131 research outputs found
Adolphe Quetelet
Book review of:
Donnelly, Kevin (2015) Adolphe Quetelet, Social Physics and the Average Men of Science, 1796–1874. University of Pittsburgh Press 219 pp.ISBN: 978-1-84893-568-6Price: $4
Statistics or state-istics? : an anatomy of the corps social presented in the Belgian population censuses (1846-1947)
Guest editors’ introduction : sociology in Belgium, national divisions, international ambitions
Determinants of the number of antenatal visits in a metropolitan region
<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Antenatal care has a positive effect on pregnancy, both clinically and psychologically, but consensus about the optimal number of antenatal visits is lacking. This study aims to provide insight into the dynamics of the number of antenatal visits a woman receives. Independent effects of predisposing, enabling and pregnancy-related determinants are examined.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Women were recruited in nine clinical centres in the Brussels Metropolitan region. Antenatal care use was measured prospectively. A Poisson regression model was applied to measure the independent effect of individual determinants on the number of antenatal visits.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Data on antenatal care trajectories in 333 women were collected. The multivariate analyses showed that women with a Maghreb or Turkish origin had 14% fewer visits compared with European (EU15) women. More highly educated women had 22% more visits compared with those with a low education. Women with a high income had 14% more antenatal visits compared with those with a low income. Fewer antenatal visits were observed in multiparae (15%), women initiating care after 14 weeks of gestation (31%), women without medical risks during the pregnancy (12%) and in women with a continuity of care index of 50% or more (12%). More visits were observed in delivering after week 37 (22% increase).</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>Predisposing and enabling factors have to be considered when antenatal care programmes are evaluated in a metropolitan area. Variations in the number of antenatal visits show that socially vulnerable women are more at risk of having fewer visits.</p
Congenitally deaf children's care trajectories in the context of universal neonatal hearing screening: a qualitative study of the parental experiences
The objective of this study is to examine the early care trajectories of congenitally deaf children from a parental perspective, starting with universal neonatal hearing screenings. The analysis using a three-dimensional care trajectory concept is aimed at developing a basic typology of postscreening care trajectories. Children with severe/profound hearing loss, registered in the Flanders' (Belgium) universal neonatal hearing screening program, born between 1999 and 2001. Thematic content analysis of qualitative data collected retrospectively from participant's parents. Two basic types of care trajectories emerged; based on differences in care-use in the phase of further diagnosis and related parental experiences. Subtypes resulted from events related to cochlear implantation. Five trajectory phases were identified: screening, further diagnosis, care and technology, cochlear implantation, and reduction of care and were characterized by specific parental experiences such as confusion, disbelief, disappointment, and uncertainty. Those experiences relate to care professionals' acts and communication and the child's functional evolution. Early care interventions could benefit from coordinated transition between phases, parent support throughout the care trajectory, and a broad approach to deafness in professionals' communication
Variations in follow-up services after inpatient stroke rehabilitation: A multicentre study
Background: Care after discharge from inpatient stroke rehabilitation units varies across Europe. The aim of this study was to compare service delivery after discharge. Methods: A total of 532 consecutive patients after stroke were recruited from 4 European rehabilitation centres in Germany, Switzerland, Belgium and the UK. At 2-month intervals, clinical assessments and structured interviews were carried out to document functional status and delivery of services after discharge. Significant factors for receiving follow-up services were analysed using a logistic generalized estimating equation model. Results: After controlling for case-mix, the results showed that Belgian patients were most likely to receive physical therapy but least likely to receive occupational therapy. German patients were least likely to receive nursing care. UK patients were less likely to receive medical care from their general practitioner compared with the other patient groups. Conclusion: Clinical characteristics did not explain the variations in service delivery after discharge from inpatient stroke rehabilitation. The decision-making processes involved in the provision of follow-up services need to be better documented. To improve our understanding of events post-discharge, the influence of non-clinical factors, such as healthcare regulations, should be explored further
Analysing care-related decisions in parents of congenitally deaf children : introduction of an explanatory model
The development and application of a new tool to assess the adequacy of the content and timing of antenatal care
Abstract
Background: Current measures of antenatal care use are limited to initiation of care and number of visits. This
study aimed to describe the development and application of a tool to assess the adequacy of the content and
timing of antenatal care.
Methods: The Content and Timing of care in Pregnancy (CTP) tool was developed based on clinical relevance for
ongoing antenatal care and recommendations in national and international guidelines. The tool reflects minimal
care recommended in every pregnancy, regardless of parity or risk status. CTP measures timing of initiation of care,
content of care (number of blood pressure readings, blood tests and ultrasound scans) and whether the
interventions were received at an appropriate time. Antenatal care trajectories for 333 pregnant women were then
described using a standard tool (the APNCU index), that measures the quantity of care only, and the new CTP tool.
Both tools categorise care into 4 categories, from ‘Inadequate’ (both tools) to ‘Adequate plus’ (APNCU) or
‘Appropriate’ (CTP). Participants recorded the timing and content of their antenatal care prospectively using diaries.
Analysis included an examination of similarities and differences in categorisation of care episodes between the
tools.
Results: According to the CTP tool, the care trajectory of 10,2% of the women was classified as inadequate, 8,4%
as intermediate, 36% as sufficient and 45,3% as appropriate. The assessment of quality of care differed significantly
between the two tools. Seventeen care trajectories classified as ‘Adequate’ or ‘Adequate plus’ by the APNCU were
deemed ‘Inadequate’ by the CTP. This suggests that, despite a high number of visits, these women did not receive
the minimal recommended content and timing of care.
Conclusions: The CTP tool provides a more detailed assessment of the adequacy of antenatal care than the
current standard index. However, guidelines for the content of antenatal care vary, and the tool does not at the
moment grade over-use of interventions as ‘Inappropriate’. Further work needs to be done to refine the content
items prior to larger scale testing of the impact of the new measure
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