External Hydrocephalus as a Cause of Infant Subdural Hematoma: Epidemiological and Radiological Investigations of Infants Suspected of Being Abused.

BACKGROUND: Acute subdural hematoma (ASDH) and chronic subdural hematoma (CSDH) in infants have been regarded as highly specific for abuse. Other causes of CSDH have not been investigated in a large population. PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to investigate to what extent external hydrocephalus is present in infants with ASDH and CSDH undergoing evaluation for abuse. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Eighty-five infants suspected of being abused, with ASDH (n = 16) or CSDH (n = 69), were reviewed regarding age, risk factor profiles, craniocortical width (CCW), sinocortical width (SCW), frontal interhemispheric width (IHW), subarachnoid space width (SSW), and head circumference (HC). In infants with unilateral subdural hematoma (SDH), correlations between contralateral SSW and ipsilateral CCW and SDH width were investigated. RESULTS: Infants with CSDH had significantly lower mortality, were more often premature and male, and had significantly higher CCW, SCW, IHW, and SSW than infants with ASDH (P < 0.05). Ipsilateral CCW (R = 0.92, P < 0.001) and SDH width (R = 0.81, P < 0.01) correlated with contralateral SSW. Increased HC was more prevalent in infants with CSDH (71%) than in infants with ASDH (14%) (P < 0.01). Forty-two infants, all with CSDH, had at least one of CCW, SCW, or IHW ≥95th percentile. Twenty infants, all with CSDH, had CCW, SCW, and IHW >5 mm, in addition to increased HC. CONCLUSION: A substantial proportion of infants with CSDH who had been suspected of being abused had findings suggesting external hydrocephalus.

Rib fractures in infancy, case-series and register case-control study from Sweden.

OBJECTIVES: To assess cases with rib fractures in infants under observation for or with an abuse diagnosis, and to compare risk factors with that in infants with fractures but no abuse diagnosis. METHODS: Design was case-series and register case-control of infants (aged <1 year) with rib fractures. Data was clinical records for the case-series (n = 26) and from national health registers for the case-controls (n = 28 and n = 31). Outcome measures were maternal and perinatal characteristics, reasons for appointment, examination, diagnoses, blood tests, and radiologic findings. RESULTS: The case-series had a median age of 70 days. A majority were detected through a skeletal survey for abuse investigation. Sixteen were boys, three were preterm and six were small-for-gestational age. Three carers had noticed popping sound from the chest; no infants showed signs of pain at physical examination. Mean number of fractures was 4.2, and 24 had callus. Bone mineralisation was scarcely reported. Metabolic panel was not uniformly analysed. The register case-control had a median age of 76 days, sharing risk factors such as maternal overweight/obesity, male sex, prematurity, and being small-for-gestational age. Cases more often had subdural haemorrhage, retinal haemorrhage, or long-bone fractures, controls more often had neonatal morbidity, respiratory infection, or a fall accident. Detection of fracture at time of a major surgery (n = 6) and rickets/vitamin D deficiency (n = 5) appeared in both groups, but was delayed among the cases. CONCLUSIONS: Rib fractures in young infants, diagnosed as abuse, are usually asymptomatic and healing. A substantial proportion had metabolic risk factors, suggesting false positive cases.

Postnatal growth in children born small for gestational age with and without smoking mother.

BACKGROUND: Maternal smoking impairs fetal growth; however, if postnatal growth differs between children born small for gestational age (SGA) with smoking and non-smoking mother is unknown. METHODS: Cohort-study of term born children born appropriate for gestational age with non-smoking mother (AGA-NS, n = 30,561), SGA (birthweight <10th percentile) with smoking mother (SGA-S, n = 171) or SGA with non-smoking mother (SGA-NS, n = 1761). Means of height and weight measurements, collected at birth, 1.5, 3, 4, and 5 years, were compared using a generalized linear mixed effect model. Relative risks of short stature (<10th percentile) were expressed as adjusted risk ratios (aRR). RESULTS: At birth, children born SGA-S were shorter than SGA-NS, but they did not differ in weight. At 1.5 years, SGA-S had reached the same height as SGA-NS. At 5 years, SGA-S were 1.1 cm taller and 1.2 kg heavier than SGA-NS. Compared with AGA-NS, SGA-S did not have increased risk of short stature at 1.5 or 5 years, while SGA-NS had increased risk of short stature at both ages; aRRs 3.0 (95% CI 2.6;3.4) and 2.3 (95% CI 2.0;2.7), respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Children born SGA-S have a more rapid catch-up growth than SGA-NS. This may have consequences for metabolic and cardiovascular health in children with smoking mothers.

