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Examined differences between the visibility of drugs and drug use in over 2000 neighborhoods, surveying residents regarding drug- and alcohol-related behaviors and attitudes and comparing the responses of poor, urban, African Americans versus people from comparison neighborhoods. The most disadvantaged neighborhoods had the most visible drug problems, but drug use was nearly equally distributed across all communities. (Contains references.) (SM)

Discusses the development of American pediatric medicine and its relationship to children's health and public health movements in the early 20th century, describing living conditions during that time and examining developments that impacted child health: dispensaries and milk stations for impoverished children, campaigns to educate parents about illness prevention and child rearing, and medical inspection of public schools and students. (SM)

Describes knowledge, perceptions, and risky behaviors related to Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) of 1,173 impoverished African-American and high- and low-acculturated Latina women. Data indicate the need for culturally sensitive AIDS prevention programs with separate sessions for women of different ethnic backgrounds and acculturation levels. (SLD)

Examines the Swedish experience for lessons to help reduce infant mortality in the United States. Because of Sweden's efforts to eliminate poverty and provide comprehensive health care, there are only small social class differences in infant mortality. Class and race issues play much larger roles in the United States. (SLD)

Studies the ecological association of infant mortality rate (IM) with per capita income (PI) and prevalence of adult illiteracy (AI) using 103 countries as units of analysis. The association of IM and PI shows slight, but nonsignificant improvement, between 1960 and 1982. AI remains a good predictor of IM. (SLD)

Children eligible for Aid to Families with Dependent Children (AFDC) were found to have substantially higher mortality rates than non-AFDC children, based on data from 3,679 child death certificates. The disparity appears greater for whites than non-whites. Results suggest social class differentials in health care and risks. (SLD)

Black-white differences in infant mortality rate are examined for 38 large metropolitan statistical areas for 1982 through 1986. The most important difference predictor was a "segregation index" (residential dissimilarity) apparently independent of variation in median family income and poverty prevalence but possibly reflecting availability and quality of medical care. (SLD)

A study of fatal and nonfatal interpersonal violence-related injuries over one year in a poor African-American community in Philadelphia (Pennsylvania) reveals that violence-related injury is the most common injury type for persons aged 15-49 years. Results yield dramatic evidence of the extent of urban violence for adults and children. (SLD)

Examines the impact of medicaid coverage on access to and utilization of health care by poverty children during 1983 in Iowa. Survey results showed that poverty children receive less well care from private pediatricians and see the same health professional less often than do nonpoverty children. (SA)

Compares 49 homeless with 81 housed female-headed families in Boston. The following variables are examined: (1) general characteristics of mothers and children; (2) mother's childhood; (3) mother's relationships; and (4) mother's health/mental health status. Solutions to family homelessness include housing provision, income maintenance, and assistance in rebuilding supportive relationships. (Author/BJV)

Examination of Maryland hospital discharge data for 1979 to 1982 reveals that Black children are three times more likely to be hospitalized for asthma than are White children. This, however, is due to poverty, not race. (Author/BJV)

Studies determinants of physician use by low-income children identified through the National Household Survey component of the National Medical Care Utilization and Expenditure Survey. Finds that Medicaid coverage increases access to office-based physicians within the low-income population. Presents health cost and policy implications. (MW)

Boston food costs exceed the combined value of government cash and food assistance benefits that households whose sole income is Aid to Families with Dependent Children (AFDC) may receive. This contradicts findings by the General Accounting Office. Food stamps and AFDC benefits indexed to the actual costs of living are needed. (Author/BJV)

The article discusses the status and breakdown of the Hispanic/Latino population in the U.S. as of 2024. Topics covered include the self-identification of Hispanic people as Black, racial/ethnic discrimination based on race or skin of Hispanic and non-Hispanic Black people and their impact on health outcomes and health equity, and factors that influence Hispanic people's likely identification with U.S. Census racial categories. Also noted is the rising "Some Other Race" category.

The article explores the high rates of mass incarceration in the U.S. and examines the social, economic and health-related inequities that persist after incarceration. Topics discussed include the origin of mass incarceration in the country, a study on the role of mass incarceration in health inequities in communities of color, and ways to break the cycle of the financial costs and social, economic and emotion costs brought by mass incarceration.

