Adjustment For Other Sociodemographic Factors Research Articles

COVID-19 in the Community: Changes to Women's Mental Health, Financial Security, and Physical Activity

This study describes changes in the mental health, financial security, and physical activity levels of women in North Carolina during the COVID-19 pandemic. Data were collected from women aged 20-40 years receiving primary care at 2 health centers in North Carolina during 2020-2022. Surveys (N=127) evaluated changes in mental health, financial security, and physical activity during the COVID-19 pandemic. These outcomes were analyzed both descriptively and for association with sociodemographic factors using logistic regression. A subset of participants (n=46) participated in semistructured interviews. Interview transcripts were reviewed and evaluated for recurring themes by primary and secondary coders using a rapid-coding technique. Analysis was conducted in 2022. Women surveyed were 28.4% non-Hispanic White, 38.6% non-Hispanic Black, and 33.1% Hispanic/Latina. Compared with reports before the pandemic, participants reported increased frustration or boredom (69.1%), loneliness (51.6%), anxiety (64.3%), depression (52.4%), and changed sleep patterns (68.3%). Increased alcohol and other recreational substance use were associated with race and ethnicity (p<0.05) after adjustment for other sociodemographic factors. Participants reported difficulty in paying for basic expenses (44.0%). Financial difficulties during COVID-19 were associated with non-Hispanic Black race and ethnicity, less education, and lower prepandemic household income. Data showed pandemic-associated reductions in mild (32.8%), moderate (39.5%), and strenuous (43.3%) exercise, with a correlation between increased depression and reduced mild exercise. Interviews identified themes including reduced activity while working remotely, lack of gym access, and reduced motivation for exercise. This mixed-methods study is one of the first to evaluate the mental health, financial security, and physical activity challenges women aged between 20 and 40 years in the southern U.S. faced during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Vulnerable Groups Within a Vulnerable Population: Awareness of the A(H1N1)pdm09 Pandemic and Willingness to Be Vaccinated Among Pregnant Women in Ivory Coast

Because little is known about attitudes toward influenza and influenza vaccine among pregnant women in West Africa, before local distribution of A(H1N1)pdm09 vaccine in Ivory Coast we assessed knowledge of the pandemic and acceptance of the A(H1N1)pdm09 vaccine in a diverse population of pregnant women. A cross-sectional intercept survey of 411 pregnant women in 4 prenatal care settings was conducted during 15-28 February 2010 in Abidjan, Ivory Coast. The majority (64.5%) of pregnant women said they had heard of the influenza pandemic, and of these, the majority (61.3%) were aware of the A(H1N1)pdm09 vaccine. However, awareness varied significantly by clinical setting, education level, and access to media (P < .001 for all comparisons). After adjustment for other sociodemographic factors, college-educated women were 16.8 (95% confidence interval [CI], 3.3-85.2) times as likely as women without formal education to be aware of the pandemic. After controlling for both education and demographic characteristics, women with televisions were 5 times as likely as women without television to be aware of the pandemic (adjusted odds ratio [aOR], 4.94; 95% CI, 1.34-18.17). Of those aware of the influenza pandemic, 69.8% said they would accept the A(H1N1)pdm09 vaccine while they were pregnant. Although awareness was highest in private prenatal care clinics, compared with public outpatient clinics (90.6% vs 37.5%), acceptance of vaccine was significantly lower in private settings, compared with public outpatient settings (57.3% vs 87.2%; P < .001 for each comparison). Gaps in knowledge about the influenza pandemic and vaccine highlight the challenges of pandemic preparedness in poorer countries, where substantial disparities in education and media access are evident.

Lower Socioeconomic Status and Disability Among US Adults With Chronic Kidney Disease, 1999-2008

Socioeconomic disparities are associated with the prevalence of disability in the general population; however, it is unknown whether a similar association exists between socioeconomic status and disability from chronic kidney disease (CKD, defined as albuminuria or an estimated glomerular filtration rate of 15-59 mL/min/1.73 m(2)). A total of 4,257 US adults aged 20 years or older with CKD who participated in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 1999-2008 completed standardized questionnaires assessing self-reported difficulties in activities of daily living (ADL), instrumental ADL (IADL), lower-extremity mobility (LEM), and leisure and social activities (LSA). We used multivariable logistic regression with population-based weighting to obtain adjusted prevalence estimates of disability by demographic, socioeconomic, health care access, and clinical characteristics. Participants with less education had more disability (age- and sex-adjusted prevalence of disability by lowest vs highest level of education: ADL, 24.5% vs 16.9%; IADL, 34.0% vs 20.3%; LEM, 56.9% vs 44.6%; LSA, 26.2% vs 16.8%; P < .001 for all). We observed similar trends for income. After further adjustment for other sociodemographic factors, health care access, and comorbid conditions, education and income both remained significantly associated, by any measure, with lower prevalence of disability. Among people with CKD in the United States, lower socioeconomic status is associated with greater risk of disability, independent of race/ethnicity, health care access, and comorbid conditions. Our findings suggest that people with CKD and limited education or lower income should be targeted for early intervention to limit disability and further loss of income, both of which could worsen outcomes in CKD.

Do differences in sexual behaviors account for the racial/ethnic differences in adolescents' self-reported history of a sexually transmitted disease?

African-American adolescents have the highest rates of sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) of any racial/ethnic group of adolescents. The objective of this study was to determine the degree to which racial/ethnic differences in sexual behaviors account for African-American adolescents' higher rates of STDs. A secondary analysis of data collected as part of the Youth Risk Behavior Survey supplement to the 1992 National Health Interview Survey was conducted. The sample included 5,189 nationally representative civilian noninstitutionalized sexually experienced United States adolescents 14 to 21 years of age. The age- and sex-adjusted odds ratio (OR) for a reported history of an STD for African-American adolescents was 3.86 (95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.57, 9.50). The STD risk for African-American youth increased with the adjustment for other sociodemographic factors (OR = 4.13; CI = 1.71, 9.99) and decreased with the adjustment for sexual behaviors (OR = 3.67; CI = 1.55,8.66). Differences in sexual behaviors do not fully account for African-American adolescents' increased risk for STDs. Interventions designed to reduce sexual risk taking among African-American adolescents may not ameliorate racial/ethnic differences in rates of STDs.