Search

Urban tree cover can provide several ecological and public health benefits. Secondary datasets for Tampa, FL, including sociodemographic variables (e.g., race/ethnicity), health data, and interpolated values for features of tree cover (e.g., percent canopy and leaf area index) were analyzed using correlation and regression. Percent canopy cover and leaf area index were inversely correlated to respiratory and cardiovascular outcomes, yet only leaf area index displayed a significant association with respiratory conditions in the logistic regression model. Percent racial/ethnic minority residents at the block group level was significantly negatively correlated with median income and tree density. Leaf area index was also significantly lower in block groups with more African-American residents. The percentage of African Americans (p = 0.101) and Hispanics (p

The public health human power is one of the most diverse in race, ethnicity, gender, age, religion, and sexual orientation. Another area of diversity is the disciplinary background of its workers. Environmental, behavioral, biostatistical, health education, epidemiological, and health policy practitioners converge into the Master of Public Health (MPH) track offerings of our MPH program. The applied community-based participatory research class is a third semester course that is taken only after students have completed the core curriculum. We explain the design and organization of this course, to offer it as a model of interdisciplinary approaches, with experiential, learn-by-doing components that can be replicated and incorporated into public health research methods, as well as to share our own methodological crossovers with mixed methods and theoretical models in our public health research together. Semistructured interviews were applied to elicit feedback from MPH graduates who took the course, and describe the utility of the class. We learned that the MPH graduates found the class useful for short- and medium-term research outcomes.

Minorities with diabetes are at an increased risk for low quality care and access to resource utilization,specifically health insurance coverage which often determines access to health care. The purpose of thestudy was to examine the relationship between insurance coverage and diabetes preventive care afteradjusting for patient, physician care, and contextual characteristics. Study used data from the 2010 MedicalExpenditure Panel Survey (MEPS). Patients represented a weighted total of 20,741,963 (n=2,182). Thedependent variables included five measures of the recommended components of diabetes preventive care:receipt of A1C test, retinal eye exam, foot care, blood cholesterol check, and flu vaccination. Theindependent variables consisted of sociodemographic, physician care, and contextual characteristics. Receiptof each of the diabetes quality and preventive care measures was strongly associated with insurance coverage.Insured individuals were more likely to receive treatment than uninsured. However, the impact of insurancecoverage was attenuated after adjusting for individual, physician care, and contextual characteristics.Physician care was the strongest predictor of diabetes preventive care. Our study identified the importanceof health insurance coverage on diabetes preventive care. Physician care and contextual factors made asignificant impact in receipt of diabetes preventive care.

Food insecurity is a daily reality for millions globally and persists in rural northern Ghana. Being more a problem in resource poor countries, it challenges the wellbeing of children, adults, families and communities by creating public health problems including; low birth weight babies, mental health conditions, diabetes and obesity. This research examined associations between social networks and social support and women's ability to overcome household food insecurity. A two-phase mixed method quantitative and qualitative data collection technique was applied. A 24-item instrument was developed, pilot tested, validated and administered among women responsible for food preparation in the household (n=241). Measures of household food insecurity, socio-demographic, social network, and perceived social support were constructed and analyzed using SPSS 19®. Women in northern rural Ghana who were married, with higher social supports and social networks were more likely to experience low household food insecurity. Of 241 women, 88% were married, 39% had co-wives, 80% did not have formal education, the average age was 40 years and the average number of adults per household was 7. Correlation analysis and logistic regression models revealed social networks, perceived social support, marital status and years living in the village were significantly associated to the experience of low household food insecurity.

Competing risk of death and time-varying covariates, often overlooked during statistical analyses of longitudinal studies, can alter the magnitude of estimates of the effect of covariates on the hazards of health outcomes. This study aimed to investigate whether estimates obtained when modeling the effect of risk factors on the hazards of coronary heart disease (CHD) varied significantly while accounting for the presence of competing risk of death and time-varying covariates. We used data from the First National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey Epidemiologic Follow-Up Study (n=6346) to model estimates of the effect of risk factors on the hazards of CHD using Cox proportional hazards model, Cox extension with time-varying covariates, and the Fine Gray approach. We used a chi-square test to compare coefficient estimates obtained from the three modeling techniques. We obtained a P-value > 0.05 when comparing coefficient estimates for body mass index, age, cholesterol, smoking, and diabetes after fitting the three models. Coefficient estimates obtained when modeling the effect of risk factors on the hazards of CHD did not vary significantly in the presence of competing risk of death and time-varying covariates. Researchers should consider exploring these concepts more systematically in cohort studies with cardiovascular outcomes.

