Geospatial Social Determinants of Health Correlate with Disparities in Syphilis and Congenital Syphilis Cases in California.

ABSTRACT: Syphilis and congenital syphilis (CS) are increasing in California (CA). From 2015 through 2019, for example, CA cases of early syphilis among reproductive-age females (15-44) and CS each increased by >200%. Certain populations-including people experiencing homelessness, using drugs, and/or belonging to certain racial/ethnic groups-have been disproportionately impacted. We hypothesized that geospatial social determinants of health (SDH) contribute to such health inequities. To demonstrate this, we geospatially described syphilis in CA using the Healthy Places Index (HPI). The HPI is a composite index that assigns a score to each CA census tract based on eight socioeconomic characteristics associated with health (education, housing, transportation, neighborhood conditions, clean environm

SUBMITTER: Johnson KA 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9146036 | biostudies-literature | 2022 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature