Public Health

Geospatial Analysis of Maternal Healthcare Access in Texas
 

Cynthia N. Marquez
Baylor University

Texas has a maternal mortality rate higher than the national average with 29.3 deaths occurring within 42 days of the end of the pregnancy per 100,000 live births from 2019-2023. Limited maternity care access has been associated with higher maternal mortality rates at the national-level, and there are noted disparities by race/ethnicity and urbanicity. Yet, limited research has geospatially explored these factors simultaneously in Texas. This study geospatially examines maternity care access, maternal mortality, racial/ethnic, and urban/rural data at the county-level in Texas. This study utilized publicly available, 2019-2023 Texas county-level data from: CDC Wonder (maternal mortality), March of Dimes (maternity care access status – maternity care access/low access/maternity care desert), American Community Survey (race/ethnicity) and Office of Management and Budget (metropolitan/non-metropolitan county status). All data were mapped in ArcGIS, and descriptive statistics and chi-square tests were examined the association between maternity care access, maternal mortality, race/ethnicity, and urbanicity. Out of all 254 Texas counties, 34.65% were classified as having maternity care access, 15.75% having low access, and 49.61% as maternity care deserts. Maternity care access differed significantly by urbanicity, with non-metropolitan counties having a higher proportion of maternity care deserts (p<0.05). There were no significant differences by race/ethnicity. Over 40% of Texas counties did not have maternal mortality data, thus, the relationship between maternity care access and maternal mortality could not be assessed. These findings show geographic disparities in access and the need for more comprehensive maternal health data to better understand maternal mortality across Texas.

Rebeca Alanis

Baylor University

With the mentorship of Dr. Gabriel Benavidez in the Public Health department, we will be conducting research on how religiosity impacts Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination rates. HPV is a common sexually transmitted disease that may present as warts or have no signs or symptoms, but long-lasting infection contributes to over 90% of all cervical cancers. The HPV vaccine was first introduced in 2006 for girls and 2008 for boys, primarily targeting children between the ages of 11-12, with a catch-up period until age 26. Vaccination rates remain low due to parental misconceptions in terms of vaccine safety, perceived susceptibility, and perceived benefit. Our research objective is to survey the Waco Christian churches to assess how religious beliefs and attitudes of the clergy and denomination intersect with health perspectives and willingness to vaccinate their children or receive a catch-up vaccine themselves. We hypothesize that with proper education, church leaders can promote health and increase vaccination rates within their congregations. By addressing perceived religious barriers, safety concerns, and the benefits of the vaccine, we aim to decrease cancer rates.

The Impact of English Proficiency and Immigrant Status on Cancer Information Searching and Understanding Among U.S. Adults
 

Yosemith Hernandez
The University of Texas at Arlington

Individuals with limited English proficiency and immigrants may experience language-related barriers that limit access to and understanding of cancer information, contributing to disparities in health communication. This study examined the association between English proficiency, immigrant status, and cancer information searching and understanding among U.S. adults. A cross-sectional secondary analysis was conducted using data from the Health Information National Trends Survey 5, Cycle 2 (2018), a nationally representative survey of 3,504 U.S. adults. Weighted descriptive statistics and bivariate analyses, including chi-square tests, independent-samples t tests, and one-way analyses of variance, were performed using IBM SPSS Statistics. U.S.-born respondents and those who spoke English very well reported greater confidence in obtaining cancer information, while lower English proficiency was associated with greater difficulty understanding cancer information. Immigrant status and English proficiency were significantly associated with human papillomavirus and human papillomavirus vaccine awareness, and immigrant status was also associated with human papillomavirus knowledge. No significant associations were observed between English proficiency and several cancer information-seeking behaviors, and findings regarding cancer information overload were mixed. These findings suggest that English proficiency and immigrant status may influence confidence in obtaining and understanding cancer information. Future research should examine additional factors influencing cancer information behaviors and evaluate culturally and linguistically appropriate interventions promoting equitable access to cancer information.