Danielle C Ompad
Danielle C. Ompad
Scroll
Professor of Epidemiology
-
Professional overview
-
Dr. Danielle Ompad is an epidemiologist whose work is focused in the areas of urban health, HIV, illicit drug use, and adult access to vaccines. With respect to illicit drug use, her work has spanned the entire natural history of addiction – from initiation to cessation, with particular attention paid to risk for infectious diseases such as HIV, hepatitis B and C, and STIs. She has primarily worked with people who use heroin, crack, cocaine, and/or club drugs.
In New York City, she has been examining heroin cessation among current, former, and relapsed heroin users. Working with Alliance for Public Health and the Ukrainian Institute on Public Health Policy, she analyzes harm reduction service utilization among people who inject drugs, in order to optimize service delivery in Ukraine. Since 2013, she has served as faculty for the Fogarty-funded New York State International Training and Research Program with the goal of building research capacity in Ukraine.
Dr. Ompad’s National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases-funded study aims to determine if herpes simplex 1 and 2 infections explain racial disparities in HIV incidence among a cohort of young gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men (YMSM). In addition, Dr. Ompad and colleagues are assessing HPV infection prevalence, persistence, and clearance among this same cohort.
-
Education
-
BS, Biology, Bowie State University, Bowie, MDMHS, Epidemiology, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MDPhD, Epidemiology, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD
-
Honors and awards
-
Excellence in Public Health Teaching Award, New York University (2014)Excellence in Public Health Teaching Award, New York University (2013)National Hispanic Science Network on Drug Abuse Scientific Development Travel Fellowship (2010)Delta Omega Honorary Society, Alpha Chapter (2002)
-
Areas of research and study
-
EpidemiologyHIV/AIDSInfectious DiseasesSocial Determinants of HealthSTIsSubstance AbuseVaccines
-
Publications
Publications
Pandemic preparedness and hard to reach populations.
AbstractVlahov, D., Coady, M. H., Galea, S., Ompad, D. C., & Barondess, J. A. (n.d.).Publication year
2007Journal title
American journal of disaster medicineVolume
2Issue
6Page(s)
281-283Abstract~Parent-Level Barriers and Facilitators to HPV Vaccine Implementation in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic
AbstractLiebermann, E., Devanter, N. V., Frías Gúzman, N., Ompad, D. C., Shirazian, T., & Healton, C. (n.d.).Publication year
2020Journal title
Journal of Community HealthVolume
45Issue
5Page(s)
1061-1066AbstractCervical cancer is the second leading cause of cancer death for women in the Dominican Republic. Vaccination against human papillomavirus (HPV) could reduce mortality from cervical cancer globally by as much as 90%. The purpose of our study was to explore multi-level barriers and facilitators to implementation of a national HPV vaccine program in the Dominican Republic; this article focuses on parent-level barriers and facilitators. In this qualitative study, we conducted six focus groups (N = 64) with parents of school-age children in the Santo Domingo area of the Dominican Republic, representing diverse socioeconomic groups and geographic settings. Thematic content analysis, using inductive and deductive approaches, was done following transcription and translation of audio-recordings from focus group discussions. Among this group of parents in the Santo Domingo area, facilitators to vaccine uptake were favorable attitudes towards vaccines in general and concern about cervical cancer as a health issue. Barriers found were low to moderate knowledge of HPV and cervical cancer, especially in the rural and suburban groups, and cost and lack of public awareness of the vaccine. This study identified key barriers and facilitators to HPV vaccine implementation in the Dominican Republic. Health messaging, incorporating specialist providers as opinion leaders, will need to be tailored to broad audiences with varying levels of information and awareness, anticipating misinformation and concerns, and will need to emphasize HPV vaccine as a method to prevent cancer.Patterns of harm reduction service utilization and HIV incidence among people who inject drugs in Ukraine : A two-part latent profile analysis
AbstractOmpad, D. C., Wang, J., Dumchev, K., Barska, J., Samko, M., Zeziulin, O., Saliuk, T., Varetska, O., & DeHovitz, J. (n.d.).Publication year
2017Journal title
International Journal of Drug PolicyVolume
43Page(s)
