WOMEN ASKED TO PARTICIPATE IN HEALTH SURVEY

          Women ages 18 to 45 soon will be asked to take part in a survey that will help Penn State researchers and community partners learn about the health problems of central Pennsylvania women, including women in minority and rural populations.

          The survey, which will be conducted by interviewers from the Penn State Survey Research Center during the next four or five months, begins the first phase of studies by the Central PA Center of Excellence for Research on Pregnancy Outcomes at Penn State College of Medicine. The survey will estimate the prevalence of risk factors for preterm birth and low birthweight. Working with Penn State on the project are Franklin and Marshall College, Lock Haven University of Pennsylvania and the Family Health Council of Central Pennsylvania.

          Households will be sampled based on telephone numbers and each household will receive a letter describing the survey. An interviewer from the Survey Research Center then will contact each household by telephone beginning in mid-September to identify an eligible survey respondent. The survey is voluntary and confidential. The questions in the survey will address women's past and current health, health habits and access to health care.

          For information, call (717) 531-1074.