Reliability of self-reported data from the 2011 Ja-Kids birth cohort study: demographic, social, obstetric history, medical and outcome indicators.

The Ja-Kids Longitudinal Study (JA-Kids) aims to improve the health and development of Jamaican children by identifying social, demographic, environmental and clinical factors that help or hinder these processes. As clinical indicators relied on maternal reporting, we aim to evaluate the quality of the self-reported data. Women were recruited across Jamaica during pregnancy or at delivery from July 1-30 September 2011.

Classifying maternal deaths in Suriname using WHO ICD-MM: different interpretation by Physicians, National and International Maternal Death Review Committees.

Unlabelled: The World Health Organization (WHO) provides a framework (ICD-MM) to classify pregnancy-related deaths systematically, which enables global comparison among countries. We compared the classification of pregnancy-related deaths in Suriname by the attending physician and by the national maternal death review (MDR) committee and among the MDR committees of Suriname, Jamaica and the Netherlands. There were 89 possible pregnancy-related deaths in Suriname between 2010 and 2014.

Measurement of maternal functioning during pregnancy and postpartum: findings from the cross-sectional WHO pilot study in Jamaica, Kenya, and Malawi.

Background: The World Health Organization's definition of maternal morbidity refers to "a negative impact on the woman's wellbeing and/or functioning". Many studies have documented the, mostly negative, effects of maternal ill-health on functioning. Although conceptually important, measurement of functioning remains underdeveloped, and the best way to measure functioning in pregnant and postpartum populations is unknown.

Central adiposity at diagnosis may reduce prostate cancer-specific mortality in African-Caribbean men with prostate cancer: 10-year follow-up of participants in a case-control study.

Purpose: General and central adiposity are associated with the risk of developing prostate cancer (PCa), but the role of these exposures on PCa survival among men of African ancestry are less studied. This study aimed to investigate the association of anthropometry at diagnosis with all-cause and PCa-specific mortality and evaluate whether androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) modulated this risk.

Methods: Associations between body mass index (BMI), waist circumference (WC), and waist-to-hip ratio (WHR) at diagnosis and mortality were examined in 242 men with newly diagnosed PCa enrolled between 2005 and 2007 and re-evaluated 10.

Maternal morbidity: a longitudinal study of women's health during and up to 22 months after pregnancy in Jamaica.

Our study evaluated factors associated with ill-health in a population-based longitudinal study of women who delivered a singleton live-born baby in a 3-month period across Jamaica. Socio-demographics, perception of health, chronic illnesses, frequency and reasons for hospital admission were assessed. Relationships between ill-health and maternal characteristics were estimated using log-normal regression analysis.

The impact of hypertension, hemorrhage, and other maternal morbidities on functioning in the postpartum period as assessed by the WHODAS 2.0 36-item tool.

Objective: To assess the scores of postpartum women using the WHO Disability Assessment Schedule 2.0 36-item tool (WHODAS-36), considering different morbidities.

Methods: Secondary analysis of a retrospective cohort of women who delivered at a referral maternity in Brazil and were classified with and without severe maternal morbidity (SMM).

Standardizing the measurement of maternal morbidity: Pilot study results.

Objective: To field test a standardized instrument to measure nonsevere morbidity among antenatal and postpartum women.

Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted in Jamaica, Kenya, and Malawi (2015-2016). Women presenting for antenatal care (ANC) or postpartum care (PPC) were recruited if they were at least 28 weeks into pregnancy or 6 weeks after delivery.

A framework for healthcare interventions to address maternal morbidity.

The maternal health agenda is undergoing a paradigm shift from preventing maternal deaths to promoting women's health and wellness. A critical focus of this trajectory includes addressing maternal morbidity and the increasing burden of chronic and noncommunicable diseases (NCD) among pregnant women. The WHO convened the Maternal Morbidity Working Group (MMWG) to improve the scientific basis for defining, measuring, and monitoring maternal morbidity.

Antenatal depressive symptoms in Jamaica associated with limited perceived partner and other social support: A cross-sectional study.

Background: Antenatal depression is associated with adverse maternal and infant well-being. However, compared to postpartum depression, it has been less frequently explored globally or in Jamaica. This study aimed to determine the prevalence of, and factors associated with, antenatal depressive symptoms among Jamaican women in order to inform policy and build interventions that could improve their management and reduce their negative consequences.

The burden of obesity in women of reproductive age and in pregnancy in a middle-income setting: A population based study from Jamaica.

Introduction: Obesity is rising globally and is associated with increased risk of adverse pregnancy outcomes. This study aims to investigate overweight and obesity and its consequences among Jamaican women of reproductive age, particularly development of diabetes, hypertension and the risk of maternal death.

