Summary
Revista Brasileira de Ginecologia e Obstetrícia. 2011;33(5):231-237
DOI 10.1590/S0100-72032011000500005
PURPOSE: To investigate the relationship between quality of life and spinal fracture in women aged over 60 living in Southern Brazil. METHODS: A case-control study was conducted with the application of the WHOQOL-bref questionnaire to 100 women living in the city of Chapecó (SC), aged over 60, postmenopausal, white or Caucasian, with no important cognitive impairment or a history of diseases known to affect bone metabolism, or malignant neoplasias. The population was divided into two groups depending on the presence or absence of fractures in the spine radiography. We analyzed variables related to the current and previous medical history, life habits and family history of fractures, and the domains and facets that compose the WHOQOL-bref. All participants were informed about the objectives and methodologies adopted and gave written informed consent to participate in the study. RESULTS: The mean age of the women in the fracture group was older than that of women with fractures (p<0.05). Also women with fractures tended to belong to a higher social class, to have more years of study, a higher family income, and a greater use of alcoholic drinks (p<0.05). In the evaluation of the WHOQOL-bref domains, the fracture group had the highest average in the psychological field (..=63.6± 3.0) and the lowest in the environment field (..=9.3±58.8). In the group without fracture, the highest average also occurred in the psychological domain (..=67.2± 9.3) and the lowest in the field of social relations (..=57.5±7.7). Statistical analysis showed no significant correlation between the averages of the facets that make up the areas between the groups with and without fractures. CONCLUSIONS: This study suggests that there is no impairment of quality of life among older women with vertebral fractures, but the relation between QL and time of occurrence and severity of the fractures should be better evaluated. Both groups had higher scores in the psychological domain, showing that the respondents rely on personal beliefs, spirituality and religion, accept their physical appearance while maintaining self-esteem and the ability to think, to learn and to concentrate despite the presence of this disease. There was no statistically significant difference between groups or between domains in the same group.
Summary
Revista Brasileira de Ginecologia e Obstetrícia. 2011;33(5):252-262
DOI 10.1590/S0100-72032011000500008
Brazil is among the countries with the highest cesarean section rates, especially in the supplementary health sector. However, some characteristics are similar in both the public and private sectors in terms of the wishes and expectations of pregnant women regarding their delivery. There is a preference for vaginal delivery among women of all social, economic, and cultural levels, a fact that shifts the focus of the negative influence of this variable from women to other subjects involved in delivery care. No isolated factor is able to justify the complexity of making a decision for cesarean section, but the physician and the type of hospital are the main associated factors. The several harmful effects of a non-judicious performance of cesarean section are scientifically recognized. It is important to raise the awareness of doctors and of other health professionals about the real consequences of this decision, the ethical deviations when conducts are chosen without exclusively focusing on the patient`s health, and the need for constant updating for the management of the various possible conditions of childbirth.
Summary
Revista Brasileira de Ginecologia e Obstetrícia. 2011;33(5):207-210
Summary
Revista Brasileira de Ginecologia e Obstetrícia. 2011;33(5):211-218
DOI 10.1590/S0100-72032011000500002
PURPOSE: the aim of this study was to analyze conjoined twins in terms of antenatal, delivery and postnatal aspects. METHODS: a retrospective descriptive analysis of prenatally diagnosed conjoined twins. Prenatal ultrasound and echocardiography, delivery details, postnatal follow-up, surgical separation and post mortem data were reviewed. The twins were classified according to the type of fusion between fetal structures. The following data were analyzed: ultrasound and echocardiographic findings, antenatal lethality and possibility of surgical separation, delivery details and survival rates. RESULTS: forty cases of conjoined twins were included in the study. There were 72.5% cases of thoracophagus, 12.5% of paraphagus, 7.5% of omphalo-ischiophagus, 5.0% of omphalophagus, and 2.5% of cephalophagus. Judicial termination of pregnancy was requested in 58.8% of the cases. Cesarean section was performed in all cases in which pregnancy was not terminated. The mean gestational age at delivery was 35 weeks; all twins were live births with a mean birth weight of 3,860 g and 88% died postnatally. Ten percent of the live borns were submitted to surgical separation with a 60% survival rate. The total survival rate was 7.5% and postnatal survival was 12%. Antenatal evaluation of lethality and possibility of surgical separation were precise. There were no maternal complications related to delivery. CONCLUSION: conjoined twins present a dismal prognosis mainly related to the complex cardiac fusion present in the majority of cases with thoracic sharing. At referring centers, prenatal ultrasound and echocardiographic evaluation accurately delineate fetal prognosis and the possibility of postnatal surgical separation.
