October 2009
New from CDC
Nation's Teen Vaccination Coverage Increasing, Variability Observed By Area, Race/Ethnicity, and Poverty Status
The National Immunization Survey estimates the proportion of teens aged 13 through 17 years who have received six recommended vaccines by the time they are surveyed. The survey found that, compared to 2007, there was a substantial increase in the percentage of teens who had received the recommended vaccines. Specifically: coverage went up about 10 percentage points for a dose of Tdap and a dose of MCV4, reaching about 40 percent for each vaccine; and coverage went up about 12
percentage points for girls who received at least one dose of HPV4, to about 37 percent, and coverage for the recommended 3 doses of HPV4 was about 18 percent.
Majority of Americans Not Meeting Recommendations for Fruit and Vegetable Consumption
No U.S. state is meeting national objectives for consumption of fruits and vegetables, according to the first report to provide state–by–state data about fruit and vegetable consumption and policies that may help Americans eat more fruits and vegetables. National and state-specific information is reported in the State Indicator Report for behavioral indicators and policy and environmental indicators.
Alcohol Use Among High School Students - Georgia, 2007
Liquor was the most prevalent type of alcohol usually consumed overall (43.7%) and across all subgroups. Beer was the second most prevalent type of alcohol usually consumed by male students (24.3%), and malt beverages were the second most prevalent type of alcohol usually consumed by female students (24.1%).
Native American Pre-teen Vaccine Campaign
The Pre-Teen Vaccine Campaign includes posters, flyers, web buttons, and PSA's that educate parents and providers about recommended pre-teen vaccines and the 11 and 12 year old medical check-up. Materials are now available for parents and caregivers of Native American pre-teens. Materials, created after extensive audience research, are also available in English and Spanish.
Deaths: Preliminary Data for 2007
This report presents preliminary mortality data for the United States based on vital records for a substantial proportion of deaths occurring in 2007. In 2007, age-adjusted death rates decreased from 2006 by 2.1 percent for males and by 2.2 percent for females. The preliminary estimate of life expectancy at birth for the total population in 2007 reached a record high of 77.9 years. This represents an increase of 0.2 years relative to 2006. Life expectancy for males and
females reached record levels in 2007. In 2007, both male and female life expectancies increased from 2006 by 0.2 years, from 75.1 to 75.3 years for males, and from 80.2 years to 80.4 years for females.
Sexual and Reproductive Health of Persons Aged 10-24 Years, 2002-2007
This MMWR pulls together previously reported data from the vital statistics system and various CDC reports on sexual and reproductive health trends and outcomes for persons aged 10-24 years between 2002 and 2007. Data were compiled from the National Vital Statistics System and multiple surveys and surveillance systems that monitor sexual and reproductive health outcomes into a single reference report that makes this information more easily accessible to policy makers,
researchers, and program providers who are working to improve the reproductive health of young persons in the United States. The report addresses three primary topics: 1) current levels of risk behavior and health outcomes; 2) disparities by sex, age, race/ethnicity, and geographic residence; and 3) trends over time.
Aging Differently: Physical Limitations Among Adults Aged 50 Years and Over: United States, 2001–2007
Many adults experience increases in physical limitations with age. A physical limitation, as defined here, refers to having difficulty performing any of eight physical activities. For each age and race group, women are more likely than men of the same age to have one or more physical limitations. Differences between men and women in the prevalence of one or more physical limitations widens with increasing age.
Inside Knowledge: Get the Facts about Gynecologic Cancer
Learn the signs, symptoms, and risk factors related to gynecologic cancers, including cervical, ovarian, uterine, vaginal, and vulvar cancers.
We Knew It Was True: Women Do Call the Shots at Home, According to the Results of a New Study
Researchers found that in 43% of the couples, men don’t have the final say in any of the four areas tested: (1) shared weekend activities such as shopping, going to the park, etc; (2) household finances; (3) big home purchases; and (4) television viewing. These men either share decision making with their partners or defer to them. There are significantly fewer couples (33%) in which the woman does not take the lead in any of the four areas. Also, more women (15%) than
men (9%) are the lead decision makers in three or more areas. Older couples (those 65 and older) are twice as likely as younger couples (those younger than 30) to make decisions together in at least three of the four areas tested.
Effect of Antiretroviral Therapy on Risk of Sexual Transmission of HIV Infection and Superinfection
The past decade has seen substantial advances in the development of antiretroviral therapy (ART)—medications used in combination to reduce the replication of HIV virus and treat HIV-infected persons. Because of these medications, many HIV-infected persons are able to reduce levels of virus in the bloodstream (plasma viral load) to undetectable levels. Data suggest that HIV-infected persons with undetectable viral load are less infectious, and may be less likely to
transmit HIV via sexual contact. This fact sheet summarizes the implications of these data to individual couples and to the potential impact of ART in the prevention of HIV transmission within populations.
Learn What You Can Do To Support Breastfeeding in Your State
The new 2009 Breastfeeding Report Card provides information for each state on key breastfeeding indicators, showing where each state has been successful and where more work is needed to improve breastfeeding practices.
Delayed Childbearing: More Women Are Having Their First Child Later in Life
The age of the mother, both younger and older, plays a strong role in a wide range of birth outcomes (e.g., birthweight, multiple births, and birth defects), so it is critical to track the average age at which women have their first birth. The average age of first-time mothers increased by 3.6 years, from 21.4 years in 1970 to 25.0 years in 2006. While the average age for first births increased from 1970 to 2006, the increases were more dramatic during the first two decades
(1970 to 1990).
The Effect of Hurricane Katrina: Births in the U.S. Gulf Coast Region, Before and After the Storm
The total number of births in the 14 selected FEMA-designated counties and parishes decreased 19 percent in the 12 months after Hurricane Katrina compared with the 12 months before, with births declining in the selected counties and parishes of Louisiana and Mississippi and rising in the counties of Alabama. The number of births to non-Hispanic black women in the selected parishes of Louisiana fell substantially after Hurricane Katrina; births declined for non-Hispanic white,
Hispanic, and Asian or Pacific Islander women in these selected parishes as well.
Contraceptive Use Among Postpartum Women - 12 States and New York City, 2004-2006
This report summarizes results which indicated that 88.0% 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 =35 years
(53.0%), and women who had no prenatal care (54.5%).
Get Smart About Antibiotics
Inappropriate use of antibiotics can promote antibiotic resistance. To reduce the spread of resistance, the Get Smart program urges health-care providers to avoid prescribing antibiotics to treat viral upper respiratory infections (URIs) and to 1) identify and discuss patient concerns related to URIs, 2) recommend symptomatic therapy for URIs, and 3) prescribe a targeted antibiotic (rather than broad-spectrum) for bacterial infections.
Snapshots
