Examining the Factors Affecting High Diabetes Rates in Southern States: A Brief Report

2021 ◽  
Vol 35 (1) ◽  
pp. 64-68
Author(s):  
Emre Umucu ◽  
Kanako Iwanaga ◽  
Abdalmajeed Alrabiah ◽  
Fong Chan ◽  
Ebonee Johnson ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Health Disparities ◽  
Geographic Location ◽  
Critical Factor ◽  
State Level ◽  
Black African ◽  
Factors Affecting ◽  
Southern States ◽  
Level Data ◽  
Race Ethnicity

PurposeEvidence shows that region of country is a critical factor in understanding diabetes-related health disparities. The purpose of this study was to examine whether geographic location (southern states vs. other states) attenuate or strengthen the relationship between state diabetes rates and (a) race/ethnicity, (b) income, and (c) percentage of physical inactivity.MethodThe state-level data was extracted from multiple public websites. Descriptive statistics and moderation analyses were conducted to test research questions.ResultsResults revealed that the magnitudes of relationship between state diabetes rate and (a) income and (b) percentage of Black/African American were affected by geographic location (southern states vs other states).ConclusionsGiven Southern states have substantial health disparities compared to non-Southern states, key stakeholders and the public health system should emphasize the importance of developing and evaluating effective public health policies based on income, physical activity, and race/ethnicity.

scholarly journals Mask adherence and rate of COVID-19 across the United States

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Charlie B. Fischer ◽  
Nedghie Adrien ◽  
Jeremiah J. Silguero ◽  
Julianne J. Hopper ◽  
Abir I. Chowdhury ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
United States ◽  
General Public ◽  
State Level ◽  
The United States ◽  
Policy Makers ◽  
Level Data ◽  
High Adherence ◽  
Key Factor ◽  
Public Health Officials

AbstractMask wearing has been advocated by public health officials as a way to reduce the spread of COVID-19. In the United States, policies on mask wearing have varied from state to state over the course of the pandemic. Even as more and more government leaders encourage or even mandate mask wearing, many citizens still resist the notion. Our research examines mask wearing policy and adherence in association with COVID-19 case rates. We used state-level data on mask wearing policy for the general public and on proportion of residents who stated they always wear masks in public. For all 50 states and the District of Columbia (DC), these data were abstracted by month for April ⍰ September 2020 to measure their impact on COVID-19 rates in the subsequent month (May ⍰ October 2020). Monthly COVID-19 case rates (number of cases per capita over two weeks) >200 per 100,000 residents were considered high. Fourteen of the 15 states with no mask wearing policy for the general public through September reported a high COVID-19 rate. Of the 8 states with at least 75% mask adherence, none reported a high COVID-19 rate. States with the lowest levels of mask adherence were most likely to have high COVID-19 rates in the subsequent month, independent of mask policy or demographic factors. Mean COVID-19 rates for states with at least 75% mask adherence in the preceding month was 109.26 per 100,000 compared to 249.99 per 100,000 for those with less adherence. Our analysis suggests high adherence to mask wearing could be a key factor in reducing the spread of COVID-19. This association between high mask adherence and reduced COVID-19 rates should influence policy makers and public health officials to focus on ways to improve mask adherence across the population in order to mitigate the spread of COVID-19.

scholarly journals Factors Affecting Participation in the Milk Diversion Program in the U.S. and New York

1985 ◽  
Vol 14 (2) ◽  
pp. 193-202 ◽  
Author(s):  
David R. Lee ◽  
Richard N. Boisvert
Keyword(s):  
New York ◽  
Explanatory Power ◽  
State Level ◽  
Diversion Program ◽  
Factors Affecting ◽  
Policy Alternatives ◽  
Level Data ◽  
Dairy Policy ◽  
Linear Probability ◽  
The U.S

