Maternal Risk Factors Associated with Preterm Births among Pregnant Women in Mogadishu, Somalia.

Background: Premature birth impacts millions of newborns annually. Sixty percent of the world's preterm births occur in Sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia. Somalia's premature birth rates and maternal risk factors are poorly studied; hence, this study aims to identify maternal risk factors related to premature births in Mogadishu, Somalia.

Patient and health care system delays in the start of tuberculosis treatment in Norway.

Background: Delay in start of tuberculosis (TB) treatment has an impact at both the individual level, by increasing the risk of morbidity and mortality, and at the community level, by increasing the risk of transmission. The aims of this study were to assess the delays in the start of treatment for TB patients in Oslo/Akershus region, Norway and to analyze risk factors for the delays.

Methods: This study was based on information from the National TB Registry, clinical case notes from hospitals and referral case notes from primary health care providers.

Treatment outcome of new culture positive pulmonary tuberculosis in Norway.

Background: The key elements in tuberculosis (TB) control are to cure the individual patient, interrupt transmission of TB to others and prevent the tubercle bacilli from becoming drug resistant. Incomplete treatment may result in excretion of bacteria that may also acquire drug resistance and cause increased morbidity and mortality. Treatment outcome results serves as a tool to control the quality of TB treatment provided by the health care system.