Marijuana use and quality of sperm for fertility competency: a preliminary investigation

OBJECTIVES: The literature was contradictory about the effects of marijuana use on sperm parameters. Laboratory findings, of excellent sperm quality for some Jamaican males who are chronic marijuana users, support these contradictory findings. This paper describes and compares levels of marijuana smoking with sperm quality and pregnancy history among Jamaican men concerned with their fertility potential. DESIGN AND METHODS: Ninety-four male clients referred to a fertility clinic over an 8-month period completed a standard form which included demographics, employment data, general health, lifestyle practices, fatherhood and medical history, and an additional questionnaire which detailed their marijuana use. RESULTS: Significantly more chronic marijuana users had poor sperm quality, particularly preparation sperm count and motility, compared to those who had never smoked marijuana. This effect was found without differentiating current from chronic use. There were no differences in the distribution of marijuana use between men with extremely low or excellent sperm quality. A surprising finding was that males under 30 years old, who were less likely to be chronic users, had similar critically low sperm count as males over 50. CONCLUSIONS: Chronic marijuana use seems to negatively affect sperm quality (especially preparation sperm parameters). However, the effects need to be more thoroughly investigated with the use of a larger sample size, more robust testing using DNA, and by examining socio-cultural practices associated with marijuana smoking.

Preparing for family planning in Jamaica in the 21st century

A quantitative goal of Jamaica's National Population is the achievement of replacement level fertility by the year 2000. The total fertility was 2.8 in 1997. Despite an increasing contraceptive prevalence, the total fertility rate has remained stable around 3, since 1989. Contraceptive use and fertility vary depending on area of residence, health region and age cohort. The contraceptive methods used based on reproduction intention are inappropriate. Contraceptive discontinuation is high. The failure of fertility to decline as predicted is due to a lack of factual information on side effects of contraception, health concerns and the ambivalence to the 2-child family as a norm by women in the reproductive age group. Additionally, the technical competence of providers and the quality of counselling need strengthening. The challenges for the 21st century include operationalising family planning into reproductive health sustainability as well as identifying needs.(AU)

Among young Jamaicans, sex and childbearing often begin during adolescence

Reveals that among young Jamaicans, sex and childbearing often begin during adolescence. Comparison between the average age at the first intercourse of sexually experienced young women and that of men; Decision to have sex and use contraceptives; Reason cited for not using them

Laboratory studies of diel oviposition, fecundity, survival, and gonotrophic cycles of Anopheles bellator Dyar and Knab in Trinidad, West Indies

Diel oviposition patterns of Anopheles bellator were determined for field collected females from platanal forest, Cumaca, Trinidad. The time of oviposition and number of eggs laid were monitored at two-hour intervals for a set of 30 individual females and a group of 120 females. Individual females of An. bellator displayed bimodal nocturnal patterns of oviposition. During the first gonotrophic cycle, two waves of oviposition occurred between 1600 and 2400 h (80.9 percent of eggs laid; 78 percent of occurrences) and between 0200 and 0600 h (19.1 percent of eggs laid; 22 percent of occurrences). During the second gonotrophic cycle the oviposition pattern was similar to that observed during the first gonotrophic cycle, except that oviposition ended at 0400 h rather than at 0600 h. A similar oviposition pattern was observed among the 120 caged adults as found during the second gonotrophic cycle of individual females. The length of the gonotrophic cycle ranged from 57 to 120 hours (means 72.3 hours) for the first gonotrophic cycle and from 61 to 78 hours (means 70.3 hours) for the second cycle. The fecundity of An. bellator averaged 56.6 +/- 25.0 (range 13 to 101 eggs) and 39.3 +/- 13.3 (range 23 to 59 eggs) for the first and second gonotrophic cycle, respectively. Females survived in the laboratory for a maximum of 19 days. These observations on An. bellator oviposition patterns are the first to be described and may be useful for future attempts at colonization.(AU)

Contraceptive decision-making among adolescents in secondary schools in Kingston and St. Andrew, Jamaica

