Structural, Institutional, and Interpersonal Racism: Calling for Equity in Autism Research and Practice.

Disparities in autism research and practices based on race and ethnicity are evident across many outcomes and life course stages. However, most of the research has focused on outlining differences and not the underlying systemic inequities driving these disparities. In this conceptual paper, we aim to shift the focus by outlining mechanisms of structural racism within the institutions of science, healthcare, and residential segregation and educational systems in the United States (U.

Diverse perspectives on supporting the health and wellness of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

Background: Persons with intellectual and/or developmental disabilities (IDD) are a growing population, frequently living with complex health conditions and unmet healthcare needs. Traditional clinical practice and research methods and measures may require adaptation to reflect their preferences.

Objective: The perspectives of people with IDD, caregivers/partners, and clinicians were obtained to provide insight into factors contributing to the health and wellness of people with IDD.

Development of a physical performance summary score in middle age: Findings from the CARDIA Function study.

Few physical performance batteries exist that appropriately evaluate physical limitations in middle-aged adults. We aimed to develop a physical performance summary score that is appropriate for use in epidemiology studies of middle-aged adults using data from the Coronary Artery Risk Development in Young Adults (CARDIA) Function study, which assessed self-reported function (PROMIS-SF20a) and physical performance measures (gait speed, balance, lower-body strength, grip strength, and cardiovascular endurance). The CARDIA Physical Performance (CAPP) score was developed using sex-specific quartiles, assigning points based on these quartiles (0 for not attempted, 1-4 for each quartile), and summing points across all performance measures (0-20, higher scores reflect greater performance).

Association between child marriage and high blood glucose level in women: A birth cohort analysis.

Objectives: Child marriage prematurely forces girls (<18 years of age) to perform adult roles prior to physical and psychological maturity. Such precocious transitions to young adulthood can have consequences on their long-term health, however, limited work has examined such relationships to date. As such, this study examines whether child marriage is associated with the risk of having hyperglycemia, or high blood glucose, in adulthood.

A Survival Analysis of Rural-Urban Disparities in COVID-19 Vaccination Uptake in the United States.

Purpose: Though urban-rural disparities in COVID-19 vaccination coverage was documented at a point of time, little is known on the evolution of vaccination uptake over time. This study, using individual level time-to-event data, intend to assess the differences in monthly progression of vaccination uptake among U.S.

Relationship between social support, life satisfaction, and smoking status among US adults with cardiovascular risks.

Social support and life satisfaction are important determinants of health behaviors and health outcomes. Cigarette smoking, a health risk behavior that increases the risk of cardiovascular diseases, is deemed to have association with perceived social support and life satisfaction. This study assessed this relationship among US adults with one or more cardiovascular (CV) risks, namely, hypertension, high cholesterol, diabetes, and obesity.

Are we assessing motor competence? Evidence-informed constructs for motor competence in preschoolers through an Exploratory Graph Analysis.

Motor competence (MC) is conceptually defined as a multidimensional latent construct that covers the proficient performance in motor skills and its underlying mechanisms This study aimed to statistically provide arguments that MC is a network of interconnected constructs, such as FMS, coordination, and its underlying mechanisms, which are responsible for preschoolers' proficiency in motor tasks. Participated 102 preschoolers (65 girls, age = 4.22 ± 0.

The intersection of melanoma survival and social determinants of health in the United States: A systematic review.

Background: Despite recent improvements in melanoma survival rates, persistent inequalities pose barriers to care for some patients.

Objective: To assess the influence of social determinants of health (SDoH) on melanoma treatment outcomes.

Methods: A systematic review (Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews CRD42022346854) of manuscripts that examined the association between SDoH and melanoma treatment-related outcomes in the United States was conducted using 5 databases.

Spousal age difference and risk of hypertension in women: evidence from India.

There has been steady progress in documenting the psychosocial risk factors of hypertension. However, most of the extant evidence is based on population from the developed countries. Using nationally representative data from India, this cross-sectional study explores whether spousal age gap is associated with risk of hypertension in married women aged 20 to 49 years.

Role of Child Marriage and Adolescent Childbearing on Hysterectomy Among Married Women in India: A Cross-Sectional and Time-to-Event Analysis.

Objective: Child marriage forces a girl into adult roles before physical and psychological maturity, which can take a toll on women's health over the life course. This article aims to assess whether child marriage and adolescent childbearing are associated with elevated risk of gynaecologic disorders leading to hysterectomy.

Design: Cross-sectional and time-to-event analysis.

Medical financial hardship in the Southern United States: the struggle continues across generations pre- and post- the Affordable Care Act.

Introduction: Medical financial hardship in the United States is a growing public health concern. This study aims to assess the south vs. non-south disparities in medical financial hardship among US adults of different generations - Boomers (born between 1946 and 1964), Generation X (born between 1965 and 1980), and the Millennials (born between 1981 and 1996) across periods pre- and post- Affordable Care Act (ACA).

