Bonnie Ghosh-Dastidar

Location, Location, Location: Does the Food Desert Narrative Hold Up?

There's little rigorous evidence to support the notion that 'food deserts' are driving the U.S. obesity epidemic. But this narrative has nearly become conventional wisdom. In response, stakeholders have poured hundreds of millions of dollars into bringing supermarkets to these neighborhoods.

Journal Article

Multi-dimensional Profiles of Risk and Their Association with Obesity-Severity in Low-Income Black Women

Multi-level strategies may support low-income Black women’s resilience to obesity who face neighborhood-level and socioeconomic stressors.

Journal Article

Longitudinal Associations Between Sleep and BMI in a Low-Income, Predominantly Black American Sample

This study provides further evidence that, among a sample of low-income Black adults, sleep problems are not longitudinally predictive of BMI.

Tool

Monitoring and Surveillance of Behavioral Health in the Context of Public Health Emergencies: A Toolkit for Public Health Officials

This toolkit shows how existing data sources (such as unemployment insurance claims, 2-1-1 hotline calls, calls to Poison Control Centers, prescription drug fills, and others) can be used for behavioral health surveillance.

Journal Article

Examining the Cross-sectional Association Between Neighborhood Conditions, Discrimination, and Telomere Length in a Predominantly African American Sample

Disproportionate exposure to adverse neighborhood conditions and greater discrimination may contribute to health disparities among African Americans.

Journal Article

Sleep Disturbances, Changes in Sleep, and Cognitive Function in Low-Income African Americans

In a predominantly African-American sample of older adults, worsening of sleep efficiency was associated with poorer cognitive function. Improving sleep health may support Alzheimer's prevention and reduce health disparities.

Report

Exploring the Civil-Military Divide over Artificial Intelligence

This report presents the results of a survey of software engineers and other technical staff to learn their views toward the defense community and their willingness to contribute to artificial intelligence projects for the U.S. Department of Defense.

Journal Article

Do Social Isolation and Neighborhood Walkability Influence Relationships Between COVID-19 Experiences and Wellbeing in Predominantly Black Urban Areas?

Black Americans have been disproportionately affected by the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2 or COVID-19) pandemic.

Journal Article

Randomized Controlled Trial of Rise, A Community-Based Culturally Congruent Counseling Intervention to Support Antiretroviral Therapy Adherence Among Black/African American Adults Living with HIV

We conducted a randomized controlled trial of Rise, a community-based culturally congruent adherence intervention, from January 2018 to December 2021 with 166 Black adults living with HIV in Los Angeles.

Journal Article

What Is Associated with Changes in Food Security Among Low-Income Residents of a Former Food Desert?

We compared study participants in a former food desert neighborhood whose food security improved to those whose food security did not improve across survey waves. Distance to major food shopping store was positively associated with food security.

Journal Article

Longitudinal Associations Between Changes in Cigarette Smoking and Alcohol Use, Eating Behavior, Perceived Stress, and Self-Rated Health in a Cohort of Low-Income Black Adults

We found significant longitudinal associations between smoking behavior and eating behavior, perceived stress, and self-rated health. This has implications for the development of behavior change programs and community-level interventions and policies.

Journal Article

SNAP Participants and High Levels of Food Insecurity in the Early Stages of the COVID-19 Pandemic

We examined how people enrolled in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program have been affected by the coronavirus pandemic, particularly Black participants, and participants residing in food deserts.

Journal Article

Violent Crime, Police Presence and Poor Sleep in Two Low-Income Urban Predominantly Black American Neighbourhoods

To examine violent crime in relation to sleep and explore pathways, including psychological distress, safety perceptions and perceived police presence, that may account for associations.

Journal Article

Food Insecurity in a Low-Income, Predominantly African American Cohort Following the COVID-19 Pandemic

Longitudinal data highlight profound inequities that have been exacerbated by COVID-19. Existing policies appear inadequate to address the widening gap.

Journal Article

Improvements in Neighborhood Socioeconomic Conditions May Improve Resident Diet

Investing in neighborhoods may support resident diet through improvements in neighborhood commercial environments for renters, but mechanisms appear to differ for homeowners.

Journal Article

Does Investing in Low-Income Urban Neighborhoods Improve Sleep?

While we did not observe sleep differences among residents between neighborhoods, living closer to a neighborhood investment was associated with better sleep outcomes.

Journal Article

Trends In Home Care Versus Nursing Home Workforce Sizes: Are States Converging Or Diverging Over Time?

Since 2009, most states have increased the size of their home care workforces and decreased the size of their nursing home workforces, but there is substantial variation across states. More targeted efforts may be needed to ensure that people with disabling conditions can have their needs met in their desired setting across the nation.

Journal Article

Improved Street Walkability, Incivilities, and Esthetics Are Associated with Greater Park Use in Two Low-Income Neighborhoods

Improved walkability, incivilities, and aesthetics surrounding parks in socioeconomically disadvantaged neighborhoods were associated with greater park use and may help increase visits to underutilized parks.

Journal Article

Feasibility and Effectiveness of Telelactation Among Rural Breastfeeding Women

This article evaluates the feasibility and impact of telelactation via personal electronic devices on breastfeeding duration and exclusivity among rural women.

Journal Article

SNAP Participants Improved Food Security And Diet After A Full-Service Supermarket Opened In An Urban Food Desert

This study explored two federal programs: Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program and Healthy Food Financing Initiative. The results suggest that HFFI amplifies SNAP participation on improving food security and diet for low-income Americans.

Journal Article

Prevalence and Correlates of Obstructive Sleep Apnea in Urban-Dwelling, Low-Income, Predominantly African-American Women

Low-income African Americans are a high-risk group for obstructive sleep apnea, but remain under-diagnosed and under-treated. The current findings show a high prevalence of OSA in African-American women.

Journal Article

Broken Windows, Broken Zzs: Poor Housing and Neighborhood Conditions Are Associated with Objective Measures of Sleep Health

Sleep is a critical contributor to health and well-being. Sleep disturbances may contribute to racial and socioeconomic disparities in health. Understanding socio-environmental determinants of sleep health disparities is a public health imperative.

Journal Article

Does Large-Scale Neighborhood Reinvestment Work? Effects of Public–Private Real Estate Investment on Local Sales Prices, Rental Prices, and Crime Rates

We examine whether the substantial, combined public–private investments in Hill District, Pittsburgh, (a) increased that neighborhood's residential and commercial sales prices, (b) increased residential rental prices, and (c) reduced crime.

Journal Article

An Audit Tool for Longitudinal Assessment of the Health-Related Characteristics of Urban Neighborhoods: Implementation Methods and Reliability Results

To identify neighborhood features that are predictors of health, objective assessments of the environment are used. In this paper, we have described implementation methods, reliability results and lessons learned to inform future studies of change.

Journal Article

Do Investments in Low-Income Neighborhoods Produce Objective Change in Health-Related Neighborhood Conditions?

This study examined the effect of neighborhood investments on neighborhood walkability, presence of incivilities, and crime in two low-income, primarily African American neighborhoods in Pittsburgh.

Journal Article

Food Insecurity Is Associated with Objectively Measured Sleep Problems

Food Insecurity (FI) can be a profound source of stress, which may increase the risk for sleep disturbance. This is the first study to examine the association between FI and objectively and subjectively measured sleep.

Journal Article

School Food and Beverage Availability and Children's Diet, Purchasing, and Obesity: Evidence From a Natural Experiment

We examined whether the number of competitive food and beverage items available for purchase in school, overall and by type (unhealthy, healthy, neutral), was associated with in-school food purchases, dietary behaviors, and body mass index outcomes.

Journal Article

Results From a Natural Experiment: Initial Neighbourhood Investments Do Not Change Objectively-Assessed Physical Activity, Psychological Distress or Perceptions of the Neighbourhood

Although we observed changes over time in some outcomes that we tracked, ultimately there were no significant changes related to investments above and beyond what we might have expected without those investments.

Journal Article

Changes in ART Adherence Relate to Changes in Depression as Well! Evidence for the Bi-directional Longitudinal Relationship Between Depression and ART Adherence from a Prospective Study of HIV Clients in Uganda

While other research has examined and supported the influence of depression on ART adherence, our data support the reciprocal relationship: that non-adherence and changes in adherence are associated with levels and changes in depression.

Journal Article

Exposure to the Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill, Associated Resource Loss, and Long-Term Mental and Behavioral Outcomes

The aim of this study was to assess the long-term mental and behavioral health outcomes of the Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill of residents in the Gulf Coast and to identify populations that may be particularly vulnerable to future disasters.

Journal Article

Gearing Up for PrEP in the Middle East and North Africa: An Initial Look at Willingness to Take PrEP Among Young Men Who Have Sex with Men in Beirut, Lebanon

These findings delineate a need and opportunity for public health researchers to work with Ministries of Health and policy makers to extend pre-exposure prophylaxis coverage and services to young men who have sex with men.

