Prevention

/Prevention

Topics here will include issues that fall into the Prevention Division of the agency, which include – as the name implies – programs that help prevent disease in our state. You will find information about chronic diseases (cancer, heart health, breathing disorders) as well as tobacco use prevention. This area also includes education about Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program and the Women, Infant and Children programs; both USDA programs that help provide nutrition to lower income residents.

Resources are available to help students and adults facing tough times

By | September 12th, 2023|Prevention|

Now that school is in full swing across the state and kids start to settle into their routines, it is important for family and friends to be aware of warning signs in kids that might require some extra attention. Recent cases of suicide in adolescents, which while heartbreaking, should serve as a way to show  [...]

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The power of supportive relationships for youth experiencing unstable and unsafe home environments

By | August 1st, 2023|Prevention|

Childhood experiences like abuse, neglect, or household dysfunction - also called Adverse Childhood Experiences or ACEs - can have a lasting impact on children’s and adolescent health and well-being. The good news is that having people who care about them, including friends, school staff, and other adult mentors, can help lessen the negative effects of [...]

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Staying safe in Arizona’s heat

By | July 25th, 2023|General, Preparedness, Prevention|

Arizona’s been experiencing record-breaking high temperatures and a slow-to-start monsoon season. We’ve seen Excessive Heat Warnings in every county and Phoenix specifically is experiencing a record- breaking summer, with more than 26 consecutive days of 110+ degree weather so far (and it’s only July!) It’s vital to stay cool and hydrated in this heat and [...]

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Improving access to birth control for Arizona patients: Making contraceptives available without a prescription at your local pharmacy

By | July 6th, 2023|General, Preparedness, Prevention|

This week rules were approved to allow Arizona patients 18 years old and older to access contraceptives at their local pharmacy without a doctor’s prescription. A standing order allows pharmacists to provide patients with needed birth control including hormonal contraceptive patches, vaginal rings, and oral contraceptives.  Arizona joins more than 20 other states that have [...]

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Father’s Day gift for all men: A trip to the doctor

By | June 15th, 2023|General, Preparedness, Prevention|

For reasons that aren't always clear, men simply don't go to the doctor as often as women. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, women visit their healthcare provider 40% more often than men. That may be an explanation for what the Washington Post recently called a "silent crisis in men's health." Data [...]

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The time is right for women to prioritize their own health

By | May 19th, 2023|General, Prevention|

This week we celebrate National Women's Health Week - the perfect time to take a moment to consider how we might strengthen our health with an extra dose of self-care.  Many women act as the managers of their family’s health-maintaining records, scheduling visits, caring for sick loved ones, and taking their children to appointments at [...]

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Nurses are vital to the health of all Arizonans

By | May 2nd, 2023|General, Licensing, Newborn Screening, Preparedness, Prevention|

At the Arizona Department of Health Services, our nurses are involved in the prevention, education, advocacy, activism, assessment, and evaluation of public health across our state. They play an essential role in preventing disease and educating the public to promote communities’ health and safety. We’re proud to have nurses in Newborn Screening who work to [...]

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ADHS initiatives are working to improve healthcare access in Arizona’s most rural communities

By | April 7th, 2023|General, Prevention|

Fourteen percent of the U.S. population lives in rural areas, in Arizona that number is much higher at 25%, likely due to the landscape and environment we live in. USDA Economic Research Service found that residents living in the United States’ most rural counties may have more difficulty finding and using health care services in [...]

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How Arizona is using data and community feedback to help address mental health in our state

By | April 6th, 2023|General, Preparedness, Prevention|

Like physical health, mental health is important throughout the lifespan. It continuously affects how we think, feel, and act. It also plays an important role in our physical and social well-being. Many factors can impact our mental health, including early adverse life experiences, experiences related to chronic medical conditions, biological factors, feelings of loneliness or [...]

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Improving the health of Arizonans through family planning services & community programs

By | April 5th, 2023|Prevention|

Programming for reproductive and sexual health improves the health of women of childbearing age before, during, and after pregnancy. An estimated 2 million unplanned pregnancies are prevented each year due to family planning services obtained through Title X, Medicaid, and other publicly funded programs.  The ADHS Family Planning Program offers a statewide, clinic-based approach. Cost-effective [...]

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