American journal of preventive medicine
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The Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices recommends administering the first dose of hepatitis B vaccine at birth, making it the first vaccine that many children receive. However, few studies examine whether children who miss the birth dose are at increased risk of vaccination delay. This study investigates birth dose as a determinant of up-to-date immunization status at age 18 months, considering 7 core childhood vaccine series: diphtheria, tetanus, and acellular pertussis; polio; measles, mumps, and rubella; Haemophilus influenzae type B; varicella; hepatitis B; and pneumococcal conjugate vaccine. ⋯ Receiving the birth dose is positively associated with up-to-date status later in childhood, highlighting the importance of starting vaccination early. The association is insensitive to confounding by factors observed in National Immunization Survey-Child, but investigation of unobserved factors such as vaccine hesitancy could provide critical information to guide intervention strategy.
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Recent increases in maternal mortality and persistent disparities have led to speculation about why the U.S. has higher rates than most high-income countries. The aim was to examine the impact of changes in state-level factors plausibly linked to maternal mortality on overall rates and by race/ethnicity. ⋯ Recent fiscal and legislative changes reducing women's access to family planning and reproductive health services have contributed to rising maternal mortality rates.
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Review Meta Analysis
Smoking-Cessation Interventions in Appalachia: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.
Appalachia, a socioeconomically disadvantaged rural region in the eastern U.S., has one of the nation's highest prevalence rates of smoking and some of the poorest health outcomes. Effective interventions that lower smoking rates in Appalachia have great potential to reduce health disparities and preventable illness; however, a better understanding of effective interventions is needed. ⋯ Participation in smoking-cessation interventions increased the probability of smoking abstinence among Appalachian smokers by an estimated 2.33 times (pooled RR=2.33, 95% CI=1.03, 5.25, p=0.04). Given the low number of studies, their substantial heterogeneity, and high risk of bias, the evidence of the effectiveness of smoking-cessation interventions in Appalachia must be interpreted with caution.
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Review Meta Analysis
Impact of Pokémon Go on Physical Activity: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.
Pokémon Go is a popular mobile augmented reality game that requires players to travel to different locations to capture virtual characters. This study systematically reviews and quantifies Pokémon Go in relation to physical activity engagement among players. ⋯ Playing Pokémon Go was associated with a statistically significant but clinically modest increase in the number of daily steps taken among game players. One challenge for future physical activity interventions using Pokémon Go is to retain active engagement once the initial novelty wears off. Additional studies with longer follow-up periods and experimental study design are needed to assess to what extent Pokémon Go and other augmented reality games can be used to promote physical activity at the population level for a sustained time period.
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Multicenter Study
Gaps in Sexual Assault Health Care Among Homeless Young Adults.
Young adults experiencing homelessness are at increased risk for sexual assault. Receiving a post-sexual assault examination has important implications for HIV and unintended pregnancy prevention; yet, utilization is not well understood. In a population at elevated risk for HIV, unintended pregnancy, and sexual violence, identifying barriers and facilitators to post-sexual assault examination is imperative. ⋯ Interventions are needed to increase use of preventive care after experiencing sexual assault among young adults experiencing homelessness.