Journal of urban health : bulletin of the New York Academy of Medicine
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This study focuses on the space-time patterns of the COVID-19 Omicron wave at a regional scale, using municipal data. We analyze the Basque Country and Cantabria, two adjacent regions in the north of Spain, which between them numbered 491,816 confirmed cases in their 358 municipalities from 15th November 2021 to 31st March 2022. The study seeks to determine the role of functional urban areas (FUAs) in the spread of the Omicron variant of the virus, using ESRI Technology (ArcGIS Pro) and applying intelligence location methods such as 3D-bins and emerging hot spots. ⋯ The distribution of cases shows a spatially stationary linear correlation linked to demographically progressive areas (densely populated, young profile, and with more children per woman) which are well connected by highways and railroads. Based on this research, the proposed GIS methodology can be adapted to other case studies. Considering geo-prevention and WHO Health in All Policies approaches, the research findings reveal spatial patterns that can help policymakers in tackling the pandemic in future waves as society learns to live with the virus.
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In this study, we consider the patient, provider, and public health repercussions of San Francisco's (SF) COVID-related response to homelessness using tourist hotels to house people experiencing homelessness (PEH). We describe the demographics, medical comorbidities, and healthcare utilization patterns of a subset of PEH who accessed the shelter-in-place (SIP) hotel sites during the 2020-2021 pandemic. ⋯ We found that temporary SIP housing increased outpatient care and reduced higher-cost hospital utilization. Our results can inform the future design and implementation of integrated supportive housing models to reduce mortality and promote wellness for PEH.
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Violence is a public health issue that disproportionately affects communities of color in urban centers. There is limited understanding of how violent crime is associated with adult physical inactivity and obesity prevalence given the racial/ethnic composition of community residents. This research aimed to address this gap by examining census tract-level data in Chicago, IL. ⋯ After adjusting for socioeconomic and environmental measures (e.g., median income, grocery store availability, walkability index), violent crime rate was associated with % physical inactivity and % obesity at the census tract level in Chicago, IL (both p < 0.001). Associations were statistically significant among majority NH Black and Hispanic tracts, but not majority NH White and racially diverse tracts. Future studies should evaluate the structural drivers of violence and the influence these drivers have on adult physical inactivity and obesity risk, particularly in communities of color.
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This study used a natural experiment of a new metro line in Hong Kong to examine trade-offs between transit-related and non-transit-related physical activity (PA) among 104 older people (aged ≥ 65 years) based on longitudinal accelerometer data that distinguished transit-related and non-transit-related PA. Difference-in-difference (DID) analysis compared PA changes between treatment and control groups. We found that new metro stations have trade-off effects between transit and non-transit PA. ⋯ In addition, the proportion of time spent in transit-related PA increased by 6%. The results suggested that new metro stations could generate transit-related PA, but it might shift from non-transit-related PA among older people. Our findings revealed trade-off effects of public transit interventions and have significant implications for transport and healthy ageing studies.
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Under the Stop, Question, and Frisk (SQF) policy, New York City (NYC) police stopped Black Americans at more than twice the rate of non-Hispanic whites, after controlling for arrests and precinct differences. We examined whether police stops of Black Americans during SQF correspond positively with psychiatric emergency department (ED) visits among Black residents in NYC. We utilized as the exposure all police stops, stops including frisking, and stops including use of force among Black Americans in NYC between 2006 and 2015 from the New York City Police Department's New York City-Stop, Question, and Frisk database. ⋯ Our findings indicate that a one standard deviation increase in police stops equates to a 2.72% increase in psychiatric ED visits among Black residents in NYC. Use of force may have the greatest mental health consequences due to perceived threats of physical violence or bodily harm to other members of the targeted group. Racially biased and unconstitutional police encounters may have acute mental health implications for the broader Black community not directly involved in the encounter itself.