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USAID Programs Used Biblical Lessons To Teach Abstinence In Africa, Audit Finds
The U.S. Agency for International Development funded programs that used biblical lessons to promote sexual abstinence in Africa, despite a prohibition on the use of taxpayer funds to support "inherently religious activities," according to a recent audit by the agency"s inspector general, the Washington Post reports.The audit focused on projects initiated from 2006 to 2007 during the administration of President George W. Bush. According to the audit, the use of Christian stories in HIV/AIDS prevention programs in Africa could be seen as showing a "USAID-funded preference for Christianity." The audit also found that officials in one faith-based abstinence program in Africa urged youth to memorize and recite a passage from the Bible"s book of Psalms. Participants were then instructed to recite the passage"s "key concept": "God has a plan for sex and this plan will help you and protect you from harm."USAID challenged the findings in a written response that said its African programs" main goals are secular in nature. It acknowledged that some of its abstinence programs included "religiously infused materials" but said that the materials showed no preference for Christian groups.According to the Post, the issue has been complicated by legal ambiguities over whether the separation of church and state applies to programs for promoting U.S. foreign policy abroad. The inspector general"s report said the Department of Justice is considering a request from USAID to determine the legality of its practices (Lynch, Washington Post, 7/23).
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Recent Studies And Surveys
Health Affairs: Annual Medical Spending Attributable to Obesity: Payer- and Service-Specific Estimates -- Using data from 1998 and 2006 Medical Expenditure Panel Surveys (MEPS) - "a nationally representative survey of the civilian noninstitutionalized population that quantifies a person"s total annual medical spending by type of service and of payment" - the authors estimate the health cost of obesity in the U.S. is $147 billion. "Across all payers, per capita medical spending for the obese is $1,429 higher per year, or roughly 42 percent higher, than for someone of normal weight. In aggregate, the annual medical burden of obesity has increased from 6.5 percent to 9.1 percent of annual medical spending and could be as high as $147 billion per year (in 2008 dollars) based on the NHEA [National Health Expenditure Accounts] estimate," according to the study. In conclusion, the authors write, "The take-home message is that without a strong and sustained reduction in obesity prevalence, obesity will continue to impose major costs on the health system for the foreseeable future. And although health reform may be necessary to address health inequities and rein in rising health spending, real savings are more likely to be achieved through reforms that reduce the prevalence of obesity and related risk factors, including poor diet and inactivity" (7/27).
News of the day
Integrative Medicine For Children Is "a Useful Reference For A Medical Library."
According to a new review published in The Ulster Medical Journal, the Integrative Medicine for Children is "a useful reference for a medical library."
Endocrinology

University Of Pittsburgh Medical Center Named One Of 100 Most Wired Hospitals In The U.S. For 11th Consecutive Year

For the 11th consecutive year, the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center (UPMC) has been named one of the 100 Most Wired hospitals and health systems in the United States, according to the results of the 2009 survey by Hospitals & Health Networks magazine, the journal of the American Hospital Association. UPMC is one of only five organizations to appear on the list since its inception. According to the magazine"s survey, the economic crisis is forcing many hospitals to make tough decisions with scarce res, including delaying and scaling down information technology projects. Still, hospitals continue to invest in IT that supports quality and safety initiatives, particularly in electronic medication management. "Even in difficult economic times, UPMC recognizes the importance of investing in IT that promotes safe, high-quality and efficient care for our patients," said UPMC Chief Information Officer Dan Drawbaugh. "With health reform on the horizon, IT will play a more critical role than ever before in reaching our goals." UPMC has long been a leader in deploying IT to improve clinical outcomes and efficiency. Starting in 2005, UPMC began an innovative partnership with IBM to re-engineer its hardware, software and technology processes to make data sharing and storage simpler, faster and more economical. It also is working on an interoperability initiative with partner dbMotion to create a seamless system of electronic medical records, tying together a patient"s inpatient and outpatient information without replacing existing systems. Two of UPMC"s hospitals are counted among the nation"s most advanced users of comprehensive electronic medical records, according to HIMSS Analytics, a subsidiary of the Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society. "The economic slowdown is forcing hospitals to look closely at IT spending," said Alden Solovy, executive director of Hospitals & Health Networks magazine. "Most Wired hospitals are doing their best to stay the course." The 2009 survey covered 1,314 hospitals, or about 21 percent of all U.S. hospitals. The July Hospitals & Health Networks cover detailing results is available at www.hhnmag.com. University of Pittsburgh Medical Center


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