Activity

Pregnancy-related hypertensive disorders can cause morbidity and mortality. Low-dose aspirin (LDA) reduces risk. This paper aims to assess Medicaid beneficiaries’ risk factors for preeclampsia and their providers’ clinical use of LDA in the federal Strong Start for Mothers and Newborns II initiative. Twenty-seven awardees with more than 200 care sites served almost 46,000 women. This mixed-methods analysis assesses rates of risks, incidence of pregnancy-related hypertensive disorders, and assessment of care teams’ LDA knowledge and reported prescription practices. Many Strong Start participants had risk factors that merited LDA, but most practices reported inconsistent or non-existent prescribing. Use varied within the three care models and among all provider types. Ancillary care team members often had no knowledge of LDA’s benefits, resulting in lost opportunities for educating patients and assessing adherence to LDA use. Clear policies and well-integrated care teams could increase evidence-based use, improve pregnancy outcomes, and promote women’s lifelong cardiovascular health.This trial tested a multicomponent intervention to increase colorectal cancer (CRC) screening among underserved patients. Participants were randomized to (1) physician + patient intervention, (2) physician-only intervention, or (3) usual care (UC). Study outcomes included patient knowledge, physician recommendation of CRC screening, and screening completion via colonoscopy or stool tests. Among 538 participants, those exposed to the physician + patient intervention had significantly increased knowledge over patients in physician-only (p=.0008) or UC arms (p=.0003). Selleckchem RXDX-106 However, there were no statistically significant differences in completion of CRC screening, with 10%, 20%, and 16% of UC, physician-only, and physician + patient participants screened, respectively. In UC, all completed screenings were colonoscopy, whereas in the physician-only and physician + patient arms, 39% and 46% of completed tests were via stool test, respectively. The multicomponent intervention did not increase overall CRC screening, yet results underscore the need to provide patients options for completing CRC screening.

Guatemala lacks cancer prevention strategies and has low screening rates.

To assess the history of chronic conditions, risk factors, and cancer screening uptake among three Indigenous populations of Southwestern Guatemala.

We conducted a health needs assessment.

The assessment was completed by 247 adults. Median age was 40 years old (IR 28-59). Most participants were female (94.3%), of Mayan descent (95.8%), and did not have a primary health care provider (84.2%). Most have never been screened for colorectal (men=100.0%; women=98.8%), prostate (75.0%), breast (90.9%), or cervical (76.9%) cancer, and all have severe tooth decay. However, most participants reported healthy behaviors including being physically active (women=59.7%; men=92.9%), being nonsmokers (women=99.6%; men=78.6%), and not consuming alcohol (women=82.3%; men=46.7%).

Although most participants reported healthy behaviors, there is a remarkable lack of access to cancer screening. An increase in cancer incidence is expected unless cancer prevention efforts are undertaken.

Although most participants reported healthy behaviors, there is a remarkable lack of access to cancer screening. An increase in cancer incidence is expected unless cancer prevention efforts are undertaken.Permanent supportive housing (PSH) enrolls highly vulnerable homeless adults who experience early onset of geriatric conditions and require in-home support. Thus, there is potentially a high risk for COVID-19 within PSH, which may require tenants to take protective measures. This study reports on survey results collected from 532 PSH tenants in Los Angeles, California during the 4th week of March in 2020. Results show that nearly all tenants were aware of COVID-19, and 65% considered it to be a very serious health threat. The latter characteristic was a strong predictor of taking protective measures (i.e., handwashing and social distancing). Tenants in units with shared bathroom facilities had lower odds of social distancing than those in studio apartments. Tenants with mental health diagnoses had lower odds of consistent handwashing. Lack of access to food, hygiene items, and medication delivery were commonly reported barriers to sheltering in place.

To gain a better understanding of depression in a rural community, survey results were used to compare differences in self-reported depressive symptoms and medical professional diagnosed depression among demographic groups.

A chi-square test of independence was performed to examine relationships among the depression-related variables. Logistic regression analyses were also performed to ascertain the effects of demographic characteristics and social support on depression.

A statistically significant association was found between the two depression-related variables (X2=145.17, P <.001). Income was significantly associated with both depression-related variables. Hispanic ethnicity, higher income, and some high school education were associated with decreased odds of self-reported medically diagnosed depression. Those reporting no or some social support had increased odds of both depression-related variables compared with those who reported always having social support.

These findings provide a better understanding of depression in a rural community and may inform future public health interventions.

These findings provide a better understanding of depression in a rural community and may inform future public health interventions.Conditions prevailing in humanitarian crises often create a coercive environment for women. Material and security needs and pre-exisiting inequalities render women particularly vulnerable to social and contextual coercion in such situations, which can often result in unwanted pregnancies. Some women may resort to unsafe abortions, sometimes resulting in death. Currently, abortion services provided by humanitarian agencies are either unavailable or fail to meet the real need in humanitarian settings. Accessible family planning, contraceptives, and early remedies should all be available, along with counselling. In addition, a pro-choice approach and accompanying abortion services should be a fundamental pillar of health services available to women in emergencies.