Context: Pregnant women in rural areas may give birth in either rural or urban hospitals. Differences in outcomes between rural and urban hospitals may influence patient decision making. Purpose: Trends in rural and urban obstetric deliveries and neonatal and maternal mortality in California were compared to inform policy development and patient…

It is widely recognized throughout the health care industry that the United States leads the world in health care spending per capita. However, the chilling dose of reality for American health care consumers is that for all of their spending, the World Health Organization ranks the country's health care system 37th in overall performance--right…

From the 1920s through the early 1940s, school-based programs in both health and physical education--mandated by government legislation and hailed by the public--increased in scope and complexity. By 1937, the assumption of the interconnectedness of the two fields was institutionalized in the merger of the American Physical Education Association…

Recent California legislation provides for administration of local environmental health problems, traditionally the domain of public health departments, by non-public health organizations. Indications are that the trend of environmental reorganization is along agency lines. Proponents feel that this could be a model for national reorganization.…

Describes California Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) education programs for intravenous drug users (IVDUs). Presents types of educational interventions, both for IVDUs in treatment and those not in treatment. Concludes the state is making a good effort to reach IVDUs, but programs must move toward assessment of attitudes that impede…

Profiles are provided for innovative public health activities that focus on the health of children in day care. All are considered to be models worthy of replication. Profiles depict (1) child care in Arizona; (2) child day care licensing in Connecticut; (3) safeguarding children in day care in Kansas; (4) paired state and local inspection in…

In 1966, the California State Department of Public Health was directed to report on lead contamination of the environment and its effects on the people of California. As a result, this report represents information on the sources, occurrence, and distribution of lead in the environment; on studies conducted by the Department; on body burdens of…

A recommended change in pest control management in California called "integrated pest management" is discussed. The support and resistance to this issue are explored. (MR)

Some children in American schools have known and unknown communicable diseases, including herpes, cytomegalovirus, AIDS, mononucleosis, pinworms, and hepatitis. This article examines major public health issues, school responsibility, preventative measures (like basic hygiene), and the need for more effective community education programs. A disease…

California laws governing the preparation and licensing of teachers were revised in 1970. The revised bill excluded health education as a teaching specialty. Various lobbying methods were attempted and eventually a bill was passed to correct this situation by the state legislature. Unfortunately, the bill was vetoed. (JN)

The role of public health nurses in the health care of infants and children prenatally exposed to drugs is discussed. Such nurses work in the family setting to promote health and prevent disease. Concepts of Kathryn Barnard have been used to develop policies and protocols for services to families with infants exposed to controlled substances. (GH)

The citrus thrips is a small insect pest that causes some cosmetic damage, but seldom causes yield reduction, tree kills, or lower the nutritional value or eating quality of citrus fruits. In California however, economic and marketing factors have prompted the massive, unnecessary overuse of insecticides to kill this pest. (Author/MA)

Describes a job training program to initiate new sanitarians into the Department of Environmental Health Services, San Bernardino County, California. In this program new personnel are acquainted with all phases of their job before actually beginning work. (JR)