Neighbourhood inequities in the availability of retailers selling tobacco products: a systematic review.

OBJECTIVE: To examine inequities in tobacco retailer availability by neighbourhood-level socioeconomic, racial/ethnic and same-sex couple composition. DATA SOURCES: We conducted a 10 November 2022 search of PubMed, PsycINFO, Global Health, LILACS, Embase, ABI/Inform, CINAHL, Business Source Complete, Web of Science and Scopus. STUDY SELECTION: We included records from Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development member countries that tested associations of area-level measures of tobacco retailer availability and neighbourhood-level sociodemographic characteristics. Two coders reviewed the full text of eligible records (n=58), including 41 records and 205 effect sizes for synthesis. DATA EXTRACTION: We used dual independent screening of titles, abstracts and full texts. One author abstracted and a second author confirmed the study design, location, unit of analysis, sample size, retailer data source, availability measure, statistical approach, sociodemographic characteristic and unadjusted effect sizes. DATA SYNTHESIS: Of the 124 effect sizes related to socioeconomic inequities (60.5% of all effect sizes), 101 (81.5%) indicated evidence of inequities. Of 205 effect sizes, 69 (33.7%) tested associations between retailer availability and neighbourhood composition of racially and ethnically minoritised people, and 57/69 (82.6%) documented inequities. Tobacco availability was greater in neighbourhoods with more Black, Hispanic/Latine and Asian residents (82.8%, 90.3% and 40.0% of effect sizes, respectively). Two effect sizes found greater availability with more same-sex households. CONCLUSIONS: There are stark inequities in tobacco retailer availability. Moving beyond documenting inequities to partnering with communities to design, implement, and evaluate interventions that reduce and eliminate inequities in retail availability is needed to promote an equitable retail environment. PROSPERO REGISTRATION NUMBER: CRD42019124984.

Spatial Clustering of Tobacco Retailers Near US Public Schools.

INTRODUCTION: Previous studies have found that tobacco retailers cluster near schools. However, all retail outlets may be located near each other and near schools due to existing infrastructure and zoning policies. We assessed whether tobacco retailers cluster near schools in the United States more than expected when accounting for existing retail locations. AIMS AND METHODS: We identified 322 056 probable tobacco retailers, 95 110 public schools, and more than 3.8 million businesses comparable to tobacco retailers in land use and business type. We created 500 simulated tobacco retailer datasets by randomly selecting from the larger list of businesses. For each simulated dataset, we calculated the distance from schools to the nearest tobacco retailer (proximity) and the count of tobacco retailers within 800 m of schools (density). Observed proximity and density values were compared to 95% coverage intervals from the 500 simulations. We stratified analyses by urbanicity, percentage of students in the free and reduced-priced lunch program (FRLP), and percentage of Hispanic/Latino, non-Hispanic Black, and non-Hispanic white students. RESULTS: Tobacco retailers were closer to schools in rural areas, cities, and towns and more dense around schools in rural areas, cities, and suburbs compared to random locations in potential retail space. Schools with more students receiving FRLP had higher density than expected while schools with fewer students receiving FRLP had lower density than expected. Within rural areas, clustering did not vary across sociodemographic groups. Within non-rural areas, there were inequities in clustering by racial, ethnic, and socioeconomic school composition. CONCLUSIONS: Tobacco retailers cluster near schools after accounting for existing business patterns. There are inequities in clustering by sociodemographic school composition. IMPLICATIONS: This study provides compelling evidence that tobacco retailers cluster near US public schools and that there are racial, ethnic, and socioeconomic inequities in clustering, even when accounting for overall retail location patterns. Given that public schools tend to reflect neighborhood demographics, policies to limit tobacco retailers near schools may reduce both school-based and neighborhood-based inequities.

Delayed Presentation of Sciatic Nerve Palsy Due to Post-traumatic Pseudoaneurysm Following Pelvis Fracture: A Case Report.

