Race and Ethnicity Commons^™

Review Of Missing Data Elements For Client Enrollment In The Minority Aids Initiative For High-Risk Men Of Nj, Vrushank Shah

Rowan-Virtua Research Day

The Minority AIDS Initiative study funded in NMI seeks to enhance healthcare outcomes for underserved individuals. Implementing outreach programs, the initiative provides healthcare and post-treatment follow-up to this demographic. The proposed project, a component of this study, concentrates on individuals with substance abuse disorder, specifically targeting those who have been onboarded but subsequently lost to follow-up. In the United States, approximately 20 million people are diagnosed with substance abuse disorder, yet in 2016, only 3.8 million received treatment. Within this cohort, between 20% and 70% of individuals undergoing residential substance abuse treatment disengage before completion. Various factors hinder the sustained …

Unveiling The Impact: Structural Racism And Childhood Lead Exposure's Health Consequences In Philadelphia, Mahhum Naqvi, Mahrukh Naqvi, Justin Stout, Colton Spencer

Rowan-Virtua Research Day

Childhood lead exposure poses a significant risk to health and well-being, adversely affecting brain function, nervous system development, and behavioral patterns. This study examines the health disparities and inequities associated with childhood lead exposure in Philadelphia, focusing on structural racism and residential segregation as crucial lenses for analysis. By delving into the sociocultural context of lead exposure, this study underscores the imperative of collaborative efforts among stakeholders to safeguard Philadelphia's most vulnerable populations. Healthcare professionals and policymakers play pivotal roles in enhancing funding and prevention strategies. Addressing this issue through the prism of structural racism allows for the identification and …

Overcoming Disparities In The Treatment Of Alzheimer’S Disease, Christian Gamboa, Tribhuvan Lanka, Elaine Flowers, Nayarith Lopez

Rowan-Virtua Research Day

Background: Deaths due to Alzheimer’s have been increasing at an exponential rate for the last 24 years, with an astounding 145% increase between the years 2000-2024. Early detection is key to slowing down the rate of decline. Unfortunately, Latino and African American individuals delay seeking care, which predisposes them to worse outcomes. To date, socioeconomic limitations are the main factors leading to delayed care in Latino and African American communities. A service project was developed with the aim of addressing limitations that result in delays to seeking care within Latino and African American communities.

Methods: A systematic review of available …

Colorblind Racial Attitudes And Emotion Dysregulation: Impact On White People’S Ethnocultural Empathy And Feelings Towards People Of Color, Vanessa L. Veltre, Alissa Hochman

Rowan-Virtua Research Day

Colorblind racial attitudes, which minimize the importance of race, have been identified as a barrier to understanding systemic racism and fostering empathy towards people of color (POC). This study aimed to examine the relationship between emotion dysregulation and White people's ethnocultural empathy and warmth towards people of color, and to explore the potential moderating role of colorblind racial attitudes.

The study utilized data from 511 White participants (ages 19-50) who completed the Difficulties in Emotion Regulation Scale (DERS), Colorblind Racial Attitudes Scale (CoBRAS), Scale of Ethnocultural Empathy (SEE), and a feeling thermometer scale measuring warmth towards POC. Participants were categorized …

Addressing The Black Maternal Mortality Rate, Kennedy Sanders, Venkateswar Venkataraman, Kate Whelihan

Rowan-Virtua Research Day

Introduction: As of 2021, the Black maternal mortality rate in the United States was 69.9 deaths per 100,000 live births as compared to the national average of 32.9 and the White American average of 26.61. It has been demonstrated that this discrepancy is not fully explained by socioeconomic status. Doulas are professionals who provide support and guidance throughout pregnancy, birth, and early parenthood. Encouraging the use of doulas may be an effective approach to improve the birth experience for Black mothers. Methods: A literature review was performed using PubMed and the following search strings: maternal mortality rate (+race, +race +ethnicity, …

Immigration Status And Household Income As Predictors Of Childhood Obesity, Bhaumik Patel, Jeffery Powers

Rowan-Virtua Research Day

Childhood obesity rates have been on a remarkably steep rise in recent years. According to recent literature, the rate in the United States alone has more than doubled compared to other regions in the world such as Australia, Canada and Europe1,2 . Especially in the African immigrant community, there has been speculation of a higher prevalence of childhood obesity in the United States3 . This warranted further investigation into demographic factors impacting childhood obesity rates and their subsequent consequences with other clinical diseases such as diabetes and heart disease. The CDC reports that in 2011-2014, among individuals ages 2 to …

Cultural Food Accomodations In South New Jersey, Anahit Stepanyan, Resty Mercado, David Jiang

Rowan-Virtua Research Day

NJ is a melting pot of different cultures and ethnicities, each bringing their own unique customs and traditions. Of these traditions, diet and food are one of the most renowned distinctions and some of the most celebrated.

In response, several Public School districts have made halal and kosher food reforms to accommodate the rise in the Muslim and Jewish student body.

These menu accommodations were made in response to concerns about a lack of halal food options, which negatively impacted Muslim and Jewish students' health and mental well-being and can be recognized as a health disparity disadvantaging Muslim American student …

Breaking Down Barriers: Investigating Structural And Systemic Factors That Contribute To Covid-19 Disparities In African American Communities In New Jersey, Fazal Choudhary, Suraj Pothineni

Rowan-Virtua Research Day

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic has affected the lives of millions of Americans; however, minority communities have been hit the hardest as infection rates continue to sky rocket and new variants arise. As of October 5, 2021, the CDC reports that African Americans make up a similar share of cases relative to the overall population, at about 12%, but have a significantly higher rate of deaths compared to the population, at approximately14%. African American communities are being disproportionately affected because of higher incidence of chronic diseases, inadequate access to health care, and poorer living and working conditions, which increases their vulnerability …

The Effect Of Covid-19 On Depression In Hispanic Vs. Non-Hispanic Populations In South Jersey, Rana Cheikhali, Daniel Casal

Rowan-Virtua Research Day

The COVID-19 pandemic has been challenging for Americans and the world as a whole. It has especially taken a toll on mental health. Studies show that the incidence of depression in the United States was three times greater during the pandemic compared to pre-pandemic times. One specific community in the United States that has been greatly affected by the pandemic is the Hispanic American community. Many Americans across the country have received federal surveys that aim to determine the social and economic impacts of COVID-19. Results revealed that the Hispanic population had the greatest rise in mental illness, with 40% …

Ethnic Differences In Maternal Cytokines And Adipokines And Their Association With Spontaneous Preterm Delivery, Yelizavet D. Lomakova, Xinhua Chen

Rowan-Virtua Research Day

Spontaneous preterm delivery (SPTD, birth at <37 weeks’ gestation) is a leading cause of infant mortality in the United States [1]. Infants born prematurely are more likely to suffer from both short and long-term complications including neurodevelopmental delay, visual and hearing impairment, and chronic diseases such as heart disease, hypertension and diabetes in later life [2-4]. African American women have a 2-fold increased risk of preterm delivery compared to Caucasian women [5].The reasons for this disparity are poorly understood. This limits the ability to predict and prevent preterm delivery in the most high-risk populations.