In this study, we used ethnographic methods and a risk environment framework to consider how contextual factors produce or reduce risk for substance use with a sample of 27 adults who recently moved into permanent supportive housing (PSH). Most apparent was how the social and physical environments interacted, because most participants focused on how having an apartment had dramatically changed their lives and how they interact with others. Specific themes that emerged that also involved economic and policy environments included the following: isolation versus social engagement; becoming one's own caseworker; and engaging in identity work. This study underscores the scarcity yet importance of research that examines the multiple types of environment in which PSH is situated, and suggests that a better understanding of how these environments interact to produce or reduce risk is needed to develop optimal interventions and support services.
Age-specific trends in U.S. pleural mesothelioma incidence rates are not consistent with an effect of exposure to SV40-contaminated poliovirus vaccine. Nonetheless, given reports of the detection of SV40 genomic DNA sequences in human mesotheliomas, monitoring of vaccine-exposed cohorts should continue.
Objectives. To assess the role of health-related factors, health care, nutrition, and socioeconomic factors in food insecurity prevalence in a sample of previously homeless adults living in permanent supportive housing. Methods. In 2016 to 2017, we recruited and completed survey interviews with permanent supportive housing residents aged 45 years and older in Los Angeles, California (n = 237). We conducted univariable and multivariable analyses to determine the odds and covariates of low or very low food security, according to the US Department of Agriculture’s definition and measure. Results. Two thirds of residents (67%) reported low or very low food security. In the multivariable analyses, several variables were positively associated with this outcome, including accessing food aid or being late in paying bills. The odds of low or very low food security decreased by 8% for every $100 increase in monthly income. Conclusions. The prevalence of food insecurity in our sample exceeded rates among similarly aged low-income adults in the general population and adults who are currently homeless. This suggests that food insecurity, along with other indicators of socioeconomic disadvantage, remains a threat to health equity for formerly homeless individuals even after they transition to stable housing.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.