Hysterectomy and medical financial hardship among U.S. women.

Objective: Hysterectomy is one of the common surgical procedures for women in the United States. Studies show that hysterectomy is associated with elevated risk of developing chronic conditions, whichmay cause financial toxicity in patients. This study aimed to assess whether women who underwent hysterectomy had a higher risk of experiencing medical financial hardship compared to women who didn't.

Health disparity at the intersection of religion and caste: Evidence from India.

Objective: The provisions and recognition of Schedule Castes (SCs), the constitutional term for the Dalits in India, have been exclusively extended to Hindus, Buddhists, and Sikhs (HBS). Omission of Dalit Muslims and Christians (MC) from the SC category stripped them of the affirmative action benefits tied with the SC status. This study aimed to explore how such differential treatment might play a role in differential health outcomes in Dalit women in India.

Comprehensiveness of State Insurance Laws and Perceived Access to Pediatric Mental Health Care.

Importance: Many US children and adolescents with mental and behavioral health (MBH) conditions do not access MBH services. One contributing factor is limited insurance coverage, which is influenced by state MBH insurance parity legislation.

Objective: To investigate the association of patient-level factors and the comprehensiveness of state MBH insurance legislation with perceived poor access to MBH care and perceived inadequate MBH insurance coverage for US children and adolescents.

Long COVID and the Higher Risk of Food Insecurity Among Participants and Nonparticipants of Food Assistance Programs in the United States.

Background: In the aftermath of the COVID-19 public health emergency, it is important to understand the extent of socioeconomic burdens of long COVID, defined as continuation of symptoms after initial infection, including food insecurity.

Objective: This study aimed to assess the association between long COVID and family food insecurity among low-income individuals (or any of their family members living with them) who were participants and nonparticipants in public food assistance programs (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program [SNAP], Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children [WIC], and National School Lunch Program [NSLP]) in the United States.

Design: The study used an observational cross-sectional design.

What do we know about autism and policing globally? Preliminary findings from an international effort to examine autism and the criminal justice system.

Research has demonstrated that autistic individuals have higher rates of police contact, however, research has seldom explored the fundamental reasons for these interactions and how this might vary across international contexts. To remedy this, the Global Autism and Criminal Justice Consortium created and disseminated the Global Criminal Justice Survey. Descriptive statistics of survey respondents with and without police contact were compared to glean differential characteristics.

Advancing Health Policy and Outcomes for People With Intellectual or Developmental Disabilities: A Community-Led Agenda.

Importance: At least 10 million people in the United States have an intellectual and/or developmental disability (IDD). People with IDD experience considerably higher rates of poor overall health, chronic conditions including diabetes, mental health challenges, maternal mortality, and preventable deaths. This Special Communication proposes national goals based on a community-led consensus model that advances priority health outcomes for people with IDD and their caregivers/partners and identifies critical policy opportunities and challenges in achieving these goals.

Religious minority status and risk of hypertension in women: Evidence from Bangladesh.

Discrimination based on religion and communal violence against religious minorities have been on the rise worldwide. Despite growing incidences of violence against religious minorities, little is known on the relationship between minority status and population health outcomes in the low-and-middle income countries (LMICs). This study intends to fill this gap by assessing the prevalence of hypertension among religious minority women in Bangladesh, a South Asian country with high levels of social hostilities involving religion.

A systematic umbrella review and meta-meta-analysis of eHealth and mHealth interventions for improving lifestyle behaviours.

The aim of this meta-meta-analysis was to systematically review randomised controlled trial (RCT) evidence examining the effectiveness of e- and m-Health interventions designed to improve physical activity, sedentary behaviour, healthy eating and sleep. Nine electronic databases were searched for eligible studies published from inception to 1 June 2023. Systematic reviews with meta-analyses of RCTs that evaluate e- and m-Health interventions designed to improve physical activity, sedentary behaviour, sleep and healthy eating in any adult population were included.

A mHealth application for the training of caregivers of children with developmental disorders in South Africa: rationale and initial piloting.

Background: Evidence-based mobile health (mHealth) interventions have been successful for an array of physical and mental health conditions. Children with developmental disorders (DD) often have secondary speech and language disorders. The lack of high-quality medical and educational services in low- and middle-income countries limits the opportunities for children with DD to succeed in life.

Racial and Ethnic Disparities in Community Mental Health Use Among Autistic Adolescents and Young Adults.

Purpose: The purpose of this cohort study was to evaluate differences in rate of co-occurring mental health (MH) conditions among transition-age autistic youth (TAYA) who are Black, indigenous, and other people of color, and to identify enabling variables associated with any community MH visit in this population.

Methods: Medicare-Medicaid Linked Enrollees Analytic Data Source 2012 data were used for this study. TAYA 14-29 years old who received fee-for-service Medicare, Medicaid, or both were included.