Redistribution and sustainability : competing imperatives in the South African hake fishery

This paper focuses on the hake fishery and investigates to what extent the fishery has been transformed. It then discusses the institutional structure and incentive schemes in the fishery and evaluates the economic, social, and environmental impacts of quota redistribution

The effect of delayed cord clamping on haematological status in low birth weight infants : A randomised controlled trial in Stanger, South Africa

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate whether delayed cord clamping (DCC) is effective in improving the haematological status of low birth weight infants in a middle-income country, and whether this is associated with an increased risk of adverse effects in mothers or infants. METHODS: Women who were expected to deliver a low birth weight infant (as measured by a symphysal-fundal height ≤34 cm) in Stanger Hospital, South-Africa, were randomly assigned to receive early (within 1 minute) or delayed (between 2 and 3 minutes) umbilical cord clamping. Infants were reassessed at 24 hours (n=104) and 2-3 months after birth (n=68). RESULTS: Delayed compared to early cord clamping (ECC) resulted in a higher mean haemoglobin (18.0 g/dL v 16.9 g/dL, p=0.014) and haematocrit (0.460 L/L v 0.490 L/L, p=0.013) 24 hours after birth. Mean bilirubin levels after 24 hours were comparable between groups (DCC 94 μmol/L v ECC 83 μmol/L, p=0.570). Eight (14%) ECC infants and two (4%) DCC infants required phototherapy. Polycythaemia or postpartum haemorrhage did not occur. At the follow-up 2 to 3 months after birth, there were no differences in mean haemoglobin levels (DCC 9.9 g/dL v ECC 9.8 g/dL, p=0.626), iron status, or prevalence of anaemia (DCC 34% v ECC 42%, p=0.452) between groups. CONCLUSION: Despite evidence of successful placental transfusion on the first day after birth, a beneficial effect of DCC on the haematological status of low birth weight infants could not be detected 2 to 3 months later. These results, however, may be biased by a high attrition rate. DCC was not associated with increased adverse events.