Medicine (RMH) - Research Publications

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    Prevalence and risk factors for symptoms of common mental disorders in early and late pregnancy in Vietnamese women: A prospective population-based study
    Fisher, J ; Tran, T ; Tran, TD ; Dwyer, T ; Nguyen, T ; Casey, GJ ; Simpson, JA ; Hanieh, S ; Biggs, B-A (Elsevier, 2013-04-05)
    BACKGROUND: Little is known about the prevalence of and risk factors for common mental disorders (CMD) in pregnant women in low-income countries. The aim of this study was to establish the prevalence of and psychosocial risk factors for clinically significant symptoms of CMD in early and late pregnancy in women in rural Viet Nam. METHODS: A population-based sample of women was surveyed in early and late pregnancy. CMD were assessed by the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale-Viet Nam Validation and psychosocial risks by study-specific structured interviews. RESULTS: In total 497/523 (97%) eligible women were recruited and 419 (84%) provided complete data. Prevalence of CMD only in early pregnancy was 22.4% (95% CI 18.4-26.4); only in late pregnancy was 10.7% (95% CI 7.8-13.7) and at both assessment waves was 17.4% (95% CI 13.8-21.1). Non-economic and economic coincidental life adversity, intimate partner violence, past pregnancy loss, and childhood abuse were positively associated with persistent antenatal CMD. Older age, having a preference for the baby's sex, and nulli- or primiparity were risk factors for CMD in early pregnancy. CONCLUSIONS: Persistent antenatal CMD are prevalent in rural areas of Viet Nam. Psychosocial risk factors play a major role in this significant public health problem.
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    THE EFFECT OF INTERMITTENT ANTENATAL IRON SUPPLEMENTATION ON INFANT OUTCOMES IN RURAL VIETNAM: A CLUSTER RANDOMISED TRIAL
    Hanieh, S ; Ha, TT ; Simpson, JA ; Casey, GC ; Thuy, T ; Khuong, NC ; Thoang, DD ; Pasricha, SR ; Tran, TD ; Tuan, T ; Dwyer, T ; Fisher, J ; Biggs, BA ; Grais, RF (KARGER, 2013)
    BACKGROUND: Anemia affects over 500 million women, and in pregnancy is associated with impaired maternal and infant outcomes. Intermittent antenatal iron supplementation is an attractive alternative to daily dosing; however, the impact of this strategy on infant outcomes remains unclear. We compared the effect of intermittent antenatal iron supplementation with daily iron supplementation on maternal and infant outcomes in rural Viet Nam. METHODS AND FINDINGS: This cluster randomised trial was conducted in Ha Nam province, Viet Nam. 1,258 pregnant women (< 16 wk gestation) in 104 communes were assigned to daily iron-folic acid (IFA), twice weekly IFA, or twice weekly multiple micronutrient (MMN) supplementation. Primary outcome was birth weight. Mean birth weight was 3,148 g (standard deviation 416). There was no difference in the birth weights of infants of women receiving twice weekly IFA compared to daily IFA (mean difference [MD] 28 g; 95% CI -22 to 78), or twice weekly MMN compared to daily IFA (MD -36.8 g; 95% CI -82 to 8.2). At 32 wk gestation, maternal ferritin was lower in women receiving twice weekly IFA compared to daily IFA (geometric mean ratio 0.73; 95% CI 0.67 to 0.80), and in women receiving twice weekly MMN compared to daily IFA (geometric mean ratio 0.62; 95% CI 0.57 to 0.68), but there was no difference in hemoglobin levels. Infants of mothers who received twice weekly IFA had higher cognitive scores at 6 mo of age compared to those who received daily IFA (MD 1.89; 95% CI 0.23 to 3.56). CONCLUSIONS: Twice weekly antenatal IFA or MMN did not produce a clinically important difference in birth weight, when compared to daily IFA supplementation. The significant improvement in infant cognitive outcomes at 6 mo of age following twice weekly antenatal IFA requires further exploration, and provides additional support for the use of intermittent, rather than daily, antenatal IFA in populations with low rates of iron deficiency. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Australia New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry 12610000944033.
