bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Effectiveness of Occupational Injury Prevention Policies in Spain
Authors: Benavides Fernando G. , García Ana M. , Lopez-Ruiz Maria , Gil Josep , Boix Pere , Martinez José Miguel , Rodrigo Fernando 
Published: January 2017

Objective. We examined the effectiveness of preventive interventions against occupational injuries (preferential action plans [PAPs]) developed by Spanish regional governments starting in 2000. Methods. We included 3,252,028 occupational injuries with sick leave due to mechanical causes occurring between 1994 and 2004 in manufacturing and private service companies. Time trends for occupational injury rates were estimated before and after implementation of PAPs in each region, with a control group defined for those regions in which no PAPs were implemented (e.g., Galicia, Madrid, and Cataluña). We determined annual change percentages and their 95% confidence intervals (CIs) through a negative binomial regression model. Regions were grouped into three categories according to formal quality of their PAPs. Results. The regions with the best PAPs (Andalucia, Aragon, Valencia, and Murcia) showed annually increasing occupational injury rates (2.3%, 95% CI–2.5, 7.4) before implementation of PAPs. After PAPs were implemented, occupational injury rates decreased significantly to −7.4% (95% CI −10.2, −4.5). Similar results were also found for regions with PAPs of lower quality and even for regions that didn't implement a PAP (control group). These results did not vary substantially in stratified analysis by gender, age, type of contract, or length of sick leave. Conclusion. PAPs are not related to a general decline in occupational injury rates in Spain starting in 2000. Reinforcement of Spanish health and safety regulations and labor inspection activities since 2000, resulting from a social agreement between central government and social agents, remains an alternative hypothesis requiring additional research.
The Development and Validation of Sexual Health Indicators of Canadians Aged 16–24 Years
Authors: Smylie Lisa , Clarke Barbara , Doherty Maryanne , Gahagan Jacqueline , Numer Matthew , Otis Joanne , Smith Greg , McKay Alexander , Soon Christine 
Published: January 2017

Objectives. We developed and validated a set of self-administered, multidimensional indicators of sexual health among Canadians aged 16–24 years. Methods. This study used a mixed-method qualitative and quantitative approach to develop and validate indicators of sexual health We used the four-stage Dillman method to identify, focus-test, pilot-test, and validate key metrics to measure sexual health We collected quantitative data to validate the measures through a computer-assisted self-interviewing program among a purposive sample of 1,158 people aged 16–24 years recruited from four Canadian provinces. Results. The survey contained 75 items measuring five dimensions of sexual health: (1) physical, mental, emotional, and social well-being in relation to sexuality; (2) approach to sexuality; (3) sexual relationships; (4) sexual experiences; and (5) discrimination, coercion, and violence. Principal components analysis for composite measures found seven components with eigenvalues ≥1. The factor structure was stable across gender, age, size of area of residence, and language in which the survey was completed. Cronbach's alpha coefficients ranged from 0.79 to 0.90. Indicators of condom use at last vaginal sex, protection self-efficacy, sexually transmitted infection/HIV testing self-efficacy, and sexual orientation also showed good construct validity. Conclusions. The indicators constituted a conceptually grounded survey that is easy for young adults to complete and contains valid, reliable, and psychometrically robust measures The survey instrument provides a tool for future research to collect population-level data to measure and monitor trends in the sexual health of young people in Canada.
Measurement of Sexual Health in the U.S.: An Inventory of Nationally Representative Surveys and Surveillance Systems
Authors: Ivankovich Megan B. , Leichliter Jami S. , Douglas John M. 
Published: January 2017

Objectives. To identify opportunities within nationally representative surveys and surveillance systems to measure indicators of sexual health, we reviewed and inventoried existing data systems that include variables relevant to sexual health. Methods. We searched for U.S. nationally representative surveys and surveillance systems that provided individual-level sexual health data. We assessed the methods of each data system and catalogued them by their measurement of the following domains of sexual health: knowledge, communication, attitudes, service access and utilization, sexual behaviors, relationships, and adverse health outcomes. Results. We identified 18 U.S.-focused, nationally representative data systems: six assessing the general population, seven focused on special populations, and five addressing health outcomes. While these data systems provide a rich repository of information from which to assess national measures of sexual health, they present several limitations. Most importantly, apart from data on service utilization, routinely gathered, national data are currently focused primarily on negative aspects of sexual health (e.g., risk behaviors and adverse health outcomes) rather than more positive attributes (e.g., healthy communication and attitudes, and relationship quality). Conclusion. Nationally representative data systems provide opportunities to measure a broad array of domains of sexual health. However, current measurement gaps indicate the need to modify existing surveys, where feasible and appropriate, and develop new tools to include additional indicators that address positive domains of sexual health of the U.S. population across the life span. Such data can inform the development of effective policy actions, services, prevention programs, and resource allocation to advance sexual health.
Community Attitudes about Discussing Sexual Health: Assessing Public Opinion of Local STD Prevention Campaigns
Authors: Thomas Rosalind , Homawoo Brigitte Bekan , McClamroch Kristi , Wise Benjamin , Coles F. Bruce 
Published: January 2017

Objectives. We assessed public views about the acceptability of and need for sexually transmitted disease (STD) and sexual health-related educational messaging in local campaigns. Methods. A 28-item state-added module was included in the 2008 New York Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System survey ( n=3,751). Respondents rated acceptability of venues/dissemination channels and messaging and agreement with attitudinal/need statements. Additional data were analyzed from a separate state survey with individual county samples ( n=36,257). We conducted univariate, bivariate, and multivariable modeling analyses. Results. Each venue was acceptable to more than three-quarters of respondents (range: 79% for billboards to 95% for teaching STD prevention in high school). All message areas were acceptable to at least 85% of respondents (acceptability rating range: 85% to 97%). More than 70% agreed that there is a need for more open discussion about STDs. Bivariate analyses identified areas where messaging tailored to specific subgroups may be helpful (e.g., 26% of white people, 44% of African Americans, and 45% of Hispanic people agreed with the statement, “I need ideas about how to talk to my partner about protection from STDs”). Little geographic variation was seen. Results of multivariable modeling on opposition showed limited interaction effects. Conclusion. These data provide key information about current community norms and reflect the public's approval for hearing and seeing more about sexual health and STDs in a range of public forums.
The Role of Effective Partnerships in an Australian Place-Based Intervention to Reduce Race-Based Discrimination
Authors: Ferdinand Angeline Samantha , Paradies Yin , Kelaher Margaret Anne 
Published: January 2017

Localities Embracing and Accepting Diversity (LEAD) is an ongoing place-based pilot program aimed at improving health outcomes among Aboriginal and migrant communities through increased social and economic participation. Specifically, LEAD works with mainstream organizations to prevent race-based discrimination from occurring. The partnership model of LEAD was designed to create a community intervention that was evidence-based, effective, and flexible enough to respond to local contexts and needs. LEAD's complex organizational and partnership model, in combination with an innovative approach to reducing race-based discrimination, has necessitated the use of new language and communication strategies to build genuinely collaborative partnerships. Allocating sufficient time to develop strategies aligned with this new way of doing business has been critical. However, preliminary data indicate that a varied set of partners has been integral to supporting the widespread influence of the emerging LEAD findings across partner networks in a number of different sectors.
Achieving a Healthy Zoning Policy in Baltimore: Results of a Health Impact Assessment of the TransForm Baltimore Zoning Code Rewrite
Authors: Thornton Rachel L. Johnson , Greiner Amelia , Fichtenberg Caroline M. , Feingold Beth J. , Ellen Jonathan M. , Jennings Jacky M. 
Published: January 2017

Objectives. The social determinants of health (SDH) include factors apart from genes and biology that affect population health. Zoning is an urban planning tool that influences neighborhood built environments. We describe the methods and results of a health impact assessment (HIA) of a rezoning effort in Baltimore, Maryland, called TransForm Baltimore. We highlight findings specific to physical activity, violent crime, and obesity. Methods. We conducted a multistage HIA of TransForm Baltimore using HIA practice guidelines. Key informant interviews identified focus areas for the quantitative assessment. A literature review and a zoning code analysis evaluated potential impacts on neighborhood factors including physical activity, violent crime, and obesity. We estimated potential impacts in high- and low-poverty neighborhoods. The findings resulted in recommendations to improve the health-promoting potential of TransForm Baltimore. Results. Mixed-use and transit-oriented development were key goals of TransForm Baltimore. Health impacts identified by stakeholders included walkability and healthy communities. For Baltimore residents, we estimated that ( 1) the percentage of people living in districts allowing mixed-use and off-premise alcohol outlets would nearly triple, ( 2) 18% would live in transit-oriented development zones, and ( 3) all residents would live in districts with new lighting and landscaping guidelines. Limiting the concentration of off-premise alcohol outlets represented an opportunity to address health promotion. Conclusions. Changes to Baltimore's zoning code could improve population health including decreasing violent crime. HIAs are an important platform for applying SDH to public health practice. This HIA specifically linked municipal zoning policy with promoting healthier neighborhoods.
Geo-Epidemiologic and Molecular Characterization to Identify Social, Cultural, and Economic Factors Where Targeted Tuberculosis Control Activities Can Reduce Incidence in Maryland, 2004–2010
Authors: Prussing Catharine , Castillo-Salgado Carlos , Baruch Nancy , Cronin Wendy A. 
Published: January 2017

Objectives. Tuberculosis (TB) disproportionately affects members of socioeconomically disadvantaged and minority populations in the U.S. We describe the geospatial distribution of TB cases in Maryland, identify areas at high risk for TB, and compare the geospatial clustering of cases with genotype clustering and demographic, socioeconomic, and TB risk-factor information. Methods. Addresses of culture-positive, genotyped TB cases reported to the Maryland Department of Health and Mental Hygiene from January 1, 2004, to December 31, 2010, were geocoded and aggregated to census tracts. Geospatial clusters with higher-than-expected case numbers were identified using Poisson spatial cluster analysis. Case distribution and geospatial clustering information were compared with ( 1) genotype clustering (spoligotypes and 12-locus MIRU-VNTR), ( 2) individual-level risk and demographic data, and ( 3) census tract-level demographic and socioeconomic data. Results. We genotoyped 1,384 (98%) isolates from 1,409 culture-positive TB cases. Two geospatial clusters were found: one in Baltimore City and one in Montgomery and Prince George's counties. Cases in these geospatial clusters were equally or less likely to share genotypes than cases outside the geospatial clusters. The two geospatial clusters had poverty and crowding in common but differed significantly by risk populations and behaviors. Conclusions. Genotyping results indicated that recent transmission did not explain most geospatial clustering, suggesting that geospatial clustering is largely mitigated by social determinants. Analyses combining geospatial, genotyping, and epidemiologic data can help characterize populations most at risk for TB and inform the design of targeted interventions.
Screening for Hepatitis C as a Prevention Enhancement (SHAPE) for HIV: An Integration Pilot Initiative in a Massachusetts County Correctional Facility
Authors: Cocoros Noelle , Nettle Eduardo , Church Daniel , Bourassa Lori , Sherwin Vicki , Cranston Kevin , Carr Robert , Fukuda H. Dawn , DeMaria Alfred 
Published: January 2017

