Socio-ecological Model Of Health Research Articles

“But then that's another barrier”: A qualitative study of parent and provider perspectives on rural versus urban disparities in adolescent vaccination

Purpose: Vaccination rates are significantly lower among adolescents living in rural areas compared to those living in urban areas. The objective of this study was to understand the factors contributing to disparities in vaccination between adolescents in rural compared to urban areas.Methods: Semi-structured qualitative interviews were conducted with parents and providers in 16 rural and 4 urban counties of Colorado. Interview questions followed the socioecological model of health and addressed personal, interpersonal, community, and environment/structural barriers and facilitators that impact adolescent vaccination rates. Qualitative content analysis with a directed content analysis approach was used. Urban and rural interviews were compared to identify barriers unique to rural communities.Findings: Reported barriers included lack of vaccine access at primary care, lack of routine preventive care utilization, the need to take off time from work and school, and misinformation about vaccines. Barriers that were unique to rural communities included structural barriers such as lack of evening and weekend appointments, providers not stocking vaccines, short provider tenures, and costs; logistical barriers such as the need for multiple visits to multiple locations and distance and travel time; and beliefs and behaviors such as an overreliance on sports physicals (in lieu of preventive visits) and natural lifestyle cultures.Conclusions: There are unique challenges to adolescent vaccination in rural areas that contribute to fewer adolescents receiving their recommended vaccines. Addressing structural barriers may address this disparity.

Attitudes Towards Dementia Among a Diverse Group of Refugees Resettled in the United States.

Forced migration results in exposure to trauma, interrupted access to healthcare, and loss of social support and may increase dementia risk. Literature on refugees' knowledge of dementia and its risk factors is scant. This study investigates refugee perspectives on dementia and their access to cognitive healthcare in the United States (US). We conducted 6 focus groups and 30 individual in-depth interviews (total of 69 participants) with Arab, African, and Afghan refugees resettled in San Diego, California. Data was coded using inductive thematic analysis. Organized by the socioecological model of health, the following themes emerged: (1) mental trauma due to migration was linked to dementia (individual); (2) fear of dementia and burdening caregivers due to limited support systems (interpersonal); (3) reliance on virtual communities for dementia information and the stress of local community loss increasing dementia risk (community); (4) healthcare providers, both in the US and in refugee camps, didn't address cognitive health concerns (institutions); and (5) discriminatory immigration and healthcare policies as barriers to healthy aging (policy). Despite being a heterogeneous group, refugees share specific experiences, knowledge gaps, and barriers to healthy aging. Tailored interventions and policies are needed to address this population's cognitive health needs. This includes addressing their mental health and social support concerns as well as training clinicians to screen for/discuss dementia with aging refugee patients.

Individual, social and area level factors associated with older people's walking: Analysis of an UK household panel study (Understanding Society)

BackgroundAmong older people, walking is a popular and prevalent activity. Walking is key to increasing physical activity levels and resulting physical and mental health. In the context of rapidly ageing populations, it is important to better understand what factors are associated with walking among older people, based on the socioecological model of health. MethodsWe used data from Understanding Society (n:6450), a national panel survey of UK adults aged 65 years and over living in Great Britain. Slope Indices of Inequality (SII) were calculated for weekly walking hours for older people according to individual, social and area characteristics. These include health, loneliness and social isolation, previous walking and sporting activity, residential self-selection, contact with neighbours, number of close friends and social activity. Spatial area-level data described local area crime, walkability, and proximity to retail, greenspace, and public transport amenities. ResultsMultivariable models indicated that poor health, particularly requiring help with walking, was the strongest predictor of weekly walking hours (SII (95% CI) comparing those needing help vs. no help: −3.58 (−4.30, −2.87)). However, both prior sporting activity (most vs. least active: 2.30 (1.75, 2.88)) and walking for pleasure (yes vs. no: 1.92 (1.32, 2.53)) were strongly associated with increased walking several years later. Similarly having close friends (most vs. fewest, 1.18 (0.72, 1.77)) and local retail destinations (any vs. none: 0.93 (0.00, 1.86)) were associated with more weekly walking. ConclusionsPast engagement in physical activity and walking for pleasure are strong predictors of walking behaviour in older people, underscoring the importance of implementing and sustaining walking interventions across the lifespan to ensure continued engagement in later years and the associated health benefits. However, poor health significantly impedes walking in this demographic, emphasising the need for interventions that offer both physical assistance and social support to promote this activity.

