Biomedical subjects

S D Helgerson

Publications and source records attributed to S D Helgerson.

59 records · Page 4Linked to original sources

PubMedDate not supplied

Using 1990 national MCH objectives to assess health status and risk in an American Indian community.

The authors used data from birth records to assess changes in health risks and health status of American Indians (AI) living in Umatilla County, OR, from 1973 to 1986. They compared the AI health risks and health status with those of other persons (non-AI) living in Umatilla County, and assessed the progress of both AI and non-AI populations toward selected 1990 national health objectives. This AI population is likely to achieve the 1990 national health objective calling for less than 5 percent of births to be low birth weight (LBW); the LBW rate decreased from 5.0 percent in 1977-80 to 4.1 percent in 1984-86. However, the population is not likely to achieve the 1990 objective calling for at least 90 percent of women to begin prenatal care during the first trimester, even though the proportion of AI women who began prenatal care in the first trimester increased from 42.3 percent in 1973-76 to 62.6 percent in 1984-86. The Yellowhawk Indian Health Center began offering clinical services to AI in Umatilla County in 1976. Compared with non-AI women, AI women closed large gaps in key health risk and health status indicators during the period from 1973 to 1986. For example, from 1973 to 1976, 14.6 percent of AI mothers compared with 6.3 percent of non-AI mothers began prenatal care in the last trimester. By 1984 to 1986, only 9.0 percent of AI and 7.9 percent of non-AI mothers began prenatal care in the last trimester. Several other desirable health indicators improved more for AI than for non-AI from 1973 to 1986. These indicators included receiving at least one prenatal care visit during pregnancy, beginning prenatal care before the last trimester, and a larger proportion of mothers more than 18 years of age.Data from vital records can be used to monitor the health status of minority populations in small areas, such as counties. Clinic personnel serving minority groups can incorporate national and local health objectives into their strategy for improving community health.

Adolescent↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Training public health students to investigate disease outbreaks--examples of community service.

In a cooperative effort among the Centers for Disease Control, the Yale University Department of Epidemiology, and the Connecticut State Department of Health Services, an epidemiology demonstration training program was established in which student-faculty rapid response teams responded to requests from the State and from local health departments to investigate acute disease outbreaks or the health effects of natural experiments. Over five academic semesters, 23 teams, consisting of a total of 76 students, responded to requests and produced reports regarding the etiology and recommendations for control to the appropriate agencies. By the end of the fifth semester, there had been three papers or reports published in medical or public health journals, two papers accepted for publication, four presentations at meetings, and five additional manuscripts had been submitted to journals or were being prepared for submission. Throughout the experience, a high level of cooperation between local and State health departments and the school of public health was maintained. Involved students, faculty, and State investigators believed the experience to be highly productive and worthwhile.

Disease Outbreaks↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Employee smoking behavior changes and attitudes following a restrictive policy on worksite smoking in a large company.

A Connecticut insurance company adopted a policy prohibiting smoking in all work areas. Three months later, the authors assessed smoking behavior changes and attitudes of a sample of 1,210 employees, 56.6 percent of the total. The survey showed that the policy of no smoking in the work areas did not markedly affect smoking cessation, that it reduced cigarette consumption for those who continued to smoke, that those who previously smoked most were most likely to reduce consumption, and that despite negative feelings about the policy by smokers, only 29 percent of smokers and 4 percent of nonsmokers wanted a worksite smoking policy eliminated. During the 1-year prepolicy period, smoking prevalence decreased from 25.2 percent to 23.6 percent of the sample. During the 3-month postpolicy period, smoking prevalence decreased to 22.0 percent. During the prepolicy period, consumption did not change significantly (from 0.99 to 0.95 packs per day) and few smokers increased (11 percent) or decreased (13 percent) consumption. During the postpolicy period, consumption decreased by 32 percent to 0.67 packs per day, and 12 times as many smokers decreased (44 percent) as increased (3.5 percent) consumption. Of those who smoked at least two packs per day, 93 percent smoked less after the policy. Among nonsmokers, 70 percent thought the policy had a positive overall effect on the work environment, compared with 19 percent of smokers.

Attitude↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Farm workers electrocuted when irrigation pipes contact powerlines.

For accidental electrocutions in Washington State from 1950 to 1979, the standardized proportionate mortality ratio for farmers compared with the general population was found to be 226 in a recent report. This excess mortality rate in Washington State was investigated by the authors, who reviewed death certificates and associated local newspaper reports of all farmers killed by electrocution during 1950-79 and of all persons killed by electrocution during 1970-79. Selected employers, next of kin, and public utility personnel were also interviewed. In Washington State 42 farmers were electrocuted during the years 1950-79; 23 of them were killed while working near irrigation pipes that came into contact with overhead electrical lines. During 1970-79 there were 15 irrigation pipe-associated (IPA) electrocutions among farmers and 15 among farm workers. The average age of farmers who suffered IPA electrocutions, 33.2 years, was less than the average age of farmers whose electrocutions were not associated with irrigation pipes, 48.9 years. Among persons less than 20 years old, IPA electrocutions were more common than any other type of electrocutions. During the months of April through September, 93 percent of the IPA electrocutions occurred as compared with only 61 percent of other types of electrocution. Among measures for the prevention of these electrocutions are education of the population at risk and changes in methods of irrigation.

Accidents, Occupational↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Toxic-shock syndrome: tampons, toxins, and time: the evolution of understanding an illness.

Toxic-shock syndrome (TSS) was first described in 1978, but cases of illness meeting the TSS case definition (presence of fever, hypotension, rash, and desquamation, as well as involvement of three organ systems and absence of evidence for other etiologies) have occurred for many years. Awareness of TSS grew rapidly among the general public and persons in the health-care professions during the last quarter of 1980 when tampon use was associated with the development of TSS. However, TSS is almost certainly caused by a toxin produced by Staphylococcus aureus. This article describes steps in the evolution of understanding TSS: recognition of the syndrome, discovery of risk factors, elucidation of the probable cause, and description of the clinical picture and the epidemiology. The article concludes with a list of unanswered questions.

Adolescent↗