Risk of fistula formation and long-term health effects after a benign hysterectomy complicated by organ injury: A population-based register study.

INTRODUCTION: There is a paucity of data on the impact of organ injury on long-term outcomes after a hysterectomy for benign indications. The aim of this study was to investigate fistula formation and patient-reported long-term health outcomes after organ injury at the time of a hysterectomy. MATERIAL AND METHODS: This was a population-based study of 22 538 women undergoing a hysterectomy between 2000 and 2014 in Sweden. Their medical history, characteristics of their surgery, and patient-reported outcomes were retrieved from Swedish national health and quality registers. Predictors for fistula formation were investigated with logistic regression and are presented as odds ratios with a 95% CI. RESULTS: Fistulas were reported in 7% of women with organ injuries, compared with 0.4% of those without organ injuries (adjusted odds ratio 15.29 [9.81-23.85]). Laparotomy and postoperative infection were associated with postoperative fistulas. Most of the women reported having better health 1 year after the hysterectomy, but 7% of those with organ injuries and 24% of those with fistulas reported deteriorated health, compared with 2% of women without injuries. CONCLUSIONS: Organ injury at the time of hysterectomy is associated with the development of fistulas involving the female genital tract and increases the proportion of women reporting deteriorated health 1 year after surgery.

Prenatal exposure to preeclampsia is associated with accelerated height gain in early childhood.

BACKGROUND: Preeclampsia is associated with low birth weight, both because of increased risks of preterm and of small-for-gestational-age (SGA) births. Low birth weight is associated with accelerated childhood height gain and cardiovascular diseases later in life. The aim was to investigate if prenatal exposure to preeclampsia is associated with accelerated childhood height gain, also after adjustments for SGA-status and gestational age at birth. METHODS: In a cohort of children prenatally exposed to preeclampsia (n = 865) or unexposed (n = 22,898) we estimated height gain between birth and five years of age. The mean difference in height gain between exposed and unexposed children was calculated and adjustments were done with linear regression models. RESULTS: Children exposed to preeclampsia were on average born shorter than unexposed. Exposed children grew on average two cm more than unexposed from birth to five years of age. After adjustments for maternal characteristics including socioeconomic factors, height, body mass index (BMI) and diabetes, as well as for parents smoking habits, infant's breastfeeding and childhood obesity, the difference was 1.6 cm (95% CI 1.3-1.9 cm). Further adjustment for SGA birth only slightly attenuated this estimate, but adjustment for gestational age at birth decreased the estimate to 0.5 cm (95% CI 0.1-0.7 cm). CONCLUSION: Prenatal exposure to preeclampsia is associated with accelerated height gain in early childhood. The association seemed independent on SGA-status, but partly related to shorter gestational age at birth.

Effect of remote cesarean delivery on complications during hysterectomy: a cohort study.

BACKGROUND: Cesarean delivery is performed frequently worldwide, and follow-up studies that report complications at subsequent surgery are warranted. OBJECTIVES: The aim of the study was to investigate the association between a previous abdominal delivery and complications during a subsequent hysterectomy and to estimate the fraction of complications that are driven by the presence of adhesions. STUDY DESIGN: This was a longitudinal population-based register study of 25354 women who underwent a benign hysterectomy at 46 hospital units in Sweden 2000-2014. RESULTS: Adhesions were found in 45% of the women with a history of cesarean delivery. Organ injury affected 2.2% of the women. The risk of organ injury (adjusted odds ratio, 1.74; 95% confidence interval, 1.41-2.15) and postoperative infection (adjusted odds ratio, 1.26; 95% confidence interval, 1.15-1.39) was increased with previous cesarean delivery, irrespective of whether adhesions were present or not. The direct effect on organ injury by a personal history of cesarean delivery was estimated to 73%, and only 27% was mediated by the presence of adhesions. Previous cesarean delivery was a predictor of bladder injury (adjusted odds ratio, 1.86; 95% confidence interval, 1.40-2.47) and bowel injury (adjusted odds ratio, 1.83; 95% confidence interval, 1.10-3.03), but not ureter injury. A personal history of other abdominal surgeries was associated with bowel injury (adjusted odds ratio, 2.27; 95% confidence interval, 1.37-3.78), and the presence of endometriosis increased the risk of ureter injury (adjusted odds ratio, 2.15; 95% confidence interval, 1.34-3.44). CONCLUSION: Previous cesarean delivery is associated with an increased risk of complications during a subsequent hysterectomy, but the risk is only partly attributable to the presence of adhesions. Previous cesarean delivery and presence of endometriosis were major predisposing factors of organ injury at the time of the hysterectomy, whereas background and perioperative characteristics were of minor importance.

