| CityMatCH NewsBriefs highlights recent articles and information from MCH-related organizations, publications, and listservs. Please circulate this NewsBrief within your agency, and to others interested in these issues. |
| Women's Health |
| Study Examines Health Care Workers' Attitudes and Beliefs Regarding Influenza Vaccination During Pregnancy |
| Estimated Pregnancy Rates for the United States, 1990-2005: An Update |
| Disparities in Health |
| New Webcast on Health Disparities Now Available from Kaiser Family Foundation |
| Journal Supplement Explores Child Health Disparities and Health Literacy in Children |
| Efforts to Address STDs among African-American Men Who Have Sex with Men |
| Overweight and Obesity |
| Toolkit Provides Employers with Varied Options for Promoting Healthy Child Weight |
| Journal Publishes Themed Issue on Physical Activity Research and Funding |
| Adolescent Health |
| New Fact Sheet Highlights What Current Health Care Reform Bills Do for Adolescents |
| Teens Have High Standards, But Low Expectations, for Healthy Romantic Relationships |
| Opportunities |
| 15th Annual MCH EPI Conference - December 9-11, 2009 |
| World AIDS Day - December 1, 2009 |
| Webcast: Preparing for Health Reform: A Conversation with State Policymakers |
| Home Visiting Evidence of Effectiveness (HomVEE) Call for Studies |
| NICHD Offers Nurses For-credit Course on SIDS Risk Reduction |
| Healthy People 2020 Public Comment Opportunity |
| NBPHE Webinar: How to Become Certified in Public Health (CPH): Mysteries Revealed |
| Resources, Reports, Research |
| National Center Compiles Resources on Child Care and SIDS |
| Health Insurance Coverage Highlights Now Available from the National Health Interview Survey |
| New HIV/AIDS Funding Data |
| New Publication: Better Health at Lower Cost: Policy Options for Managing Childhood Tooth Decay |
| Integrating Child Health Information Systems in Public Health Agencies |
| New Report Examines Expanded Data from New Birth Certificate |
| State H1N1 At-Risk population activities are posted on the ASTHO website |
| State Medicaid Coverage for Tobacco-Dependence Treatments --- United States, 2007 |
| MCHB's Title V Information System (TVIS) Web Reports Updated |
| New Report Provides Update on Well-being of US Children |
| Study Identifies Promising Data Elements for Environmental Public Health Tracking of Reproductive Outcomes |
| How to Assess Bullying and Peer Conflict and Promote Positive Conflict Resolution |
| Behind International Rankings of Infant Mortality: How the United States Compares with Europe |
| Updated Issue Brief Examines the COBRA Subsidy and Health Insurance for the Unemployed |
| HHS and Sesame Workshop Release 13 New Flu Prevention Radio PSAs |
| Deaths Among Persons with AIDS through December 2006 |
| News of Interest |
| CDC Announces Addition of 2007 PRAMS Data to CPONDER System |
| House Passes Health Care Overhaul Bill |
| Widespread Chemicals May Affect Cholesterol Levels, Boston Study Finds |
| HHS Announces Senate Confirmation of Dr. Regina Benjamin as U.S. Surgeon General |
| Perceived Insufficient Rest or Sleep Among Adults --- United States, 2008 |
| FDA and WebMD Expand Consumer Health Information Partnership |
| Women's Health |
| Study Examines Health Care Workers' Attitudes and Beliefs Regarding Influenza Vaccination During Pregnancy |
| Broughton DE, Beigi RH, Switzer GE, et al. 2009. "Obstetric health care workers' attitudes and beliefs regarding influenza vaccination in pregnancy." Obstetrics and Gynecology 114(5):981-987. "The results of this study show an alarming lack of knowledge and confidence regarding the influenza vaccine in pregnancy among obstetric health care workers," write the authors of an article published in the November 2009 issue of Obstetrics and Gynecology. In 2004, the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices began recommending routine influenza vaccination for healthy pregnant women during the influenza season. However, in 2005, the United States achieved just 16 percent influenza vaccination coverage of pregnant women, and it is estimated that less than 10 percent of pregnant women who are at highest risk for influenza receive the vaccine. The aim of this study was to estimate whether health care workers' attitudes could represent a possible barrier to vaccination coverage. -- SNIP Abstract available at: http://journals.lww.com/greenjournal/Abstract/2009/11000/Obstetric_Health_Care_Workers__Attitudes_and.5.aspx. |
| MCH Alert - 6 November 2009 |
| Estimated Pregnancy Rates for the United States, 1990-2005: An Update |