7-15AbstractBackground Program utilization patterns are described within a large network of harm reduction service providers in Ukraine. The relationship between utilization patterns and HIV incidence is determined among people who inject drugs (PWID) controlling for oblast-level HIV incidence and treatment/syringe coverage. Methods Data were extracted from the network's monitoring and evaluation database (January 2011–September 2014, n = 327,758 clients). Latent profile analysis was used to determine harm reduction utilization patterns using the number of HIV tests received annually and the number of condoms, syringes, and services (i.e., information and counseling sessions) received monthly over a year. Cox proportional hazards regression determined the relations between HIV seroconversion and utilization class membership. Results In the final 4-class model, class 1 (34.0% of clients) received 0.1 HIV tests, 1.3 syringes, 0.6 condom and minimal counseling and information sessions per month; class 2 (33.6%) received 8.6 syringes, 3.2 condoms, and 0.5 HIV tests and counseling and information sessions; class 3 (19.1%) received 1 HIV test, 11.9 syringes, 4.3 condoms, and 0.7 information and counseling sessions; class 4 (13.3%) received 1 HIV test, 26.1 syringes, 10.3 condoms, and 1.8 information and 1.9 counseling sessions. Class 4 clients had significantly decreased risk for HIV seroconversion as compared to those in class 1 after controlling for oblast-level characteristics. Conclusion Injection drug use continues to be a major mode of HIV transmission in Ukraine, making evaluation of harm reduction efforts in reducing HIV incidence among PWID critical. These analyses suggest that receiving more syringes and condoms decreased risk of HIV. Scaling up HIV testing and harm reduction services is warranted.Patterns of Physical Activity Among Older Adults in New York City : A Latent Class Approach
AbstractMooney, S. J., Joshi, S., Cerdá, M., Quinn, J. W., Beard, J. R., Kennedy, G. J., Benjamin, E. O., Ompad, D. C., & Rundle, A. G. (n.d.).Publication year
2015Journal title
American journal of preventive medicineVolume
49Issue
3Page(s)
e13-e22AbstractIntroduction Little research to date has explored typologies of physical activity among older adults. An understanding of physical activity patterns may help to both determine the health benefits of different types of activity and target interventions to increase activity levels in older adults. This analysis, conducted in 2014, used a latent class analysis approach to characterize patterns of physical activity in a cohort of older adults. Methods A total of 3,497 men and women aged 65-75 years living in New York City completed the Physical Activity Scale for the Elderly (PASE) in 2011. PASE scale items were used to classify subjects into latent classes. Multinomial regression was then used to relate individual and neighborhood characteristics to class membership. Results Five latent classes were identified: "least active," "walkers," "domestic/gardening," "athletic," and "domestic/gardening athletic." Individual-level predictors, including more education, higher income, and better self-reported health, were associated with membership in the more-active classes, particularly the athletic classes. Residential characteristics, including living in single-family housing and living in the lower-density boroughs of New York City, were predictive of membership in one of the domestic/gardening classes. Class membership was associated with BMI even after controlling for total PASE score. Conclusions This study suggests that individual and neighborhood characteristics are associated with distinct physical activity patterns in a group of older urban adults. These patterns are associated with body habitus independent of overall activity.Perceived stress among a workforce 6 months following hurricane Katrina
AbstractLeon, K. A., Hyre, A. D., Ompad, D. C., DeSalvo, K. B., & Muntner, P. (n.d.).Publication year
2007Journal title
Social psychiatry and psychiatric epidemiologyVolume
42Issue
12Page(s)
1005-1011AbstractTo determine stress levels among a workforce 6 months after hurricane Katrina made landfall, a web-based survey that included the four-item Perceived Stress Scale was administered to employees of the largest employer in New Orleans. An overall Perceived Stress Scale score was obtained by pooling responses for the four items. Among 1,542 adult respondents, 24.1% stated they felt that they were "fairly often" or "very often" unable to control the important things in their life and 21.4% considered that their difficulties were "fairly often" or "very often" piling up so high that they could not overcome them. Also, 6.1% reported that they "almost never" or "never" felt confident about their ability to handle their personal problems and 15.2% indicated that things were "almost never" or "never" going their way. The overall mean Perceived Stress Scale score was 6.3 (standard deviation = 3.1; range = 0-16). Higher stress scale scores, indicating more stress, were present for women, and for participants with lower income, displaced longer than 3 months, who were more afraid of losing their life during hurricane Katrina and its immediate aftermath, and who knew someone that died during the storm. Additionally, participants who were living in a relative of friend's house or in a temporary trailer at the time of the survey had higher stress scores compared to their counterparts who had returned to live in their pre-hurricane residence. There was a direct association between higher stress scores and symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder. Employers and health care providers should be apprised of the need for monitoring stress and offering counseling opportunities for returning workforces following future large-scale disasters.Period and birth-cohort effects on age of first phencyclidine (PCP) use among drug users in New York City, 1960 to 2000
AbstractBryant, W. K., Ompad, D. C., Ahern, J., Wu, Y., Vlahov, D., & Galea, S. (n.d.).Publication year
2006Journal title
Annals of EpidemiologyVolume
16Issue
4Page(s)
266-272AbstractPURPOSE: The aim of the study is to determine period and birth-cohort effects in the early initiation of phencyclidine (PCP) use in drug users in New York City (NYC). METHODS: We analyzed data collected from two surveys of street-recruited drug users in NYC. We used survival analysis and proportional hazards modeling to assess period and birth-cohort effects on risk for early initiation of PCP use. RESULTS: Of 787 participants, 292 (37.1%) had used PCP by the age of 23 years. Before 1987, there was a greater risk for initiation of PCP use through the age of 23 years (hazard ratio [HR] = 34.77; 95% confidence interval [CI], 21.45-56.36). Proportional hazards modeling showed that those born in the 1971 to 1975 birth cohort compared with those born in 1976 to 1980 had a lower risk for initiation of PCP use through age 23 years (HR = 0.58; 95% CI, 0.37-0.91). Other significant predictors of PCP use by age 23 included white race and having been in a juvenile detention center. CONCLUSIONS: There are period and birth-cohort differences in the likelihood of early initiation of PCP use. Changes in drug culture and social norms may influence the likelihood of initiation of PCP use. This may have implications for interventions aimed at slowing the nationwide increase in use of PCP.Physical Urban Environment
AbstractOmpad, D. C., Quinn, A., Vlahov, D., Ompad, D., & Galea, S. (n.d.).Publication year
2011Page(s)
526-535AbstractAs the world's urban population begins to outnumber the rural population, the health effects of urbanization and urban living have recently been studied in greater depth. The physical urban environment has been singled out as one of the many determinants of urban health. The predominant features of the urban physical environment - housing, neighborhoods, roads and other transportation, and urban infrastructure - have been associated with health impacts. Because of the diversity of cities, and the great contrasts between cities of the less developed and developed worlds it is necessary to consider the impact on health in these cities separately. In the urban developed world, impacts of the urban environment on health are not always negative. In the urban less developed world, many issues, such as a lack of water and sanitation, have been noted as having significant impacts on a large proportion of the world's population. As the world continues to urbanize, both developed and less developed world cities will need to adapt to the pressures of climate change to reduce negative health impacts. Finally, specific interventions and best practices are discussed as examples for a potentially healthy urban future.Physical Urban Environment
AbstractOmpad, D. C., Quinn, A., Vlahov, D., Ompad, D., & Galea, S. (n.d.).Publication year
2011Volume
4Page(s)
V4-526-V4-535AbstractAs the world's urban population begins to outnumber the rural population, the health effects of urbanization and urban living have recently been studied in greater depth. The physical urban environment has been singled out as one of the many determinants of urban health. The predominant features of the urban physical environment – housing, neighborhoods, roads and other transportation, and urban infrastructure – have been associated with health impacts. Because of the diversity of cities, and the great contrasts between cities of the less developed and developed worlds it is necessary to consider the impact on health in these cities separately. In the urban developed world, impacts of the urban environment on health are not always negative. In the urban less developed world, many issues, such as a lack of water and sanitation, have been noted as having significant impacts on a large proportion of the world's population. As the world continues to urbanize, both developed and less developed world cities will need to adapt to the pressures of climate change to reduce negative health impacts. Finally, specific interventions and best practices are discussed as examples for a potentially healthy urban future.Powder cocaine and crack use in the United States : An examination of risk for arrest and socioeconomic disparities in use
AbstractPalamar, J. J., Davies, S., Ompad, D. C., Cleland, C. M., & Weitzman, M. (n.d.).Publication year
2015Journal title
Drug and alcohol dependenceVolume
149Page(s)
