The association between grandparents as caregivers and overdose mortality in Appalachia and non-Appalachia counties
ObjectiveTo assess the association of drug overdose mortality with grandparents serving as caregivers of children in Appalachia and non-Appalachia in the U.S.MethodsThis study used a cross-sectional design, with percent of grandparents as caregivers and overdose mortality rates being of primary inte...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2023-02-01
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| Series: | Frontiers in Public Health |
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| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpubh.2023.1035564/full |
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| author | Kate E. Beatty Kate E. Beatty Stephanie M. Mathis Abby R. McCurry Margaret M. Francisco Margaret M. Francisco Michael Meit Amy E. Wahlquist |
| author_facet | Kate E. Beatty Kate E. Beatty Stephanie M. Mathis Abby R. McCurry Margaret M. Francisco Margaret M. Francisco Michael Meit Amy E. Wahlquist |
| author_sort | Kate E. Beatty |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | ObjectiveTo assess the association of drug overdose mortality with grandparents serving as caregivers of children in Appalachia and non-Appalachia in the U.S.MethodsThis study used a cross-sectional design, with percent of grandparents as caregivers and overdose mortality rates being of primary interest. County-level data were combined, and descriptive, bivariate, and multivariable statistics were applied. Multiple sociodemographic and geographic variables were included: median age of the population, percent of the population that is uninsured, percent of the population that is non-Hispanic white, teen birth rate, percent of high school dropouts, and rurality.ResultsThe percent of grandparents as caregivers increased as the overdose mortality rate increased (p < 0.01). For every 1% increase in the overdose mortality rate, the percent of grandparents as caregivers increased by 56% in Appalachian counties compared to 24% in non-Appalachian counties. After adjusting for sociodemographic characteristics, the interaction between overdose mortality and Appalachian vs. non-Appalachian counties was no longer significant (p = 0.3).ConclusionsCounties with higher overdose mortality rates had greater rates of grandparents as caregivers, with Appalachian counties experiencing greater rates of grandparents as caregivers than non-Appalachian counties. Sociodemographic characteristics that are often more prevalent in Appalachia may be driving the observed differences.Policy implicationsPolicies and programs are needed to support grandparents providing caregiving for children impacted by substance use disorders including reform to federal child welfare financing to support children, parents, and grandparent caregivers such as kinship navigation, substance use treatment and prevention services, mental health services and in-home supports. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-10T08:45:09Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-c5862331ffd04143a64b1e57ab473b65 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2296-2565 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-10T08:45:09Z |
| publishDate | 2023-02-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Public Health |
| spelling | doaj.art-c5862331ffd04143a64b1e57ab473b652023-02-22T09:18:00ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Public Health2296-25652023-02-011110.3389/fpubh.2023.10355641035564The association between grandparents as caregivers and overdose mortality in Appalachia and non-Appalachia countiesKate E. Beatty0Kate E. Beatty1Stephanie M. Mathis2Abby R. McCurry3Margaret M. Francisco4Margaret M. Francisco5Michael Meit6Amy E. Wahlquist7Center for Rural Health Research, East Tennessee State University, Johnson City, TN, United StatesDepartment of Health Services Management and Policy, College of Public Health, East Tennessee State University, Johnson City, TN, United StatesCenter for Rural Health Research, East Tennessee State University, Johnson City, TN, United StatesBill Gatton College of Pharmacy, East Tennessee State University, Johnson City, TN, United StatesCenter for Rural Health Research, East Tennessee State University, Johnson City, TN, United StatesDepartment of Community and Behavioral Health, College of Public Health, East Tennessee State University, Johnson City, TN, United StatesCenter for Rural Health Research, East Tennessee State University, Johnson City, TN, United StatesCenter for Rural Health Research, East Tennessee State University, Johnson City, TN, United StatesObjectiveTo assess the association of drug overdose mortality with grandparents serving as caregivers of children in Appalachia and non-Appalachia in the U.S.MethodsThis study used a cross-sectional design, with percent of grandparents as caregivers and overdose mortality rates being of primary interest. County-level data were combined, and descriptive, bivariate, and multivariable statistics were applied. Multiple sociodemographic and geographic variables were included: median age of the population, percent of the population that is uninsured, percent of the population that is non-Hispanic white, teen birth rate, percent of high school dropouts, and rurality.ResultsThe percent of grandparents as caregivers increased as the overdose mortality rate increased (p < 0.01). For every 1% increase in the overdose mortality rate, the percent of grandparents as caregivers increased by 56% in Appalachian counties compared to 24% in non-Appalachian counties. After adjusting for sociodemographic characteristics, the interaction between overdose mortality and Appalachian vs. non-Appalachian counties was no longer significant (p = 0.3).ConclusionsCounties with higher overdose mortality rates had greater rates of grandparents as caregivers, with Appalachian counties experiencing greater rates of grandparents as caregivers than non-Appalachian counties. Sociodemographic characteristics that are often more prevalent in Appalachia may be driving the observed differences.Policy implicationsPolicies and programs are needed to support grandparents providing caregiving for children impacted by substance use disorders including reform to federal child welfare financing to support children, parents, and grandparent caregivers such as kinship navigation, substance use treatment and prevention services, mental health services and in-home supports.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpubh.2023.1035564/fullsubstance abuse and addictionrural healthgrandparent-grandchild contactsocial determinants of healthAppalachia |
| spellingShingle | Kate E. Beatty Kate E. Beatty Stephanie M. Mathis Abby R. McCurry Margaret M. Francisco Margaret M. Francisco Michael Meit Amy E. Wahlquist The association between grandparents as caregivers and overdose mortality in Appalachia and non-Appalachia counties Frontiers in Public Health substance abuse and addiction rural health grandparent-grandchild contact social determinants of health Appalachia |
| title | The association between grandparents as caregivers and overdose mortality in Appalachia and non-Appalachia counties |
| title_full | The association between grandparents as caregivers and overdose mortality in Appalachia and non-Appalachia counties |
| title_fullStr | The association between grandparents as caregivers and overdose mortality in Appalachia and non-Appalachia counties |
| title_full_unstemmed | The association between grandparents as caregivers and overdose mortality in Appalachia and non-Appalachia counties |
| title_short | The association between grandparents as caregivers and overdose mortality in Appalachia and non-Appalachia counties |
| title_sort | association between grandparents as caregivers and overdose mortality in appalachia and non appalachia counties |
| topic | substance abuse and addiction rural health grandparent-grandchild contact social determinants of health Appalachia |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpubh.2023.1035564/full |
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