Elise Dubuc

Museum and university mutations: the relationship between museum practices and museum studies in the era of interdisciplinarity, professionalisation, globalisation and new technologies

Abstract The universe of the museum is in the process of profound transformation, a reflection of the societies in which museum institutions evolve. The number of museums has grown considerably and their activities have diversified. Our traditional understanding of this sector is no longer adapted to the present-day context and many are attempting to redefine it. The same holds true for the teaching of museum studies, since the milieu has been professionalised and has taken on new responsibilities. This article tracks recent developments in museum studies and invites the reader to reflect on current trends towards increasing the autonomy of the museum, in light of the fact that the museum has become an object of study. Limiting the discussion to a specific aspect of the museum, the author takes stock of the contribution made to the field by various disciplines. She also evaluates the museums role and function in terms of eight meta-functions. There are increasing expectations of museums: they must reflect and attempt to make sense of society, resolve social problems and provide new orientations, serve as a lever for minorities and open a window onto other cultures. The challenges facing museums also affect the curriculum of museum studies programmes. Are we teaching in order to reproduce the status quo, or in order to effect change?

Female genital mutilation/cutting: sharing data and experiences to accelerate eradication and improve care

Female genital mutilation or cutting (FGM/C), as a topic, has evolved over the last eighty years, from being almost unheard of outside practicing countries [1], to a subject about which, there is now greater awareness. However, many misconceptions prevail. We support the idea that everyone needs to know basic facts about FGM/C, that all health care providers should be involved in avoiding new cases and trained to provide care for existing ones, and that beyond these consensual aspects, there are areas of doubt and lack of evidence which scientists and policy makers need to identify, understand and address. In this area of “expertise”, the present issue of RH contains abstracts from presentations and e-posters from a conference which took place in Geneva in March 2017 titled “Management and prevention of female genital mutilation/cutting: sharing data and experiences, improving collaboration”.

The Effect of Adequate Gestational Weight Gain among Adolescents Relative to Adults of Equivalent Body Mass Index and the Risk of Preterm Birth, Cesarean Delivery, and Low Birth Weight.

OBJECTIVE To determine whether similar odds of cesarean delivery (C/S), preterm birth (PTB), and low birth weight (LBW) are observed among adolescents compared with body mass index (BMI)-equivalent adults in cases of adequate gestational weight gain. STUDY DESIGN We conducted a retrospective, population-based, cohort study using the Center for Disease Control and Preventions birth data files from the United States for 2012. We selected from the cohort all singleton, cephalic pregnancies and stratified them according to maternal age, prepregnancy BMI, and gestational weight gain following the 2009 Institute of Medicine (IOM) recommendations. The effect of adequate gestational weight gain among adolescents relative to adults of equivalent BMI on the risk of C/S, PTB, and LBW was estimated using logistic regression analysis, adjusting for relevant confounders. RESULTS We analyzed a total of 3,960,796 births, of which 1,036,646 (26.1%) met the inclusion criteria. In adolescents and adults, likelihood of achieving ideal gestational weight gain decreased with greater prepregnancy BMI. Relative to adults, the overall odds of C/S in all adolescents were (adjusted odds ratio [95% confidence interval]) 0.61 (0.58 to 0.63). When comparing equivalent BMI categories, these odds were unchanged (P < .0001). The overall adjusted odds ratio of LBW was 1.15 (1.13 to 1.16). These odds were significantly higher when BMI stratification took place, decreasing with advancing BMI categories, from 1.23 (1.14 to 1.33) among the underweight, to nonsignificant differences in the obese classes (P < .05). Finally, when including only those achieving ideal weight gain, the overall odds of premature delivery (1.17 [1.14 to 1.20]) were higher among nonobese adolescents, while they were not found among the obese. CONCLUSION When ideal gestational weight gain is attained, only nonobese adolescents exhibit a greater risk of LBW and preterm birth relative to adults of similar BMI, whereas the risk of C/S remains lower for all adolescents, independent of BMI. This information may be useful in the counseling of adolescent pregnancies.