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In the United States, autistic individuals experience disproportionate physical and mental health challenges relative to non-autistic individuals, including higher rates of co-occurring and chronic conditions and lower physical, social, and psychological health-related quality of life. The Autism Intervention Research Network on Physical Health (AIR-P) is an interdisciplinary, multicenter research network for scientific collaboration and infrastructure that aims to increase the life expectancy and quality of life for autistic individuals, with a focus on underserved or vulnerable populations. The current paper describes the development of the AIR-P Research Agenda. Development of the research agenda involved an iterative and collaborative process between the AIR-P Advisory Board, Steering Committee, and Autistic Researcher Review Board. The methodology consisted of 3 phases: (1) ideation and design, (2) literature review and synthesis; and (3) network engagement. Six core research priorities related to the health of autistic individuals were identified: (1) primary care services and quality, (2) community-based lifestyle interventions, (3) health systems and services, (4) gender, sexuality, and reproductive health, (5) neurology, and (6) genetics. Specific topics within each of these priorities were identified. Four cross-cutting research priorities were also identified: (1) neurodiversity-oriented care, (2) facilitating developmental transitions, (3) methodologically rigorous intervention studies, and (4) addressing health disparities. The AIR-P Research Agenda represents an important step forward for enacting large-scale health-promotion efforts for autistic individuals across the lifespan. This agenda will catalyze autism research in historically underrepresented topic areas while adopting a neurodiversity-oriented approach to health-promotion.

Author(s): Lauren Raskin Ramos [sup.1] , Michelle Menser Tissue [sup.1] , Ayanna Johnson [sup.1] , Laura Kavanagh [sup.1] , Michael Warren [sup.1] Author Affiliations: (1) grid.454842.b, 0000 0004 0405 7557, [...], Introduction In 2021, the Maternal and Child Health Bureau (MCHB) released a new strategic plan to guide its work over the next 10-15 years. The plan highlights four goals-access, equity, workforce capacity, and impact-that are essential to achieving MCHB's vision. Methods We present 13 recommendations to highlight opportunities for ongoing and new activities aligned with Goal 3 of the plan-"Strengthen Public Health Capacity and Workforce for MCH." Results Recommendations 1-3 highlight the need to support pathways into state and local MCH public health (PH) positions, to offer accessible and high-quality training for the practicing workforce, and to build capacity to address health and social inequities. Recommendations 4-7 discuss the need to build a racially and ethnically diverse workforce, ensure equity and anti-racism are foundational concepts in training, and strengthen engagement of community members and those with lived experience as part of the MCH PH workforce. Recommendations 8-10 outline opportunities to enhance MCH workforce data and measurement frameworks, and support practice-based research. Recommendations 11-12 discuss the importance of academic-practice partnerships and the need to spur innovation. Recommendation 13 highlights the need to define and amplify the unique skillset of the MCH PH workforce. Conclusions The release of the MCHB strategic plan comes at a time of critical need to build and sustain a MCH PH workforce to achieve equity for MCH populations. We encourage the field to engage in dialogue around the recommendations presented in this paper, and to offer additional actions to build and support the MCH PH workforce.

Halogenated heteroarenes are key building blocks across numerous chemical industries. Here, we report that vanadium haloperoxidases are capable of producing 3-haloindoles through decarboxylative halogenation of 3-carboxyindoles. This biocatalytic method is applicable to decarboxylative chlorination, bromination, and iodination in moderate to high yields and with excellent chemoselectivity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Author(s): Michael C. Lu[sup.1] , Cassie B. Lauver[sup.1] , Christopher Dykton[sup.1] , Michael D. Kogan[sup.1] , Michele H. Lawler[sup.1] , Lauren Raskin-Ramos[sup.1] , Kathy Watters[sup.1] , Lee A. Wilson[sup.1] Author [...], This paper describes the transformation of the Title V Maternal and Child Health (MCH) Services Block Grant. The Maternal and Child Health Bureau of the Health Resources and Services Administration led a 21-month visioning process to engage input from MCH stakeholders and other national, state and local MCH leaders, families and other partners to improve, innovate, and transform the Title V MCH Services Block Grant. The process has helped inform the development of a new grant guidance for the next 5-year cycle beginning in fiscal year 2016. The triple aims of the transformation are to reduce burden, maintain flexibility, and increase accountability. State reporting burden is reduced by aligning and streamlining the needs assessment, annual report and application, reducing the number of forms States have to fill out, eliminating Health Systems Capacity Indicators, and prepopulating the annual report and application with State data using national data sources. State flexibility is maintained through the needs assessment process whereby State needs and priorities drive the selection of National Performance Measures and State-specific Performance Measures, and the development of State Action Plan and Evidence-based/informed Strategy Measures. Accountability is increased through the new three-tiered performance measurement framework, which will help States tell a more coherent and compelling story about the impact of Title V on the health of the Nation's mothers, children, and families. The ultimate success of the transformation will be measured by how much the transformed Title V program moves the needle in MCH in the States and for the Nation.

