Experts hope team approach will improve the quality of rape exams

Article Abstract:

Many communities are implementing sexual assault response teams (SARTs) to improve the examination of rape victims. About 30 or 40 SART programs exist in the US. Many SART programs include a sexual assault nurse examiner, also called a forensic nurse, which is a discipline recently formalized by the American Nurses' Association. These nurses are trained to collect evidentiary exams. The need for these nurses arose because many rape victims do not suffer serious physical injuries and emergency room physicians often have more serious cases. In addition, many physicians are not properly trained to collect evidence, even though many state laws require a physician to do the exam. The American Medical Association, the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists and the American College of Emergency Physicians have all issued guidelines on the care of rape victims.

Care and treatment, Standards, Rape victims, Forensic gynecology

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New initiative for global TB control

Article Abstract:

Control programs for tuberculosis (TB) in the U.S. have been affected by politics for 20 years, eventually becoming ineffective. New TB cases began to rise about 10 years after Congress replaced TB program funding with discretionary block grants to the states. Although HIV infection was a significant factor in the resurgence of TB around 1984, dismantled public health services also were responsible. TB can be eliminated by having patients follow a multidrug therapy, providing patient education and follow up, and preventing drug resistant TB. New U.S. funding for TB has promoted a 9% decrease in cases since 1993. Isoniazid chemotheraprolaxis used in industrialized countries is helpful in preventing infection from developing into active disease. Delivery of TB medication poses a problem in developing countries because of the difficulty in getting to a clinic.

Prevention, Tuberculosis

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Achieving global child health goals

Article Abstract:

Progress is being made on the 27 goals to improve children's health set forth at the World Summit for Children in 1990. A goal of immunizing 80% of children against major childhood diseases has been achieved in most countries. Polio and measles, which can be prevented by vaccine, are being targeted, with a goal of eliminating polio by the year 2000. UNICEF recommends that oral rehydration therapy (ORT), an effective and inexpensive treatment, be used for dehydration caused by diarrhea instead of the costly intravenous rehydration. Outpatient ORT costs $273 compared to inpatient intravenous rehydration which costs $2,300. More than 500,000 infants die each year from neonatal tetanus cause by unsanitary birthing instruments. Vitamin A deficiency causes about 250,000 cases of blindness in children annually.

Reports, Statistics, Pediatric diseases, Children, Diseases, Immunization, United Nations. Children's Fund

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