Population Health Research Brief Series

Policy has long been considered a core element of public health practice. The COVID-19 pandemic has made clear that public health practice and research exist within a political context that cannot be ignored.

Flooding is on the rise in the US and rural states are not immune. Chronic and one-time flood events can have devastating consequences for financial well-being, with residual impacts on mental and physical health.

In the U.S., rural mortality rates are much higher than those in urban areas, and the gap has widened in recent years. Several causes of death are to blame.

For many grandparents, caring for their grandchildren makes them feel younger, mostly because they are more physically active and maintain healthier diets.

The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) is an important federal resource that provides nutritional assistance to low-income families. Timing of SNAP benefits can reduce childhood injuries.

While COVID-19 case rates increased between April 10, 2020 and July 10, 2020 for both groups, from April 10 to May 1, the case rate increased by 2.5 times for people with IDD, from 2,225 to 5,544 cases per 100,000, but only increased by 1.6 times for New York State, from 886 to 1,584 cases per 100,000.

COVID-19 mortality risk is not distributed equally across the U.S. Among rural counties, the average daily increase in COVID-19 mortality rates has been significantly higher in counties with the largest percentages of Black and Hispanic residents.

Only 54% of Medicare patients referred to home health care services following a hospitalization received home health care visits. Policymakers must address this discrepancy to ensure all patients receive the home health services they need.

Living near fast food has a greater impact on younger children who attend neighborhood schools. Proximity to fast food restaurants increases the probability of childhood obesity or overweight.

Given the challenges faced by the Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) communities within the U.S. this year, it is more important than ever to ensure BIPOC college students are provided with access to mental health care.

The decision to reopen some U.S. universities during the current COVID-19 pandemic may be tied to private financial interests in student housing.

Conservative state policies are killing Americans. U.S. life expectancy gains since 2010 would be 25% greater for women & 13% greater for men if state policies hadn’t become more conservative.

COVID-19 has created numerous challenges for Americans in their ability to meet their basic needs. One specific economic challenge is the ability to pay mortgage or rent.

The coronavirus pandemic has created widespread economic disruption, exacerbating American household food insufficiency.

The overuse of police force has public health implications. The rates of injury and death sustained while in law enforcement custody should be collected as a part of the public health strategy to minimize the over-use of force.

Non-combat and combat veterans without a PD or TBI are less likely than nonveterans to be daily drinkers.

Georgia is a “right to work” state, in which teachers can be fired or have their state license revoked if they strike or utilize collective bargaining. This leaves few legal options for teachers to challenge the state mandate to reopen without adequate preparation.