Non-normal Screening Mammography Results,Lumpectomies, and Breast Cancer Reported by California Women, 2001–2009

BackgroundAlthough screening mammography may contribute to decreases in breast cancer mortality in a population, it may also increase the risk of false positives, anxiety, and unnecessary and costly medical procedures in individuals. We report trends in self-reported non-normal screening mammography results, lumpectomies, and breast cancer in a representative sample of California women.MethodsData were obtained from the 2001, 2005, and 2009 cross-sectional California Health Interview Surveys (CHIS) and weighted to the California population. CHIS employed a multistage sampling design to administer telephone surveys in 6 languages. Our study sample was restricted to women 40 years and older who reported a screening mammogram in the past 2 years. Sample sizes were 13,974 in 2001, 12,069 in 2005, and 15,552 in 2009. Women reporting non-normal results were asked whether they had an operation to remove the lump and, if so, whether the lump was confirmed as malignant.FindingsBetween 2001 and 2009, the percent of California women who reported having been diagnosed with breast cancer was relatively stable. For each of the three age groups studied, the percentage of non-normal mammography results increased and the percentages of lumpectomies decreased and, for every woman reporting a diagnosis of breast cancer, three women reported a lumpectomy that turned out not to be cancer. This ratio was greater for younger women and less for older women.ConclusionsDespite relatively constant rates of breast cancer diagnosis from 2001 to 2009, the percentage of non-normal mammography results increased and lumpectomies declined.     

Correlates of Sex Trading among Drug-Involved Women in Committed Intimate Relationships: A Risk Profile

BackgroundDespite a slight decline in new human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infections in New York, marked increases and concentrated epidemics continue among subsets of the population, including women engaged in sex trading. We examined the prevalence and correlates of sex trading among 346 low-income, HIV-negative women in HIV-concordant intimate relationships.MethodsWomen and their long-term main partners were recruited to participate in an HIV prevention intervention. Baseline data were used in this article.FindingsOf the 346 women in the study, 28% reported sex trading during the prior 90 days. Multivariate analyses showed increased relative risk of sex trading by lifetime experience of severe intimate partner violence (IPV), drug, and alcohol use, and marginal significance for mental health hospitalization, partner drug dependency, and homelessness.ConclusionsThese findings suggest an urgent need for HIV prevention and intervention efforts targeted toward women in intimate relationships who trade sex for money or drugs, with an emphasis on IPV, mental health, history of incarceration, and substance abuse.     

Prevalence of Tobacco Use Among Junior High and Senior High School Students in Taiwan

BACKGROUND: Tobacco use is a major preventable cause of death in the world. This article describes and compares tobacco use prevalence for students attending junior high schools and senior high schools in Taiwan. METHODS: This report uses data from the Global Youth Tobacco Survey (GYTS) completed among 4689 junior high school students and 4426 senior high school students in Taiwan in 2004‐2005. The GYTS uses a 2‐stage sampling design to produce nationally representative data for junior and senior high students in general and vocational schools. RESULTS: Higher smoking prevalence was observed among senior high (10.1% general schools and 15.9% vocational schools) than junior high (5.5%) school students. Smoking prevalence of girls in junior high (3.2%) and senior high schools (4.6% general and 11.1% vocational) was almost as high or higher than adult females’ (4.3%) smoking rates. The pattern of smoking intensity across school years and type of school shows that the percentage of smokers who were experimenters (47.1%) was higher in junior high school and the percentage of smokers who were regular/established smokers (over 50%) was higher in senior high school. CONCLUSIONS: Smoking prevalence described in this report shows that there are challenges facing the tobacco prevention and control program in Taiwan. The findings suggest that schools should increase their smoking initiation prevention efforts and make available cessation programs and counseling to help students quit smoking. If effective youth tobacco control programs are not developed and implemented in Taiwan, future morbidity and mortality attributed to tobacco will surely increase, especially among women.     