Path modeling of socioeconomic, behavioral, and environmental attributes of the Ebola epidemic in West Africa

The 2014 Ebola outbreak stands as one of the most severe outbreaks of the virus, resulting in approximately 15,227 confirmed cases and 11,310 deaths. Despite substantial research conducted on the biological and epidemiological features of the virus, limited attention has been given to how an individual’s health behavior contributes to its spread. This study aimed to identify socioeconomic, behavioral, and environmental factors associated with Ebola infection. Guided by the Socioecological Model of Health, a correlational analysis was conducted using data from three English-speaking West African countries with the highest Ebola caseloads and fatalities: Liberia, Nigeria, and Sierra Leone. Each country’s Ministry of Health compiled daily reports on Ebola infections, including confirmed cases and deaths within each district. Possible health behavior determinants were gathered from surveys conducted by each country with the assistance of credible international agencies. Path analysis was then conducted to identify the size and direction of direct and indirect effects associated with an Ebola infection. The results revealed that female unemployment men with some secondary education, availability of hand washing soap, female literacy, and total health expenditure significantly predict initial confirmed cases with an R2 of 0.41. Along with the predictors of initial confirmed cases, the main source of drinking water accounted for 59% (R2) of the variance in the latest confirmed deaths. Officials in high-prevalence countries are suggested to address the availability of soap for hand washing, male secondary education proportion, female literacy and unemployment, health expenditure, and main sources of drinking water to reduce the transmission of the Ebola virus.

Multilevel Intervention Stepped Wedge Designs (MLI-SWDs)

Multilevel interventions (MLIs) hold promise for reducing health inequities by intervening at multiple types of social determinants of health consistent with the socioecological model of health. In spite of their potential, methodological challenges related to study design compounded by a lack of tools for sample size calculation inhibit their development. We help address this gap by proposing the Multilevel Intervention Stepped Wedge Design (MLI-SWD), a hybrid experimental design which combines cluster-level (CL) randomization using a Stepped Wedge design (SWD) with independent individual-level (IL) randomization. The MLI-SWD is suitable for MLIs where the IL intervention has a low risk of interference between individuals in the same cluster, and it enables estimation of the component IL and CL treatment effects, their interaction, and the combined intervention effect. The MLI-SWD accommodates cross-sectional and cohort designs as well as both incomplete (clusters are not observed in every study period) and complete observation patterns. We adapt recent work using generalized estimating equations for SWD sample size calculation to the multilevel setting and provide an R package for power and sample size calculation. Furthermore, motivated by our experiences with the ongoing NC Works 4 Health study, we consider how to apply the MLI-SWD when individuals join clusters over the course of the study. This situation arises when unemployment MLIs include IL interventions that are delivered while the individual is unemployed. This extension requires carefully considering whether the study interventions will satisfy additional causal assumptions but could permit randomization in new settings.

The Role of Nursing in Pediatric Lifestyle Medicine

Lifestyle medicine is a critically important part of optimizing holistic health across the life course of individuals. For children and adolescents, lifestyle medicine with the focus on developing healthy lifestyle behaviors, is initiated early in life and emphasizes multidisciplinary, multisectoral efforts. Central to these efforts is primordial prevention, with an emphasis on developing and maintaining healthy patterns of lifestyle behaviors. Viewed within a socio-ecological model of health and behavior, contexts including families, schools, and communities interact to influence and impact the health of children and adolescents. Nurses and nursing organizations and societies promote pediatric lifestyle medicine with the aim of promoting optimal health and development for all children.

Human rights and psychology in the Republic of Ireland: Aspirations for everyday practice and introducing the Kyrie Farm model

The Republic of Ireland is introducing major human rights-based reform to its mental health laws. This paper outlines the new legal landscape in which psychologists must operate against the backdrop of present-day effects of Ireland’s dark legacy of institutionalisation. A rights-based approach aims to positively transform mental health service delivery and we advocate for person-centred treatments as the ‘new normal’. We summarise the recent advocacy work undertaken by the Psychological Society of Ireland’s Special Interest Group in Human Rights & Psychology. Finally, we present an innovative best practice case promoting future rights-based delivery via the Socio-Ecological Model of Health – Kyrie Farm.

