[Evaluation of antenatal quality of life of hospitalized women with the use of Mother-Generated Index--pilot study]. / Ocena jakosci zycia kobiet hospitalizowanych w ciazy z wykorzystaniem Mother-Generated Index--badania pilotazowe.

OBJECTIVES: The objectives of this study included: (1) evaluation of the Polish version of Mother Generated-Index (MGI) as a tool for measuring antenatal Health Related Quality of Life (HRQL) of hospitalized women; (2) identification of factors influencing antenatal quality of life of hospitalized women; (3) assessment of correlations between MGI and SF-36v2, and between MGI and EQ-5D. MATERIAL AND METHODS: MGI is a three-step questionnaire. Respondents were asked to name important areas of life that had been affected by their pregnancy (step 1) and then to assess, on the scale from 0 to 10, their positive or negative value (step 2). In Step 3, the women ranked the importance of the areas by allocating a total of 20 'spending points' among them. The sub-index MGI1 is defined as the mean of the Step 2 scores, the sub-index MGI2 is defined as the weighted mean of Step 2 scores with weights given in Step 3. Using SF-36v2, EQ-5D, MGI questionnaires and socioeconomic survey we studied the HRQL of 99 pregnant women hospitalized in ICZMP in Lódz. RESULTS: Sub-index MGI1 was included between 1.83 and 10 with mean 5.86 (SD 1.71). Sub-index MGI2 was between 0 and 10, with mean 6.70 (SD 2.34). Sub-indexes of MGI were significantly (p < 0.05) positively correlated with EQ-5D and with sub-indexes of SF-36v2. The correlations are weak or moderate (between 0.2 and 0.4). The mean of the score given in the second part of MGI was 8.58 (SD 1.13) for positive comments, 2.63 (SD 1.22) for negative comments, and 5.02 (SD 1.55) for neutral comments. Differences between positive, negative and neutral comments were statistically significant (ANOVA, p = 0.00). Among factors which influence antenatal quality of life, the respondents named relationship with partner and family attitudes towards pregnancy delivery and baby work and personal finances. CONCLUSIONS: (1) MGI should be treated as an additional tool for HRQL measurement, since it reflects the differences between expectations towards pregnancy and reality Multicultural factors can influence MGI. (2) MGI allows to identify factors which influence the antenatal quality of life, taking into account their importance. (3) There are statistically significant positive correlations between sub-indexes of MGI and sub-indexes of SF-36v2, and between sub-indexes of MGI and EQ-5D.

[Knowledge of toxoplasmosis among pregnant women, midwifes, medical students and obstetricians]. / Ocena stanu wiedzy dotyczacej toksoplazmozy wsród ciezarnych, poloznych, studentów medycyny i lekarzy polozników.

BACKGROUND: Knowledge of toxoplasmosis has been assessed among obstetricians, medical students, midwifes and pregnant women. The aims of the study were as follows: 1) evaluation of intra- and inter-group variation in correct answers to the questions included in the questionnaire used as a study tool; 2) evaluation of inter-group variation in answers to specialist and non-specialist questions; and 3) intra-group evaluation of self-assessed difficulty in completing the questionnaire. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In the prospective study, 310 participants were included: 109 pregnant women, 116 midwifes 85 physicians (including 69 specialists in OB/GYN) and 16 medical students. The anonymous questionnaire consisted of 26 questions, with four answers proposed for each question of which one was correct. RESULTS: There was no difference between correct answers among midwifes, physicians and medical students (p = 0.20), but the difference was found between the group of physicians and medical students and pregnant women as well as between midwifes and pregnant women (p < 0.001). Physicians, medical students and midwifes gave best answers to the non-specialist questions (p < 0.001), and midwifes obtained higher scores than pregnant women (p < 0.001). The mean percentage of correct answers to the specialist questions was among pregnant women (29%) showing a high level of randomness. The best answers to the non-specialist questions were found for physicians and midwifes (p = 0.93). However, there was a difference between the group of physicians and medical students and pregnant women and between midwifes and pregnant women in self-assessment of difficulty in completing the questionnaire (p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Pregnant women assessed their knowledge of toxoplasmosis as least adequate, whereas midwifes, as most adequate. Pregnant women's knowledge about toxoplasmosis is poor. The group of physicians and medical students yielded evidently better score than pregnant women. There is a need for the improvement among prenatal care providers in both patient education and self-education.

[Food products as a natural source of vitamins for pregnant women]. / Produkty spozywcze naturalnym zródlem witamin dla kobiet w ciazy.

Although diet of pregnant women very often require supplementation with proper vitamins, food should be the basic source of them. Different food products consist of different amounts of vitamins. That is why the proper choice of natural sources of vitamins seem while to be the most important white preparing a diet. Sources of some vitamins are mentioned in the project. It also points out some factors that have impact on the availability and assimilation of the vitamins. The project states also that before pharmacological supplementation of vitamins the estimation of intake of vitamins from natural sources is needed.

[Wernicke's encephalopathy due to hyperemesis gravidarum]. / Encefalopatia-Wernickego w przebiegu niepowsciagliwych wymiotów ciezarnych.

A report of 33 years old female with Wernicke's encephalopathy is presented. The disease was secondary to hyperemesis gravidarum, started from the 6th week of pregnancy. Neurological symptoms as nystagmus, headache, vertigo, disturbance of consciousness and ataxia are described, as well as difficulties in finding out the right diagnosis. We present the therapy with vitamin B1. The subsequent course of the pregnancy was uncomplicated and resulted in a birth--by caesarean section of a healthy male infant, weighted 2790 grams. However, four months later after the delivery, the patient is not yet completely recovered and still demands thiamine supplementation.