Lori A Bilello, Ross Jones, Nora Kassis, Chardaè Whitner, Ann-Marie Knight, Fern Webb
{"title":"Impact of a Hospital-Based Food Pharmacy Program on Health Outcomes of Vulnerable Patients.","authors":"Lori A Bilello, Ross Jones, Nora Kassis, Chardaè Whitner, Ann-Marie Knight, Fern Webb","doi":"10.1177/2752535X241269528","DOIUrl":"10.1177/2752535X241269528","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Access to healthy foods, especially for those who are living with diabetes and hypertension, is crucial in managing these chronic diseases. This study evaluates the implementation of a food pharmacy and food prescription program at a safety-net hospital that serves vulnerable populations. Patients who screen as food insecure using the USDA adult food security survey receive a referral from the physician to the food pharmacy program where a dietician reviews their dietary requirements based on their chronic disease and develops a diet plan. Patients then receive fresh produce, meats and other products every 2 weeks that meets their nutritional needs from the food pharmacy. Biometric data from the patient's most recent clinic visit at the time of enrollment was collected as the baseline measures including blood pressure, weight, and HbA1c (if diabetic). Additionally, biometric information was collected from the patient's medical records from regularly scheduled clinic visits at 6 month intervals. A total of 266 patients were enrolled in the program during the 13-month period that was studied (121 patients with 6-month data and 68 patients with 12-month data). The statistical analysis showed a significant improvement in diastolic blood pressure at 12 months and in weight at both the 6 months and 12 months timeframes when comparing to baseline biometrics.</p>","PeriodicalId":72648,"journal":{"name":"Community health equity research & policy","volume":" ","pages":"423-427"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-07-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141768269","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Laura J Brubacher, Lincoln L Lau, Monica Bustos, Melinda Kelly Mijares, Krisha Lim Mar, Warren Dodd
{"title":"Exploring the Use of Multiple Participatory Tools to Engage Community Health Workers in Program Evaluation and Implementation: A Case Study From the Philippines.","authors":"Laura J Brubacher, Lincoln L Lau, Monica Bustos, Melinda Kelly Mijares, Krisha Lim Mar, Warren Dodd","doi":"10.1177/2752535X241280353","DOIUrl":"10.1177/2752535X241280353","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>This study explored the use of three participatory tools within a Philippines-based case study with community health workers (CHWs) by comparing and contrasting the process and data generated across the tools, and critically reflecting on adaptations and facilitation considerations that affected the tools' use. Facilitator notes and audio-recordings of discussions were integrated and analyzed thematically. Tools differed by the type of data generated: program-specific data related to CHWs' roles and responsibilities or data on broader structural factors. A stepwise approach within each tool facilitated focused, in-depth sharing, as did initial paired discussions that allowed exchange of knowledge and experiences among CHWs. Facilitators required topic- and context-specific knowledge to guide discussion effectively. CHWs discussed challenges and successes in their roles; program recommendations; and broader challenges related to healthcare delivery in their communities. This study contributes critical insights on the use of participatory tools to promote the inclusion of implementer perspectives in health program co-design, implementation, and evaluation.</p>","PeriodicalId":72648,"journal":{"name":"Community health equity research & policy","volume":" ","pages":"351-363"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-07-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12059235/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142143491","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Thomas Druetz, Frank Bicaba, Cissé Zainabou, Abel Bicaba
{"title":"Health Planning in Times of COVID-19 in Burkina Faso: The Role of Its National Strategic Pandemic Management Committee.","authors":"Thomas Druetz, Frank Bicaba, Cissé Zainabou, Abel Bicaba","doi":"10.1177/2752535X241256414","DOIUrl":"10.1177/2752535X241256414","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>ContextPresenting the COVID-19 crisis as a pandemic misleadingly implies a certain homogeneity between the regions of the Globe in terms of their burden and reactions. However, from the outset of the crisis, countries presented different epidemiological realities and sometimes adopted divergent, even opposing measures. Curiously, the heterogeneity of responses persisted as scientific evidence accumulated about COVID-19 and the strategies for dealing with it.Case studyThis commentary aims to recount the specific experience of Burkina Faso, and how it reoriented its initial biomedical response into a multisectoral strategy. Burkina Faso set up a committee specifically to examine the effects not only of the pandemic, but also of the control measures. This committee was mandated to decompartmentalize the lens through which the COVID-19 was dealt with. It entered into dialogue with a level of stakeholders often overlooked during national health crisis: communities. As a member of this \"National Committee for Crisis Management of the Pandemic\", one of the co-authors contributed to its orientations and has witnessed first-hand some of the challenges it faced.RecommendationsThis experience suggests that the project of extricating the field of public health from medicine is advancing in Burkina Faso. In order to manage future crises more effectively and across different sectors, there is an urgent need to establish state structures and to strengthen public health systems. States need coordination units that have the legitimacy, authority and resources required to mobilize a variety of actors at the community, national and international levels.