| This report presents detailed pregnancy rates for 1990-2005, updating a national series of rates extending since 1976. In 2005, an estimated 6,408,000 pregnancies resulted in 4.14 million live births, 1.21 million induced abortions, and 1.06 million fetal losses. The 2005 pregnancy rate of 103.2 pregnancies per 1,000 women aged 15-44 years is 11 percent below the 1990 peak of 115.8. The teenage pregnancy rate dropped 40 percent from 1990 to 2005, reaching an historic low of 70.6 per 1,000 women aged 15-19 years. Rates fell much more for younger than for older teenagers. To view report, go to: http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/nvsr/nvsr58/nvsr58_04.pdf |
| Women's Health Update from the CDC/ATSDR - 30 October 2009 |
| Disparities in Health |
| New Webcast on Health Disparities Now Available from Kaiser Family Foundation |
| Today's Topics In Health Disparities: Is the Health Care System Ready for Health Reform? This Kaiser Family Foundation live, interactive program examined how ready the health care system is for the influx of newly covered individuals that health reform aims to deliver. The program addressed how health reform could improve or exacerbate the existing issues that people living in underserved areas, including many people of color, face in getting access to needed health care. The panelists also discussed provisions in the bills that address the need for increasing the health care workforce and maintaining the safety net as well as potential gaps in the legislation, and the possible impact on racial and ethnic health disparities. To access webcast, go to: http://www.kff.org/minorityhealth/rehc110409webcast.cfm |
| Kaiser Family Foundation - 9 November 2009 |
| Journal Supplement Explores Child Health Disparities and Health Literacy in Children |
| The November 2009 supplement to Pediatrics examines health-disparity and health-literacy issues, problems, and opportunities specific to children and children's health. The supplement, published by the American Academy of Pediatrics, contains commissioned articles that were presented at two conferences held in November 2008 to increase the attention given to health disparities and health literacy in children. Contents include nine articles and discussant comments on conceptualizing child health disparities and approaches to solving them. Recommendations for research on child health disparities and the infrastructure (funding and training) to support it are also addressed. The supplement also includes a systematic review of the literature on the relationship between health literacy and child health outcomes and recommendations for action. Additional topics include literacy and learning, the importance of encouraging and enabling health literacy among children and adolescents, parents' health literacy, pediatricians' health literacy and communication skills, the relationship of pediatric health literacy to child health promotion and prevention and targets for interventions, and the relationship between health literacy and quality of care, with particular reference to children with chronic illnesses and patient safety. The supplement extracts and abstracts are available at: http://pediatrics.aappublications.org/content/vol124/Supplement_3/index.dtl. |
| MCH Alert - 6 November 2009 |
| Efforts to Address STDs among African-American Men Who Have Sex with Men |
| The STD Disparities Workgroup (SDW), in collaboration with their partners at the Morehouse School of Medicine, hosted a meeting August 13-14, 2009 with four historically black college and university (HBCU) medical schools, the national STD Prevention Training Centers (PTCs), and State and local health departments to develop a strategy for standardizing STI curricula at each of the medical schools. The Division of STD Prevention has allocated the necessary resources to continue this project through 2010. On August 31, 2009, they conducted a consultation meeting with external stakeholders to address STDs among African-American men who have sex with men, a population experiencing increasing rates of infectious syphilis. The participants made several recommendations including assessment of state and local STD clinic adherence to CDC screening guidelines for MSM populations; promotion of effective STD prevention messages about the STD-related risks associated with oral sex; and identification of venues where African-American men gather (e.g., barbershops) to disseminate prevention messages. During the consultation, external stakeholders stressed the need for individual-level interventions that are tailored to African-American men in general to better reach African-American men who do not identify as gay or bisexual although they have sex with men. A more detailed report of this consultation will be shared in the next quarterly newsletter. |
| STD Disparities Workgroup/CDC - 19 October 2009 |
| Overweight and Obesity |
| Toolkit Provides Employers with Varied Options for Promoting Healthy Child Weight |
