Health Insurance Coverage Among Older Americans
Nearly all older Americans (99 percent in 1998) are covered by health insurance. Despite nearly universal insurance coverage, households headed by older people still have substantial out-of-pocket expenses for health care. (AmeriStat, November 2000)

Health Experts Make Case for Environmental Justice
The environmental justice movement has sought for years to ensure that minority and low-income groups do not bear a disproportionate share of exposure to environmental hazards. Now researchers are putting the issue on the national health agenda. (Population Today, May/June 2000)

High Death Rate Among Russian Men Predates Soviet Union's Demise
Russian men have a higher rate of death and lower life expectancy than men in other industrialized countries. Russians even fare worse than men in much poorer countries. (Population Today, April 2000)

Mozambique's High Rate of Maternal Mortality
The floods in southern Africa have turned world attention and resources to Mozambique, but a far deadlier and less obvious problem besetting this country is maternal mortality. Mozambique has one of the world's highest ratios of maternal deaths to live births. (Population Today, April 2000)

Attaining Global Health: Challenges and Opportunities (PDF: 344KB)

  This Population Bulletin looks at trends in health over the past century and identifies the ways that we can pursue the goal of better global health. The authors explore the multiple factors that determine health and stress the need for action from the individual to the international level to improve health. (BUL55.1, March 2000)

Public Health Goes Private in Africa: Mosquito Nets Could Become Big Business
Insecticide-treated mosquito nets can help prevent malaria in sub-Saharan Africa, but only if the people there obtain the nets and learn to use them. The U.S. Agency for International Development hopes a new approach will bring more nets to market. (Population Today, February/March 2000)

Population and Health: An Introduction to Epidemiology (PDF: 261KB)
This Population Bulletin explains the terms, methods, and materials scientists use to study the health of populations, as well as the historical underpinnings of the modern-day science of epidemiology. Epidemiology provides a unique way of viewing and investigating disease and injury. (BUL54.4, December 1999)

Injury and Violence: A Public Health Perspective (PDF: 325KB)

 Injuries are a leading cause of death and disability worldwide, especially for young people. The United States is at the forefront of an injury control movement that incorporates expertise from many disciplines in the social, medical, and physical sciences. Injury control experts assert that injuries are predictable and preventable, and this Population Bulletin explains why and how. Websites and other major sources of information on injury and violence are also included. (BUL53.4, December 1998)

Infectious Diseases - New and Ancient Threats to World Health

 Infectious and parasitic diseases (IPDs) are a leading cause of death and disability in low-income countries, and are re-emerging as a serious health problem in developed countries. This Population Bulletin examines the phenomenon of "new" and re-emerging IPDs from an international perspective and explores strategies for slowing the rise of IPDs. (July 1997)