2010年与2018年中国15岁及以上非现在吸烟人群二手烟暴露情况及影响因素分析

目的了解2010与2018年中国≥15岁非现在吸烟人群二手烟暴露情况及其影响因素。方法 2010与2018年中国成人烟草调查均覆盖全国31个省(自治区、直辖市), 采用多阶段分层整群随机抽样获得全国代表性样本。本研究选择≥15岁非现在吸烟人群作为研究对象, 经基于复杂抽样加权后, 对一般人口学特征、二手烟危害的认知、公共场所室内区域禁烟的态度, 以及不同场所二手烟暴露情况、限制吸烟的规定进行描述, 采用Rao-Scottχ2检验进行率的比较、非条件logistic回归进行二手烟暴露影响因素分析。结果≥15岁非现在吸烟人群中, 看到有人室内吸烟的比例从2010年的84.7%下降到2018年的71.9%, 在各个场所看到吸烟的比例均有所下降, 差异均有统计学意义(P<0.001);女性、45～64岁、教师、医务人员、企业/商业/服务业人员、农村和中部地区人群二手烟暴露情况均有所改善, 差异均有统计学意义(P<0.05)。2018年, 在各年龄组中, 家庭全面禁烟或部分区域允许吸烟的二手烟暴露比例均低于家庭允许吸烟或无禁烟规定;在25～44岁人群中, 所在工作场所全面禁烟的二手烟...     

JUUL electronic cigarette use patterns,other tobacco product use,and reasons for use among ever users: Results from a convenience sample

IntroductionJUUL, an e-cigarette from PAX Labs, has captured 70% of the e-cigarette market. The current study examines JUUL use patterns and reasons for initiation in a large convenience sample of U.S. adults.MethodsRespondents were 979 U.S. adults registered on Amazon Mechanical Turk (MTurk) who reported ever using JUUL. Items included frequency/quantity of JUUL use, reasons for trying JUUL, flavor preferences, and use of other tobacco products.ResultsThe majority of participants reported only trying JUUL once or twice (59.5%), 29.2% reported regular nondaily use and 10.3% reported daily use. The average quantity of JUUL pod use was low in the overall sample (4 pods per month). Daily users reported using ~10 pods per month and engaging in 4–9 separate vaping sessions per day. The most frequently reported reasons for JUUL use were because friends were using it (26.5%), curiosity (20.5%), and similarity to a cigarette (7.7%). Approximately 26% of current JUUL users reported current exclusive JUUL use, while 56% reported using JUUL and another e-cigarette. Of the entire sample, 37.1% were former smokers. Of those, 14.9% were daily JUUL users, 21.4% were nondaily JUUL users, and 63.8% were JUUL triers.ConclusionsThis is the first study to examine patterns and reasons for use of the most popular e-cigarette on the market. In this convenience sample, nearly 40% of those who ever tried JUUL reported current daily or daily use. JUUL use may be associated with limited puffing patterns compared to earlier generation e-cigarettes. Research is needed to investigate if JUUL puffing patterns result in decreased exposure to potentially harmful non-nicotine e-liquid constituents compared to other e-cigarettes.     

Correlates of khat use during pregnancy: A cross-sectional study

ObjectivesKhat is widely used in East African countries including Ethiopia. A growing body of evidence indicates that long-term khat use is associated with various health consequences. The aim of this study was to examine the magnitude and correlates of khat use in pregnant women.MethodsThis study used a cross-sectional, face-to-face interview design that included 642 pregnant women receiving antenatal care services at primary care centers in Ethiopia. A series of chi-square tests and regression models were conducted to examine whether khat use status (i.e., 123 current khat users, 41 former khat users, and 478 non-users) was associated with socio-demographic, mental distress, and substance use measures.ResultsAs compared with non-users, current and former khat users had higher levels of depressive symptoms and distress. Khat users minimized potential health risks associated with khat use. Social and motivational factors related to khat use were different between current and former khat users.ConclusionsFindings of this study suggest a substantial prevalence of khat use among pregnant women in Ethiopia and highlight the role of socio-demographic and cultural influences on khat use during pregnancy. Health care professionals in the region where khat is available are encouraged to ask their female patients about khat use and encourage them to refrain from use while they are pregnant. The positive link between khat and mental distress warrants further research focusing on biological, psychological, and social mechanisms of this relationship.