Pre-pregnancy Clinic (PPC) services is one the plausible efforts towards achieving the Millennium Development Goals. However, various issues still need to be addressed for improvement of the services. Considering this view, an attempt was made to explore the barriers, strength and weakness of current practice of pre-pregnancy clinic services in Sarawak, since the programme has been implemented in this state from the year 2011. This cross-sectional study was conducted at nine selected health care facilities throughout Sarawak. A multistage sampling procedure was adapted to select the health care facilities. An unstructured open-ended questionnaire was administered to get the in-depth perceived views and current practice of pre-pregnancy clinic services. A total of 322 health care providers from nine selected health care facilities gave their feedback. In the present paper, a qualitative analysis was done for the open-ended questions to get in-depth views of barriers, strength and weakness of pre-pregnancy clinic services. The results of the study were narrated in textual form and a thematic analysis was done manually. The identified themes for perceived barriers to the provision of pre-pregnancy care were perception, attitude and acceptance of PPC services, socio-economic issues, services and client factors. The perceived weaknesses of the services are listed under two main themes: working environment and service factors, while, the strength of services produced three thematic areas which are preparation for pregnancy, prevention of mortality and morbidity and comprehensive services. Though pre-pregnancy services are beneficial for society wellbeing, various issues still need to be considered for the improvement of the quality of services. Lack of awareness, no ministerial guidelines or Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) and knowledge pertaining to the services were few of the main areas which need to be pondered upon. Promotional activities and campaigns should be geared up ensuring availability the services to the general population.
Barriers ; Perception ; Pre-pregnancy Care ; Sarawak

OBJECTIVE: New-onset postpartum preeclampsia is a poorly defined condition that accounts for a significant percentage of eclampsia cases. It is unclear whether new-onset postpartum preeclampsia is a different disorder from or belongs to the same spectrum of classic antepartum preeclampsia. The objective of this study was to compare the clinical presentation and pregnancy outcomes of antepartum preeclampsia and new-onset postpartum preeclampsia. METHODS: A retrospective study including 92 patients with antepartum preeclampsia and 92 patients with new-onset postpartum preeclampsia was performed. Clinical presentation and pregnancy outcomes were compared. Chi-square test was used to analyze categorical variables, and independent t-test and Mann-Whitney U-test for numerical variables. P-values of <0.05 were used to indicate statistical signifi cance. RESULTS: Patients with antepartum preeclampsia and new-onset postpartum preeclampsia differ significantly in profile, symptoms at presentation, laboratory markers and pregnancy outcomes. CONCLUSION: New-onset postpartum preeclampsia has a distinct patient profile and clinical presentation than antepartum preeclampsia, suggesting they may represent different disorders. Characterization of a patient profile with increased risk of developing this condition will help clinicians to identify patients at risk and provide early and targeted interventions to decrease the morbidity associated with this condition.
Biomarkers ; Eclampsia ; Female ; Humans ; Hypertension, Pregnancy-Induced ; Postnatal Care ; Postpartum Period* ; Pre-Eclampsia* ; Pregnancy ; Pregnancy Outcome* ; Pregnancy* ; Retrospective Studies

We investigated the capacity of low dose aspirin in reducing the incidence of pregnancy induced hypertension and affecting the pregnancy outcomes in women at high risk for this disorder. And we also studied the efficacy of Doppler ultrasound as an effective means of selecting a patient population of good candidate to administer low dose aspirin. Seventy women with chronic hypertension or a history of severe preeclampsia in their previous pregnancy were randomly assigned to treated group receiving low dose aspirin(60 mg/d, n=32) or control group(n=38). Daily administration of low dose aspirin could not prevent the development of pregnancy induced hypertension in the treated group(21.9% vs. 28.3%, p > 0.05). And there was no differences between the treated and control groups in the rates of emergency cesarean section for fetal distress(6.3% vs. 10.3%, p > 0.05), neonatal intensive care unit admission(9.4% vs. 15.8%, p > 0.05), fetal growth retardation(15.6% vs. 13.2%, p > 0.05), and perinatal death(3.1% vs. 7.9%, p > 0.05). In the group showing abnormal Doppler flow velocity waveform, aspirin seemed to improve the mean gestational age(35.7+/-2.8 vs. 34.4+/-3.1 weeks), birth weight(2271.9+/-730.8 vs. 1887.0+/-619.0 gm) and the pregnancy outcomes(31.3% vs. 60.6%), however, these results were not statistically significant(p > 0.05). This study suggests that low dose aspirin therapy is not effective in reducing the incidence of pregnancy induced hypertension. However, combination of Doppler ultrasound study with low doe aspirin therapy may improve pregnancy outcomes in women with high risk pregnancy.
Aspirin* ; Cesarean Section ; Emergencies ; Female ; Fetal Development ; Humans ; Hypertension ; Hypertension, Pregnancy-Induced ; Incidence ; Infant, Newborn ; Intensive Care, Neonatal ; Parturition ; Pre-Eclampsia ; Pregnancy ; Pregnancy Outcome ; Pregnancy, High-Risk* ; Ultrasonography*

