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Articles

Short Sleep Duration Among Infants, Children, and Adolescents Aged 4 Months–17 Years — United States, 2016–2018

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According to parent reports, a third of children sleep less than recommended for their age. Children with regular bedtimes were more likely to get enough sleep than children with inconsistent bedtimes. Children who do not get enough sleep are at increased risk for injuries and poor health. CDC researchers analyzed parent reports on their children’s sleep collected in the 2016–2018 National Survey of Children’s Health (NSCH). They found that a third of children slept less than recommended for their age, particularly children from racial and ethnic minority groups, children in families of low socioeconomic status, and children with special health care needs. Children with regular bedtimes were more likely to get enough sleep than children with inconsistent bedtimes. Public health practitioners, educators, and clinicians can advise parents on the importance of meeting recommended sleep durations, investigate the social and environmental context that affects sleep, and support parents in implementing consistent bedtimes.

Increasing Access to HIV Testing Through Direct-to-Consumer HIV Self-Test Distribution — United States, March 1, 2020–March 30, 2021

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An HIV self-testing program demonstrates the value of providing HIV testing options to people who might be hesitant or unable to seek clinic- or community-based testing, especially in populations most affected by HIV, such as gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men (MSM). CDC and partners assessed outcomes of the TakeMeHome program, which offered free rapid HIV self-tests to residents in 17 jurisdictions from March 2020-March 2021. Marketing for the program focused on reaching gay, bisexual, and other MSM. Most participants reported either never testing for HIV (36%) or that it had been over a year since their last HIV test (56%), and 86% reported recent HIV risk. Over 10% of participants reported accessing additional prevention services after receiving the self-test. HIV self-testing programs can engage gay and bisexual men who have never received HIV testing and increase testing frequency among this population and others disproportionately affected by HIV. These efforts support the goal to end the HIV epidemic in the United States.

Nonvoluntary or Forced Sex Among Women, by Sexual Identity, Attraction, and Behavior — National Survey of Family Growth, United States, 2011–2017

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Among women ages 18-44 surveyed in 2011-2017, bisexual women faced higher rates of forced sex than women reporting other sexual identities, attractions, or behaviors. Sexual minority women (both bisexual and lesbian) first experienced forced sex at younger ages than heterosexual women. Prevention of sexual violence and child sexual abuse against sexual minority girls and women requires comprehensive approaches that tailor primary prevention efforts to be inclusive of all sexual minority women, bisexual women in particular. Using data from female respondents ages 18-44 years interviewed during 2011-2017 for the National Survey of Family Growth, this study estimated the prevalence of lifetime forced vaginal intercourse (referred to as “forced sex”) and nonvoluntary first vaginal intercourse among women in the United States, stratified by self-reported sexual identity, attraction, and behavior. Lifetime prevalence of nonvoluntary or forced sex was highest among bisexual women (36.1%). Compared with sexual majority (heterosexual) women, nonvoluntary first vaginal intercourse was more common among sexual minority women (both bisexual and lesbian), and the first experience of forced sex occurred at younger ages for sexual minority women. Comprehensive approaches to preventing sexual violence and child sexual abuse — including changing norms and attitudes around gender and sexuality, improving bystander behaviors, empowering sexual minority women and girls, and creating protective environments — should be tailored to meet the needs of sexual minority women and ensure intervention effectiveness.

Decreased Incidence of Infections Caused by Pathogens Transmitted Commonly Through Food During the COVID-19 Pandemic — Foodborne Diseases Active Surveillance Network, 10 U.S. Sites, 2017–2020

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According to CDC’s Foodborne Disease Active Surveillance Network (FoodNet) report, infections caused by germs transmitted commonly through food in the United States dropped dramatically in 2020 (26%). Factors contributing to this decrease may include public health prevention measures to slow the spread of COVID-19 (e.g., stay-at-home-orders, restaurant closures, handwashing), changes in health care delivery, people being less likely to seek medical care, and other behaviors. According to an early data report from the Foodborne Disease Active Surveillance Network (FoodNet), cases of foodborne infections fell by 26% in 2020, the largest single-year change in 25 years of FoodNet surveillance. Cases of food poisoning caused by bacteria such as Campylobacter, Salmonella, Shiga toxin-producing Escherica coli, Shigella, and Vibrio infections —  which had been increasing in previous years — decreased during 2020. Prevention measures related to the COVID-19 pandemic likely played a major role in the decline of foodborne infections: stay-at-home orders, restaurant closures, international travel restrictions, and other changes to daily life might have influenced exposure to and reporting of infections caused by foodborne germs. Additionally, fewer people seeking medical care for food poisoning might have limited detection of infections. As such, gaining insight into how COVID-19-related public health interventions might have contributed to this decline could help identify prevention measures and strategies for targeting particular foodborne pathogens and foods.

Comparative Effectiveness of Moderna, Pfizer-BioNTech, and Janssen (Johnson & Johnson) Vaccines in Preventing COVID-19 Hospitalizations Among Adults Without Immunocompromising Conditions — United States, March–August 2021

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Use of Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine in Persons Aged ≥16 Years: Recommendations of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices — United States, September 2021

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Outbreak of SARS-CoV-2 B.1.617.2 (Delta) Variant Infections Among Incarcerated Persons in a Federal Prison — Texas, July–August 2021

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• Percentage of Residential Care Communities Engaged in Selected End-of-Life and Bereavement Care Practices — National Study of Long-Term Care Providers, United States, 2018

• Acute Gastroenteritis on Cruise Ships — Maritime Illness Database and Reporting System, United States, 2006–2019

Gastrointestinal illness can spread quickly in closed and semi-enclosed environments, such as cruise ships, but illness rates on passenger cruise ships have significantly decreased over time. Passengers can work in collaboration with cruise lines to promote onboard public health by frequently washing their hands, promptly reporting acute gastroenteritis (AGE) illness symptoms, and isolating themselves from other persons immediately after illness onset. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Vessel Sanitation Program (VSP) conducts public health inspections and monitors AGE illness on cruise ships. This report assesses information in VSP’s Maritime Illness Database and Reporting System on cases of AGE illness among passengers and crew sailing on cruise ships carrying 13 or more passengers and traveling to U.S. ports from a foreign port of call. From 2006 through 2019, approximately 127 million passengers sailed on 252 cruise ships in VSP’s jurisdiction. The rate of AGE illness on cruise ships decreased during 2006-2019 for passengers and crew. However, ship size and voyage length are associated with AGE illness, and more targeted effort is needed to prevent unequal illness rates among passengers and crew.

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U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

CDC works 24/7 protecting America’s health, safety and security. Whether diseases start at home or abroad, are curable or preventable, chronic or acute, or from human activity or deliberate attack, CDC responds to America’s most pressing health threats. CDC is headquartered in Atlanta and has experts located throughout the United States and the world.