Researchers investigated a 1992 outbreak of viral meningitis in a child care center, finding that handwashing reduced the risk of infection. Changing diapers was a key factor, with women who changed more diapers being at higher risk, while men were less likely to get infected if they washed their hands after changing diapers.
The study found that the percentage of American Indian/Alaska Native children with asthma symptoms is similar to that of all US children. The authors highlight the need for updated research due to increasing rates of asthma prevalence and severity in the country, which are strongly associated with poverty.
This issue of Public Health Reports features articles on occupational pesticide poisoning, an outbreak of Echovirus 30 infections among child care center staff and parents, and the prevalence of asthma among American Indian and Alaska Native children. The journal also includes viewpoints on Medicaid managed care and public health data,...
Alaska's snowmobiles carry higher injury death rates than on-road motor vehicles, with factors like alcohol intoxication, lack of helmets, and trail limitations contributing to the high risk.
Researchers developed a code using first two letters of last name, first name, month of birth, year of birth, and sex. This allowed them to identify 124 HMO members with active TB listed in the state's registry but not known by their HMO
This public health report features articles on drug prohibition and its impact, World Health Organization reform, and transportation safety. The report also discusses injuries associated with snowmobiles and farm tractors, as well as prenatal smoking data.
The current US drug policy is generating an epidemic of adverse health outcomes that disproportionately affect African Americans. Despite declines in drug use, cocaine-related and heroin-related emergency department visits and overdose deaths have climbed sharply.
Marion Nestle reviews the history of olestra's approval, highlighting the FDA's decision to approve the fat substitute while requiring warning labels. She calls for changes in the regulatory system to move towards alliances with industries, increasing FDA research authority and funding.
The article discusses various public health issues, including tobacco control, food industry manipulation, and violence prevention. It highlights the importance of vaccination coverage estimation using parental recall, medical records, and other methods to prevent diseases such as tuberculosis.
The FDA analyzed 94,120 adverse event reports on silicone gel breast implants from 1984-1995. Reports increased significantly after media coverage in 1991-1992, with a shift towards more complex and varied symptom reports.
The tobacco control community was divided over the merits of providing legal protections to the tobacco industry, wasting time and credibility. Despite this, state and local tobacco control efforts are gaining momentum, with promise in class action litigation against tobacco manufacturers.
This September/October 1998 issue of Public Health Reports explores the intersection of neuroscience and early childhood policy, as well as indoor air quality. Scientific contributions include studies on community-based nutrition campaigns, surveillance of injuries, and mortality due to unintentional injuries in the Netherlands.
In a six-year study, Maine's 0.05% law reduced fatal crashes among DWI drivers with BALs above 0.15% by 35%. The law also decreased fatalities among drivers in the 0.05-0.14% range. Maine was the first state to adopt this limit for prior DWI offenders.
The study found that over one-tenth of personal healthcare dollars are spent on care for smokers, with significant variations between states. States with higher smoking rates, such as Nevada, spent more than $200 million, while others, like Utah, spent less.
A former head of the American Public Health Association raises concerns about public health programs infringing on civil liberties. Dr. Eugene Feingold questions whether these programs prioritize individual rights over public interest, highlighting the need for careful consideration.
A study found that managed care organizations exceeded national goals for HDL screening, prompting calls for higher standards. Experts argue that managed care plans should be expected to reach 100% of enrolled members, considering their significant impact on population health.
According to a recent study, 80% of poisoning deaths in the US are caused by drugs, with opioids and cocaine being the leading causes. The death rate from poisoning increased by 25% between 1990 and 1995, with the peak age group being 35-44 years.
A slowdown in health spending growth is expected to have a significant impact on health workers and local economies. The shift in job composition within the health sector, towards lower-paying sub-sectors and jobs such as home health services, will exacerbate the issue.
The Balanced Budget Act of 1997 improves the Medicare picture by postponing the projected depletion of the Hospital Insurance trust fund from 2001 to 2010. Program savings are expected to be $150 over the next five years under moderate economic and demographic assumptions.