BACKGROUND: Preeclampsia is a frequent cause of maternal or fetal morbidity and mortality. There have been many trials to use microalbuminuria as a predictor for preeclampsia, but the usefulness is controversial. Authors have studied the changes in urinary microalbumin excretion during normal pregnancy to help establish a reference interval in which physiologic alteration during pregnancy is reflected. METHODS: During the period from January to April 1999 and from December 1999 to January 2000, urinary albumin and creatinine levels were measured in the 151 spot urine samples from pregnant women visiting Hanyang University Kuri Hospital for prenatal care. They were free of hypertension, proteinuria, and renal diseases at the time of sampling for the medical records. A homemade ELISA and the Cobas Integra 700 were used to measure the urinary albumin and urinary creatinine levels. The analysis of the data was performed as urinary microalbumin/creatinine ratio (ACR). RESULTS: In the 146 urine samples from normotensive pregnant women, urine ACR was 1.36+/-1.72 g/mol (mean+/-standard deviation). The urine ACR was 0.83+/-1.12 g/mol in the first trimester, 1.06+/-1.38 g/mol in the second trimester, and 1.82+/-1.06 g/mol in the third trimester. The urine ACR of the third trimester was significantly different from that of the first or second trimester (3rd vs 1st, P=0.026 and 3rd vs 2nd, P=0.011). CONCLUSIONS: During the course of normal pregnancy, urinary microalbumin excretions increased significantly in the third trimester. It is necessary that the reference interval for urinary microalbumin excretions be established based on gestational weeks.
Creatinine ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Female ; Humans ; Hypertension ; Medical Records ; Mortality ; Pre-Eclampsia ; Pregnancy Trimester, First ; Pregnancy Trimester, Second ; Pregnancy Trimester, Third ; Pregnancy* ; Pregnant Women ; Prenatal Care ; Proteinuria

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study was to evaluate maternal and neonatal outcomes in Korean women with type 1 diabetes and type 2 diabetes. METHODS: We performed a retrospective survey of 163 pregnancies in women with type 1 diabetes (n=13) and type 2 diabetes (n=150) treated from 2003 to 2010 at Cheil General Hospital & Women's Healthcare Center, Korea. We compared maternal characteristics as well as maternal and neonatal outcomes between groups. RESULTS: Differences in glycosylated hemoglobin between type 1 and type 2 diabetes were not significant. Birth weight (3,501+/-689.6 g vs. 3,366+/-531.4 g) and rate of major congenital malformations (7.7% vs. 5.6%) were not significantly different. However, women with type 1 diabetes had higher rates of preeclampsia (38.5% vs. 8.2%, P=0.006), large for gestational age (LGA; 46.2% vs. 20.4%, P=0.004), macrosomia (38.5% vs. 13.4%, P=0.032), and admission for neonatal care (41.7% vs. 14.8%, P=0.03) than women with type 2 diabetes. CONCLUSION: Maternal and neonatal outcomes for women with type 1 diabetes were poorer than for women with type 2 diabetes, especially preeclampsia, LGA, macrosomia and admission to the neonatal intensive care unit.
Birth Weight ; Delivery of Health Care ; Female ; Gestational Age ; Hemoglobin A, Glycosylated ; Hospitals, General ; Humans ; Infant, Newborn ; Intensive Care, Neonatal ; Korea ; Pre-Eclampsia ; Pregnancy ; Pregnancy Outcome ; Retrospective Studies

