Madison County Health Department

ABSTRACT This study investigated the effects of a Self-Regulated Strategy Development (SRSD) intervention on the quality of written explanations for additive problem-solving and reasoning, as well as on mathematical writing strategy use for students with learning difficulties. Participants were three third- and fourth-grade students identified with learning difficulties in mathematics and writing. A special education teacher implemented the individualized intervention across 15 lessons, during which she explicitly taught PRISM✓, a mathematical writing strategy, to help students plan, organize, and compose structured written explanations of their additive problem-solving and reasoning. A multiple-probe design across students was used to examine the effects of the intervention. The results indicated that, compared to the baseline, two of the three students produced higher-quality responses to describe their additive problem-solving and reasoning, including precise vocabulary and using more steps of the strategy during the intervention phase. The other student, who demonstrated significant writing difficulties, made immediate improvements in mathematical writing quality when a speech-to-text device was introduced. While the effects of the intervention were maintained four weeks after the intervention, students’ mathematical writing quality was lower in the generalization probes. The findings highlight the importance of combining explicit strategy instruction, self-regulation, visual representation, and mathematics vocabulary support to strengthen students’ written mathematical reasoning.

BackgroundHepatitis C virus (HCV) infection rates have increased among younger, rural persons nationally. We report on a preliminary sample of a study examining HCV acquisition risk factors among rural persons who inject drugs (PWID) or person who use opioids (PWUO) non-medically.MethodsWe used respondent-driven sampling (RDS) to recruit PWID/PWUO in southern, rural Illinois as part of a larger study on infectious disease rates among social networks of PWID and illicit opioid users. Participants were surveyed regarding drug and sexual risk behavior, healthcare access, stigma, and social networks, and underwent rapid screening for HCV (OraQuickÒ HCV Rapid Antibody Test) and other infections. Using R software, we generated descriptive statistics to characterize HCV prevalence.ResultsBetween July 2018 and April 2019,135 current PWID/PWUO were recruited, screened, and surveyed (58.5% male; 82.2% white; mean age 40.1 years). HCV rapid tests detected antibodies (HCV+) among 53 of 112 screened (47.3%). HCV+ participants were more likely to be white (96.2% vs. 83.1%, P = 0.006) than HCV antibody negative (HCV-) participants and showed a bimodal age distribution with peaks in the 25–30 and 45–50 age ranges. Reported injection drug use and heroin use in the past 30 days was significantly more common among HCV+ participants (96.2% vs. 72.9%, P = 0.001, and 12.9 vs. 7.9 days, P = 0.024) While HCV+ participants less frequently used methamphetamine compared with HCV -participants, the use of that drug was still high in both groups (11.9 vs. 18.4 days of use in the past 30 days, P = 0.01). HCV+ participants reported fewer social network members than HCV- participants (2.2 vs. 3.0, P = 0.048).ConclusionIn this analysis of a preliminary sample, HCV exposure was high; with those positive for HCV antibody showing a bimodal age distribution, high frequency of multiple drug use, and smaller social network size compared with HCV negative counterparts. Upon RDS-based enrollment completion and pending analysis we will further examine HIV RNA status as well as the specific associations between network size and other risk factors that may inform disease screening and treatment interventions.DisclosuresAll authors: No reported disclosures.

ABSTRACTAppalachian Kentucky has high levels of food insecurity and related health problems, such as obesity. Countermeasures based on local food systems have been suggested to address this issue, but for communities to implement these community-based interventions effectively, it is necessary to understand the perceptions of the food-insecure households they aim to serve. In this study, the primary food preparer in 259 households in Berea, Kentucky, completed a survey as part of a community food assessment. Households were identified as relatively more food secure (FS) or food insecure (FI) on the basis of their responses, and bivariate analysis was performed between relative food security status and other measures. The results indicate significantly different (P < .05) perceptions between FS and FI households regarding the role of convenience, location, and price in determining their food choices. Despite these differences, both groups placed equally high importance on nutrition and local produce, and FI households were also significantly more interested than FS households in activities such as cooking clubs and work exchange for free local food. These findings have implications for the development of programs and policies to combat food insecurity.

To explore the relationship between alcohol problems and physical violence with partners and strangers, 457 college men and 958 college women with low, intermediate, or high scores on the Short Michigan Alcohol Screening Test reported conflict tactics on the Conflict Tactics Scale in the past year to and by partners and strangers. More men than women had high alcohol problems scores. Men with alcohol problems were more likely than other men to commit violence toward strangers or to partners and strangers. However, men with alcohol problems were not more likely than other men to commit violence toward partners only. Among women, alcohol problems had little relationship to committing violence or being the victim of violence.

We report two cases of hantavirus pulmonary syndrome that were probably acquired in California. Genetic analysis of tissue specimens from one of the patients revealed that the virus isolated is a variant of the strain (Sin Nombre virus) identified in the outbreak of hantavirus pulmonary syndrome that occurred in the Four Corners region of the southwestern United States in 1993. In addition to presenting the clinical features of the two cases, we discuss the possible risk factors for infection.