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Journal of the National Medical... Jun 2020The disproportionately high burden of death and disability observed for racial and ethnic minorities under the Coronavirus pandemic necessitates sustained advocacy by... (Review)
Review
The disproportionately high burden of death and disability observed for racial and ethnic minorities under the Coronavirus pandemic necessitates sustained advocacy by the medical and public health communities around critical determinants of population health. Prompting our advocacy should be the understanding that our collective ability to rebound from such crises may ultimately hinge on protecting and equipping our most vulnerable racial-ethnic minority groups and any susceptible individuals within those populations. If proven effective, recent historic firsts by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), through the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), the Office of Minority Health (OMH) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in response to COVID-19 should be championed for permanency within policy, practice and funding. In addition, given the complex history of Black Americans in this country and persistent and substantial Black-white disparities on health and economic measures across the board, some kind of reparations for this group may serve as a logical starting point for further advocacy. Nevertheless, we remain supportive allies of all organizations concerned with communities who suffer the weight of this pandemic and any future world health disasters. Let us as human clinicians and public health professionals capture this moment of challenge and engage in thoughtful unification of effort and commit to measurable progress for as long as the need exists and certainly for the foreseeable future.
Topics: Black or African American; COVID-19; Coronavirus Infections; Ethnicity; Female; Health Promotion; Health Services Accessibility; Health Status Disparities; Healthcare Disparities; Hispanic or Latino; Humans; Incidence; Male; Minority Groups; Needs Assessment; Pandemics; Patient Advocacy; Pneumonia, Viral; Racial Groups; Risk Assessment; Socioeconomic Factors; United States; Vulnerable Populations
PubMed: 32563686
DOI: 10.1016/j.jnma.2020.06.010 -
BMJ Open Jun 2023This review examined the factors influencing communication and engagement with ethnic and racial minority groups in Australia during the COVID-19 pandemic. It aimed to... (Review)
Review
OBJECTIVES
This review examined the factors influencing communication and engagement with ethnic and racial minority groups in Australia during the COVID-19 pandemic. It aimed to answer two main questions: (1) what communication problems people from these communities typically faced during the pandemic? and (2) what strategies and recommendations were suggested to enhance communication and engagement for ethnic and racial minorities during the current COVID-19 pandemic and any similar events in the future?
DESIGN
Scoping review.
DATA SOURCES
PubMed, EMBASE, Cochrane Library, PsychINFO and CINAHL. Grey literature was searched within organisations' websites and a Google search of key terms.
ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA FOR SELECTING STUDIES
We included original research, case studies, reports (including government and charity reports), systematic and scoping articles and literature reviews in English, published from January 2020 to August 2022.
DATA EXTRACTION AND SYNTHESIS
Two researchers independently assessed the literature for eligibility and extracted data from the included literature. The selected papers were analysed and summarised into themes relevant to the research questions. The final review included 38 studies combining published academic papers and grey literature.
RESULTS
Key themes relating to communication and engagement issues included a lack of trust in authority, a lack of access to information and ineffective communication channels and a lack of timely and culturally responsive materials. To reduce the issues, the papers spoke about the key role of community organisations to provide local support and community leaders as trusted spokespersons. Lastly, key recommendations to reduce inequity and strengthen future pandemic responses focused on the need for collaborations and consultations, increasing the number of bilingual workers and supporting community-led communication efforts.
CONCLUSIONS
The insights gained from the activities and experiences documented in this review during the COVID-19 pandemic should be incorporated into future decision-making and interventions to enhance communication and engagement strategies.
Topics: Humans; COVID-19; Ethnic and Racial Minorities; Pandemics; Minority Groups; Communication
PubMed: 37344110
DOI: 10.1136/bmjopen-2022-069552 -
Journal of Urban Health : Bulletin of... Feb 2023Recent investments in built environment infrastructure to create healthy communities have highlighted the need for equity and environmental justice. Although the... (Review)
Review
Recent investments in built environment infrastructure to create healthy communities have highlighted the need for equity and environmental justice. Although the benefits of healthy community design (e.g., connecting transportation systems and land use changes) are well established, some reports suggest that these changes may increase property values. These increases can raise the risk of displacement for people with low incomes and/or who are from racial and ethnic minority groups, who would then miss out on benefits from changes in community design. This review scanned the literature for displacement mitigation and prevention measures, with the goal of providing a compilation of available strategies for a wide range of audiences including public health practitioners. A CDC librarian searched the Medline, EbscoHost, Scopus, and ProQuest Central databases, and we identified grey literature using Google and Google Scholar searches. The indexed literature search identified 6 articles, and the grey literature scan added 18 articles. From these 24 total articles, we identified 141 mitigation and prevention strategies for displacement and thematically characterized each by domain using an adapted existing typology. This work provides a well-categorized inventory for practitioners and sets the stage for future evaluation research on the implementation of strategies and practices to reduce displacement.
Topics: Humans; United States; Minority Groups; Ethnicity; Racial Groups
PubMed: 36580236
DOI: 10.1007/s11524-022-00698-4 -
Current Opinion in Psychology Aug 2023COVID-19 has caused unprecedented disruptions to American society, yet the ramifications have exhibited a pronounced impact for racial/ethnic minority adolescents and... (Review)
Review
COVID-19 has caused unprecedented disruptions to American society, yet the ramifications have exhibited a pronounced impact for racial/ethnic minority adolescents and their families. Alongside upheavals to social and learning environments, minoritized youth have navigated disproportionate health and socioeconomic challenges within their families in addition to amplified racial tensions. As a result, the pandemic has disparately impacted racial/ethnic minorities. In this review, we synthesize studies of the pandemic to describe the hardships faced by racial/ethnic minority families and adolescents, their reverberation on dimensions of well-being, and the assets which buttress their welfare in the midst of COVID-19. It is imperative that future pandemic response efforts aid the most vulnerable, particularly communities of color, to ensure equitable welfare and post-pandemic recovery.
Topics: Humans; Adolescent; United States; Minority Groups; COVID-19; Ethnicity; Racial Groups
PubMed: 37364467
DOI: 10.1016/j.copsyc.2023.101614 -
Rheumatic Diseases Clinics of North... Nov 2020Significant disparities exist in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) regarding prevalence, disease severity, and mortality, with race/ethnic minorities being... (Review)
Review
Significant disparities exist in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) regarding prevalence, disease severity, and mortality, with race/ethnic minorities being disproportionately affected in the United States. This review highlights that despite these disparities, race/ethnic minority underrepresentation remains an issue within SLE research. Decreased race/ethnic minority involvement in SLE research has real-world implications, including less understanding of the disease and less applicability of approved therapies among diverse groups of patients. Members of the SLE research community have an obligation to narrow this gap to ensure that future advances within the field are derived from and benefit a more representative group of patients.
Topics: Clinical Trials as Topic; Ethnicity; Health Status Disparities; Healthcare Disparities; Humans; Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic; Minority Groups; Patient Selection; United States; Vulnerable Populations
PubMed: 32981648
DOI: 10.1016/j.rdc.2020.07.011 -
MMWR Supplements Apr 2023The Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance System (YRBSS) is the largest public health surveillance system in the United States, monitoring a broad range of health-related...
The Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance System (YRBSS) is the largest public health surveillance system in the United States, monitoring a broad range of health-related behaviors among high school students. The system includes a nationally representative Youth Risk Behavior Survey (YRBS) and separate school-based YRBSs conducted by states, tribes, territories, and local school districts. In 2021, these surveys were conducted during the COVID-19 pandemic. The pandemic underscored the importance of data in understanding changes in youth risk behaviors and addressing the multifaceted public health needs of youths. This overview report describes 2021 YRBSS survey methodology, including sampling, data collection procedures, response rates, data processing, weighting, and analyses. The 2021 YRBS participation map, survey response rates, and a detailed examination of student demographic characteristics are included in this report. During 2021, in addition to the national YRBS, a total of 78 surveys were administered to high school students across the United States, representing the national population, 45 states, two tribal governments, three territories, and 28 local school districts. YRBSS data from 2021 provided the first opportunity since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic to compare youth health behaviors using long-term public health surveillance. Approximately half of all student respondents represented racial and ethnic minority groups, and approximately one in four identified as lesbian, gay, bisexual, questioning, or other (a sexual identity other than heterosexual) (LGBQ+). These findings reflect shifts in youth demographics, with increased percentages of racial and ethnic minority and LGBQ+ youths compared with previous YRBSS cycles. Educators, parents, local decision makers, and other partners use YRBSS data to monitor health behavior trends, guide school health programs, and develop local and state policy. These and future data can be used in developing health equity strategies to address long-term disparities so that all youths can thrive in safe and supportive environments. This overview and methods report is one of 11 featured in this MMWR supplement. Each report is based on data collected using methods presented in this overview. A full description of YRBSS results and downloadable data are available (https://www.cdc.gov/healthyyouth/data/yrbs/index.htm).
