NUTRITION INFORMATION SOURCES AMONG AUSTRALIANS AND ITALIANS IN PERTH

In a study of nutrition information in 166 Italians and 173 Australians in Perth, sources were classified initially into 19 categories. These could be divided into two main groups, inside sources (implied no contact with information outside personal experience or family circle) and outside sources (implied information from outside the family). Overall, 71 per cent of Italians and 44 per cent of Australians were reliant on inside sources with “parents or tradition” (25 per cent of Italian and 10 per cent of Australian responses) and “rely on taste”, “leave it to the cook” and “don't worry” (23 per cent of Italian and Australian responses) being the major categories. More Australians (25 per cent) than Italians (7 per cent) mentioned the media as their main outside source. Doctors were mentioned in only 7 per cent of responses. In both Italians and Australians, females were more likely to have outside sources of nutrition information than were males. Italians were significantly more likely to be obese (56.4 per cent of females and 38.3 per cent of males) than Australians (34.9 per cent of females and 12.2 per cent of males). Obese people tended to have less outside sources of nutrition information than nonobese. There are distinct cultural differences between the populations studied and it is believed that they may account for some of the differences observed. Attention should be paid to these cultural factors when designing and implementing preventive health programs.     

DIETARY FATS AND INTESTINAL THIAMINE SYNTHESIS IN RATS

Animals fed thiamine deficient diets survive longer if the diet contains 75 per cent fat and no sucrose than if it includes 15 per cent fat and 60 per cent sucrose. Urinary, fecal, and tissue thiamine content and count of fecal coliform organisms are higher if the fat is relatively unsaturated.     

DIETARY WATER AND PROTEIN EFFICIENCY IN RATS

Addition of 20 per cent water to 6, 9, and 12 per cent protein purified diets led to higher protein efficiency ratios than were obtained without added water.     

A STUDY ON THE INFORMATION NEEDS OF PREGNANT WOMEN IN NEW ZEALAND

Women who had recently had their first babies were surveyed to identify their unmet needs for information, the ease with which they could ask questions of health professionals and family and friends, their locus of control, self-care and self-knowledge. Of the 281 women surveyed, 221 responded, giving a response rate of 78.6 per cent. More than 50 per cent of the respondents felt they had too little information on special tests done in pregnancy, postnatal care and ‘blues’, caesarean section and induction of labour. Only 48 per cent of the women felt that they could question their doctor with ease. Most of the decisions about what happened during their pregnancy and labour were made by others for 31 per cent of the women. Of the smokers, 38 per cent stopped smoking during pregnancy. However some women lacked the self-knowledge for future self-care, as only 34 per cent of the respondents knew the result of their cervical smear.     

DRUG USE AMONG SYDNEY TEENAGERS IN 1985 AND 1986

To investigate adolescent drug use behaviour, a random community sample of Sydney teenagers aged 14 to 19 years was interviewed at home in 1985 (N=996) and again in 1986 (N=756). Respondents were asked about current use of alcohol, tobacco, marijuana, other illicit drugs, medications and inhalants. Drug use was common: 16 per cent of respondents were heavy drinkers, 28 per cent smoked tobacco, 10 per cent used marijuana and 4 per cent used drugs other than alcohol, tobacco or marijuana. Seventeen per cent were multiple drug users. Drug use was more common among boys than girls, except for tobacco smoking, and increased with age: older males had particularly high prevalences of heavy drinking, tobacco and marijuana use. The prevalence of heavy drinking, tobacco and marijuana use increased by 2–3 percent over the one year follow-up period. About half of the heavy drinkers and marijuana users, and 80 per cent of tobacco smokers had not changed one year later, which indicates the stability of these behaviours. One-third of eligible teenagers contacted at the first interview declined to participate: it is likely that this study underestimates the prevalence of drug use in the community. Heavy drinking, tobacco smoking and marijuana use remain important target behaviours for adolescent drug use prevention programs.     

