MMWR – Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report

1. Adverse Childhood Experiences Reported by Adults — Five States, 2009

CDC Division of News and Electronic Media
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Adverse childhood experiences (ACE), including maltreatment and household dysfunction are common experiences and a common burden in our society. Almost 60 percent of BRFSS respondents reported at least one ACE, with 8.7 percent reporting 5 or more ACEs. These findings reflected few racial/ethnic differences, but mirrored previous research that showed higher rates of all ACEs (except physical abuse) in women, and fewer ACEs reported by persons over 55 years of age. Some of the adverse childhood experiences measured were: verbal abuse, physical abuse, sexual abuse, incarceration of a family member, family mental illness, family substance abuse, domestic violence, and divorce. ACE’s are meaningful at the level of the population, but it is important to remember that they do not describe the person, nor necessarily determine individual outcomes. Continued surveillance of adverse childhood experiences should be maintained and increased to better understand the associated burden and consequences in population-level samples. Stronger efforts to prevent child maltreatment and accompanying household stress need to be made, and the development and dissemination of evidence-based strategies for people at risk for or who are experiencing ACE-related problems should be increased.

2. Health Profile of Resettled Iraqi Refugees — San Diego County, California, October 2008–September 2009

CDC Division of News and Electronic Media
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Iraqi refugees are now the largest group of refugee arrivals to the United States. Refugees receive a standard medical exam overseas before arrival, and are recommended to receive a more comprehensive health assessment after arrival. However, information about the health status of Iraqi refugees from these assessments had not been summarized previously. In assessing Iraqi refugees in San Diego County, California, the authors found that while some infectious conditions that have been the traditional focus of refugee health evaluation, such as latent tuberculosis, are common among Iraqi refugees, noninfectious, chronic conditions such as high blood pressure, obesity, and high cholesterol are very common and are important concerns in this population. Identification of the diverse conditions most commonly seen in each population of resettling refugees will aid development of health recommendations that are tailored more specifically towards that population—and more effectively reduce illness among refugees. Medical providers caring for Iraqi refugees should be prepared to treat and monitor the symptoms of chronic health conditions as well as infectious diseases.

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U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES