Focus groups provide an effective means of incorporating the perspectives of "hidden" populations in assessments of community health needs and assets. A series of focus groups was conducted with specifically targeted segments of a community to develop a comprehensive picture of community health. The authors describe the focus group process, major findings, and the use of focus group results in a highly multicultural community. Despite differences in age, length of residence, and ethnicity, the focus groups were remarkably similar in the issues raised. The majority of participants viewed the multicultural nature of the community as an asset but voiced some of the difficulties of living in a multiethnic and multilanguage environment. Similar areas of concern in the community arose from all of the focus groups, including housing and other environmental issues and problems of access to health care. Focus group findings have been used to initiate activity addressing identified community problems. Focus group participation had the added benefit of increasing community members' participation in other community endeavors.

The effects of a brief period of supine exercise on fetal heart rate (FHR) was studied in 25 healthy, regularly exercising women, 12 in the late second trimester and 13 in the mid third trimester. Although statistically significant increases in maternal mean arterial pressure and pulse occurred, the exercise intensity was mild, with the average percent maximal pulse being 46 +/- 5% and 49 +/- 5% in the second and third trimester groups, respectively. Small increases in FHR were seen in both groups, which were insignificant statistically and physiologically. No patient experienced significant FHR abnormalities as a result of the supine exercise sequence. The findings suggest that pregnant women may continue submaximal supine exercise of short duration into the mid to late third trimester.

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