Background and Objectives: Nutrition insecurity, driven by structural inequities, significantly contributes to disparities in dietary quality among underserved populations. Fruit and vegetable (F&V) incentive programs, like Double Up Food Bucks New York (DUFBNY), aim to reduce these disparities; however, limited program awareness remains a barrier. This study examined whether the initial communication channel (face-to-face interpersonal vs. mass communication) used to promote DUFBNY influenced participants' subsequent F&V intake. Methods: Participants (n = 417) completed a cross-sectional survey reporting demographics, initial communication channel exposure, and dietary intake via the validated Dietary Screener Questionnaire (DSQ). Results: Regression analyses showed face-to-face interpersonal communication significantly predicted greater total daily F&V intake ( β = 0.202, P < 0.001), particularly whole fruit and vegetable intake ( β = 0.228, P < 0.001). Conclusions: Interpersonal communication plays a vital role in raising awareness. Practitioners and policymakers could prioritize interpersonal outreach involving trusted community members and organizations to enhance equitable program participation.
Human milk is a critical public health resource, yet access remains uneven despite the well-established benefits of breastfeeding and donor human milk. Although regulated milk banks provide an essential service, many families obtain human milk through informal and community-based sharing networks. These practices have persisted across cultures and generations but remain largely absent from public health policy and professional guidance. This commentary argues that community-governed milk sharing should be understood as a form of mutual aid that emerges in response to gaps in maternal and infant health systems. Rather than ignoring or stigmatizing these practices, society should acknowledge their existence and develop evidence-informed approaches that promote safety, autonomy, equity, and informed decision making. Recognizing milk sharing as community health infrastructure may strengthen infant nutrition security and support family-centered care.
Background: Most parents in need of substance use disorder (SUD) treatment do not receive it, due in part to childcare being a major barrier. Childcare availability likely depends on multiple factors at the facility, community, and state policy levels. Objective: To identify multilevel characteristics associated with childcare availability in SUD treatment settings, and whether state policies about drug use and treatment influenced childcare availability differently within states. Methods: We used the Mental Health and Addiction Treatment Tracking Repository (MATTR) and external geocoded data to identify all known licensed SUD outpatient treatment facilities in the United States (2024; N = 7796). We used multilevel logistic regression to model childcare availability. We included interactions to test whether state policies about drug use and childcare were associated with childcare access differently depending on census tract characteristics. Results: Only 4% of SUD treatment facilities offered childcare (n = 323). Location in a state that did not specifically mention methamphetamine in its child endangerment laws was most strongly associated with childcare access in communities with higher Black population density ( = −0.16, standard error = 0.06, P = .01). Conclusion: Some state policies influenced childcare access differently in different communities, suggesting that state policies should be flexible and tailored to the needs of diverse localities.
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE:Bhutanese refugees in the United States face intersecting health disparities shaped by trauma, cultural disruption, and systemic barriers. Despite growing attention to refugee health, little is known about how this community defines and practices healthy living post-resettlement. This study explores Bhutanese refugees' lived experiences of health using participatory, culturally grounded methods. METHODS:Using photovoice within a community-based participatory research framework, 24 Bhutanese participants and 6 peer facilitators engaged in photodocumentation and community wellness workshops. Participants captured images related to healthy living and discussed their meanings in collective sessions. Thematic analysis of photonarratives was codeveloped with community members. RESULTS:Four themes emerged: (1) Land as memory and identity, where loss of agrarian life symbolized disconnection from health and culture; (2) Food as cultural survival, as traditional eating practices supported well-being and adaptation; (3) Health navigation in a system not built for us, showing how chronic illness and healthcare inaccessibility were mitigated by community-led support; and (4) Spiritual continuity as healing, where faith, ritual, and language sustained emotional and cultural resilience. CONCLUSION:Health among Bhutanese refugees is relational, culturally embedded, and shaped by collective resilience. Effective interventions must integrate cultural continuity, peer leadership, and place-based strategies.
