Health is a human right. Equity in health implies that ideally everyone should have a fair opportunity to attain their full health potential and, more pragmatically, that no one should be disadvantaged from achieving this potential. Addressing the multi-faceted health needs of ethnically and culturally diverse individuals in the United States is a complex issue that requires inventive strategies to reduce risk factors and buttress protective factors to promote greater well-being among individuals, families, and communities. With growing diversity concerning various ethnicities and nationalities; and with significant changes in the constellation of multiple of risk factors that can influence health outcomes, it is imperative that we delineate strategic efforts that encourage better access to primary care, focused community-based programs, multi-disciplinary clinical and translational research methodologies, and health policy advocacy initiatives that may improve individuals’ longevity and quality of life.

Background: This study examines disparities in HIV-related healthcare access, support, and treatment adherence between rural and urban Black/African American populations in Georgia, USA, emphasizing structural, socioeconomic, and stigma-related barriers affecting health outcomes. Methods: A cross-sectional quantitative study was conducted using structured surveys administered via RedCap from August to December 2023. Participants (n = 55) were recruited through community-based HIV organizations, healthcare providers, and advocacy networks. The survey assessed demographic factors, healthcare access, adherence to treatment, support systems, and experiences with stigma. Data were analyzed using IBM SPSS Statistics, version 28.0 (IBM Corp., Armonk, NY, USA), with chi-square tests examining associations between geographic location and HIV-related outcomes. Results: Findings indicate significant disparities in HIV care access and support. Urban participants were more likely to receive family and friend support (p < 0.01), financial assistance through the Ryan White Program (p = 0.01), and timely linkage to care within one week of diagnosis (p < 0.05). Rural participants reported lower educational attainment, income levels, and limited healthcare access, contributing to poorer health outcomes. No significant differences were observed in PrEP or condom use. Conclusions: The study underscores the need for targeted interventions. Expanding telehealth, enhancing community outreach, and reducing stigma through policy reforms are critical to improving HIV-related health outcomes in rural Georgia.

Context: Studies have found that COVID-19 stay-at-home orders (SHOs) and face mask policies (FMPs) were associated with reduced COVID-19 transmission and deaths. But it is unknown whether exposure to these policies varied by sociodemographic characteristics across the US population. Objective: The goal of this study was to quantify and characterize the sociodemographic characteristics and geographic distribution of populations exposed to evidence-based COVID-19 mitigation policies. Design: We obtained statewide SHOs and FMPs for all US counties from April 10, 2020, to April 10, 2021, calculated median policy lengths, and categorized counties into 4 groups based on length of policy exposure: low SHO-low FMP, high SHO-low FMP, low SHO-high FMP, and high SHO-high FMP. We described exposure groups by COVID-19 cumulative case/death and vaccination rates and county sociodemographic characteristics. Setting: In total, 3142 counties from all 50 states and Washington, District of Columbia, were included in the analysis. Main Outcome Measures: County-level sociodemographic factors and county cumulative rates for COVID-19 cases, deaths, and vaccinations. Results: The largest percentage of the US population lived in counties with high exposure to SHOs and FMPs. However, populations living in high SHO-high FMP counties had the lowest percent non-Hispanic Black (NHB) and highest percent non-Hispanic White (NHW) populations. Populations living in high SHO-low FMP counties had the highest percent NHB and Hispanic populations and the lowest percent NHW population. Conclusion: This study identified county-level racial, ethnic, and sociodemographic disparities in exposure to evidence-based statewide COVID-19 mitigation policies. Policy Implications: Exposure to evidence-based policies is an important consideration for studies evaluating the root causes of health inequities.

Background: Obesity is a growing problem in the United States and is disproportionately increasing among African Americans. The objective of this study is to examine the sociodemographic and biometric factors associated with eating behaviors among African American women. Methods: We analyzed data from the 2009-2010 dietary screener and weight history questionnaire from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. Multivariable analyses were used to estimate adjusted odds ratios (AORs) and 95% confidence intervals (95% CIs) to determine the association between six specific eating behaviors and different sociodemographic and biometric factors. Analyses were conducted using SAS 9.4. Results: The analyses show that being middle aged (45-64) decreased the likelihood of consuming soft drinks (AOR: 0.48; 95% CI: 0.27-0.86); consuming red meat (AOR: 0.45; 95% CI: 0.25-0.82); and consuming processed meat (AOR: 0.55; 95% CI: 0.31-0.97). In addition, high school grads were over 3 times as likely to consume high amounts of soft drinks (AOR: 3.04; 95% CI: 1.33-6.94) and 65% less likely to consume high amounts of leafy/lettuce salads than college grads (AOR: 0.35; 95% CI: 0.15-0.82). Finally, single/widowed/divorced African American women were 13% less likely to eat high amounts of leafy green salads than married African American women (AOR: 0.82; 95% CI: 0.70-0.97). Conclusions: The results indicate that some sociodemographic factors have an association with certain eating behaviors. Further exploration of sociodemographic and biometric factors, with the inclusion of culture and its association with eating behaviors will help to expand the literature.