Increased mortality in children and adolescents with developmental disabilities.

A population-based cohort of 10-year-old children with mental retardation, cerebral palsy, epilepsy, hearing impairment or vision impairment, who were ascertained at 10 years of age in a previous study conducted in metro Atlanta during 1985-87, was followed up for mortality and cause of death information. We used the National Death Index to identify all deaths among cohort members during the follow-up period (1985-95). We estimated expected numbers of deaths on the basis of actual age-, race- and sex-specific death rates for the entire Georgia population for 1989-91.

Prevalence of autism in a United States population: the Brick Township, New Jersey, investigation.

Objective: This study determined the prevalence of autism for a defined community, Brick Township, New Jersey, using current diagnostic and epidemiologic methods.

Methods: The target population was children who were 3 to 10 years of age in 1998, who were residents of Brick Township at any point during that year, and who had an autism spectrum disorder. Autism spectrum disorder was defined as autistic disorder, pervasive developmental disorder-not otherwise specified (PDD-NOS), and Asperger disorder.

Increased risk for developmental disabilities in children who have major birth defects: a population-based study.

Objective: We sought to quantify the strength of associations between each of four specific developmental disabilities (DDs) and specific types of major birth defects.

Methods: We linked data from 2 independent surveillance systems, the Metropolitan Atlanta Congenital Defects Program and the Metropolitan Atlanta Developmental Disabilities Surveillance Program. Children with major birth defects (n = 9142; born 1981-1991 in metro Atlanta) and 3- to 10-year-old children who were born between 1981 and 1991 in metro Atlanta and identified between 1991 and 1994 as having mental retardation, cerebral palsy, hearing impairment, or vision impairment (n = 3685) were studied.

Combined tobacco and alcohol use by pregnant and reproductive-aged women in the United States.

Objective: To assess trends in the concurrent use of alcohol and tobacco among pregnant women.

Methods: Using behavioral risk factor surveillance system data from 1987 through 1997, we determined the prevalence of concurrent tobacco and alcohol use among women aged 18-44 years by pregnancy status and indirectly estimated pregnancy-related disuse rates.

Results: The percentage of women who used alcohol and tobacco decreased significantly from 1987 to 1990 among pregnant (5.

A survey of obstetrician-gynecologists on their patients' alcohol use during pregnancy.

Objective: To examine knowledge, attitudes, current clinical practices, and educational needs of obstetrician-gynecologists regarding patients' alcohol use during pregnancy.

Methods: A 20-item, self-administered questionnaire on patients' prenatal alcohol use was sent to 1000 active ACOG fellows. Responses were analyzed using univariate and multivariate statistical techniques.