Objectives. The Massachusetts Department of Public Health (MDPH) and the Barnstable County Sheriff's Department (BCSD) in Massachusetts initiated a pilot program in July 2009 offering education and hepatitis C virus (HCV) antibody testing to inmates and detainees, concurrent with routine HIV testing. The initiative was implemented to assess the feasibility of integrating HCV screening into an HIV screening program in a correctional setting and the efficacy of linking HCV antibody-positive inmates to clinical care upon release. Methods. Through the Screening for Hepatitis C as a Prevention Enhancement initiative, HCV and HIV testing were offered to inmates and detainees shortly after admission, and by request at any time during incarceration. In preparation for release, referrals were made to community-based medical providers for HCV follow-up care. Data from BCSD were compared with routine surveillance data received by MDPH. Confirmatory HCV test results received by April 15, 2012, were considered indicators of appropriate post-release clinical care. Results. From July 2009 through December 2011, 22% ( n=596) and 25% (n=667) of 2,716 inmates/detainees accepted HCV and HIV testing, respectively. Of those tested for HCV antibody, 20.5% ( n=122) were positive. Of those tested for HIV antibody, 0.8% (n=5) were positive. Of the inmates who tested HCV positive at BCSD and had been released, 37.8% were identified as receiving post-release medical care. Conclusions. We determined that integration of HCV education and screening into correctional facilities is feasible and reveals high rates of HCV infection. Although this model presupposes programmatic infrastructure, elements of the service design and integration could inform a range of correctional programs. Effective linkage to care, while substantial, was not routine based on our analysis, and may require additional resources given its cost and complexity.
Program Collaboration and Service Integration Activities among HIV Programs in 59 U.S. Health Departments
Authors: Harris Lauren F. Fitz , Toledo Lauren , Dunbar Erica , Aquino Gustavo A. , Nesheim Steven R. 
Published: January 2017

Objectives. We identified the level and type of program collaboration and service integration (PCSI) among HIV prevention programs in 59 CDC-funded health department jurisdictions. Methods. Annual progress reports (APRs) completed by all 59 health departments funded by CDC for HIV prevention activities were reviewed for collaborative and integrated activities reported by HIV programs for calendar year 2009. We identified associations between PCSI activities and funding, AIDS diagnosis rate, and organizational integration. Results. HIV programs collaborated with other health department programs through data-related activities, provider training, and providing funding for sexually transmitted disease (STD) activities in 24 (41%), 31 (53%), and 16 (27%) jurisdictions, respectively. Of the 59 jurisdictions, 57 (97%) reported integrated HIV and STD testing at the same venue, 39 (66%) reported integrated HIV and tuberculosis testing, and 26 (44%) reported integrated HIV and viral hepatitis testing. Forty-five (76%) jurisdictions reported providing integrated education/outreach activities for HIV and at least one other disease. Twenty-six (44%) jurisdictions reported integrated partner services among HIV and STD programs. Overall, the level of PCSI activities was not associated with HIV funding, AIDS diagnoses, or organizational integration. Conclusions. HIV programs in health departments collaborate primarily with STD programs. Key PCSI activities include integrated testing, integrated education/outreach, and training. Future assessments are needed to evaluate PCSI activities and to identify the level of collaboration and integration among prevention programs.
Partner Services as Targeted HIV Screening—Changing the Paradigm
Authors: Bernstein Kyle T. , Stephens Sally C. , Moss Nicholas , Scheer Susan , Parisi Maree Kay , Philip Susan S. 
Published: January 2017

Objectives. The San Francisco Department of Public Health (SFDPH) has the goal of offering HIV partner services (PS) to all individuals newly diagnosed with HIV in San Francisco. However, measuring the potential impact of these services is challenging. Building on an existing syphilis partner notification program, we developed a framework for expanding and monitoring HIV PS in San Francisco. Methods. We identified process and outcome measures to evaluate HIV PS in San Francisco, including the number of index patients interviewed, the proportion of named partners who had previously diagnosed HIV infection, the proportion of HIV-uninfected partners who tested through HIV PS, and the positivity rate among the partners tested. Results were recorded in a locally developed electronic surveillance and case-management system at SFDPH. Results. We examined HIV PS data from 2005–2011. In 2011, 426 new HIV diagnoses were reported, and 178 were assigned for HIV PS; of these, 124 (69.7%) patients were successfully interviewed, naming a total of 109 sex partners. Of the named partners, 34 (31.2%) had been previously diagnosed with HIV. Among the remaining named partners not known to be HIV infected, 31 (32.3%) were tested, for a positivity of 22.6% (n=7). The proportion of HIV that was newly diagnosed by a provider who participated in the citywide HIV PS program increased from 15.4% in 2005 to 69.5% in 2011. Conclusions. As HIV PS expand, locally relevant outcome measures are increasingly important. Using these criteria, HIV PS as a targeted screening activity resulted in the identification of newly diagnosed HIV cases.
Trends in Reported Syphilis and Gonorrhea among HIV-Infected People in Arizona: Implications for Prevention and Control
Authors: Skinner Julia M. , Distefano Jana , Warrington Jennifer , Bailey S. Robert , Winscott Michelle , Taylor Melanie M. 
Published: January 2017