Objective: To explore the key points for preventing and reducing severe pre-eclampsia (SPE) and its severe complications in the tertiary medical referral system of a second-tier city by analyzing the clinical characteristics of SPE. Methods: The clinical data of 341 patients with SPE who terminated pregnancy in Women and Children's Hospital, School of Medicine, Xiamen University, from January 1, 2020 to December 31, 2022 were retrospectively analyzed, and the pre-eclampsia (PE) risk factors, clinical characteristics and severe complications of SPE between the patients referred from primary hospitals (referral group) and the patients received regular prenatal care in the tertiary referral center (central group) were compared, as well as the influence of the referral timing on the maternal and perinatal outcomes. Results: Among the 341 cases of SPE, 92 cases were in the referral group and 249 cases were in the central group. (1) Analysis of PE risk factors: there was no statistical difference in the proportion of risk factors of PE between these two groups [75.0% (69/92) vs 71.9% (179/249); χ²=0.328, P=0.567]. (2) Analysis of clinical features: the gestational ages at the PE early warning factors onset, at the PE first symptom onset and at SPE diagnosed, pregnancy terminated and onset of SPE severe complications in the referral group were significantly earlier than those in the central group (all P<0.05), the proportions of terminating pregnancy before 32 weeks of gestation, between 32 and 34 weeks of gestation, intensive care unit (ICU), neonatal ICU hospitalization and fetal growth restriction in single pregnancies were higher than those in the central group, while the live birth rate was lower than that in the central group (all P<0.05). (3) Analysis of SPE severe complications: the rates of SPE severe complications in the referral group was higher than that in the central group [28.3% (26/92) vs 13.7% (34/249); χ²=9.885, P=0.002]. Among them, the rates of placental abruption [7.6% (7/92) vs 2.8% (7/249); χ²=3.927, P=0.048] and still birth [6.5% (6/92) vs 0.4% (1/249); χ²=9.656, P=0.002] in the referral group were significantly higher than those in the central group. (4) Analysis of referral timings: the timings included referral after onset of SPE severe complications (9.8%, 9/92), referral after SPE diagnosed (63.0%, 58/92), referral after detection of SPE early warning signs (20.7%, 19/92) and referral after detection of PE risk factors (6.5%, 6/92). The gestational ages at SPE diagnosed and pregnancy terminated in group of referral after onset of SPE severe complications and group of referral after SPE diagnosed were significantly earlier than those in group of referral after detection of PE early warning signs and group of referral after detection of PE risk factors (P<0.05). The earlier the referral, the higher the live birth rates (P<0.05). Conclusions: The tertiary referral center of the second-tier city plays an important role in reducing the maternal and perinatal damage of PE. The timing of referral in primary medical institutions is the key point of reducing the occurrence of SPE severe complications and maternal, perinatal damage of PE. It is necessary for medical institutions of all levels in all regions to improve the ability of early identification and early intervention for PE, to enhance the awareness of SPE and its severe complications prevention and control. Primary medical institutions should especially pay attention to raise the consciousness of PE risk factors and early warning signs, and to improve the ability of PE risk factors and early warning signs screening.
Infant, Newborn ; Child ; Pregnancy ; Female ; Humans ; Pre-Eclampsia/epidemiology* ; Retrospective Studies ; Tertiary Care Centers ; Placenta ; Prenatal Care ; Gestational Age ; Pregnancy Outcome/epidemiology*

PURPOSE: Ultrasonography is being widely used as a standard test in obstetric care, studies on congenital hydronephrosis. Focusing on specific prenatal history and frequently associated anomalies in newborn infants with hydronephrosis, this investigation was intended to suggest particulars that need to be considered in making an accurate diagnosis of fetal hydronephrosis. METHODS: From May 2000 to May 2005, retrospective study was conducted on 67 patients (93 kidney) who had been diagnosed by renal ultrasonography during neonatal periods. Hydronephrosis was defined as having a pelvic diameter more than 5 mm, and was classified into three groups according to their severity;mild (grade I, II), moderate (grade III) and severe (grade IV). RESULTS: This study included 67 cases with 54 male and 13 female infants. There were 35 cases with a specific prenatal history in 22 infants such as oligohydramnios, intrauterine growth retardation, preeclampsia and others. 33 cases in 23 infants had associated anomalies such as urogenital anomalies, cardiac anomalies. Of these 67 infants (97 kidneys), 49.5% was mild, 30.1% moderate, 20.4% severe hydronephrosis. Infants with moderate hydronephrosis had more specific prenatal history and associated anomaly than the mild hydronephrosis did (68.2% vs 31.8%, P<0.001 73.7% vs 26.3%, P<0.001). CONCLUSION: Particular attention should be paid for cases with congenital hydronephrosis with a specific prenatal history to find out any associated congenital anomalies (such as urogenital or cardiac anomalies). This will enable clinicians to establish a more appropriate treatment and postnatal care.
Diagnosis ; Female ; Fetal Growth Retardation ; Humans ; Hydronephrosis* ; Infant ; Infant, Newborn* ; Male ; Oligohydramnios ; Postnatal Care ; Pre-Eclampsia ; Pregnancy ; Retrospective Studies ; Ultrasonography

