To: HMHB Members
Date: August 10, 2009, Volume 11, Edition 32
News from National
Last week HMHB participated in the annual meeting of the National Fetal and Infant Mortality Review Program (NFIMR). NFIMR is a collaborative effort between the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists and the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) Maternal and Child Health Bureau. This successful program has made great strides in helping communities examine the causes of infant mortality while strengthening prevention efforts. For more information, go to http://www.acog.org/goto/nfimr.
Judy Meehan
Executive Director
This Week:
1) Update on H1N1 and Pregnant Women
2) Postpartum Women and Use of Contraception
3) Impact of Seafood Consumption During Pregnancy on Depression
4) HIV Prevention Conference August 23-36
5) Resources for Child Passenger Safety Week
6) Study: Reducing Immunization Discomfort in Children
MATERNAL-INFANT HEALTH NEWS
1) UPDATE ON H1N1 AND PREGNANT WOMEN
A report in the August 8, 2009 edition of the Lancet suggests that pregnant women might be at increased complications from pandemic H1N1 influenza virus infection (also known as swine flu). The report's authors summarized cases of infection and deaths associated with H1N1 in the US during the first months of the outbreak. From April 15 through May 18, 2009 there were 34 confirmed or probable cases of H1N1 in pregnant women reported to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) from 13 states. Eleven women were admitted to the hospital, and the estimated rate of hospital admission for H1N1 was higher in pregnant women during that month than in the general population. Between April 15 and June 16, 2009 there were six deaths in pregnant women with H1N1. All were in women who had developed pneumonia and acute respiratory disease. Data included in the report support the current recommendation to treat pregnant women with H1N1 influenza virus with anti-influenza dru
gs. To access the report online, go to http://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(09)61304-0/fulltext. For more from the CDC on H1N1 in pregnant women, go to http://www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu/pregnancy/.
2) POSTPARTUM WOMEN AND USE OF CONTRACEPTION
The August 7th edition of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR) features data on contraceptive use among postpartum women. To estimate the prevalence and types of contraception being used by women 2-9 months postpartum, CDC analyzed data from the 2004--2006 Pregnancy Risk Assessment Monitoring System (PRAMS) from 12 states and New York City. This report summarizes those results, which indicated that 88% of postpartum women reported current use of at least one contraceptive method; 61.7% reported using a method defined as highly effective, 20.0% used a method defined as moderately effective, and 6.4% used less effective methods. Rates of using highly effective contraceptive methods postpartum were lowest among Asian/Pacific Islanders (35.3%), women who had wanted to get pregnant sooner (49.9%), women aged greater than or equal to 35 years (53%), and women who had no prenatal care (54.5%). To access the report onli
ne, go to http://cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/mm5830a1.htm.
3) IMPACT OF SEAFOOD CONSUMPTION DURING PREGNANCY ON DEPRESSION
A study published in the July 2009 edition of the journal Epidemiology examines the hypothesis that low seafood intake during pregnancy is associated with an increased prevalence of depressive symptoms. Women who were 32 weeks pregnant completed a questionnaire that included symptoms of depression and a food frequency questionnaire. Using information from the food questionnaire, the amount of omega-3 fatty acids from fish was calculated. The study authors report that unadjusted and adjusted analyses showed lower maternal intake of omega-3 from seafood was associated with higher levels of depressive symptoms. To access this study online, go to http://journals.lww.com/epidem/Abstract/2009/07000/High_Levels_of_Depressive_Symptoms_in_Pregnancy.20.aspx.
CHILD, ADOLESCENT, FAMILY & COMMUNITY HEALTH NEWS
4) HIV PREVENTION CONFERENCE AUGUST 23-26
The 2009 HIV Prevention Conference: Promoting Synergy Between Science and Program will convene HIV prevention experts and advocates from various backgrounds and communities nationwide on August 23-26 in Atlanta, GA. The purpose of the conference is to share effective prevention approaches and research findings among governmental, community, and academic partners in HIV prevention. The conference is also intended to strengthen collaborations between program practitioners and researchers in areas including behavioral interventions, biomedical interventions, monitoring the epidemic, implementing rapid and reliable tests for early HIV diagnosis, and improving access to early treatment and prevention services for persons with HIV. For more information, go to http://www.2009nhpc.org/home.asp.
5) RESOURCES FOR CHILD PASSENGER SAFETY WEEK
September 12-18 is Child Passenger Safety Week, kicked off by National Seat Check Saturday on September 12th. Motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of death for children age 3 to 6 and 8 to 14. In 2007, 6,532 passenger vehicle occupants age 14 and younger were involved in fatal crashes. Parents and caregivers are encouraged to get their child safety seats inspected and make sure their children are properly restrained every time they are in the car. For resources for planning a campaign or event in your community, access the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Child Passenger Safety Week Planner online at http://www.nhtsa.gov/childps/planner2009/. Materials for all of NHTSA's traffic safety campaigns are available at http://www.trafficsafetymarketing.gov/.
6) STUDY: REDUCING IMMUNIZATION DISCOMFORT IN CHILDREN
A study in the August 2009 edition of the journal Pediatrics examines the effectiveness of a multifaceted distraction method designed to reduce immunization discomfort in school-aged children. A clinical trial evaluated children ages 4 to 6 who were given three standard prekindergarten immunizations. Half of the children were the control group, and half received an intervention intended to reduce injection-associated pain. The intervention included verbal suggestions of diminished sensation and a visual focusing activity in addition to the use of ethyl chloride, a known pain-reducing measure. According to the study authors, children in the intervention group showed "highly significant reductions in pain and discomfort, compared with the control group." To access the study online, go to http://pediatrics.aappublications.org/cgi/content/abstract/124/2/e203.
Sources:
http://cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/mm5830a1.htm
http://journals.lww.com/epidem/Abstract/2009/07000/High_Levels_of_Depressive_Symptoms_in_Pregnancy.20.aspx
http://pediatrics.aappublications.org/cgi/content/abstract/124/2/e203
http://www.2009nhpc.org/home.asp
http://www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu/pregnancy/
http://www.nhtsa.gov/childps/planner2009/
http://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(09)61304-0/fulltext
http://www.trafficsafetymarketing.gov/
____________________________________________________________________
Information is reported as provided and does not necessarily represent the view of or the endorsement by the National Healthy Mothers, Healthy Babies Coalition. A complete copy of HMHB's disclaimer is available on the HMHB Web site at http://www.hmhb.org/disclaimer.html
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