Topics: Female; Humans; Adolescent; United States; Ethnicity; Pandemics; Minority Groups; COVID-19; Health Behavior; Risk-Taking; Sexual Behavior; Surveys and Questionnaires; Adolescent Behavior; Population Surveillance
PubMed: 37104281
DOI: 10.15585/mmwr.su7201a1 -
Health Promotion International Apr 2023Culturally-responsive health promotion initiatives are important to the creation of health equity for Indigenous and minority populations and these initiatives are...
Culturally-responsive health promotion initiatives are important to the creation of health equity for Indigenous and minority populations and these initiatives are complex and time-intensive to establish. The knowledge and resources of cultural experts are often pivotal in programs, yet there is minimal research on effective collaborations. The KāHOLO Project demonstrated strong success in the management of uncontrolled hypertension in the high-risk Indigenous population through a 6-month program based on the Hawaiian cultural dance of hula. This program was developed utilizing a community-based participatory research approach and implemented by cultural experts. To better understand the effectiveness of the research endeavor and program, six experienced hula experts and educators who delivered the community-based program were interviewed. As skilled and trusted cultural experts they set a safe supportive learning environment that promoted health and cultural goals. They articulated it was important that the program maintained cultural priorities and integrity. Through the methodical establishment of mutual respect, cooperation on research protocols and requirements was achieved. The development of cultural experts as health allies offers important inroads to the inclusion of minority and Indigenous cultures in health programming.
Topics: Humans; Hawaii; Health Promotion; Indigenous Peoples; Minority Groups; Cultural Competency
PubMed: 37067166
DOI: 10.1093/heapro/daad022 -
BMC Medical Research Methodology Jan 2023Novel survey methods are needed to tackle declining response rates. The 2020 National Maternity Survey included a randomised controlled trial (RCT) and social media... (Randomized Controlled Trial)
Randomized Controlled Trial
Impact of sampling and data collection methods on maternity survey response: a randomised controlled trial of paper and push-to-web surveys and a concurrent social media survey.
BACKGROUND
Novel survey methods are needed to tackle declining response rates. The 2020 National Maternity Survey included a randomised controlled trial (RCT) and social media survey to compare different combinations of sampling and data collection methods with respect to: response rate, respondent representativeness, prevalence estimates of maternity indicators and cost.
METHODS
A two-armed parallel RCT and concurrent social media survey were conducted. Women in the RCT were sampled from ONS birth registrations and randomised to either a paper or push-to-web survey. Women in the social media survey self-selected through online adverts. The primary outcome was response rate in the paper and push-to-web surveys. In all surveys, respondent representativeness was assessed by comparing distributions of sociodemographic characteristics in respondents with those of the target population. External validity of prevalence estimates of maternity indicators was assessed by comparing weighted survey estimates with estimates from national routine data. Cost was also compared across surveys.
RESULTS
The response rate was higher in the paper survey (n = 2,446) compared to the push-to-web survey (n = 2,165)(30.6% versus 27.1%, difference = 3.5%, 95%CI = 2.1-4.9, p < 0.0001). Compared to the target population, respondents in all surveys were less likely to be aged < 25 years, of Black or Minority ethnicity, born outside the UK, living in disadvantaged areas, living without a partner and primiparous. Women in the social media survey (n = 1,316) were less representative of the target population compared to women in the paper and push-to-web surveys. For some maternity indicators, weighted survey estimates were close to estimates from routine data, for other indicators there were discrepancies; no survey demonstrated consistently higher external validity than the other two surveys. Compared to the paper survey, the cost saving per respondent was £5.45 for the push-to-web survey and £22.42 for the social media survey.
