Automated monitoring to detect H1N1 symptoms among urban, Medicaid-eligible, pregnant women: a community-partnered randomized controlled trial.

In response to the H1N1 epidemic, we used community health workers to design and implement a randomized controlled trial to test the efficacy of a new automated call-monitoring system for second and third trimester predominantly Medicaid-eligible pregnant women in an urban free standing birth center to promptly detect symptoms of influenza and assure rapid treatment to prevent adverse outcomes from influenza. Daily automated telephone call to second and third trimester pregnant women asking if the woman experienced flu-like symptoms. Calls continued daily until 38 weeks gestation.

Prenatal Exposure to Cocaine and Other Drugs: Outcome at Four to Six Years.

In a longitudinal, prospective study, 95 children born to mothers who used cocaine and other drugs during pregnancy and 75 matched, nonexposed children born to mothers who had no evidence of alcohol or illicit substance use during pregnancy were evaluated for cognitive and behavioral outcome at 6 years of age. Prenatal exposure to cocaine and other drugs had no direct effect on the child's cognitive outcome (measured as IQ), but it had an indirect effect as mediated through the home environment. However, prenatal exposure to cocaine and other drugs did have a direct effect on the child's behavioral characteristics at 4-6 years of age, with the home environment having little impact.