Population Health News Roundup: May

We curate the top population health news each month. This month, the Cherokee Nation’s Hep C program, refugee kids’ health, food insecurity among women veterans, an LA neighborhood’s youth in the shadow of oil pumps, and more….

Interdisciplinary spotlight

Lungs breathing better in Louisville: After gathering data via electronic inhaler sensors, a digital health platform, and crowd-sourcing, AIR Louisville recommends policies like enhanced tree canopies, tree removal mitigation, air pollution emission buffer zoning, and more.  AIR Louisville is cross-sector collaboration that joins the Louisville Metro Government, a nonprofit institute, and a technology company. (Health Affairs, April 1, 2018)

Place

Mitigating fear of research in Mississippi: Patient-centered outcomes-based research is helping researchers in the Mississippi delta built trust, participation (Stat News, April 18, 2018)

Stable, affordable housing for people with HIV in Alabama: Research underway looks at affordable housing programs, case management, policy (RWJF Culture of Health Blog, April 12, 2018)

Mapping senior fall risks: Data, interventions aim to reduce falls in Baltimore’s highest risk areas (think row houses, older homes, and steep staircases)  (US News and World Report, May 10, 2018)

Struggling to get around hurts health: Poor public transit is a public health issue in Detroit (Detroit Free Press, May 2, 2018)

The kids are getting greener: How one Los Angeles neighborhood, led by youth, is cleaning up in the shadow of oil pumps (CityLab, May 7, 2018)

Disparities

Exercise is aces for ACES: Exercise may reduce impact of Adverse Childhood Experiences (PolicyLab, March 20, 2018) 

Seniors being left out: What happens older adults are not included in clinical trials? (New York Times, April 13, 2018)

Doing hard time in prison and afterward: Prison is unhealthy, and poor health often worsens upon release  (The Atlantic, May 11, 2018)

In honor of Memorial Day…

Food insecurity among women veterans: Over 25% were food insecure in this study; associations with delayed care access and worse health outcomes found (Women’s Health Issues, May-June 2018)

Programs & Policy

Helping refugees get and stay healthy (video): Ensuring refugee kids and families don’t face disparities (PolicyLab at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, April 4, 2018)  

Give mom a break: Paid maternity leave has improved maternal health in Norway. (NHH Dept. of Economics Discussion Paper No. 04/2018)

Targeted mental health services for tweens: Washington State’s King County program helps middle schoolers’ mental health (King County, May 9, 2018)

Two industrial cities in rebirth? Pittsburgh seeks to learn from Glasgow’s program to improve health equity.  (Nextpittsburgh.com, May 14, 2108)

Cheers to the Cherokee Nation: Successful Cherokee Hep C program could serve as national model (US News & World Report, May 16, 2018)

Power to the (Puerto Rican) people: University of Washington researchers are working to restore power via a solar/battery nanogrid after Hurricane Maria (University of Washington)