Pteronotropis merlini inhabits more upland habitats in this drainage, and P. hypselopterus occurs in more lowland habitats below the confluence with the Pea River [ 7], ecological and behavioral predispositions that may limit their geographic overlap.
Because our patients were all recruited from San Antonio, Texas, the geographic coverage may limit our generalizability.
First, sampling from three years in a single geographic area may limit the generalizability of our results.
Although individual-level confounding factors could not be controlled for in the present study, such as Helicobacter Pylori infection of the stomach, smoking or excessive drinking, the populations in the HEA and LEA showed similar SES, dietary and geographic characteristics, which may limit any potential biases.
Finally, restriction to a population of African-American and Dominican families in low-income areas of New York City may limit the generalizability of our findings to other populations and geographic areas.
As we studied MAs from a relatively confined geographic area, we acknowledge the possibility of coverage error that may limit the generalizability of our results to MAs in other locations.
In addition, this study was restricted to a single geographic region with the median education level being college graduate, which may limit generalizability of results.
More generally, such geographic methods of exposure assessment make a number of key assumptions that may limit their applicability in given situations (Elliott and Wakefield 1999).
Although this may limit the number of unsafe abortions and consequently sepsis, it is impossible to assess whether an informal use of misoprostol exists in this geographic area.
However, the Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction and similar programs require a skilled facilitator, have limited geographic availability, and may be cost prohibitive.
