Global prevalence of preterm birth among Pacific Islanders: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

The epidemiology of preterm birth among Pacific Islanders is minimally understood. The purpose of this study was to estimate pooled prevalence of preterm birth among Pacific Islanders and to estimate their risk of preterm birth compared to White/European women. We searched MEDLINE, EMBASE, Web of Science Core Collection, Cochrane Library, CINAHL, Global Health, and two regional journals in March 2023.

Preterm birth among Pacific Islanders in the United States and the US-affiliated Pacific Islands: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Objective: To better understand the epidemiology of preterm birth among Pacific Islanders in the United States and the US-Affiliated Pacific Islands.

Methods: Systematic searches of MEDLINE, Embase, CINAHL, PsycINFO, two nonindexed regional journals, and gray literature were conducted and finalized in September 2021. Observational studies published since January 2010 that documented preterm birth outcomes among Pacific Islanders in the United States and the US-Affiliated Pacific Islands were eligible for inclusion.

A global view of hypertensive disorders and diabetes mellitus during pregnancy.

Two important maternal cardiometabolic disorders (CMDs), hypertensive disorders in pregnancy (HDP) (including pre-eclampsia) and gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM), result in a large disease burden for pregnant individuals worldwide. A global consensus has not been reached about the diagnostic criteria for HDP and GDM, making it challenging to assess differences in their disease burden between countries and areas. However, both diseases show an unevenly distributed disease burden for regions with a low income or middle income, or low-income and middle-income countries (LMICs), or regions with lower sociodemographic and human development indexes.

Translating the Pelvic Organ Prolapse Score into Samoan using a modified back translation methodology.

Background: Although Samoan women have a high prevalence of obesity and multiple parity which are risk factors of pelvic organ prolapse, there is no prevalence data on this condition.

Aims: Translate the Pelvic Organ Prolapse-Symptoms Score (POP-SS) from English into Samoan, MATERIALS AND METHODS: Standardised methods for translating questionnaires, individual face to face audio-recorded interviews in which women completed the POP-SS using a Think Aloud method, analysis using a Framework approach.

Results: The POP-SS was successfully translated in to Samoan, an additional information leaflet was developed to support women's understanding of what prolapse is, 14 Samoan women were recruited of which 13 were interviewed and completed the POP-SS, results of POP-SS (scores), results of think aloud, results in terms of research experience.

Relevance of Otago University postgraduate programmes in women's health to general practice: a case study.

INTRODUCTION There are important changes in the health care needs of women presenting to general practice in New Zealand, which prompted an evaluation of postgraduate training needs of general practitioners (GPs) who care for women in the community. AIM To evaluate the perceived relevance of the curriculum of Otago University postgraduate programmes in women's health to GPs' work profile to identify any need for curricular change. This study was also performed to investigate the need for refresher courses or a Master's degree in obstetrics, gynaecology and women's health.

'The horror stories put me off!': exploring women's acceptability of the Levonorgestrel IntraUterine System (LNG-IUS) for endometrial protection.

INTRODUCTION There are few studies of user perceptions of the Levonorgestrel Intrauterine System (LNG-IUS; Mirena™), which now has the potential to play an important role in the treatment of women with hyperplasia or early stage endometrial cancer. There is limited evidence on how well the Mirena™ is perceived and accepted by women in this context. AIM To gain an understanding of New Zealand women's views on the use of the Mirena™ contraceptive device to inform policies in endometrial cancer prevention.

How do Pacific Island countries add up on contraception, abortion and reproductive coercion? Guidance from the Guttmacher report on investing in sexual and reproductive health.

The Guttmacher-Lancet Commission report on Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights called for the acceleration of progress to achieve SRHR that is essential for sustainable development. To integrate the essential services defined in this report into universal health coverage in the 11 sovereign nations in the Pacific, quality data is required to ensure needs are met efficiently and equitably. However, there are no comprehensive reports for Pacific Island countries that provide insight into all areas of SRHR.

The burden of infertility in New Zealand: A baseline survey of prevalence and service use.

Background: Studies in southern New Zealand indicate that up to a quarter of women experienced infertility, likely due to delay in childbearing. However, these findings may not be generalisable to the whole population.

Aims: To assess the lifetime prevalence of infertility and evidence for disparities for New Zealand men and women in a nationally representative sample.

Beyond the numbers-understanding women's experiences of accessing care for abnormal uterine bleeding (AUB): a qualitative study.

Objective: To gain a deeper understanding of women's experiences of accessing care for abnormal uterine bleeding (AUB) in order to inform future strategies to improve care pathways, including the early detection of endometrial cancer.

Design: We conducted semistructured interviews with 15 women who attended their first gynaecological specialist consultation for AUB at Wellington Regional Hospital between October and December 2019. Inductive thematic analysis was used to explore experiences and barriers to seeking care.

Barriers to seeking consultation for abnormal uterine bleeding: systematic review of qualitative research.

Background: Although Abnormal Uterine Bleeding (AUB) can have serious medical consequences and significantly impacts daily life, the overall trend is that most women do not seek care for these symptoms. The objective of this review was to synthesise factors impeding women's access care for AUB.

Methods: Systematic literature review of qualitative studies (interview and focus group) regarding the lived in experiences of women with abnormal menstrual symptoms, followed by a thematic analysis of these studies.

