Teenage parents

Teenage pregnancy is considered to be one of the most important adolescent health problems in Western society. It is associated with a high economic cost involving both direct monetary expenditure for public assistance for welfare and child health care as well as negative societal outcomes in terms of child abuse, neglect and poverty (Quinlivan, 2004). Australia now has one of the highest adolescent fertility rates in the world. Teenage mothers may experience a number of adverse outcomes associated with teenage pregnancy including failure to complete schooling, inability to find a job, and increased risk of poor health (Quinlivan, 2004; Social Exclusion Unit, 1999). There is now considerable evidence that many teenagers idealise pregnancy and parenthood and regard it with high expectations. A significant proportion of adolescent pregnancies result as a consequence of positive, idealised attitudes to pregnancy, parenthood and personal change rather than by accident or negative attitudes to contraception (Condon et al., 2001)

Idealization and Reality: Screening for Mother-Child Support Levels in Pregnancy and the Reality Experienced Six Months Postpartum

To evaluate to what extent teenage mothers are able to predict their postnatal support networks in the antenatal period, and the extent to which support correlates with social class and depressive symptomatology

Teenagers who plan parenthood

It is clear that a variable number of teenage mothers have, to some extent, planned parenthood. From an evolutionary perspective, it could be argued that teenage childbearing may in fact be a positive adaptive mechanism for humans raised in a hostile environment. Life history theory suggests that in risky and uncertain environments the optimal reproductive strategy is to reproduce early in order to maximise the probability of leaving any descendents at all. If some teenagers are planning or hoping for pregnancy, it is possible that some positive behavioural changes may be observed. This has proven to be the case with many teenagers altering their risk taking behaviours in the anticipation and expectation of pregnancy. There is now substantial evidence that teenagers who become pregnant were at higher risk than the general population for using cigarettes, alcohol, and marijuana. However, once pregnant, rates of consumption are usually lower compared with their non-pregnant peers or even their own personal pre-pregnancy rates of consumption

Smooth-stemmed turnip

Cruciferous weeds are common throughout the agricultural areas of Western Australia. They include wild turnip, wild mustard, wild radish, charlock and raphistrum weed or short fruited turnip. Another one—tentatively named smooth-stemmed turnip—has recently been sighted. Its exact weed potential will not be known for some years, but it is likely to spread through the south coastal districts where the climate and sandy surfaced soils favour its growth

Employment may protect fathers in the setting of maternal teenage pregnancy from anxiety and depression: Findings from the Australian Father\u27s Study

Objective: There is limited research on fathers in the setting of maternal teenage pregnancy. Most studies report data from regions of social disadvantage and low education. We report on the levels of anxiety, depression and quality of life of fathers in the setting of maternal teenage pregnancy in an area where the unemployment rate is low. Methods: Observational study of 50 fathers in the setting of maternal teenage pregnancy and 100 fathers whose partners were not teenagers (control), living within the same metropolitan healthcare region with high employment rates. Fathers were enrolled within the larger Australian Father’s Study and were recruited from antenatal clinics and community settings. Researchers administered the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, Satisfaction with Life Scale and demographic questionnaires. Results: Fathers in the setting of maternal teenage pregnancy were significantly younger than control fathers (p\u3c0.05). After adjusting for demographic variables, fathers in the setting of maternal teenage pregnancy did not have levels of anxiety, depression or quality of life that were significantly different to control fathers. Conclusion: Fathers in the setting of maternal teenage pregnancy, when engaged in further education or employment have levels of anxiety, depression and quality of life comparable to control fathers

The control of annual (Wimmera) ryegrass in cereal crops

The annual ryegrasses are valuable pasture plants in Western Australia, yet have become one of the major weed problems in cereal crops. The key to cultural control of annual ryegrasses in cereal crops is an understanding of the factors which govern germination of the seed. Covering the seed with soil keeps out light and provides a more stable moisture supply, bringing about a faster rate of germination. This is the basis of control programmes recommended in this article. Recommendations for chemical control are also included

Saffron thistle

Saffron thistle is a declared primary noxious weed in Western Australia and is especially troublesome in the northern agricultural areas. Field trials aimed at finding the cheapest and most effective method of controlling the weed have shown that 2,4-D applied at the correct stage is the best chemical to use

Time course changes in psychological symptomatology in women with gynaecological cancers

The aim of this study was to explore the wider psychological symptomatology experienced by women with a new diagnosis of a gynaecological cancer at the point of diagnosis and 6 weeks later

Importance of adequate sample sizes in fatty acid intervention trials

Abstract not availableLisa N. Yelland, Maria Makrides, Andrew J. McPhee, Julie Quinlivan, Robert A. Gibso

Clinical outcome of SARS-CoV-2 infection in 7 adults with Duchenne muscular dystrophy attending a specialist neuromuscular centre

Due to their frailty and cardiorespiratory compromise adults with DMD are considered extremely vulnerable and at high risk of severe infection should they contract COVID-19. We report 7 adults with DMD aged 17–26 years who tested positive on a nasopharyngeal PCR swab for SARS-CoV-2. Despite long term corticosteroid treatment, severe respiratory compromise requiring night-time ventilation and receiving treatment for moderate to severe cardiomyopathy, none of the patients developed moderate to severe symptoms; in fact two remained asymptomatic and two developed only anosmia and reduced sensation. The remaining three developed transient fever with or without sore throat, cough and runny nose. All recovered fully without complication and no patient required hospitalization