O.1.3-6 Using a socio-ecological approach to explore healthy lifestyle in elite sport: perspectives of athletes, coaches and managers

Abstract Purpose Elite athletes are continually subjected to a range of constraints specific to high performance, and these can have a negative impact on their health. Although many studies have explored the individual factors related to risky behaviors and disorders in elite sport contexts, and have provided prevention programs, few have focused on health promotion. Consequently, the interpersonal, institutional, and policy factors of the health-related behaviors of elite athletes are still poorly explored. Based on the socioecological model of health, this study aimed to identify the factors involved in the health-related lifestyle of elite athletes. Methods Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 45 participants: athletes (N = 32; Mage=20.1, SD = 4.4), their coaches (N = 6; Mage=45.3, SD = 6.4) and managers of elite sport centers (N = 7; Mage=52.0, SD = 7.0). Interviews were audio recorded and transcribed verbatim. Both deductive and inductive thematic analyses were performed. This study was approved by the local Ethic Committee of the University. Results Our results highlight the different levels of factors related to the health-related lifestyle of elite athletes, using the socioecological model, as perceived by athletes themselves, coaches, and managers. Regarding intrapersonal factors, resilience qualities and health literacy appeared as key factors to influencing the health-related lifestyle of elite athletes. At the interpersonal level, parents and coaches were considered as the main sources of educational support. Regarding institutional factors, the health policies of the elite sport centers were key factors in supporting the athletes’ healthy lifestyle. Similarities and specificities of the views of the different actors have been identified. Conclusion These results show the interest of the application of the socioecological model in the elite sport domain. They encourage the development of health-promotion programs at different levels of intervention of the socioecological model, beyond traditional health prevention programs. In addition, this study suggests to consider the different perspectives of each actor to co-construct health promotion programs.

“I wish it wasn’t all on me”: women’s experiences living with a partner with ADHD

Purpose Grounded in the socio-ecological model of health, this study aims to understand the broader impact of adult attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) on the family system. With a notable gap in knowledge concerning the impact of adult ADHD on spouses’ well-being, this research explores the lived experiences of women in relationships with partners diagnosed with ADHD. Material and methods Using a descriptive qualitative phenomenological approach, we conducted semi-structured interviews with thirteen women without ADHD, to gain insights into their experiences. Results Three main themes were identified- ADHD in Everyday Life, Burden Experience, and Women’s Coping Strategies for managing ADHD within relationships. The findings suggest that partners’ ADHD symptoms involve a burden on women. In response, women developed coping strategies such as learning about ADHD, setting limits, and cultivating partnership by creating bridges to compensate for ADHD-related barriers. Conclusions This study highlights the substantial burden experienced by women in a relationship with partners diagnosed with ADHD, suggesting they should be recognized as caregivers and a potentially vulnerable group at risk. However, the homogeneous nature of our sample, focusing on white, heterosexual women, underlines the need for further research to better understand the impact of adult ADHD on diverse partners’ functioning and health, as well as pathways to support them.

Perceived barriers to vegetable intake among urban adolescents from socioeconomically disadvantaged backgrounds: A qualitative study from the perspective of youth workers and teachers.

Eating habits established during adolescence have been shown to track into adulthood. Adolescents from lower socioeconomic status groups tend to have lower intakes of vegetables as compared with their more affluent peers. However, there is limited evidence about the determinants of vegetable intake in this population group. Therefore, this study aimed to explore the barriers to vegetable intake in adolescents living in socioeconomically disadvantaged areas through the perspective of school teachers and youth workers. A total of 20 semi-structured interviews were conducted with post-primary school teachers and youth workers from disadvantaged areas in Dublin, Ireland. Thematic analysis was applied to analyze the data. Eleven themes were identified and fitted within the Socioecological Model of Health: adolescent's food preferences, lack of early exposure and familiarity with vegetables, lack of interest, knowledge and skills at the individual and family level, parenting practices around nutrition, living difficulties, peers’ influence and social norms around nutrition, dual role of social media, lack of resources and support to promote healthy eating, competition between unhealthy food vs. vegetables, lack of adequate approaches & initiatives at the community and at the public policy levels, and lack of State support to promote healthy eating. Although several actions could be taken at the personal and interpersonal levels, more efforts are needed at the organizational, community and public policy levels to improve dietary choices and vegetable intake among adolescents in socioeconomically deprived areas. These findings will inform the development of tailored intervention strategies and policies for these vulnerable youths.

