Background. In South Africa (SA), the largest category of perinatal deaths is unexplained stillbirths. Two-thirds of these occur in the antenatal period and most fetuses are macerated, but at antenatal clinics the mothers were generally regarded as healthy, with low-risk pregnancies. Innovative methods are urgently required to detect fetuses at risk of stillbirth and manage the mothers appropriately. Objectives. To determine the prevalence of raised resistance indices (RIs) of the umbilical artery in a low-risk, low-income population and ascertain whether use of this information can prevent perinatal deaths. Methods. A descriptive study was performed in Mamelodi township, east of Pretoria, SA, on pregnant women attending antenatal clinics draining to two community health centres (CHCs). These women, classified as having low-risk pregnancies, were screened for placental insufficiency using a continuous-wave Doppler ultrasound apparatus (Umbiflow) between 28 and 32 weeks' gestation. When a raised RI was detected, the mother was referred to a high-risk clinic and managed according to a standard protocol. A cohort analytical study compared women who attended antenatal care at the same clinics as the Umbiflow group but did not have an Umbiflow test with those who had an Umbiflow test. The outcomes of all the deliveries in Mamelodi were recorded. The prevalences of abnormal RIs, absent end-diastolic flow (AEDF), stillbirths and neonatal deaths were the main outcome measures.Results. An Umbiflow RI was performed in 2 868 women, and pregnancy outcome was available for 2 539 fetuses (88.5%); 297 fetuses (11.7%) were regarded as at high risk. AEDF was found in 1.5% of the population screened with an outcome. There were 29 perinatal deaths in the Umbiflow group (low risk n=18, high risk n=11). The perinatal mortality rate for 12 168 women attending the CHCs and the antenatal clinics draining to the CHCs who did not have an RI was 21.3/1 000 births, significantly higher than that in the Umbiflow group (11.4/1 000 births) (risk ratio 0.58, 95% confidence interval 0.42 -0.81). Conclusions. The prevalence of AEDF in this low-risk population is ~10 times higher than that previously recorded. Use of the information prevented a number of perinatal deaths, most of which would have been macerated stillbirths. Screening a low-risk pregnant population using continuous-wave Doppler ultrasound may substantially reduce the prevalence of unexplained stillbirths in SA.

Agriculture in developing areas of South Africa has undergone much experimentation as recommended by academics and administrators. Notwithstanding the latest moves towards a more representative government, which may usher in the rediscovery of individual initiative, present policies are largely responsible for the underdeveloped state of agriculture among the black community. The top-down approach (whose existence is denied by policy-makers) is evident even in quasigovemment and private agricultural management agencies. This and the wanton control of resources by these institutions has led to retreat by small-scale farmers. Promotion of agriculture in the black community through highly centralised, administered projects has proved unappealing. The country's policy-makers have not taken heed of the argument that 'The poorer and more exposed one is, the more one becomes aware of sustainable survival techniques. If an outsider tells one how to survive, then that is the start of one's downfall'

The importance of livestock in rural households is well known and their role in the households well documented. Despite the important social and cultural value of livestock, especially cattle, there is a growing tendency amongst rural households to sell livestock. This paper is based on research into livestock marketing in developing areas. The research investigates the reasons for selling and marketing channels used by rural households. This paper specifically considers the role of speculators, auctioneers and butchers in the marketing of livestock in developing areas. The increasing popularity of private sales is discussed and analyzed. These different outlets serve as the major marketing channels for livestock producers in developing areas. In marketing their livestock through the different channels, farmers experience a range of problems and constraints. The paper analyses these constraints and complaints and also shows how these affect the farmers' choice of a particular marketing outlet. The paper emphasises that farmers do not have access to market information, i.e. current prices, supply, etc., while auctioneers, the limited buyers at auctions and the speculators do have access to market information. It is therefore concluded that the marketing of livestock in developing areas can be improved through addressing the various problems in the different marketing channels as well as through providing farmers with sufficient market information. This will enable farmers to make informed choices in the marketing of their livestock. UielrselDie bemarking van lewende hawe in die minderahvikkelde gebiede van Suid-Afrika: 'n GevaUestudie van die rol van veespekulante, afslaers, slagters en privaat kopers in Lebowa Die belangrike rol wat lewende hawe in landelike huishoudings vervul is welbekend en wyd gedokumenteer. Ondanks hierdie funksies toon onlangse navorsing aan dat veeboere in die minder-ontwikkelde gebiede toenemend vee vir kommersiZle redes, dit wil s& vir uiteindelike bemarking, aanhou. Hierdie referaat is gebaseer op navorsing wat gedoen is oor die bemarking van lewendehawe in die minder-ontwikkelde gebiede van Suid-Afrika en ondersoek die redes vir verkope van vee asook die bemarkingskanale wat gebruik word. Die referaat gee spesifieke aandag aan die rol van veespekulante, VCG veilings en slagters in die bemarking van lewende hawe. Die toenemende gewildheid van privaat uitdiehand verkope word ook ondersoek. Bogenoemde dien as die belangrikste bemarkingskanale vir veeboere in die minder-ontwikkelde gebiede. Die referaat ontleed verder 'n hele reeks van probleme wat hierdie boere ondervind in die bemarking van hul vee. Die struktuur en beperkings van veebemarking in die minder-ontwikkelde gebiede van Suid-Afrika word ondersoek. Klem is geplaas op die rol en belangrikheid van elk van die venkillende bemarkingskanale, die probleme wat ondervind word asook maniere om die funksionering van die kanale te verbeter. Die referaat beklemtoon dat veeboere nie toegang tot markinligting, 900s byvoorbeeld, heersende pry...