scholarly journals COVID-19 pandemic reveals persistent disparities in nitrogen dioxide pollution

2021 ◽  
Vol 118 (30) ◽  
pp. e2022409118
Author(s):  
Gaige Hunter Kerr ◽  
Daniel L. Goldberg ◽  
Susan C. Anenberg
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
Nitrogen Dioxide ◽  
Low Socioeconomic Status ◽  
Ethnically Diverse ◽  
The United States ◽  
Urban Neighborhoods ◽  
Air Pollutant ◽  
Low Socioeconomic ◽  
Passenger Traffic ◽  
Demographic Subgroups

The unequal spatial distribution of ambient nitrogen dioxide (NO2), an air pollutant related to traffic, leads to higher exposure for minority and low socioeconomic status communities. We exploit the unprecedented drop in urban activity during the COVID-19 pandemic and use high-resolution, remotely sensed NO2 observations to investigate disparities in NO2 levels across different demographic subgroups in the United States. We show that, prior to the pandemic, satellite-observed NO2 levels in the least White census tracts of the United States were nearly triple the NO2 levels in the most White tracts. During the pandemic, the largest lockdown-related NO2 reductions occurred in urban neighborhoods that have 2.0 times more non-White residents and 2.1 times more Hispanic residents than neighborhoods with the smallest reductions. NO2 reductions were likely driven by the greater density of highways and interstates in these racially and ethnically diverse areas. Although the largest reductions occurred in marginalized areas, the effect of lockdowns on racial, ethnic, and socioeconomic NO2 disparities was mixed and, for many cities, nonsignificant. For example, the least White tracts still experienced ∼1.5 times higher NO2 levels during the lockdowns than the most White tracts experienced prior to the pandemic. Future policies aimed at eliminating pollution disparities will need to look beyond reducing emissions from only passenger traffic and also consider other collocated sources of emissions such as heavy-duty vehicles.

Achieving Excellence in Teacher Workforce and Equity in Learning Opportunities in South Korea

2008 ◽  
Vol 37 (4) ◽  
pp. 200-207 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nam-Hwa Kang ◽  
Miyoung Hong
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
South Korea ◽  
Low Socioeconomic Status ◽  
The United States ◽  
Learning Opportunities ◽  
Community Resources ◽  
Low Socioeconomic ◽  
South Korean ◽  
Teacher Workforce ◽  
Professional Occupation

Akiba, LeTendre, and Scribner (2007) identified two problems with mathematics education in the United States: (a) a shortage of qualified mathematics teachers and (b) unequal access to those teachers by students of high and low socioeconomic status. Akiba et al. called for further research on how South Korea and other countries have achieved excellence in their teacher workforces and equity in access to qualified teachers. They also called for research on what mediates the relationship between opportunity and achievement gaps. In response, the authors of this article describe pertinent South Korean educational contexts and policies. To ensure teacher quality in the United States, the authors propose establishing teaching as a professional occupation by offering competitive salaries, improving working conditions, and increasing teachers’ out-of-class time for planning and professional development. As a way to close the achievement gap, they recommend that accessible supplementary learning opportunities be provided for students who lack family and community resources.

Childhood Pedestrian Injuries

PEDIATRICS ◽  
1987 ◽  
Vol 79 (6) ◽  
pp. 1055-1055
Author(s):  
ALBERT CHANG ◽  
JOHN G. GRIFFITH
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
Low Socioeconomic Status ◽  
The United States ◽  
Injury Death ◽  
Low Socioeconomic ◽  
Factors Associated ◽  
School Aged Children ◽  
Pedestrian Injuries ◽  
Definition Of ◽  
Ethnic Minority Families

To the Editor.— We acknowledge the contribution of Rivara and Barber to the further definition of childhood pedestrian injuries (Pediatrics 1985;76:375-381). Their contribution is particularly noteworthy because pedestrian injuries are the leading cause of injury death in young school-aged children (5 to 9 years) in the United States.1 Their analysis of the socioeconomic factors associated with such injuries, however, lacks essential data to enable injury investigators to arrive at their conclusions: that the number of child pedestrian injuries are higher in children of low socioeconomic status and/or from ethnic minority families.