Exposure to violence among women with unwanted pregnancies and the association with post-traumatic stress disorder, symptoms of anxiety and depression.

AIM: The objective was to examine lifetime exposure to violence, physical and sexual, among women seeking termination of pregnancy (TOP) and its association with socio-demographic factors, PTSD, symptoms of anxiety and depression. DESIGN: The design of the study was a Swedish multi-centre study targeting women requesting TOP. METHODS: All women requesting TOP with a gestational length less than 12 pregnancy weeks were approached for participation in the study. The questionnaire comprised the following research instruments: Screen Questionnaire-Post traumatic Stress Disorder (SQ-PTSD) and Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS). The response rate was 57% and the final sample was 1514 women. Descriptive and analytic statistics were applied. RESULTS: Lifetime exposure to violence was common among women seeking abortion. Exposure to violence was associated with low education, single marital status, smoking and high alcohol consumption. Exposure to violence was associated with the occurrence of signs of PTSD and symptoms of anxiety and depression. Among those having PTSD, all had been exposed to sexual violence and almost all had been exposed to physical violence, while for those with symptoms of anxiety and depression almost half had been exposed to either physical or sexual violence. CONCLUSION: Exposure to physical and sexual abuse was common among women requesting TOP, and was strongly associated with the occurrence of PTSD, symptoms of anxiety and depression. This underscores the importance for health professionals to recognize and offer support to those women exposed to violence.

Achieving a 25% reduction in premature non-communicable disease mortality: the Swedish population as a cohort study.

BACKGROUND: The 2012 World Health Assembly set a target for Member States to reduce premature non-communicable disease (NCD) mortality by 25% over the period 2010 to 2025. This reflected concerns about increasing NCD mortality burdens among productive adults globally. This article first considers whether the WHO target of a 25% reduction in the unconditional probability of dying between ages of 30 and 70 from NCDs (cardiovascular diseases, cancer, diabetes, or chronic respiratory diseases) has already taken place in Sweden during an equivalent 15-year period. Secondly, it assesses which population sub-groups have been more or less successful in contributing to overall changes in premature NCD mortality in Sweden. METHODS: A retrospective dynamic cohort database was constructed from Swedish population registers in the Linnaeus database, covering the entire population in the age range 30 to 69 years for the period 1991 to 2006, which was used directly to measure reductions in premature NCD mortality using a life table method as specified by the WHO. Multivariate Poisson regression models were used to assess the contributions of individual background factors to decreases in premature NCD mortality. RESULTS: A total of 292,320 deaths occurred in the 30 to 69 year age group during the period 1991 to 2006, against 70,768,848 person-years registered. The crude all-cause mortality rate declined from 5.03 to 3.72 per 1,000 person-years, a 26% reduction. Within this, the unconditional probability of dying between the ages of 30 and 70 from NCD causes as defined by the WHO fell by 30.0%. Age was consistently the strongest determinant of NCD mortality. Background determinants of NCD mortality changed significantly over the four time periods 1991-1994, 1995-1998, 1999-2002, and 2003-2006. CONCLUSIONS: Sweden, now at a late stage of epidemiological transition, has already exceeded the 25% premature NCD mortality reduction target during an earlier 15-year period. This should be encouraging news for countries currently implementing premature NCD mortality reduction programmes. Our findings suggest, however, that it may be difficult for Sweden and other late-transition countries to reach the current 25 × 25 target, particularly where substantial premature mortality reductions have already been achieved.

Strong association between earlier abuse and revictimization in youth.

