40.4 percent of U.S. adult population
With the incidence of HIV in the U.S. being higher than previously known, an estimated 56,300 new infections instead of 40,000 occurring in 2006, it may be no surprise that an analysis of national HIV testing data conducted by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention shows that after several years of steady increases in overall testing associated with targeted strategies, HIV testing rates leveled off between 2001 and 2006. HIV is the virus that causes AIDS. The CDC analyzed 2006 data from the National Health Interview Survey to determine the estimated number of adults in the United States who have ever been tested for HIV and found that 40.4 percent of the U.S. population (an estimated 71.5 million persons) reported ever being tested for HIV. Early diagnosis of HIV infection is critical and can allow infected persons to obtain life-extending medical treatment, as well as adopt behaviors to prevent HIV transmission. Since 2006, CDC has recommended that voluntary HIV screening become a routine part of medical care for all persons between the ages of 13-64. CDC continues to encourage this approach to reach the estimated more than 250,000 HIV-positive Americans who are unaware of their infection.
Male circumcision deterrent to male HIV infections
At the International AIDS conference in Mexico City, medical experts announced that male circumcision is an effective preventive tool against HIV infections, according to the Black AIDS Institute. Fredrick Sawe, deputy director of Kenya Medical Research Institute/Walter Reed Project HIV Program in Kericho, shared research findings from a study of males between the ages of 15-49 who became circumcised. He said they were 51 to 76 percent less likely to be infected with HIV. Sawe’s research was conducted in six districts, covering 11 locations and 172 villages; it indicated that areas with a high circumcision uptake represented opportunities for HIV prevention and sex education.
His findings mirrored reports of other studies. In nearly all of the studies, male reduction rates reached at least 50 percent among heterosexuals. Because the studies were conducted in nations that did not include African American males or discuss how it applies to women, it is not known what impact, if any circumcision would have against HIV in the United States.
SLU School of Public Health receives full accreditation
Saint Louis University School of Public Health received full accreditation for seven years, which is the maximum length of time granted by the Council on Education for Public Health (CEPH). Saint Louis University School of Public Health remains the only accredited school of public health in Missouri. It is one of 40 fully accredited public health schools in the U.S. and the only accredited Jesuit school in the nation.
“We’re really excited to be one of the first schools of public health that received accreditation based on CEPH’s new set of criteria, which is more rigorous,” says Darcell Scharff, Ph.D., associate dean for academic affairs at Saint Louis University School of Public Health.CEPH is a private, non-profit agency recognized by the U.S. Department of Education to accredit schools of public health and certain public health programs.
Heart disease remains top killer in U.S.
The Centers for Disease Control recently released the top 10 list age-adjusted leading cause of deaths in the U.S. Heart disease ranks as the No. 1 Killer of Americans, followed by cancer-2nd, stroke-3rd, chronic lower respiratory diseases-4th, accidents-5th, diabetes-6th, Alzheimer’s -7th, Influenza/Pneumonia-8th, kidney diseases-9th and septicemia (blood poisoning by toxic bacteria) 10th. Source: CDC, National Vital Statistics Report, Final Data, 2005.
AHA encourages local churches to Search Your Heart
African Americans have the highest risk of any ethnic group of suffering from heart disease and stroke. Those diseases are America’s number one and number three causes of death! But the good news is, these are largely preventable diseases, and you can take action to help stop them from striking you, your family or others in your community.
The American Heart Association, in partnership with Support A Child International, will be hosting a free Search Your Heart training workshop on Saturday, September 20, 2008 at the American Heart Association, 460 N. Lindbergh Blvd. from 8:30 am – 1:00 pm. This workshop will introduce the Search Your Heart program and offer strategies for program implementation and success.
Search Your Heart is a community-based heart health and a stroke prevention program culturally-designed to educate at-risk African American and Latinos about the causes, symptoms and prevention of cardiovascular disease and stroke utilizing three activity modules related to screenings, nutrition and exercise.
The training teaches participants how to incorporate heart-healthy practices into activities already going on in their churches. For more information call Brenda Johnson at 314- 692-5639.
New diabetes management program at Grace Hill
Patients at Grace Hill Neighborhood Health Centers will soon benefit from a new diabetes management program. The Missouri Foundation for Health awarded a $727,536 grant for a program to assist Grace Hill patients and their families with managing their diabetes through self-management goal setting, lifestyle modifications and offers them the opportunity to learn holistic self-care practices that complement conventional medicine. This program is designed to empower people with diabetes to make and sustain lifestyle changes and improve health outcomes through enhanced self-care skills.
The “Better Self-Management of Diabetes Program,” integrates the Mind-Body Wellness approach with the Diabetes program of its Chronic Disease department.
Health coaches will provide one-on-one and group self-management support. A Diabetes Hotline will also be established for enrolled patients to request assistance from a Health Coach regarding their diabetes or lifestyle changes. In addition, Grace Hill will establish Wellness Centers at the Soulard-Benton and Murphy-O’Fallon locations.