This study presents statistics concerning recent trends in the health care sector and detailed discussions of selected current health issues. The first part of this report consists of four chapters, each covering a current issue. Chapter one presents recent data on the health characteristics of minority groups in the U.S. Chapter two discusses the…

The hearings cover four bills, three of which deal with revision or amendment of the Public Health Service Act. The fourth concerns (1) the establishment of a National Health Center for Health Education; (2) health education to reduce illness and death, and to moderate self-imposed risks; and (3) consumer health education and preventive medicine.…

Recommendations prepared by the National Environmental Health Association for the immediate creation of a National Health Services System are presented. Recent legislative and planning efforts are reviewed and specific state and local environmental health programs for the future are identified. (BT)

The new approach taken by the New York City Health Department to the problems of surveillance and maintenance of high sanitation standards in food service establishments is explained. Results of a pilot study are presented followed by the new procedures and evaluation. Future plans are then indicated. (LS)

This article summarizes the final report of a work group on physical fitness and exercise, which identified national trends in these areas for the 1980 report "Promoting Health/Preventing Disease: Objectives for the Nation," published by the Department of Health and Human Services. (JN)

Aims: The use of licit and illicit drugs is considered to be primarily a male problem. Numerous studies, however, question the extent of gender differences. This article reports on last 30 day drug use and related problem behaviour among male and female youth prior to residential treatment. Methods: Self-report data were collected from 95 male and…

The article focuses on the Daya Tibi Community Wellness Center of Fort Peck Community College in Poplar, Montana. The idea for the center came from the college's President Haven Gourneau. The center contains a tanning bed, sauna, and state of the art exercise equipment and can be used by students, tribal elders, diabetics and people with high…

The near daily news reports on food-borne diseases caused by contaminated produce, dairy, or meats suggests to the public that the safety of the U.S. food supply is in jeopardy. These reports, as well as a general distrust in federal agencies due in part to mad cow disease and toxigenic forms of "E. coli" in ground beef, have resulted in an…

The objective was to determine if the WHO global BMI (kg/m[squared]) cutoffs for determining overweight and obesity in the general populations are appropriate for Asian populations and to consider whether population-specific cutoffs would be warranted. A nonrandomized biased sampling of 227 Asian Americans were composed of 149 college students,…

This article provides a genealogical perspective on narratives about the past and the future as governmental discourses in teacher education, public health, and criminal justice in Sweden. Contemporary governmental strategies bring nostalgic memories of the past and visions and fears about the future back to life in the present. The past (history)…

Objective: Sunbeds pose a potential risk to health. Although not recommended for children under 16 years of age they are used by this age group. The purpose of this study was to assess the awareness of suntanning guidelines, the use of sunbeds and the attitude towards tanning in children aged between 14 and 16 years. Design and method: 499 pupils…

Context: Alcohol consumption is a major public health problem nationally, but little research has investigated drinking patterns by rurality of residence. Purpose: To describe the prevalence of abstinence, alcohol use disorders, and risky drinking in rural, suburban, and urban areas of the United States. Methods: Analyses of the 2001-2002 National…

Toxic exposures during pregnancy and early childhood continue to play an important role as a preventable cause of neurodevelopmental disabilities in the U.S. and around the world. Identifying and eliminating these toxins should be a priority, but the task is made exceedingly difficult due to the severe limits of scientific knowledge in this area…

Ways to establish neighborhood walkways--pedestrian areas close to residences and linked to conservation and recreation values--are suggested. Ideas include establishing an advisory team and planning groups, sponsoring community walks, installing route markers, and creating walking guides. (CB)