March 2011
New from CDC
Smoking Early in Pregnancy Raises Risk of Heart Defects in Infants
Maternal cigarette smoking in the first trimester was associated with a 20 to 70 percent greater likelihood that a baby would be born with certain types of congenital heart defects, according to a CDC study. The study is in the Feb. 28 issue of the journal Pediatrics.
Cancer Survivors-United States, 2007
The number of cancer survivors in the United States increased from 3 million in 1971 to 9.8 million in 2001 and 11.7 million in 2007-an increase from 1.5% to 4% of the U.S. population. Cancer survivors largely consist of people who are 65 years of age or older and women. Many people with cancer live a long time after diagnosis; more than a million people were alive in 2007 after being diagnosed with cancer 25 years or more earlier.
Adult Obesity Prevalence in Canada and the United States
In 2007–2009, the prevalence of obesity in Canada was 24.1%, over 10 percentage points lower than in the United States (34.4%). Among men, the prevalence of obesity was over 8 percentage points lower in Canada than in the United States (24.3% compared with 32.6%) and among women, more than 12 percentage points lower (23.9% compared with 36.2%).
April is STD Awareness Month: Dear Colleague (pdf)
STD Awareness Month is an annual observance to raise public awareness about the impact of sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) on the lives of Americans and the importance of discussing sexual health with healthcare providers and sex partners. This letter summarizes CDC activities and resources that we hope will complement and support your local activities.
Sexual Behavior, Sexual Attraction, and Sexual Identity in the United States: Data from the 2006-2008 National Survey of Family Growth (NSFG) (pdf)
Sexual behaviors among males and females 15-44 years of age, based on the 2006-2008 NSFG, were generally similar to those reported based on the 2002 NSFG. This report presents national estimates of several types of sexual behavior among men and women 15-44 years of age in the United States in 2006-2008, as well as measures of sexual attraction and identity for adults 18-44. These behaviors and characteristics are relevant to birth and pregnancy rates, as well as the incidence
of sexually transmitted infections (STIs), including human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), the virus that causes acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS).
Deaths: Preliminary Data for 2009 (pdf)
From 2008 to 2009 age-adjusted death rates decreased significantly for 10 of the 15 leading causes of death: Diseases of heart, Malignant neoplasms, Chronic lower respiratory diseases, Cerebrovascular diseases, Accidents (unintentional injuries), Alzheimer’s disease, Diabetes mellitus, Influenza and pneumonia, Septicemia, and Assault (homicide). Life expectancy increased by 0.2 year from 78.0 years in 2008 to 78.2 in 2009.
Vitamin D Status: United States, 2001-2006
In 2001–2006, two-thirds of the population had sufficient vitamin D, defined by the Institute of Medicine as a serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25OHD) value of 50–125 nmol/L. The risk of vitamin D deficiency differed by age, sex, and race and ethnicity. The prevalence was lower in persons who were younger, male, or non-Hispanic white. Among women, the prevalence at risk was also lower in pregnant or lactating women.
Effect of Short Sleep Duration on Daily Activities - United States, 2005-2008
Women were more likely to report most sleep-related difficulties than men, regardless of sleep duration, but both men and women reported greater difficulties if they slept <7 hours compared with 7-9 hours.
Opioid Pain Killers Linked to Increased Risk of Some Birth Defects
Babies born to women who take opioid pain killers such as codeine, oxycodone or hydrocodone just before or in early pregnancy are at increased but modest risk of birth defects, according to a CDC study.
CDC Grants
Eliminating Mother-to-Child HIV Transmission in the United States through Continuous Quality Improvement: The FIMR-HIV Prevention Methodology [CDC-RFA-PS11-1116]
The purpose of the program is to broadly disseminate the FIMR-HIV Prevention Methodology (FHPM) and to provide technical assistance and support to approximately 60 communities implementing FHPM via a FIMR-HIV Prevention Methodology National Resource Center. Closing date: May 31, 2011.
Community Approaches to Reducing Sexually Transmitted Diseases [CDC-RFA-PS11-1114]
The purpose of the program is to announce the availability of fiscal year 2011 funds for project grant applications to support the planning, implementation, and evaluation of innovative, interdisciplinary projects to reduce STD disparities, promote sexual health, and advance community wellness using community engagement methods (e.g., community-based participatory research) and multi-sector partnerships to build local capacity to impact STD disparities in communities with
disparately high STD burden. Closing date: April 20, 2011.
A National Coalition to Enhance STD/HIV Prevention through Promotion of a Holistic Approach to Health and Wellness [CDC-RFA-PS11-1112]
The overall goal of this FOA is to bring together a group of organizations from diverse sectors to enhance STD/HIV prevention by advancing a public health approach to improve sexual health. This effort will include developing a framework and strategies to support relevant national multisectoral leadership and to promote effective actions in multiple areas of focus, including but not limited to: health care providers and promoting collaboration and holistic approaches with
health care and delivery systems; communication, health education, and marketing professionals and promoting attitudinal, knowledge, behavioral and social change and norms to enhance STD/HIV prevention and foster improved sexual health; policy professionals and promoting effective policy actions; and educational professionals and promoting medically-accurate and evidence-based education and school policies to enhance STD/HIV prevention by advancing public health approaches to improve sexual
health. Closing date: May 31, 2011.
National Center for HIV, Viral Hepatitis, Sexually Transmitted Disease and Tuberculosis Prevention, Public Health Conference Support [CDC-RFA-PS11-1115]
The mission of CDC is to protect people’s health, through health promotion, prevention of injury, disability, and disease, and preparedness. CDC is meeting its overall goal of dissemination and implementation of new cost-effective intervention strategies through conference support funding. The purpose of conference support funding is to provide partial support for specific non-Federal conferences in the areas of health promotion and disease prevention and education
programs.
Conferences supported under this program announcement must be specific to one of the following focus areas; HIV, Viral Hepatitis, STD and TB. Closing date: April 15, 2011.
Initiatives to Educate State Officials and Policy Makers about Priority Public Health Issues Related to the Prevention and Control of Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STDs) and Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) and Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS)
[CDC-RFA-PS11-1118]
The purpose of the program is to fund education on accurate, comprehensive, and timely public health information for state Governors, legislatures, policy makers, and those involved in state efforts to protect the public’s health. This program can be accomplished through targeted meetings, workshops, conferences, educational materials, and other communication channels, with a focus on educating these sectors about public health policy matters. The proposed program will
address the current and emerging STD and HIV/AIDS prevention concerns of states including policy and legislative barriers. The proposed program may also be expanded to include adolescent and school health and reproductive health issues of concern to states including policy and legislative barriers. Closing date: June 1, 2011.
Effectiveness in an Intervention to Promote a Targeted Vaccination Program in the Obstetrician-Gynecologist Setting [RFA-IP-11-009]
The purpose of this FOA is to seek a cooperative agreement for evaluating the effectiveness of an intervention designed to assist obstetrician-gynecologists in initiating and maintaining a vaccination program to provide human papillomavirus (HPV), influenza, and combined tetanus, diphtheria, and acellular pertussis (Tdap) vaccines for their patients. Progress toward achievement of this goal will be evidenced by the development and evaluation of strategies which will assist
obstetrician-gynecologists in initiating and maintaining this type of vaccination program. Closing date: April 12, 2011.
Snapshots