BACKGROUND: Violence victimization among youth is recognized as a public health problem. The objective was to analyze the risk pattern of emotional, physical, and sexual abuse during the past 12 months by gender, sociodemographic factors, health risk behaviors, and exposure to abuse before the age of 15, among young men and women attending youth health centers in Sweden. METHODS: A cross-sectional survey was conducted using a nationally representative sample of youth health centers. A total of 2,250 young women and 920 young men aged 15-23 completed a self-administered questionnaire. Odds ratios (OR) and adjusted odds ratios (AOR) with 95% CI were calculated. RESULTS: A consistent and strong association was noted between exposure to all types of violence during the past year and victimization before the age of 15 for all types of violence for both women and men. The only exceptions were childhood sexual victimization and sexual violence during the past year for men. Younger age was associated with all violence exposure for the women and with emotional violence for the men. For the women, drug use was associated with all types of violence, while the association with hazardous alcohol use and not living with parents was restricted to physical and sexual violence exposure, present smoking was restricted to emotional and physical violence exposure, and partnership and living in urban areas were restricted to sexual violence. For men, not being partnered, hazardous alcohol consumption, and drug use meant increased risk for physical violence, while smoking and living in urban areas were associated with sexual violence. After adjustment, immigration had no association with violence exposure. CONCLUSIONS: Violence victimization in young men and women is often not a single experience. Findings underline the importance of early interventions among previously abused youth.

Assessing knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors related to HIV and AIDS in Nicaragua: a community-level perspective.

BACKGROUND: Nicaragua's HIV epidemic is concentrated among men who have sex with men. Nevertheless, the increasing number of HIV cases among heterosexuals, high levels of poverty and migration rates, and incomplete epidemiological data suggest the need to improve the understanding of the epidemic. OBJECTIVE: To examine the prevalence of HIV-related knowledge, attitudes, and sexual risk-taking behaviors, and their predictors among the adult population. METHODS: A community-based cross-sectional survey was conducted in 2009 among 520 participants ages 15-49 from an ongoing Health and Demographic Surveillance System in Nicaragua. Bivariate analysis and adjusted prevalence ratios were use to examine factors associated with HIV-related knowledge, attitudes, and sexual behavior. RESULTS: Contributing factors for risk-taking behaviors included cognitive, psychosocial, and emotional elements. Insufficient knowledge affecting the accurate assessment of HIV risk were low educational level, poverty, and rural origin, especially among females. Recognizing risk was not sufficient to promote safer sex: 90% of the females and 70% of the males who reported being sexually active in the past year did not use condoms during their last sexual encounter. Inconsistent condom use among men was associated with older age, long-term relationships, and lack of awareness about acquiring HIV infection. CONCLUSIONS: Interventions to reduce social-structural contextual factors in Nicaragua are needed so that individuals may adopt and maintain HIV risk reduction strategies. Increased gender-specific HIV education and skills-building programs need to be implemented. Sensitive mass media messages may also increase the knowledge of HIV and AIDS, and serve to encourage protective attitudes and behaviors.

Pregnancy-related deaths due to pulmonary embolism in Sweden.

BACKGROUND: The objective of this study was to report deaths from amniotic fluid embolism (AFE) and pregnancy-related venous thromboembolism (VTE), to study contributing factors, and to analyse mortality trends. METHODS: Using the Swedish Cause of Death Register (CDR), we identified all women aged 15-44, who died during 1990-1999, with VTE or AFE coded as the underlying or contributory cause of death. We scrutinised medical records, and women who had died during pregnancy or within 6 weeks of terminated pregnancy were included. We also used data from the Medical Birth Register (MBR) on incident and fatal cases. Mortality data from the 1970s and 1980s were based on previous studies, in which cases were identified through register linkage (CDR and MBR). RESULTS: Five women died of AFE and 10 of VTE - 6 in early pregnancy - during the 1990 s. Five of the cases were not registered as maternal deaths. Only 4 cases were reported as pregnancy-related deaths from pulmonary embolism (PE). Cesarean section/surgery without thromboprophylaxis, overweight, severe intercurrent disease, delays in seeking health care, and verbal miscommunication were contributing factors in the VTE cases. VTE mortality rates (pregnancy >28 weeks and/or a registered birth) were 1.0 (0.5-1.8), 0.8 (0.3-1.6), and 0.4 (0.1-1.0) per 100,000 live births during the 1970s, 1980s and 1990 s, respectively; the corresponding respective figures for AFE were 1.0 (0.5-1.8), 1.1 (0.6-2.1), and 0.5 (0.2-1.1) per 100,000 live births. The case fatality rate for VTE decreased from 4.5% in the 1970s, to 0.6% in the 1990 s, paralleled with quadrupled incidence. The case fatality rate for AFE was unaltered and high, around 45%, during those 3 decades. CONCLUSIONS: Mortality from pregnancy-related PE in Sweden is in the lowest range ever reported, and shows a downward trend during the 1990 s, with a shift towards early pregnancy. In order to monitor mortality trends, death certificate quality must improve, and registers must be linked routinely.

