Have you ever wanted to know more about health issues that affect your community and the state of Arkansas? The Grassroots Public Health Video Series can help you do that. The series includes selected presentations made within the past 3 years at the Arkansas Department of Health. Below is a list of presentations in the series. (Each presentation is about an hour – about 40 minutes of presentation and then some questions and answers.) Check this site often to see what has been added.
Click on a title below to watch its video. (Each presentation is about an hour – about 40 minutes of presentation and then some questions and answers.)
Each video can be accessed by clicking on the title below. A video box will appear on your screen. To start the video, click on the arrow. To enlarge the video to full screen, click on the button just to the left of “Vimeo” as shown below.
Opioid Epidemic: A Personal Story
The opioid crisis has become one of the worst addiction epidemics in history. From 1999 to 2017, more than 700,000 people have died from a drug overdose involving any opioid (CDC, 2019). Arkansas is no stranger to this problem. In this personal anecdote, the presenter shares her daughters opioid addiction story.
Racism and bias are two topics that can greatly impact treatment in healthcare. Research shows that implicit bias exists among healthcare providers, which can ultimately affect patient care decisions. Bias can also affect how healthcare providers communicate with their patients.
Preliminary Results: Take Control A Stepped Care Approach to Hypertension Control
Hypertension is a major risk factor for many leading causes of disease and death. The percentage of U.S. adults with uncontrolled hypertension is higher in Arkansas than in the nation (29% vs. 16%). Take Control is a research project that tested a program to reduce high rates of uncontrolled high blood pressure. The project implemented a stepped-care, community case management intervention using Community Health Workers. The project was a cooperative effort involving researchers from UAMS, the Arkansas Department of Health, and communities in Desha and Chicot counties.
From Broken Bones to Bashed Brains: Raising a Generation of Gladiators Through Youth Football
Passion for the game of football runs high in the United States. However, the aggressiveness of the sport can cause players to experience injuries such as bruises, fractures, broken bones, and concussions. An Arkansas-based study of injuries related to youth football answered questions about the relationship of football injury to demographics and the most common football-related fractures and dislocations.
Stillbirths: The Public Health Challenge of the 21st Century
An estimated 2.6 million stillbirths occur every year. In addressing this public health issue, it is critical that researchers and medical professionals count stillbirths from around the world, break the taboo surrounding stillbirths, and prompt policymakers to act and invest in the issue. In 2015, Arkansas began a new stillbirth initiative using birth defects investigation archives to identify cases of stillbirths.
Aging and Immunity: The Importance of Vaccines for Older Adults
As we age, our immune system experiences a natural decline in its ability to protect against diseases. Nevertheless, vaccines do stimulate and heighten the immune response. It is important for aging adults to be aware of the heightened risk for vaccine-preventable diseases and the necessity of receiving vaccinations.
How Local Health Initiatives Can Build Communities
Kickstart Cleveland County is a local initiative started in 2013 with a small grant from the Arkansas Coalition for Obesity Prevention. The objectives of the initiative are to improve local health, improve the community, and build the local economy. The initiative accomplished this by engaging local partners, adding walking trails, parks, community gardens, and farmer’s markets.
Does Arkansas Have Lyme Disease?
A certain type of bacteria carried by the blacklegged tick causes Lyme disease and its symptoms may include fever, fatigue, muscle aches, and a rash. In 2015, 95% of confirmed Lyme disease cases occurred solely in 14 northern states. The disease is generally uncommon in southern states such as Arkansas; however, many Arkansas residents have been diagnosed with Lyme disease.
SISTERS UNITED and BROTHERS UNITED are community-based initiatives focused on reducing infant mortality in Arkansas’s African American communities. The front-runners of these initiatives are members of black fraternities and sororities who encourage prenatal care among low-income women by providing education and incentives.
A Check-up on Unplanned Pregnancy: Trends, Innovations, and Next Steps
Arkansas is seen as a leader in efforts to reduce teen pregnancy and teen births. These efforts have contributed to a decline in teen pregnancy across all racial and ethnic groups and the decline in the overall percentage of teens having sex.
Fluoridation is the artificial adjustment of the fluoride concentration in water. Fluoride makes a difference in keeping teeth from decaying; however, too much fluoride causes a brown stain to form in a process known as Fluorosis. In 2016, Arkansas received national recognition for exceeding the national goal of fluoridated water systems in the state.
Public Health in Arkansas’ Communities Search (PHACS): A Resource
Local communities often need quality data that is appropriate and easily accessible in order to plan, implement, and assess prevention programs. To address this need, the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences’ Office of Public Health Informatics, developed the Public Health in Arkansas’ Communities Search (PHACS), which is an interactive website that provides current county-level data in an easily searchable, user-friendly format.
Childhood obesity is a serious problem in Arkansas and across the United States. In August 2016, the Center for Childhood Obesity Prevention was established in Arkansas. One of the projects currently funded by the Center aims to understand how the food system and the school environment affect the health of schoolchildren.
Integrating Mental Health Into Primary Care: New Roles for Primary Care Providers
There is a crisis of children’s mental health in this country. The key issues affecting health in youth ages 10-19 are depression, suicide, and early expression of mental health issues. It is crucial to improve the mental health services provided in the primary care setting by training primary care providers to assess and treat mental health conditions.
Skin cancer is the most common cancer in Arkansas, in the US, and worldwide. The best way to prevent skin cancer is by protecting one’s skin from UV rays. Cosmetologists, hair stylists, and manicurists routinely look at areas of the skin that are most exposed to the sun. In a recent project, researchers educated cosmetology students on how to identify suspicious spots on clients and how to encourage their clients to see a doctor when a suspicious spot is noticed.
Addressing Childhood Obesity Prevention in Schools: Farm to School
Arkansas’s childhood obesity rate is 38% higher than the national average. Farm-to-school programs are a way to address the crisis of childhood obesity. The aim of these programs is to increase consumption of fresh fruits and vegetables through education, community partnerships, and school gardens.
Meeting People Where They Are: Assessing Heart Disease and Stroke at Barber Shops and Beauty Shops
For many years, barbershops and beauty salons have served as safe spaces where people are able to be vulnerable and talk about issues of importance within African American communities. Heart disease, stroke, and diabetes are fast becoming important topics of discussion. The Arkansas Minority Barber and Beauty Shop Health Initiative uses these safe spaces to increase public awareness about heart disease and stroke, administer health screenings, and to refer individuals to essential health services.