Journal Article

A Preliminary Study of a Composite Sleep Health Score: Associations with Psychological Distress, Body Mass Index, and Physical Functioning in a Low-Income African American Community

The current study investigates associations of five sleep dimensions, analyzed separately and simultaneously, with psychological distress, body mass index, and physical functioning among a low-income, predominantly African American population.

Journal Article

Use of Virtual Breastfeeding Support Among Underserved, Rural Mothers

To assess predictors of utilization and telelactation visit characteristics, we merged and analyzed data from two sources: visit-level data supplied by the telelactation vendor and longitudinal surveys of women in the intervention group at four timepoints.

Tool

Survey of Trauma, Resilience, and Opportunity Among Neighborhoods in the Gulf (STRONG) Codebook

This report describes the measures in the Survey of Trauma, Resilience, and Opportunity Among Neighborhoods in the Gulf (STRONG), which assesses the health and well-being of Gulf Coast residents five years after the 2010 Deepwater Horizon oil spill.

Journal Article

Do Sleep and Psychological Distress Mediate the Association Between Neighborhood Factors and Pain?

Understanding how sleep problems, psychological distress, and neighborhood characteristics contribute to pain can help shape interventions to reduce pain-related disparities.

Research Brief

Community Development Can Improve Resident Health

Community improvements -- primarily a new supermarket and new housing -- were associated with health and economic gains among the residents of an underserved, primarily African-American neighborhood in Pittsburgh.

Journal Article

The Power of Social Networks and Social Support in Promotion of Physical Activity and Body Mass Index Among African American Adults

African Americans are still disproportionately affected by lower levels of physical activity and higher levels of obesity; social networks and social support are critical for engaging this community in physical activity.

Journal Article

The Association Between Discrimination and PTSD in African Americans: Exploring the Role of Gender

Discrimination may contribute to the disparate rates of PTSD experienced by African Americans in two lower-income Pittsburgh neighborhoods.

Journal Article

Neighborhood Disadvantage Is Associated With Actigraphy-Assessed Sleep Continuity and Short Sleep Duration

This study is among the first to examine objective and perceived assessments of neighborhood conditions in relation to objectively measured sleep in a high-risk sample of predominantly low-income, African American residents.

Journal Article

Pathways Through Which Higher Neighborhood Crime Is Longitudinally Associated with Greater Body Mass Index

Among African-Americans in urban, low-income neighborhoods, lack of perceived safety because of high crime rates is associated with higher body mass index (BMI).

Journal Article

Attitudes and Barriers to Healthy Diet and Physical Activity: A Latent Profile Analysis

Psychosocial interventions for diet and physical activity could be more effective if they specifically target the unique profile of influences on an individual's diet and physical activity.

Journal Article

Does Opening a Supermarket in a Food Desert Change the Food Environment?

Opening a supermarket in a 'food desert' caused little improvement in the net availability of healthy foods, challenging the underpinnings of policies such as the Healthy Food Financing Initiative.

Journal Article

Does Where You Shop or Who You Are Predict What You Eat? : The Role of Stores and Individual Characteristics in Dietary Intake

Sociodemographic indicators better explain people’s diet than where they buy food.

Journal Article

A Randomized Controlled Trial of Rise, a Community-Based Culturally Congruent Adherence Intervention for Black Americans Living with HIV

A community-based, culturally specific intervention improved antiretroviral treatment adherence among Black Americans living with HIV.

Journal Article

Improved Parental Dietary Quality Is Associated with Children's Dietary Intake Through the Home Environment

Among families living in a former food desert, nutrition and physical activity norms of the home environment had a larger effect on childrens' dietary intake than the types of food available at home.

Journal Article

Effects of Depression Alleviation on Work Productivity and Income Among HIV Patients in Uganda

Alleviation of major depression among a sample of Ugandans with HIV was associated with better work functioning, which suggests that integrating care for depression and HIV may improve the economic well-being of people living with HIV.

Journal Article

One Size Doesn't Fit All: Cross-Sectional Associations Between Neighborhood Walkability, Crime and Physical Activity Depends on Age and Sex of Residents

“Walkability” appears to increase physical activity in low-income, urban neighborhoods, most notably for women under 65.

Journal Article

Can the Introduction of a Full-Service Supermarket in a Food Desert Improve Residents' Economic Status and Health?

