Alabama Researcher Awarded Grant to Address Life Expectancy Inequalities and Improve Community Health
Dr. Azita Amiri, an associate professor with the College of Nursing at the University of Alabama in Huntsville, has been awarded a $25,000 Network of Practice Grant from the Bloomberg American Health Initiatives. The grant, provided by the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, aims to support Dr. Amiri’s research in examining life expectancy inequities in Alabama and developing strategies to improve community health outcomes.
Dr. Amiri’s research will focus on the impact of social and built-environmental conditions on health, including life expectancy. It is widely acknowledged that these factors play a crucial role in determining health outcomes, sometimes even surpassing the influence of genetics and personal characteristics. In the United States, there are substantial variations in life expectancy across different regions, neighborhoods, and even city blocks. To promote equal life expectancies, Dr. Amiri emphasizes the importance of equitable societies and built environments that provide access to healthcare centers and healthy food options.
A significant portion of Alabama’s population resides in rural areas, with 55 out of 67 counties considered rural based on 2020 U.S. census data. These rural populations face challenges due to an unequal distribution of resources, poverty, low literacy, environmental injustice, and unequal disease burdens. According to Dr. Amiri, 58 of the counties in Alabama are designated as medically underserved, further highlighting the need for interventions to improve health outcomes in these areas.
To support this project, Dr. Amiri will utilize life expectancy data from the Center for Disease Control’s U.S. Small-area Life Expectancy Estimates Project. Additional health data from the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services will also inform the research. By analyzing these datasets, the research team aims to gain a comprehensive understanding of the key factors contributing to the state’s low life expectancy rankings.
The research will involve selecting five neighborhoods with low life expectancies and high disparities. Focus group sessions will be conducted with community members and leaders from each neighborhood to engage them in discussions about the identified problems and collectively seek input and solutions. The findings of the initiative will be presented to state officials, including the Governor, state representatives, and the head of the Alabama Department of Public Health.
To gather environmental determinants affecting life expectancy, various databases will be consulted. These include the Food Access Research Atlas for identifying areas with limited access to affordable and high-quality fresh food, Walkscore Inc. for evaluating walkability and transit access indicators, and the Fatality Analysis Reporting System for examining data on traffic crashes and fatalities. Additionally, geospatial and census tract data will be used to measure the distance between neighborhoods and health centers, healthy food locations, and industrial pollution. Air pollution levels in each area will be assessed using measurements of particulate matter from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.
The research team plans to include socioeconomic and demographic variables in the analysis, such as race, income, education, and health insurance coverage. These factors significantly influence health outcomes and will contribute to the development of a comprehensive blueprint to address the identified challenges.
By addressing the disparities in life expectancy and improving community health outcomes, Dr. Amiri’s research offers valuable insights that can inform policy interventions and support the creation of equitable environments for all Alabama residents. The findings of this study have the potential to make a significant impact by fostering healthier communities and reducing health inequalities throughout the state.