Reflection on the current status of endometrial cancer in New Zealand.

Incidence of endometrial cancer is increasing rapidly in the developed world and is the most common gynaecological cancer in Australia and New Zealand. In line with obesity rates, the landscape and average age of women diagnosed with endometrial cancer are changing. There is still unmet need in early diagnosis, directed treatment, management of comorbidities and prevention strategies.

Cancer control in the Pacific: big challenges facing small island states.

This Series paper describes the current state of cancer control in Pacific island countries and territories (PICTs). PICTs are diverse but face common challenges of having small, geographically dispersed, isolated populations, with restricted resources, fragile ecological and economic systems, and overburdened health services. PICTs face a triple burden of infection-related cancers, rapid transition to lifestyle-related diseases, and ageing populations; additionally, PICTs are increasingly having to respond to natural disasters associated with climate change.

Cancer control in small island nations: from local challenges to global action.

Cancer is a leading cause of death in small island nations and is forecast to increase substantially over the coming years. Governments, regional agencies, and health services of these nations face daunting challenges, including small and fragile economies, unequal distribution of resources, weak or fragmented health services, small population sizes that make sustainable workforce and service development problematic, and the unavailability of specialised cancer services to large parts of the population. Action is required to prevent large human and economic costs relating to cancer.

Cancer management in the Pacific region: a report on innovation and good practice.

Pacific island countries and territories (PICTs) face the challenge of a growing cancer burden. In response to these challenges, examples of innovative practice in cancer planning, prevention, and treatment in the region are emerging, including regionalisation and coalition building in the US-affiliated Pacific nations, a point-of-care test and treat programme for cervical cancer control in Papua New Guinea, improving the management of children with cancer in the Pacific, and surgical workforce development in the region. For each innovation, key factors leading to its success have been identified that could allow the implementation of these new developments in other PICTs or regions outside of the Pacific islands.

Dermatological conditions encountered in The Independent State of Samoa and an exploration of possible strategies to manage dermatological health-care needs in this resource-poor setting.

This report adds to the limited existing literature concerning dermatoses in Samoa. Conditions encountered during a 4-day private clinic are reported. Amongst the 75 patients reviewed, eczema was the most frequent condition diagnosed.

Going to sleep in the supine position is a modifiable risk factor for late pregnancy stillbirth; Findings from the New Zealand multicentre stillbirth case-control study.

Objective: Our objective was to test the primary hypothesis that maternal non-left, in particular supine going-to-sleep position, would be a risk factor for late stillbirth (≥28 weeks of gestation).

Methods: A multicentre case-control study was conducted in seven New Zealand health regions, between February 2012 and December 2015. Cases (n = 164) were women with singleton pregnancies and late stillbirth, without congenital abnormality.

The effectiveness of the levonorgestrel intrauterine system in obese women with heavy menstrual bleeding.

Introduction: To evaluate the effectiveness of the levonorgestrel intrauterine system (LNG-IUS) in obese women with heavy menstrual bleeding in Counties Manukau Auckland area, New Zealand.

Methods: Prospective observational study in a tertiary teaching hospital. Twenty women with heavy menstrual bleeding (HMB) who agreed to treatment with the LNG-IUS and had a body mass index (BMI) of >30 kg/m were recruited between May and December 2014.

Development and use of a research productivity assessment tool for clinicians in low-resource settings in the Pacific Islands: a Delphi study.

Background: Research performance assessments have proliferated, but research indicators for use amongst clinicians in poorly resourced countries have been ill-defined. The aims of the present paper were to determine a set of indicators as determined by clinician participants from the Pacific Islands and a panel of research experts for use in the performance assessment of clinicians.

Methods: Two focus group discussions, one for nurses and one for doctors, were used to obtain the views of 28 Pacific Island clinicians of the BRRACAP Study about what the research indicators should be.

Vitamin D activity of breast milk in women randomly assigned to vitamin D3 supplementation during pregnancy.

Background: Human milk is typically low in vitamin D activity (VDA). Whether the vitamin D content of breast milk at birth can be increased by supplementing the mother during pregnancy has not been reported to the best of our knowledge.

Objective: We examined the effect of vitamin D supplementation during pregnancy on breast-milk VDA in the first 2 mo of lactation.

Predictors of vitamin D status in pregnant women in New Zealand.

Introduction: Newborn vitamin D status is largely determined by maternal vitamin D status during pregnancy. New Zealand has a sun avoidance health policy and minimal dietary vitamin D fortification. Vitamin D deficiency (serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) concentration <50 nmol/L) is present in 57% of a sample of newborns from Christchurch and Wellington.

Gestational diabetes mellitus screening, management and outcomes in the Cook Islands.

Aim: To describe current practices for screening for gestational diabetes mellitus in the Cook Islands and consider the implications of alternative screening strategies.

Methods: Eligible women had antenatal care from January 2009 to December 2012. A non-fasting 50 g glucose challenge between 24 and 28 weeks gestation (positive if 1-hour glucose greater than or equal to 7.

Chlamydia trachomatis screening in pregnancy in New Zealand: translation of national guidelines into practice.

Introduction: Chlamydia trachomatis (C. trachomatis) is a common sexually transmitted infection (STI), and routine antenatal screening to reduce the risk of vertical transmission is recommended in New Zealand (NZ).

Aim: To determine the proportion of pregnant women who have been screened for C.