Neighborhood Context and Binge Drinking by Race and Ethnicity in New York City

BACKGROUND:

Neighborhood context is associated with binge drinking and has significant health, societal, and economic costs. Both binge drinking and neighborhood context vary by race and ethnicity. We examined the relations between neighborhood characteristics-neighborhood norms that are accepting of drunkenness, collective efficacy, and physical disorder-and binge drinking, with a focus on examining race and ethnic-specific relationships.

METHODS:

Respondent data were collected through 2005 random digit-dial-telephone survey for a representative sample of New York City residents; neighborhood data were based on the 2005 New York City Housing and Vacancy Survey. Participants were 1,415 past-year drinkers; Whites (n = 877), Blacks (n = 292), and Hispanics (n = 246). Generalized estimating equations were used to estimate population average models.

RESULTS:

For the overall sample, neighborhood norms that were more accepting of drunkenness were associated with greater binge drinking; collective efficacy and physical disorder were not significant. However, when examining this by race/ethnicity, greater collective efficacy and greater physical disorder were associated with less binge drinking for Whites only. Neighborhood norms that were more accepting of drunkenness were associated with binge drinking among Whites and, while not significant (perhaps due to power), the associations were similar for Hispanics and slightly lower for Blacks.

CONCLUSIONS:

Overall, results suggest that neighborhood characteristics and binge drinking are shaped, in part, by factors that vary across race/ethnicity. Thus, disaggregating data by race/ethnicity is important in understanding binge drinking behaviors.

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By:  Chauhan P1, Ahern J2, Galea S3, Keyes KM4.

• 1Department of Psychology, John Jay College of Criminal Justice, New York, New York.
• 2Department of Epidemiology , University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, California.
• 3School of Public Health, Boston University, Boston, Massachusetts.
• 4Department of Epidemiology, Columbia University, New York, New York. 
• Alcohol Clin Exp Res. 2016 Apr;40(4):785-93. doi: 10.1111/acer.13011. Epub 2016 Mar 10.

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Size Matters: Are Physically Large People More Likely to be Violent?

A number of studies suggest that physical size is associated with violent behavior. However, few, if any, studies have examined this relationship using population-based samples. Moreover, limited evidence exists on the relationship between physical size and violence with respect to gender, race/ethnicity, and exposure to childhood maltreatment. 

The present study, using data from Waves I and II (N = 34,653) of the National Epidemiologic Survey of Alcohol and Related Conditions (NESARC), aims to address these gaps by comparing the prevalence of violent behavior among individuals in the top quintiles in height and weight with that of the general population. 

Significant associations were identified for both males and females between physical size and bullying/intimidation, intentional injury of other persons, and hitting someone so hard that they required medical attention. 

Stratified analyses revealed that the magnitude of the relationship between physical size and violence is greater among Hispanics than among non-Hispanic Whites and African Americans. 

Childhood abuse and neglect significantly moderated the relationship between physical size and violent behavior. While an important degree of variability can be observed with respect to gender, race/ethnicity, and exposure to child maltreatment, results indicate that, in general, physically larger individuals are more likely than their relatively smaller counterparts to be violent.

Purchase full article at:   http://goo.gl/oJcgfv

By:  Salas-Wright CP1, Vaughn MG2.

• 1The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, USA salaswright@utexas.edu.
• 2Saint Louis University, St. Louis, MO, USA. 
• J Interpers Violence. 2016 Apr;31(7):1274-92. doi: 10.1177/0886260514564159. Epub 2014 Dec 21.

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Persistent Racial Disparities in HIV Infection in the USA: HIV Prevalence Matters

OBJECTIVES:

Despite increased funding and efforts to prevent and control HIV infections in the black and Hispanic communities, racial disparities persist in the USA. We used a mathematical model to explain the phenomena.

METHODS:

A mathematical model was constructed to project HIV prevalence ratio (PR), incidence rate ratio (IRR), and HIV-specific mortality rate ratio (MRR) among blacks and Hispanics vs. whites in two scenarios: (1) an annual reduction in HIV incidence rate at the 2007-2010 level and (2) an annual reduction in HIV incidence rate at the 2007-2010 level among whites (4.2 %) and twice that of whites among blacks and Hispanics (8.4 %).

