American journal of public health最新文献

Amid growing restrictions on reproductive health care nationwide, understanding real-time contextualization of patient experience is critical. This qualitative approach uses inductive content analysis to examine 74 anonymous journal entries from 2020 to 2023 from patients accessing abortions in New Mexico. Prompted by a journal titled, "Tell your story, it may help someone else," entries described decision-making, highlighted autonomy, and built solidarity. This analysis explains how patients contextualized their abortion and offers insight to improving experiences for patients traveling for abortion care. (Am J Public Health. 2024;114(10):1008-1012. https://doi.org/10.2105/AJPH.2024.307772).

The COVID-19 pandemic highlighted and exacerbated health inequities in New York City (NYC) given the disproportionate risk, morbidity, and mortality related to COVID-19 experienced by communities of color with lower household income. To facilitate long-term community recovery from COVID-19, the NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene established the Public Health Corp, a partnership with community-based organizations staffed by community health workers in neighborhoods disproportionately impacted by COVID-19. (Am J Public Health. 2024;114(S7):S566-S569. https://doi.org/10.2105/AJPH.2024.307766).

Objectives. To demonstrate the spatially uneven effects of abortion restriction laws in Texas. Methods. We used network analysis to determine the change in distance to the nearest surgical abortion provider for 5253 Texas neighborhoods after the passing of Texas Senate Bill 8 (SB8; 2021) and the US Supreme Court's Dobbs v Jackson Women's Health Organization (2022) decision. We identified associations between key measures of neighborhood socioeconomic context and change in distance to providers using multivariable linear regression models. Results. After the Dobbs decision, Texas residents experienced an average change in distance to the nearest provider of 457 miles (SD = 179). Neighborhoods of concentrated disadvantage experienced the greatest increase in distance to abortion providers after SB8's passing, and neighborhoods with high levels of income inequality experienced the greatest increase in distance after the Dobbs decision. Conclusions. We document the rapidly changing abortion landscape in a highly restrictive state and show that women living in more disadvantaged and unequal areas are most affected by the increasing distance to providers. Public Health Implications. Our methods and findings will continue to be relevant in understanding the burden placed on women in areas where medical abortion has been restricted because of the Dobbs decision. (Am J Public Health. 2024;114(10):1024-1033. https://doi.org/10.2105/AJPH.2024.307652).

Mortality surveillance systems can have limitations, including reporting delays, incomplete reporting, missing data, and insufficient detail on important risk or sociodemographic factors that can impact the accuracy of estimates of current trends, disease severity, and related disparities across subpopulations. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention used multiple data systems during the COVID-19 emergency response-line-level case‒death surveillance, aggregate death surveillance, and the National Vital Statistics System-to collectively provide more comprehensive and timely information on COVID-19‒associated mortality necessary for informed decisions. This article will review in detail the line-level, aggregate, and National Vital Statistics System surveillance systems and the purpose and use of each. This retrospective review of the hybrid surveillance systems strategy may serve as an example for adaptive informational approaches needed over the course of future public health emergencies. (Am J Public Health. 2024;114(10):1071-1080. https://doi.org/10.2105/AJPH.2024.307743).

The North Carolina Division of Public Health, Chronic Disease and Injury Section recommends local health departments (LHDs) adopt an "inside-out" approach to advance health and racial equity. Internally, LHDs must increase their capacity to address equity by establishing LHD policies and practices that prioritize equity and nurture a culture of trust. Externally, LHDs must seek guidance from historically marginalized populations to inform LHD policy changes and community-based public health approaches affecting these populations for greater engagement in LHD programs. (Am J Public Health. 2024;114(S7):S554-S557. https://doi.org/10.2105/AJPH.2024.307719).

The June 24, 2022 US Supreme Court decision in Dobbs v Jackson Women's Health Organization resulted in an expansive restriction on abortion access that had been constitutionally guaranteed for nearly half a century. Currently, 14 states have implemented complete bans on abortion with very limited exceptions, and an additional 7 states have implemented abortion bans at 6 to 18 weeks' gestation. It has been well demonstrated that restrictive policies disproportionately limit abortion access for minoritized people and people of low socioeconomic status; the financial and geographic barriers of these post-Dobbs restrictions will only exacerbate this disparity. Proponents of abortion restrictions, who identify as pro-life, assert that these policies are essential to protect children, women, and families. We examine whether the protection of these groups extends past conception by evaluating the association between state abortion legislation and state-based policies and programs designed to provide medical and social support for children, women, and families. We found that states with the most restrictive post-Dobbs abortion policies in fact have the least comprehensive and inclusive public infrastructure to support these groups. We suggest further opportunities for advocacy. (Am J Public Health. 2024;114(10):1043-1050. https://doi.org/10.2105/AJPH.2024.307792).