Availability of Naloxone in 2 Underserved Urban Communities in Georgia.

In 2016, unintentional injuries became the third leading cause of death in the United States. In 2018, 54% of 103 672 unintentional injury deaths were due to drug overdoses among adults 19 to 64 years of age. In Georgia, opioid overdose deaths continued to increase, despite a 2014 state law for naloxone use to prevent deaths, and a 2017 amendment for more widespread community use without a prescription. Given these policies, naloxone availability in pharmacies in underserved communities remains unclear. Our objective is to explore naloxone availability in such communities. Three Public Health and Preventive Medicine residents during a social-cultural-behavioral longitudinal rotation conducted interviews of 9 community pharmacists. Several themes emerged: more education was needed, and naloxone was available only by prescription in certain pharmacies or in limited amounts. Additional assessments among community members and sectors can examine the extent to which policies to expand naloxone availability and accessibility are implemented, including reduced naloxone costs.

Abnormal mammogram follow-up: do community lay health advocates make a difference?

This pilot study evaluates a community lay health advocate (CLHA) intervention in promoting follow-up for abnormal mammograms among African American women. A controlled trial was implemented at an urban hospital in Atlanta, with 48 women in a CLHA intervention group and 35 in a usual care group. Participants were 25 or older and had an abnormal mammogram between March 25, 2002, and May 2, 2003. Intervention group women received CLHA support including encouragement of timely abnormal mammogram follow-up, reminders of follow-up appointments, identification and removal of barriers to follow-up, and accompaniment to follow-up appointments. Women in the intervention group were significantly more likely to keep their first abnormal mammogram follow-up appointment, all of their scheduled follow-up appointments, and their biopsy or fine needle aspiration appointment. CLHAs are effective in promoting abnormal mammogram followup among African American women and may be an important resource in reducing racial disparities in breast cancer mortality.

Dietary intake to reduce cancer risk among African American women in public housing: do sociodemographic factors make a difference?

OBJECTIVES: This study investigates the dietary intake of African American women in public housing as related to cancer risk and explores the sociodemographic factors that hinder healthy dietary intake in this population. DESIGN: Demographic and dietary data for this cross-sectional study were collected as part of a Breast Health Education Study. Trained interviewers conducted face-to-face interviews with study participants to assess the frequency of consumption of specified food items. SETTING AND PARTICIPANTS: Study participants included 202 women 35-79 years old residing in six public housing facilities in Atlanta, Georgia. OUTCOME MEASURES: Univariate analyses were performed to report age, marital status, education level, employment status, income level, and frequencies of food items consumed. Correlation coefficients and multivariate logistic regression were used to analyze the association between the frequency of food item consumption and selected sociodemographic characteristics. RESULTS: Overall, only 33.7% and 17.9% of the women consumed fruit and vegetables on a daily basis, respectively. Almost two thirds consumed meat daily, while less than a third consumed whole wheat bread and bran cereals daily. A significant proportion of women had a daily consumption of fats, oils, and sweets (13.4%-49.5%). Three sociodemographic factors - young age, low income, and low education--were associated with unhealthy dietary intake. CONCLUSIONS: Strategies to promote healthy dietary intake should be implemented for women in public housing communities to help reduce cancer morbidity and mortality in this population. These strategies should address the barriers to healthy dietary consumption that are faced by women in this setting.