Introduction: Pseudoaneurysms are vascular lesions occurring after injury to a blood vessel wall. Peripheral artery pseudoaneurysms as a fracture complication are uncommon and typically appear immediately after trauma or surgery. We report a unique case of sciatic nerve palsy associated with external iliac artery pseudoaneurysm arising 20 years after pelvic trauma, presenting within the fracture site as an erosive bone lesion masquerading as a possible malignancy. To the best of our knowledge, no cases of delayed external iliac artery pseudoaneurysm involving sciatic pain have been reported. Case Report: We present a 78-year-old female who sustained an acetabular fracture with an uneventful recovery for 20 years. The patient presented post-injury with symptoms and physical examination findings consistent with sciatic nerve palsy. Computed tomography angiography and duplex imaging revealed a pseudoaneurysm of the external iliac artery. The patient was taken to the operating room for endovascular repair of the external iliac artery using a covered stent. Conclusion: This case of sciatic nerve palsy is a unique contribution to the literature concerning the specific vascular injury observed and the delayed presentation of pseudoaneurysm causing sciatic nerve palsy. Orthopedic surgeons must consider a wide differential when confronted with suspicious pelvic masses. Failure to diagnose these as a vascular etiology could prove catastrophic should the surgeon attempt an open debridement or sampling.

Evidence-Based Point-of-Sale Policies to Reduce Youth Tobacco Use in North Carolina.

Many states and localities in the United States are implementing evidence-based tobacco control policies at the retail level, including Tobacco 21 laws, tobacco retailer licensing, restrictions on point-of-sale promotions, and bans on flavored tobacco products. With the passage of new point-of-sale tobacco control policies, North Carolina could reduce youth tobacco use rates.

Arabic speaking migrant parents' perceptions of sex education in Sweden: A qualitative study.

BACKGROUND: It is well established that migrants underutilise sexual and reproductive health (SRH) services for structural and socio-cultural reasons. Sex education at Swedish schools is compulsory and an important part of Swedish upbringing, yet little is known about how migrants perceive this. This study examined migrant parents' views on sex education that their children receive at Swedish schools. METHODS: This is a qualitative study using 14 focus group discussions (74 = n) with Arabic speaking migrant parents attending Swedish integration courses. Qualitative data analysis was used following Saldana's coding method. RESULTS: Migrants' perceptions about sex education provided at Swedish schools are influenced by their home countries, where most participants received no sex education at schools and very little sex education at home. Therefore, values about sex in home countries and Sweden are often contrasting. Consequently, migrant parents are concerned about sex education that their children receive at Swedish schools. There are varied interpretations of sex education, concern over the content and methods taught, and there are numerous assumptions about potential negative effects of sex education. CONCLUSION: The study echoes findings on intergenerational challenges in migrant families surrounding the topic of gender and sex, often brought on by discussions about sex education at schools. Innovative approaches are needed to support migrant parents as part of Sweden's effort to strengthen effectiveness and inclusiveness of sex education.

Firearms Screening in the Pediatric Inpatient Setting.

OBJECTIVES: Firearm-related deaths remain a top cause of mortality in American children and adolescents. In a 2012 policy statement, the American Academy of Pediatrics urged pediatricians to incorporate questions about the availability of firearms into their patient history taking. We aim to evaluate the frequency of screening for home firearms in an academic tertiary-care hospital inpatient setting. METHODS: This retrospective chart review examined patients with the following pediatric diagnoses admitted to a tertiary-care pediatric hospital from 2006 to 2015: asthma, bronchiolitis, cellulitis, jaundice, single liveborn infant, bacterial and viral pneumonia, and all mood disorders. Data analysts then searched the patient charts that met these inclusion criteria for documentation of firearm screening as indicated by use of the terms "firearm," "pistol," "gun," "handgun," "bullet," "ammunition," or "rifle" in the admissions history and physical. RESULTS: Evidence of screening for firearms in the home was found in 1196 of the 40 658 charts included in the study (2.94%). The most frequently screened diagnosis and admitting service were mood disorders and child psychiatry, respectively (1159 of 3107; 37.3%). Only 19.8% of identified gun-owning families received specific anticipatory guidance. CONCLUSIONS: Firearm screening and gun safety education occurred infrequently in the inpatient setting. Inpatient encounters may provide an opportunity for increased screening and education because the hospital environment also includes additional resources, exposure to a greater number of providers, and the presence of more family members or caregivers. Further studies are warranted to explore barriers to inpatient screening and possible mechanisms for improvement.

Adherence to AAP Healthy Newborn Discharge Criteria in a Tertiary Care Children's Hospital.