| Childhood Obesity: It's Everyone's Business is an action-oriented toolkit designed to help employers address overweight and obesity in children and the implications on health care costs and on the current and future work force. The toolkit, published by the National Business Group on Health with support from the Health Resources and Services Administration's Maternal and Child Health Bureau, is built around four key levers available to most or all employers -- benefits,
employee education, on-site facilities, and philanthropic opportunities. Throughout the toolkit, employer case studies and examples illustrate how strategies in place may be modified, expanded,
or marketed to promote healthy weight for children. Topics include an overview of the problem, including statistics and key causes of the childhood obesity epidemic; the business case for employer action; ways employers can use benefits design or incentives to help combat childhood obesity; educational materials and an employer case study exemplifying targeted employee education; examples of how employers can use existing programs or facilities; and ways companies can support the fight against childhood obesity in their communities. A list of resources and relevant Web sites is also included. The toolkit is available at: http://www.businessgrouphealth.org/benefitstopics/et_chobesity.cfm. |
| MCH Alert - 6 November 2009 |
| Journal Publishes Themed Issue on Physical Activity Research and Funding |
| "Forum on Physical Activity Research and Funding: Prioritizing Physical Activity Promotion: A Public Health Imperative" focuses on the role of physical activity research in the current U.S. scientific environment. The October 2009 themed issue of Preventive Medicine contains 23
papers on the role of physical activity as a positive health determinant, its fundamental importance, and its amenability to prevention policy. Topics include the need and opportunity for action, defining and shaping the government's role in promoting physical activity and facilitating physical activity promotion, using research to guide policy and practice, and new contributions to theory and research. The full-text issue is available to subscribers at: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science?_ob=PublicationURL&_tockey=%23TOC%236990%232009%23999509995%231536096%23FLA%23&_cdi=6990&_pubType=J&_auth=y&_acct=C000035538&_version=1&_urlVersion=0&_userid=655954&md5=591b5708543049d53bcef3a20646fe85. |
| MCH Alert - 6 November 2009 |
| Adolescent Health |
| New Fact Sheet Highlights What Current Health Care Reform Bills Do for Adolescents |
| Highlights and Hazards: What Do the Current Health Care Reform Bills Do for Adolescents & Young Adults? This fact sheet provides a timely analysis of the major health care reform bills before the House and Senate. Prepared by Abigail English at the Center for Adolescent Health and the Law (CAHL), the fact sheet highlights aspects of the bills that are most critical to adolescent health, based on the Health Care Reform Principles of the Society for Adolescent Medicine. The article is available on the NAHIIC and CAHL websites at: http://nahic.ucsf.edu//downloads/HCR_FactSheet_Nov09.pdf http://www.cahl.org/PDFs/CAHL_UCSF_HCR_FactSheet_Nov09.pdf |
| National Adolescent Health Information Center - 9 November 2009 |
| Teens Have High Standards, But Low Expectations, for Healthy Romantic Relationships |
| The majority of teens have been involved in a romantic relationship. A new Child Trends brief, Telling It Like It Is: Teen Perspectives on Romantic Relationships, summarizes findings from focus groups that explored what teens themselves have to say about these relationships. Among the findings:
To view brief, go to: http://www.childtrends.org/Files//Child_Trends-2009_11_05_RB_TeenRelation.pdf |
| Child Trends Research Update - 9 November 2009 |
| Opportunities |
| 15th Annual MCH EPI Conference - December 9-11, 2009 |
| The 15th Annual Maternal and Child Health (MCH) Epidemiology Conference, "Making Methods and Practice Matter for Women, Children and Families," will be held December 9-11 at the Grand Hyatt Tampa Bay in Tampa, FL. For more information about the conference, visit: http://www.cdc.gov/reproductivehealth/MCHEpi/2009/AboutConference.htm |
| CityMatCH - 11 November 2009 |
| World AIDS Day - December 1, 2009 |
| World AIDS Day is an opportunity for everyone to work together to help reduce stigma around HIV and promote HIV Testing. For ways you can join in Facing AIDS, go to: http://www.aids.gov/world-aids-day/ |
| World AIDS Day - 10 November 2009 |
| Webcast: Preparing for Health Reform: A Conversation with State Policymakers |