108-116AbstractBackground: In light of the current sentencing disparity (18:1) between crack and powder cocaine possession in the United States, we examined socioeconomic correlates of use of each, and relations between use and arrest, to determine who may be at highest risk for arrest and imprisonment. Methods: We conducted secondary data analyses on the National Survey on Drug Use and Health, 2009-2012. Data were analyzed for adults age ≥18 to determine associations between use and arrest. Socioeconomic correlates of lifetime and annual use of powder cocaine and of crack were delineated using multivariable logistic regression and correlates of frequency of recent use were examined using generalized negative binomial regression. Results: Crack users were at higher risk than powder cocaine users for reporting a lifetime arrest or multiple recent arrests. Racial minorities were at low risk for powder cocaine use and Hispanics were at low risk for crack use. Blacks were at increased risk for lifetime and recent crack use, but not when controlling for other socioeconomic variables. However, blacks who did use either powder cocaine or crack tended to use at higher frequencies. Higher education and higher family income were negatively associated with crack use although these factors were sometimes risk factors for powder cocaine use. Conclusions: Crack users are at higher risk of arrest and tend to be of lower socioeconomic status compared to powder cocaine users. These findings can inform US Congress as they review bills (e.g., The Smarter Sentencing Act), which would help eliminate cocaine-related sentencing disparities.Predictors of Anal High-Risk HPV Infection Across Time in a Cohort of Young Adult Sexual Minority Men and Transgender Women in New York City, 2015–2020
AbstractLoSchiavo, C., D’Avanzo, P. A., Emmert, C., Krause, K. D., Ompad, D. C., Kapadia, F., & Halkitis, P. N. (n.d.).Publication year
2022Journal title
American Journal of Men's HealthVolume
16Issue
4AbstractCisgender sexual minority men (SMM) and transgender women are disproportionately vulnerable to HPV-related anal cancer, but little is known about longitudinal predictors of high-risk human papillomavirus (hrHPV) infection in this population. As such, this analysis aims to identify factors associated with incident anal hrHPV infection in a diverse cohort of young SMM and transgender women. This study of HPV infection, nested within a larger cohort study, took place between October 2015 and January 2020. Participants completed a brief computer survey assessing HPV symptomatology, risk, and prevention alongside multi-site testing, in addition to biannual cohort study assessments. In the analytic sample of 137 participants, 31.6% tested positive for an anal hrHPV infection, with 27.0% and 29.9% testing positive for incident anal hrHPV infections at Visits 2 and 3, respectively. When adjusting for time between study visits, participants had significantly greater odds of incident anal hrHPV at Visit 2 if they had a concurrent HSV infection (AOR = 5.08 [1.43, 18.00]). At Visit 3, participants had significantly greater odds of incident anal hrHPV infection if they reported a greater number of sex partners in the previous month (AOR = 1.25 [1.03, 1.51]). Prevalence of cancer-causing HPV at baseline was high and many participants tested positive for additional types of anal hrHPV at subsequent visits. Risk for newly detected anal hrHPV infection was significantly associated with biological and behavioral factors. Our findings strongly indicate a need for programs to increase uptake of HPV vaccination and provide HPV-related health education for sexual and gender minorities.Predictors of early initiation of vaginal and oral sex among urban young adults in Baltimore, Maryland
AbstractOmpad, D. C., Strathdee, S. A., Celentano, D. D., Latkin, C., Poduska, J. M., Kellam, S. G., & Ialongo, N. S. (n.d.).Publication year
2006Journal title
Archives of Sexual BehaviorVolume
35Issue
1Page(s)
53-65AbstractOver the past three decades, most research on adolescent sexual behavior has focused on vaginal intercourse and related behaviors, including contraception and unintended pregnancy. In this study, we describe the prevalence and correlates of vaginal, oral, and anal sex in an epidemiologically defined population in Baltimore, Maryland. Young adults (ages 18-24), who had been enrolled in a behavioral intervention trial during elementary school, were interviewed by telephone between 1998 and 2002 to assess their sexual behavior. Of 1679 respondents interviewed, 70.8% were Black and 55% were women. Overall, 93% of the young adults reported vaginal intercourse, 78% reported receiving oral sex, 57% reported performing oral sex, and 10% reported receptive anal intercourse. Among men, 27% reported insertive anal intercourse. Blacks initiated vaginal intercourse at an earlier age thanWhites; White women performed oral sex earlier than Black women. Significant interactions were observed between age of first vaginal partner and both gender and race/ethnicity. Blacks with older partners initiated sex at an earlier age than both Blacks with a partner the same age or younger andWhites.We also observed a relationship between older female sex partners and earlier vaginal sex initiation among men. We conclude that older sex partners play an important role in sexual initiation among young adults. In light of the rates of oral and anal sex, sexual education and intervention programs should address the risk for unintended consequences of these behaviors.Predictors of influenza vaccination in an urban community during a national shortage
AbstractPhillips-Caesar, E., Coady, M. H., Blaney, S., Ompad, D. C., Sisco, S., Glidden, K., Vlahov, D., & Galea, S. (n.d.).Publication year
2008Journal title
Journal of health care for the poor and underservedVolume
19Issue
2Page(s)
611-624AbstractLittle is known about the impact of vaccine shortages on vaccination rates among disadvantaged populations in the United States. We compared factors associated with influenza vaccination rates during a vaccine shortage (2004-2005) and a non-shortage (2003-2004) year among adults in predominantly minority New York City neighborhoods. Thirty-one percent of participants received influenza vaccine during the non-shortage year compared with 18% during the shortage. While fewer people received the influenza vaccine during the shortage, a higher proportion of the vaccinated were in a high-risk group (68% vs. 52%, respectively). People were less likely to have been vaccinated during the shortage if they were Black. This study suggests that vaccination rates were lower during the shortage period among Blacks and those who are not explicitly a focus of national vaccination outreach campaigns. Such groups are less likely to be vaccinated when vaccines are scarce.PrEP Care Continuum Engagement Among Persons Who Inject Drugs : Rural and Urban Differences in Stigma and Social Infrastructure
AbstractWalters, S. M., Frank, D., Van Ham, B., Jaiswal, J., Muncan, B., Earnshaw, V., Schneider, J., Friedman, S. R., & Ompad, D. C. (n.d.).Publication year
2022Journal title
AIDS and BehaviorVolume
26Issue
4Page(s)
1308-1320AbstractPre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) is a medication that prevents HIV acquisition, yet PrEP uptake has been low among people who inject drugs. Stigma has been identified as a fundamental driver of population health and may be a significant barrier to PrEP care engagement among PWID. However, there has been limited research on how stigma operates in rural and urban settings in relation to PrEP. Using in-depth semi-structured qualitative interviews (n = 57) we explore PrEP continuum engagement among people actively injecting drugs in rural and urban settings. Urban participants had more awareness and knowledge. Willingness to use PrEP was similar in both settings. However, no participant was currently using PrEP. Stigmas against drug use, HIV, and sexualities were identified as barriers to PrEP uptake, particularly in the rural setting. Syringe service programs in the urban setting were highlighted as a welcoming space where PWID could socialize and therefore mitigate stigma and foster information sharing.Presence of Content Appealing to Youth on Cannabis-Infused Edibles Packaging
AbstractTan, A. S., Weinreich, E., Padon, A., Sanchez, M., Snyder, K. M., Vasilyeva, A., Sandh, S., Goldmann, E., Goodman, M., & Ompad, D. C. (n.d.).Publication year
2022Journal title
Substance Use and MisuseVolume
57Issue
8Page(s)
1215-1219AbstractBackground: There is a lack of consistent regulation of cannabis edibles packaging to restrict youth-appealing content in the United States. Objective: To describe content appealing to youth on U.S. cannabis-infused edibles packaging. Methods: We analyzed 256 photos of cannabis-infused edibles packaging collected from U.S. adults from 25 states, District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico between May 2020 to August 2021. We coded the presence of product knockoffs, human and non-human creatures, images indicating flavor, text indicating flavor, and the number of colors. We compared these codes across states’ legalization status (medical and non-medical cannabis, medical cannabis only, or limited cannabis legalization). Results: Overall, 15% of packages resembled product knockoffs, 23% contained human/non-human creatures, 35% contained flavor images, 91% contained flavor text, and median number of colors was 5 (range from 1 to 10+). Packages purchased in states with medical and non-medical cannabis, medical cannabis only, or limited cannabis legalization differed significantly on product knockoffs (11%, 26%, 38%, p = 0.007), human/non-human creatures (19%, 33%, 63%, p = 0.002), flavor text (93%, 81%, 100%, p = 0.046), and number of colors (median of 5, 5, and 10, p = 0.022). Conclusions: Existing laws have not adequately limited content appealing to youth on U.S. cannabis-infused edibles packaging. Robust and consistent regulations in the U.S. are needed to ensure that the packaging of such products does not contain content that appeal to youth and lead to initiation or inadvertent ingestion.Prevalence and correlates of crack-cocaine injection among young injection drug users in the United States, 1997-1999
AbstractSantibanez, S. S., Garfein, R. S., Swartzendruber, A., Kerndt, P. R., Morse, E., Ompad, D. C., Strathdee, S., Williams, I. T., Friedman, S. R., & Ouellet, L. J. (n.d.).Publication year
2005Journal title
Drug and alcohol dependenceVolume
77Issue
3Page(s)
227-233AbstractObjectives: We estimated prevalence and identified correlates of crack-cocaine injection among young injection drug users in the United States. Methods: We analyzed data from the second Collaborative Injection Drug Users Study (CIDUS II), a 1997-1999 cohort study of 18-30-year-old, street-recruited injection drug users from six US cities. Results: Crack-cocaine injection was reported by 329 (15%) of 2198 participants. Prevalence varied considerably by site (range, 1.5-28.0%). No participants injected only crack-cocaine. At four sites where crack-cocaine injection prevalence was greater than 10%, recent (past 6 months) crack-cocaine injection was correlated with recent daily injection and sharing of syringes, equipment, and drug solution. Lifetime crack-cocaine injection was correlated with using shooting galleries, initiating others into drug injection, and having serologic evidence of hepatitis B virus and hepatitis C virus infection. Conclusions: Crack-cocaine injection may be a marker for high-risk behaviors that can be used to direct efforts to prevent HIV and other blood-borne viral infections.Prevalence and correlates of previous hepatitis B vaccination and infection among young drug-users in New York City
AbstractOmpad, D. C., Amesty, S., Ompad, D. C., Galea, S., Fuller, C. M., Wu, Y., Koblin, B., & Vlahov, D. (n.d.).Publication year
2008Journal title
Journal of Community HealthVolume
33Issue
3Page(s)
139-148AbstractHepatitis B (HBV) vaccination coverage remains low among drug users. In 1997, ACIP made hepatitis B vaccine available for persons aged 0-18 years and many states began requiring HBV vaccination for entry into middle school; these programs might affect HBV vaccination and infection rates in younger DUs. We were interested in determining correlates of immunization among younger (Principles and Metrics for Evaluating Oregon’s Innovative Drug Decriminalization Measure
AbstractNetherland, J., Kral, A. H., Ompad, D. C., Davis, C. S., Bluthenthal, R. N., Dasgupta, N., Gilbert, M., Morgan, R., & Wheelock, H. (n.d.).Publication year
2022Journal title
Journal of Urban HealthVolume
99Issue
2Page(s)
328-331Abstract~Project VIVA : A multilevel community-based intervention to increase influenza vaccination rates among hard-to-reach populations in New York City
AbstractCoady, M. H., Galea, S., Blaney, S., Ompad, D. C., Sisco, S., & Vlahov, D. (n.d.).Publication year
2008Journal title
American journal of public healthVolume
98Issue
7Page(s)
1314-1321AbstractObjectives. We sought to determine whether the work of a community-based participatory research partnership increased interest in influenza vaccination among hard-to-reach individuals in urban settings. Methods. A partnership of researchers and community members carried out interventions for increasing acceptance of influenza vaccination in disadvantaged urban neighborhoods, focusing on hard-to-reach populations (e.g., substance abusers, immigrants, elderly, sex workers, and homeless persons) in East Harlem and the Bronx in New York City. Activities targeted the individual, community organization, and neighborhood levels and included dissemination of information, presentations at meetings, and provision of street-based and door-to-door vaccination during 2 influenza vaccine seasons. Participants were recruited via multiple modalities. Multivariable analyses were performed to compare interest in receiving vaccination pre- and postintervention. Results. There was increased interest in receiving the influenza vaccine postintervention (PProspective evaluation of community-acquired acute-phase hepatitis C virus infection
AbstractCox, A. L., Netski, D. M., Mosbruger, T., Sherman, S. G., Strathdee, S., Ompad, D. C., Vlahov, D., Chien, D., Shyamala, V., Ray, S. C., & Thomas, D. L. (n.d.).Publication year
2005Journal title
Clinical Infectious DiseasesVolume
40Issue
7Page(s)