Looking at Diabetes-Related Distress through a New Lens: The Socio-Ecological Health Model

Diabetes-related distress (DRD) is defined as an emotional state experienced by people with diabetes (PWD) who are worried about their disease management, the emotional burden from the condition, and/or potential difficulties accessing care or support. The psychosocial aspect of diabetes management is a factor that directly influences patients’ well-being as well as the chronic management of the condition yet is not a primary clinical problem being addressed within the healthcare setting. This review advocates for a re-evaluation and subsequent adjustment of the current DRD screening methodology by implementing the five primary components (Intrapersonal, Interpersonal, Organizational, Community, and Public Policy) of the Socio-Ecological Model of Health (SEMH), bridging the gaps from a public-health perspective. We searched two electronic databases for studies published in the United States from 1995 to 2020 reporting the effects of social determinants of health (SDOH) on DRD. Articles that contained at least one of the five elements of the SEMH and focused on adults aged 18 years or older were included. SDOH, which include circumstances where individuals grow, work, and age, are highly influenced by external factors, such as the distribution of wealth, power, and resources. Current DRD screening tools lack the capacity to account for all major components of SDOH in a comprehensive manner. By applying the SEMH as a theory-based framework, a novel DRD screening tool addressing sex, ethnicity, and socioeconomic background should be implemented to better improve diabetes management outcomes. By exploring the relationships between each level of the SEMH and DRD, healthcare professionals will be better equipped to recognize potential stress-inducing factors for individuals managing diabetes. Further efforts should be invested with the goal of developing a novel screening tool founded on the all-encompassing SEMH in order to perpetuate a more comprehensive diabetes treatment plan to address barriers within the SDOH framework.

Lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and gender diverse and queer (LGBTQ) community members' perspectives on palliative care in New South Wales (NSW), Australia.

Lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and gender diverse people, and queer people (LGBTQ people) are at increased risk of some chronic diseases and cancers. NSW Health palliative care health policy prioritises equitable access to quality care, however, little is known about community members' perspectives on palliative care. This study aimed to understand LGBTQ community views and preferences in palliative care in NSW. A community survey and follow-up interviews with LGBTQ people in NSW were conducted in mid-2020. A total of 419 people responded to the survey, with 222 completing it. Six semi-structured phone interviews were conducted with participants who volunteered for follow-up. The sample included LGBTQ people with varied levels of experience in palliative care. Thematic analysis was conducted on survey and interview data, to identify perceived barriers and enablers, and situate these factors in the socio-ecological model of health. Some perceived barriers from community members related to considering whether to be 'out' (i.e., making one's sexual orientation and gender known to services), knowledge and attitudes of staff, concern about potential substandard care or mistreatment (particularly for transgender health), decision making, biological family as a source of tension, and loneliness and isolation. Perceived enablers related to developing and distributing inclusive palliative care information, engaging with community(ies), fostering inclusive and non-discriminatory service delivery, ensuring respectful approaches to person-centred care, and staff training on and awareness building of LGBTQ needs and issues. Most of the participants who had experienced palliative care recounted positive interactions, however, we identified that LGBTQ people require better access to knowledgeable and supportive services. Palliative care information should be inclusive and services respectful and welcoming. Particular consideration should be given to how services respond to and engage with people from diverse population groups. These insights can support ongoing policy and service development activities to further enhance palliative care.

Risk and Protective Factors Experienced by Fathers of Refugee Background during the Early Years of Parenting: A Qualitative Study.

