[Federal Register Volume 69, Number 238 (Monday, December 13, 2004)]
[Notices]
[Pages 72199-72201]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 04-27192]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

[60Day-05AP]


Proposed Data Collections Submitted for Public Comment and 
Recommendations

    In compliance with the requirement of section 3506(c)(2)(A) of the 
Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 for opportunity for public comment on 
proposed data collection projects, the Centers for Disease Control and 
Prevention (CDC) will publish periodic summaries of proposed projects. 
To request more information on the proposed projects or to obtain a 
copy of the data collection plans and instruments, call 404-371-5976 or 
send comments to Seleda Perryman, CDC Assistant Reports Clearance 
Officer, 1600 Clifton Road, MS-D74, Atlanta, GA 30333 or send an e-mail 
to [email protected].
    Comments are invited on: (a) Whether the proposed collection of 
information is necessary for the proper performance of the functions of 
the agency, including whether the information shall have practical 
utility; (b) the accuracy of the agency's estimate of the burden of the 
proposed collection of information; (c)

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ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to 
be collected; and (d) ways to minimize the burden of the collection of 
information on respondents, including through the use of automated 
collection techniques or other forms of information technology. Written 
comments should be received within 60 days of this notice.

Proposed Project

    Spanish-language Folic Acid Communication Research and Creative 
Production--New--National Center on Birth Defects and Developmental 
Disabilities (NCBDDD), Centers for Disease Control and Prevention 
(CDC).

Background and Brief Description

    Pregnancies and births affected by spina bifida or anencephaly have 
profound physical, emotional, and financial effects on families and 
communities. Recent data from the National Birth Defects Prevention 
Network surveillance system shows that folic acid food fortification 
has resulted in an approximate overall 25% decline in Neural Tube 
Defect (NTD) affected pregnancies. Since food fortification in 1998, 
the number of babies born in the United States with these serious birth 
defects has declined. Before food fortification, CDC estimated that 
there were about 4,000 NTD-affected pregnancies each year. Since 1999, 
CDC has observed a decline so that the CDC National Center of Birth 
Defect and Developmental Disabilities now estimate that, annually, 
there are about 3,000 NTD-affected pregnancies.
    Despite these exciting developments, Hispanic women in the United 
States remain the most vulnerable for having an NTD-affected pregnancy. 
The specific reason for this increased risk remains a mystery. What we 
do know is that they have a higher risk than Caucasian and African 
American women in the United States. Surveys conducted by CDC in 1999 
and 2000 also showed that Hispanic women had the lowest reported folic 
acid knowledge and consumption. In 1995 and 1996 during the pre-
fortification period, the prevalence of spina bifida and anencephaly 
among Hispanic women was about 10 per 10,000 /births or pregnancies 
compared to about 8 per 10,000 among Whites and almost 6 per 10,000 
among Blacks. Because Hispanic women still have the highest rate among 
the 3 racial/ethnic groups, CDC continues to make reaching them its top 
priority.
    CDC is interested in continuing to reach Spanish-speaking Hispanic 
women in the United States. Preliminary results from the Spanish Folic 
Acid Campaign Evaluation Survey (SFACES) have shown that a strategy 
that combines local outreach efforts and paid/earned media efforts is 
effective. However, CDC does not anticipate budgetary increases that 
could make a national-level Spanish language campaign possible. Also, 
CDC is concerned that the SFACES campaign materials, which were 
developed in 1999, may be becoming ``dated.'' While CDC has no hard 
evidence that they are no longer effective, CDC does want to examine 
their effectiveness in a robust manner before decisions are made about 
whether to keep using them in outreach efforts in selected communities 
throughout the U.S. CDC is also interested in developing a deeper 
understanding of sub-groups of women within the Spanish-speaking 
Hispanic population and developing effective communication strategies 
for reaching them.
    This project includes a systematic communication research and 
product development process involving, and ultimately serving, Spanish-
speaking Hispanic women. These activities include:
    a. Developing a multivariate audience-segmentation scheme using 
existing data from Spanish-speaking Hispanic women;
    b. Assessing the effectiveness of current campaign materials with 
the identified audience segments;
    c. Conducting qualitative research with audience segments;
    d. Developing audience profiles for each audience segment;
    e. Developing draft communication plans based on audience profiles 
that outlines potential outreach strategies;
    f. Presenting the possibilities to key internal and external 
stakeholders to solicit input;
    g. Developing and testing concepts, messages, and materials along 
with implementation plans for their use; and,
    h. Producing master quality copies of each material in formats that 
CDC and partners can use for mass production and dissemination.
    There are no costs to respondents except their time to participate 
in the survey.

                                             Annualized Burden Table
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                                                                                      Average
                                                      No. of          No. of        burden per     Total burden
                   Respondents                      respondents    responses per   response  (in    (in hours)
                                                                    respondent        hours)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Hispanic girls, 13-18 (interviews)..............              60               1           30/60              30
Hispanic girls, 13-18 (2 focus groups)..........              24               1             1.5              36
Parents of Hispanic girls, 13-18 (interviews)...              30               1           30/60              15
Hispanic women, 19-35 (interviews)..............             120               1           30/60              60
Hispanic women, 19-35 (4 focus groups)..........              48               1             1.5              72
Materials distributors (3 focus groups).........              36               1             1.5              54
                                                 -----------------
    Total.......................................             318  ..............  ..............             267
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[[Page 72201]]

    Dated: December 3, 2004.
Alvin Hall,
Director, Management Analysis and Services Office, Centers for Disease 
Control and Prevention.
[FR Doc. 04-27192 Filed 12-10-04; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4163-18-P