SOME INTERNATIONAL TRENDS IN THE INCIDENCE OF NEURAL TUBE DEFECTS

Trends in the incidence of the neural tube defects anencephaly and spina bifida in New South Wales from 1965 to 1980 are compared with trends in 12 countries for which population-based data are available. These data provide clear evidence that a significant decline in the incidence of anencephaly has occurred worldwide with decreases ranging from 5 per cent per annum in the United States of America and 7 to 8 per cent per annum in Northern Ireland and New South Wales to 13 per cent per annum in England and Wales. The incidence of anencephaly in England and Wales is now lower than that in New South Wales. There is some evidence for a similar, but smaller decline in the incidence of spina bifida. These trends cannot be entirely accounted for by increases in the utilization of antenatal screening followed by termination of pregnancy.     

CHILDBIRTH IN SYDNEY TEACHING HOSPITALS: A STUDY OF LOW-RISK PRIMIPAROUS WOMEN

Childbirth data from the hospital records of a random sample of 398 low-risk primiparous women at five Sydney teaching hospitals were examined. Rates of medical interventions and medication use showed marked variability between hospitals, and most rates were relatively high compared with data from other states and countries. For example, the range across hospitals of forceps delivery was 29 per cent to 51 per cent with an average proportion of 43 per cent, compared with around 18 per cent in teaching hospitals in other states. Forceps use was three times more common when epidural anaesthesia was used. Women's ratings of interventions were generally neutral or positive but their overall satisfaction ratings were significantly lower in more difficult births.     

A PILOT CERVICAL CYTOLOGY SCREENING SERVICE IN PERTH

The characteristics of 570 women attending a pilot cervical cytology clinic in Perth in 1984 and their past experience of cervical cytology and breast self-examination (BSE) have been described. Attendance from the population in which the clinic was located was highest between about 35–39 and 60–64 years of age, in Australian-born women and in women of high socioeconomic status. More than a quarter of those attending gave a preference for a female doctor or embarrassment as their reason for attending the clinic rather than their general practitioner (GP). Desire to attend a special interest clinic and convenience were other major reasons for attendance. Only about 40 per cent of women attending had had smears on average at three-year intervals or more often over an “at risk” period between 25 and 70 years of age. At the time of attendance 65.8 per cent of attenders were defined as needing a cervical smear in that they had not had one since 1981 or had never had one. On this basis those most likely to need a smear were older women, those of low socioeconomic status, those who gave embarrassment as their reason for preferring the clinic to their GP and those who preferred a female doctor for the taking of a smear. There was evidence that a small group of women attended the clinic sooner, on average, after their last smear than others, because they had symptoms (11.5 per cent) or had had an abnormal smear previously (4.2 per cent). Overall, 13.2 per cent of women attending the clinic performed BSE monthly and 51.0 per cent did not do it at all. BSE was most commonly performed by women 35–54 years of age.     

PAP SMEAR USAGE IN NEW SOUTH WALES - IMPACT OF ACTIVE PROMOTION

Less than 25 per cent of eligible Australian women have cervical (‘Pap’) smear tests in any year. Rates are particularly low (<8%) for women over 55 years, the group at highest risk of cervical cancer. A regional program, actively promoting Pap smears by widespread direct community intervention and attention to service needs, targeting women over 55 years and under 25 years, was conducted on the North Coast (population 132,000 women) immediately after a New South Wales State-wide media campaign in February 1988. The number of Pap smears done in the region increased 119 per cent for women over 55 years and 44 per cent for 15–24 year-olds during the promotion (63% overall) compared to New South Wales increases of 58 per cent for women over 55 years and 23 per cent for 15–24 year-olds (31% overall). Differences between the North Coast and New South Wales were statistically significant for all age groups in March and in April for women over 55 years. Differences between New South Wales and Australia (no active promotion) were significant for women over 55 years in March and April. Records from a sample of 152 women attending clinics during the campaign showed 63 per cent had not had a smear test for three or more years, 10 per cent never. The results indicate that an intensive, low-cost public health program, working in conjunction with general practitioners, can be effective in increasing smear rates and that well-designed strategies will have an impact on older women, a high risk group who traditionally are poor users of Pap smear services. The combined impact of the two campaign strategies on Pap smear usage was significantly greater than media alone. A Central New South Wales cervical screening database is essential for evaluation of screening promotion.     