RESULTS:

In scenario no. 1, the PR, IRR, and MRR among blacks would decrease from 7.6 to 5.8, 7.9 to 5.9, and 11.3 to 5.3 and among Hispanics from 2.8 to 1.8, 3.1 to 1.9, and 2.3 to 1.0, respectively. In scenario no. 2, the PR, IRR, and MRR among blacks would decrease from 7.6 to 5.1, 7.9 to 2.5, and 11.3 to 4.7 and among Hispanics from 2.8 to 1.6, 3.1 to 0.8, and 2.3 to 0.9, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS:

Much of the persistent racial disparities in HIV infection in the USA, as measured by PR, IRR, and MRR, can be explained by higher HIV prevalence among blacks and Hispanics. The public health community should continue its efforts to reduce racial disparities, but also need to set realistic goals and measure progress with sensitive indicators.

Purchase full article at:   http://goo.gl/RO0369

By:  Xia Q1, Braunstein SL2, Wiewel EW2, Hadler JL3, Torian LV2.

• 1HIV Epidemiology and Field Services Program, New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, 42-09 28th St, Queens, NY, 11101, USA. qxia@health.nyc.gov.
• 2HIV Epidemiology and Field Services Program, New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, 42-09 28th St, Queens, NY, 11101, USA.
• 3Yale University School of Public Health, New Haven, CT, USA. 

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Racial and Ethnic Disparities in Outpatient Substance Use Disorder Treatment Episode Completion for Different Substances

This study investigates how racial and ethnic disparities in treatment episode completion vary across different problem substances in an urban sample of 416,224 outpatient treatment discharges drawn from the 2011 U.S. Treatment Episode Dataset-Discharge (TEDS-D) data set. Fixed effects logistic regression is employed to test for the association of race and ethnicity with treatment episode completion for different substances of use while controlling for confounding demographic, socioeconomic, and geographic clustering factors. 

Results show that African Americans and Hispanics are less likely to complete a treatment episode than Whites, and that these disparities vary among users of different substances. 

For African Americans, this disparity is observed over all substances, but is particularly acute among users of alcohol and methamphetamine, substances for which African Americans generally have lower rates of use disorder as compared to Whites. 

For Hispanics, this disparity is driven primarily by users of heroin, for which Hispanics are only 75% as likely as Whites to complete a treatment episode. 

For users of cocaine and methamphetamine, there is no significant difference between Hispanics and Whites in the likelihood of treatment episode completion. 

These results contribute to emerging research on the mechanisms of substance use disorder treatment outcomes and highlight the need for culturally appropriate treatment programs to enhance treatment program retention and associated positive post-treatment outcomes.

Purchase full article at:   http://goo.gl/YrNvnx

By:  Mennis J1, Stahler GJ2.

• 1Department of Geography and Urban Studies, Temple University, 1115 W. Polett Walk, 328 Gladfelter Hall, Philadelphia, PA 19122. Electronic address: jmennis@temple.edu.
• 2Department of Geography and Urban Studies, Temple University, 1115 W. Polett Walk, 328 Gladfelter Hall, Philadelphia, PA 19122. 
• J Subst Abuse Treat. 2015 Dec 29. pii: S0740-5472(15)00317-7. doi: 10.1016/j.jsat.2015.12.007

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Black and Hispanic Men Perceived to Be Large Are at Increased Risk for Police Frisk, Search, and Force

Social justice issues remain some of the most pressing problems in the United States. One aspect of social justice involves the differential treatment of demographic groups in the criminal justice system. 

While data consistently show that Blacks and Hispanics are often treated differently than Whites, one understudied aspect of these disparities is how police officers' assessments of suspects' size affects their decisions. Using over 3 million cases from the New York Police Department (NYPD) Stop, Question, and Frisk (SQF) Database, 2006-2013, this study is the first to explore suspects' race, perceived size, and police treatment. 