Public health discipline and practice have prioritized work on poverty and populations at high risk for material deprivation, with less consideration for the full spectrum of financial circumstances relative to well-being. Public health can make a much-needed contribution to this area, which is currently dominated by the financial industry, focused on individual behaviors, and lacking the definitional consensus needed for research and evaluation. A population-level lens can reveal the social determinants and health consequences of real or perceived poor financial circumstances. This article aims to improve conceptual understanding of financial circumstances among public health scholars and professionals. We identified concepts through a critical literature review of peer-reviewed and practice-based resources on financial well-being and financial strain. We developed a glossary of concepts related to financial circumstances and categorized concepts according to their level of influence using an approach informed by socioecological models. We provide a concept map that illustrates the relationships between concepts in the context of their levels of influence. This article will help to advance an agenda on financial well-being promotion in public health research and practice. (Am J Public Health. 2024;114(1):79–89. https://doi.org/10.2105/AJPH.2023.307449) [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ObjectivesTo determine the socioeconomic consequences of receipt versus denial of abortion.MethodsWomen who presented for abortion just before or after the gestational age limit of 30 abortion facilities across the United States between 2008 and 2010 were recruited and followed for 5 years via semiannual telephone interviews. Using mixed effects models, we evaluated socioeconomic outcomes for 813 women by receipt or denial of abortion care.ResultsIn analyses that adjusted for the few baseline differences, women denied abortions who gave birth had higher odds of poverty 6 months after denial (adjusted odds ratio [AOR] = 3.77; P

The author discusses a study by Ward and colleagues, published in the issue, which addressed a gap in the existing research on police violence by focusing on nonfatal shooting incidents. Topics include size and composition of the population, neighborhood and geographical disparities, and characteristics of police officers.

Objectives. To identify recommendations to improve access to and retention in the Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) as critical strategies to address health equity for low-income children. Methods. We conducted a qualitative key informant study of early childcare center and home providers (n = 35) in low-income urban and rural census tracts in Illinois between December 2020 and July 2021. Interviews with providers were organized and analyzed by the study team in MAXQDA Qualitative Data Analysis software. Themes were refined and finalized via member checking with an expert panel of providers and advocates. Results. Overall, providers spoke positively of the benefits of CACFP participation. Themes that centered around strategies to improve awareness of and access to CACFP included (1) conducting systematic statewide outreach, (2) improving technical assistance for enrollment, and (3) supporting positive sponsor–provider relationships. Themes related to retention included (1) alleviating procurement burdens, (2) extending reimbursement rates, and (3) expanding flexibilities. Conclusions. Policymakers looking to increase access to and retention in CACFP could consider state-level strategies such as systematic outreach and more targeted technical assistance. (Am J Public Health. 2024;113(S3):S231–S239. https://doi.org/10.2105/AJPH.2023.307433) [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article stresses the need to expand the conceptualization and assessment of adversity in substance use research, as exposure to both family- and community-related adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) increases the risk of alcohol and drug misuse, which is associated with disease, disability, and early death. Topics include adversities rooted in structural racism and discrimination, expanded adversities and their role in substance use, and targeting interventions to reduce disparities.

