Adoption of preventive behaviors in response to the 2009 H1N1 influenza pandemic: a multiethnic perspective.

Background: As public health leaders prepare for possible future influenza pandemics, the rapid spread of 2009 H1N1 influenza highlights the need to focus on measures the public can adopt to help slow disease transmission. Such measures may relate to hygiene (e.g.

Community and federal collaboration to assess pregnancy outcomes in Alaska Native women, 1997-2005.

The objectives are to report the estimated prevalence of pregnancy complications and adverse pregnancy outcomes in a defined population of Alaska Native women and also examine factors contributing to an intensive and successful collaboration between a tribal health center and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Investigators abstracted medical record data from a random sample of singleton deliveries to residents of the study region occurring between 1997 and 2005. We used descriptive statistics to estimate the prevalence and 95% confidence intervals of selected pregnancy complications and adverse pregnancy outcomes.

Effects of maternal smokeless tobacco use on selected pregnancy outcomes in Alaska Native women: a case-control study.

Objective: To examine the potential effects of prenatal smokeless tobacco use on selected birth outcomes.

Design: A population-based, case-control study using a retrospective medical record review.

Population: Singleton deliveries 1997-2005 to Alaska Native women residing in western Alaska.

Geographic variation in trends and characteristics of teen childbearing among American Indians and Alaska Natives, 1990-2007.

To study teen birth rates, trends, and socio-demographic and pregnancy characteristics of AI/AN across geographic regions in the US. The birth rate for US teenagers 15-19 years reached a historic low in 2009 (39.1 per 1,000) and yet remains one of the highest teen birth rates among industrialized nations.

Maternal smokeless tobacco use in Alaska Native women and singleton infant birth size.

Objective: To examine the effects of maternal prenatal smokeless tobacco use on infant birth size.

Design: A retrospective medical record review of 502 randomly selected deliveries.

Population And Setting: Singleton deliveries to Alaska Native women residing in a defined geographical region in western Alaska, 1997-2005.

Validation of algorithm to identify American Indian/Alaska Native pregnant women at risk from pandemic H1N1 influenza.

Pregnant women and American Indian and Alaska Native people are at elevated risk of severe disease and mortality from 2009 pandemic influenza A/H1N1. We validated an electronic health record-based algorithm used by Indian Health Service to identify pregnant women in near real-time surveillance of pandemic influenza A/H1N1. We randomly selected a stratified sample of 515 patients at 3 Indian Health Service-funded hospitals with varied characteristics.

How can PRAMS survey response rates be improved among American Indian mothers? Data from 10 states.

Objectives: To examine the low response rates to the Pregnancy Risk Assessment and Monitoring System (PRAMS) survey for American Indian (AI) mothers by comparing characteristics of AI participants, AI non-participants, non-Hispanic White (NHW) participants, and NHW non-participants.

Methods: We analyzed 2000-2002 data from states whose population was at least 5% AI or Alaska Native (AN) (n = 10). Mothers who returned a questionnaire (regardless of completion) or who spoke by telephone with PRAMS personnel were defined as contacts.

The Black-White disparity in pregnancy-related mortality from 5 conditions: differences in prevalence and case-fatality rates.

Objectives: We sought to determine whether differences in the prevalences of 5 specific pregnancy complications or differences in case fatality rates for those complications explained the disproportionate risk of pregnancy-related mortality for Black women compared with White women in the United States.

Methods: We used national data sets to calculate prevalence and case-fatality rates among Black and White women for preeclampsia, eclampsia, abruptio placentae, placenta previa, and postpartum hemorrhage for the years 1988 to 1999.

Results: Black women did not have significantly greater prevalence rates than White women.