Results indicate that tall and heavy black and Hispanic men are at the greatest risk for frisk or search. Tall and heavy suspects are at increased risk for experiencing police force, with black and Hispanic men being more likely to experience force than white men across size categories.

Below:  The adjusted odds ratios for the suspect being frisked or searched by race, height, and weight category compared to white suspects with weight 141–204 pounds and 66–72” in height, controlling for stop characteristics. The blue circle denotes white (W) suspects, the red diamond denotes black (B) suspects, and the green square denotes Hispanic (H) suspects. Error bars indicate the 99% confidence interval for the group estimates.

Below:  The adjusted odds ratios for the suspect having force used on them by race, height, and weight category compared to white suspects with weight 141–204 lbs. and 66–72” in height, controlling for stop characteristics.  The blue circle denotes white (W) suspects, the red diamond denotes black (B) suspects, and the green square denotes Hispanic (H) suspects. Error bars indicate the 99% confidence interval for the group estimates.

Below:  The adjusted odds ratios for the suspect being frisked or searched (top) or having force used on them (bottom) by race and BMI category compared to normal weight white suspects, controlling for stop characteristics. The blue circle denotes white suspects, the red diamond denotes black suspects, and the green square denotes Hispanic suspects. Error bars indicate the 99% confidence interval for the group estimates.

Full article at:   http://goo.gl/L48OrV

By:  Milner AN1,2,3,4, George BJ2,5,6, Allison DB2,5,6.

• 1Department of Sociology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL 35294, United States of America.
• 2Nutrician Obesity Research Center, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL 35294, United States of America.
• 3Minority Health and Health Disparities Research Center, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL 35294, United States of America.
• 4Center for the Study of Community Health, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL 35294, United States of America.
• 5School of Public Health, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL 35294, United States of America.
• 6Office of Energetics, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL 35294, United States of America
• PLoS One. 2016 Jan 19;11(1):e0147158. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0147158. 

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Sexual Violence Victimization and Associations with Health in a Community Sample of Hispanic Women

This study sought to add to the limited information currently available on circumstances of sexual violence victimization and associated negative health experiences among Hispanic women. 

Data come from a community sample of mostly Mexican women in an urban southwestern city. Household interviews were completed with a sample of 142 women during 3 months in 2010. 

Findings indicate that 31.2% of women reported rape victimization and 22.7% reported being sexually coerced in their lifetime. Victims of rape and/or sexual coercion were significantly more likely to report symptoms of depression and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) during their lifetime. 

Among victims whose first unwanted sexual experience resulted in rape and/or sexual coercion, perpetrators were almost always someone known to the victims, and were mostly family members or intimate partners, depending on the victim's age. About one-fifth of victims were injured and 17.1% needed medical services. 

These findings suggest the need for more attention to the physical and mental health needs of sexually victimized Hispanic women.

Purchase full article at:   http://goo.gl/N796JR

By:  Basile KC1, Smith SG1, Walters ML1, Fowler DN1, Hawk K2, Hamburger ME1.

• 1Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia, USA.
• 2Department of Emergency Medicine, Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut, USA. 

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Racial and Ethnic Disparities in Outpatient Substance Use Disorder Treatment Episode Completion for Different Substances

Highlights

• Racial disparities in outpatient treatment episode completion vary by substance.
• Whites are more likely to complete than African Americans for all substances.
• The White/African American disparity is greatest for alcohol and methamphetamine.
• Whites are more likely to complete than Hispanics for heroin and marijuana.

This study investigates how racial and ethnic disparities in treatment episode completion vary across different problem substances in an urban sample of 416,224 outpatient treatment discharges drawn from the 2011 U.S. Treatment Episode Dataset-Discharge (TEDS-D) data set. Fixed effects logistic regression is employed to test for the association of race and ethnicity with treatment episode completion for different substances of use while controlling for confounding demographic, socioeconomic, and geographic clustering factors. 

Results show that African Americans and Hispanics are less likely to complete a treatment episode than Whites, and that these disparities vary among users of different substances. For African Americans, this disparity is observed over all substances, but is particularly acute among users of alcohol and methamphetamine, substances for which African Americans generally have lower rates of use disorder as compared to Whites. 