Summary
Revista Brasileira de Ginecologia e Obstetrícia. 2011;33(5):219-224
DOI 10.1590/S0100-72032011000500003
To compare the sexual function of healthy adult pregnant women with that of gestational diabetes patients (GDM) in the third trimester. METHODS: This cross-sectional study enrolled two groups of women managed antenatal care clinics. Inclusion criteria were: maternal age .20 years, gestational age at least 28 weeks, being in a heterosexual relationship with the same partner for at least 6 months, and being able to read. We excluded women with a medical recommendation for sexual abstinence due to clinical or obstetric disorders; hypertension controlled through medications; pregnancy resulting from rape; absent or sexually unavailable partner in the last month; hospital admission in the last month; use of vaginal creams in the last 30 days; multiple pregnancy, regular use of alcohol or illicit drugs or use of medications that can interfere with sexual function. Eighty-seven patients fulfilled the selection criteria and were included in the study. The Sexual Quotient . Feminine Version (QS-F) questionnaire was used to assess sexual function. Student's t and X² tests were used to compare differences between groups and p<0.05 was considered significant. RESULTS: The mean gestational age of the participants was 34 weeks. There were no significant differences in the mean QS-F scores between groups (62.5 healthy vs 62.8 GDM women, p=0.9). Approximately half the participants (47 and 47.5% of the healthy and GDM women, respectively, p=0.9) had total scores up to 60, indicative of dysfunction in one of the assessed domains (desire, sexual satisfaction, arousal, orgasm, dyspareunia and vaginismus). CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence of sexual dysfunction was high among women in the third trimester of pregnancy and did not differ significantly between healthy women and women with GDM.
Summary
Revista Brasileira de Ginecologia e Obstetrícia. 2011;33(5):238-245
DOI 10.1590/S0100-72032011000500006
PURPOSE: to compare the coverage of conventional Papanicolaou cytology in women aged 15 to 59 years between two home surveys, related to some personal attributes and to the tendency to die from cervical cancer. METHODS: we analyzed data collected in two home surveys, with complex sampling, in the city of São Paulo, Brazil, over the years from 1987 to 2001 and 2002. The self-reported answers of 968 women in the first inquiry and of 1,125 women in the second inquiry were compared regarding the reply to the question about the execution of the Papanicolaou test "sometimes in a lifetime" in relation to age distribution, black skin, marital status, years of education and tendency to die because cervical cancer during the period from 1980 to 2007. The Fisher exact test was used to compare the sample regarding each item, with the level of significance set at p value >5%. RESULTS: from the first to the second inquiry there was a 24% increase in the execution of conventional Papanicolaou cytology (from 68.8% to 85%). The greatest variations in the increased coverage related to the personal attributes of the women were detected in black skin color, among single women and among women of lower schooling. Regarding the tendency to mortality rates due to cervical cancer, no clear ascending or declining tendency was observed along the 28 years studied (1980 to 2007). CONCLUSION: there was an increase in access to the cytological Papanicolaou test among the most vulnerable women. Since 2001 and 2002, the 85% coverage already reached WHO recommendation, although without a clear trend of decline in mortality due to cervical cancer in the following years, indicating that screening is only part of an effective and organized program for the control of cervical cancer, whose model must guarantee full women's health care.
Summary
Revista Brasileira de Ginecologia e Obstetrícia. 2011;33(5):246-251
DOI 10.1590/S0100-72032011000500007
PURPOSE: to evaluate the prevalence of cytogenetic alterations and chromosomic polymorphism in couples with a subfertility phenotype in a Brazilian population. METHODS: karyotype analysis through G and C banding of 1,236 individuals who presented the subfertility phenotype, from two different centers (public and private) were included in the study. These patients were classified in two sub-groups: one with two or more gestational consecutive losses or not and the o with, at least, one gestacional loss or absence of conception. Karyotype results were evaluated in different groups and frequencies were calculated. Statistical analyses were carried out through Fisher's exact test and Odds Ratio analysis. RESULTS: approximately 25% of the cases presented abnormal karyotype results, including numerical and structural alterations and also polymorphic variants. In both centers, the prevalence of polymorphic variants was 8.9 and 3.8%, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: there was no significant difference between the prevalence of polymorphic variants and other abnormalities in individuals with or without previous history of reproductive loss. The results of the present study reinforce the need of adequate disclosure of complete cytogenetic information in the karyotype results, with specific attention in relation to the polymorphic variants.