While in recent there has been a worldwide decrease in the incidence of convulsion Iron toxemic pregnancy due to improved in the quality and quantity of prenatal care, there has been a relative increase in the proportion of postpartum cases of eclampsia. Postpartum eclampsia accounts for 25% of total eclampsia and occurs most frequently during the first postpartum day. We experienced a case of postpartum eclampsia of immediate onset after cesarean section in a 29 year eld primigravida patient with mild preeclampsia antenataly. She had two convulsive seigure, the first attacH occured juat before the end of anesthesia and the second attacik about 30 minutes after the cesarian section. At that time the patient was treated with thiopental and diazepam intravenously Under the impression of postpartum eclampsia she was given MgSO4, for one day and experienced no other seizures after then. She awakened fully and exhibited no neurological sequeale from the eclampsia. She was discharged from the hospital on the sixth postoperative day with no other complications or sequoia.
Anesthesia ; Cesarean Section* ; Diazepam ; Eclampsia* ; Female ; Humans ; Incidence ; Iron ; Postpartum Period* ; Pre-Eclampsia ; Pregnancy ; Prenatal Care ; Seizures ; Sequoia ; Thiopental

While in recent there has been a worldwide decrease in the incidence of convulsion Iron toxemic pregnancy due to improved in the quality and quantity of prenatal care, there has been a relative increase in the proportion of postpartum cases of eclampsia. Postpartum eclampsia accounts for 25% of total eclampsia and occurs most frequently during the first postpartum day. We experienced a case of postpartum eclampsia of immediate onset after cesarean section in a 29 year eld primigravida patient with mild preeclampsia antenataly. She had two convulsive seigure, the first attacH occured juat before the end of anesthesia and the second attacik about 30 minutes after the cesarian section. At that time the patient was treated with thiopental and diazepam intravenously Under the impression of postpartum eclampsia she was given MgSO4, for one day and experienced no other seizures after then. She awakened fully and exhibited no neurological sequeale from the eclampsia. She was discharged from the hospital on the sixth postoperative day with no other complications or sequoia.
Anesthesia ; Cesarean Section* ; Diazepam ; Eclampsia* ; Female ; Humans ; Incidence ; Iron ; Postpartum Period* ; Pre-Eclampsia ; Pregnancy ; Prenatal Care ; Seizures ; Sequoia ; Thiopental

Regionalization of high-risk perinatal care has been advocated because intensive care for small and ill newborn infants lowers mortality and morbidity. This report is based on analysis of admissions to the Neonatal Intensive Care unit (NICU) at the Wonju christian Hospital during the 4-year period from January, 1988 to December, 1991. There were 786 inborn infants and 1155 outborn infants admitted to the NICU. The results of our study follow; 1) Mean gestational ages were 36.8 weeks in inborn infants and 39.0 weeks in outborn infants. Mean birth weight was 2.5kg in inborn and 3.0kg in outborn infants. 2) The high-risk maternal factors, such as cesarian section delivery, eclampsia, preeclampsia, multiple pregnancy and placental anomaly were significantly more frequent in inborn infants than in outborn infants. 3) Perinatal sphyxia, HMD and transient tachypnea of newborn (TTN) were more common in inborn than in outborn infants, but pneumonia, meconium aspiration syndrome, and seizure were more common in outborn infants. 4) The positivity of bacterial cultures in blood and urine was higher in outborn infants than in inborn infants. The most frequently isolated microorganism was staphylococcus species in both inborn and outborn infants. 5) Hospital days, duration of TPN, duration of mechanical ventilation, frequency of seizure, and frequency of transfusion were longer or more frequent in inborn than in outborn infants. 6) Mortality rate was higher in inborn infants than in outborn infants. 7) In outborn infants, mortality rate was higher in infants whose transporting time was longer than 2 hours than for infants within 2 hour distances. However, this difference was not statistically significant. 8) These findings suggest that many lower birth weight and severly ill infants were not transported to the NICU of Wonju Christian Hospital perhaps due to poor transport systems, distance or socio-economic status. In conclusion, the improvement of transporting systems and socio-economic conditions will be required within this region.
Birth Weight ; Eclampsia ; Female ; Gangwon-do ; Gestational Age ; Humans ; Infant* ; Infant, Newborn ; Critical Care ; Intensive Care, Neonatal ; Meconium Aspiration Syndrome ; Mortality ; Perinatal Care ; Pneumonia ; Pre-Eclampsia ; Pregnancy ; Pregnancy, Multiple ; Respiration, Artificial ; Seizures ; Staphylococcus ; Transient Tachypnea of the Newborn