</p>","PeriodicalId":72648,"journal":{"name":"Community health equity research & policy","volume":" ","pages":"375-384"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-07-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12059233/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141175093","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Community-Based Participatory Research for Epidemiology, Health Equity, and Community Goals: Insights From Brazil, France, and USA.","authors":"Alison K Cohen, Robert E Snyder","doi":"10.1177/2752535X241262857","DOIUrl":"10.1177/2752535X241262857","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>BackgroundCommunity-based participatory research coproduces knowledge by emphasizing bidirectional exchanges between participants, communities, and researchers.Purpose, Research Design, and Study SampleWe highlight three studies in historically marginalized communities on separate continents (Richmond, CA, USA; Rio de Janeiro, Brazil; Marseille industrial zone, France) to exemplify how community-based participatory research improves research, offers tangible community benefits, and values residents more than traditional research methods.Data AnalysisWe provide insights into the process of conducting meaningful community-based participatory epidemiologic research.ResultsIn each of these communities, community-based participatory research led to high-quality research that helped inform context-appropriate policies and programs to improve health and advance health equity in these communities.ConclusionsWe recommend that researchers consistently engage with community members during all phases of research so that they can engage more participants, more deeply in the research process, build local capacity, improve data collection and data quality, as well as increase our understanding of research findings to inform future applied research and practice.</p>","PeriodicalId":72648,"journal":{"name":"Community health equity research & policy","volume":" ","pages":"385-393"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-07-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12059236/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141422074","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Public Health Challenges for Post-secondary Students During COVID-19: A Scoping Review.","authors":"Pooja Dey, Leanne R De Souza","doi":"10.1177/2752535X241257561","DOIUrl":"10.1177/2752535X241257561","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Research about public health impacts of COVID-19 on post-secondary students is slowly beginning to emerge. This scoping review identified common public health challenges among post-secondary students in higher-income countries during the COVID-19 pandemic. Five databases were searched to find relevant peer-reviewed literature up to March 2022. Results were categorized according to reported public health challenges and relevant socio-economic variables. After screening, 53 articles were reviewed. Most articles were from the USA (39/53). The seven main public health challenges identified were mental health (35/53), financial instability (25/53), physical health (13/53), food insecurity (12/53), social well-being (8/53), digital access (7/53), and housing or relocation (6/53). Students with low socioeconomic status experienced heightened public health challenges. This review offers insight and opportunities for the development of longitudinal tools to support social determinants of health in post-secondary populations in high-income countries and may offer insight into similar experiences for students in other settings.</p>","PeriodicalId":72648,"journal":{"name":"Community health equity research & policy","volume":" ","pages":"429-446"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-07-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12059239/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141184611","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Health Equity in All Urban Policies: A Case Study of Richmond, California.","authors":"Jason Corburn, Shasa Curl, Gabino Arredondo","doi":"10.1177/2752535X241273955","DOIUrl":"10.1177/2752535X241273955","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Local governments working in partnership with communities can institutionalize practices that promote health equity. We offer a case study of how one city in the US is implementing Health in All Policies (HiAP) with the explicit aim of promoting health equity. We use participant observations, original document reviews and interviews to describe how Richmond, California, is building new partnerships, programs and practices with community-based organizations and within government itself as part of the implementation of its HiAP Ordinance. We also report on indicators that were identified by community and government stakeholders for tracking progress toward improving place-based determinants of population health. We find that the responsibility for implementing Richmond's HiAP Ordinance rests on a new institution within local government and this entity is building new partnerships, promoting innovative policies and augmenting practices toward greater health equity. We also reveal how city governments and community partners can collaboratively track progress toward health equity using locally gathered data.</p>","PeriodicalId":72648,"journal":{"name":"Community health equity research & policy","volume":" ","pages":"411-422"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-07-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12059229/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141972347","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Childbearing Women's Experiences of and Interactions With the Health System in Vietnam: A Critical Interpretive Synthesis.","authors":"Kimberly Lakin, Nguyen Thu Huong, Sumit Kane","doi":"10.1177/2752535X241277678","DOIUrl":"10.1177/2752535X241277678","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Scholars have long argued that the care experience is shaped by context, and by evolutions in this context. Using Vietnam as a case, we critically interrogate the literature on women's experiences with maternity care to unpack whether and if it engages with the major social, economic, and health system impacts of the Doi Moi reforms in Vietnam and with what consequences for equity. We conducted a critical interpretive synthesis of this literature in light of the social, economic, and health system transformations driven by the Doi Moi reforms. We offer three critiques: (1) an overwhelming focus on public maternity care provision in rural/mountainous regions of Vietnam, (2) a narrow focus on women's ethnic identity, and (3) a misplaced preoccupation with women's limited autonomy and agency. We argue that future research needs to consider the impact of Vietnam's shift towards market-oriented care provision, and the broader societal and health system changes impacting both rural and urban areas, as well as ethnic minority and Kinh majority populations.</p>","PeriodicalId":72648,"journal":{"name":"Community health equity research & policy","volume":" ","pages":"447-457"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-07-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12059237/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142082745","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
