permanent pacemaker were common among Chagas' patients (84% vs 55%, 78% vs 64% and 24% vs 10%, respectively). Congestive heart failure was more frequent among cardiomiopathy patients (88% vs 71%). Both groups had abnormal myocardial perfusion with normal epicardial arteries. Comorbidities were more frequent in cardiomiopathy patients than in chronic Chagas' disease patient (two cases only). CONCLUSIONS: Chagas' disease is the most common cause of dilated cardiomiopathy in the study hospital. Due to its regional distribution in Mexico, it deserves special attention and control programs proven to be effective in other countries.

Aged↗

Lethal risk to birds from insecticide use in the United States--a spatial and temporal analysis.

We used pesticide use data and previously published models to estimate the lethal risk to birds from insecticides used in U.S. agriculture. Data from the U.S. Department of Agriculture's National Agricultural Statistical Service (NASS, Washington, D.C.) were used to assess how the lethal risk to birds has changed over the period 1991 to 2003 and to compare risk among crop types according to the most recently available surveys. Because the NASS data coverage is incomplete, both with respect to crop and state, we also used a database assembled by the National Center for Food and Agriculture Policy (NCFAP, Washington, D.C.) for the 1997 reference year, to which we added state-specific average application rates for crop/insecticide combinations. For each state/crop/insecticide combination (>6000 entries), we assessed the proportion of crop area on which avian mortality was deemed probable, as well as the extended number of hectares this represented. The crops responsible for most potential bird mortality in the United States were corn and cotton, followed more distantly by alfalfa, wheat, potato, peanut, sugar beet, sorghum, tobacco, and citrus. Other crops represented a higher risk to birds on a per hectare basis. The southeast United States generally had the highest proportion of farmland with a lethal risk to birds. On a positive note, the lethal risk to birds has generally declined over the last decade in most crops, although there are exceptions such as small fruit crops. The reasons for this improvement vary from crop to crop, but usually entail the replacement of older more hazardous products with newer ones with lower acute toxicity to birds.

Animals↗