A New Approach to the Social Vulnerability Indices: Decision Tree-Based Vulnerability Classification Model

The Social Vulnerability Index (SVI), a composite score identifying populations at risk from disasters, is often used to predict vulnerability and plan for community-based disaster prevention and emergency response. Our study introduces a decision tree based approach to developing an SVI that captures the heterogeneity of both vulnerable populations and disasters and we demonstrate the importance of incorporating a disaster loss classification into estimating social vulnerability to increase the predictive performance of the model. Findings suggest that the SVI based on the decision tree approach dramatically increased the accuracy of predicting high vulnerability areas

Pandemic Behind Bar: Containing COVID-19 Outbreaks in Illinois Correctional Settings

This policy spotlight documents the growing concern for the health of the incarcerated population and explores the implication of unabated COVID-19 outbreaks in Illinois prisons for the health of Illinois communities where correctional facilities are located. Jails and prisons are not isolated from the community. Preventing COVID-19 transmission in correctional settings requires steps to ensure that COVID-19 outbreaks within prisons do not spill over to the surrounding communities, and that community infection does not enter into correctional facilities. Correctional facilities not only in Illinois but throughout the U.S. have been affected by localized outbreaks but also experienced poor access to personal protective equipment and testing. Furthermore, because of unsanitary, crowding, and congregate living conditions, social distance, a key public health mitigation measure, has been a challenge. Correctional employees and officers are not immune to these risks. The high infection rates in correctional settings have been a concern since the beginning of the pandemic. The reports from prisons and jails around the country underline the vulnerability of the incarcerated population and correctional staff to COVID-19. IDOC will need to implement preventive measures to protect the health of inmates and staff, as well as the community. Meeting the public health and mental health needs of inmates is not only just, it is a smart public health policy.</div

Stigma and Cervical Cancer Prevention: A Scoping Review of the U.S. Literature

Cervical cancer is preventable through HPV vaccination and screening however, uptake falls below national targets. A scoping review was conducted to describe stigmas related to HPV infection and vaccination and cervical cancer and screening in the US. Results were organized into the domains proposed by Stangl and colleagues’ Health Stigma and Discrimination Framework. Common drivers of stigma were fear of social judgement and rejection, self-blame, and shame. Positive facilitators included social norms that provided motivation to receive HPV vaccination and screening. Gender and social norms were notable negative facilitators of stigma. HPV infection and cervical cancer resulted in stigma marking through the belief that both result from incautious behavior—either multiple sexual partners or failing to get screening. Stereotyping and prejudice were stigma practices attributed to HPV infection and cervical cancer through these same behaviors. Stigma experiences related to HPV infection, cervical cancer, and abnormal screening results included altered self-image based on perceived/anticipated stigma, as well as discrimination. This review advances understanding of the multiple dimensions of stigma associated with these outcomes in the US population. Three areas warrant additional consideration. Future studies should 1) assess how stigma dimensions affect uptake of cervical cancer preventions efforts; 2) focus on US women most affected by cervical cancer incidence and mortality to identify potential differences in these dimensions and tailor interventions accordingly; 3) include women from geographic areas of the US with high rates of cervical cancer to adapt interventions that address potential regional variations in resources and need. <br