Objectives: To assess vitamin A supplementation (VAS) coverage of children aged 6 -59 months and the factors that favour or limit this coverage during the National Nutrition Weeks in Mali. Design: Cross-sectional study. Interviews about demographic factors and children's adherence to the vitamin A capsule distribution programme were conducted. Professionals' knowledge of vitamin A and various aspects related to the supplementation strategy were assessed. Setting: Five regions out of the eight regions in the country, in addition to Bamako District. Three rural communes were selected in three regions to represent rural areas. Subjects: Parents or caregivers of children under 5 years of age, health agents who participated in the weeks, and community and administrative leaders. Results: At least 80% of the children received the supplement. More 'traditional' communication channels (town criers, friends and family members) appeared to be more effective in reaching the target groups than modern methods, i.e. radio and television. Mothers' possession of a radio (Pearson x 2 ¼ 5.03; P ¼ 0.025) and fathers' education (Pearson x 2 ¼ 19.02; P , 0.001), possession of a radio (Pearson x 2 ¼ 8.93; P ¼ 0.003) and listening to it (Pearson x 2 ¼ 7.62; P ¼ 0.006) all appeared to be statistically and significantly associated with children's coverage. In multivariate logistic regression analysis, only the study site (urban/rural) (P ¼ 0.004), 'traditional channels' (P ¼ 0.02) and fathers' education (P ¼ 0.04) were significantly associated with children's coverage. Knowledge about VAS was high among community and administrative leaders, and health professionals. The planning and implementation of activities at the district level were found to be good in general. Conclusion: National Nutrition Weeks provide a successful example of a periodic VAS strategy with high coverage among children aged 6-59 months in Mali. Campaigns aimed at informing and sensitising populations during the Nutrition Weeks should also target children's fathers. Keywords Vitamin A supplementationChild survival National Nutrition Weeks MaliVitamin A repletion was shown to reduce the mortality of children aged 6-59 months by 23-34% in areas where vitamin A deficiency (VAD) is prevalent 1 -4 . In sub-Saharan Africa, it is estimated that 42% of children under 5 years of age are at risk of VAD and that adequately controlling this deficiency can avert over 645 000 child deaths per year in the region . This prevalence is higher than the cut-off point of 5%, indicating that VAD is a public health problem in a population 7 . In order to tackle this situation, Mali developed and applied strategies q The Authors 2007

Increases in drug abuse, injection, and opioid overdoses in suburban communities led us to study injectors residing in suburban communities in southwestern Connecticut, US. We sought to understand the influence of residence on risk and injection-associated diseases. Injectors were recruited by respondent-driven sampling and interviewed about sociodemographics, somatic and mental health, injection risk, and interactions with healthcare, harm reduction, substance abuse treatment, and criminal justice systems. HIV, hepatitis B and C (HBV and HCV) serological testing was also conducted. Our sample was consistent in geographic distribution and age to the general population and to the patterns of heroin-associated overdose deaths in the suburban towns. High rates of interaction with drug abuse treatment and criminal justice systems contrasted with scant use of harm reduction services. The only factors associated with both dependent variables—residence in less disadvantaged census tracts and more injection risk—were younger age and injecting in one’s own residence. This contrasts with the common association among urban injectors of injection-associated risk behaviors and residence in disadvantaged communities. Poor social support and moderate/severe depression were associated with risky injection practices (but not residence in specific classes of census tracts), suggesting that a region-wide dual diagnosis approach to the expansion of harm reduction services could be effective at reducing the negative consequences of injection drug use.

The provision of culturally appropriate social support is critical in the care of Hispanic immigrant childbearing women. Programs such as the Hispanic Labor Friends Initiative can help improve support and promote positive outcomes in these vulnerable and disadvantaged women.