OBJECTIVES: In 2015, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) published an updated consensus statement containing 17 discharge recommendations for healthy term newborn infants. In this study, we identify whether the AAP criteria were met before discharge at a tertiary care academic children's hospital. METHODS: A stratified random sample of charts from newborns who were discharged between June 1, 2015, and May 31, 2016, was reviewed. Of the 531 charts reviewed, 433 were included in the study. A review of each chart was performed, and data were collected. RESULTS: Descriptive statistics for our study population (N = 433) revealed that all 17 criteria were followed <5% of the time. The following criteria were met 100% of the time: clinical course and physical examination, postcircumcision bleeding, availability of family members or health care providers to address follow-up concerns, anticipatory guidance, first appointment with the physician scheduled or parents knowing how to do so, pulse oximetry screening, and hearing screening. These criteria were met at least 95% to 99% of the time: appropriate vital signs, regular void and stool frequency, appropriate jaundice and sepsis management, and metabolic screening. The following criteria were met 50% to 95% of the time: maternal serologies, hepatitis B vaccination, and social risk factor assessment. Four of the criteria were met <50% of the time: feeding assessment, maternal vaccination, follow-up timing for newborns discharged at <48 hours of life, and car safety-seat assessment. CONCLUSIONS: Our data reveal that the AAP healthy term newborn discharge recommendations are not consistently followed in our institution.

Equitable abortion care - A challenge for health care providers. Experiences from abortion care encounters with immigrant women in Stockholm, Sweden.

OBJECTIVE: To explore health care providers' experiences of providing care to immigrant women seeking abortion care. METHODS: A qualitative study including interviews with ten midwives and three medical doctors at four abortion clinics in the Stockholm area. Interviews were analysed using thematic analysis. RESULTS: Initially, health care providers were reluctant to make statements concerning the specific needs among immigrant women. Yet, the health care providers sometimes found it challenging to deal with the specific needs among immigrant, mostly non-European, women. Three themes were identified: (1) Reluctance to acknowledge specific needs among immigrant women; (2) Striving to provide contraceptive counselling to immigrant women; (3) Organizational barriers hindering patient-centred abortion care to immigrant women CONCLUSIONS: Health care providers' experiences of the specific needs among non-European, immigrant women are not openly discussed, although they are acknowledged. To achieve equitable access to sexual and reproductive health (SRH), health care providers need to be better equipped when encountering immigrant women in abortion care, especially regarding contraceptive counselling. The potential impact of patients' knowledge, norms and values is not adequately dealt with in the clinical encounter. Moreover, to provide patient-centred care, it is crucial to understand how to develop and implement SRH care that ensures equal access to high-quality care.

Midwives' Experiences in Providing Care and Counselling to Women with Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) Related Problems.

Aim. The aim of this study was to elucidate midwives experiences in providing care and counselling to women with FGM related problems. Setting. The study was conducted at a maternity clinic in Hargeisa, Somaliland. Method. A qualitative, inductive study were performed with eight midwives living in Somaliland. The interviews had semi-structured questions. Content analysis was used for the analysis. Findings. The main findings of the present study were how midwives are challenged by culture and religion when providing FGM counselling. The most prominent challenge is the perception that FGM is an important part of the culture and from this point of view the midwives work is apprehended as interfering and subverting the Somali culture. Having personal experience of FGM emerged as a benefit when counselling women. Conclusion. There is a contradiction between the professional actions of performing FGM despite a personal belief against FGM. Midwives as a professional group could be important agents of change and further research is needed about the midwives role in this process.

Outpatients' perspectives on problems and needs related to female genital mutilation/cutting: a qualitative study from somaliland.

Aim. To explore female outpatients' perspectives on problems related to female genital mutilation/cutting (FGM/C) and their views on information, care, and counseling. Setting. An FGM/C support center at a maternity clinic in Hargeisa, Somaliland. Methods. A qualitative, descriptive study, using content analysis of seven semistructured interviews with female outpatients. Results. All participants had been ignorant of the etiology of their FGM/C-related complications and hesitant to seek care. All had undergone infibulation but did not wish the same for their daughters. In recent years they had learnt through religious leaders and media campaigns that infibulation was unapproved by Islam. A less severe FGM/C type, "Sunna," was more accepted; however, few could define what "Sunna" meant. Condemning and ridiculing attitudes against uncircumcised women prevailed in their community. Conclusions. New ideas and concepts related to FGM/C enter the common discourse in the Somali society while traditional norms and values still prevail. Religion was shown to have a strong impact on FGM/C practices and beliefs. Interventions aiming to raise awareness of health consequences of all types of FGM/C, as well as where to seek care for complications, are needed in Somaliland. Involvement of religious leaders in anti-FGM/C programs is essential.