Materials And Methods: A national lifestyle survey (2007/8) of 1371 women of reproductive age provided data on the prevalence of high BMI, associated risk factors and co-morbidities.

Maternal morbidity measurement tool pilot: study protocol.

Background: While it is estimated that for every maternal death, 20-30 women suffer morbidity, these estimates are not based on standardized methods and measures. Lack of an agreed-upon definition, identification criteria, standardized assessment tools, and indicators has limited valid, routine, and comparable measurements of maternal morbidity. The World Health Organization (WHO) convened the Maternal Morbidity Working Group (MMWG) to develop standardized methods to improve estimates of maternal morbidity.

Low-Dose Aspirin in Early Gestation for Prevention of Preeclampsia and Small-for-Gestational-Age Neonates: Meta-analysis of Large Randomized Trials.

Objectives Meta-analyses of small to moderate size randomized controlled trials (RCTs) suggested that aspirin started before 17 weeks' gestation reduces the risk of preeclampsia and small-for-gestational-age (SGA) neonates. We evaluated data from large randomized trials originally excluded from meta-analyses. Methods We performed meta-analyses of RCTs including more than 350 participants that compared aspirin to placebo during pregnancy.

Prevention of Preeclampsia with Aspirin in Multiple Gestations: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.

Objective The objective of this study was to estimate the effect of low-dose aspirin in multiple gestations to prevent preeclampsia and small for gestational age (SGA) neonates. Methods A systematic review and meta-analysis were performed through electronic database searches. Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) of women with multiple gestations assigned to receive aspirin or placebo or no treatment were included.

Birth weight and maternal socioeconomic circumstances were inversely related to systolic blood pressure among Afro-Caribbean young adults.

Objectives: In this study, we examined the effects of birth weight (BWT) and early life socioeconomic circumstances (SEC) on systolic blood pressure (SBP) and diastolic blood pressure (DBP) among Jamaican young adults.

Study Design And Setting: Longitudinal study of 364 men and 430 women from the Jamaica 1986 Birth Cohort Study. Information on BWT and maternal SEC at child's birth was linked to information collected at 18-20 years old.

Certification of Coroners cases by pathologists would improve the completeness of death registration in Jamaica.

Objectives: Describe the completeness and quality of Jamaica's 2008 vital registration mortality database.

Study Design And Setting: Multiple sources (hospitals, police, forensic pathologists, Coroners courts) were used to validate deaths registered as occurring in 2008. A 10% random sample was examined to evaluate the quality of certification and coding.

Vital registration and under-reporting of maternal mortality in Jamaica.

Objective: To identify why vital registration under-reports maternal deaths in Jamaica.

Methods: A cross-sectional study was undertaken to identify all maternal deaths (during pregnancy or ≤42 days after pregnancy ended) occurring in 2008. Data sources included vital registration, hospital records, forensic pathology records, and an independent maternal mortality surveillance system.

Gender differences in the effects of urban neighborhood on depressive symptoms in Jamaica.

Objective: To explore the mental health effects of the urban neighborhood on men and women in Jamaica and the implications for urban planning and social development.

Methods: A cross-sectional household sample of 2 848 individuals 15-74 years of age obtained from the Jamaica Health and Lifestyle Survey 2007-2008 was analyzed. Secondary analysis was undertaken by developing composite scores to describe observer recorded neighborhood features, including infrastructure, amenities/services, physical conditions, community socioeconomic status, and green spaces around the home.

Reflections on the global burden of disease 2010 estimates.

Peter Byass and colleagues raise questions about the recent, high-profile Global Burden of Disease estimates.

Effect of aerobic exercise (walking) training on functional status and health-related quality of life in chronic stroke survivors: a randomized controlled trial.

Background And Purpose: Little is known about the effects of community-based walking programs in persons with chronic stroke. The purpose of this study was to determine the effects of aerobic (walking) training on functional status and health-related quality of life in stroke survivors.

Methods: A single-blind randomized controlled trial was conducted.

Translating coverage gains into health gains for all women and children: the quality care opportunity.

Wendy Graham and colleagues reflect on quality of maternal health care, the focus of Year 1 of the PLOS-MHTF Maternal Health Collection and its 18 new articles.

Excess risk of maternal death from sickle cell disease in Jamaica: 1998-2007.

Background: Decreases in direct maternal deaths in Jamaica have been negated by growing indirect deaths. With sickle cell disease (SCD) a consistent underlying cause, we describe the epidemiology of maternal deaths in this population.

Methods: Demographic, service delivery and cause specific mortality rates were compared among women with (n = 42) and without SCD (n = 376), and between SCD women who died in 1998-2002 and 2003-7.