Fathers of refugee background with young children can experience significant mental health difficulties, with the potential for intergenerational impacts. This study aimed to explore how fathers of refugee background experience risk and protective factors for their own health and wellbeing during the early years of parenting. Semi-structured interviews and one semi-structured focus group were conducted with fathers of refugee background, with young children (0–5 years), who had settled in Australia. Transcribed interviews were analysed using thematic analysis, informed by the socioecological model of health. A total of 21 fathers participated in the study. Risk factors experienced included: prior experiences of trauma, reduced access to family support in Australia, adjustments in parenting roles, and the challenges of learning a new language and securing employment. Fathers drew on a number of sources of strength, including a sense of joy from fatherhood and support from partners, families, and communities. While most fathers regularly accompanied their partners and children to healthcare appointments, they were rarely asked by healthcare professionals about their own needs. Our findings support the idea that there is a need for greater assistance for fathers, particularly for navigating issues arising from the settlement process. Healthcare services working with families of refugee background must adopt a father-inclusive, trauma-informed approach that is responsive to fathers’ needs.

“I'm definitely not socially excluded!”- Perceptions of social exclusion among Australian government housing residents aged 80 and older who live alone

The oldest old - those aged 80 years and over - are the fastest growing sector of the Australian population and are generally assumed to be at risk of social exclusion which impedes healthy aging. The voices of those thought to be vulnerable to social exclusion are seldom heard. Informed by a critical gerontology framework, socio-ecological model of health and life-course perspectives, this research involved semi-structured in-depth interviews with a purposive sample of 13 people aged 80 and older living alone in government housing, in a socio-economically disadvantaged neighborhood in Melbourne, Australia. Interview transcripts were analyzed using thematic analysis. The findings reveal a positive picture of survival despite hardship, supportive relationships, a sense of autonomy from living independently, and contributing to society. These findings challenge ageist assumptions, which equate advanced age with social exclusion.

Towards a Personalized Multi-Domain Digital Neurophenotyping Model for the Detection and Treatment of Mood Trajectories.

The commercial availability of many real-life smart sensors, wearables, and mobile apps provides a valuable source of information about a wide range of human behavioral, physiological, and social markers that can be used to infer the user’s mental state and mood. However, there are currently no commercial digital products that integrate these psychosocial metrics with the real-time measurement of neural activity. In particular, electroencephalography (EEG) is a well-validated and highly sensitive neuroimaging method that yields robust markers of mood and affective processing, and has been widely used in mental health research for decades. The integration of wearable neuro-sensors into existing multimodal sensor arrays could hold great promise for deep digital neurophenotyping in the detection and personalized treatment of mood disorders. In this paper, we propose a multi-domain digital neurophenotyping model based on the socioecological model of health. The proposed model presents a holistic approach to digital mental health, leveraging recent neuroscientific advances, and could deliver highly personalized diagnoses and treatments. The technological and ethical challenges of this model are discussed.

Grounding evaluation design in the socio-ecological model of health: a logic framework for the assessment of a national routine immunization communication initiative in Kyrgyzstan

Childhood routine immunization (RI) is a highly effective public health intervention for the prevention of infectious diseases. Despite high immunization rates, a 2018 Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices (KAP) study by the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) noted a growing practice of vaccine refusal among parents and primary caregivers as well as clusters of significantly lower immunization coverage in some provinces. Moreover, a 2018 Joint Appraisal report by GAVI (Global Vaccine Alliance) has highlighted a decrease in immunization rates among children under 1 year of age from 96.1% to 92% for some vaccines. As a result, UNICEF is spearheading a national communication initiative to increase the rates of RI in Kyrgyzstan. This initiative includes strengthening interpersonal communication skills of local healthcare workers, improving the quality and accuracy of media coverage via a tailored outreach to the Kyrgyz media, as well as fostering community engagement to give voice to local champions and engage hesitant parents and vaccine refuters. UNICEF has also partnered with a research team for the design phase of a suitable evaluation framework. Grounded in the socio-ecological model (SEM) of health, the framework recognizes the interconnection of behavioral, social, and policy change, and includes not only activity-specific indicators (process indicators) but also progress, outcome, and impact indicators to document results among key groups and stakeholders at different levels of the SEM, and, ultimately, on immunization rates in Kyrgyzstan. The framework reflects the importance of an integrated and multilevel approach to intervention and communication design, and integrates the SEM with a logic model that connects different components of the initiative. This paper introduces this evaluation framework, including implications for the evaluation of child health programs, and other public health, communication, and international development interventions.

