Racial/Ethnic Disparities Among Children with Perinatal HIV Infection (posted 3/10)

A new article out of the Centers for Disease Control demonstrates that racial disparities in HIV/AIDS continue to exist, in particular for children diagnosed with perinatal HIV infection. The article titled “Racial/Ethnic Disparities among Children with Diagnoses of Perinatal HIV Infection – 34 States, 2004-2007” was published in the Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR) at the beginning of February. The article shows that despite substantial declines in the number of HIV-infected infants in the United States, racial/ethnic minorities, especially African Americans, continue to be most significantly impacted by perinatal transmission. Although black and Hispanic children only accounted for 37 percent of the population under the age of one, these groups represented 85 percent of all perinatal HIV diagnoses. Because the risk of transmission from an HIV-infected mother to her child can be greatly reduced with effective interventions, the authors emphasize it is critical all women – especially African Americans and Latinas – have access to HIV prevention, reproductive health care, prenatal care and, if necessary, HIV treatment. To read the article click here.

Bans on Same-Sex Marriage May Affect Mental Health (posted 3/10)

A new study out of the Journal of Public Health shows that gay, lesbian, and bisexual people living in states with institutional discrimination - such as bans on same-sex marriage - are at increased risk of psychiatric disorders, reports Business Week. Researchers analyzed data from lesbians, gays and bisexuals who were interviewed in 2001-2002 and 2004-2005 for the National Epidemiologic Survey on Alcohol and Related Conditions. The participants lived in states that instituted constitutional amendments banning gay marriage following the 2004-2005 elections. The researchers found a significant increase in the prevalence of mood disorders, generalized anxiety disorders and alcohol use disorders among lesbians, gays and bisexuals after the states banned gay marriage. The greatest increase - more than 200 percent - was seen in generalized anxiety disorder. "Before this study, little was known about the impact of institutional discrimination toward lesbian, gay and bisexual (LGB) individuals in our society," senior author Deborah Hasin, an epidemiologist at Columbia University and the New York State Psychiatric Institute, said in a university news release. "The study highlights the importance of abolishing institutional forms of discrimination, including those leading to disparities in the mental health and well-being of LGB individuals." To read the Business Week article click here.

To view the abstract of the study on the website of AJPH click here.

For additional information about the relationship between same-sex marriage bans and the health and wellbeing of LGBT families, go to GLMA’s Marriage Equality Project website, click here.

Prepare for National Public Health Week April 5-11

During National Public Health Week (NPHW) from April 5-11, 2010 communities across the country will celebrate to recognize the contributions of public health and highlight issues that are important to improving the public’s health. The American Public Health Association (APHA) serves as the organizer of NPHW and has developed a national campaign to educate the public, policy-makers and practitioners about issues related to creating a healthy America. The only way to become a healthier nation is to create healthier communities. Join APHA during NPHW 2010 as we work together to create “A Healthier America: One Community at a Time.”  The American Public Health Association (APHA) has issued a call for America to become the healthiest nation in one generation. It may sound impossible, but if we all pitch in—from our neighborhoods and workplaces to our schools and families—we can make a difference. For more information click here.

APHA has developed a toolkit to help communities work together to plan events during NPHW to raise awareness about public health, including mental wellness. The toolkit includes activities specifice for neighborhoods, schools, and workplaces that help to raise awareness about public health issues. The toolkit has sections focused on event planning, media outreach, and social media outreach. To download the toolkit from the APHA website click here.

Public Health’s Role in Mental Health Disparities (posted 3/8)

Racial and ethnic minority populations are underserved in the U.S. mental health care system, and treatment disparities between whites and African Americans have increased substantially since the 1990s, according to an article in the January issue of Preventing Chronic Disease. The authors of the article entitled "The Role of Public Health in Addressing Racial and Ethnic Disparities in Mental Health and Mental Illness" call for an increased emphasis on prevention, providing mental health services to incarcerated and recently released populations, and working towards a more diverse, multicultural mental health workforce. To view the article online click here. To download the article click here.

Abstract:
Racial/ethnic minority populations are underserved in the American mental health care system. Disparity in treatment between whites and African Americans has increased substantially since the 1990s. Racial/ethnic minorities may be disproportionately affected by limited English proficiency, remote geographic settings, stigma, fragmented services, cost, comorbidity of mental illness and chronic diseases, cultural understanding of health care services, and incarceration. We present a model that illustrates how social determinants of health, interventions, and outcomes interact to affect mental health and mental illness. Public health approaches to these concerns include preventive strategies and federal agency collaborations that optimize the resilience of racial/ethnic minorities. We recommend strategies such as enhanced surveillance, research, evidence-based practice, and public policies that set standards for tracking and reducing disparities.

Q&A: Gregorio Millett, Senior Policy Adviser, Office of National AIDS Policy (posted 3/8)

Black AIDS Institute recently conducted an interview with Gregorio Millett Senior Policy Adviser, Office of National AIDS Policy:

"Longtime HIV researcher and activist Gregorio Millett, M.P.H., formerly with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and now working at the White House's Office of National AIDS Policy, is helping to lead the Obama administration's effort to develop our country's first National HIV/AIDS Strategy. We caught up with Millett to find out what motivates him and how the Black community figures into the plan."  To read the full interview click here.

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