CONCLUSIONS
Push-to-web surveys may cost less than paper surveys but do not necessarily result in higher response rates. Social media surveys cost significantly less than paper and push-to-web surveys, but sample size may be limited by eligibility criteria and recruitment window and respondents may be less representative of the target population. However, reduced representativeness does not necessarily introduce more bias in weighted survey estimates.
Topics: Female; Pregnancy; Humans; Social Media; Surveys and Questionnaires; Ethnicity; Parturition; Minority Groups
PubMed: 36635637
DOI: 10.1186/s12874-023-01833-8 -
Journal of Racial and Ethnic Health... Jun 2018In the USA, Hispanics and African-Americans show elevated obesity, yet little is known about possible ethnic/racial differences in brain response during intake of...
In the USA, Hispanics and African-Americans show elevated obesity, yet little is known about possible ethnic/racial differences in brain response during intake of palatable foods. To examine potential differences between non-Hispanic white (nHW) and racial/ethnic minority individuals, we used functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) to assess brain response to intake of eucaloric milkshakes that were either high-sugar or high-fat and a calorie-free, tasteless control solution. Our sample included healthy-weight adolescents who identified as African-American and/or Hispanic (minority, n = 27) and non-Hispanic white (nHW, n = 106). Minority participants showed elevated response in the pre-/postcentral gyrus, precuneus, and left thalamus in response to the high-sugar milkshake compared to high-fat milkshake. To confirm these effects were not driven by differences in body mass or a function of unequal cell sizes, we performed the same analyses in minority participants and a randomly selected subsample of nHW participants (n = 27) that were matched on BMI percentile. Similar to the full sample, we observed an elevated ventral posterior thalamic response to high-sugar milkshake in minority participants. This effect held after controlling for self-reported sugar and fat intake. These results suggest that African-American and Hispanic groups may have elevated response to specifically high-sugar foods in regions of the brain associated with sensory processing, providing novel information regarding the possible neural underpinnings of the disproportional risk for obesity seen in African-American and Hispanic populations.
Topics: Adolescent; Black or African American; Brain; Dietary Fats; Dietary Sucrose; Eating; Ethnicity; Female; Frontal Lobe; Functional Neuroimaging; Hispanic or Latino; Humans; Magnetic Resonance Imaging; Male; Minority Groups; Parietal Lobe; Somatosensory Cortex; Thalamus; White People
PubMed: 28779478
DOI: 10.1007/s40615-017-0403-8 -
Ethnicity & Disease Aug 2015To consider how manhood is a key social determinant of minority men's health. (Review)
Review
OBJECTIVE
To consider how manhood is a key social determinant of minority men's health.
DESIGN
This commentary explicates how manhood intersects with other determinants of health to shape minority men's stress responses, health behaviors and health outcomes across the life course.
RESULTS
Manhood, which perpetually needs to be proven, is an aspirational identity that is defined by the intersection of age, race/ethnicity and other identities. Minority men seek to and successfully embody US-cultural and ethnic-specific aspects of manhood in their daily lives by engaging in behaviors that constantly reaffirm their gender identity through a complex internal and social calculus that varies by intra-personal characteristics and context. Manhood and health are relational constructs that highlight how the salience of masculinities are shaped by perceived and actual social norms and expectations. A life course perspective adds a framework for considering how some gendered beliefs, goals and behaviors change over time while others remain static. Three life course frameworks highlight different mechanisms through which minority men's life experiences and physiological and behavioral responses to gendered social norms, beliefs and expectations become embodied as premature mortality and other health outcomes over the life course.
CONCLUSION
Manhood represents an important lens to understand how minority men's identities, goals and priorities affect their health, yet the role of manhood in minority men's health is understudied and underdeveloped. To achieve health equity, it is critical to consider how manhood shapes minority men's lives and health across the life course, and to address how manhood affects gendered and non-gendered mechanisms and pathways that explain minority men's health over time.
Topics: Gender Identity; Health Behavior; Health Equity; Humans; Life Change Events; Male; Men's Health; Minority Groups; Minority Health; Perception
PubMed: 26672674
DOI: 10.18865/ed.25.3.287