Browsing by Subject "maternal mortality"
Now showing 1 - 2 of 2
Results Per Page
Sort Options
Item Gender patterns of tuberculosis testing and disease in South Africa(International Union Against Tuberculosis and Lung Disease, 2015-01-01) McLaren, Zoe; Brouwer, E.; Ederer, D.; Fischer, K.; Branson, N.SETTING: In South Africa, tuberculosis (TB) has been the leading cause of death for over a decade. The TB incidence rate is the second highest in the world, and continues to rise. OBJECTIVE: To examine gender patterns in South Africa's TB epidemic. This is one of the first studies to use National Health Laboratory Service (NHLS) data to evaluate the epidemic at the national level. DESIGN: Observational study using NHLS retrospective data for every TB test performed in public health facilities between 2009 and 2011. RESULTS: Despite an increase in the number of TB tests performed, the number of TB cases remained relatively constant. Although prevalence rates differ between health districts, we find a similar female-to-male ratio (0.70) in each district. The age profile for TB resembles that of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), with peak TB prevalence in women occurring 7 years earlier than in men. The female-to-male ratio of TB cases and 3+ positive (severe) cases decreases rapidly between ages 25 and 35 years. CONCLUSION: These age and gender patterns are driven by the HIV epidemic and risks associated with pregnancy and childbearing. Increasing the quality and quantity of active TB case finding at existing points of care would be a sustainable and cost-effective intervention for both treatment and prevention.Item What's Partisanship Got to Do With It? Racial Disparities of Maternal and Infant Mortality in North Carolina(2019-04-29) Harris, Jayla; Tucker-Worgs, Tamelyn; Tysse, Jill; Boyd, Ann; Political Science; Political ScienceThis research aims to examine whether there are common conditions such as, race, poverty level, rural or urban location, and partisanship that lead to higher rates of infant and maternal mortality among African-American women in North Carolina. The findings suggest that regardless of rural or urban location, partisanship, or percentage of individuals below poverty Black women still display higher rates of infant and maternal mortality. However, White infant mortality displayed a statistical difference and stronger correlation to percentage below poverty than Black infant mortality. Among the tested variables, only race yielded a statistically significant P-value for African-American women. Though, rates of infant and maternal mortality are considerably higher for African-American women in comparison to White women, none of the tested variables besides race were revealed to have a strong correlation nor statistical difference. However, the averages and variability of the rates for Black women were higher than White women for every test. For Black women, race may be the only explanation for infant mortality. Overall, partisanship exhibited no impact on rates of infant mortality. When it comes to maternal mortality, race remains as a consistent explanatory factor for Black women. For White women, maternal mortality is impacted by poverty level. Furthermore, the North Carolina Pregnancy Medical Home stands as a non-partisan partnership, and establishes the value of healthcare solutions without partisan battles.