HIV Diagnoses and the HIV Care Continuum Among Women and Girls Aged ≥13 Years-39 States and the District of Columbia, 2015-2016.

Background: In 2017, 19% of new HIV diagnoses in the United States were in women. HIV acquisition can be prevented with pre-exposure prophylaxis, and HIV transmission with viral suppression. HIV viral suppression is achieved by linking women to care and supporting adherence to antiretroviral medications.

The "Something Else" of Sexual Orientation: Measuring Sexual Identities of Older Lesbian and Bisexual Women Using National Health Interview Survey Questions.

Background: Terminology related to sexuality and gender is constantly evolving, and multiple factors are at play when individuals answer questions on surveys.

Methods: We examined patterns of responding to the National Health Interview Survey (NHIS) sexual identity questions in a multisite health intervention study for lesbian and bisexual women aged 40 to 84 years.

Results: Of 376 participants, 80% (n = 301) chose "lesbian or gay," 13% (n = 49) selected "bisexual," 7% (n = 25) indicated "something else," and 1 participant chose "don't know the answer.

Program Design for Healthy Weight in Lesbian and Bisexual Women: A Ten-City Prevention Initiative.

Purpose: Adult lesbian and bisexual (LB) women are more likely to be obese than adult heterosexual women. To address weight- and fitness-related health disparities among older LB women using culturally appropriate interventions, the Office on Women's Health (OWH) provided funding for the program, Healthy Weight in Lesbian and Bisexual Women (HWLB): Striving for a Healthy Community. This paper provides a description of the interventions that were implemented.

Effects of Mindfulness Interventions on Health Outcomes in Older Lesbian/Bisexual Women.

Purpose: Lesbian and bisexual (LB) women are at higher risk for obesity, but no reported interventions focus on older LB women who are overweight or obese. The Healthy Weight in Lesbian and Bisexual Women study funded five programs (n = 266 LB women age ≥40); two examined effects of mindfulness interventions on health outcomes.

Methods: Analysis of variance and regression measured the impact of mindfulness-based programs on health behaviors and quality of life (MCS).

Recruitment and Participation of Older Lesbian and Bisexual Women in Intervention Research.

Background: Very little research has addressed issues of recruitment and participation of lesbian and bisexual (LB) women, aged 40 and older, into research studies. This study is based on a larger cross-site intervention study that recruited women from five geographic regions in the United States for culturally specific LB healthy weight programs, lasting 12 or 16 weeks.

Methods: Principal investigators (PIs) of the five intervention programs completed a questionnaire on recruitment and participation strategies and barriers.

Two Tailored Provider Curricula Promoting Healthy Weight in Lesbian and Bisexual Women.

Purpose: Provider curricula to reduce potential weight bias or stigma in treating lesbian and bisexual (LB) women who are overweight or obese were pilot-tested in two unique settings. Trainings used LB cultural competency and motivational interviewing techniques to improve provider-patient interactions.

Methods: Two training formats were used: Clinic Format and Academic Format.

Healthy Weight in Lesbian and Bisexual Women Aged 40 and Older: An Effective Intervention in 10 Cities Using Tailored Approaches.

Background: Lesbian and bisexual women are more likely to be overweight or obese than heterosexual women, leading to increased weight-related health risks.

Methods: Overweight women aged 40 or older who self-identified as lesbian, bisexual, or "something else" participated in five pilot interventions of 12 or 16 weeks' duration. These tailored interventions took place at lesbian and bisexual community partner locations and incorporated weekly group meetings, nutrition education, and physical activity.

Aging, Weight, and Health Among Adult Lesbian and Bisexual Women: A Metasynthesis of the Multisite "Healthy Weight Initiative" Focus Groups.

Purpose: Adult lesbian and bisexual (LB) women are more likely to be obese than adult heterosexual women. Achieving a healthy weight reduces health risks and improves quality of life, but the evidence based on successful weight interventions is limited. To inform a national initiative, a metasynthesis (a form of qualitative meta-analysis) of focus group data was conducted to gather lesbian and bisexual womens' perspectives.

Challenges in Intervention Research for Lesbian and Bisexual Women.

Purpose: More than one-third of U.S. adults are obese, the highest prevalence occurring among women age 60 and older (42.

Evaluation of the Heart Truth professional education campaign on provider knowledge of women and heart disease.

Background: The Heart Truth Professional Education Campaign was developed to facilitate education of health care providers in evidence-based strategies to prevent cardiovascular disease (CVD) in women.

Methods: As part of the 3-year campaign, lectures based on the American Heart Association's evidence-based guidelines for CVD prevention in women were presented by local speakers to healthcare providers and students in three high-risk states: Delaware, Ohio, and New York. Participants' responses to pretest and posttest questions about CVD in women are presented.

The DC breastfeeding-friendly hospital initiative: an evaluation of hospitals' support for breastfeeding in the capital of the United States.

Maternity facilities that follow the 10 steps of the Baby-Friendly Hospital Initiative have improved breastfeeding outcomes. Prior to the DC Breastfeeding-Friendly Hospital Initiative, no maternity facilities in Washington, DC, were recognized as Baby-Friendly. Each facility's journey toward improved breastfeeding support is unique.

The DHHS Office on Women's Health Initiative to Improve Women's Heart Health: focus on knowledge and awareness among women with cardiometabolic risk factors.

Unlabelled: Abstract Background: The diversity of the U.S. population and disparities in the burden of cardiovascular disease (CVD) require that public health education strategies must target women and racial/ethnic minority groups to reduce their CVD risk factors, particularly in high-risk communities, such as women with the metabolic syndrome (MS).

The Office on Women's Health initiative to improve women's heart health: program description, site characteristics, and lessons learned.

Aims: Improving, Enhancing and Evaluating Outcomes of Comprehensive Heart Health Care Programs for High Risk Women has funded six diverse centers to provide chronic disease risk factor screening and lifestyle interventions for women and focuses specifically on low-income, minority women.

Results: This article describes the rationale for these diverse programs across the country, all focusing on improving outcomes for women with or at risk for cardiovascular disease (CVD). The six programs include College of Physicians and Surgeons at Columbia University, Christ Community Health Services in Memphis, Women's Heart Center of Fox Valley Cardiovascular Consultants, University of Minnesota, University of California Davis Women's Cardiovascular Medicine Program, and Yale-New Haven Hospital's Women's Heart Advantage.

Human milk research for answering questions about human health.

Concerns regarding human milk in our society are diverse, ranging from the presence of environmental chemicals to the health of breastfed infants and the economic value of breastfeeding to society. The panel convened for the Technical Workshop on Human Milk Surveillance and Biomonitoring for Environmental Chemicals in the United States, held at the Hershey Medical Center, Pennsylvania State College of Medicine, on 24--26 September 2004, considered how human milk research may contribute to environmental health initiatives to benefit society. The panel concluded that infant, maternal, and community health can benefit from studies using human milk biomonitoring.