January 2013
Health Matters for Women
New from CDC
Women and Heart Health Awareness, National Wear Red Day, February 1
Heart disease is the leading killer of women in the United States. Find out how to be heart healthy. Wear red on Feb. 1, and help raise awareness about prevention of heart disease.
HIV among Pregnant Women, Infants, and Children in the United States
Since the mid-1990s, HIV testing and preventive interventions have resulted in more than a 90% decline in the number of children perinatally infected with HIV in the United States. When HIV is diagnosed before or during pregnancy, perinatal transmission can be reduced to less than 1% if appropriate medical treatment is given, the virus becomes undetectable, and breastfeeding is avoided.
Cervical Cancer Screening Among Women Aged 18-30 Years - United States, 2000-2010
CDC analyzed 2000-2010 data from the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) for women aged 18-30 years. CDC found that, among women aged 18-21 years, the percentage reporting never having been screened increased from 26.3% in 2000 to 47.5% in 2010, and the proportion reporting having had a Pap test in the past 12 months decreased from 65.0% to 41.5%.
The National Intimate Partner and Sexual Violence Survey, 2010 Findings on Victimization by Sexual Orientation
This special report is the first of its kind to present comparisons between lesbian, gay, and bisexual women and men by gender. Among the findings - Nearly 1 in 3 lesbians (29.4%), 1 in 2 bisexual women (49.3%), and 1 in 4 heterosexual women (23.6%) experienced at least one form of severe physical violence by an intimate partner in her lifetime. NISVS includes behavior-specific questions that assess IPV, SV, and stalking victimization over the lifetime and during the 12 months prior to the interview.
Doxycycline Shortage
The Food and Drug Administration reported a shortage of doxycycline on January 18, 2013. Doxycycline is a recommended therapy for some sexually transmitted infections and syndromes including chlamydia, nongonococcal urethritis, epididymitis and pelvic inflammatory disease and as an alternative treatment for syphilis in patients with a penicillin allergy.
National Environmental Public Health Tracking Network
The National Environmental Public Health Tracking Network (Tracking Network) is a tool that stores data about when and where certain health events, such as birth defects, occur. This information can helps us to understand the relationship between birth defects, environmental factors, and our actions. It does this by taking data that would traditionally be kept separate by many government and public health agencies, sharing it, and offering organizations a more complete look at the problem.
Birth Defects: Put Your Knowledge to the Test
Every 4.5 minutes a baby is born with a birth defect. How much do you know about birth defects? Take our quiz to find out.
Protect Your Unborn Baby or Newborn from Infections
If you're pregnant or planning a pregnancy, there are simple steps you can take to protect your unborn baby or newborn from infections that cause serious health problems.
Cervical Cancer Screening Among Women by Hysterectomy Status and Among Women Aged ≥65 Years - United States, 2000-2010
The proportion of women reporting having had a hysterectomy who reported a recent (within 3 years) Pap test declined from 73.3% in 2000 to 58.7% in 2010. Declines among women having had a hysterectomy were significant among those aged 30-64 years, from 81.0% in 2000 to 68.5% in 2010, and among those aged ≥65 years, from 62.0% to 45.0%.
Updated: Seasonal Flu Vaccine Safety and Pregnant Women
Pregnant women with influenza also have a greater chance for serious problems for their unborn babies, including premature labor and delivery.
Cervical Cancer: The Preventable Gynecologic Cancer
Most cases of cervical cancer are easily preventable with regular screening tests and follow-up. It also is highly curable when found and treated early. Now vaccines are available to protect against the most common cause of cervical cancer.
Thrombotic Thrombocytopenic Purpura (TTP)-Like Illness Associated with Intravenous Opana ER Abuse - Tennessee, 2012
The Tennessee Department of Health conducted a statewide investigation and identified a total of 15 such cases that had been reported. Among the 15 patients, 13 were women. A case-control study was conducted, and investigators determined that the cases of TTP-like illness were associated with dissolving and injecting tablets of Opana ER (Endo Pharmaceuticals), a recently reformulated extended-release form of oxymorphone (an opioid pain reliever) intended for oral administration.
