Ensuring Public Health

Abstinence | Adolescent | Adult | Birth Defects | Cardiovascular Disease, Diabetes, and Cancer | Domestic Violence | HIV, AIDS, STDs | Infant/Reproductive | Nutrition/Physical Activity | Obesity | Workforce Development | Systems/Surveillance | Substance Abuse

Public health promotion and disease/injury prevention programs operated out of the general public's view until recently, when West Nile Virus, the anthrax attacks, Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS), and Bovine Spongiform Encephalitis (BSE or mad cow disease) made news headlines nationwide. These illnesses and events raised the public's awareness of the critical role that core public health activities, such as disease tracking and health care coordination, play in the health and safety of the population.

Although infectious diseases are what brought public health into the spotlight, core public health activities also involve chronic disease surveillance and prevention, infant and maternal mortality reduction, nutritional assessment and improvement, domestic violence prevention, and access to medical care, including mental health services, to name a few.

By providing expertise in assessment, analysis, and evaluation of health promotion and disease prevention programs that target physical, mental, and environmental health, Mathematica has played an important role in the public health arena for decades.

Adolescent Health

Detrimental health behaviors, such as smoking and unsafe sexual practices, are often established in adolescence and persist into adulthood. Our studies have examined tobacco and alcohol use prevention, as well as pregnancy prevention and abstinence.

Adult and Community Health

As the U.S. population ages, the prevalence of chronic disease increases. This population change requires community planning for long-term care for the elderly. We have assessed the existence of such planning and are currently examining chronic disease management techniques and evaluating community intervention strategies to improve access to care for the elderly. Our researchers are assessing disease management techniques and evaluating community-based interventions like cash and counseling and the Medicaid waiver system.

Birth Defects and Disabilities

Our work in examining population characteristics, health expenditures, service utilization, and insurance coverage, as well as employment models for people with birth defects and disabilities, has resulted in an increased understanding of the needs of these groups. We have explored how needs relate to policy change, service delivery, and practice patterns. 

Cardiovascular Disease, Diabetes, and Cancer

Improving disease management techniques, health care, and outcomes for people with heart disease, diabetes, and cancer can help reduce health care costs and lead to better quality of life. We are evaluating several projects that are working toward reducing the incidence, morbidity, and mortality rates for these conditions; examining innovative programs; and assessing practice patterns and service delivery. We are also developing a web-based, updateable clearinghouse of state heart disease and stroke prevention policies for states to gauge the applicability and replicability of similar policies in their own jurisdictions.

Domestic Violence Prevention

Complex problems that affect children and families often lack easy solutions. Community strategies show promise for tackling the problem of domestic violence. We are evaluating a prevention-focused initiative being tested in neighborhoods across the country.

HIV, AIDS, and STDs

Preventing the spread of diseases such as HIV, AIDS, and sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) and improving health outcomes for those already infected are important policy concerns. We have examined the characteristics, service utilization, and health expenditures of the Medicare population with AIDS and evaluated programs involving STD surveillance systems and service delivery. 

Infant and Reproductive Health

Our studies assessing pregnancy prevention models and evaluating programs promoting healthy pregnancies are critical in identifying effective prevention strategies and methods to improve maternal and child health. We are also examining community-based interventions, such as the Healthy Start program for newborns.

Nutrition and Physical Activity

Engaging in physical activity and eating healthy foods can help lower the risk for a variety of chronic diseases. We have analyzed national nutrition survey data on food and supplement intake to help food assistance programs better target their efforts to high-needs groups. Our major survey on the feeding habits of U.S. infants and toddlers has been instrumental in developing dietary guidelines for this age group. We have examined the diets of school-age children, assessed the nutritional content of school meals, and tracked the purchases of "competitive foods"—items of minimal nutritional quality sold in school that compete with regular school lunches. We have also identified interventions that promote better nutrition and increased physical activity. 

Obesity Prevention

The increase in obesity among Americans of all ages since the 1970s is cause for concern, with the low-income population particularly at risk. We have studied the role of competitive foods—items of minimal nutritional quality sold in school that compete with regular school lunches—and examined trends in school children's diets. Our staff has also assessed the implementation of programs to prevent childhood obesity and evaluated behaviors that have shown promise in reversing this epidemic. We are also investigating the trend toward increasing portion sizes in restaurant foods.

Professional Health Workforce Development and Training

A strong health care workforce is essential to improving and promoting health. We are assessing workforce needs and professional development programs. Our work includes providing training in crucial areas of information collection, data analysis, and program evaluation. 

Public Health Systems and Surveillance

The U.S. public health system encompasses federal, state, and local agencies. These entities provide a multitude of services that affect the lives of millions of people. We have conducted studies assessing the functions and performance of public health systems. In addition, we developed indicators and surveillance systems to monitor public health activities, including preparing public and restricted-use data files from the Community Tracking Study. We also provided technical assistance in developing and analyzing indicators for assessing the quality of medical care.  

Smoking and Substance Abuse

Reducing risky behaviors is an important part of promoting public health. Our work in evaluating prevention models and interventions in the areas of smoking and substance abuse is producing valuable information to inform this process. We also evaluated a program that worked with community organizations and agencies to reintegrate prisoners back into society by providing discharge-planning, postrelease case management, and referrals for drug treatment, health care, and other services.

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