Objectives. To examine whether referral for social determinants of health (SDH) needs decreases psychological distress and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms and improves level of functioning and quality of care among diverse adults. Methods. Data are from control participants (n = 503 adults) in a randomized controlled trial testing a mental health intervention in North Carolina and Massachusetts. We fitted multilevel mixed-effects models to repeated assessments (baseline, 3, 6, and 12 months) collected between September 2019 and January 2023. Results. After referral to services for trouble paying utility bills, participants reported lower PTSD symptoms. Participants reported better quality of care when receiving referrals to mental health care. After adjusting for income and employment status, we found that participants who were referred more often also had lower PTSD symptoms and better levels of functioning. Conclusions. Referrals for certain SDH needs might decrease PTSD symptoms and improve self-reported quality of care and functioning. However, referrals alone, without ensuring receipt of services, might be insufficient to affect other mental health outcomes. Research is needed on training and providing care managers time for offering interpersonal support, securing services, and understanding agencies' contexts for addressing high SDH needs. (Am J Public Health. 2024;114(S3):S278–S288. https://doi.org/10.2105/AJPH.2023.307442) [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In 2010, the federal government and several state governments began using the social determinants of health (SDOH) framework to highlight contributing factors of health inequities and, in 2022, recognized that structural racism was associated with health inequities. Yet, efforts to eliminate health inequities have disproportionately focused on individualized solutions instead of addressing structural racism. Many racial/ethnic-minority workers have been segregated to low-wage occupations that lack access to paid sick leave, such as agricultural work, which has been associated with health inequities. Research shows these inequities are attributable to structural racism enforced through laws that structure the employment system to disadvantage agricultural workers, who are disproportionately racial/ethnic-minority individuals, which will not be addressed with individualized solutions. In this article, we explain why the current SDOH framework and efforts to eliminate health inequities are inadequate, discuss Yearby's revised SDOH framework that includes structural racism as one of the root causes of health inequities, and illustrate how Yearby's revised SDOH framework better captures the impact of structural racism, which is associated with health inequities for agricultural workers. (Am J Public Health. 2023;113(S1):S65–S71. https://doi.org/10.2105/AJPH.2022.307166) [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In low-income neighborhoods without supermarkets, lack of healthy food access often is exacerbated by the saturation of small corner stores with tobacco and unhealthy foods and beverages. We describe a municipal healthy retail program in San Francisco, California, focusing on the role of a local coalition in program implementation and outcomes in the city's low income Tenderloin neighborhood. By incentivizing selected corner stores to become healthy retailers, and through community engagement and cross-sector partnerships, the program is seeing promising outcomes, including a "ripple effect" of improvement across nonparticipating neighborhood stores.

Objectives. To evaluate the efficacy of a novel, real-time sensor network for routine monitoring of racial and economic disparities in fine particulate matter (PM2.5; particulate matter ≤ 2.5 µm in diameter) exposures at the neighborhood level. Methods. We deployed a dense network of low-cost PM2.5 sensors in Chicago, Illinois, to evaluate associations between neighborhood-level composition variables (percentage of Black residents, percentage of Hispanic/Latinx residents, and percentage of households below poverty) and interpolated PM2.5. Relationships were assessed in spatial lag models after adjustment for all composition variables. Models were fit with data both from the overall period and during high-pollution episodes associated with social events (July 4, 2021) and wildfires (July 23, 2021). Results. The spatial lag models showed that racial/ethnic composition variables were associated with higher PM2.5 levels. Levels were notably higher in neighborhoods with larger compositions of Hispanic/Latinx residents across the entire study period and notably higher in neighborhoods with larger Black populations during the July 4 episode. Conclusions. As a complement to sparse regulatory networks, dense, low-cost sensor networks can capture spatial variations during short-term air pollution episodes and enable monitoring of neighborhood-level inequities in air pollution exposures in real time. (Am J Public Health. 2022;112(12):1765–1773. https://doi.org/10.2105/AJPH.2022.307068) [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The disproportionate impact of COVID-19 on low-income Latinos with limited access to health care services prompted the expansion of community-based COVID-19 services. From June 25, 2020, to May 20, 2021, we established a coalition of faith leaders, community organizations, and governmental organizations to implement a Spanish-language hotline and social media campaign that linked people to a COVID-19 testing site at a local church in a high-density Latino neighborhood in Baltimore, Maryland. This retrospective analysis compared the characteristics of Latinos accessing testing in community versus health care facility–based settings. (Am J Public Health. 2022;112(S9):S913–S917. https://doi.org/10.2105/AJPH.2022.307074) [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives. To examine the effects of childhood participation in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) on adult food security in the United States. Methods. We used data from the 1984 to 2019 waves of the Panel Study of Income Dynamics to follow a balanced panel of 1406 individuals from birth through ages 20 to 36 years. We measured food insecurity from 1999 to 2003 and 2015 to 2019 among those who resided in low-income households during childhood. Results. Twenty-eight percent of individuals who resided in low-income households during childhood exhibited improved food security status from childhood to adulthood. Those who participated in SNAP and WIC during childhood had 4.16-fold higher odds (95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.91, 9.03) of being more food secure than those who were eligible for but did not receive SNAP or WIC, and those who participated in SNAP alone had 3.28-fold higher odds (95% CI = 1.56, 6.88). Conclusions. Participation in social safety net programs such as SNAP and WIC during childhood helps to improve food security across the life course. Our findings add evidence regarding the long-term benefits of participation in SNAP and WIC during childhood. (Am J Public Health. 2022;112(10):1498–1506. https://doi.org/10.2105/AJPH.2022.306967) [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ObjectivesTo determine the socioeconomic consequences of receipt versus denial of abortion.MethodsWomen who presented for abortion just before or after the gestational age limit of 30 abortion facilities across the United States between 2008 and 2010 were recruited and followed for 5 years via semiannual telephone interviews. Using mixed effects models, we evaluated socioeconomic outcomes for 813 women by receipt or denial of abortion care.ResultsIn analyses that adjusted for the few baseline differences, women denied abortions who gave birth had higher odds of poverty 6 months after denial (adjusted odds ratio [AOR] = 3.77; P

