Family Caregiver Support Interventions' Effectiveness Before and During the COVID-19 Pandemic.

The authors aimed to assess the impact of a family caregiver support intervention on caregiver burden and hospital readmission before and during the COVID-19 pandemic. By adopting a quasi-experimental design with no randomization, caregivers (n = 65) received a 90-day home visitation caregiver support intervention before the COVID-19 pandemic and caregivers (n = 41) received a 90-day phone-only visitation caregiver support intervention during the COVID-19 pandemic. Caregiver burden was collected in a survey, and hospital readmission of the care recipient was collected by hospital data. The results of a repeated-measures ANOVA demonstrated that participants of a family caregiver support intervention during the COVID-19 pandemic improved their caregiver burden statistically significantly more than those who received the intervention before the pandemic. There were no significant differences in hospital readmissions before or during the COVID-19 pandemic. The study demonstrates the efficacy of family caregiver support interventions over the phone during a pandemic.

Breastfeeding Practices Among Hispanic and Non-Hispanic Women at the Postpartum Visit.

BACKGROUND: Breastfeeding is an active area in public health advocacy. Despite documented benefits for infants and mothers, exclusive breastfeeding is not universal. Ethnicity, among other variables, has been shown to influence breastfeeding practice. Research aim: Our study aimed to determine which variables are associated with infant feeding patterns at the postpartum visit; compare the sociodemographic variables associated with infant feeding patterns between Hispanic and non-Hispanic mothers; and determine the odds of exclusive breastfeeding, mixed feeding, and exclusive formula feeding associated with sociodemographic characteristics. METHODS: A retrospective, cross-sectional two-group comparison design was used. Hispanic and non-Hispanic women's ( N = 666) infant feeding patterns at 6-week postpartum were analyzed. Group comparisons were made of the demographic characteristics and infant feeding practice. RESULTS: Thirty-four percent of Hispanic participants reported exclusive breastfeeding compared with 59% of non-Hispanic White participants. Language and body mass index were significantly associated with infant feeding patterns among Hispanic participants. Compared with non-Hispanic White participants, Hispanic participants had increased odds of reporting mixed feeding and exclusive formula feeding. CONCLUSION: Breastfeeding initiatives should target English-speaking Hispanic mothers and obese Hispanic mothers to align breastfeeding rates with medical recommendations. Healthcare providers may benefit from additional training to address barriers to breastfeeding among obese women and to provide culturally sensitive support that encourages continued breastfeeding in this population.

Interpersonal violence and traumatic brain injuries among Native Americans and women.

OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to assess the odds of experiencing a traumatic brain injury (TBI) as a result of interpersonal violence (IPV) among Native Americans compared to other races controlling for gender, age, socioeconomic status, rurality and intoxication at the time of the injury. METHODS: A secondary data analysis of the Arizona Trauma Database consisting of 18 944 cases of TBI between 2008-2010 throughout the state of Arizona was conducted. There were 312 patients who experienced injuries caused by IPV in the sample. Descriptive statistics, cross-tabulations, bivariate analyses and a logistic regression model were used for analyses. RESULTS: The logistic regression model found that Native Americans (OR = 1.15), patients from the other race category (OR = 1.18), females (OR = 1.35) and those who were insured (OR = 1.26) had higher odds of experiencing a TBI as a result of IPV. Rurality and intoxication were mediators of the correlation between Native American race and TBI as a result of IPV. CONCLUSIONS: Native Americans are more likely than Whites and females are more likely than males to experience TBIs as a result of IPV.

Experiences with pregnancy of adolescents with disabilities from the perspectives of the school social workers who serve them.

Adolescents with disabilities are more likely than adolescents without disabilities to become pregnant, although very little is known about the lived contexts of their sexual and pregnancy experiences. Such youths are often deprived of sexual health information across a range of potential sources, although school social workers are in a unique position to provide them services. Thirteen school social workers working primarily with adolescents with disabilities were interviewed using a phenomenological study design to offer their perspectives concerning the sexual and pregnancy experiences of such youths. Inductive content analysis revealed that school social workers provided services for pregnant and parenting adolescents with a range of disabilities in areas that included making decisions about sex, deciphering whether they were pregnant, and making decisions once they were pregnant. These experiences were complicated by cognitive impairments; emotional struggles; desires to fit in with peers; histories of sexual abuse; and issues with communication, self-esteem, and impulsivity. School social workers play an integral role in preventing pregnancy and supporting adolescents with disabilities who are pregnant. Recommendations pertaining to the provision of sexual health services for adolescents with disabilities are provided.

Factors associated with the health service utilization of unsheltered, chronically homeless adults.

Individuals who are chronically homeless have significantly higher rates of morbidity at significantly younger ages because they experience homelessness, physical and mental health impairments, and substance use disorders. The health status and health service utilization of 260 unsheltered, chronically homeless individuals in a large southwestern, metropolitan community are reported. The behavioral model for vulnerable populations was used to conceptualize the factors associated with hospital, mental health, and substance abuse service utilization among the sample. Health insurance coverage was positively associated with the use of all health services. Other factors were also observed to exert differential relationships to health service utilization.