| S. Kimberly Belshé, Secretary of the California Health and Human Services Agency, and Ann Torregrossa, Director of Policy for the Pennsylvania Governor's Office of Health Care Reform, will share reactions from a state perspective and describe implications and implementation challenges federal health reform may pose for their states. National Academy for State Health Policy (NASHP) Executive Director Alan Weil will moderate the webcast and discuss the potential impact of health reform on current state activities based on three new publications. The webcast is scheduled for November 17, 2009 from 2:30 - 4:00 pm (EST). To join webcast, go to: http://video.webcasts.com/events/pmny001/viewer/index.jsp?eventid=32820 |
| National Academy for State Health Policy - 10 November 2009 |
| Home Visiting Evidence of Effectiveness (HomVEE) Call for Studies |
| Mathematica Policy Research® seeks studies for a comprehensive review of the evidence base for home visiting programs, called Home Visiting Evidence of Effectiveness (HomVEE). The review is being conducted for the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) by Mathematica Policy Research (and subcontractor Dr. Brenda Jones Harden) and will be used to help inform policy, new initiatives, and program directions at the federal level. Submissions are due by November 27, 2009. Submissions should be e-mailed to HVEE@mathematica-mpr.com. If you have any questions about the call for studies, please contact Jamila Henderson at jhenderson@mathematica-mpr.com or (609) 945-3311. |
| Health and Human Services - 9 November 2009 |
| NICHD Offers Nurses For-credit Course on SIDS Risk Reduction |
| The Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD) has created a Continuing Education Program on Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) Risk Reduction for nurses. The program is currently available free of charge. Nurses who successfully complete the course will earn 1.1 contact hours of continuing education credit from the Maryland Nurses Association, which is accredited by the American Nurses Credentialing Center Commission on Accreditation as a continuing education provider. Nurses can download a copy of the program from the NICHD Web site at: http://www.nichd.nih.gov/sidsnursesce/. Nurses can also call 1-800-505-CRIB (2742) to order a free printed version. An interactive online version will be available in late 2009. |
| Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development - 6 November 2009 |
| Healthy People 2020 Public Comment Opportunity |
| U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) has announced the current draft of Health People 2020 (HP 2020) is open for public comment. This version has been reviewed by a Federal Interagency Work Group, based on public feedback received in Spring 2009, and lists objectives and sub-objectives with data sources. The site also provides other resources related to HP2020, including public meetings. To comment on the Healthy People 2020 objectives, go to: http://www.healthypeople.gov/ |
| U.S. Department of Health and Human Services - 2 November 2009 |
| NBPHE Webinar: How to Become Certified in Public Health (CPH): Mysteries Revealed |
| On Monday, November 23, the National Board of Public Health Examiners (NBPHE) will celebrate Public Health Thank You Day with a free webinar on "How to Become CPH: Mysteries Revealed." Ms. Molly M. Eggleston, deputy executive director of NBPHE, will continue the dialogue about becoming Certified in Public Health (CPH) by describing the registration and eligibility verification procedures for the CPH exam. For more information about Public Health Thank You Day, visit: http://www.publichealththankyouday.org/ |
| ASPH Friday Letter #1593 - 30 October 2009 |
| Resources, Reports, Research |
| National Center Compiles Resources on Child Care and SIDS |
| Child Care and SIDS contains a selection of resources for families and professionals on child care and sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS). The resource, produced by the National Sudden and Unexpected Infant/Child Death and Pregnancy Loss Resource Center at Georgetown University, lists brochures, fact sheets, model policies, training courses, campaigns, self-learning modules, curricula, licensing regulations, legislation, and standards available from national organizations and state programs. Several of the listed resources are available in Spanish. Topics include infant sleep position, tummy time, foster care, emergency procedures, and bereavement support. The resource is available at: http://sidscenter.org/childcare.html. |
| MCH Alert: Focus on Infant Mortality - 10 November 2009 |
| Health Insurance Coverage Highlights Now Available from the National Health Interview Survey |
| Highlights regarding health insurance coverage from the early release of estimates from the National Health Intervew Survey (January - March 2009) are available at: http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/nhis/earlyrelease/insur200909.htm |
