Disaggregation of Latina/o Child and Adult Health Data: A Systematic Review of Public Health Surveillance Surveys in the United States

Public health surveillance can have profound impacts on the health of populations, with COVID-19 surveillance offering an illuminating example. Surveillance surrounding COVID-19 testing, conﬁrmed cases, and deaths has provided essential information to public health professionals about how to minimize morbidity and mortality. In the United States, surveillance has also pointed out how populations, on the basis of geography, age, and race and ethnicity, are being impacted disproportionately, allowing targeted intervention and evaluation. However, COVID-19 surveillance has also highlighted how the public health surveillance system fails some communities, including sexual and gender minorities. This failure has come about because of the haphazard and disorganized way disease reporting data are collected, analyzed, and reported in the United States, and the structural homophobia, transphobia, and biphobia acting within these systems. We provide recommendations for addressing these concerns after examining experiences collecting race data in COVID-19 surveillance and attempts in Pennsylvania and California to incorporate sexual orientation and gender identity variables into their pandemic surveillance efforts. (Am J Public Health. Published online ahead of print June 10, 2021: e1–e7. https://doi.org/10.2105/AJPH.2021.3062727 )

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Collection of Data on Race, Ethnicity, Language, and Nativity by US Public Health Surveillance and Monitoring Systems: Gaps and Opportunities

Public Health Reports ◽

10.1177/0033354917745503 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 133 (1) ◽

pp. 45-54 ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

Alfonso Rodriguez-Lainz ◽

Mariana McDonald ◽

Maureen Fonseca-Ford ◽

Ana Penman-Aguilar ◽

Stephen H. Waterman ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Public Health ◽

United States ◽

Data Collection ◽

Public Health Surveillance ◽

The United States ◽

Health Surveillance ◽

Monitoring Systems ◽

Primary Language ◽

Use Of Data ◽

Race Ethnicity

Objective: Despite increasing diversity in the US population, substantial gaps in collecting data on race, ethnicity, primary language, and nativity indicators persist in public health surveillance and monitoring systems. In addition, few systems provide questionnaires in foreign languages for inclusion of non-English speakers. We assessed (1) the extent of data collected on race, ethnicity, primary language, and nativity indicators (ie, place of birth, immigration status, and years in the United States) and (2) the use of data-collection instruments in non-English languages among Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)–supported public health surveillance and monitoring systems in the United States. Methods: We identified CDC-supported surveillance and health monitoring systems in place from 2010 through 2013 by searching CDC websites and other federal websites. For each system, we assessed its website, documentation, and publications for evidence of the variables of interest and use of data-collection instruments in non-English languages. We requested missing information from CDC program officials, as needed. Results: Of 125 data systems, 100 (80%) collected data on race and ethnicity, 2 more collected data on ethnicity but not race, 26 (21%) collected data on racial/ethnic subcategories, 40 (32%) collected data on place of birth, 21 (17%) collected data on years in the United States, 14 (11%) collected data on immigration status, 13 (10%) collected data on primary language, and 29 (23%) used non-English data-collection instruments. Population-based surveys and disease registries more often collected data on detailed variables than did case-based, administrative, and multiple-source systems. Conclusions: More complete and accurate data on race, ethnicity, primary language, and nativity can improve the quality, representativeness, and usefulness of public health surveillance and monitoring systems to plan and evaluate targeted public health interventions to eliminate health disparities.

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The impact of the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic on drug overdose-related deaths in the United States and Canada: a systematic review of observational studies and analysis of public health surveillance data

Substance Abuse Treatment Prevention and Policy ◽

10.1186/s13011-021-00423-5 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 16 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Sameer Imtiaz ◽

Frishta Nafeh ◽

Cayley Russell ◽

Farihah Ali ◽

Tara Elton-Marshall ◽

...

Keyword(s):

United States ◽

Systematic Review ◽

Drug Overdose ◽

Observational Studies ◽

Public Health Surveillance ◽

The United States ◽

Health Surveillance ◽

The Novel ◽

Novel Coronavirus ◽

The Impact

Abstract Background There are preliminary indications that the trajectory of drug overdose-related deaths in North America has been exacerbated due to the novel coronavirus disease pandemic (COVID-19). As such, the impact of COVID-19 on drug overdose-related deaths was examined through a systematic review of the literature and percentage change analyses of surveillance data. Methods Systematic searches in electronic databases were conducted, a topical issue brief and bibliography were reviewed, reference lists of included studies were searched and expert consultations were held to identify studies (Registration # CRD42021230223). Observational studies from the United States and Canada were eligible for inclusion if drug overdose-related deaths were assessed in quantitative or qualitative analyses onwards from at least March 2020. In addition, percentage changes comparing drug overdose-related deaths in the second annual quarter (Q2 2020 [April to June]) with the first annual quarter (Q1 2020 [January to March]) were generated using national and subnational data from public health surveillance systems and reports from jurisdictions in the United States and Canada. Results Nine studies were included in the systematic review, eight from the United States and one from Canada. The maximum outcome assessment period in the included studies extended until September 2020. Drug overdose-related deaths after the onset of COVID-19 were higher compared with the months leading up to the pandemic in 2020 and the comparative months in 2019. In additional percentage change analyses, drug overdose-related deaths increased by 2 to 60% in jurisdictions in the United States and by 58% in Canada when comparing Q2 2020 with Q1 2020. Conclusions Drug overdose-related deaths increased after the onset of COVID-19. The current situation necessitates a multi-pronged approach, encompassing expanded access to substance use disorder treatment, undisrupted access to harm reduction services, emphasis on risk reduction strategies, provision of a safe drug supply and decriminalization of drug use.

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Implementing Strategies to Enhance Public Health Surveillance of Physical Activity in the United States

10.17226/25444 ◽

2019 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

◽

Keyword(s):

Public Health ◽

Physical Activity ◽

United States ◽

Public Health Surveillance ◽

The United States ◽

Health Surveillance ◽

Implementing Strategies

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Understanding and Addressing Latinx COVID-19 Disparities in Washington State

Health Education & Behavior ◽

10.1177/1090198120963099 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 47 (6) ◽

pp. 845-849

Author(s):

Barbara Baquero ◽

Carmen Gonzalez ◽

Magaly Ramirez ◽

Erica Chavez Santos ◽

India J. Ornelas

Keyword(s):

Public Health ◽

United States ◽

Medical Care ◽

Public Health Surveillance ◽

Health Inequities ◽

The United States ◽

Health Surveillance ◽

Washington State ◽

Key Factors ◽

Taking Action

The COVID-19 pandemic has exposed, and intensified, health inequities faced by Latinx in the United States. Washington was one of the first U.S. states to report cases of COVID-19. Public health surveillance shows that 31% of Washington cases are Latinx, despite being only 13% of the state population. Unjust policies related to immigration, labor, housing, transportation, and education have contributed to both past and existing inequities. Approximately 20% of Latinx are uninsured, leading to delays in testing and medical care for COVID-19, and early reports indicated critical shortages in professional interpreters and multilingual telehealth options. Washington State is taking action to address some of these inequities. Applying a health equity framework, we describe key factors contributing to COVID-19–related health inequities among Latinx populations, and how Washington State has aimed to address these inequities. We draw on these experiences to make recommendations for other Latinx communities experiencing COVID-19 disparities.

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