Injuries and diseases among commercial fishermen in the Northeast Atlantic and Barents Sea. Data from the Royal Norwegian Coast Guard.

OBJECTIVES: The working conditions in the Northeast Atlantic may be hazardous, and accidents are frequent. The objective of this study was to clarify the situation as viewed by the Royal Norwegian Coast Guard (RNCG). METHODS: Consecutive reports on medical assistance given by the three major RNCG vessels from October 1995 and March 2001 were analysed. RESULTS: There were 117 reports. Men constituted 96%, and 54% were Norwegians. The median age was 38 years. Seriousness was classified as low (46 cases), moderate (43 cases), serious (22 cases) and life threatening [five cases (two died)]. Infection caused 27 visits. Fifty-five cases were due to trauma, and hand injuries constituted 19 cases. Fishermen over 40 years of age were more severely injured ( P<0.04). In 52 cases, the RNCG personnel requested further medical advice. Sixty-one patients were hospitalised and 48 transported by helicopter. CONCLUSIONS: The RNCG offers an important medical service, but there is frequently a need for consulting medical advisors. Telemedicine should be investigated in this setting.

[Pelvic floor relaxation--a condition with many names and uncertain criteria]. / Bekkenløsning--en tilstand med mange navn og uklare kriterier.

Pain in the pelvis and lower back appears to be becoming an increasing problem in Norway. The relation between pelvic pain and low back pain is unclear. In the literature a variety of designations, such as pelvic girdle relaxation, pelvic joint instability, posterior pelvic pain, peripartum pelvic pain etc. have been used as identifying labels. The condition(s?) seems to be culturally specific for the Nordic countries in particular. However, pelvic pain is also recognized in England, Holland and Australia, but seemingly unknown in France, Germany, Italy and Spain. The article describes the current knowledge--focusing criteria, etiology, prevalence and nomenclature--and points to the need for systematic epidemiological and clinical investigations.

Changes in breastfeeding practices in Norwegian maternity wards: national surveys 1973, 1982 and 1991.

Total breastfeeding rates in Norway increased from < 30% at 12 weeks in 1968 to > 80% in 1991. Concomitant changes in routines related to breastfeeding in all Norwegian maternity wards were examined in 1973, 1982 and 1991. Head midwives responding to identical survey questionnaires described "usual practices" in their wards. The considerable changes over these 18 years reflected international recommendations such as those summarized in WHO/UNICEF's 1989 Joint Statement and "Ten steps to successful breastfeeding". Undisturbed and prolonged contact between mother and baby became more common, as did more respect for the needs of the nursing couple, and more individualized care. In responses to open-ended questions, many respondents expressed a positive attitude towards these changes, while "clusters" of negative attitudes were also seen. As research on inborn infant behaviour and mother-infant interaction proceeds, the present survey suggests areas where further information may benefit both mothers and health workers.

Pelvic pain and low back pain in pregnant women--an epidemiological study.

BACKGROUND: Pelvic Pain in Pregnancy (PPP) has been diagnosed increasingly often in Norway. The relation to Low Back Pain (LBP) is unclear. METHODS: The answers to 5,400 questionnaires were collected from Norwegian women shortly after delivery, and the occurrence of PPP and LBP in relation to various characteristics was studied. RESULTS: 21% of primipara had had both PPP and LBP, whereas 51% had had neither. The figures in multipara were 31% and 33%. After stratification by parity the frequency of both types of pain decreased with increasing age. The largest occupational risk factor of PPP and/or LBP was having to twist or bend several times an hour. This may be preventable. Partial regression coefficients for parity, smoking, and weight of newborn were significantly larger with PPP than with LBP. CONCLUSION: The association of PPP and LBP to occupational exposure was similar. The statistical explanatory pattern, and thus possibly the etiology, is different in the two conditions.