CDC Influenza Application for Clinicians and Health Care Professionals
The CDC Influenza application for clinicians and other health care professionals makes it easier than ever to find CDC’s latest recommendations and influenza activity updates on your iPad, iPhone or iPod Touch. (Android support will be added in a future update). When your mobile device is connected to the internet, new information and content will update automatically. This is an official application of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Binge Drinking: A Serious, Under-Recognized Problem Among Women and Girls
Binge drinking is reported by one in eight U.S. adult women and one in five high school girls. Women who binge drink tend to do so frequently and with high intensity. Most high school girls who reported current alcohol use also reported binge drinking.
Display Immunization Schedules on Your Website
Follow these steps to easily place the adult or children’s immunization schedules within your organization's website. Using this method, you can confidently display the current recommended immunization schedules and footnotes for your Web visitors.
Vital Signs - Binge Drinking Factsheet: A Serious, Under-Recognized Problem Among Women and Girls
Binge drinking for women is defined as consuming 4 or more alcohol drinks (beer, wine, or liquor) on an occasion. There are effective actions communities can take to prevent binge drinking among women and girls.
Cephalosporin-Resistant Gonorrhea in North America (JAMA editorial)
The editorial sounds the alarm on the potential threat of drug resistant gonorrhea, outlines updated gonorrhea treatment guidelines, and encourages the development of new drugs to treat the common sexually transmitted infection.
Early Estimates of Seasonal Influenza Vaccine Effectiveness - United States, January 2013
These early vaccine effectiveness estimates underscore that some vaccinated persons will become infected with influenza; therefore, antiviral medications should be used as recommended for treatment in patients, regardless of vaccination status. In addition, these results highlight the importance of continued efforts to develop more effective vaccines.
Guide to Promoting Cancer Prevention in Your Community
This guide was developed to help community groups guide their communities toward better health. This tool kit can help educate people on how cancer affects your community; give people tips on how to lower their cancer risk; work with other groups and community leaders to make sure people have the information and services they need; become known as a community leader in the fight against cancer; use CDC's tools and materials to spread the word.
Moving Forward in an Era of Reform New Directions for Cancer Screening (pdf)
This two page fact sheet provides information on this unprecedented opportunity to embrace new roles that build on the existing capacity and extensive clinical network of the National Breast and Cervical Cancer Early Detection Program.
United States Cancer Statistics (USCS) - 1999-2009 Cancer Incidence and Mortality Data
This Web-based report includes the official federal statistics on cancer incidence from registries that have high-quality data and cancer mortality statistics for each year and 2005-2009 combined. It is produced by CDC and the National Cancer Institute, in collaboration with the North American Association of Central Cancer Registries.
Adolescent and Adult Vaccine Quiz
Did you know that certain vaccines are recommended for adults and adolescents?* Take this quiz to find out which vaccines YOU may need. * This quiz provides information for people age 11 years and older.
Upcoming Facebook Chat “Blood Disorders & the 3 P’s (Preconception, Pregnancy, & the Postpartum Period): What Every Woman Needs to Know”
If you are a woman of childbearing age with a blood disorder, a family member of someone affected by a blood disorder, or someone who suspects they may have a blood disorder, please join us for our Facebook Chat Thursday, March 7 at noon Eastern. Dr. Althea Grant, along with other blood disorders experts will answer your questions.
Grants
Building healthcare practitioner capacity around HPV Vaccine Communication
Medicaid Expansion and Reproductive Health Care for Women
Cost-Benefit of Incentive-based Smoking Cessation for Pregnant Women
PPHF 2013 OSTLTS Partnerships Building Capacity of the Public Health System to Improve Population Health through National, Nonprofit Organizations Financed in Part by 2013 Prevention and Public Health Funds
Research Grants for Preventing Violence and Violence Related Injury
Snapshots