Smoking-related Medicaid costs amount to $12.9 billion per year, totaling $322 billion over 25 years without inflation. The analysis provides a solid foundation for financial claims against the tobacco industry.
Researchers argue that CDC's revised guidelines, which favor local decision-making, may not adequately address the environmental threat of lead poisoning in children. They contend that modestly elevated blood lead levels can have irreversible effects on neurocognitive development.
Alcohol abuse contributes to major causes of death among college-age persons. Raising the drinking age has saved 16,500 lives in traffic crashes since 1975. Comprehensive community interventions involving public officials, private citizens, and student participation can further reduce alcohol-related problems.
The Native American health care sector is grappling with formidable challenges, including inadequate funding and limited resources. A survey of 85 leaders found that recruitment and retention of professional staff, as well as contractual issues with the US Department of Health and Human Services, are major concerns.
The article presents data on crash rates and driver experience to argue in favor of adopting graduated licensing systems. An ideal system starts learner's process at age 16, limits graduation until age 18, and restricts late-night driving.
Researchers found that using rapid diagnostic methods for M. tuberculosis can decrease diagnosis time from 38.5 to 23 days, time to therapy from 6.6 to 2.0 days, and mortality by 22-33%. This also reduces healthcare costs per patient.
Research data suggest limited benefits from screening programs, with significant costs incurred for low yields. The authors recommend improving the process by focusing on diseases prevalent in the country of origin, assessing disease prevalence, and providing education and counseling to migrants.
Researchers found that home uterine activity monitoring had no significant impact on reducing very low birth weight (VLBW) babies, as most births were caused by conditions not qualifying for monitoring. Early prenatal care is crucial to benefit from monitoring, and many women lacked it.
According to CDC estimates, millions of US-born girls and women may be at risk of female genital mutilation (FGM/FC) due to their immigrant heritage. The practice is concentrated in certain states and metropolitan areas with large populations of immigrants from FGM/FC-practicing countries.
The article recommends adopting nurse-midwifery as the standard of care for normal deliveries in the US, citing its cost-effectiveness and ability to mitigate low birth weight and infant mortality. Nurse-midwives' non-interventionist approach can provide high-quality care with equivalent outcomes to physicians.
Research shows that patient choice significantly impacts surgical rates, with significant variation among geographic units. Shared decision-making strategies can reduce demand for discretionary care by up to 40%, according to studies.
State legislators introduced legislation to ensure insurance coverage for post-partum hospital stays, but were influenced by financial decisions, lobbying, and personal experiences. The law requires a minimum 48-hour hospital stay for normal vaginal deliveries and 96-hour stay for cesarean deliveries.
A study in Canada found that waiting times for cataract surgery varied between public and private clinics, with patients perceiving longer waits in the public sector. The majority of physicians practice within the public sector, but some offer faster service due to better resource allocation.
Primary care physicians in high-managed care states saw rapid income growth, while specialist incomes lagged. Specialist incomes, especially for radiologists, anesthesiologists, and pathologists, increased most rapidly in low-managed care growth states.
A lack of national workforce policy has led to a mismatch between primary care physician supply and need, reducing access to care for underserved populations. The absence of rational policy also increases healthcare costs, with specialist physicians per 100,000 population predicting higher expenditures.
An outbreak of food poisoning from contaminated hot chocolate vending machines led to the identification of B. cereus contamination. The bacteria thrived when exposed to warm water and remained on machine components, posing a risk to vulnerable populations. Periodic testing of vending machines is recommended.
The US physician workforce faces significant downsizing, with 17 specialties needing reductions of at least 40%. To maintain current ratios, 14,644 new physicians are required annually, while 7 specialties remain unaffected.
The study found that fluoride protects smooth surfaces of teeth, while dental sealants fill pits and fissures to prevent decay. Sealants are recommended for children, adolescents, and adults who have experienced tooth decay in these areas.
Experts Allyson Pollock and Dorothy Rice argue that surveys are a poor tool for evaluating the impact of healthcare spending on population health. They propose adopting national health data standards to track individuals over time and improve healthcare effectiveness.