American journal of preventive medicine
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The objectives of this study were to estimate the prevalence of sexually transmitted infections in women of reproductive age by disability type and examine the association between disability types, participant characteristics, and the prevalence of sexually transmitted infections (STIs). ⋯ Women of reproductive age with disabilities have a higher prevalence of sexually transmitted infections. In addition to disability type, the odds of sexually transmitted infections varied by race/ethnicity, sexual orientation, and substance use.
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This study examines the association of incarceration history and health insurance coverage and coverage changes in the U.S. ⋯ People with an incarceration history had worse access to health insurance coverage. Targeted programs to improve health insurance coverage may reduce disparities associated with incarceration.
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This study compares traditional post-and-platform playgrounds with innovatively designed playgrounds to assess the degree to which design influences use and physical activity. Innovative playgrounds are defined as having (1) a variety of surface types; (2) naturalized and planted areas designed for play; (3) open-ended structures that do not dictate play sequences; (4) loose, movable equipment; and (5) not comprised solely of traditional post-and-platform structures. This study also examines how neighborhood contextual factors contribute to playground use and physical activity. ⋯ Playground characteristics that attract more users and are associated with more moderate-to-vigorous physical activity, such as design, size, and the number of unique features, should be integrated into future playground designs and renovations, with innovative designs prioritized for low-income neighborhoods.
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The COVID-19 public health emergency created unprecedented disruptions in the use of healthcare services, which could have affected long-standing racial‒ethnic disparities in maternal care use and outcomes. This study evaluates population-level changes in perinatal health services associated with the COVID-19 pandemic overall and by maternal race‒ethnicity. ⋯ Among all U.S. live births, the COVID-19 pandemic was associated with modest overall changes in perinatal care, with differential changes by maternal race‒ethnicity. Differential changes in perinatal services may have implications for racial-ethnic maternal health disparities.
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The COVID-19 pandemic has had unprecedented socioeconomic and health impacts in the U.S. This study examined racial/ethnic and school poverty status differences in the relationship between parent job loss, experiences with hunger, and indicators of mental health problems among public high-school students nationwide during the COVID-19 pandemic. ⋯ Students who experience parent job loss and hunger are likely to also experience poor mental health and may be at higher risk for suicide.