Health Campaigns: APHA Day 2

Sitting on the floor in a crowded room of public health professionals, everyone gathered at American Public Health Association’s annual conference (day 2) to hear about social media and its application in promoting health. With people standing against walls and overflowing into the hallway, Miguel Gomez from AIDS.gov started his presentation describing how and when people want to find their health information. As someone who works to increase awareness in Maternal and Child Health topics, it was interesting learning about how to broaden appeal to our audience. Thinking about your audience, objectives and strategy before the technology should be our primary process. Repurposing brand and campaigns for Twitter, Facebook, and blogging as well as for mobile versus desktop use should also be of concern.

Erin Edgerton, Director of New Media and Strategic Communication, extended the presentation by describing 10 tips to using social media, including knowing your audience, utilizing people’s time effectively, and having fun in posts. These tips were useful in thinking about creating health campaigns, especially for youth. This theme was also touched on in a meeting on the correlation between alcohol and tobacco use.

In my Bars, Booze, and Butts: the Interplay of Alcohol and Tobacco session today, Jeff Jordan from Rescue Social Change Group discussed his approach to stopping tobacco use in young adults. By targeting trendsetters in bar and social settings, he believes that we can change the “cool” culture around smoking in this population. Local artists work to create anti-smoking campaigns in order to promote bar interventions.

Although I attended other sessions, today was filled with learning how to apply and create specific campaigns to promote health and better the status of young people. I’ll be updating about the continued progress throughout week, so keep coming back for posts!

Greetings from APHA– Day 1

Hello from Washington D.C.! site of the American Public Health Association’s (APHA) annual conference. With snow in October, much of the east coast faced a shock, including me coming from Minnesota, but even more so for others in warmer areas of the country. The first day was filled with networking, starting at the Association of Teachers of Maternal and Child Health (ATMCH) student faculty breakfast. Here, faculty from MCH programs around the U.S. sat down with us trainees to discuss our interests and learn about research going at various schools. Immediately, I was able to connect with the MCH identity in a conference that hosts over 13,000 health professionals from multiple fields.

Next on the schedule was a town hall meeting, discussing the Affordable Care Act (ACA) and MCH. Policy experts from the Association of Maternal and Child Health Programs (AMCHP) and law and public health professionals discussed implications for funding, the ACA, and women’s health. Funding was a common theme today, as well as policy change, reflecting the atmosphere of being in our nations capital. Senator Tom Daschle continued this during the opening session, advocating on public health’s behalf, noting how much the U.S. spends on healthcare compared to other countries.

Jonathan Jarvis, Director of the National Park Service, also gave a unique speech during this opening session. He argued of the importance of reconnecting with nature, in order to better the health of our nation. Parks are free areas for people to walk or bike, however due to the current “park desert” phenomenon in many major cities especially, people have been less able to enjoy the power of nature. His mission to change this is a unique perspective that demands more attention.

The first day ended by attending APHA’s MCH section meeting, learning about opportunities and work the group is doing for the field. I had the chance to collaborate with professionals around the country doing a broad range of work, from breastfeeding advocates, to a doctor from the American Academy of Pediatrics. After a first full day, I look forward to what the week will bring. Keep coming back for updates about the meeting and my experience!

Research: Transitioning Teens with HIV into Adult Care

This week, to follow theme of our recently published Healthy Generations: MCH in the New Era of HIV, we will be posting articles, pictures, organizations, and advocacy efforts addressing HIV issues today. Come back, check-out the blog, and keep updated on the posts!

In January 2011, the Journal of Pediatric Health Care published an article describing a model for promoting healthy transition of adolescents infected with HIV into adult care. This population faces unique transition challenges, including mental health issues due to chronic disease status, medication adherence, sexual and reproductive debut, health insurance status, stigma, communication and losing pediatric-based care.[i]

The authors describe the Special Adolescent Clinic (SAC) — a “one-stop shop” for HIV-infected adolescents. Referred by departments of health, clinics, hospitals, and community organizations, teens obtain health care from a multidisciplinary, culturally competent approach. SAC’s can work with adult care centers to create protocol for smooth, efficient and safe transition for adolescents. Their model, called “Movin’ Out” utilizes phases to get comfortable with adult physicians and doctor visits, in order to avoid anxiety in an already vulnerable population. To see the study, visit: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0891524509003794.

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[i] Dowshen, N., & D’Angelo, L. (2011). Health Care Transition for Youth Living With HIV/AIDS. Pediatrics , 128 (4), 762 -771.

Pic of the Week- HIV/AIDS

This week, to follow theme of our recently published Healthy Generations: MCH in the New Era of HIV, we will be posting articles, pictures, organizations, and advocacy efforts addressing HIV issues today. Come back, check-out the blog, and keep updated on the posts!

This week’s image shows a simple yet powerful sign posted in  Zambia, urging people to get tested, in order to stop the spread of HIV.

Image Credit: Image by jonrawlinson at Flickr.com (http://flickr.com/photos/london/75148497/)

HPV Vaccination Recommendation for Boys

The CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) released recommendations for boys and the HPV vaccine yesterday. In order to reduce risk of acquiring genital warts, in 2009 the ACIP advised that the vaccine may be administered to males aged 9 through 26, however they did not recommend the vaccine for routine use. The unanimous recommendation now states routine use of Gardasil for 9- 21-year-old males as worthwhile in preventing cancer.

Despite these expert recommendations, debate over the vaccine still exists, even for girls. Fear of short and long-term side effects and efficacy has framed the controversy over the drug, as well as mandate and cost concerns. In fact, the three recommended shots cost $100 each, making it the most expensive immunization currently in use; generic versions are not projected to enter the market until 2015 or later. However, The Affordable Care Act signed into law mandates that immunizations recommended by ACIP prior to September 2009 include no cost-sharing requirements.  Recommendations made after 2009 (including the HPV vaccine for boys) will be required to be covered without cost-sharing in the next plan year that occurs one year after the date of the proposal. The group facing the largest barriers in receiving the vaccine include women 21 years and older, due to the fact that the Medicaid Early and Periodic Screening and Diagnostic Treatment (EPSDT) Benefit is for males and females under age 21. Vaccines covered by Medicaid are decided on a state by state basis (in 2009, only 28 states covered the HPV immunization for women).

Other debates surrounding the vaccine include promoting sexual activity of adolescents, and claims of its safety. The media and incorrect claims made by public figures continue these controversies, despite research proving otherwise. Providing accurate information on the vaccine in addition to the ACIP’s recommendations will help prevent deaths and unwarranted conditions from occurring.  Currently, HPV is the most common sexually transmitted disease with 75% – 80% of females and males in the United States infected at some point in their lives.