Identifying perceived barriers and enablers of healthy eating in college students in Hawai\u2019i: a qualitative study using focus groups

BackgroundTo design effective nutrition education interventions for college students, research is needed to determine the factors influencing food choices. The purpose of this study was to identify perceived barriers and enablers of healthy eating in college students ages 18–24 at the University of Hawai’i at Mānoa.MethodsPrior to conducting focus groups, an interview guide was developed based on a literature review of relevant studies. The interview guide was successfully tested in the first focus group and used in the rest of the focus groups. Eleven focus groups with group sizes of two to six were conducted (n = 44). Focus groups were audio-recorded and transcribed. Transcripts were coded in NVIVO11 using content analysis, and additional codes were added to the codebook based on emergent ideas from the transcripts. After completion of the final codebook, transcripts were recoded with the new codebook. Final code counts were used to identify overarching ideas based on the socio-ecological model of health, consisting of four levels of influence: individual (intrapersonal), social environmental (interpersonal), physical environmental (community settings), and macrosystem (societal).ResultsThe largest barriers according to level of influence in the socio-ecological model were nutrition knowledge deficit (individual), peer pressure (social environmental), unsupportive institutional environment (physical environmental), and cost (macrosystem). The largest enablers were nutrition knowledge (individual), parental influence (social environmental), an institutional environment with consistent healthy offerings (physical environmental), and social media (macrosystem). Some factors served as barriers for some participants and enablers for others, such as parental influence.ConclusionFactors such as individual knowledge and parental support were cited as having a positive influence in promoting healthy eating, while factors such as the cost of living and food availability at college serve as barriers even for motivated students. Results from this study identify potential areas of intervention, such as improving nutrition knowledge (individual), offering more healthy options (physical environmental), or reducing cost of food (macrosystem). However, more research is needed to identify which level of intervention may be most effective in changing food habits, and which barriers or enablers are deciding factors in determining this population’s food choices.

