Health in Social Context
The establishment on campus of a school of public health emphasizing the social and behavioral sciences provides the opportunity to integrate innovative basic social science approaches pioneered by MPRC scholars with outstanding research on improving health and reducing health disparities situated in a social and environmental context. Examples to date include the application of time use methods to obesity, the application of models of gender and parenthood to health, and the environmental context of physical activity.
Research in this area includes:
- determinants of infant, child, and youth health;
- health and aging; and
- impact of health care systems and social programs.
Some examples of current research in this area can be seen below.
Risk Factors for Infant Mortality in Maryland
Maryland Health Care Commission project includes Marian Moser-Jones, Edmond Shenassa and Marie Thoma
Sexual minority youth less likely to exit foster care
Jessica Fish and her colleagues published a study presenting sexual minority youth as an overrepresented population in foster care, child welfare and out-of-home placement
Opioid Use Disorder, mental illness lack treatment when co-occuring
Jie Chen and colleagues will publish a study examining the behavioral health treatment among individuals with co-occurring opioid use disorder and mental illness
Care Coordination on Minorities with Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Dementia
Principal Investigator Jie Chen, with Andrew Fenelon and others, was awarded a grant to study care coordination on ethnic minority populations
For Young Women in Sub-Saharan Africa Addressing Transactional Sex May be Key to Reducing HIV Infections
Transactional Sex and HIV Risk: From Analysis to Action
More Women Opting to Give Birth Outside of a Hospital
Data shows rate of births at home and in birth centers reaches highest level in 30 years; demand may actually be greater
SPH Study Explores Maternal Experience of IPV in Young Children in Tanzania
Natalie Slopen and colleagues published a new study exploring the health implications of intimate partner violence on children
How combined exposure to environmental and social stressors affects child neurological development
Focus on solutions for long-term policy
Methodological Issues in Maternal Mortality Research
NICHD R21 project seeks to clarify maternal mortality records
Steinberg examines role of depression in unintended pregnancy
University of Maryland Tier One grant funds research
Boudreaux research examines eye-care labor market outcomes
Working paper: Michel Boudreaux, et al. (2018). Medicaid Benefit Generosity and Labor Market Outcomes: Evidence from Medicaid Adult Vision Benefits. SSRN Electronic Journal. DOI: 10.2139/ssrn.3101045
Roberts studies health of demographically diverse population
PLOT project uses natural experiment of a new light rail line in Prince Georges County, Maryland
MacDorman co-authors midwifery outcomes research
Midwifery linked to better birth outcomes in state-by-state "report card"
Hofferth, Sayer lead Time Use Data for Health and Well Being
R01 provides five years of funding to continue development of the IPUMS-Time Use tool
Desai leads establishment of National Data Innovation Centre in New Delhi
Far-reaching program will stimulate research, support graduate student development in India and U.S.
Chen research identifies benefits of local mental health services
American Journal of Preventive Medicine article reports racial and ethnic minorities experience a disproportionate burden of co-existing mental, physical conditions
Green working to enhace Woodlawn Cohort dataset
New project would identify critical pivotal influences along the life course
Effects of Depression on Contraceptive Behavior
Julia Steinberg will use an NICHD K01 grant to investigate the impact of depression throughout the reproductive cycle