Risk factors associated with loneliness among mexican-origin adults in southern Arizona.

This study examines factors associated with symptoms of loneliness among a sample (n = 213) of mostly Mexican-origin adults at risk of chronic diseases in Southern Arizona's Pima, Yuma, and Santa Cruz counties. It uses baseline data from a community-based participatory research partnership and multinominal logistic regression models. Controlling for chronic diseases and sociodemographic characteristics, perceived social support and hope exhibit negative main effects on loneliness when comparing individuals who experienced loneliness for 5-7 days in the preceding week with those who did not encounter such feelings during the same period (adjusted odds ratio, AOR = 0.49 and 0.47; 95% confidence interval, CI = 0.34-0.73 and 0.29-0.75, respectively). However, when considered together, perceived social support and hope display a positive and statistically significant combined effect on loneliness (AOR = 1.03; 95% CI = 1.01-1.06). Holding all covariates constant, individuals reporting loneliness for 5-7 days exhibit a relative risk ratio of 1.24 (95% CI = 1.06-1.46) for a one-unit increase in physical problem severity compared to those who do not experience loneliness. Moreover, being 65 years old or older (AOR = 0.16, 95% CI = 0.03-0.84), and having been born in Mexico and lived in the US for less than 30 years (AOR = 0.12, 95% CI = 0.02-0.74) are associated with negative main effects on loneliness when comparing individuals who experienced loneliness 1-2, and 5-7 days in the preceding week with those who did not feel loneliness during the same timeframe, respectively. Recognizing the crucial role of loneliness in shaping health outcomes for Mexican-origin adults, our findings underscore the significance of fostering supportive environments that not only enhance well-being but also cultivate robust community bonds within the US-Mexico border region.

Risk Factors Associated with Diabetes among Mexican-Origin Adults in Southern Arizona.

Diabetes is the seventh leading cause of death in the United States, and it is particularly problematic among the Latine population. This study employed multivariable logistic regression models to examine how hypertension, depression, and sociodemographics were associated with diabetes in a cross-sectional sample of Mexican-origin adults living in three counties of Southern Arizona. The overall prevalence of diabetes from this primary care sample was 39.4%. Holding covariates at fixed values, individuals having hypertension were 2.36 (95% CI: 1.15, 4.83) times more likely to have diabetes, when compared to individuals not having hypertension. The odds of having diabetes for individuals with ≥12 years of educational attainment were 0.29 (95% CI: 0.14, 0.61) times the corresponding odds of individuals with <12 years of educational attainment. For individuals with depression, the odds of having diabetes for those who were born in Mexico and had <30 years living in the US were 0.04 (95% CI: 0, 0.42) times the corresponding odds of individuals without depression and who were born in the US. Findings suggest clinical and public health systems should be aware of the potential increased risk of diabetes among Mexican-origin adults with hypertension and lower educational attainment.

The Arizona Prevention Research Center partnerships in Arizona to promote COVID-19 vaccine health equity.

Background: Vaccine hesitancy in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic is a complex issue that undermines our national ability to reduce the burden of the disease and control the pandemic. The COVID-19 pandemic revealed widening health disparities and disproportionate adverse health outcomes in terms of transmission, hospitalizations, morbidity and mortality among Arizona's Latinx rural, underserved, farmworker, disabled and elderly populations. In March 2021, ~8.1% of those vaccinated were Latinx, though Latinxs make up 32% of Arizona's population. The Arizona Vaccine Confidence Network (AzVCN) proposed to leverage the expertise of the Arizona Prevention Research Center (AzPRC) and the resources of the Mel and Enid Zuckerman College of Public Health (MEZCOPH) Mobile Health Unit (MHU) to identify, implement and evaluate a MHU intervention to increase uptake of COVID-19 vaccines. Methods: The AzVCN focused efforts on Latinx, rural, un/underinsured and farmworker communities in the four Arizona border counties that are at greater risk of COVID-19 morbidity and mortality and may have limited access to vaccination and other essential health services. The AzVCN used listening sessions to create a feedback loop with key stakeholders and critical health care workers to validate barriers/enablers and identify solutions to increase vaccination uptake emerging from the network. The AzVCN also implemented a community-based intervention using community health workers (CHWs) based in a MHU to increase knowledge of the COVID-19 vaccines, reduce vaccination hesitancy and increase vaccination uptake among Latinx rural, un/underinsured and farmworker populations in Southern Arizona. Results: AzVCN outcomes include: identification of enablers and barriers of COVID-19 vaccination in the priority populations; identification of strategies and solutions to address vaccine hesitancy and increase vaccine uptake among priority population; and evidence that the proposed solutions being tested through the AzVCN contribute to increased vaccine uptake among the priority populations. Conclusion: Through these efforts the AzPRC contributed to the CDC's Vaccinate with Confidence Strategy by collaborating with CHWs and other key stakeholders to engage directly with communities in identifying and addressing structural and misinformation barriers to vaccine uptake.