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Background: The Women's Health Needs Study (WHNS) collected information on the health characteristics, needs, and experiences, including female genital mutilation (FGM) experiences, attitudes, and beliefs, of women aged 18 to 49 years who were born, or whose mothers were born, in a country where FGM is prevalent living in the US. The purpose of this paper is to describe the WHNS design, methods, strengths and limitations, as well as select demographic and health-related characteristics of participants. Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional survey from November 2020 –June 2021 in four US metropolitan areas, using a hybrid venue-based sampling (VBS) and respondent-driven sampling (RDS) approach to identify women for recruitment. Results: Of 1,132 participants, 395 were recruited via VBS and 737 RDS. Most were born, or their mothers were born, in either a West African country (Burkina Faso, Guinea, Mali, Mauritania, Sierra Leone, The Gambia) (39.0%) or Ethiopia (30.7%). More than a third were aged 30–39 years (37.5%) with a majority who immigrated at ages ≥13 years (86.6%) and had lived in the United States for ≥5 years (68.9%). Medicaid was the top health insurer (52.5%), followed by private health insurance (30.5%); 17% of participants had no insurance. Nearly half of women reported 1–2 healthcare visits within the past 12 months (47.7%). One in seven did not get needed health care due to cost (14.8%). Over half have ever used contraception (52.1%) to delay or avoid pregnancy and 76.9% had their last pelvic and/or Papanicolaou (pap) exam within the past 3 years. More than half experienced FGM (55.0%). Nearly all women believed that FGM should be stopped (92.0%). Conclusion: The VBS/RDS approach enabled recruitment of a diverse study population. WHNS advances research related to the health characteristics, needs, and experiences of women living in the US from countries where FGM is prevalent. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Participation in the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) has been associated with lower rates of breastfeeding; studies have suggested this relationship may be modified by race. The purpose of this study is to examine the association between WIC participation and breastfeeding behaviors among white and black women in Mississippi. Using data from the 2004-2008 Mississippi Pregnancy Risk Assessment Monitoring System, we calculated multivariable prevalence and hazard ratios to assess the relationships among WIC participation during pregnancy and breastfeeding initiation and duration through 10 weeks postpartum. Stratified analyses were performed for white and black women. 52.2% of white and 82.1% of black women participated in WIC. 60.4% of white and 39.7% of black women initiated breastfeeding, and 26.5% and 21.9%, respectively, were breastfeeding at 10 weeks postpartum. WIC participation was negatively associated with breastfeeding initiation among whites (APR: 0.87; 95% CI 0.77-0.99), but not blacks (APR: 0.99; 95% CI 0.28-1.21). WIC participation was not associated with breastfeeding duration for women of either race (white: AHR: 1.05, 95% CI 0.80-1.38; black: AHR: 0.91, 95% CI 0.65-1.26). The results among white women suggest that Mississippi WIC might benefit from an in depth evaluation of the program's breastfeeding promotional activities to determine if aspects of the program are undermining breastfeeding initiation. High rates of participation in the WIC program among black women, and the overall low rates of breastfeeding in this population point to the potential the program has to increase breastfeeding rates among blacks. Keywords Breastfeeding * WIC * Race * PRAMS, Introduction It is well documented that breastfeeding confers positive physiological, cognitive, and emotional benefits for mothers and infants [1-3]. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that mothers exclusively breastfeed their [...]

Objectives. We calculated the percentage of gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) attributable to overweight and obesity. Methods. We analyzed 2004 through 2006 data from 7 states using the Pregnancy Risk Assessment Monitoring System linked to revised 2003 birth certificate information. We used logistic regression to estimate the magnitude of the association between prepregnancy body mass index (BMI) and GDM and calculated the percentage of GDM attributable to overweight and obesity. Results. GDM prevalence rates by BMI category were as follows: underweight (13-18.4 kg/[m.sup.2]), 0.7%; normal weight (18.5-24.9 kg/[m.sup.2]), 2.3%; overweight (25-29.9 kg/[m.sup.2]), 4.8%; obese (30-34.9 kg/[m.sup.2]), 5.5%; and extremely obese (35-64.9 kg/[m.sup.2]), 11.5%. Percentages of GDM attributable to overweight, obesity, and extreme obesity were 15.4% (95% confidence interval [CI]=8.6, 22.2), 9.7% (95% CI=5.2, 14.3), and 21.1% (CI = 15.2, 26.9), respectively. The overall population-attributable fraction was 46.2% (95% CI=36.1, 56.3). Conclusions. If all overweight and obese women (BMI of 25 kg/[m.sup.2] or above) had a GDM risk equal to that of normal-weight women, nearly half of GDM cases could be prevented. Public health efforts to reduce prepregnancy BMI by promoting physical activity and healthy eating among women of reproductive age should be intensified. (Am J Public Health. 2010;100:1047-1052. doi: 10.2105/AJPH.2009.172890)

