Vol 21, No 8 (2014)

We have studied social variations in the average birth weight and prevalence of preterm birth over a 30 year period based on data from the Kola Birth Registry (KBR) in Monchegorsk, we also have investigated associations between birth weight and preterm delivery and maternal occupation. Data on 24,602 infants born live from singleton pregnancies with birth weight above 1,000 grams and their mothers were abstracted inform the KBR. Associations between maternal occupation, marital status and birth weight and preterm birth have been studied. Multiple linear regression was used to quantify influences of independent variables of maternal characteristics on birth weight and preterm births. The multivariable logistic regression was applied to study independent associations between the studied factors and preterm births with and without adjustment to potential confounders. The babies born by the unmarried mothers were on the average 101 g (95% CI: -118, -84) lighter than the babies born by the married women. The women from all other occupations except machine operators, mechanical and trade workers had lighter babies compared to the women from the highest occupational category. The babies of the unmarried mothers were more likely to be born preterm (OR=1.73, 95% CI: 1.37, 2.19). Birth weight and risk of preterm delivery are connected with social factors, such as the mother’s occupation and her marital status, admittedly through the economic component.

Transportation and accumulation of heavy metals in bodies, even in small doses, threatens health of millions of people, especially children. The aim of our study was to determine heavy metals content in hair, urine and feces of urban preschool children and to study effectiveness of calcium alginate nutritional supplements for correction of trace-element disorders. We determined the levels of cadmium (Cd), and strontium (Sr) in hair, urine and feces of 50 children (aged 5-7 years) using the method of atomic absorption spectrometry. We have found that the medians of substance content in urine were 102.17 and 0.12 pg/l for Sr and Cd respectively. In hair, the medians were 2.30 and 0.16 pg/g for Sr and Cd respectively. Then, we have divided 42 children into two groups: the Control group, and the Alginate group. For correction of trace-element disorders, we provided the children of the Alginate group with calcium alginate nutritional supplements during four weeks (600 mg per day). The results have shown that in their hair at the end of the observation period, the medians were 1.35 and 0.07 pg/g for Sr and Cd respectively. In urine and feces, the levels of heavy metals were not significantly different in the Control group and the Alginate group. Calcium alginate can be recommended for prevention and treatment of heavy metals poisoning.

The paper is based on results of a comprehensive examination of 386 children in institutions for orphans and children without parental care including an analysis of registration forms 030/1 12 - 1/u - 2000. The children’s morbidity and disability rates have been studied. Correlations between classes of diseases have been identified. Cluster and discriminative analyses allowed to divide the children into 5 groups according to the morbidity rates and health parameters. A mathematical model has been designed which allowed to refer the children to one of 5 selected groups according to the children’s diseases and a number of other characteristics. The obtained results have substantiated medical treatment and preventive work with children in orphanages.

In the article, there have been considered after-effects of the crisis of Descriptive Psychiatry and there have been grounded economically effective strategies of mental health services development. There have been selected principles of organization and functions; a synergetic medical-psychosocio-spiritual methodology of functional diagnosis and quality improvement of multidimensional adaptation; individual preventive-correctional and medical-rehabilitation programs and routes, interdisciplinary protocols and early interventions; approaches to improvement of quality, levels and styles of life by means of system integration of its healthy image and moral sense; features of organization of multidisciplinary brigades in mental pediatrics.