Several CUNY ISPH investigators’ contributions to papers were presented at the 2024 American Public Health Association annual meeting. Held in Minneapolis, the conference theme was “Rebuilding Trust in Public Health and Science.”
With contributors from CUNY ISPH and CUNY SPH, “Competing financial needs and HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis use: A qualitative study among sexual minority men” was presented by lead author Jacob Bleasdale, University of Florida. CUNY ISPH contributors include Project Manager Alexa D’Angelo, Investigator Christian Grov, Executive Director Denis Nash and affiliated investigator Drew Westmorland, along with CUNY SPH Professor and Director of the CUNY Urban Food Policy Institute, Nevin Cohen. Data are from a supplemental study of the Together 5000 cohort examining unmet material needs and PrEP use. From January-March 2021, the team conducted in-depth interviews with 30 SMM about finances and PrEP use. Findings highlight the influence of PrEP-related costs and financial barriers on PrEP use, yet such concerns may not influence PrEP discontinuation among some SMM. Improving access to affordable healthcare and enrollment in subsidy programs may improve PrEP uptake.
The number of workers employed by digital platforms continues to grow and preliminary research suggests dependence on such work as a main job versus side ‘gig’ and strongly influences the material and psychosocial job stressors workers experience. CUNY ISPH investigators Zach Shahn and Mustafa Hussein contributed to, “A price too high: Injury and assault among delivery gig workers in New York City.” The team explored the role of dependence on injury and assaults among the 61,000 prepared food delivery workers in NYC. The study found that dependence represents an axis of health inequality, given how closely it tracks with social position. Lower-educated, minoritized, and immigrant workers with fewer standard employment prospects are more likely to be fully dependent on gig work and are more likely to experience its negative effects than to accrue its flexibility benefits. Dependence is tied to loss of control over work schedules and the ability to decline more dangerous assignments. Labor policy, which classifies most gig workers as independent contractors, is perpetuated by false narratives of the benefits of flexibility, especially for those fully dependent on these jobs.
Few studies explore the impact of family relationships on young people who inject drugs (YPWID) and their drug injection behaviors. CUNY ISPH investigators Honoria Guarino and Pedro Mateu-Gelabert contributed to “Intergenerational disjuncture, dignity denial, and family relationships impacting young people who inject drugs.” The study found that family relationships can affirm or deny the dignity of YPWID and suggest that harm reduction efforts should consider the influence of family on YPWID and engage families in their supportive efforts to reduce the harms of drug use. Family engagement could ameliorate negative emotional, social, and health impacts for YPWID, while also increasing compassion and acceptance.
