Increased Use of Intrauterine Contraception in California, 1997 to 2007

Background

Modern intrauterine contraception (IUC) is safe and highly effective, but is used by fewer than 4% of women in the United States. Once recommended only for women with at least one child, it is now recommended for most women regardless of parity or age.

Methods

This study used data representative of California women from 10 years of the California Women’s Health Survey (1997–2007) to describe how IUC users differ from women using other contraceptives, and assess changes in IUC users’ characteristics over time.

Findings

Overall 4.9% of women in California used IUC. Multivariable logistic regression modeling showed IUC users were more likely to be born outside the United States (odds ratio [OR], 1.7), have a college degree (OR, 1.5) or postgraduate degree (OR, 2.2), and be married (OR, 2.6) or in an unmarried partnership (OR, 2.4). IUC users were 71% less likely to be nulliparous (OR, 0.29). Use of IUC almost doubled over the study period from 4.0% to 7.2%, and this growth was accompanied by significant changes in user characteristics: Young women, women born in the United States, women without a college degree, and Asian women experienced the greatest increases. IUC use among nulliparous women did not increase.

Conclusion

IUC use in California is higher than the national average and growing. We found higher IUC use among ever-married women and foreign-born women, and disproportionately low use among nulliparous women. Efforts to inform women of IUC’s high effectiveness and safety, as well as efforts to ensure that health care providers have the necessary clinical skills, are timely and important.     

Disclosure decisions: HIV-positive persons coping with disease-related stressors

The purpose of this grounded theory study was to investigate how Danish HIV-positive persons live with their disease, focusing on HIV-related stressors. Using the Glaserian method, we analyzed textual data from in-depth interviews with 16 HIV-positive persons. Decisions about disclosure appeared to be a major concern and a determining factor for HIV-related stress. Consequently, we developed a substantive theory about disclosure decisions in which three different strategies could be identified: (a) disclosing to everyone (being open); (b) restricting disclosure (being partly open); and (c) disclosing to no one (being closed). Disclosure was a continuum; none of the three strategies automatically relieved HIV-related stress. The theory describes the main determinants and consequences of each strategy. Our study demonstrates the importance of recurrent individual considerations about disclosure choices and plans, and offers a theoretical basis for interventions designed to assist persons living with HIV to make the best possible individual decisions regarding disclosure, and thereby reduce HIV-related stress.     

Human metapneumovirus infection in wild mountain gorillas, Rwanda

The genetic relatedness of mountain gorillas and humans has led to concerns about interspecies transmission of infectious agents. Human-to-gorilla transmission may explain human metapneumovirus in 2 wild mountain gorillas that died during a respiratory disease outbreak in Rwanda in 2009. Surveillance is needed to ensure survival of these critically endangered animals.     

SCAI/CCAS/SPA expert consensus statement for anesthesia and sedation practice: Recommendations for patients undergoing diagnostic and therapeutic procedures in the pediatric and congenital cardiac catheterization laboratory

Current practice of sedation and anesthesia for patients undergoing pediatric congenital cardiac catheterization laboratory (PCCCL) procedures is known to vary among institutions, a multi‐society expert panel with representatives from the Congenital Heart Disease Council of the Society for Cardiovascular Angiography and Interventions (SCAI), the Society for Pediatric Anesthesia (SPA) and the Congenital Cardiac Anesthesia Society (CCAS) was convened to evaluate the types of sedation and personnel necessary for procedures performed in the PCCCL. The goal of this panel was to provide practitioners and institutions performing these procedures with guidance consistent with national standards and to provide clinicians and institutions with consensus‐based recommendations and the supporting references to encourage their application in quality improvement programs. Recommendations can neither encompass all clinical circumstances nor replace the judgment of individual clinicians in the management of each patient. The science of medicine is rooted in evidence, and the art of medicine is based on the application of this evidence to the individual patient. This expert consensus statement has adhered to these principles for optimal management of patients requiring sedation and anesthesia. What follows are recommendations for patient monitoring in the PCCCL regardless of whether minimal or no sedation is being used or general anesthesia is being provided by an anesthesiologist. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals Inc.     

Current and emerging pharmacotherapy for emergency management of preeclampsia

Introduction: Preeclampsia is a disease specific to pregnancy characterised by new onset hypertension with maternal organ dysfunction and/or fetal growth restriction. It remains a major cause of maternal and perinatal morbidity and mortality. For fifty years, antihypertensives have been the mainstay of treating preeclampsia, reducing maternal morbidity and mortality. With increased knowledge of the mechanisms underlying the disease has come opportunities for novel therapies that complement antihypertensives by protecting the maternal vasculature.

Areas covered: In this review, the authors consider, in detail, the antihypertensives commonly used today in the emergency care of women with severe preeclampsia. They also review less common anti-hypertensive agents and discuss the role of magnesium sulphate in the management of preeclampsia and the prevention of eclampsia. Finally, they explore novel therapeutics for the acute management of preeclampsia.

Expert opinion: The rapid control of maternal hypertension will, and must, remain the mainstay of emergency treatment for women with severe preeclampsia. The role of magnesium sulphate as a primary prevention for eclampsia is context dependant and should not displace a focus on correcting blood pressure safely. The exploration of novel adjuvant therapies will likely allow us to prolong pregnancy longer and improve perinatal outcomes safely for the mother.