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    Psychological and Social Factors Associated with Late Pregnancy Iron Deficiency Anaemia in Rural Viet Nam: A Population-Based Prospective Study
    Thach, DT ; Biggs, B-A ; Tuan, T ; Casey, GJ ; Hanieh, S ; Simpson, JA ; Dwyer, T ; Fisher, J ; Matsuo, K (PUBLIC LIBRARY SCIENCE, 2013-10-22)
    OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to examine the relationships between psychological and social factors and late pregnancy IDA among pregnant women in rural Viet Nam. METHODS: Pregnant women from 50 randomly-selected communes within Ha Nam province were recruited and assessed at 12 - 20 weeks gestation (Wave 1, W1). They were followed up in the last trimester (Wave 2, W2). IDA was defined as Haemoglobin < 11 g/dL and serum ferritin < 15 ng/mL. Symptoms of Common Mental Disorders (CMD) were assessed by the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale-Vietnam (EPDS-V). Persistent antenatal CMD was defined as having an EPDS-V score ≥ 4 in both W1 and W2. Hypothesis models were tested by Structural Equation Modeling analyses. RESULTS: A total of 378 women provided complete data at both W1 and W2. The incidence risk of IDA in the third trimester was 13.2% (95% confidence interval (CI): 9.8-16.7). Persistent CMD was found in 16.9% (95% CI: 13.1-20.7) pregnant women and predicted by intimate partner violence, fear of other family members, experience of childhood abuse, coincidental life adversity, and having a preference for the sex of the baby. There was a significant pathway from persistent CMD to IDA in late pregnancy via the length of time that iron supplements had been taken. Receiving advice to take iron supplements and higher household wealth index were indirectly related to lower risk of late pregnancy IDA. Early pregnancy IDA and being multi-parous also contributed to late pregnancy IDA. CONCLUSIONS: Antenatal IDA and CMD are prevalent public health problems among women in Viet Nam. The link between them suggests that while direct recommendations to use iron supplements are important, the social factors associated with common mental disorders should be addressed in antenatal care in order to improve the health of pregnant women and their infants.
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    Impact on Infants' Cognitive Development of Antenatal Exposure to Iron Deficiency Disorder and Common Mental Disorders
    Thach, DT ; Biggs, B-A ; Tuan, T ; Simpson, JA ; Hanieh, S ; Dwyer, T ; Fisher, J ; Nizami, Q (PUBLIC LIBRARY SCIENCE, 2013-09-23)
    OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to examine the effects of antenatal exposure to iron deficiency anemia (IDA) and common mental disorders (CMD) on cognitive development of 6 months old infants in a developing country. METHODS: A prospective population-based study in a rural province in Vietnam, which enrolled pregnant women at 12-20 weeks gestation and followed them up with their infants until six months postpartum. Criteria for IDA were Hb <11 g/dL and serum ferritin <15 ng/mL. CMD symptoms were assessed by the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale-Vietnam validation. Infant cognitive development was assessed by Bayley Scales of Infant and Toddler Development, 3rd Ed. Path analyses were performed to determine the direct and indirect, partly or fully mediated, causal effects of the antenatal exposures. RESULTS: A total of 497 pregnant women were recruited, of those 378 women provided complete data which were included in the analyses. Statistically significant direct adverse effects of persistent antenatal IDA (estimated difference of -11.62 points; 95% CI -23.01 to -0.22) and antenatal CMD (-4.80 points; 95% CI: -9.40 to -0.20) on infant Bayley cognitive scores at six months were found. Higher birthweight, household wealth, and self-rated sufficient supply of breastmilk were associated with higher cognitive scores. Maternal age >30 years and primiparity had an indirect adverse effect on infants' Bayley cognitive scores. CONCLUSIONS: These findings suggest that antenatal IDA and CMD both have adverse effects on child cognitive development, which if unrecognized and unaddressed are likely to be lasting. It is crucial that both these risks are considered by policy makers, clinicians, and researchers seeking to improve child cognitive function in developing countries.
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    Prevalence and risk factors for symptoms of common mental disorders in early and late pregnancy in Vietnamese women: A prospective population-based study.
    Fisher, Jane ; TRAN, TUAN ; TRAN, THACH ; Dwyer, Terry ; NGUYEN, TRANG ; CASEY, GERARD ; SIMPSON, JULIE ; HANIEH, SARAH ; BIGGS, BEVERLEY-ANN ( 2013)
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    Intimate partner violence and perinatal common mental disorders among women in rural Vietnam.
    Fisher, Jane ; TRAN, THACH ; BIGGS, BEVERLEY-ANN ; Dang, Tho ; NGUYEN, TRANG ; TRAN, TUAN ( 2013)