scholarly journals Disseminating a Smoke-free Homes Program to Low Socioeconomic Status Households in the United States Through 2-1-1: Results of a National Impact Evaluation

2018 ◽  
Vol 22 (4) ◽  
pp. 498-505 ◽  
Author(s):  
Łucja T Bundy ◽  
Regine Haardörfer ◽  
Michelle C Kegler ◽  
Shadé Owolabi ◽  
Carla J Berg ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
Socioeconomic Status ◽  
Low Socioeconomic Status ◽  
The United States ◽  
Outcome Evaluation ◽  
Smoking Ban ◽  
Dissemination And Implementation ◽  
Low Socioeconomic ◽  
Shs Exposure

Abstract Introduction Given homes are now a primary source of secondhand smoke (SHS) exposure in the United States, research-tested interventions that promote smoke-free homes should be evaluated in real-world settings to build the evidence base for dissemination. This study describes outcome evaluation results from a dissemination and implementation study of a research-tested program to increase smoke-free home rules through US 2-1-1 helplines. Methods Five 2-1-1 organizations, chosen through a competitive application process, were awarded grants of up to $70 000. 2-1-1 staff recruited participants, delivered the intervention, and evaluated the program. 2-1-1 clients who were recruited into the program allowed smoking in the home, lived in households with both a smoker and a nonsmoker or child, spoke English, and were at least 18 years old. Self-reported outcomes were assessed using a pre-post design, with follow-up at 2 months post baseline. Results A total of 2345 households (335–605 per 2-1-1 center) were enrolled by 2-1-1 staff. Most participants were female (82%) and smokers (76%), and half were African American (54%). Overall, 40.1% (n = 940) reported creating a full household smoking ban. Among the nonsmoking adults reached at follow-up (n = 389), days of SHS exposure in the past week decreased from 4.9 (SD = 2.52) to 1.2 (SD = 2.20). Among the 1148 smokers reached for follow-up, 211 people quit, an absolute reduction in smoking of 18.4% (p < .0001), with no differences by gender. Conclusions Among those reached for 2-month follow-up, the proportion who reported establishing a smoke-free home was comparable to or higher than smoke-free home rates in the prior controlled research studies. Implications Dissemination of this brief research-tested intervention via a national grants program with support from university staff to five 2-1-1 centers increased home smoking bans, decreased SHS exposure, and increased cessation rates. Although the program delivery capacity demonstrated by these competitively selected 2-1-1s may not generalize to the broader 2-1-1 network in the United States, or social service agencies outside of the United States, partnering with 2-1-1s may be a promising avenue for large-scale dissemination of this smoke-free homes program and other public health programs to low socioeconomic status populations in the United States.

scholarly journals Changing Associations between Socioeconomic Status and Perceived Discrimination from the 1990s to the 2010s in the United States

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Markus Jokela ◽  
Thomas E Fuller-Rowell
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
Socioeconomic Status ◽  
Low Socioeconomic Status ◽  
Perceived Discrimination ◽  
Occupational Status ◽  
The United States ◽  
Low Socioeconomic ◽  
Social Trends ◽  
Percentage Point Difference ◽  
Over Time

Individuals with low socioeconomic status have a higher risk of experiencing daily discrimination, that is, receiving unfair and disrespectful treatment from others. Social trends in economic inequality suggest that the life circumstances of individuals with low socioeconomic status have not improved with the same rate as those with high socioeconomic status. We examined whether the prevalence of class discrimination in the United States has changed in the last two decades. Data were from the original Midlife in the United States (MIDUS) study with data collections in 1995-1996 (n=2,931) and 2004-2005 (n=1,708), and the new MIDUS Refresher sample from 2011-2014 (n=2,543). Socioeconomic status was assessed with education, occupational status, income, and self-reported financial situation. Daily discrimination experiences were assessed with the Everyday Discrimination Scale. Socioeconomic status became more strongly associated with discrimination experiences over time: at the 1995-1996 baseline assessment, the difference in daily discrimination between the highest and lowest SES groups was 15.3% vs. 10.8% (4.7 percentage point difference). This difference increased to 20.0% vs. 7.4% difference in 2011-2014 (12.6 percentage point difference). Perceived discrimination was associated with psychological distress similarly over time and across levels of socioeconomic status. The results suggest that people with low socioeconomic status have a higher risk of encountering unfair and disrespectful treatment from others in the 2010s compared to the 1990s.

