The information about Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) presented in this special report is designed to encourage the development of educational and preventive programs on the college campus. Chapter 1 defines many of the words and phrases used in discussions about AIDS; tells how the disease is and is not spread; and briefly discusses…

This booklet presents information regarding the history, incidence, and effects of Down Syndrome. The first chapter, presenting an historical perspective of the condition, provides information on counseling parents of Down Syndrome children, and the chromosome structures seen in Down Syndrome patients. The next chapter discusses medical aspects in…

The first in a series of three publications which address the prevention and treatment of developmental handicaps, this volume includes sections on developmental issues and the consideration of linkages. Section I includes the four following papers: "Early Intervention: The State of the Art" (N. Johnson and H. Chamberlin);…

Radiation has been a serious concern to individuals for over 100 years. A process by which an atomic nucleus emits particles to reach a more stable energy state, radiation harms living cells (usually by inhalation and absorption into the lungs) by causing abnormal cell function and structure. Man is constantly exposed to background radiation, both…

Demographic data are used in this report to present information about infant mortality in more- and less-developed countries. One chapter is devoted to rising infant mortality rates in developed countries, which defy the typical post-World War II pattern. Severe economic conditions are linked to this increase. Direct causes of infant deaths are…

School health education programs and health services can directly help meet 34 objectives of the national disease prevention and health promotion strategy and can contribute to the attainment of 33 others. Objectives of the disease prevention strategy are discussed, and evolution of the project is recounted. (PP)

Charges that the overwhelming majority of victims of work-related illnesses are not receiving their entitlements. Describes ways in which social workers and health professionals may become advocates to broaden the effectiveness of the workers' compensation system, illustrated by case studies from the Montefiore Project. (Author/JAC)

McGuire's model of persuasive communication in public communication campaigns provides a framework for examining input variables in HIV/AIDS prevention education with Hispanic populations. Source, message, channel, and receiver factors associated with HIV prevention are analyzed with regard to design and implementation of culturally appropriate…

This population-based, case-control study examined physical illness as a risk factor for suicidal behavior. Case patients were more likely than controls to report having any serious medical conditions. Results suggest that young men with medical conditions are at increased risk for nearly lethal suicide attempts. (Contains 33 references and 3…

Using data from the 1992 and 1994 waves of the Health and Retirement Study (HRS), this study described reasons reported by pre- and early-retirement populations for perceived changes in global health status over a 2-year period. It then analyzed the association between self-perceptions of change and the actual changes in objective health…

There is a strong relationship between students' socioeconomic status and their levels of academic achievement. Although educators should be held accountable for improving the performance of all students, including those living in poverty, schools alone can't eliminate the negative factors associated with poverty that lead to a large achievement…

Although art therapy has traditionally focused on the use of art expression in psychotherapy, the practice of medical art therapy has begun to grow rapidly. This paper provides a brief overview of the emerging specialty of medical art therapy and its importance as a counseling tool with people suffering from serious health problems. The paper…

Every child who enters the doors of the nation's school system deserves an education, including children with AIDS. Parents of AIDS-free children fear that the AIDS-infected child in the classroom threatens the health and safety of the general school community. But according to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, casual contact with…

Ethical and legal issues involving provision of medical treatment to seriously ill handicapped persons are considered. Legislation and court cases (in the United States, Canada, and New Zealand) on withholding treatment from seriously ill infants are reviewed. It is concluded that the presence of handicap does not justify withholding treatment.…

There is an extensive body of research on the factors that are associated with reproductive health, focusing on factors within the adolescent as well as within the various components of the adolescents environment. This paper presents a selective review of the research pertaining to each layer of the adolescent's ecosystem. Emphasized are (1)…