[SSRI during pregnancy and risk of fetal neurotoxicity. Follow precautions and look for other therapeutic alternatives]. / SSRI under graviditet och risk för fetal neurotoxicitet. Föij försiktighetsprincipen och sök andra behandlingsalternativ.

Fetal exposure to SSRI are associated to transient toxic symptoms of the neonates, likely to be an expression of excess serotonin activity in the CNS. The neonatal toxicity of SSRI raise the issue of behavioural teratogenicity due to fetal exposure to SSRIs. The current body of knowledge concerning SSRIs exposure during fetal CNS development, through interference with the neurotransmittors serotonin and GABA, and behavioural teratogenicity is still inadequate. Subtle long-term effects have been reported. While awaiting new findings, physicians are advised to look for alternatives to SSRIs whenever possible during the second and third trimester.

The decline in maternal mortality in Sweden: the role of community midwifery.

The maternal mortality rate in Sweden in the early 20th century was one third that in the United States. This rate was recognized by American visitors as an achievement of Swedish maternity care, in which highly competent midwives attend home deliveries. The 19th century decline in maternal mortality was largely caused by improvements in obstetric care, but was also helped along by the national health strategy of giving midwives and doctors complementary roles in maternity care, as well as equal involvement in setting public health policy. The 20th century decline in maternal mortality, seen in all Western countries, was made possible by the emergence of modern medicine. However, the contribution of the mobilization of human resources should not be underestimated, nor should key developments in public health policy.

Violence against pregnant women will remain hidden as long as no direct questions are asked.

OBJECTIVE: to assess the experience, knowledge, attitudes and routines regarding violence against pregnant women among midwives working at antenatal clinics in the county of Västerbotten, northern Sweden. DESIGN: five qualitative research interviews with midwives were conducted. In addition, questionnaires were sent to all midwives working at the antenatal clinics in the county. FINDINGS: the midwives, although very knowledgeable about and sensitive to pregnant women and their needs, still rarely revealed the occurrence of violence. Symptoms and signals of abuse may vary and are not easily recognised by an outsider. Among pregnant women registered at the antenatal clinic, the midwives roughly estimated that the frequency of known cases of physical and sexual abuse before and during the current pregnancy was 2.3 and 0.6%, respectively for the preceding calendar year. The local programme for antenatal care provided no guidelines regarding response to violence, no instruments for disclosure and no directions about support when confronted with an abused pregnant woman. The midwife did not usually ask any questions if she was merely suspicious but had no strong supporting evidence. In answering the questionnaire however, the midwives were positive towards asking every pregnant woman about abuse in approximately the same way as they asked about other issues already incorporated in the records. CONCLUSION: most likely the midwives in this study were disclosing only a fraction of the cases of abuse against women. Violence of this kind will probably remain hidden as long as the whole issue of violence is not included in the national recommendations or in the local programme for antenatal care. IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE: there should be specific written recommendations in the national antenatal care programme to guide and support the midwives in questioning all pregnant women about violence. To achieve adequate and optimal assessment and intervention at the antenatal clinic, the midwives need to be given education and training and provided with a supportive professional network both for themselves and for the abused women.

Physical partner abuse during pregnancy: a risk factor for low birth weight in Nicaragua.

OBJECTIVE: To assess whether being physically abused during pregnancy increases the risk of a low birth weight (LBW) infant. METHODS: We conducted a hospital-based case-control study in León, Nicaragua. Cases consisted of 101 newborns with a birth weight under 2500 g, and for each case two controls with a birth weight over 2500 g were selected randomly from infants born the same day. Anthropometry of newborns was done immediately after birth, and background information and data on experiences of violence and potential confounders were obtained through private interviews with mothers. Crude and adjusted odds ratios (ORs) and population-attributable proportion were calculated for exposure to partner abuse in relation to LBW. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was used to control for potential confounding. RESULTS: Seventy-five percent of LBW newborns (cases) were small for gestational age and 40% were preterm. Twenty-two percent of the mothers of LBW infants had experienced physical abuse during pregnancy by their intimate partners compared with 5% of controls. Low birth weight was associated with physical partner abuse even after adjustment for age, parity, smoking, and socioeconomic status (OR 3.9; 95% confidence interval 1.7, 9.3). Given a causal interpretation of the association, about 16% of the LBW in the infant population could be attributed to physical abuse by a partner in pregnancy. CONCLUSION: Physical abuse by a partner during pregnancy is an independent risk factor for LBW.