Locating a new supermarket in a low-income neighborhood may improve residents' economic well-being and health. Policymakers should consider broad impacts of neighborhood investment that could translate into improved health for residents of underserved neighborhoods.

Journal Article

Depression at Treatment Initiation Predicts HIV Antiretroviral Adherence in Uganda

Presence of depression at the start of HIV antiretroviral therapy can affect whether patients take their medications, which suggests that screening and early treatment could help boost rates of medication adherence.

Journal Article

Is the Association Between Neighborhood Characteristics and Sleep Quality Mediated by Psychological Distress? An Analysis of Perceived and Objective Measures of 2 Pittsburgh Neighborhoods

Perceptions of a neighborhood's characteristics, such as safety, were associated with sleep quality among low-income African American adults, but objective characteristics, such as crime rates, were not.

Journal Article

The Power of Place: Social Network Characteristics, Perceived Neighborhood Features, and Psychological Distress Among African Americans in the Historic Hill District in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Perceptions of social cohesion and neighborhood safety appear to decrease psychological distress among residents of an historic African-American neighborhood.

Journal Article

Where Do Food Desert Residents Buy Most of Their Junk Food? Supermarkets

Households in a food desert bought most of their food and beverages—healthy and unhealthy—at full-service supermarkets.

Journal Article

Effects of Depression Alleviation on ART Adherence and HIV Clinic Attendance in Uganda, and the Mediating Roles of Self-Efficacy and Motivation

Alleviating depression in people living with HIV may improve their HIV care adherence and clinic attendance.

Journal Article

Supporting Treatment Adherence Readiness Through Training (START) for Patients with HIV on Antiretroviral Therapy: Study Protocol for a Randomized Controlled Trial

A "new generation" adherence support program targets patients before they begin HIV treatment. If proven efficacious and cost effective, the program could give clinicians a model for assessing their patients' readiness to adhere to HIV treatment.

Report

Sexual Assault and Sexual Harassment in the U.S. Military: Volume 2. Estimates for Department of Defense Service Members from the 2014 RAND Military Workplace Study

This volume presents survey results for the DoD active and reserve components from the 2014 RAND Military Workplace Study, an independent assessment of the rates of sexual assault, sexual harassment, and gender discrimination in the U.S. military.

Report

Sexual Assault and Sexual Harassment in the U.S. Military: Volume 4. Investigations of Potential Bias in Estimates from the 2014 RAND Military Workplace Study

This volume presents the results of methodological investigations into sources of potential bias in the 2014 RAND Military Workplace Study, an independent assessment of the rates of sexual assault and sexual harassment in the U.S. military.

Tool

The Displaced New Orleans Residents Survey: Overview, User's Guide, and Codebook

Documentation for the 2009-2010 Displaced New Orleans Residents Survey (DNORS), a study of individuals and families who resided in New Orleans, Louisiana, prior to Hurricane Katrina. DNORS assessed medium-term outcomes five years after the hurricane.

Journal Article

Diet and Perceptions Change with Supermarket Introduction in a Food Desert, but Not Because of Supermarket Use

Trends were compared in two households in two Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania neighborhoods by survey in 2011 and 2014, one of which received a new supermarket in 2013.

Research Brief

A New Supermarket in a Food Desert: Is Better Health in Store?

The Pittsburgh Hill/Homewood Research on Eating, Shopping, and Health study found that a new full-service supermarket in a food desert led to improvements in the quality of neighborhood residents' diets, though not in obesity rates.

Report

Improving the Mongolian Labor Market and Enhancing Opportunities for Youth

Drawing on Mongolian and international data, RAND analyzed the Mongolian labor market and compared it internationally. Based on an original survey, this report also examines challenges young people face in employment and education in Mongolia.

Journal Article

Store Impulse Marketing Strategies and Body Mass Index

In-market displays encourage consumption of low-nutrient foods.

Report

Sexual Assault and Sexual Harassment in the U.S. Military: Annex to Volume 3. Tabular Results from the 2014 RAND Military Workplace Study for Coast Guard Service Members

This Annex to Volume 3 contains detailed tabular results from the 2014 RAND Military Workplace Study on sexual assault and sexual harassment experiences of members of the U.S. Coast Guard active component.

Report

Sexual Assault and Sexual Harassment in the U.S. Military: Volume 3. Estimates for Coast Guard Service Members from the 2014 RAND Military Workplace Study

This volume presents survey results from the 2014 RAND Military Workplace Study on the sexual assault and sexual harassment experiences of members of the U.S. Coast Guard and the Coast Guard Reserve.

