Tuberculosis Mortality in the United States: Epidemiology and Prevention Opportunities.

More information on risk factors for death from tuberculosis in the United States could help reduce the tuberculosis mortality rate, which has remained steady for more than a decade. To identify risk factors for tuberculosis-related death in adults. We performed a retrospective study of 1,304 adults with tuberculosis who died before treatment completion and 1,039 frequency-matched control subjects who completed tuberculosis treatment in 2005 to 2006 in 13 states reporting 65% of U.

Neighborhood and Individual Sociodemographic Characteristics Associated with Disparities in Adult Obesity and Perceptions of the Home Food Environment.

Multiple studies have demonstrated significant disparities in the relationship between individual sociodemographic characteristics and risk of overweight or obesity. However, little information is available for assessing the complex associations among being overweight or obese with neighborhood and individual sociodemographic factors and the measured and perceived community food environment. Using 2014 national evaluation data from 20 communities (analyzed 2015-2016) that participated in the U.

Tuberculosis Knowledge, Awareness, and Stigma Among African-Americans in Three Southeastern Counties in the USA: a Qualitative Study of Community Perspectives.

To inform strategies to address the tuberculosis (TB) excess among US-born African-Americans, we sought to understand the TB experience in the most highly affected southeastern communities. We conducted semi-structured interviews and focus groups in three communities with a TB excess-urban (Georgia and Tennessee) and rural (North Carolina). Participants from five groups provided diverse perspectives-African-Americans: patients with TB disease or latent TB infection (LTBI), or at high risk of contracting TB; and local community leaders and TB program staff.

Knowledge and Attitudes About Tuberculosis Among U.S.-Born Blacks and Whites with Tuberculosis.

Non-Hispanic blacks represent 13% of the U.S.-born population but account for 37% of tuberculosis (TB) cases reported in U.

Examining the impact of patient characteristics and symptomatology on knowledge, attitudes, and beliefs among foreign-born tuberculosis cases in the US and Canada.

Foreign-born individuals represent the majority of TB cases in the US/Canada. Little is known about their TB knowledge, attitudes, and beliefs (KAB). Cross-sectional survey was conducted in 22 sites in the US/Canada among foreign-born adults with active TB.

Hormonal contraception and area of cervical ectopy: a longitudinal assessment.

Background: The effect of combined oral contraceptives (COCs) and depot-medroxyprogesterone acetate (DMPA) on the area of cervical ectopy is not well understood.

Study Design: From 1996 to 1999, we recruited women not using hormonal contraception from two family planning centers in Baltimore, MD. Upon study entry and 3, 6 and 12 months after the initial visit, participants were interviewed and received visual cervical examinations with photography.

Physical and sexual violence during pregnancy and after delivery: a prospective multistate study of women with or at risk for HIV infection.

Objectives: We sought to describe and compare prevalence rates of and risk factors for violence against women during pregnancy and postpartum.

Methods: Physical and sexual violence and violence risk factors were assessed during late pregnancy and 6 months postpartum in a prospective study of pregnant women with (n=336) and without (n=298) HIV in 4 US states.

Results: Overall, 10.

Prenatal care utilization and the implementation of prophylaxis to prevent perinatal HIV-1 transmission.

Objectives: To describe prenatal care utilization among women with HIV-1 in 4 US states, and to determine whether the adequacy of prenatal care utilization is associated with the implementation of prenatal, intrapartum, and postnatal HIV antiretroviral therapy (ARV).

Methods: Three-hundred three women completed a prenatal interview. Prenatal, labor and delivery, and infant medical records were reviewed.

The Perinatal Guidelines Evaluation Project HIV and Pregnancy Study: overview and cohort description.

Objective: The HIV and Pregnancy Study of the Perinatal Guidelines Evaluation Project is a prospective, longitudinal, multisite study established to: (a) assess the implementation of Public Health Service guidelines regarding the prevention of perinatal HIV transmission and (b) evaluate the psychosocial consequences of HIV infection among pregnant women. A distinctive aspect of the study is the use of an HIV-negative comparison group. This article describes the methodology of the study and baseline characteristics of the study sample.

Prenatal and postpartum zidovudine adherence among pregnant women with HIV: results of a MEMS substudy from the Perinatal Guidelines Evaluation Project.

Adherence to HIV treatment regimens during pregnancy may affect efforts to eliminate vertical transmission and influence the emergence of drug-resistant HIV strains that can affect maternal health and the risk of vertically-transmitted resistant strains. Study objectives were to document patterns of adherence to zidovudine (ZDV) during the perinatal period. Pregnant women with HIV who were seen at public clinics, taking ZDV, and willing to use Medication Event Monitoring Systems (MEMS) caps participated in this adherence substudy.

Risk score for antenatal bacterial vaginosis: BV PIN points.

Objective: Develop a clinical risk score to screen for antenatal bacterial vaginosis (BV), irrespective of symptoms.

Study Design: Cohort study of 913 pregnant women with last menstrual periods between January 30, 1995 and February 22, 1997. BV was evaluated by Nugent-scored vaginal smears (scores of 7 to 10 considered positive) between 24 and 29 weeks' gestation.

Violence during pregnancy among women with or at risk for HIV infection.

Objectives: This study estimated the prevalence of violence during pregnancy in relation to HIV infection.

Methods: Violence, current partnerships, and HIV risk behaviors were assessed among 336 HIV-seropositive and 298 HIV-seronegative at-risk pregnant women.

Results: Overall, 8.