SummaryThis study records the fifth consecutive year that winter losses of managed honey bee (Apis mellifera) colonies in the USA have been around 30%. In April 2011, a total of 5,441 US beekeepers (an estimated 11% of total US beekeepers) responded to a survey conducted by the Bee Informed Partnership. Survey respondents reported that they had lost an average of 38.4% of their colonies, for a total US colony loss of 29.9% over the winter of 2010-11. One-third of respondents (all classified as backyard beekeepers, i.e. keeping fewer than 50 colonies) reported no winter loss. There was considerable variation in both the average and total loss by state. On average, beekeepers consider acceptable losses to be 13.2%, but 68% of all responding beekeepers suffered actual losses in excess of what they considered acceptable. Of beekeepers who reported losing at least one colony, manageable conditions, such as starvation and a weak condition in the fall, were the leading self-identified causes of mortality. Respondents who indicated that varroa mites (Varroa destructor), small hive beetles (Aethina tumida), poor wintering conditions, and / or Colony Collapse Disorder (CCD) conditions were a leading cause of mortality in their operations suffered a higher average loss than beekeepers who did not list any of these as potential causes. In a separate question, beekeepers who reported the symptom "no dead bees in hive or apiary" had significantly higher losses than those who did not report this symptom. In addition, commercial beekeepers were significantly more likely to indicate that colonies died with this symptom than either backyard or sideliner beekeepers. Journal of Apicultural Research51(1): 115-124 (2012) © IBRA 2012 DOI 10.3896/IBRA.1.51.1.14 116 vanEngelsdorp et al. Una encuesta nacional sobre las pérdidas invernales de colonias manejadas de abejas melíferas 2010-11 en losEstados Unidos: resultados de la Bee Informed Partnership ResumenEste estudio registra por quinto año consecutivo que las pérdidas invernales de abejas manejadas (Apis mellifera) en Estados Unidos están en torno al 30%. En abril del 2011, un total de 5,441 apicultores de los EE.UU. (se estima que el 11% del total de apicultores de EE.UU.) respondieron a una encuesta realizada por la Bee Informed Partnership. Los encuestados indicaron que habían perdido un promedio de 38.4% de sus colonias, con una pérdida total de colonias en EE.UU. del 29.9% durante el invierno de 2010-11. Un tercio de los encuestados (todos ellos clasificados como apicultores aficionados, es decir, con menos de 50 colonias) indicaron que no tuvieron pérdidas de invierno.Hubo una variación considerable tanto en la media como en el total de pérdidas por Estado. Por término medio, los apicultores consideran aceptables pérdidas del 13.2%, sin embargo, el 68% de todos los apicultores encuestados sufrieron pérdidas reales superiores a lo que consideran aceptable. Entre los apicultores que informaron de la pérdida de al menos una colonia, las principales causas de mortalidad identificad...

Background Previous research suggests that certain populations, including rural residents, exhibit health care avoidant behaviors more frequently than other groups. Additionally, health care avoidance is related to sociodemographics, attitudes, social expectations, ability to pay for care, and prior experiences with providers. However, previous studies have been limited to specific geographic areas, particular health conditions, or by analytic methods. Methods The 2008 Health Information Trends Survey (HINTS) was used to estimate the magnitude of health care avoidance nationally and, while controlling for confounding factors, identify groups of people in the US who are more likely to avoid health care. Chi-square procedures tested the statistical significance (P < .05) of bivariate relationships. Multivariable analysis was conducted through a weighted multiple logistic regression with backward selection. Results For 6,714 respondents, bivariate analyses revealed differences (P < .05) in health care avoidance for multiple factors. However, multiple regression reduced the set of significant factors (P < .05) to rural residence (OR=1.69), male sex (OR=1.24), younger age (18-34 years OR=2.34; 35-49 years OR=2.10), lack of health insurance (OR=1.43), lack of confidence in personal health care (OR=2.24), lack of regular provider (OR=1.49), little trust in physicians (OR=1.34), and poor provider rapport (OR=0.94). Conclusion The results of the current study will help public health practitioners develop programs and initiatives targeted and tailored to specific groups, particularly rural populations, which seek to address avoidant behavior, thereby reducing the likelihood of adverse health outcomes.

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A theory and community-based educational intervention was designed to increase HPV-related knowledge and intent to vaccinate adolescent girls, against human papillomavirus (HPV) in Appalachia, a region with high cervical cancer incidence and mortality. An HPV educational session was conducted with immediate pre-/post-test questionnaires and 1-month follow-up telephone interview. McNemar tests and paired t tests evaluated change in individual knowledge variables and change in overall knowledge and intent to vaccinate against HPV, respectively. Of 117 attendees, 38 (32.5%) were parents of vaccine-eligible daughters and 79 (67.5%) non-parental caregivers. HPV-related knowledge increased for all participants (p < 0.0001) and among parents (p < 0.0001). Intent to vaccinate daughters within 1 month increased among parents (p = 0.002). Of nine (23.7%) parents who completed the follow-up interview, 100% reported the intervention as helpful and 44.4% reported that they started vaccination. Our education intervention was associated with increased HPV-related knowledge and intent to vaccinate girls in Appalachia against HPV.