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TO HEALTH, MEDICAL, AND NATIONAL EDITORS:
CDC Reports on Effective Strategies for Reducing Health Disparities
ATLANTA, April 17, 2014 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Evidence-based
interventions at the local and national levels provide promising
strategies for reducing racial and ethnic health disparities related
to HIV infection rates, immunization coverage, motor vehicle injuries
and deaths, and smoking, according to a new report by the CDC's Office
of Minority Health and Health Equity.
The report,published today as an MMWR Supplement, describes CDC-led
programs addressing some of the health disparities previously
highlighted in the CDC Health Disparities and Inequalities Reports,
CHDIR, 2011 and 2013. The CHDIR reports highlight differences in
mortality and disease risk for multiple conditions related to
behaviors, access to health care, and social determinants of health -
the conditions in which people are born, grow, live, age, and work.
"Reducing and eliminating health disparities is central to achieving
the highest level of health for all people," said CDC Director Tom
Frieden, M.D., M.P.H. "We can close the gap when it comes to health
disparities if we monitor the problem effectively and ensure that
there is equal access to all proven interventions."
Examples of the programs and health disparities addressed:
-- The Vaccines for Children (VFC) Program, managed by CDC, provides
vaccines at no cost to eligible children who might otherwise not be
vaccinated because of inability to pay. After the introduction of the
VFC Program, racial/ethnic disparities in childhood immunization
coverage do not exist for measles-mumps-rubella and poliovirus
vaccines.
-- Many Men, Many Voices (3MV) is an evidence-based HIV/STD prevention
intervention developed by and for black men who have sex with men
(MSM) that can lead to decreased rates of HIV infection and increased
access to preventive services and treatment among MSM of color. It
uses small group education and interaction to increase knowledge and
change attitudes and behaviors related to HIV/STD risk among black
MSM. In a randomized clinical trial, 3MV reduced participants'
high-risk sexual activity and increased rates of HIV testing. The
program has been implemented in 37 states, the District of Columbia,
and Puerto Rico and has been adapted to serve other MSM of color.
-- Four American Indian/Alaska Native tribal communities implemented
tribal motor vehicle injury prevention programs, using evidence-based
road safety interventions to reduce motor vehicle-related injuries and
deaths. Each tribal community showed increased use of seat belts and
child safety seats, increased enforcement of alcohol-impaired driving
laws, or decreased motor vehicle crashes involving injuries or deaths.
The effective use of communication tools -billboards, radio and
television media campaigns, and school and community education
programs- contributed to the success of this public health program.
"These interventions demonstrate progress toward health equity. They
show the elimination of health disparities as an achievable goal and
encourage further implementation of evidence-based initiatives and
interventions addressing health disparities and inequities," said
Leandris C. Liburd, Ph.D., M.P.H., M.A., CDC's associate director for
Minority Health and Health Equity.
The release of this supplement coincides with 2014 National Minority
Health Month, which raises awareness about the health disparities that
continue to affect racial and ethnic minorities across the United
States.
For more information about health disparities visit the CDC's Office
of Minority Health and Health Equity site.
SOURCE Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
-0- 04/17/2014
/CONTACT: CDC Media Relations, (404) 639-3286, http://www.cdc.gov/media/index.html
/Web Site: http://www.cdc.gov
CO: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
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0000 04/17/2014 17:00:00 EDT http://www.prnewswire.com
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