A systematic review and meta-analysis of studies of the association between secondhand tobacco smoke (SHTS) and middle ear disease (MED) in children. Data Sources: MEDLINE, EMBASE, and CAB abstracts (through December 2010) and reference lists. Study Selection: Sixty-one epidemiological studies of children assessing the effect of SHTS on outcomes of MED. Articles were reviewed, and the data were extracted and synthesized by 2 researchers. Main Outcome Exposures: Children's SHTS exposure. Main Outcome Measures: Middle ear disease in children. Results: Living with a smoker was associated with an increased risk of MED in children by an odds ratio (OR) of 1.62 (95% CI, 1.33-1.97) for maternal postnatal smoking and by 1.37 (95% CI, 1.25-1.50) for any household member smoking. Prenatal maternal smoking (OR, 1.11; 95% CI, 0.93-1.31) and paternal smoking (OR, 1.24; 95% CI, 0.98-1.57) were associated with a nonsignificant increase in the risk of MED. The strongest effect was on the risk of surgery for MED, where maternal postnatal smoking increased the risk by an OR of 1.86 (95% CI, 1.31-2.63) and paternal smoking by 1.83 (95% CI, 1.61-2.07). Conclusions: Exposure to SHTS, particularly to smoking by the mother, significantly increases the risk of MED in childhood; this risk is particularly strong for MED requiring surgery. We have shown that per year 130 200 of child MED episodes in the United Kingdom and 292 950 of child frequent ear infections in the United States are directly attributable to SHTS exposure in the home.
In accordance with social exchange theory (Thibaut and Kelley, 1959), this study examined the outcomes of caregiving for elderly mothers and their caregiving daughters (N = 141 pairs). Data were gathered through face-to-face interviews. Principal components factor analyses revealed three factors for mothers: Helplessness, Feeling Loved, and Anger; and three factors for daughters: Insufficient Time, Frustration, and Anxiety. Block regressions with an initial block of demographic variables and a second block of situational variables were performed to determine the relative influence of these two sets of independent variables on caregiving outcomes. The regressions revealed limited influence of demographic variables and significant influence of situational variables. Of particular importance for daughters is the role of perceived intimacy with the mother: Daughters with better relationships experience fewer caregiving costs. Mothers' health plays a critical role in the outcomes of care receiving: Mothers in poorer health experience greater helplessness and are less likely to feel loved.
We examined perceptions of decisional autonomy and decision-making processes among 64 elderly, single mothers and their caregiving daughters. Mothers were highly involved in decisions affecting their lives, ranging from daily care to major health decisions; daughters were particularly influential over major health, financial and housing decisions. Mothers' level of personal care dependency was negatively associated with both mothers' and daughters' confidence in the mothers' decision-making abilities.
Background Migrant women face inequalities in access to health-care services and are known to experience poorer maternal and child outcomes than women born in the UK. The development of more restrictive health policies in the UK and Europe, including being denied or charged for healthcare at maternity services, may be exacerbating these outcomes, particularly among undocumented migrant women without permission to reside. We investigated undocumented migrant women's experiences of accessing maternity services in the UK and their impact on health outcomes. Methods We did semi-structured in-depth qualitative interviews with a purposive sample of migrant women (born outside the UK) who were aged 18 and over, and had experiences of pregnancy in the UK whilst undocumented. Participants were recruited through the Doctors of the World UK clinic. Interviews were transcribed and analysed using thematic analysis. Results We did interviews with 20 undocumented women (age range 31-40 years; mainly from Africa and Asia). Among participants, of whom 13 were pregnant at the time of interview, 10 (50%) first accessed antenatal care late (after the national target of 13 weeks). Women described an ongoing cycle of precariousness, defined by their legal status, social isolation, and poor economic status. Women reported receiving bills of up to £11,500 for maternity services (range £3,072 to £11.500). The impact of their experiences meant that they were deterred from seeking timely health care and were reluctant to present to health services, with women reporting fear and loss of trust in the health system. Conclusions These women's narratives illustrated the potential deterrent and detrimental impact of increasingly restrictive health policies on women's access to care and their health. UK and European health policies must be equitable, non-discriminatory, and better align with our commitments to promote universal health coverage among all individual residing in the region. Key messages Increasingly restrictive health policies may have a deterrent and detrimental impact on migrant women’s access to health care. Undocumented migrant women in the UK reported fear and loss of trust in the health system.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.
customersupport@researchsolutions.com
10624 S. Eastern Ave., Ste. A-614
Henderson, NV 89052, USA
This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.
Copyright © 2025 scite LLC. All rights reserved.
Made with 💙 for researchers
Part of the Research Solutions Family.