Participation in the 1984–85 Milk Diversion Program (MDP) is examined through the analysis of aggregate state level data for the U.S. and county level data from New York. Linear probability, logit and probit models of participation are estimated. The empirical results are highly similar across models and identify the important determinants of farmer participation in the MDP. Models explaining contracted diversion levels are also estimated but do not have the explanatory power of the participation models. The implications of the results for the analysis of U.S. dairy policy alternatives are discussed.

scholarly journals Compensation or Retrenchment? The Paradox of Immigration and Public Welfare Spending in the American States

2016 ◽  
Vol 17 (1) ◽  
pp. 76-104 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ping Xu
Keyword(s):  
Welfare Policy ◽  
State Level ◽  
Public Welfare ◽  
Job Market ◽  
Welfare Spending ◽  
American States ◽  
Level Data ◽  
Show Evidence ◽  
Race Ethnicity ◽  
Empirical Tests

By using American state-level data from 1999 to 2008, this article explores how the recent immigrant influx has influenced public welfare spending in the American states. By integrating the race/ethnicity and globalization compensation theory, I hypothesize that immigration will increase welfare spending in states with a bleak job market and exclusive state immigrant welfare policy; in contrast, immigration will decrease welfare spending in states with a good job market and inclusive state immigrant welfare policy. Empirical tests show evidence for both hypotheses, suggesting that the applicability of general political science theories depends on a combination of state policy and economic contexts.

scholarly journals Persisting problems related to race and ethnicity in public health and epidemiology research

2013 ◽  
Vol 47 (1) ◽  
pp. 105-116 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jean-Claude Moubarac
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Health Disparities ◽  
Race And Ethnicity ◽  
Human Diversity ◽  
Racial Categories ◽  
Inappropriate Use ◽  
Race Ethnicity ◽  
Race And Health ◽  
The Relationship ◽  
Epidemiology And Public Health

A recent and comprehensive review of the use of race and ethnicity in research that address health disparities in epidemiology and public health is provided. First it is described the theoretical basis upon which race and ethnicity differ drawing from previous work in anthropology, social science and public health. Second, it is presented a review of 280 articles published in high impacts factor journals in regards to public health and epidemiology from 2009-2011. An analytical grid enabled the examination of conceptual, theoretical and methodological questions related to the use of both concepts. The majority of articles reviewed were grounded in a theoretical framework and provided interpretations from various models. However, key problems identified include a) a failure from researchers to differentiate between the concepts of race and ethnicity; b) an inappropriate use of racial categories to ascribe ethnicity; c) a lack of transparency in the methods used to assess both concepts; and d) failure to address limits associated with the construction of racial or ethnic taxonomies and their use. In conclusion, future studies examining health disparities should clearly establish the distinction between race and ethnicity, develop theoretically driven research and address specific questions about the relationships between race, ethnicity and health. One argue that one way to think about ethnicity, race and health is to dichotomize research into two sets of questions about the relationship between human diversity and health.

scholarly journals Abortion Facility Closings and Abortion Rates in Texas

2017 ◽  
Vol 54 ◽  
pp. 004695801770094 ◽  
Author(s):  
Troy Quast ◽  
Fidel Gonzalez ◽  
Robert Ziemba
Keyword(s):  
State Level ◽  
Abortion Rate ◽  
County Level ◽  
Us States ◽  
Differential Effects ◽  
Level Data ◽  
Race Ethnicity ◽  
The Relationship ◽  
Linear Regressions ◽  
Abortion Clinics

From 2004 to 2014, the overall abortion rate in Texas fell by almost a third from 10.7 to 7.2 abortions per 1000 women aged 10 to 49 years. During this same period, the number of abortion clinics operating at least 6 months in the year fell from 40 to 27. We examined the relationship between the abortion rate and the proximity of abortion facilities. We matched annual, county-level data on abortion rates in Texas from 2004 through 2014 with the distance from the county centroids to the nearest abortion facility in operation. Linear regressions were used to estimate the association between abortion rates and proximity to abortion facilities. The regressions controlled for county-level and state-level characteristics as well as the availability of abortion services in neighboring US states and Mexico. We found that a 100-mile increase in distance to the nearest abortion facility was associated with a 10% decrease in the overall abortion rate. The relationship appeared to be driven largely by distances of 200 miles or more. The overall relationship was generally present for whites and blacks, whereas the pattern was less clear for Hispanics. The analysis indicated that the overall association was driven largely by women aged 20 to 34 years. Decreased access to abortion facilities was associated with decreases in the abortion rate, yet the relationship varied by race/ethnicity and age. As such, regulations that affect the operational status of abortion facilities likely have differential effects on women.

scholarly journals Sexual Orientation Disparities in BMI among US Adolescents and Young Adults in Three Race/Ethnicity Groups

2014 ◽  
Vol 2014 ◽  
pp. 1-8 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sabra L. Katz-Wise ◽  
Emily A. Blood ◽  
Carly E. Milliren ◽  
Jerel P. Calzo ◽  
Tracy K. Richmond ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Sexual Orientation ◽  
Sexual Minority ◽  
Health Concern ◽  
Public Health Issue ◽  
Linear Regression Models ◽  
Black African ◽  
Minority Males ◽  
Race Ethnicity ◽  
Using Data

Obesity is a key public health issue for US youth. Previous research with primarily white samples of youth has indicated that sexual minority females have higher body mass index (BMI) and sexual minority males have lower BMI than their same-gender heterosexual counterparts, with sexual orientation differences in males increasing across adolescence. This research explored whether gender and sexual orientation differences in BMI exist in nonwhite racial/ethnic groups. Using data from Waves I–IV (1995–2009) of the US National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health (N= 13,306, ages 11–34 years), we examined associations between sexual orientation and BMI (kg/m2) over time, using longitudinal linear regression models, stratified by gender and race/ethnicity. Data were analyzed in 2013. Among males, heterosexual individuals showed greater one-year BMI gains than gay males across all race/ethnicity groups. Among females, white and Latina bisexual individuals had higher BMI than same-race/ethnicity heterosexual individuals regardless of age; there were no sexual orientation differences in black/African Americans. Sexual orientation disparities in BMI are a public health concern across race/ethnicity groups. Interventions addressing unhealthy weight gain in youth must be relevant for all sexual orientations and race/ethnicities.

scholarly journals The Intersectionality Toolbox: A Resource for Teaching and Applying an Intersectional Lens in Public Health

2021 ◽  
Vol 9 ◽  
Author(s):  
Natalie J. Sabik
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Health Disparities ◽  
Learning Outcomes ◽  
Social Identities ◽  
Student Feedback ◽  
Social Structures ◽  
Health Issues ◽  
Research And Teaching ◽  
The Social ◽  
Race Ethnicity

Intersectionality is a theoretical framework that was developed to address the ways in which people's experiences are shaped based on their intersecting social identities (e. g., race/ethnicity, gender, class, age, etc.). This approach focuses on the importance of considering power, privilege, and social structures in relation to people's access to resources, experiences of discrimination, and interpersonal interactions. An intersectional approach in public health is critical for research and teaching to illuminate health disparities and the underlying structures that create and maintain disparities. While scholars have focused primarily on how to integrate an intersectional perspective into research methods, there is a need for a clear framework for applying intersectionality effectively in public health teaching. The Intersectionality Toolbox (ITB) is a framework developed from a variety of interdisciplinary resources designed to apply an intersectional perspective to public health issues. This article describes the Intersectionality Toolbox and details how it can be utilized in public health classes. Following a course where the ITB was implemented, student feedback was sought to determine the appropriateness and effectiveness of the design, and metrics were aligned with the learning outcomes. The ITB was refined and retained to integrate into courses and assignments focused on teaching about the intersecting nature of the social determinants of health.

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