| Centers for Disease Control and Prevention - 10 November 2009 |
| New HIV/AIDS Funding Data |
| Statehealthfacts.org has posted new data on federal funding streams for HIV/AIDS. Collected in partnership with the National Alliance of State and Territorial AIDS Directors (NASTAD), these data for Federal Fiscal Year 2008 are available by state and for the nation, and represent the latest available state-level data on all major federal funding streams for HIV/AIDS in the U.S. Updated data include HIV/AIDS funding by state from the following: Ryan White Program http://www.statehealthfacts.kff.org/comparemaptable.jsp?ind=534&cat=11 The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) http://www.statehealthfacts.kff.org/comparetable.jsp?ind=529&cat=11 The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) http://www.statehealthfacts.kff.org/comparetable.jsp?ind=532&cat=11 The Housing Opportunities for Persons with AIDS (HOPWA) program http://www.statehealthfacts.kff.org/comparemaptable.jsp?ind=531&cat=11 The Office of Minority Health (OMH) http://www.statehealthfacts.kff.org/comparetable.jsp?ind=533&cat=11 |
| Kaiser Family Foundagion - 10 November 2009 |
| New Publication: Better Health at Lower Cost: Policy Options for Managing Childhood Tooth Decay |
| The National Oral Health Policy Center at Children's Dental Health Project has published its inaugural issue of TrendNotes, a series that highlights emerging trends in children's oral health as well as policies and programmatic solutions grounded in evidence-based research and practice. This publication focuses on preventing and managing childhood tooth decay-its importance, what the evidence shows works, and why policy makers might want to realign policies and programs to be more consistent with this goal. It provides information on the trends, opportunities and options to improve oral health for children at lower cost through the best use of prevention, disease management, and care coordination. The National Academy for State Health Policy (NASHP) is one of several stakeholders participating in the National Oral Health Policy Center, which promotes the understanding of effective policy options to address ongoing disparities in children's oral health. To download the report, go to: http://www.cdhp.org |
| State Health Policy News/National Academy for State Health Policy - 10 November 2009 |
| Integrating Child Health Information Systems in Public Health Agencies |
| Bara D, McPhillips-Tangum C, Wild EL, Mann MY. "Integrating child health information systems in public health agencies." J Public Health Manag Pract. 2009 Nov-Dec;15(6):451-8. Public health agencies at state and local levels are integrating information systems to improve health outcomes for children. An assessment was conducted to describe the extent to which public health agencies are currently integrating child health information systems (CHIS). To view the abstract, go to: http://journals.lww.com/jphmp/Abstract/2009/11000/Integrating_Child_Health_Information_Systems_in.2.aspx |
| Journal of Public Health Management and Practice - 10 November 2009 |
| New Report Examines Expanded Data from New Birth Certificate |
| Michelle J.K. Osterman, M.H.S.; Joyce A. Martin, M.P.H.; and Fay Menacker, Dr.P.H. "Expanded Health Data From the New Birth Certificate, 2006." National Vital Statistics Reports. Volume 58, Number 5 This report presents 2006 data on new checkbox items exclusive to the 2003 U.S. Standard Certificate of Live Birth. Information is shown for checkboxes in the following categories: "risk factors in this pregnancy," "obstetric procedures," "characteristics of labor and delivery," "method of delivery," "abnormal conditions of the newborn," and "congenital anomalies of the newborn." These categories are included on both the 1989 and the 2003 U.S. Standard Certificates of Live Birth; however, many of the specific checkboxes were modified, or are new to the 2003 certificate. Data on selected new (not modified) checkboxes are presented in this report. -- SNIP http://cdc.gov/nchs/data/nvsr/nvsr58/nvsr58_05.pdf |
| National Vital Statistics Reports - 10 November 2009 |
| State H1N1 At-Risk population activities are posted on the ASTHO website |
| In response to the 2009 H1N1 pandemic, state and territorial health agencies have worked feverishly to update plans, policies, procedures, and activities to be applicable to the current situation. For State-by-state at-risk population activities, go to: http://www.astho.org/h1n1-atrisk.aspx For a clickable map, go to: http://www.astho.org/H1N1CenterMap.aspx |
| Association of State and Territorial Health Officials - 9 November 2009 |
| State Medicaid Coverage for Tobacco-Dependence Treatments --- United States, 2007 |