Objective To explore the perspectives of various stakeholders on whether an HBCU has the resources to establish a farm-to-university program that can improve fruits and vegetables intake among African American students. Additionally, this study assessed students' satisfaction with fruits and vegetables served in University dining halls, and their desire for changes in policies to increase local fruits and vegetables access on campus. Methods This study employed a mixed method data collection strategy. Semi-structured interviews were used to explore the stakeholders' perspectives and self-administered questionnaires were used to assess students' satisfaction with fruits and vegetables and desire for policy changes. Results Barriers reported by both food service administrators and farmers were cost and variation in supply and demand. Students expressed lack of satisfaction with fresh produce served in campus dining halls and a desire for change in policies to increase local fruits and vegetables access on campus. Conclusion While there is student desire for improved access to fresh produce on campus, there are perceived barriers to overcome. University partnerships are needed to address the desired nutritional improvements.

This study investigates the perceptions of African American head-of-households regarding the connotative definitions of “environment.” Qualitative and quantitative methods were used to address this research question. Qualitative data was derived from 32 elite interviews and 20 individual interviews. Quantitative data was derived from a household survey of 262 single-family residences. This population has shown a range of perceptions in regard to the environment. The primary connotations relate to abstraction, home, family, pollution, water, and trees. Unlike a majority of environmental organizations' definitions that focus on wildlife and nature, people were included in this population's definition of environment. The study findings indicate that the word, “environment,” yields several connotations to the members of the African American community. It is recommended that community environmental education programs are developed that define and address “environment” the way the community residents do.

The epidemiology of oral clefts continually unfolds. Researchers have not reached consensus concerning the significance of maternal smoking, weight gain, diabetes, age, and education and the risk of oral clefts. The purpose of this study was to examine these factors associated with oral clefts in the US population.The 2005 U.S. Natality Data File was utilized for this study. Bivariate analyses compared the characteristics of mothers of infants with and without oral clefts. Multivarlate analysis calculated adjusted odds ratios for various maternal characteristics overall and for each race/ethnic group.Significant bivariate associations with oral clefts were found for maternal age, race/ethnicity, education, tobacco use, and pregnancy-associated hypertension. Multivariate models found maternal age (OR = 0.98), race/ethnicity (OR = 0.36) for non-Hispanic Blacks (OR = 0.79 for Hispanics), and tobacco use (OR = 1.66) significant after adjustment for covariates. Across all race/ethnic groups maternal age (OR = 0.98) and smoking (OR = 1.66) were significantly associated with increased risk for oral cleft (OC). Non-Hispanic Blacks and Hispanics were at lower risk for OC regardless of the presence or absence of pregnancy-associated hypertension.Consistent with previous studies, maternal smoking was found to be associated with an increased risk of oral clefts. This association was significant for non-Hispanic Whites but not for non-Hispanic Blacks and Hispanics. A small inverse association was observed between maternal age, pregnancy-associated hypertension and the risk of oral clefts. This study confirms relationships found in previous studies but cannot establish causality. Further investigations of the risk factors for oral clefts would benefit from the study of gene-environment interactions.

Mortality rates for coronary heart disease (CHD) have declined markedly since the early 1970s. However, CHD remains the number one cause of death in the United States. The decline in mortality has been attributed to declines in CHD risk factors (tobacco use, hypertension) and the increase in protective behaviors (exercise, weight control). Medical interventions may have also contributed to the decline in mortality. Despite these declines in mortality, racial disparities persist between Blacks and Whites. The purpose of this study was to examine the differences in receipt of cardiac catheterization, percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty, and coronary artery bypass graft.Data from the National Hospital Discharge Survey were used for the analysis. Patients who were Black or White andor = 40 years of age were included. Independent variables included age at discharge, sex, race, and insurance coverage. Multivariate logistic regression was used to derive odds ratios for the receipt of the three procedures by age group, sex, insurance type, and race.Significant differences (P.05) in the odds of receipt of all of cardiac catheterization, percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty, and coronary artery bypass graft were found by age group, insurance type, sex, and race. While the disparities persisted from 1979 to 2004, the magnitude of the differences decreased during this time period.Disparities by race, sex, and insurance type existed in the receipt of three cardiac procedures. Although differences are narrowing over time, further in-depth studies are needed to elucidate the patient, physician, and healthcare system factors associated with the disparity in receipt of these beneficial procedures.