Background/Introduction Since the 1940s, the Health Resources and Services Administration's (HRSA) Maternal and Child Health Bureau (MCHB), formerly the Children's Bureau, has been supporting Maternal and Child Health (MCH) Training [...], This article examines the success of the Maternal and Child Health (MCH) Bureau's MCH Training Program in producing the next generation of MCH leaders, equipped with interdisciplinary, leadership skills necessary for the changing health care landscape. A secondary data analysis of performance measure data (2007-2011) collected through the discretionary grant information system was performed. Grantees were grouped by grant program (n = 10) for this analysis. Outcomes of interest 5 years post-program completion included: (1) the percentage of long-term training program graduates who demonstrate field leadership; (2) the percentage of long-term trainees (LTT) who remain in MCH, work with underserved and/or vulnerable populations, or work in a public health agency/organization; and (3) the percentage of LTT working in an interdisciplinary manner to serve the MCH population. Summary output data on the number of LTT reached was also calculated. The number of LTT participating in the MCH Training Program increased between 2007 and 2011. Over 84% of LTT demonstrate field leadership 5 years after program completion, while 78.2% of LTT remain in MCH work and 83% are working with underserved or vulnerable populations. At 5-years post-program completion, over 75% of LTT are working in an interdisciplinary manner to serve the MCH population. The MCH Training Program has produced well-positioned leaders. Continued investment in the MCH Training Program is critical to ensure a well-trained pipeline of health professionals equipped to address the special health needs of MCH populations in an evolving health system. Keywords Maternal and child health training program * Leadership * Leadership training * Interdisciplinary education * Public health professional

ABSTRACT The United Nations Convention and Protocol Relating to the Status of Refugees define the requirements for qualification as a "refugee" and the protection that should be afforded to qualifying [...]

Objective: To investigate perinatal outcomes in a cohort of fertile and infertile nulliparous women. Design: Retrospective cohort study. Setting: Academic medical center. Patients: All nulliparous women delivering singletons ≥24-week gestation at our center from 1 January 2012 to 31 December 2012 were included. Women were classified into two groups - fertile and infertile - based on a chart review at the time of delivery. Outcome measure: Perinatal outcomes of interest included mode of delivery, gestational age at delivery, and birth weight. Results: A total of 3293 mother/infant dyads fulfilled the inclusion criteria. Of these, 277 women (8.4%) were classified as infertile. Infertile women were significantly older than fertile women. In bivariate analyses, infertile women were more likely to undergo cesarean delivery (51.8 versus 36.1%, p < .001) and deliver at an earlier gestational age (38.9 ± 2.3 versus 39.4 ± 1.7 weeks, p < .0001). Infertility was no longer significantly associated with cesarean delivery after adjusting for maternal age. Infertility remained associated with an earlier gestational age at delivery after adjusting for maternal age and maternal race (β coefficient -0.42, 95%CI -0.64, -0.2). There was no difference in infant birth weight. Late preterm deliveries (34-36 completed gestational weeks) accounted for 8.3% of deliveries for infertile women compared to 4.3% for fertile women (p = .032). Conclusions: We conclude that the increased risk of cesarean section associated with infertility is driven by maternal age. Late preterm infants represent a key cohort for further evaluation in the perinatal outcomes of infertile women. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

African-American men in Baltimore, MD, participated in a focus group on issues relating to their health and quality of life. Specific topics in this pilot study included: community perceptions, the role of men in family planning, navigating the healthcare system, and overall perspective on life as experienced within an urban context. The participants were partners to women or fathers of children enrolled in a home visitation program. The relationship between low socioeconomic status and poorer health for men was discussed. The results of this pilot investigation suggest that social support is valued and increases positive health behaviors. Results also demonstrate a need for health information specific to the medical and health needs of African-American men, and the need for structured ongoing relationships with primary care providers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Black immigrants are a rapidly growing group in the United States--more than 3 million people comprising 8 percent of the US foreign-born population. As these immigrants become parents, their children may face a wide range of barriers to health insurance depending on various neighborhood factors. This study examined the relationship between neighborhood characteristics and the likelihood of Black immigrant children having health insurance. Data from the 2011-2012 cycle of the National Study of Children's Health (NSCH) were used for the analysis. Descriptive statistics and logistic regression models were conducted. Among the neighborhood characteristics assessed, Black immigrant children who lived in supportive neighborhoods and neighborhoods without detracting elements were more likely to have health insurance compared to their counterparts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Infant mortality is the most widely used indicator of a nation’s health status and is associated with a plethora of maternal and socioeconomic factors. Although the association between young and old maternal age and the risk of infant mortality is well established, the link between paternal age and birth outcomes has received far less attention. This study seeks to examine the added impact of paternal age on infant mortality, above and beyond that of maternal age among married couples. Using the 2002 linked birth and infant death data set (N = 63,754), hazard odds ratios for the association between combined adolescent and adult maternal and paternal age and the risk of infant mortality were estimated. Maternal demographic characteristics, such as education and race/ethnicity were controlled. The findings indicate that, independent of maternal education and race/ethnicity, adolescent father adds additional risk, above and beyond that of maternal age, only when the mother is older (21-45 years; hazard ratio = 2.7). This study highlights that for married couples, adolescent fathers add to the risk of infant mortality when the mothers are older, providing insight into the role of paternal age in infant mortality. Implications for additional research are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

HIV-positive individuals are living longer today as a result of continuing advances in treatment but are also facing an increased risk for chronic diseases such as diabetes, and hypertension. These conditions result in a larger burden of hospitalization, outpatient, and emergency room visits. Impoverished African American women may represent an especially high-risk group due to disparities in health care, racial discrimination, and limited resources. This article describes an intervention that is based on the conceptual framework of the socioecological model. Project THANKS uses a community-based participatory, and empowerment building approach to target the unique personal, social, and environmental needs of African American women faced with the dual diagnosis of HIV and one or more chronic diseases. The long-term goal of this project is to identify features in the social and cultural milieu of these women that if integrated into existing harm reduction services can reduce poor health outcomes among them. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]