572: How Data Impacts Birth Defects, Parents and Teachers Can Help Prevent STIs

ROBERT JOHNSON: 

This is the award-winning Public Health Review Morning Edition for Wednesday, January 3, 2024. I'm Robert Johnson. Now, today's news from the Association of State and Territorial Health Officials.

KAREN REMLEY: 

Tracking where and when birth defects occur and who they affect is the first step in preventing birth defects.

JOHNSON: 

Birth defects are a focus in January when advocates work to raise awareness about the need for early detection. ASTHO alum Dr. Karen Remley is at the CDC.

REMLEY: 

These surveillance efforts can also provide valuable information on whether certain birth defects are increasing or decreasing over time, they can help identify community or environmental factors that might warrant further study.

JOHNSON: 

This work, according to Remley depends on the ability of systems to communicate.

REMLEY: 

Birth defects surveillance programs need to be able to exchange information with electronic health records, and other public health programs accurately, effectively, and consistency. Modernizing how these systems collect and use birth defects surveillance data will help strengthen existing programs.

JOHNSON: 

Remley says the CDC is working to make improvements nationwide.

REMLEY: 

We are putting a lot of effort into increasing the use of electronic case reporting for birth defects from electronic health records. There are currently reporting specifications for 11 birth defects and infant disorders.

JOHNSON: 

January is National Birth Defects Awareness Month. The CDC has created English and Spanish language social media content you can use to engage audiences in your jurisdiction. Get more information using the link in the show notes.

ANNE ZINK: 

We see across the United States that it varies very widely by states and most states are not requiring comprehensive sexual education.

JOHNSON: 

Depending on where you are, sexual education in schools can be welcomed or off limits. Some states have laws, others don't. Whatever the case ASTHO Immediate Past President Dr. Anne Zink says adults have a critical role in the conversation.

ZINK: 

But I also think that there plays a real role for community for parents' involvement in this space and what's going to work in one state or in one community may be very different for other states.

JOHNSON: 

Zink says the approach may involve parents or policy.

ZINK: 

It may be you know really working closely with the PTA to make sure that parents have information to share with their kiddos versus other states. It may make more sense to have larger policy changes, just to make sure that all of our youth have access to data informed decisions and access to education that meets their culture, their community to be able to know about the risks associated with sexually transmitted diseases.

JOHNSON: 

Before the holidays, we spent two weeks talking with public health leaders about key issues on the 2024 legislative agenda. Prevention of sexually transmitted infections is one of them. You can listen to our coverage of each topic on newscasts starting December 11. You can revisit your podcast player timeline to hear those episodes, or you can read the series using the link in the show notes.

Also, today, long-term opioid therapy is a proven approach, but it can be impacted by stigma associated with the overdose crisis. ASTHO has a new report to help providers address the barriers that can prevent people from receiving this care. You can read it using the link in the show notes.

Finally, this morning, the New Year is often the time when many people look for a new job. ASTHO has openings including one for a manager of grants administration. Learn more about this opportunity and others by visiting the ASTHO careers webpage. There's a link in the show notes.

Before we go, we'd like to remind you to follow this newscast on your podcast player and ASTHO on social media. We're on LinkedIn, Twitter, and Facebook. That'll do it for today.

We're back tomorrow morning with more ASTHO news and information. I'm Robert Johnson. You're listening to the award-winning Public Health Review Morning Edition. Have a great day.