| MMWR November 6, 2009/Vol.58/No.43 The prevalence of tobacco use among adults in the United States has been reduced by half since the 1960s (1,2). Despite this progress, low-income populations, such as Medicaid enrollees, continue to smoke at substantially higher rates than the general population (33% versus 20%) (1). The Public Health Service's Clinical Practice Guideline (2) and the Partnership for Prevention's Call for ACTION (3) recommend comprehensive insurance coverage of tobacco-dependence treatments without barriers such as copayments, limitations in duration of treatment, prior authorization, and stepped-care therapy. Healthy People 2010 aims to expand coverage of evidence-based treatments for nicotine dependency to all 51 Medicaid programs (objective 27-8b) (4). To monitor progress toward that objective, in 2007, the Center for Health and Public Policy Studies at the University of California, Berkeley, surveyed all 51 Medicaid programs. This report summarizes the results of that survey, which found that 43 (84%) programs offered coverage for some form of tobacco-dependence treatment to Medicaid enrollees in traditional fee-for-service (FFS) Medicaid, with four Medicaid programs adding coverage since 2006 and 20 programs adding coverage in the past decade. Only two states (New Mexico and New Jersey) reported access to tobacco-dependence treatments without any limitations or restrictions. Of the 25 states covering pharmacotherapy for Medicaid enrollees in both FFS and managed-care organizations (MCOs), only 13 covered the same tobacco-dependence treatments for enrollees in both populations. Research demonstrates that providing access to comprehensive tobacco-dependence treatments increases quit rates. Providing Medicaid coverage for these treatments would ensure that all enrollees can access and benefit from these treatments. -- SNIP To access full article, go to: http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/mm5843a1.htm |
| - 6 November 2009 |
| MCHB's Title V Information System (TVIS) Web Reports Updated |
| The MCHB's Title V Information System (TVIS) Web Reports have been updated with the data provided in the 2010 application/2008 annual report. The URL for accessing the TVIS Web Reports main menu has been updated this year to:
https://perfdata.hrsa.gov/MCHB/TVISReports/default.aspx .
To view state snapshots, go to: https://perfdata.hrsa.gov/mchb/tvisreports/Snapshot/SnapShotMenu.aspx. |
| Maternal and Child Health Bureau - 5 November 2009 |
| New Report Provides Update on Well-being of US Children |
| America's Children: Key National Indicators of Well-Being, 2009, by the Federal Interagency Forum on Child and Family Statistics, provides an update on the well-being of children and families in the United States across a range of domains. To view the report, go to: http://www.childstats.gov/americaschildren/ |
| The Center for Health and Health Care in Schools Weekly Insider - 4 November 2009 |
| Study Identifies Promising Data Elements for Environmental Public Health Tracking of Reproductive Outcomes |
| Fitzgerald E, Wartenberg D, Thompson WD, et al. 2009. "Birth and fetal death records and environmental exposures: Promising data elements for environmental public health tracking of reproductive outcomes." Public Health Reports 124(6):825-830. "The addition of data elements (e.g., length of maternal residence) to birth and fetal death certificates may be a useful and cost-effective means of enhancing the ability of state health departments to track adverse reproductive outcomes and assess associations with environmental risk factors, if their accuracy and completeness can be demonstrated and they are shown to reduce misclassification of exposure," state the authors of an article published in the November-December 2009 issue of Public Health Reports. Environmental public health tracking (EPHT) is the ongoing collection, integration, analysis, and dissemination of data from environmental-hazard monitoring, human-exposure tracking, and health-effect surveillance...The focus has been on sociodemographic risk factors and medical and pregnancy histories, but not on items that may be of environmental significance. The article describes a study to inventory and review existing data elements on the birth and fetal death certificates of all 50 U.S. states to identify nonstandard data items that are environmentally relevant, are inexpensive to collect, and might enhance EPHT analyses. -- SNIP Available to subscribers at: http://www.publichealthreports.org/userfiles/124_6/825-830.pdf. |
| MCH Alert: Focus on Infant Mortality - 2 November 2009 |
| How to Assess Bullying and Peer Conflict and Promote Positive Conflict Resolution |
