Marizen R. Ramirez

Club Drug Use in Los Angeles among Young Men Who Have Sex with Men

Little is known about young men who have sex with mens use of club drugs and the risk factors associated with such use. A structured survey was administered in 2005 to 496 young men who were 18–22 years old (40% were 18–19 years old); self-identified as with a same-sex sexuality (83%), bisexual (16%), and/or had had sex with a man (97%); Caucasian (35%), African American (24%), and Latino of Mexican descent (40%). Subjects were recruited from gay-identified venues in Los Angeles, California, using a venue-based probability sampling design. Descriptive statistics revealed a high prevalence of drug and club drug use. Regression analyses revealed risk factors associated with recent club drug use, including place of residence, religiosity, disclosure of sexuality to family, frequency of attendance at bars/clubs, and involvement in sexual exchange and street economy. Limitations and implications of this research are discussed.

Seismic, structural, and individual factors associated with earthquake related injury

Background: Earthquakes cause thousands of deaths worldwide every year, and systematic study of the causes of these deaths can lead to their prevention. Few studies have examined how multiple types of risk factors are related to physical injury during an earthquake. Methods: A population based case-control study was conducted to examine how individual characteristics, building characteristics, and seismic features of the 1994 Northridge, California, earthquake contributed to physical injury. Cases included fatal and hospital-admitted injuries caused by the earthquake. Controls were drawn from a population based phone survey of county residents. Cases were individually matched to two sets of controls: one matched by age and gender and one matched by location at the time of the earthquake. Results: Individuals over age 65 had 2.9 times the risk of injury as younger people (95% confidence interval (CI) 1.2 to 7.4) and women had a 2.4 times greater risk than men (95% CI 1.2 to 5.1). Location in multiple unit residential and commercial structures each led to increased injury risk compared with single unit residential structures, but the exact estimate varied depending on the control group used. With every increase in ground motion of 10%g, injury risk increased 2.2 times (95% CI 1.6 to 3.3). Conclusions: Controlling for other factors, it was found that individual, building, and seismic characteristics were independently predictive of increased injury risk. Prevention and preparedness efforts should focus on each of these as potential points of intervention.

Injuries to high school football athletes in California

Background Among all high school sports, football has the highest rate of injury. Prior research has been limited primarily because of challenges in surveillance, defining injuries, and measuring exposures. Hypothesis Football injury patterns differ across player and session characteristics. Study Design Descriptive epidemiology study. Methods More than 5000 football players from 87 high schools in California were observed for 2 seasons (2001 and 2002). School representatives were trained to collect data on injuries, player characteristics, and daily exposures. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and clustered Poisson regression. Results Players sustained 25.5 injuries per 100 players, 9.3 injuries per 10 000 player-hours, and 8.4 injuries per 100 session-hours. Session rates were highest during games, on artificial turf (13.8 of 100), during foggy weather (25.1 of 100), and on clear evenings (21 of 100). Offensive and defensive backfielders had about a 20% increased rate of injury compared with linemen. The adjusted injury rate for starters was 60% higher than the rate for nonstarters (relative rate, 1.6; 95% confidence interval, 1.4-1.9). Conclusion Risk profiles differed by experience, playing position, and surface types. We recommend future sports injury research that measures time-dependent exposures at the individual level and for various types of environmental playing conditions.

GIS Mapping of Earthquake-Related Deaths and Hospital Admissions from the 1994 Northridge, California, Earthquake

PURPOSEnEarthquakes pose a persistent but unpredictable health threat. Although knowledge of geologic earthquake hazards for buildings has increased, spatial relations between injuries and seismic activity have not been explained.nnnMETHODSnFatal and hospital-admitted earthquake injuries due to the 1994 Northridge Earthquake were identified. Geographical Information Systems software was used to map all injury locations. Injuries were analyzed with regard to distance from the earthquake epicenter, the Modified Mercalli Intensity Index, peak ground acceleration, and proportion of damaged residential buildings.nnnRESULTSnInjury severity was inversely related to distance from the epicenter and increased with increasing ground motion and building damage. However, injury incidence and severity were not completely predicted by seismic hazard and building damage, and injuries of all severities occurred in a large geographic area. Average distance to the epicenter was smallest for injuries related to falling building parts and largest for cutting/piercing injuries and falls.nnnCONCLUSIONSnThe injuries from the Northridge Earthquake extended beyond the areas of highest environmental activity. Factors such as age and activity during the earthquake may be equally important in predicting injury from earthquakes as seismic features.

Are Schools Prepared for Emergencies? A Baseline Assessment of Emergency Preparedness at School Sites in Three Los Angeles County School Districts

A survey of emergency preparedness was conducted in three public school districts in urban areas of Los Angeles County. Eighty-three school sites were surveyed using self-administered questionnaires. Although designated respondents generally felt that their schools were well prepared, the survey also revealed the need for improvements in written disaster plans, emergency response training, availability of equipment and supplies, and implementation of the state-mandated Standardized Emergency Management System (SEMS). A significant predictor of compliance with the SEMS guidelines was having experienced the effects of school emergencies in the past.

#97 Population-based case-control study of injury risk factors in the northridge earthquake

Abstract PURPOSE: Earthquakes pose a persistent but unpredictable health threat, causing many injuries and damage throughout the world each year. Researchers have identified personal, structural, and geophysical characteristics as risk factors for injuries, but no studies have examined these factors simultaneously. METHODS: A population-based case-control study was conducted to examine the role of age, gender, building characteristics, and ground movement on the risk of injury in the 1994 Northridge Earthquake. Cases were all earthquake-related fatal and hospital-admitted injuries that occurred in buildings in Los Angeles County (N = 102). Two sets of controls were drawn from a population-based random survey of LA County residents who reported no injury in the earthquake. The first control group was matched to cases by age and gender. The second control group was matched on closest location to the case during the earthquake. Information about buildings was obtained by linkage to building damage files. Ground motion was determined by geomapping case and control locations onto isoseismal maps. Conditional logistic regression was used to estimate risk ratios. RESULTS: Individuals over age 65 had a 2.9 times higher risk of injury than younger people (95% CI = 1.2–7.4), and women had a 2.4 times greater risk than men (95% CI = 1.2–5.1). Location in multiple-unit residential and commercial structures at the time of the earthquake were each associated with higher risk of injury than location in single-unit residential structures, but the exact estimate varied depending on the control group used. With every increase in ground motion of 10%g, risk of injury increased 2.2-fold (95% CI = 1.6–3.3). CONCLUSION: Controlling for other factors, we found that individual, building, and seismic characteristics were independently predictive of increased injury risk. Prevention and preparedness efforts should focus on each of these as potential points of intervention.