2395 Developing a conceptual model of healthcare access for adolescent Latinas in the US South

OBJECTIVES/SPECIFIC AIMS: Alabama (AL) experienced a 145% increase in its Latino population between 2000 and 2010; making it the state with the second fastest growing Latino population in the United States (US) during that time. Adolescent Latinas in the United States and in AL are disproportionately affected by sexual health disparities as evidenced by the disproportionate burden of HIV, STIs and early pregnancy compared with their non-Hispanic, White counterparts. In 2011, Alabama passed 1 of the harshest anti-immigration laws in the nation. Following the passing of this law, county health department visits among Latino adults decreased by 25% for STIs and 13% for family planning. Empirical data with adult Latinas in the Southeast suggest significant barriers to sexual healthcare access. However, to our knowledge, no other researchers have examined barriers and facilitators to sexual healthcare access for this subpopulation. Therefore, the goal of this 3-phase study is to: (a) better understand the factors underlying sexual health disparities and gaps in healthcare access among adolescent Latinas; (b) develop a conceptual model based on these data and the extant literature summarizing the theorized pathways through which factors at differing levels of the socioecological model of health (SEMH) impact sexual healthcare access for this group; and (c) develop community-driven, theory-based, culturally-relevant, multilevel intervention strategies to reduce sexual health disparities and increase sexual healthcare access for adolescent Latinas through a community-engaged, intervention mapping process. Community based participatory research (CBPR), which ensures equitable participation of stakeholder groups through partnerships, and the SEMH, which conceptualizes the individual as nested within a set of social structures, provide the philosophical and theoretical frameworks for the work. METHODS/STUDY POPULATION: From January of 2017 to December of 2017 we completed phase 1 of the study: conducting and analyzing 20 semi-structured qualitative interviews with adolescents who: self-identified as Latina, were between 15 and 20 years of age, had been in the United States for over 5 years, and lived in one of the counties of West AL and 15 semi-structured qualitative interviews with key stakeholders (healthcare providers, parents, policy makers, etc.) who regularly work with Latina adolescents. Interview participants were recruited through purposeful-convenience sampling. Two bilingual (in English and Spanish) coders used an iterative process (between independent coding and consensus building) to analyze the data using NVivo 11. Phase 2 of the study is currently underway: constructing a conceptual model on sexual healthcare access for young Latinas in Alabama. We have utilized an iterative process between qualitative interview data collected in phase 1 and review of the extant literature to draft a conceptual model of healthcare access among adolescent Latinas in the US South. This model will serve as the foundation of future studies including the development of intervention strategies through a CBPR process (phase 3), to commence in January 2018. RESULTS/ANTICIPATED RESULTS: PHASE 1: Several barriers and facilitators to sexual healthcare access emerged from the semi-structured qualitative research interviews with young women. These included: (1) parental approval/disapproval and embarrassment (“pena”); (2) structural barriers/facilitators to care (e.g., lack of transportation, flexible clinic hours); and (3) negative/positive experiences with providers (e.g., perceived discrimination based on immigrant status). Key stakeholders identified the following barriers and facilitators to sexual healthcare access for adolescent Latinas in their interviews: (1) language barriers/need for interpreters and outreach workers to work with young Latina women; (2) need for better sexual health education across the state; (3) lack of knowledge among young women and their parents about institutions in general and sexual healthcare, in specific; and (4) perceived lack of “deservingness” and discrimination from providers/“not my patients” phenomenon. PHASE 2: This presentation will summarize the development of our conceptual model (see drafts attached). For ease of interpretation, we have created 2 sub-models (centering gender and immigration, respectively) which summarize theorized pathways through which policy, community, organizational, and family-level factors influence young Latina women’s access to sexual healthcare services. DISCUSSION/SIGNIFICANCE OF IMPACT: The proposed research is significant because: (1) the state of AL experienced a dramatic increase in its Latino/a population over the last 15 years and adolescent Latinas in AL are disproportionately affected by sexual health disparities; (2) to our knowledge, this is the only study to examine the multilevel factors associated with sexual healthcare access for adolescent Latinas in the South and inform intervention strategies to promote sexual healthcare access in this population; (3) the work is being conducted under the philosophical lens of CBPR such that community members are involved in every step of the research process, resulting in culturally relevant and youth-specific intervention strategies.

Exploring U.S. Hispanic parents’ length of time in the United States: Influences on obesity outcomes among U.S. Hispanic children

ABSTRACTThe 2009 California Health Interview Survey was used to examine effects of Hispanic immigrant parents’ length of stay (less or more than 10 years) in the United States on the overweight and obesity outcomes among their children (N = 956, aged 6–11). The socio-ecological model of health was used to conceptualize health risk behaviors and associations with overweight/obesity outcomes among children. Weight (using body mass index) among children was influenced by parents’ length of stay, country of origin, income, and urban/rural residence. Future directions for social work professionals working with obese Hispanic children and their families are discussed.

Postcolonial healing landscapes and mental health in a remote Indigenous community in subarctic Ontario, Canada

ABSTRACTThe concept of therapeutic landscape is concerned with a holistic, socio-ecological model of health, but most studies have attempted to explore land-health links from a Western perspective. On an Indigenous reserve in Northern Ontario, part of the Canadian subarctic, we explore the importance of spaces and places in creating postcolonial therapeutic landscapes to treat the wounds inflicted by colonialism. The aim of this research is to gain insight from views and experiences of First Nations residents living on reservations that are undergoing a process of regaining traditional spiritual beliefs and teachings to construct therapeutic spaces to face mental health problems caused by legal opioid analgesic abuse. This qualitative study used semi-structured interviews with Cree and Ojibwe participants to understand how they are reconnecting with earth, spirituality and traditional animist beliefs on their way to recovery. We find that practices such as taking part in ceremonies and ritual spaces, and seeking knowledge and advice from Elders assist with personal healing and enable Indigenous people to be physically and mentally healthy. Our research findings provide important insights into the relationship between space, healing and culture as determinants of health and well-being and document some key factors that contribute to substance abuse recovery.