American journal of preventive medicine
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Ninety-four individuals with well-documented glaucomatous visual field loss were matched by age, race, and sex to 94 controls. Both groups completed a detailed interview about past and current ocular and systemic diseases. We also ascertained medication, alcohol, and cigarette use. ⋯ A history of hypertension and/or medication use was not associated with glaucoma, but elevated diastolic blood pressure showed some association [odds ratio, 2.40 (0.85,6.81]). Separate analyses for whites and blacks showed diabetes to be a risk factor for both groups. Diastolic blood pressure and alcohol use appeared to be more strongly associated with glaucoma among whites, but these results should be cautiously interpreted because of the small numbers available for subgroup analysis.
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From 1975 through 1984, expenditures by cigarette companies related to the distribution of free cigarette samples increased from $24.2 million to $148.0 million. When adjusted by the consumer price index, expenditures increased more than three-fold. During this period, the proportion of total cigarette advertising and promotional expenditures devoted to sampling increased from 4.9% to 7.1%. ⋯ Seventy-four percent of the college students, including 70% of current smokers, supported an ordinance that would ban cigarette sampling. These data provide evidence that the cigarette industry's voluntary code against distributing free cigarette samples to minors is not being strictly followed. Legislation prohibiting cigarette sampling, which at least 12 cities have adopted, is an effective way to prevent the distribution of free cigarettes to minors.
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A random telephone survey was conducted to measure the public's willingness to participate in a boycott of popular consumer products manufactured by corporations owned by tobacco companies. Results suggest a strong interest in such a boycott. Previous boycott experiences, attitudes, and smoking statuses significantly predicted subjects' willingness to participate. Age was inversely related to willingness to participate, while sex, income, ethnicity, and education were not related to this variable.
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Comparative Study
Racial disparities in pregnancy outcomes: the role of prenatal care utilization and maternal risk status.
Distinct black-white differences in pregnancy outcome and prenatal care utilization have been a persistent feature of U. S. natality-related statistics. ⋯ Distinct racial differences in birth weight and gestational age distributions were observed within equivalent maternal risk and prenatal care categories, with whites having an approximately 200-gram mean birth weight and five-day mean gestational age advantage compared to blacks. In this analysis of more than 650,000 cases, low-risk blacks adequately utilizing prenatal care had a lower mean birth weight (3,266 grams) and a higher neonatal mortality rate (6.6) than low-risk, inadequate-care whites (3,302 grams; 6.1).