| Twenty-four percent of parents report that their child bullies or is cruel to other children at least some of the time, and 35 percent of parents report that they are concerned about their child being bullied at school, according to the National Survey of Children's Health. Two new Child Trends briefs help youth program providers identify peer conflict and bullying and promote positive peer conflict resolution techniques. Assessing Bullying: A Guide for Out-of-School Time Program Practitioners This brief provides information on who is most likely to be a bully or victim, how to know when conflict has turned into bullying, and ways to reduce bullying. It includes specific questions to assess students' tendencies to bully others, to be victimized by bullying, and to be pro-social and help others. To view this brief, go to: http://www.childtrends.org/Files//Child_Trends-2009_10_29_RB_AssessingBullying.pdf. Assessing Peer Conflict and Aggressive Behaviors: A Guide for Out-of-School Time Program Practitioners This brief defines peer conflict, how it differs by age and gender, what factors are associated with youth who engage in aggressive behaviors, and ways to reduce peer conflict. It includes specific questions to assess the prevalence of aggressive behaviors and peer conflict among students. To view this brief, go to: http://www.childtrends.org/Files//Child_Trends-2009_10_29_RB_AssessingPeer.pdf. |
| Child Trends - 2 November 2009 |
| Behind International Rankings of Infant Mortality: How the United States Compares with Europe |
| "Behind International Rankings of Infant Mortality: How the United States Compares with Europe" compares infant mortality rates between the United States and Europe and compares two factors that determine the infant mortality rate - gestational age-specific infant mortality rates and the percentage of preterm births. The article also examines requirements for reporting a live birth among countries to assess the possible effect of reporting differences on infant mortality data. To view article, visit: http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/databriefs/db23.htm |
| NCHS Data Brief, Number 23 - 1 November 2009 |
| Updated Issue Brief Examines the COBRA Subsidy and Health Insurance for the Unemployed |
| With the nation's unemployment rate rising to its highest levels in decades as a result of the recession, many families have lost their employer-sponsored health coverage or are at risk of doing so. In an effort to help people maintain coverage after a layoff, the stimulus legislation known as the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 provides temporary subsidies to some workers so that they can maintain their previous employer-sponsored coverage through COBRA after losing their job. The Kaiser Comission on Medicaid and the Uninsured (KCMU) has an updated issue brief that examines the COBRA provisions of the legislation and answers key questions about how the subsidy works and who might benefit. It also explains how the provisions interact with other laws and programs designed to help people obtain and maintain health coverage, and it discusses other coverage options for the unemployed. In late 2009, subsidies began to expire for those who were among the first to apply for the assistance, forcing them to pay the full cost of their insurance or look elsewhere for help. The issue brief is available online at: http://www.kff.org/uninsured/7875.cfm?utm_source=kffweekly&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=nl103009 |
| Kaiser Family Foundation Weekly Update - 30 October 2009 |
| HHS and Sesame Workshop Release 13 New Flu Prevention Radio PSAs |
| On Monday, October 26, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) announced the availability of 13 new 30-second flu radio public service announcements (PSAs). These new radio messages feature 13 of America's governors and Elmo from Sesame Street. The messages, which will be promoted to radio stations across the country, promote key flu prevention messages to parents and children. The new ads are available for download at: www.flu.gov/psa/psacongress.html. All of the latest flu PSAs are available on: www.flu.gov/psa/. |
| ASPH Friday Letter #1593 - 30 October 2009 |
| Deaths Among Persons with AIDS through December 2006 |
| Through 2007, an estimated total of 1,051,875 persons in the United States and dependent areas were diagnosed with AIDS. At the end of 2006, an estimated 446,098 persons in the United States and dependent areas were living with AIDS. Through the end of 2006, the CDC estimated that 568,737 deaths had occurred among persons with AIDS in the United States and dependent areas. This report describes deaths among persons with AIDS by year of death, age group, geographic area, HIV transmission category, and race/ethnicity. Among females, HIV was the 4 th and 7 th leading cause of death in blacks/African Americans and Hispanics/Latinos, respectively, and did not rank among the 10 leading causes of death in the other racial/ethnic categories. To view report, go to: http://www.cdc.gov/hiv/topics/surveillance/resources/reports/2009supp_vol14no3/pdf/HIVAIDS_SSR_Vol14_No3.pdf |