For Hispanics, this disparity is driven primarily by users of heroin, for which Hispanics are only 75% as likely as Whites to complete a treatment episode. 

For users of cocaine and methamphetamine, there is no significant difference between Hispanics and Whites in the likelihood of treatment episode completion. 

These results contribute to emerging research on the mechanisms of substance use disorder treatment outcomes and highlight the need for culturally appropriate treatment programs to enhance treatment program retention and associated positive post-treatment outcomes.

Purchase full article at:   http://goo.gl/k5MfvN 

By:   Jeremy Mennis, Gerald J. Stahler

Department of Geography and Urban Studies, Temple University (http://www.cla.temple.edu/gus/), 1115 W. Polett Walk, 328 Gladfelter Hall, Philadelphia, PA 19122

jmennis@temple.edu

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The Impact of Ethnicity/Race on the Association Between the Veterans Aging Cohort Study (VACS) Index & Neurocognitive Function among HIV-Infected Persons

The Veterans Aging Cohort Study (VACS) Index was developed as a risk index for health outcomes in HIV, and it has been consistently associated with mortality. It shows a significant, yet relatively weak, association with neurocognitive impairment, and little is known about its utility among ethnic/racial minority groups. 

We examined whether the association between the VACS Index and neurocognition differed by ethnic/racial group. Participants included 674 HIV-infected individuals (369 non-Hispanic whites, 111 non-Hispanic blacks, and 194 Hispanics). 

Neurocognitive function was assessed via a comprehensive battery. Scaled scores for each neurocognitive test were averaged to calculate domain and global neurocognitive scores. Models adjusting for demographics and HIV disease characteristics not included in the VACS Index showed that higher VACS Index scores (indicating poorer health) were significantly associated with worse global neurocognition among non-Hispanic whites. This association was comparable in non-Hispanic blacks, but nonsignificant among Hispanics (with similar results for English and Spanish speaking). 

We obtained comparable findings in analyses adjusting for other covariates (psychiatric and medical comorbidities and lifestyle factors). Analyses of individual neurocognitive domains showed similar results in learning and delayed recall. For other domains, there was an effect of the VACS Index and no significant interactions with race/ethnicity. Different components of the VACS Index were associated with global neurocognition by race/ethnicity. 

In conclusion, the association between the VACS Index and neurocognitive function differs by ethnic/racial group. Identifying key indicators of HIV-associated neurocognitive impairment by ethnic/racial group might play an important role in furthering our understanding of the biomarkers of neuroAIDS.

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By:   Marquine MJ1, Sakamoto M2, Dufour C3, Rooney A2, Fazeli P4, Umlauf A2, Gouaux B2, Franklin D2, Ellis R5, Letendre S3, Cherner M2, Heaton RK2, Grant I2,Moore DJ2; HNRP Group.

• 1Department of Psychiatry, University of California, San Diego, CA, USA. mmarquine@ucsd.edu.
• 2Department of Psychiatry, University of California, San Diego, CA, USA.
• 3Department of Medicine, University of California, San Diego, CA, USA.
• 4Psychology Department, University of Alabama, Birmingham, CA, USA.
• 5Department of Neurosciences, University of California, San Diego, CA, USA. 

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Race & Ethnicity, Neighborhood Poverty & Pediatric Firearm Hospitalizations in the United States

PURPOSE:

To better understand the effects of race and/or ethnicity and neighborhood poverty on pediatric firearm injuries in the United States, we compared overall and intent-specific firearm hospitalizations (FH) with those of pedestrian motor vehicle crash hospitalizations (PMVH).

METHODS:

We used Nationwide Inpatient Sample data (1998-2011) among 0-15 year-olds in a 1:1 case-case study; 4725 FH and 4725 PMVH matched by age, year, and region.

RESULTS:

Risk of FH versus PMVH was 64% higher among black children, Odds ratio (OR) = 1.64, 95% confidence interval (95% CI) = 1.44-1.87, as compared to white children (P < .0001); this risk did not vary by neighborhood poverty. Risk of homicide FH versus PMVH was 842% higher among black, 452% higher among Hispanics and 233% higher among other race compared to white children. There was a lower risk for unintentional FH among black, Hispanics (OR = 0.60, 95% CI = 0.49-0.74), and other compared to whites. These intent-specific risks attributed to race did not vary by neighborhood affluence.

