[Prophylaxis iodine deficit: information support].

An insufficient intake of micronutrients has massive and permanent nature and influence negatively to health, growth and vitality of the entire nation. One-third part of Russian schoolchildren suffer from deficiency of iron and iodine. Every year in Russia 215,000 children are born with brain damages associated with iodine deficiency. Raising the public awareness regarding the risks and prevention of micronutrient deficiency is the key issue of public health and nutrition. The study which included 4500 respondents in the Urals Federal District showed 2-4-fold increase awareness of the respondents in different positions after the communication campaign for prevention of micronutrient deficiency.

[Hygienic training of the workers occupied in food industry].

The system of professional hygienic training for the workers of enterprises in various branches of food industry needs updating. Suggestions how to improve this work are made.

[Prevention of iodine-deficient diseases].

The Interregional center of public health and development assisted by Sechenov Moscow Medical Academy undertook, 1999-2000, a study of the standard of knowledge, attitude and conduct of consumers in respect to the use of iodinated salt (IS) in the prevention of iodine-deficient diseases (IDD). It was demonstrated that, on the average per one district, 19% of city respondents and 13% of rural respondents used IS only. About 31% of city respondents used IS when it was available at the next-door shop, i.e. from time to time. This figure reached 48% in Irkutsk and Orenburg Regions. The share of those who used IS sometimes in rural regions made an average of 20.7%. 67.2% of those who believe that IDD can be prevented think that ID can also be prevented. Less than 5% of them say ID cannot be regarded as a reliable tool in the prevention of IDD.

[The social-and-psychological factors related to prevalence of breast feeding]. / Sotsial'no-psikhologicheskie faktory rasprostranennosti grudnogo vskarmlivaniia detei.

A comprehensive social-and-hygienic study of families with newborns was undertaken for the purpose of defining the factors influencing the prevalence and duration of breastfeeding. A special questionnaire was worked out that was addressed to 1088 families in 3 cities, i.e. Moscow, Ulyanovsk and Cherkessk. The poor and worsening parameters of breast feeding were found to result, primarily, from the shaped practice of breast feeding present in families, when the mothers are insufficiently informed on such feeding by medical personnel, family members and family friends. An analysis of the obtained data provided for outlining the actual related ways and means on how to maintain, protect and promote the breastfeeding at the regional level.

Role of health communications in Russia's diphtheria immunization program.

As part of a broader program in health communication assistance, project staff from Basic Support for Institutionalizing Child Survival worked with staff from Russia's oblast (regional) public health agencies to design and implement communication activities supporting local diphtheria immunization efforts. Because aggressive community outreach efforts and strong administrative sanctions had already achieved impressive adult coverage rates for first doses of diphtheria toxoid vaccine, communication interventions emphasized the need for second and third doses. Outcomes were assessed through vaccination coverage data and more qualitative measures. In one project site, the increase in adult coverage (two or more doses) was very modest. In a second site, with a stronger communications component, coverage increased significantly (from 20% to 80%). Although it is not possible to disentangle completely the effects of communications from other aspects of oblast immunization programs, these and other outcome data suggest that health communications can play an important role in Russia's ongoing mass immunization efforts.