Research Brief

Sexual Assault and Sexual Harassment in the U.S. Military: Highlights from the 2014 RAND Military Workplace Study

This brief presents major conclusions for Department of Defense service members from the 2014 RAND Military Workplace Study, an independent assessment of the rates of sexual assault, sexual harassment, and gender discrimination in the U.S. military.

Report

Sexual Assault and Sexual Harassment in the U.S. Military: Annex to Volume 2. Tabular Results from the 2014 RAND Military Workplace Study for Department of Defense Service Members

Annex to Volume 2 contains detailed tabular results for the DoD active component from the 2014 RAND Military Workplace Study, an independent assessment of the rates of sexual assault, sexual harassment, and gender discrimination in the U.S. military.

Journal Article

Associations Between Depressive Symptomatology, Diet, and Body Mass Index Among Participants in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program

This study examined the relationship between depressive symptomatology, dietary quality, and body weight among a sample of SNAP participants (n=639).

Journal Article

Engagement in HIV Prevention Advocacy Associated with Increased Consistent Condom Use Among HIV Clients in Uganda

We examined whether engagement in prevention advocacy among HIV clients is associated with their own condom use and HIV care adherence.

Journal Article

Healthy Food Access for Urban Food Desert Residents: Examination of the Food Environment, Food Purchasing Practices, Diet and BMI

Increased geographic access may not be enough to change food purchasing practices, diet or weight.

Report

Sexual Assault and Sexual Harassment in the U.S. Military: Top-Line Estimates for Active-Duty Coast Guard Members from the 2014 RAND Military Workplace Study

This report provides initial top-line active-duty Coast Guard estimates from the 2014 RAND Military Workplace Study, an assessment of sexual assault, sexual harassment, and gender discrimination in the military.

Report

Sexual Assault and Sexual Harassment in the U.S. Military: Volume 1. Design of the 2014 RAND Military Workplace Study

This volume documents the methodology used in the 2014 RAND Military Workplace Study, an independent assessment of sexual assault, sexual harassment, and gender discrimination in the U.S. military.

Report

Sexual Assault and Sexual Harassment in the U.S. Military: Top-Line Estimates for Active-Duty Service Members from the 2014 RAND Military Workplace Study

This report provides initial top-line estimates from the 2014 RAND Military Workplace Study, an independent assessment of sexual assault, sexual harassment, and gender discrimination in the military.

Report

Capacity Building at the Kurdistan Region Statistics Office Through Data Collection: Arabic translation

RAND worked closely with the Kurdistan Region Statistics Office to build capacity by preparing, conducting, and analyzing the first round of a survey of the regional labor force.

Report

Capacity Building at the Kurdistan Region Statistics Office Through Data Collection: Kurdish translation

RAND worked closely with the Kurdistan Region Statistics Office to build capacity by preparing, conducting, and analyzing the first round of a survey of the regional labor force.

Report

Capacity Building at the Kurdistan Region Statistics Office Through Data Collection

RAND worked closely with the Kurdistan Region Statistics Office to build capacity by preparing, conducting, and analyzing the first round of a survey of the regional labor force.

Report

Key Facts and Statistics from the RAND Military Caregivers Study

This presentation slide deck offers key facts and statistics from the RAND Military Caregivers Study.

Report

Hidden Heroes: America's Military Caregivers — Executive Summary

This summary distills a longer report, Hidden Heroes: America's Military Caregivers. It describes the magnitude of military caregiving in the United States, identifies gaps in support services, and offers recommendations.

Report

Hidden Heroes: America's Military Caregivers

This report summarizes a study designed to describe the magnitude of military caregiving in the United States today, as well as to identify gaps in the array of programs, policies, and initiatives designed to support military caregivers.

Research Brief

Military Caregivers: Who are They? And Who Is Supporting Them?

Presents an overview of findings and recommendations from RAND's sweeping study of military caregivers and their support environment.

Research Brief

Military Caregivers in the Workplace

Presents findings from RAND's sweeping study of military caregivers on the effect of military caregiving on employment and the workplace.

Research Brief

Supporting Military Caregivers: The Role of Health Providers

Examines how health care providers can best support military caregivers based on RAND's sweeping study of this population and their support environment.

Research Brief

Supporting Military Caregivers: Options for Congress

Presents options Congress might take to support military caregivers based on RAND's sweeping study of this population and their support environment.

Research Brief

Support Resources for Military Caregivers

Provides an overview of support resources for military caregivers based on RAND's sweeping study of this population and their support environment.