James Gasperino, Flavie de Germay de Cirfontaine, Shanya Galbokke Hewage
{"title":"Examining How the States Advancing All-Payer Health Equity Approaches and Development (AHEAD) Model Improves Health Equity for Underserved Communities and Safety Net Hospitals in New York State.","authors":"James Gasperino, Flavie de Germay de Cirfontaine, Shanya Galbokke Hewage","doi":"10.1177/2752535X241259060","DOIUrl":"10.1177/2752535X241259060","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Safety net hospitals (SNHs) are essential to our healthcare ecosystem, providing quality healthcare to underserved communities. These institutions offer specialized services and acute medical care to populations facing structural or systemic healthcare barriers. However, for decades, the NYS Medicaid program reimbursed hospitals less than the cost of care, resulting in several independent SNHs becoming financially distressed, with many facing closure. Recently, the Center for Medicaid and Medicare Service Innovation Center (CMSI) introduced the State All-Payer Health Equity Approaches and Development (AHEAD) Model, which aims to support the financial needs of providers while also addressing the complex medical and social circumstances of underserved communities. This article will explore how the AHEAD model can be utilized as an alternative payment method for SNHs in New York State (NYS) to improve healthcare for underserved communities.</p>","PeriodicalId":72648,"journal":{"name":"Community health equity research & policy","volume":" ","pages":"365-374"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-07-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141201584","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Cary Carr, Lindsey Marie King, Abraham A Salinas-Miranda, Karina Wilson, Estrellita Lo Berry, Deborah Austin, Roneé E Wilson, Kenneth Scarborough, Richard Briscoe, Georgette King, Lillian Cox, Carrie Hepburn, Evangeline Best, Conchita Burpee, Hamisu M Salihu
{"title":"The Life Course Perspective on Older Adults' Health Trajectories: Risk and Protective Factors.","authors":"Cary Carr, Lindsey Marie King, Abraham A Salinas-Miranda, Karina Wilson, Estrellita Lo Berry, Deborah Austin, Roneé E Wilson, Kenneth Scarborough, Richard Briscoe, Georgette King, Lillian Cox, Carrie Hepburn, Evangeline Best, Conchita Burpee, Hamisu M Salihu","doi":"10.1177/2752535X241273820","DOIUrl":"10.1177/2752535X241273820","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>According to the life course perspective (LCP), optimal human development and healthy aging are key goals that must start preconceptionally and continue later in life. However, older adult health and family health across generations have received very little attention in maternal and child health (MCH). Community-based participatory research (CBPR) is an important strategy for putting the LCP into action by engaging those communities most affected by health disparities. We conducted six CBPR focus groups using the LCP as the theoretical framework to capture community members' perspectives of risk and protective factors for older adult health. Perceived protective factors for older adults included socialization, support systems, and practicing wellness. Perceived risk factors included caretaking responsibilities, isolation, medical issues, and lack of support. The identified risk and protective factors for older adult health must be considered when developing public health interventions that promote health equity in aging and MCH.</p>","PeriodicalId":72648,"journal":{"name":"Community health equity research & policy","volume":" ","pages":"339-349"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-07-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142141905","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"What Are the Roots of the Nation's Poor Health and Widening Health Inequalities? Rethinking Economic Growth for a Fairer and Healthier Future.","authors":"Robert J Noonan","doi":"10.1177/2752535X241259241","DOIUrl":"10.1177/2752535X241259241","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Health inequalities are differences in health between groups in society. Despite them being preventable they persist on a grand scale. At the beginning of 2024, the Institute of Health Equity revealed in their report titled: <i>Health Inequalities, Lives Cut Short</i>, that health inequalities caused 1 million early deaths in England over the past decade. While the number of studies on the prevalence of health inequalities in the UK has burgeoned, limited emphasis has been given to exploring the factors contributing to these (widening) health inequalities. In this commentary article I will describe how the Government's relentless pursuit of economic growth and their failure to implement the necessary regulatory policies to mitigate against the insecurity and health effects neoliberal free market capitalism (referred to as capitalism herein) causes in pursuit of innovation, productivity and growth (economic dynamism) is one key driver underpinning this social injustice. I contend that if the priority really is to tackle health inequalities and ensure health for all then there is an imperative need to move beyond regulation alone to mitigate the worst effects of capitalist production; the goal of the economy has to change to fully restore the balance between economic growth and public health.</p>","PeriodicalId":72648,"journal":{"name":"Community health equity research & policy","volume":" ","pages":"395-404"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-07-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12059234/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141422075","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}