The study investigated the factors which influence contraception decision-making among Grade 9 or Form 3 students attending secondary schools within Kingston and St. Andrew (Corporate Area). A cross-sectional study which involved a random sample of 220 students drawn from six schools, (one all-female, one all-male and four co-educational) was carried out during the month of March 1997. The results showed that there was a significant difference between the number of females and males who were attending school. It was observed that the students did not have good knowledge on fertility but indicated that they were well aware of the condom and the pill. Closer examination to validate this knowledge, proved to be the corollary of what they had indicated, concerning the use of the pill. Generally, students had good attitude toward fertility and contraception but seemed to be unclear about the difference between abortion and contraception. Only a small percentage of them used a contraceptive, of which more males than females used a method, hence the condom was found to be used most popularly among this sub-group. The pharmacy remained the main source of providing teenagers with contraceptives, but students' preferences were the Doctor's Office and the Family Planning Clinic. The level of counselling was average and students main reason for their choice was related to health reasons. A significant number of males than females indicated that they had sufficient information to choose a method and 58 percent of them had been exposed to FLE, and 84 percent had good to fair knowledge on fertility and contraception. A fairly large percentage of students were dissatisfied with the FLE programme in their schools. Students suggested various sources from which they obtained information and cited the media (1st) and youth group as the most acceptable place where sex education information should be made available. A large majority of the respondents (96.7 percent) did not want to have a child now. The reasons for their choices were based on their perception of pre-disposing and enabling factors. The majority of students, least considered educational and future job benefits as part of their decision-making concerning contraception. The majority of the students did not want to enter into motherhood or. fatherhood, at this stage of their lives. But the result showed that they were lacking in several of the essential requirement necessary for decision-making.(Au)

Diel oviposition and fecundity of Anopheles oswaldoi in Trinidad, West Indies

The diel oviposition periodicity of wild-caught Anopheles oswaldoi collected from the forest-ecotone habitat in Valencia, Trinidad, was studied in the laboratory by recording the performance of egg-laying individuals and a colony at 2-h intervals. Oviposition was almost exclusively nocturnal, with 95.3 percent of eggs and 91.3 percent of oviposition occurrences being observed during the scotophase. During the rest of the day, only 4.7 percent of eggs (8. 7 percent ocurrences) were recorded after dawn (0600-0800 h). Wild caught females engorged on human blood under laboratory conditions matured, on average, 61.1 +/- 32.3 follicles 9range 56-135). Ranges of 50-69, 70-89, 90-109, and > 110 follicles were matured by 12, 4, 4, and 3 gravid females, respectively. These findings provide vector operators with a window of time to maximize the impact of insecticides on An oswaldoi populations. (Au)

Family planning in St. Vincent, West Indies: a population history perspective

St. Vincent's population history, first as a slave society, then, after Emancipation, as a migration-oriented society, has strongly influenced cultural attitudes towards sexuality and fertility. In contemporary St. Vincent, sexual activity and procreative ability are highly valued and linked to social status for both men and women. This paper assesses historical and contemporary factors influencing population dynamics in St. Vincent, West Indies, and Vincentians' reactions to programs developed to curb population growth. The efforts of private and government programs to introduce family planning and change pronatalists attitudes are evaluated for their cultural appropriateness. Shifting migration patterns and modernization are also affecting gender roles, the social and economic value of children, and the acceptability of contraception to contribute to recent fertility declines (AU)

West Indian gender relations, family planning programs and fertility decline

Nearly all West Indian islands initiated marked fertility declines sometimes between 1960 and 1970. Family planning programs have not played an important role in these declines. Neither have other variables that conventional social theory tells us should promote reduced family sizes, like education and rising standards of living. The historical experience of Barbados and Antigua, which reached replacement-level fertility in the 1980s, suggest that West Indian fertility declines reflect structural changes in national economic that created job opportunities for women. Family planning programs need to be evaluated with reference to the distinctive health and human right goals other than fertility transition that they can effectively reach (AU)

