IHPL periodically develops briefs on current issues with a special focus on oral health, hunger, and mental/behavioral health. We hope that our “Issue At A Glance” will inform our readers and spark a dialogue among stakeholders to better promote health and prevent disease. To access previous issues, please visit our archive.
Compared to the general population, university students in the United States face a higher burden of food insecurity, which negatively affects their physical, mental, emotional and academic wellbeing. This brief reviews the reasons for food insecurity among university students, the barriers they face and possible solutions to this critical issue.
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Racism acts at various levels in society and can pose barriers to health equity. This issue brief will highlight the three levels of racism and how racism adversely impacts the health of certain racial and ethnic groups in the United States.
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The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus highlighted the importance of adequate preparation and response needed to minimize the negative effects of such a pandemic. This brief covers the conditions under which pandemics may occur, monitoring of pandemics, and the state of pandemic preparedness in the US.
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In recognition of August being National Breastfeeding Month, this brief explores the state of breastfeeding in the US, socioeconomic and racial disparities that persist, and opportunities for health policy to improve breastfeeding rates.
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Racial and ethnic minorities in the United States experience differences in health outcomes as a result of many complex, interdependent factors. As the demographic makeup of this nation changes with the collective number of racial minorities representing more than half the population, improving minority health outcomes will be crucial for the wellbeing of our nation.
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The Eastern Coachella Valley is experiencing poor air quality due to various pollutants. However, there is a lack of real-time data available in the region to residents and policy makers. This brief calls for a more active role by the state government to help support placement and monitoring of air quality data sensors in the region.
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The COVID-19 pandemic and its repercussions will have lasting effects on mental health, particularly on vulnerable populations. This brief provides an overview of potential adverse mental health outcomes resulting from the pandemic.
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Millions of food insecure children receive a large amount of their caloric intake from school meal programs. There must be an emphasis on protecting federal nutrition standards and expanding the eligibility criteria of the school meal programs to ensure that every child has access to healthy meals during school.
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Intimate partner violence (IPV) is a public health issue that affects millions of people regardless of education, economic status, sexual orientation, race and ethnicity. The abuse can lead to various health problems as well as economic and societal impacts. This brief discusses IPV, the causes, the effects, and various ways to address IPV to help prevent it.
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This brief covers the state of oral health among children in San Bernardino County, the causes of poor oral health, the short- and long-term effects, and the county’s new five-year strategic plan to address the issue.
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