[Pregnancy and delivery among adolescents under 15: a study of 181 cases in French Guiana]. / Grossesses et accouchement chez les adolescentes de moins de 15 ans: étude de 181 cas en Guyane française.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study were to determine the effects and consequences of premature pregnancy and childbirth among adolescents under 15 years of age in French Guyana. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A retrospective field-case study between the 1(st) and the 31(st) December 2001 identified 181 births among adolescents aged 14 years and under. Comparisons were made with 181 births among 18-year-old first-time mothers taking place over the same period. RESULTS: 1.55% of all births in the maternity ward at St Laurent-du-Maroni Hospital involved adolescents under the age of 15. 24.6% of these young mothers were enrolled in secondary school, 21% were beneficiaries of the national social security health insurance and 61% of them were born outside Guyana. Pre-natal monitoring was less frequent among the group of teenage mothers, and preterm labor (0.04 < p < 0.05), anemia (0.02 < p < 0.03) and Chlamydiae trachomatis infections (0.03 < p < 0.04) are more frequent. There is no significant difference regarding high blood pressure, diabetes, or infectious diseases (except from Chlamydiae) or regarding labor and delivery. Mean birth weight was lower (p = 0.01) and the Apgar score was more often less than 7 at the first minute (p < 0.05) among newborn of teenage mothers. CONCLUSION: While pregnancies among younger teenagers appear to indicate a higher level of associated medical problems, a more thorough pre-natal check-up program would certainly reduce the number of problem related cases. The extremely high proportion of teenage pregnancies in the West of French Guiana has become a major public health issue for the entire region.

[Severe maternal anemia and pregnancy outcome]. / Anémies maternelles sévères et issues de grossesse.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to determine the effects of severe antenatal maternal anemia on pregnancy outcome. MATERIAL: and methods. A retrospective study comparing 2 groups of pregnant women: 111 (pregnant women) with anemia (Hb < 8 g/dl), 111 non- anemic pregnant women (Hb >10 g/dl). Clinical and biological characteristics for both groups were compared. Data on the newborn babies were collected. RESULTS: In the anemic group: iron deficiency was the most common cause of anemia (92.7%). There was no significant difference between the 2 groups with respect to age or parity. Maternal anemia was found to be significantly associated with more frequent preterm birth (29.2% vs 9.2%) and increased low birth weight (2933 g vs 3159 g). DISCUSSION: The literature is not conclusive on the influence of anemia in pregnant women. More frequent preterm birth and low birth weight have been reported in the majority of studies considering mild to moderate maternal anemia (in contrast to our study where the mothers had severe anemia). Many studies indicated that routine iron supplementation during pregnancy may have beneficial effects on pregnancy outcome. Severe anemia in pregnancy may have adverse effects for the newborn and should be treated or prevented early in pregnancy.

[Medical termination of pregnancy at 9-14 weeks gestation. Prospective study of 105 cases in Saint-Laurent-du-Maroni (French Guyana)]. / L'interruption volontaire de grossesse médicamenteuse de 9 à 14 semaines d'aménorrhée: étude prospective de 105 cas à Saint-Laurent-du-Maroni (Guyane française).

OBJECTIVES: To demonstrate the effectiveness and safety of mifepristone 600mg with misoprostol 800 mg, for termination of pregnancy at 9-14 weeks gestation. PATIENTS AND METHODS: This prospective study included 105 women at 9 to 14 weeks gestation given 800 mg of vaginal misoprostol, 2 or 3 days after a single dose of 600 mg of mifepristone for pregnancy termination. Outcomes measures included mean expulsion time, the interval between fotal and placental expulsion, adverse effects, vaginal bleeding, requirement for analgesia, and hospital stay, analyzed by parity and gestational age. RESULTS: Pregnancy termination was successful in 92.4% of the patients without requirement for surgery. The mean time to expulsion was 6 hours. The fetus and placenta were expelled together in 79% of the cases. In 15% the conception products were retained in the cervical canal, and removed with a ring forceps. Additional misoprostol doses were necessary in 33% and analgesia (nalbuphine sublingually, mean dose was 10mg) in 56%. Significant bleeding was observed in 7.5%, leading to curettage in 2 patients. No statistically significant differences were found between the rate of success and term (9-12 versus 12-14) or parity. CONCLUSION: Combining oral mifepristone and vaginal misoprostol is a successful alternative to surgical termination of pregnancy, even after 9 weeks' gestation. The use of nalbuphine for analgesia improves acceptability; sublingual administration helps avoid invasive procedures. Before 14 weeks gestation, the legal limit for termination of pregnancy in France, the choice between the surgical and medical alternatives should be left to the patient.

[Typhoid fever and pregnancy]. / Fièvre typhoïde et grossesse.

Typhoid fever is rare in Europe, but well-recognized endemic disease in tropical zones. We report our findings in a series of 25 cases of typhoid fever during pregnancy observed in French Guiana and reviewed the literature on clinical signs, diagnosis and treatment. Salmonellea typhi causes septicemia of digestive origin that can cross the placenta resulting in chorioamniotitis. Maternal-fetal infection with S. typhi can lead to miscarriage, fetal death, neonatal infection, as well as diverse maternal complications. In order to avoid maternal complications and possible fetal transmission, treatment with ceftriaxone should be initiated as early as possible