The article provides information on the study "Population Group Abortion Rates and Lifetime Incidence of Abortion: United States, 2008-2014" by Rachel K. Jones and Jenna Jerman which examined the prevalence of abortion among population groups and changes in rates between 2008 and 2014. Topics discussed include methodology of the study, percentage of abortions in 2014 that wee obtained by women born in the U.S., and decline in U.S. abortion rate between 2008 and 2014.

The article examines different intersectionality and syndemic analytic framework's theoretical foundations to provide an integrated understanding of the sociostructural processes through which U.S. HIV disparities are amplified. Topics discussed include purpose of developing the concept of intersectionality, implication of the theory of syndemics, and integrating intersectional and syndemic sociocultral processes applied to populations inequitably served by the U.S. HIV response.

Objectives. To identify financial hardships related to costs of obtaining abortion care in Texas, which has the highest uninsured rate in the United States and restricts insurance coverage for abortions. Methods. We surveyed patients seeking abortion at 12 Texas clinics in 2018 regarding costs and financial hardships related to abortion care. We compared mean out-of-pocket costs and the percentage reporting hardships across income and insurance categories. Results. Of 603 respondents, 42% were Latinx, 25% White, and 21% Black or African American, and most (62.0%) reported having low incomes (< 200% federal poverty level). Mean out-of-pocket costs were $634, which varied little across insurance groups. Patients with low incomes were more likely to obtain financial assistance from an abortion fund than were wealthier patients (12.3% vs 1.6%, respectively; P <.05). Financial hardships related to abortion costs were more common among uninsured (57.6%) and publicly insured (55.1%) patients than those with private insurance (48.2%). One in 5 (19.8%) uninsured respondents delayed buying food to pay for abortion care. Conclusions. Restrictions on insurance coverage for abortions result in high out-of-pocket costs and major financial hardships for most patients with low incomes in Texas. (Am J Public Health. 2022;112(5):758–761. https://doi.org/10.2105/AJPH.2021.306701) [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The author points out that public health responses must prioritize dismantling binary social constructs and intentionally creating inclusive care systems when addressing forced displacement on a global scale. Topics covered include the role of binaries in violence and displacement, the barriers that lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer or questioning plus refugees face and using creative intersectionality as a lens to understand and address forced displacement.

ObjectivesTo determine the effectiveness of a statewide telephone service in identifying low-income women at risk for hereditary breast and ovarian cancer and referring them to free genetic counseling.MethodsFrom June 2010 through August 2011, eligible callers to California's toll-free breast and cervical cancer telephone service were screened for their family histories of breast and ovarian cancer. High-risk women were identified and called for a baseline survey and randomization to an immediate offer of genetic counseling or a mailed brochure on how to obtain counseling. Clinic records were used to assess receipt of genetic counseling after 2 months.ResultsAmong 1212 eligible callers, 709 (58.5%) agreed to answer family history questions; 102 (14%) were at high risk (25% Hispanic, 46% White, 10% Black, 16% Asian, 3% of other racial/ethnic backgrounds). Of the high-risk women offered an immediate appointment, 39% received counseling during the intervention period, as compared with 4.5% of those receiving the brochure.ConclusionsA public health approach to the rare but serious risk of hereditary breast and ovarian cancer can be successful when integrated into the efforts of existing safety net organizations.

