Robert G. Nelson

Assessment: A Core Function for Implementing Effective Interventions in Sexually Transmitted Disease Control Programs.

Assessment is a core function in sexually transmitted disease (STD) prevention and control programs. Assessment is more than reviewing case report data; it includes taking into consideration an array of data of various sources and types to be able to respond to emerging disease threats, align human and financial resources, and plan for the future. In this article, we outline key assessment domains, data sources, activities, and methods for STD programs. We present an illustrative case study of how assessment can be used to identify effective interventions for STD control.

Diabetes, Hypertension, and Kidney Disease in the Pima Indians Compared with Other Populations

Hypertension and kidney disease are well-known concomitants of both insulindependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM) and non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM). Hypertension, kidney disease, and diabetes are associated with each other, but the nature of the associations varies between populations, and the causal interpretations, especially regarding hypertension and diabetic nephropathy, are controversial. The complications of diabetes have been studied extensively among the Pima Indians of Arizona, U.S.A. In this chapter, we describe the epidemiology of diabetic renal disease and its relationship with hypertension in the Pima Indians in comparison with other populations.