Journal of urban health : bulletin of the New York Academy of Medicine
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This study investigates the relationship between home mortgages and neighborhood mental health across the 18 largest metropolitan statistical areas (MSAs) in the United States. Home mortgages, a primary avenue to homeownership, contribute to housing security and stability. Moreover, their issuance reflects local investment and potential improvements in the built environment, hypothesized to positively influence community mental well-being. ⋯ Comparisons between standard linear models and spatial error models highlight the influence of unmeasured, spatially correlated factors on neighborhood mental health outcomes. This study underscores mortgage lending as a crucial factor in community well-being and emphasizes the necessity of addressing spatial dependency in neighborhood health studies for accurate estimations. The findings offer valuable insights for researchers and policymakers aiming to enhance community mental health and address health disparities through informed housing policies.
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Diabetes is a significant public health concern with significant implications for health equity. Functional disability undermines disease control and may be associated with the relationship between criminal legal involvement and poor chronic disease outcomes, but this relationship has not been studied. This study examined the association between recent criminal legal involvement and functional disability among a nationally representative sample of US adults with diabetes. ⋯ In multivariate linear regression analyses adjusted for relevant socio-demographic and clinical confounders, the functional disability score increased by 2.7 (95% CI, 1.6-3.9) for those with past year arrest compared to no past year arrest; 1.2 (95% CI, -0.1, 2.6) for those with past year probation compared to no past year probation; and 0.4 (95% CI, -1.1, 1.8) for those with past year parole compared to no past year parole. Recent criminal legal involvement, specifically past year arrest, is associated with greater functional disability, which may serve as an important mediator for poor health outcomes in patients with diabetes. Future research should examine this pathway and prioritize interventions to improve both functional disability and glycemic control among individuals with diabetes and recent criminal legal involvement.
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In 2022, approximately 580,000 people experienced homelessness in the United States. In response, many cities have implemented "camping ban" policies enforced by involuntary displacement of homeless encampments. Displacement has been cited as a strategy to protect public health and safety. ⋯ Hyperlocal decreases were driven by significant decreases in public disorder and auto theft, while crimes against persons increased and displayed high clustering post-displacement. There were no changes in any other offense type. Involuntary displacement is not consistently associated with changes in clustering of crime and may exacerbate violence in nearby areas.
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The WHO emphasizes the importance of taking area-level factors into account when formulating public health interventions. The aim of this systematic review was to identify which area-level factors are associated with children's dental caries in Europe and might therefore be a suitable starting point for public health interventions. We conducted a systematic review based on a search in PubMed, Web of Science, and Cochrane Library including all European studies on caries in children and their area-level factors published since the year 2000 in English or German. ⋯ For the other determinants, the included studies found no association. Many studies reported associations between place of residence and children's dental caries, but the mediators on this causal path are still not clearly established. The area-level factors analyzed in this review seem to play a role, but more studies with designs that allow causal interpretation of findings are needed to establish solid robust evidence that can be used in the formulation of future health policies.
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This study investigates blood lead level (BLL) rates and testing among children under 6 years of age across the 42 neighborhoods in New York City from 2005 to 2021. Despite a citywide general decline in BLL rates, disparities at the neighborhood level persist and are not addressed in the official reports, highlighting the need for this comprehensive analysis. ⋯ Our findings demonstrate statistically significant improvements in case detection and enhanced fairness by focusing on under-served and high-risk groups. Additionally, we propose actionable recommendations to raise awareness among parents, including outreach at local daycare centers and kindergartens, among other venues.