American journal of preventive medicine
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Earlier development of cardiovascular disease risk factors in blacks versus whites may result from differences in maintaining health behaviors. Age-specific racial differences in maintaining health behaviors from ages 18 to 50 years were determined. ⋯ Fewer blacks than whites maintained four or more optimal health behaviors until age 50 years, but maintenance was low among both races.
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In order to understand adolescent girls' and young women's use of contraceptive services, this paper examines trends in receipt of contraceptive services, focusing on provider type and payment source. ⋯ Private providers now provide the bulk of contraceptive services to adolescent girls and young women, with reduced reliance on publicly funded clinics. Supporting private practices in providing confidential and comprehensive family planning services must be a priority. Publicly funded clinics remain an important safety-net provider of contraceptive care for adolescent girls and young women.
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Many non-pregnant women see obstetrician-gynecologists as their sole source of medical care, yet little is known about vaccination practices of obstetrician-gynecologists for non-pregnant patients. The objectives were to assess, among a national sample of obstetrician-gynecologists, practices related to vaccine delivery in non-pregnant patients and factors associated with stocking and administering more than three different vaccines to non-pregnant patients. ⋯ Human papillomavirus; influenza; and tetanus, diphtheria, acellular pertussis vaccines are the only vaccines routinely assessed and administered to non-pregnant patients by most obstetrician-gynecologists. Given their role as the sole source of care for many women, obstetrician-gynecologists could make a positive impact on the vaccination status of their non-pregnant patients.
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Family history of cancer and modifiable risk factors are each associated with cancer development, but no studies have assessed their association with each other by sex. This study aimed to examine modifiable risk factors in individuals with a family history of cancer compared with those without a family history of cancer, according to sex. ⋯ This study's findings suggest that, in general, males with a family history of cancer show better health behaviors, whereas females with a family history of cancer demonstrate worse health behaviors.
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In the U.S., limited epidemiologic studies have investigated associations between BMI and physical inactivity and Pap test use among Asian women. The aim was to disentangle associations using data from the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System between 2014 and 2016. ⋯ This study suggests that being underweight, rather than overweight or obesity, is associated with a lower rate of Pap test use in U.S. Asian women. Health interventions to facilitate Pap test use in Asian women should explore other potential targets, not aiming to just prevent obesity or change physical inactivity.