Objectives. To (1) examine the disparity in availability of PurpleAir low-cost air quality sensors in California based on neighborhood socioeconomic status (SES) and exposure to fine particulate matter smaller than 2.5 micrometers (PM2.5), (2) investigate the temporal trend of sensor distribution and operation, and (3) identify priority communities for future sensor distribution. Methods. We obtained census tract–level SES variables and PM2.5 concentrations from the CalEnviroScreen4.0 data set. We obtained real-time PurpleAir sensor data (July 2017–September 2020) to examine sensor distribution and operation. We conducted spatial and temporal analyses at the census tract level to investigate neighborhood SES and PM2.5 concentrations in relation to sensor distribution and operation. Results. The spatial coverage and the number of PurpleAir sensors increased significantly in California. Fewer sensors were distributed in census tracts with lower SES, higher PM2.5, and higher proportions of racial/ethnic minority populations. Furthermore, a large proportion of existing sensors were not in operation at a given time, especially in disadvantaged communities. Conclusions. Disadvantaged communities should be given access to low-cost sensors to fill in spatial gaps of air quality monitoring and address environmental justice concerns. Sensor purchasing and deployment must be paired with regular maintenance to ensure their reliable performance. (Am J Public Health. 2022;112(3):434–442. https://doi.org/10.2105/AJPH.2021.306603) [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ObjectivesWe used an environmental justice screening tool (CalEnviroScreen 1.1) to compare the distribution of environmental hazards and vulnerable populations across California communities.MethodsCalEnviroScreen 1.1 combines 17 indicators created from 2004 to 2013 publicly available data into a relative cumulative impact score. We compared cumulative impact scores across California zip codes on the basis of their location, urban or rural character, and racial/ethnic makeup. We used a concentration index to evaluate which indicators were most unequally distributed with respect to race/ethnicity and poverty.ResultsThe unadjusted odds of living in one of the 10% most affected zip codes were 6.2, 5.8, 1.9, 1.8, and 1.6 times greater for Hispanics, African Americans, Native Americans, Asian/Pacific Islanders, and other or multiracial individuals, respectively, than for non-Hispanic Whites. Environmental hazards were more regressively distributed with respect to race/ethnicity than poverty, with pesticide use and toxic chemical releases being the most unequal.ConclusionsEnvironmental health hazards disproportionately burden communities of color in California. Efforts to reduce disparities in pollution burden can use simple screening tools to prioritize areas for action.

Objectives. To determine the prevalence and predictors of US home health care workers' (HHWs') self-reported general, physical, and mental health. Methods. Using the 2014–2018 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System, we analyzed the characteristics and health of 2987 HHWs (weighted n = 659 000) compared with 2 similar low-wage worker groups (health care aides and health care support workers, not working in the home). We conducted multivariable logistic regression to determine which characteristics predicted HHWs' health. Results. Overall, 26.6% of HHWs had fair or poor general health, 14.1% had poor physical health, and 20.9% had poor mental health; the prevalence of each outcome was significantly higher than that of the comparison groups. Among HHWs, certain factors, such as low household income, an inability to see a doctor because of cost, and a history of depression, were associated with all 3 aspects of suboptimal health. Conclusions. HHWs had worse general, physical, and mental health compared with low-wage workers not in home health. Public Health Implications. Increased attention to the health of HHWs by public health experts and policymakers is warranted. In addition, targeted interventions appropriate to their specific health needs may be required. (Am J Public Health. 2021;111(12):2239–2250. https://doi.org/10.2105/AJPH.2021.306512) [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives. To examine the impacts of a government-implemented cash plus program on violence experiences and perpetration among Tanzanian adolescents. Methods. We used data from a cluster randomized controlled trial (n = 130 communities) conducted in the Mbeya and Iringa regions of Tanzania to isolate impacts of the "plus" components of the cash plus intervention. The panel sample comprised 904 adolescents aged 14 to 19 years living in households receiving a government cash transfer. We estimated intent-to-treat impacts on violence experiences, violence perpetration, and pathways of impact. Results. The plus intervention reduced female participants' experiences of sexual violence by 5 percentage points and male participants' perpetration of physical violence by 6 percentage points. There were no intervention impacts on emotional violence, physical violence, or help seeking. Examining pathways, we found positive impacts on self-esteem and participation in livestock tending and, among female participants, a positive impact on sexual debut delays and a negative effect on school attendance. Conclusions. By addressing poverty and multidimensional vulnerability, integrated social protection can reduce violence. Public Health Implications. There is high potential for scale-up and sustainability, and this program reaches some of the most vulnerable and marginalized adolescents. (Am J Public Health. 2021;111(12):2227–2238. https://doi.org/10.2105/AJPH.2021.306509) [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives. To assess the effect of a 2017 excise tax on sugar and artificially sweetened beverages in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, on the shopping patterns of low-income populations using Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) data. Methods. I used a synthetic controls approach to estimate the effect of the tax on Philadelphia and neighboring Pennsylvania counties (Bucks, Delaware, and Montgomery) as measured by total SNAP sales ("SNAP redemption") and SNAP redemption per SNAP participant. I assembled biannual data (2005–2019) from all US counties for SNAP redemption and relevant predictors. I performed placebo tests to estimate statistically significant effects and conducted robustness checks. Results. Detectable increases in SNAP spending occurred in all 3 Philadelphia neighboring counties. Per-participant SNAP spending increased in 2 of the neighboring counties and decreased in Philadelphia. These effects were robust across multiple specifications and placebo tests. Conclusions. The tax contributed to increased SNAP shopping in Philadelphia's neighboring counties across both outcome measures, and decreased spending in Philadelphia (at least by 1 measure). This raises questions about retailer behavior, the effectiveness of the tax's public health aim of reducing sugar-sweetened beverage consumption, and policy aims of investing in low-income communities. (Am J Public Health. 2021;111(11):1986–1996. https://doi.org/10.2105/AJPH.2021.306464) [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The author addresses abortion care trends and prosecution of pregnant women in light of the U.S. Supreme Court's decision on the Roe v. Wade ruling. Topics discussed include overall reduction in abortions between 2008 and 2014, number of restrictions on women seeking abortion care enacted by conservative state legislators between 2011 and 2015, and factors driving the reduction in abortion rates between 2008 and 2014.