Journal Article

Energy Balance in Adolescent Girls: The Trial of Activity for Adolescent Girls Cohort

The authors study correlates of change in BMI percentile and body fat among adolescent girls.

Journal Article

Changes in Condom Use During the First Year of HIV Treatment in Uganda and the Relationship to Depression

We examined the effect of antiretroviral therapy (ART), and the predictive role of depression, on condom use with primary partners.

Journal Article

Distance to Store, Food Prices, and Obesity in Urban Food Deserts

Examines the relationship among distance to store, food prices, and obesity.

Journal Article

The Role of Depression in Work-Related Outcomes of HIV Treatment in Uganda

The primary goal of this analysis was to examine the influence of depression above and beyond the effects of HIV treatment on work activity and function.

Journal Article

Depression and Sexual Risk Behavior Among Clients About to Start HIV Antiretroviral Therapy in Uganda

We investigated depression in relationship to sexual risk behavior with primary partners among HIV clients in Uganda.

Journal Article

Multiple Imputation for Combined-Survey Estimation with Incomplete Regressors in One but Not Both Surveys

Large efficiency gains and substantial reduction in omitted variable bias are demonstrated in an application to sociodemographic differences in the risk of child obesity estimated from two nationally representative cohort surveys.

Journal Article

Are Our Actions Aligned with Our Evidence? The Skinny on Changing the Landscape of Obesity

Recent debate about the role of food deserts in the United States has prompted discussion on policies being enacted, including efforts that encourage the placement of full-service supermarkets into food deserts.

Journal Article

Food Policy Research: We Need Better Measurement, Better Study Designs, and Reasonable and Measured Actions Based on the Available Evidence

The authors' findings support restricting the development of fast-food outlets and attracting grocery stores, and are committed to additional research that overcomes the limitations of large studies.

Journal Article

The Impact of ART on the Economic Outcomes of People Living with HIV/AIDS

Unemployed HIV + clients in sub-Saharan Africa being treated with ART were more likely to become employed, compared with those not under treatment. Having a higher income was associated with being male and having some secondary education.

Journal Article

Impact of HIV Antiretroviral Therapy on Depression and Mental Health Among Clients with HIV in Uganda

With wide-reaching harmful effects of depression, and the absence of psychiatric treatment in most HIV care programs in sub-Saharan Africa, we examined the effects of antiretroviral therapy (ART) on depression and other mental health indicators.

Journal Article

Role of Antiretroviral Therapy in Improving Food Security Among Patients Initiating HIV Treatment and Care

HIV antiretroviral therapy (ART) helps alleviate the food insecurity of adults with HIV; in turn, reducing food insecurity may improve ART outcomes.

Journal Article

Adolescent Girls' Most Common Source of Junk Food Away from Home

Contextual factors associated with adolescent girls' dietary behaviors could inform future interventions to improve diet.

Journal Article

Depression and Its Relationship to Work Status and Income Among HIV Clients in Uganda

Despite high levels of depression among persons living with HIV (PLWHIV), little research has investigated the relationship of depression to work status and income in PLWHIV in sub-Saharan Africa, which was the focus of this analysis.

Journal Article

The Women's Health Initiative: The Food Environment, Neighborhood Socioeconomic Status, BMI, and Blood Pressure

Post menopausal women living in neighborhoods with higher socioeconomic status and more supermarkets have lower body mass and lower blood pressure.

Journal Article

Identifying Walking Trips from GPS and Accelerometer Data in Adolescent Females

The use of GPS and accelerometers is promising for assessing the number of walking trips and the walking locations of adolescent females.

Journal Article

A Population-Based Survey of Mental Disorders in Singapore

Mental illnesses are not only a growing public health concern but also a major social and economic issue affecting individuals and families throughout the world.

Draft

The Los Angeles Family and Neighborhood Survey, Wave 2: User's Guide and Codebook

This codebook covers the second wave of L.A.FANS. Fieldwork for the second wave took place between August 2006 and December 2008.

Journal Article

Provider and Patient Correlates of Provider Decisions to Recommend HCV Treatment to HIV Co-Infected Patients

Despite low uptake of hepatitis C virus (HCV) treatment among HIV co-infected patients, few studies have examined the factors that contribute to provider decisions to recommend treatment.