This report provides historical context and rationale for coordinated, systematic, and evidence-based public health emergency preparedness and response (EPR) activities to address the needs of women of reproductive age. Needs of pregnant and postpartum women, and infants—before, during, and after public health emergencies—are highlighted. Four focus areas and related activities are described: (1) public health science; (2) clinical guidance; (3) partnerships, communication, and outreach; and (4) workforce development. Finally, the report summarizes major activities of the Division of Reproductive Health's EPR Team at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses the practice-based case study using a simple method to examine the implication of the CIPROMS Inc. (CIPROMS), workplace wellness program on the cost for absenteeism. Topics include the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention National Healthy Worksite Program (NHWP), the estimated potential savings on the actual absenteeism cost from 2013 and 2015, and the economic benefits of the program.

Objective: To examine the prevalence and association of activity/participation limitation with trying to lose weight and weight loss practices (eating fewer calories, physical activity, or both) among overweight and obese adults in the United States., Research Methods and Procedures: Eligible adults were 20 years of age or older with a body mass index (BMI) >or= 25 kg/m(2) (n = 5608) who responded to standard physical functioning questions included in the 1999-2002 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, a continuous survey of the civilian non-institutionalized US population., Results: Obese (BMI >or= 30) men with vs. without activity/participation limitations were more likely to try to lose weight (OR = 1.59, 95% CI 1.05-2.41). This was not the case for overweight women and men (BMI 25-29.9), or obese women. Among adults trying to lose weight, reducing calorie consumption was common (63%-73%, men, 67%-76%, women). Overweight women with vs without activity/participation limitations had significantly reduced likelihood of attaining recommended physical activity (OR = 0.56, 95% CI 0.36-0.89). Obese adults were more likely to try to lose weight if they attributed their limitation to body weight (OR = 1.78, 95% CI 1.11-2.88) or diabetes (OR = 1.86, 95% CI 1.01-3.43) compared to other causes. Overweight and obese adults who attributed activity/participation limitations to mental health, musculoskeletal, or cardiovascular problems were equally likely to attempt weight loss when respondents with each condition were compared to respondents without the condition., Discussion: These results verify the importance of adequate subjective health assessment when developing individual weight loss plans, and may help guide weight management professionals in the development and delivery of more personalized care.

Background: Trying to lose weight is a concern for many Americans, but motivation for weight loss is not fully understood. Clinical assessment for obesity treatment is primarily based on measures of body size and physical comorbidities; however, these factors may not be enough to motivate individuals to lose weight. Health-related quality of life (HRQOL) may have a role in an individual's decision to try to lose weight. The objective of this study was to examine the prevalence and association of HRQOL measures as independent moderators of weight loss practices among overweight and obese men and women., Research Methods and Procedures: Data were from the 2003 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System, an annual state-based telephone survey of the civilian noninstitutionalized population of adults 20 years of age or older with BMI > or = 25.0 kg/m2 (n = 111,456) who responded to 4 standard HRQOL measures that assessed general health status, physical health, mental health, and activity limitation in the past 30 days., Results: Among men with BMI 25-34.9 kg/m2, the odds of trying to lose weight increased for the moderate vs best category of HRQOL but not for the poorest vs best category, and no associations were noted for men with BMI > or = 35 kg/m2. Women with BMI 25-34.9 kg/m2 had reduced odds and decreasing associated trends in the prevalence of trying to lose weight with poorer general health, increased physically unhealthy days, and increased activity limitation days. Conversely, women with 1-13 vs 0 mentally unhealthy days had greater odds of trying to lose weight. Among those trying to lose weight, reducing calories was common (52%-69%, men; 56%-69%, women). Among men, with the exception of recent mental health, poorer levels of HRQOL measures were associated with diminished attainment of recommended physical activity levels. Among women, poorer general health status was associated with diminished attainment of recommended physical activity levels., Discussion: With the exception of recent mental health, HRQOL was differentially associated with trying to lose weight among men and women. Specifically, moderately poor HRQOL among men and better HRQOL among women were associated with trying to lose weight. Consideration of these influences on weight loss may be useful in the treatment and support of obese patients.