ANN ARBOR—From health disparities and managed care to infant mortality and environmental causes of obesity, researchers from the University of Michigan School of Public Health will present a wide range of research during the American Public Health Association 140th Annual Meeting & Exposition Oct. 27-31 in San Francisco.

Researchers from the U-M School of Public Health will lead 87 sessions and poster presentations. Ten of these feature work from the school’s Sexuality and Health Lab, which conducts research on psychosocial factors associated with HIV prevention, comprehensive sexual health and sexuality-related health disparities. These include:

• “Place Matters: Racial Residential Segregation and Low Birth Weight among African American, Hispanic, and Asian/Pacific Islander Mothers,” 11:30 a.m. Oct. 29.Researchers sought to understand the association between racial segregation and low birth weight among different race/ethnic groups. They used 2000-04 California vital statistics data for Los Angeles County, matching it with 2000 Census Tract data for mothers’ addresses. The researchers will discuss their results and how they can inform resource allocation and intervention choices for disparities reduction.
• “Promoting Comprehensive HIV Services for Black and Latino Young Men who Have Sex with Men in the Detroit Metro Area,” 4:45 p.m. Oct. 30.In the Detroit area, Black and Latino youth, ages 13-29, account for 16 percent of all HIV/AIDS cases. Researchers surveyed stakeholders who work with these young people to gain an understanding of factors limiting the population’s access to care and services. They found that homophobia and HIV/AIDS stigma are structural barriers that limit delivery of services. Through an academic-community partnership, the team has recommended a policy document—United for HIV Integration and Policy—to address the barriers, including creating funding mechanisms, developing a service network and requiring providers to undergo training in sexuality and HIV education.
• “Importance of Present Time Orientation in Predicting Early Adolescent Violence,” 12:45 p.m. Oct. 31.Researchers from the Prevention Research Center of Michigan and the U-M School of Public Health looked at time perspective as a measure for predicting tendencies for early adolescent violence. They will discuss how time perspective measures may improve the accuracy of predictions for health promoting and health adverse behaviors.

Related Links:

• APHA annual meeting program and abstracts: www.apha.org/meetings/sessions
• U-M sessions and poster presentations: www.sph.umich.edu/news_events/apha2012.html
• U-M School of Public Health: www.sph.umich.edu
• American Public Health Association: www.apha.org