CONCLUSIONS:

Black children were at greater likelihood of FH compared to white children regardless of neighborhood economic status. Minority children had an increased likelihood of intentional FH and a decreased likelihood of unintentional FH as compared to white children irrespective of neighborhood income.

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By:  Kalesan B1, Vyliparambil MA2, Bogue E3, Villarreal MD3, Vasan S3, Fagan J4, DiMaggio CJ3, Stylianos S5, Galea S6; Firearm Injury Research Group.

• 1Department of Epidemiology, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, New York, NY; Department of Medicine, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston University, MA. Electronic address: kalesan@bu.edu.
• 2Fort Lee High School, Fort Lee, NJ.
• 3Department of Epidemiology, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, New York, NY.
• 4Department of Epidemiology, Mailman School of Public Health and Columbia Law School, New York, NY.
• 5Department of Surgery, Columbia University Medical Center, Columbia University, New York, NY.
• 6Department of Epidemiology, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, New York, NY; School of Public Health, Boston University, MA. 

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Improving Treatment Completion Rates for Latent Tuberculosis Infection: A Review of Two Treatment Regimens at a Community Health Center

Prophylactic treatment of latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI) is necessary for controlling TB in low-incidence settings. However, treatment is often limited by poor completion rates.

At a community health center serving low-income Hispanics, treatment completion among patients accepting 12 weekly doses of isoniazid (INH) plus rifapentine (RPT) administered as directly observed therapy (DOT) was compared with that among patients accepting nine months of daily self-administered INH during 2012 and 2013 (n=139).

Among patients who agreed to treatment, INH-RPT combination therapy was associated with higher completion rates (OR 3.06; 95% CI, 1.23–7.62; p=.016) when compared to INH only. Overall completion rates were 77.8% (35/45) for INH-RPT combination therapy and 52.1% (49/94) for INH monotherapy.

High completion rates for LTBI treatment can be achieved at a community health center using INH-RPT administered via DOT. Greater success treating with INH-RPT may be attributed to DOT strategy and a shorter treatment regimen.

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By:  Gregory Lines, Paul Hunter, Sarah Bleything

 

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Disparities in Mental Health Referral and Diagnosis in the New York City Jail Mental Health Service

To better understand jail mental health services entry, we analyzed diagnosis timing relative to solitary confinement, nature of diagnosis, age, and race/ethnicity.

We analyzed 2011 to 2013 medical records on 45,189 New York City jail first-time admissions.

Of this cohort, 21.2% were aged 21 years or younger, 46.0% were Hispanic, 40.6% were non-Hispanic Black, 8.8% were non-Hispanic White, and 3.9% experienced solitary confinement. Overall, 14.8% received a mental health diagnosis, which was associated with longer average jail stays (120 vs 48 days), higher rates of solitary confinement (13.1% vs 3.9%), and injury (25.4% vs 7.1%). Individuals aged 21 years or younger were less likely than older individuals to receive a mental health diagnosis and more likely to experience solitary confinement. Blacks and Hispanics were less likely than Whites to enter the mental health service, but more likely to experience solitary confinement.

More consideration is needed of race/ethnicity and age in understanding and addressing the punishment and treatment balance in jails.

Below:  Timing of entry into mental health services (n = 6673): New York City jail, 2011–2013. Note. Mean = 24.62 days; SD = 65.929 days. The sample size was n = 6673.

Below:  Timing of mental health service entry with respect to the first solitary confinement episode (n = 876): New York City jail, 2011–2013. Note. 0 = service entry on the first day of solitary confinement. Mean = –43.82 days; SD = 168.822 days. The sample size was n = 876.