Journal Article

Depression in the Pathway of HIV Antiretroviral Effects on Sexual Risk Behavior Among Patients in Uganda

A controlled study of HIV antiretroviral therapy (ART) in sub-Saharan Africa found that ART increase sexual activity and condom use, but depression undercuts the prevention benefits of ART, highlighting the need to integrate mental health services into HIV care.

Draft

Multiple Imputation for Combined-Survey Estimation With Incomplete Regressors In One But Not Both Surveys

Within-survey multiple imputation (MI) methods are adapted to pooled-survey regression estimation where one survey has a larger set of regressors but fewer observations than the other.

Journal Article

Patient and Provider Characteristics Associated with the Decision of HIV Coinfected Patients to Start Hepatitis C Treatment

A patient's decision to start or defer hepatitis C treatment is influenced by the stage of their disease and by their providers' confidence about the efficacy of hepatitis C treatment.

Journal Article

Neighborhood Socioeconomic Status and Cognitive Function in Women

Neighborhood socioeconomic status (NSES) is associated with cognitive functioning in older US women. Future research is needed on the longitudinal relationships between NSES, cognitive impairment, and cognitive decline.

Journal Article

Patient Characteristics Associated with HCV Treatment Adherence, Treatment Completion and Sustained Virologic Response in HIV Co-Infected Patients

Good mental health may be an indicator of readiness to adhere to treatment for Hepatitis C among individuals who also have HIV.

Journal Article

District Awards for Teacher Excellence (D.A.T.E.) Program: Year One Evaluation Report

This report presents findings from the first year of District Awards for Teacher Excellence (D.A.T.E.) (2008-09 school year), with emphasis on program participation decisions made by districts, the local design preferences for performance pay plans, and the early implementation experiences of D.A.T.E. participants.

Draft

Estimating and Mapping Health Literacy in the State of Missouri

Using predictive models and information about the demographic makeup of census areas, this paper generates estimates of health literacy for each geographic area and maps the results to identify 'hot spots' of low health literacy across Missouri.

Journal Article

Factors Associated with Condom Use Among HIV Clients in Stable Relationships with Partners at Varying Risk for HIV in Uganda

In Uganda, the most significant factor in whether HIV+ couples in stable relationships use condoms is their sense of self efficacy about condom use.

Journal Article

Students Left Behind: Measuring 10th to 12th Grade Student Persistence Rates in Texas High Schools

The authors propose several guidelines for using existing graduation and persistence rate data and argue that a national effort to track students as they progress through high school is essential to reconcile conflicting estimates.

Journal Article

Understanding the Influence of Depression on Self-Efficacy, Work Status, and Condom Use Among HIV Clients in Uganda

Depression affects self-efficacy, work status, and condom use among HIV+ men in sub-Saharan Africa.

Journal Article

Composite Estimates from Incomplete and Complete Frames for Minimum-Mse Estimation in a Rare Population: An Application Fo Families with Young Children

Describes an application that estimates incomplete frame bias relative to a random digit dialing estimate for each parameter of interest, and conditions on that estimate.

Journal Article

Developing Predictive Models of Health Literacy

The authors developed two models to estimate health literacy.

Research Brief

Room for Improvement in the Use of High-Quality Preschool Programs for California's Children

This research brief summarizes findings of a study of the use and quality of early care and education programs serving preschool-age children in California and the extent to which some groups of children are particularly underserved.

Report

Prepared to Learn: The Nature and Quality of Early Care and Education for Preschool-Age Children in California

This report examines the use and quality of early care and education programs for preschool-age children in California and differences across socioeconomic and demographic groups. There is room for improvement in both quality and participation.

Draft

Assessing Health and Health Care in the District of Columbia

Study of health and the health care delivery system, including an assessment of emergency medical services, in the District of Columbia.

Journal Article

Multilevel Spatio-Temporal Dual Changepoint Models for Relating Alcohol Outlet Destruction and Changes in Neighbourhood Rates of Assaultive Violence

This paper evaluates the impact of the 1992 Civil Unrest in Los Angeles (which followed the Rodney King incident), in which many alcohol outlets were damaged leading to a decrease in alcohol outlet density, on crime.

Journal Article

Texas Educator Excellence Grant (TEEG) Program: Year One Evaluation Report

This report presents findings from the first-year evaluation of the Texas Educator Excellence Grant (TEEG) program, one of several statewide performance incentive programs in Texas.

Journal Article

Governor's Educator Excellence Grant (GEEG) Program: Year One Evaluation Report

This report presents findings stemming from the first-year evaluation of the Governor's Educator Excellence Grant (GEEG) program, one of several statewide performance incentive programs in Texas.