VITAMIN B6 COMPONENTS IN VARIOUS FOODS

The levels of pyridoxal, pyridoxamine, and pyridoxine were determined in a variety of foods. In wheat, rice, and barley, over 50 per cent of the vitamin was present as pyridoxine. In corn, over 60 per cent was pyridoxal.     

OVERWEIGHT CHILDREN IN STOCKHOLM

Heights and weights of school children in Stockholm were studied. The over-all incidence of overweight was 1.8 per cent.     

TRENDS IN CARDIOVASCULAR RISK FACTORS IN AUSTRALIA, 1966–1983: EVIDENCE FROM PREVALENCE SURVEYS

A review of published data from cardiovascular risk factor surveys among adults in Australia from 1966 to 1983 suggests that: — prevalence of cigarette smoking decreased significantly by up to 1.4 per cent per year among men but increased among younger women; — serum cholesterol mean levels decreased significantly by 0.03 - 0.04 mmol/1 per year among men and 0.04 - 0.07 mmol/1 per year among women; — systolic blood pressure mean levels decreased significantly by 0.05 - 0.3 mmHg per year among men and 0.2 - 0.6 mmHg per year among women; — diastolic blood pressure showed no significant or consistent changes among men but some decrease among women. During the same period death rates from ischaemic heart disease (IHD) declined by over 40 per cent. The changes in risk factor levels are estimated to account for about half of the decline in IHD mortality for men and about three quarters of the decline for women.     

KWASHIORKOR IN MALAYA

Six per cent of children examined in Malaya had clinical signs of kwashiorkor. Food customs and prejudices, as well as available food supply, have an unfavorable influence on the diet of children.     

ULCERS IN SWINE

Ulcers have been seen in as many as 55 per cent of the swine fed a commercial pelleted ration or one containing heated corn; in the latter study, no ulcers were seen among the animals fed the ration containing unhealed corn.     

DIETARY TREATMENT IN KWASHIORKOR

Massive protein feedings do not hasten recovery. Calories are fully as important as protein. The recommended amount of protein is 11 per cent of total calories provided.     

SLEEP PATTERNS AND PROBLEMS IN ELDERLY GENERAL PRACTICE ATTENDERS: AN AUSTRALIAN SURVEY

During 1983, interviews were conducted with 348 consecutive general practice patients, mean age 74 years, attending 31 practices in city and country areas of New South Wales, Australia. Disturbances in initiating and maintaining sleep were experienced by one-third to one-half of respondents. Twenty per cent of respondents felt they had a problem with sleeping at night and a further seventeen per cent felt they would have a problem if they did not take tablets. Those with a sleep problem were more often depressed, or disturbed by a noisy neighbourhood or a recent upset or crisis than those without. Sleeping tablets were taken by twenty-four per cent of respondents. The desirability of a detailed sleep history prior to prescribing sleeping tablets is emphasised.     

MILK ANTIBODIES IN HUMAN SERUM

Precipitating antibodies to certain milk protein constituents were found in 5 per cent of a large group of infants and children. An associated clinical syndrome is postulated.     

THORACIC DUCT IN LIPID ABSORPTION

Thoracic duct ligation does not depress the absorption of from 4 to 10 per cent of dietary lipid from the gastrointestinal tract of the rat.     

OBESITY IN CHILDHOOD AND ADULTHOOD

At least 33 per cent of the adults who are obese were overweight as children. From two to five times as many overweight children become obese adults as do normal or underweight children.