Publications by authors named "Clara Barajas"

Objective: We studied patterns in health care access between Latino and non-Latino White adults according to citizenship status before and after the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) of 2021 was enacted to determine whether inequities changed.

Methods: This study used 2019-2022 National Health Survey Interview data. Differences in predicted probabilities from logistic regression models were used to estimate changes in health care access outcomes (any insurance coverage, private insurance coverage, delaying care due to cost, and having a usual source of care) among Latino citizens, Latino noncitizens, and non-Latino White citizens in periods before and after ARPA's enactment (2019-2020 vs 2021-2022).

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Latinas are less likely to receive genetic counseling and genetic testing (GCT) compared to non-Latina Whites because of systemic and patient-level barriers. We developed and tested fotonovelas to increase awareness of GCT among Latinas at-risk of hereditary breast and ovarian cancer (HBOC). Content for the fotonovelas was drawn from an existing culturally targeted narrative video focused on improving GCT use among Latinas at-risk of HBOC.

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Article Synopsis
  • There are problems in getting people in Latin America and the Caribbean to participate in cancer screenings and follow-up care.
  • The study looked at different issues that make it hard for people to get screened, like services not being available, too expensive, or hard to access, and also how well doctors and patients communicate.
  • Many countries recognized that their population information isn't accurate and said they are trying to improve cancer screening with education and training for health workers.
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Background: The Latino health paradox is the phenomenon whereby recent Latino immigrants have, on average, better health outcomes on some indicators than Latino immigrants who have lived in the United States longer and US-born Latinos and non-Latino Whites. This study examined whether the paradox holds after accounting for health care access and utilization.

Methods: The 2019-2020 National Health Interview Survey data were used.

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Article Synopsis
  • Individuals with serious mental illness (SMI) who encounter the criminal justice system can benefit from targeted mental health interventions, but more research is needed to determine their overall effectiveness.
  • The review identified 13 studies focusing on various intervention types, such as cognitive/behavioral and psychoeducational approaches, with some showing significant mental health improvements, particularly those using interpersonal therapy (IPT).
  • Challenges in evaluating these interventions include the need for larger, randomized studies and the inclusion of non-clinical personnel, emphasizing gaps in the current mental health treatment literature for this population.
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Background: In the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC), breast cancer and cervical cancer are the first and third causes of cancer death among females. The objectives are to assess the characteristics of the cervical and breast cancer screening programmes in CELAC, their level of organization, and the association of screening organization and coverage of essential health services.

Methods: Representatives of the Ministries of Health of 33 countries were invited to the CanScreen5 project.

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Introduction: Despite having worse healthcare access and other social disadvantages, immigrants have, on average, better health outcomes than U.S.-born individuals.

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Objective: To assess changes in the availability of mental health crisis services in Puerto Rico relative to US states before and after Hurricanes Maria and Irma.

Data Sources/study Setting: National Mental Health Services Surveys conducted in 2016 and 2020.

Study Design: Repeated cross-sectional design.

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This study examined the association between discrimination, peer connectedness, and mental health symptoms among Black medical students. Data were collected from a convenience sample of Black medical students via an anonymous electronic questionnaire (n = 733) in year 2020. The Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System Depression and Anxiety forms were used to measure depression and anxiety symptoms.

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Background: Health disparities are pervasive and are linked to economic losses in the United States of up to $135 billion per year. The Flint Center for Health Equity Solutions (FCHES) is a Transdisciplinary Collaborative Center for health disparities research funded by the National Institute of Minority Health and Health Disparities (NIMHD). The purpose of this study was to estimate the economic impact of the 5-year investment in FCHES in Genesee County, Michigan.

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The availability of local, state, and national data on alcohol outlet density have important implications for policies and interventions aiming to reduce alcohol-related problems. High-quality data on locations of alcohol outlets is important to accurately inform community interventions and public health initiatives, but such data is often not maintained, readily available, or of sufficient quality. : This study aims to examine the discrepancies between alcohol outlet databases and how neighborhood characteristics (i.

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An early adopter of public preschool (i.e., pre-kindergarten, "pre-k"), evidence from Baltimore City, Maryland, can provide insight for those working to improve access to early education opportunities.

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A growing body of evidence suggests that characteristics of the neighborhood environment in urban areas significantly impact risk for drug use behavior and exposure to violent crime. Identifying areas of community need, prioritizing planning projects, and developing strategies for community improvement require inexpensive, easy to use, evidence-based tools to assess neighborhood disorder that can be used for a variety of research, urban planning, and community needs with an environmental justice frame. This study describes validation of the Neighborhood Inventory for Environmental Typology (NIfETy), a neighborhood environmental observational assessment tool designed to assess characteristics of the neighborhood environment related to violence, alcohol, and other drugs, for use with Google Street View (GSV).

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African Americans and ethnic minorities experience racial discrimination in a variety of settings. Racial discrimination is a potent stressor that has been linked to psychosocial stress and poor physical health. To cope with discriminatory experiences and daily life event stressors, African Americans frequently use the concept of John Henryism (a high effort coping strategy with prolonged exposure to stress).

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The current study examined the relationship between John Henryism Active Coping (JHAC), experiences of racial discrimination, and behavioral health outcomes in a community sample of 319 Black adults. Assessments included primary health care screenings as well as self-reported survey questions to assess JHAC, experiences of discrimination, and self-reported behavioral health. Logistic regression models, adjusted for control variables, found a significant relationship between JHAC and having an opioid problem (odds ratio [OR] = 0.

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