Influence of maternal and perinatal factors on subsequent hospitalisation for asthma in children: evidence from the Oxford record linkage study

Background: There is much interest in the possibility that perinatal factors may influence the risk of disease in later life. We investigated the influence of maternal and perinatal factors on subsequent hospital admission for asthma in children. Methods: Analysis of data from the Oxford record linkage study (ORLS) to generate a retrospective cohort of 248 612 records of births between 1970 and 1989, with follow-up to records of subsequent hospital admission for 4 017 children with asthma up to 1999. Results: Univariate analysis showed significant associations between an increased risk of admission for asthma and later years of birth (reflecting the increase in asthma in the 1970s and 1980s), low social class, asthma in the mother, unmarried mothers, maternal smoking in pregnancy, subsequent births compared with first-born, male sex, low birth weight, short gestational age, caesarean delivery, forceps delivery and not being breastfed. Multivariate analysis, identifying each risk factor that had a significant effect independently of other risk factors, confirmed associations with maternal asthma (odds ratio (OR) 3.1, 95% confidence interval 2.7-3.6), male sex (versus female, 1.8, 1.7-2.0), low birth weight (1000-2999 g versus 3000-3999 g, 1.2, 1.1-1.3), maternal smoking (1.1, 1.0-1.3) and delivery by caesarean section (1.2; 1.0-1.3). In those first admitted with asthma under two years old, there were associations with having siblings (e.g. second child compared with first-born, OR 1.3, 1.0-1.7) and short gestational age (24-37 weeks versus 38-41 weeks, 1.6, 1.2-2.2). Multivariate analysis confined to those admitted with asthma aged six years or more, showed associations with maternal asthma (OR 3.8, 3.1-4.7), age of mother (under 25 versus 25-34 at birth, OR 1.16, 1.03-1.31; over 35 versus 25-34, OR 1.4, 1.1-1.7); high social class was protective (1 and 2, compared with 3, 0.72; 0.63-0.82). Hospital admission for asthma in people aged over six was more common in males than females (1.4; 1.2-1.5); but, by the teenage years, the sex ratio reversed and admission was more common in females than males. Conclusion: Several maternal characteristics and perinatal factors are associated with an elevated risk of hospital admission for asthma in the child in later life. </p

Injection risk behavior among women syringe exchangers in San Francisco.

Women who inject drugs in cities where syringe exchange programs (SEPs) are well established may have different risks for HIV infection. In 1997, we interviewed 149 female syringe exchangers in San Francisco, CA, a city with high rates of injection drug use that is home to one of the largest and oldest SEPs in the United States. In this report, we describe their sociodemographics, health, and risk behavior, and we examine factors associated with recent syringe sharing. Fifty percent of respondents were women of color and the median age was 38 years. Most (86%) injected heroin and nearly half were currently homeless or had recently been incarcerated. One-third of all women reported needle sharing in the prior month. This was higher than the rate of needle sharing reported by a mixed gender sample of San Francisco exchangers in 1993, although it resembled the rate reported by a mixed gender sample in 1992. In a multivariate analysis, syringe sharing was associated with age, housing status, and sexual partnerships. Syringe sharers were more likely to be young, homeless, or have a sexual partner who was also an injection drug user. While wide access to sterile syringes is an important strategy to reduce HIV transmission among injection drug users (IDU), syringe exchange alone cannot eradicate risky injection by female IDU. Additional efforts to reduce risky injection practices should focus on younger and homeless female IDU, as well as address selective risk taking between sexual partners

Effects of Treatment History and Centralized Intake on Drug Treatment Outcomes

This study assesses differences between first-time treatment clients (n=90) and repeat treatment clients (n=361), including whether entering treatment through a central intake unit affects outcomes differently for the two groups. Interview data were collected at baseline, one-month and 12-month follow-up. Study groups were similar in gender, race and age, but repeat treatment participants were more educated, more likely to primarily use heroin and more likely to have ever injected drugs. First-time treatment clients were more likely to have been required to enter treatment, but less likely to have applied to another program or to be in the program they desired. First-time treatment clients were also more likely to be in outpatient or day treatment, and less likely to be in residential treatment. Problem severity decreased for both groups over time, with no significant differences between groups. There was one significant interaction effect of study group and length of stay on social problem severity, such that longer stays in treatment led to a greater reduction in social problems for repeat treatment clients. Route of treatment entry (CIU/non-CIU) was not associated with problem severity nor change in problem severity over time for either study group

Access to drug abuse treatment under Treatment on Demand policy in San Francisco

Objectives: We evaluated whether implementation of Treatment on Demand (TOD) policy in San Francisco was associated with improved access to drug abuse treatment. Methods: Data came from San Francisco's treatment program waiting list over 4 years spanning the implementation of TOD policy. Access measures were monthly applicants waiting and days waited by treatment admissions. Quantitative analyses with 69 treatment facilities contrasted those receiving vs. not receiving TOD funds. Qualitative data came from interviews with facility administrators. Results: There was a small statistically significant decline in monthly waiting lists in the number of people waiting for treatment during the study period. The days waited by those admitted to treatment, however, significantly increased in TOD-funded facilities. Facilities used varied criteria for completing the access measures, which limit the utility of the measures. Conclusions: Access to treatment improved slightly with implementation of TOD policy