| Women's Health Update from the CDC/ATSDR - 30 October 2009 |
| News of Interest |
| CDC Announces Addition of 2007 PRAMS Data to CPONDER System |
| The Pregnancy Risk Assessment Monitoring System (PRAMS) team in CDC's Division of Reproductive Health, Applied Sciences Branch is pleased to announce the addition of 2007 PRAMS data to the CPONDER (CDC's PRAMS On-line Data for Epidemiologic Research) system. CPONDER now contains prevalence and trends data for key indicators from the PRAMS survey from 2000 through 2007. CPONDER is available at: http://www.cdc.gov/PRAMS/CPONDER.htm For questions or more information about CPONDER, contact them at: CPONDER@cdc.gov. |
| Division of Reproductive Health/CDC - 9 November 2009 |
| House Passes Health Care Overhaul Bill |
| The most ambitious overhaul of the U.S. health care system in 40 years passed in the House, allowing President Obama to win a preliminary round in what could still be a battle for his top domestic priority. For more information, go to: http://www.commonwealthfund.org/Content/Newsletters/Washington-Health-Policy-in-Review/2009/Nov/November-9-2009/House-Passes-Health-Care-Overhaul-Bill.aspx |
| The Commonwealth Fund - 7 November 2009 |
| Widespread Chemicals May Affect Cholesterol Levels, Boston Study Finds |
| A study by Boston University School of Public Health researchers, published ahead of print in the journal Environmental Health Perspectives, suggests that polyfluoroalkyl chemicals (PFCs) may affect serum cholesterol levels in people. To view abstract, go to: http://www.ehponline.org/docs/2009/0901165/abstract.html |
| ASPH Friday Letter #1594 - 6 November 2009 |
| HHS Announces Senate Confirmation of Dr. Regina Benjamin as U.S. Surgeon General |
| U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Kathleen Sebelius announced that the United States Senate unanimously confirmed Dr. Regina Benjamin as the nation's Surgeon General. To view news release, go to: http://www.hhs.gov/news/press/2009pres/10/20091029b.html |
| ASPH Friday Letter # 1594 - 6 November 2009 |
| Perceived Insufficient Rest or Sleep Among Adults --- United States, 2008 |
| MMWR, October 30,2009, Vol. 58/No. 42 "The importance of chronic sleep insufficiency is under-recognized as a public health problem, despite being associated with numerous physical and mental health problems, injury, loss of productivity, and mortality (1,2). Approximately 29% of U.S. adults report sleeping <7 hours per night (3) and 50--70 million have chronic sleep and wakefulness disorders (1). A CDC analysis of 2006 data from the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) in four states showed that an estimated 10.1% of adults reported receiving insufficient rest or sleep on all days during the preceding 30 days (4). To examine the prevalence of insufficient rest or sleep in all states, CDC analyzed BRFSS data for all 50 states, the District of Columbia (DC), and three U.S. territories (Guam, Puerto Rico, and U.S. Virgin Islands) in 2008. This report summarizes the results, which showed that among 403,981 respondents, 30.7% reported no days of insufficient rest or sleep and 11.1% reported insufficient rest or sleep every day during the preceding 30 days. Females (12.4%) were more likely than males (9.9%) and non-Hispanic blacks (13.3%) were more likely than other racial/ethnic groups to report insufficient rest or sleep. State estimates of 30 days of insufficient rest or sleep ranged from 7.4% in North Dakota to 19.3% in West Virginia. Health-care providers should consider adding an assessment of chronic rest or sleep insufficiency to routine office visits so they can make needed interventions or referrals to sleep specialists." -- SNIP To view article, go to: http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/mm5842a2.htm |
| Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report - 30 October 2009 |
| FDA and WebMD Expand Consumer Health Information Partnership |
| The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and WebMD Health Corp. recently announced an expansion of their partnership to provide increased access to FDA's consumer health information. This second phase of the partnership includes expanded content and multimedia tools at: www.webmd.com/fda. WebMD is personalizing FDA health information for consumers with five new online FDA sections that will initially focus on allergies and asthma, children's health, diabetes, heart health and vitamins and supplements. The FDA's information is located within WebMD's homepage at: http://www.webmd.com/. |
| ASPH Friday Letter #1593 - 30 October 2009 |