Objective. HIV and sexually transmitted disease (STD) surveillance patterns in Arizona suggested the need for integrated data analyses to identify trends. Methods. We compiled all HIV/AIDS cases diagnosed from 1998 to 2008 that were reported in Arizona and syphilis or gonorrhea cases diagnosed from 1998 to 2008 in Arizona. We used deterministic matching to identify individuals who were diagnosed with HIV and one or more STDs, and calculated time intervals between diagnoses. Results. Of 23,940 people with HIV/AIDS reported from 1998 to 2008, 1,899 (2.6%) had at least one syphilis or gonorrhea diagnosis from 1998 to 2008. Approximately 85% of these cases reported male-to-male sexual contact. Among males with syphilis, HIV coinfection increased from 0.5% in 1998 to 29.1% in 2008. Among males with gonorrhea, HIV coinfection increased from 2.0% in 1998 to 3.1% in 2008. Among HIV cases diagnosed from 2004 to 2008 and reported with at least one syphilis or gonorrhea diagnosis, the majority of syphilis cases (76.1%) were diagnosed at or after HIV diagnosis, whereas a majority of gonorrhea cases (54.9%) were diagnosed prior to HIV diagnosis. Conclusion. Use of the deterministic matching method identified increases in STD infections among HIV-infected people. The routine performance of this cross-matching method may be a useful tool in identifying these high-risk individuals so that targeted partner services and appropriate care referrals may be used in a timely fashion.
Epidemiology of the Viral Hepatitis-HIV Syndemic in San Francisco: A Collaborative Surveillance Approach
Authors: Sanchez Melissa A. , Scheer Susan , Shallow Sue , Pipkin Sharon , Huang Sandra 
Published: January 2017

Objectives. To describe the epidemiology of people coinfected with hepatitis B virus (HBV) or hepatitis C virus (HCV) and HIV in San Francisco, the San Francisco Department of Public Health's Communicable Disease Control and Prevention Section and the HIV Epidemiology Section collaborated to link their registries. Methods. In San Francisco, hepatitis reporting is primarily through passive laboratory-based surveillance, and HIV/AIDS reporting is primarily through laboratory-initiated active surveillance. We conducted the registry linkage in 2010 using a sequential algorithm. Results. The registry match included 31,997 HBV-infected people who were reported starting in 1984; 10,121 HCV-infected people who were reported starting in 2001; and 34,551 HIV/AIDS cases reported beginning in 1981. Of the HBV and HCV cases, 6.3% and 12.6% were coinfected with HIV, respectively. The majority of cases were white males; however, black people were disproportionately affected. For more than 90% of the HBV/HIV cases, male-to-male sexual contact (men who have sex with men [MSM]) was the risk factor for HIV infection. Injection drug use was the most frequent risk factor for HIV infection among the HCV/HIV cases; however, 35.6% of the HCV/HIV coinfected males were MSM but not injection drug users. Conclusions. By linking the two registries, we found new ways to foster collaborative work and expand our programmatic flexibility. This analysis identified particular populations at risk for coinfection, which can be used by viral hepatitis and HIV screening, prevention, and treatment programs to integrate, enhance, target, and prioritize prevention services and clinical care within the community to maximize health outcomes.