Full article at: http://goo.gl/QOV8nq

By: Fatos Kaba, MA, Angela Solimo, MA, Jasmine Graves, MPH, Sarah Glowa-Kollisch, MPH, Allison Vise, BA, Ross MacDonald, MD, Anthony Waters, PsyD, Zachary Rosner, MD, Nathaniel Dickey, MA, MPH, Sonia Angell, MD, MPH, and Homer Venters, MD, MS

Fatos Kaba, Angela Solimo, Jasmine Graves, Sarah Glowa-Kollisch, Allison Vise, Ross MacDonald, Anthony Waters, Zachary Rosner, Nathaniel Dickey, and Homer Venters are with the Bureau of Correctional Health Services, New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, Queens, NY. Sonia Angell is with the Division of Prevention and Primary Care, New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene.

Corresponding author.

Correspondence should be sent to Homer Venters, MD, MS, Bureau of Correctional Health Services, New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene. 42-09 28th St, WS 10-84, Queens, NY 11101 (e-mail: vog.cyn.htlaeh@1retnevh). Reprints can be ordered athttp://www.ajph.org by clicking the “Reprints” link.

  

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Race-Ethnic Differences in the Non-Marital Fertility Rates in 2006–2010

Research in the 1980s pointed to the lower marriage rates of blacks as an important factor contributing to race differences in non-marital fertility. Our analyses update and extend this prior work to investigate whether cohabitation has become an important contributor to this variation. We use data from the 2006–2010 National Survey of Family Growth (NSFG) and to identify the relative contribution of population composition (i.e. percent sexually active single and percent cohabiting) versus rates (pregnancy rates, post-conception marriage rates) to race-ethnic variation in non-marital fertility rates (N=7,428). We find that the pregnancy rate among single (not cohabiting) women is the biggest contributor to race-ethnic variation in the non-marital fertility rate and that contraceptive use patterns among racial minorities explains the majority of the race-ethnic differences in pregnancy rates...

The main goal of this paper was to examine the relative importance of relationship status, pregnancy rates, and post-conception marriage to race-ethnic differences in non-marital fertility in 2006–2010. This effort represents an update of prior work and an extension to incorporate cohabitation and consider fertility patterns among Hispanics. Our analysis provides us with several findings. First, today variation in sexual activity and in post-conception marriage contributes little to racial differences in non-marital fertility. Second, cohabitation plays a smaller role than we anticipated. Even among U.S.-born Hispanics, pregnancy rates among sexually active singles were as important as rates among cohabitors, but for blacks and foreign-born Hispanics cohabitation clearly has a secondary role.

These findings may be in some ways surprising given all the attention demographers have paid to the importance of cohabitation for non-marital fertility trends and a common perception that cohabitation might serve as an alternative to marriage for minority women, especially Hispanic women. Yet, over the past 30 years as the non-marital fertility rates have been rising for whites, they have not increased for blacks or Hispanics. The increase in non-marital fertility over this time was largely due to increases in cohabitation among white women (Raley 2001), which greatly diminished race-ethnic variation in non-marital sexual activity. Declines in post-conception marriage led to rises in non-marital fertility among both whites and blacks in earlier parts of the century (England, Wu, and Shafer 2013), but postmarital conception was already rare among blacks by 1980. Since then, whites and Hispanics have been catching up (Bachu 1999) so that today race-ethnic differentials in post-conception marriage are relatively small (Lichter 2012). As race-ethnic differences in sexual activity and post-conception marriage diminished, differences in fertile pregnancy rates became the most important factor suppressing white non-marital births.

Today black-white differences in the non-marital fertility rates are driven largely by differences in the pregnancy rates among sexually active singles. Our analyses suggest these differences are largely due to patterns of contraceptive use. Lower abortion rates among black and Hispanic unmarried pregnant women might contribute somewhat to their higher fertile pregnancy rates, but variation in contraceptive use is more than sufficient to explain race-ethnic differences...

Below:  Fertile Pregnancy Rates and Estimated Pregnancy Rates by Race-Ethnicity and Relationship Status (per 1,000 women)

Panel A: Cohabiting Women

Pane B: Single Women

Full article at: http://goo.gl/q8XAeM

By: Yujin Kim and R. Kelly Raley

University of Texas at Austin

  

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