Question

1. Use PubMed or another abstract database to find an academic journal article on a health topic of interest to you. Read the article to find the answers to these questions:

(a) What was the main study question?

(b) Who participated in the study, where did it take place, and when was it conducted?

(c) What study design was used?

(d) What was the answer to the main study question?

2. Find a recent news story from the popular press about a newly released health research report. Look up and read the scientific article on which the news report was based. Was the news story accurate? Did it leave out any critical information?

3. Do you identify with a particular ethnic group? Do you know of any health conditions that you are at special risk for because of your ethnic background? Are these conditions genetic? Are they related to health behaviors?

4. What are some of the conditions related to poverty that increase the risk of infectious diseases? Noncommunicable disease? Neuropsychiatric disorders? Injuries?

Answer 1

1.The topic is Epidemiology of HIV Infection in the US:Implications for linkage to care.

a.The main study question is based on the Incidence and Prevalence of HIV/AIDS among persons aged greater than or equal to aged13 years.

b Whites,Hispanics,African Americans,American Indians and Pacific Islanders participated in the study,took place in US in 2006.

c.Cohort study design was used.

d. In summary the HIV epidemic in the US has not abated.Contemporary Anti retroviral therpy does prolong life ,and the prevalence of HIV-infected individuals in the US is higher than ever before.

2.The news story on Obesity is now linked to 12 different Cancers.The news report was based on the updated report of World Cancer Research Fund.The news story was accurate.The critical information which it leaves behind is that "While smoking is still the biggest cause of Cancer,obesity will soon overtake it within a couple of decades in countries like UK.The fund advises that our sedentery life style and promotion of junk food has to end if people are to avoid the disease.

3 Blacks /African Americans account for only 12% of the US population,they represented 46% of all people living with AIDSin US in 2006,compared with whites,Hispanics and others.HIV prevalence in Blacks is comparitively higher almost 8 times higher than among whites.No it is not genetic.Nearly half of people living with HIV in the US in 2006 were men who have sex with men.Unfortunately,many persons who already know that they are HIV positive are not sufficiently engaged in treatment.Sharing of needles between drug users,unsafe sex ,needle stick injury are some of the possible causes of the spread of the disease.

4.Poverty and diseases are linked togetherOne of the major poverty related diseases are AIDS,malaria,and Tuberculosis and other ailments such as Dengue and food borne infections.Poverty often creates conditions which favour the infectious diseases to spread and prevents affected populations from obtaining access to prevention and care.