Reproductive health in the Americas

The region of the Americas provides a unique assortment or even a microcosm of the prevailing reproductive patterns in the world. The specific objectives of this book, therefore, are: (a) to describe for the Americas the various reproductive patterns; (b) to evaluate the impact on health of family formation patterns and changing attitudes toward reproduction; (c) to provide the most up-to-date accounts of methods of fertility regulation; (d) to display the existing experiences in reproductive health; and (e) to identify unmet needs in service and research in these areas, and suggest strategies for filling the gaps (AU)

Hyperprolactinemia in the Barbadian male - fact or fiction? - abstract

A significant number of men evaluated because of sub-fertility or erectile dysfunction were found to have hyperprolcatinae. Why? A hormone profile is required in the work-up of all male patients presenting with sub-fertility or erectile dysfunction. Two laboratories were used. Every patient with hyperprolactinemia had a repeat test done along with: 1. Complete history and physical 2. Thyroid function studies, 3. CT scan of the head 4. Neurosurgical consultation. Forty-eight males were seen from August 1990 to February 1991 with either sub-fertility, erectile dysfunction or both. Thirteen patients (27 percent) were hyperprolactinemic, nine with sub-fertility, erectile dysfuntion or both. Thirteen patients (27 percent) were hyperprolactinemic, nine with sub-fertility, three with erectile dysfunction and one patient had both problems. Abnormal pathology was found in 4 (30.7 percent), primary tumours in 3 and one patient had Kleinfelter's Syndrome. The number of hyperprolactinemic men in this group is alarmingly high. Seventy per cent of the group had no demonstrable pituitary lesion on CT scan. These men will be reviewed at six-monthly intervals. This pattern of hyperprolactinemia seems to be higher than the world literature would suggest. Why?(AU)

Fertility and reproduction in Dominica

Fertility has decreased gradually on the island of Dominica since 1978. In 1986 the government initiated a policy to decrease fertility and population growth. Factors controlling fertility on Dominica are the focus of this dissertation. The introduction of Western methods of birth control explains declining fertility in other parts of the world. Analysis of data collected on Dominica, however, indicates that there is no significant difference between women who use and others who do not use Western forms of birth control. Birth control appears to space births rather than to limit completed family size. Analysis is based on standard demographic methods performed on a sample of 10,929 women aged 15-44, including interviews with 243 of these women. Family size is the same for those who do and those who do not use birth control (approx.4.2). A modification of Bongaart's (1983) and Wood's (1990) fertility models is utilized to determine which factors affect fertility on Dominica. Data indicate other factors affecting fertility include sexual activity, age at menarche and menopause, pregnancy rate, lactational amenorrhea, location of villages relative to health centers and urban areas, type of subsistence, economic status, religion and education. The importance of these factors for explaining Dominican fertility trends is addressed. (AU)

Refeeding the malnourished child: effect on the fecundity of trichuris trichiura and ascaris lumbricoides - abstract

Ten children with either Trichuris trichiura and/or Ascaris lumbricoides infection were admitted to the nutrition rehabilitation ward at the Tropical Metabolism Research Unit, U.W.I. Treatment with anthelminthic was delayed until the children attained their normal weight-for-height. Total daily stool output and changes in faecal egg density were monitored for each child, the latter by Kato analyses of sub-samples taken from all daily stools, from admission through to anthelminthic treatment. Worm burdens were then assessed by the collection of expulsions. The fecundity of the whipworm appeared not to be affected by dietary rehabilitation. However, roundworm fecundity decreased, in some instances to zero. In some cases, the roundworms were expelled during the course of refeeding. Refeeding was seen to have an antagonistic effect on the fecundity of A. lumbricoides. The fact that whipworm fecundity went unaltered may be an indication of modulation of the host immune response (AU)

Teenage fertility in St. Lucia

In recent years teenage pregnancy has contributed to a high birth rate and is of national concern. Some area of policy and programmes which can assist in alleviating the situation include family life education including sex education in schools, health clinics and youth and community organizations should be encouraged and assisted in the promotion of supplementary education programmes (AU)