Journal Article

Determinants of Social Capital Indicators at the Neighborhood Level: A Longitudinal Analysis of Loss of Off-Sale Alcohol Outlets and Voting

Neighborhoods represent a unique level of analysis where social and material determinants of social capital may be lodged.

Journal Article

Spring 2007 TEEG Survey Results Chi-Square Analyses by Grade Level

This report presents findings from the first-year evaluation of the Texas Educator Excellence Grant (TEEG) program, one of several statewide performance incentive programs in Texas.

Research Brief

Project ALERT Plus May Leverage the Effect of the National Youth Anti-Drug Media Campaign

This fact sheet reports lowered use of marijuana among ninth graders exposed to anti-drug messages from the National Youth Anti-Drug Media Campaign along with Project ALERT Plus, a drug prevention curriculum for middle school students.

Journal Article

Alcohol Outlets, Gonorrhea, and the Los Angeles Civil Unrest: A Longitudinal Analysis

Efforts to control sexually transmitted diseases should address factors that facilitate high-risk behaviors and disease transmission.

Report

The Design of a Multilevel Survey of Children, Families, and Communities: The Los Angeles Family and Neighborhood Survey

This paper describes the development and implementation of the multilevel sample design for the Los Angeles Family and Neighborhood Survey (LAFANS).

Journal Article

National Youth Anti-Drug Media Campaign and School-Based Drug Prevention: Evidence for a Synergistic Effect in ALERT Plus

Examined the possible synergistic effect of exposure to the National Youth Anti-Drug Media Campaign and a classroom-based drug prevention curriculum among 9th grade students participating in a randomized trial of ALERT Plus.

Journal Article

Outlier Detection and Editing Procedures for Continuous Multivariate Data

We present a semi-automatic method of outlier detection for continuous, multivariate survey data that is designed to identify outlying cases and suggest potential errors on a case-by-case basis, in the presence of missing data.

Report

Gender Differences in Major Federal External Grant Programs

Determines whether gender differences exist in federal research grant awards and funding.

Journal Article

Developmental Considerations for Substance Use Interventions from Middle School Through College

This article summarizes a symposium organized by Dr. Elizabeth D'Amico and presented at the 2004 Annual Meeting of the Research Society on Alcoholism in Vancouver, Canada.

Report

Career Paths of School Administrators in Illinois: Insights from an Analysis of State Data

A further exploration of school administrators and the issue of their shortage and their importance to student learning outcomes, this report adds to the current understanding of school administrators' careers.

Report

Career Paths of School Administrators in North Carolina: Insights from an Analysis of State Data

A further exploration of school administrators and the issue of their shortage and their importance to student learning outcomes, this report adds to the current understanding of school administrators' careers.

Research Brief

Classroom Drug Prevention Works: But Left Unchecked, Early Substance Use Haunts Older Teens and Young Adults

Alcohol, tobacco, and other drugs are in the nation's schools, sidetracking kids from getting a good education and from building a solid foundation for a productive, healthy life.

Journal Article

The Interview Mode Effect on the Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression (CES-D) Scale: An Item Response Theory Analysis

Cognitive factors appear more important to the mode effect in the CES-D.

Draft

The Los Angeles Family and Neighborhood Survey: Codebook

This documentation covers the first wave of L.A.FANS. Fieldwork for Wave 1 was begun in April 2000 and was completed in January 2002.

Report

Modifying Pro-Drug Risk Factors in Adolescents: Results from Project ALERT

Evaluates the impact of a state-of-the art drug prevention program, Project ALERT, on risk factors for drug use in mostly rural Midwestern schools and communities.

Journal Article

Factors Associated with Accurate Self-Reported Adherence to HIV Antiretrovirals

The purpose of this study was to determine the conditions in which self-reports provide an accurate assessment of adherence to HIV antiretrovirals.

Journal Article

Multiple Edit/Multiple Imputation for Multivariate Continuous Data

Multiple imputation replaces an incomplete dataset with m > 1 simulated complete versions that are analyzed separately by standard methods.

Report

New Inroads in Preventing Adolescent Drug Use: Results From a Large-Scale Trial of Project ALERT in Middle Schools

School-based drug prevention programs can prevent occasional and more serious drug use, help low- to high-risk adolescents, and be effective in diverse school environments.

Journal Article

Electronic Monitoring: Adherence Assessment or Intervention?

Electronic-monitored adherence is often used as the primary outcome measure for evaluating adherence interventions.