Utilization of hepatocellular carcinoma surveillance in the United States.

2012 ◽  
Vol 30 (4_suppl) ◽  
pp. 174-174 ◽  
Author(s):  
Samar Harris ◽  
Adam C. Yopp ◽  
Jasmin A Tiro ◽  
Muhammad Shaalan Beg ◽  
Celette Sugg Skinner ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
Hepatocellular Carcinoma ◽  
Low Socioeconomic Status ◽  
The United States ◽  
Inclusion Criteria ◽  
National Meeting ◽  
Low Socioeconomic ◽  
Primary Care Clinics ◽  
Risk Patients ◽  
Hepatocellular Carcinoma Surveillance

174 Background: Surveillance for hepatocellular carcinoma is recommended in high-risk patients, but several studies have suggested it is being underutilized.The aim of this study is to quantify utilization rates for HCC surveillance among patients with cirrhosis and summarize patterns of association between utilization rates and patient and clinic characteristics. Methods: A systematic literature review using the Medline database and national meeting abstracts identified all cohort studies that described HCC surveillance rates among at-risk patients in the United States. Two investigators independently extracted data on patient populations, study methods, and results. A pooled surveillance rate with 95% confidence intervals was calculated. Pre-specified subgroup analysis was performed to find correlates of surveillance utilization. Results: We identified 9 studies that met all inclusion criteria. There were a variety of definitions for surveillance among the studies, with only 4 assessing surveillance every 6-12 months as recommended by the AASLD guidelines. The pooled surveillance rate was 18.4% (95% CI 17.8% - 19.0%). Surveillance rates were significantly higher among patients followed in gastroenterology clinics compared to those followed in primary care clinics (51.7% vs. 16.9%, p< 0.001). Elderly, non-Caucasians, and people of low socioeconomic status had lower surveillance rates than their counterparts. Current studies fail to identify specific reasons for the underutilization of HCC surveillance. Conclusions: Utilization rates for HCC surveillance are low, although they are significantly higher among patients followed in subspecialty clinics. Appropriate intervention targets to increase surveillance rates and reduce socio-demographic disparities have not been identified to date, and this should be a primary goal for future studies.

A Convenient Solution: Using MTurk To Sample From Hard-To-Reach Populations

2015 ◽  
Vol 8 (2) ◽  
pp. 220-228 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nicholas A. Smith ◽  
Isaac E. Sabat ◽  
Larry R. Martinez ◽  
Kayla Weaver ◽  
Shi Xu
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
Low Socioeconomic Status ◽  
The United States ◽  
Mechanical Turk ◽  
Special Populations ◽  
Workplace Harassment ◽  
Organizational Research ◽  
Low Socioeconomic ◽  
Hard To Reach Populations ◽  
Amazon's Mechanical Turk

We agree with Landers and Behrend's (2015) proposition that Amazon's Mechanical Turk (MTurk) may provide great opportunities for organizational research samples. However, some groups are characteristically difficult to recruit because they are stigmatized or socially disenfranchised (Birman, 2005; Miller, Forte, Wilson, & Greene, 2006; Sullivan & Cain, 2004; see Campbell, Adams, & Patterson, 2008, for a review). These groups may include individuals who have not previously been the focus of much organizational research, such as those of low socioeconomic status; individuals with disabilities; lesbian, gay, bisexual, or transgender (LGBT) individuals; or victims of workplace harassment. As Landers and Behrend (2015) point out, there is an overrepresentation of research using “Western, educated, industrialized, rich, and democratic” participants. It is important to extend research beyond these samples to examine workplace phenomena that are specific to special populations. We contribute to this argument by noting the particular usefulness that MTurk can provide for sampling from hard-to-reach populations, which we characterize as groups that are in the numerical minority in terms of nationwide representation. To clarify, we focus our discussion on populations that are traditionally hard to reach in the context of contemporary organizational research within the United States.

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