951-958AbstractBackground. More than two-thirds of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infections in Western countries are caused by injection drug use, but prospective clinical data regarding the most common mode of HCV acquisition are rare, in part because acute-phase HCV infection is usually asymptomatic. Methods. To characterize acute-phase HCV infection, 179 HCV antibody-negative injection drug users were prospectively evaluated; 62 (34%) of these patients had seroconverted. Twenty of the participants who seroconverted had long-term follow-up with consistent monthly sampling before and after seroconversion, allowing detailed study. Results. The first indication of HCV infection was the presence of HCV RNA in serum, which preceded elevation of alanine transaminase levels and total bilirubin levels to ≥2 times baseline in 45% and 77% of patients, respectively. No subjects had jaundice. The median time from initial viremia to seroconversion was 36 days (range, 32-46 days). In one instance, viremia was detected 434 days before seroconversion. However, in no other case was HCV RNA detected >63 days before seroconversion. In subjects with viral persistence, a stable level of HCV RNA in the blood was noted in some subjects within 60 days after the initial detection of viremia, but in others, it was not apparent until >1 year later. In subjects with long-term viral clearance, HCV became persistently undetectable as early as 94 and as late as 620 days after initial viremia. Conclusions. These data underscore the importance of nucleic acid screening of blood donations to prevent HCV transmission and of long-term follow-up to ascertain whether there is viral persistence, at least among injection drug users.Protection of racial/ethnic minority populations during an influenza pandemic
AbstractHutchins, S. S., Fiscella, K., Levine, R. S., Ompad, D. C., & McDonald, M. (n.d.).Publication year
2009Journal title
American journal of public healthVolume
99Issue
SUPPL. 2Page(s)
S261-S270AbstractRacial/ethnic minority populations experience worse health outcomes than do othergroups during and after disasters. Evidence for a differential impact from pandemic influenza includes both higher rates of underlying health conditions in minority populations, increasing their risk of influenza-related complications, and larger socioeconomic (e.g., access to health care), cultural, educational, and linguistic barriers to adoption of pandemic interventions. Implementation of pandemic interventions could be optimized by (1) culturally competent preparedness and response that address specific needs of racial/ethnic minority populations, (2) improvements in public health and community health safety net systems, (3) social policies that minimize economic burdens and improve compliance with isolation and quarantine, and (4) relevant, practical, and culturally and linguistically tailored communications.Racial and ethnic disparities in "stop-and-frisk" experience among young sexual minority men in New York City
AbstractKhan, M. R., Kapadia, F., Geller, A. B., Mazumdar, M., Scheidell, J. D., Krause, K. D., Martino, R. J., Cleland, C. M., Dyer, T. V., Ompad, D. C., & Halkitis, P. N. (n.d.).Publication year
2021Journal title
PloS oneVolume
16Issue
8AbstractAlthough racial/ethnic disparities in police contact are well documented, less is known about other dimensions of inequity in policing. Sexual minority groups may face disproportionate police contact. We used data from the P18 Cohort Study (Version 2), a study conducted to measure determinants of inequity in STI/HIV risk among young sexual minority men (YSMM) in New York City, to measure across-time trends, racial/ethnic disparities, and correlates of self-reported stop-and-frisk experience over the cohort follow-up (2014-2019). Over the study period, 43% reported stop-and-frisk with higher levels reported among Black (47%) and Hispanic/Latinx (45%) than White (38%) participants. Stop-and-frisk levels declined over follow-up for each racial/ethnic group. The per capita rates among P18 participants calculated based on self-reported stop-and-frisk were much higher than rates calculated based on New York City Police Department official counts. We stratified respondents' ZIP codes of residence into tertiles of per capita stop rates and observed pronounced disparities in Black versus White stop-and-frisk rates, particularly in neighborhoods with low or moderate levels of stop-and-frisk activity. YSMM facing the greatest economic vulnerability and mental disorder symptoms were most likely to report stop-and-frisk. Among White respondents levels of past year stop-and-frisk were markedly higher among those who reported past 30 day marijuana use (41%) versus those reporting no use (17%) while among Black and Hispanic/Latinx respondents stop-and-frisk levels were comparable among those reporting marijuana use (38%) versus those reporting no use (31%). These findings suggest inequity in policing is observed not only among racial/ethnic but also sexual minority groups and that racial/ethnic YSMM, who are at the intersection of multiple minority statuses, face disproportionate risk. Because the most socially vulnerable experience disproportionate stop-and-frisk risk, we need to reach YSMM with community resources to promote health and wellbeing as an alternative to targeting this group with stressful and stigmatizing police exposure.Racial differences in discrimination experiences and responses among minority substance users
AbstractOmpad, D. C., Minior, T., Galea, S., Stuber, J., Ahern, J., & Ompad, D. (n.d.).Publication year
2003Journal title
Ethnicity and DiseaseVolume
13Issue