ObjectivesWe sought to determine whether the effects of preconception stressful life events (PSLEs) on birth weight differed by neighborhood disadvantage.MethodsWe drew our data from the Early Childhood Longitudinal Study, Birth Cohort (2001-2002; n = 9300). We created a neighborhood disadvantage index (NDI) using county-level data from the 2000 US Census. We grouped the NDI into tertiles that represented advantaged, middle advantaged, and disadvantaged neighborhoods. Stratified multinomial logistic regressions estimated the effect of PSLEs on birth weight, controlling for confounders.ResultsWe found a gradient in the relationship between women's exposure to PSLEs and having a very low birth weight (VLBW) infant by NDI tertile; the association was strongest in disadvantaged neighborhoods (adjusted odd ratio [AOR] = 1.62; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.04, 2.53), followed by middle (AOR = 1.39; 95% CI = 1.00, 1.93) and advantaged (AOR = 1.29; 95% CI = 0.91, 1.82) neighborhoods. We observed a similar gradient for women with chronic conditions and among minority mothers.ConclusionsWomen who experienced PSLEs, who had chronic conditions, or were racial/ethnic minorities had the greatest risk of having VLBW infants if they lived in disadvantaged neighborhoods; this suggests exacerbation of risk within disadvantaged environments. Interventions to reduce rates of VLBW should focus on reducing the deleterious effects of stressors and on improving neighborhood conditions.

The article explores the importance of federal waivers and technology in ensuring access to WIC (Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children) during the COVID-19 pandemic. WIC is a nutrition assistance program that promotes the health of pregnant and postpartum women, infants, and children up to aged five years. Topics discussed include increases in WIC participation observed since March 2020, the rate of food insecurity in the U.S. and the implementation of remote WIC services.

We assessed the spatial distribution of subsidized housing units provided through 2 federally supported, low-income housing programs in Orange County, California, in relation to neighborhood walkability, transit access, and traffic exposure.We used data from multiple sources to examine land-use and health-related built environment factors near housing subsidized through the Housing Choice Voucher Program and the Low Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC) program, and to determine these patterns' associations with traffic exposure.Subsidized projects or units in walkable, poorer neighborhoods were associated with lower traffic exposure; higher traffic exposure was associated with more transit service, a Hispanic majority, and mixed-use areas. Voucher units are more likely than LIHTC projects to be located in high-traffic areas.Housing program design may affect the location of subsidized units, resulting in differential traffic exposure for households by program type. Further research is needed to better understand the relationships among subsidized housing locations, characteristics of the built environment, and health concerns such as traffic exposure, as well as which populations are most affected by these relationships.