Synopsis for October 7, 2005

The MMWR is embargoed until Thursday, 12 PM EDT.

1. Breast Cancer Screening and Socioeconomic Status – 35 Metropolitan Areas, 2000 and 2002
2. Health Care and Well Being of Children with Chronic Emotional, Behavioral, or Developmental Problems – United States, 2001
3. Health Risk Behaviors and Conditions Among Persons with Depression – New Mexico, 2003
4. Trends in Leisure – Time Physical Inactivity by Age, Sex, and Race/Ethnicity – United States, 1994-2004
5. Distribution of Insecticide – Treated Bednets During an Integrated Nationwide Immunization Campaign – Togo, West Africa, December 2004
6. Carbon Monoxide Poisoning After Hurricane Katrina – Alabama, Louisiana, and Mississippi, August – September 2005
7. Update: West Nile Virus Activity – United States, 2005

Breast Cancer Screening and Socioeconomic Status – 35 Metropolitan Areas, 2000 and 2002

Despite the effectiveness of mammography screening in reducing mortality from breast cancer, results from this study indicate that screening tests are still underused by some low income women in urban areas of the United States.

This study demonstrates that low income women in large metropolitan areas of the United States are less likely to undergo breast cancer screening than more affluent women in those metropolitan areas. Further, low income women residing in more affluent metropolitan areas are also less likely to undergo cancer screening, when compared with low income women in less affluent metropolitan areas. Study findings indicate that the geographic areas in which persons live may be related to screening utilization based upon their effects on income, education, employment, access to health care, and other related factors. These environmental factors may be important in the women’s decision to be screened for breast cancer.

Health Care and Well Being of Children with Chronic Emotional, Behavioral, or Developmental Problems – United States, 2001

Children with chronic emotional, behavioral, or developmental problems have more problems accessing and receiving needed health care than do children with other chronic health conditions, according to a report released by CDC during Mental Illness Awareness Week.

Children with emotional, behavioral, and developmental (EBD) problems requiring treatment or counseling are more likely to experience diminished health and quality of life than are children with other chronic health conditions. Based on a survey of parents conducted in 2001, children with EBD problems were more than twice as likely to be affected by their conditions, to have unmet needs for health care and family support services, and to have had difficulties obtaining needed referrals for specialty care. They were also more than twice as likely to have conditions that affected the employment of family members and that caused financial problems for the family. These results highlight the need for improvements in the availability of and access to high-quality well-coordinated services for children with EBD problems.

Health Risk Behaviors and Conditions Among Persons with Depression – New Mexico, 2003

No summary available.

Trends in Leisure -Time Physical Inactivity by Age, Sex, and Race/Ethnicity – United States, 1994-2004

Physical activity is related to many chronic disease conditions, yet only 1 in 4 adults reported no leisure-time physical activity in 2004. More effort is needed to further improve physical activity levels.

Physical inactivity is a major public health problem and is responsible for recent increases in the prevalence of chronic diseases, including cardiovascular disease, diabetes and osteoporosis. Eleven-year trends in the proportion of the population who reported leisure-time inactivity were examined by sex, age, and race/ethnicity for 50 states and the District of Columbia. Physical inactivity has decreased in the population from about 30 percent of adults in 1994 to about 24 percent of adults in 2004. Our findings provide evidence that leisure-time physical inactivity is declining in every age group and among both men and women. During the time period, the largest decline was among men aged 50-59 and women aged 60-69. However, more than 30 percent of adults greater than 70 years of age are inactive. CDC recommends continued efforts to further decrease physical inactivity and increase activity levels.

Distribution of Insecticide – Treated Bednets During an Integrated Nationwide Immunization Campaign – Togo, West Africa, December 2004

Integration of other health services into a mass immunization campaign can achieve high coverage for all interventions and attract donors in resource-poor countries.

During December 2004, the West African nation of Togo conducted the first-ever nationwide distribution of insecticide-treated bednets (ITNs) for prevention of malaria. A measles immunization campaign aimed at all children aged 9-59 months provided the opportunity to distribute ITNs, oral poliovirus vaccine (OPV), and the anti-helminthic, mebendazole. A survey conducted one month after the campaign found that coverage for eligible children was greater than 90 percent for each intervention and that household ownership of ITNs increased from 8 percent to 62.5 percent before and after the campaign, respectively. This experience illustrates how integrating other health services into a mass immunization campaign can achieve high coverage for all interventions and attract donors in resource-poor countries.

Carbon Monoxide Poisoning After Hurricane Katrina – Alabama, Louisiana, and Mississippi, August – September 2005

No summary available.

Update: West Nile Virus Activity – United States, 2005

No summary available.

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This page last reviewed October 7, 2005
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