4Page(s)
521-527AbstractObjectives: Discrimination is associated with both mental and physical health, and may be a particularly important determinant of health among marginalized groups. This study assessed differences in discrimination experiences and responses to discrimination between Black and Latino active substance users in New York City. Methods: 500 Black and 419 Latino active substance users were recruited through outreach workers, service agencies, and word of mouth. We collected data about different types of discrimination experienced (eg, discrimination due to race, gender, substance use), the domains in which it occurred (eg, at work, with police), and participants' responses to unfair treatment. Results: Discrimination due to drug use was the most commonly reported type of discrimination among both Blacks and Latinos. Black respondents were more likely than Latinos to report discrimination due to their drug use (79% to 70%), race (39% to 23%), poverty (38% to 26%), gender (18% to 9%), and sexual orientation (38% to 6%). However, among those reporting discrimination due to drug use, Latinos experienced more rejection from family (81% to 70%), friends (73% to 60%), police (86% to 79%), employers (72% to 56%), and medical care professionals (29% to 18%). Black respondents were more likely to respond actively to discrimination, whereas Latino respondents were more likely to internalize experiences. Conclusions: Substantial differences exist in discrimination experiences and responses to discrimination between Black and Latino substance users. These differences may help explain racial and ethnic differences in health among marginalized populations, and identify avenues for effective, targeted intervention.Racial/Ethnic Differences in the Association between Arrest and Unprotected Anal Sex among Young Men Who Have Sex with Men : The P18 Cohort Study
AbstractOmpad, D. C., Kapadia, F., Bates, F. C., Blachman-Forshay, J., & Halkitis, P. N. (n.d.).Publication year
2015Journal title
Journal of Urban HealthVolume
92Issue
4Page(s)
717-732AbstractThis analysis aimed to determine whether the relationship between a history of arrest and unprotected anal sex (UAS) is the same for Black/Latino gay, bisexual, and other young men who have sex with men (YMSM) as compared to White/Asian/Pacific Islander (API) YMSM in New York City (NYC). Baseline audio-computer-assisted self-interview (ACASI) and interviewer-administered survey data from a sample of 576 YMSM aged 18–19 years old who self-reported being HIV-negative were analyzed. Data included history of arrest and incarceration as well as UAS in the past 30 days. Race/ethnicity was an effect modifier of the association between arrest and UAS among YMSM: White/API YMSM with a lifetime arrest history were more than three times as likely to report UAS, and Black/Latino YMSM with a lifetime history of arrest were approximately 70 % less likely to report UAS as compared with White/API YMSM with no reported arrest history. Race/ethnicity may modify the relationship between arrest and sexual risk behavior because the etiology of arrest differs by race, as partially evidenced by racial/ethnic disparities in police stop, arrest, and incarceration rates in NYC. Arrest could not only be an indicator of risky behavior for White/API YMSM but also an indicator of discrimination for Black/Latino YMSM. Further research is needed to assess whether the differential associations observed here vis-à-vis race/ethnicity are robust across different populations and different health outcomes.Rapid vaccine distribution in nontraditional settings : lessons learned from project VIVA
AbstractCoady, M. H., Weiss, L., Galea, S., Ompad, D. C., Glidden, K., & Vlahov, D. (n.d.).Publication year
2007Journal title
Journal of Community Health NursingVolume
24Issue
2Page(s)
79-85AbstractWith growing fear of a worldwide influenza pandemic, programs that can rapidly vaccinate a broad range of persons are urgently needed. Vaccination rates are low among disadvantaged and hard-to-reach populations living within urban communities, and delivering vaccines to these groups may prove challenging. Project VIVA1 (Venue-Intensive Vaccination for Adults), staffed by teams of nurses and outreach workers, aimed to deliver vaccines rapidly within disadvantaged neighborhoods in New York City. Project VIVA nurses offered free influenza vaccine door-to-door and on street corners over 10 days in October, 2005. A total of 1,648 people were vaccinated, exceeding expectation. Careful selection and training of project staff, community involvement in project development, community outreach, and prioritizing street-based distribution may be key factors in an effective rapid vaccination program. In conclusion, this project may be replicated in other communities and utilized for annual vaccination campaigns and in the event of a pandemic.RE: A Drug Feared in the 70's Is Tied to Suspect in Killings
AbstractOmpad, D. C., & Vlahov, D. (n.d.). In New York Times.Publication year
2003Abstract~