Joint Board of Governors, South Jersey Institute for Population Health launch first Population Health Impact Report

The Rowan University/Rutgers-Camden Board of Governors launched the first Population Health Impact Report from the South Jersey Institute for Population Health (SJIPH) during an Oct. 11 event at the Joint Health Sciences Center in Camden.

The SJIPH, established in 2018 through a state grant received by the Rowan University/Rutgers-Camden Board of Governors,supports collaborative research aimed at addressing health disparities among underserved populations in both rural and urban communities in New Jersey's seven southern counties.

Since the establishment of the SJIPH, the Joint Board of Governors has commissioned 11 projects with $250,000 to 29 researchers from both Rowan and Rutgers Universities to identify public health challenges and fix them. More than 450 individuals were involved in the research across eight different demographic populations. The Population Health Impact Report focuses on eight projects and the findings pertaining to health disparities that exist in South Jersey. It also underscores the need for additional research and the role that SJIPH plays in this work.

"These research projects have taught us valuable information about social determinants of health and health disparities in our region," said Jeffrey Nash, president of the Rowan University/Rutgers-Camden Board of Governors. "It is our hope that with this information we can look for solutions to the various issues covered in the report to create a healthier and more equitable community here in Camden County and across South Jersey."

Nicole A. Vaughn, the Rowan University co-lead for SJIPH, discussed how the report will guide SJIPH in improving health in the South Jersey region.

"It is exciting to be able to share the research results from our inaugural SJIPH funding cycle," Vaughn said. "We have worked to support the teams of community leaders, researchers and students as they worked to address health disparities and population health issues in our region. We anticipate that the research partnerships formed will continue to uplift solutions to advancing health equity. Southern New Jersey is a vibrant community and this work highlights some of the challenges and successes that we all can learn from to improve health for all."

Projects of note included:

South Jersey Longitudinal Data Project to Advance Health Equity

Counties: Camden, Burlington, Gloucester

Target population: individuals in three-county area who had at least one hospital encounter between 2017 and 2022

Funding: $20,000

Findings: Individuals of Black race and Hispanic ethnicity had significantly higher rates of emergency department utilization and had significantly lower rates of inpatient admissions for many of the disease categories tested. The results suggest a disparity in access to health care resources that may be critical for overcoming medical crises and maintaining health. Additionally, in the subset of the data consisting of individuals screened for social needs, individuals of Black race or Hispanic ethnicity had higher prevalence of health-related social needs compared to white individuals, even in the highest income census tracts.

Transgender and Non-Binary Needs and Protective Factors: A Cross Sectional Survey

Counties: Atlantic, Burlington, Camden, Cumberland, Cape May, Gloucester and Salem

Target population: transgender and nonbinary individuals living in South Jersey

Funding: $20,000

Findings: Findings reveal significant mental health challenges among transgender and non-binary individuals, with non-binary respondents experiencing higher levels of distress. Financial barriers emerged as a primary obstacle to accessing medical care, despite high health care coverage. The data underscores the urgent need for targeted interventions and resource allocation to support the health and well-being of transgender and non-binary individuals in South Jersey.

South Jersey Perinatal Population Health and Data Hub Project

Counties: Atlantic, Burlington, Camden, Cumberland, Cape May, Gloucester and Salem

Target population: South Jersey mothers and children

Funding: $30,000

Findings: The project found significant geographic and racial variability in postpartum depression rates at birth, with South Jersey having the highest percentage compared to other regions across all races. Cumberland County had the highest rates of postpartum depression and preterm births among South Jersey counties. Patient barriers to perinatal depression screening and treatment included minimization of symptoms by providers, lack of time and energy to seek mental health care, and preference for conversational screening methods.

Snack, Chill & Chat: Improving Nutrition, Social Interaction, and Stress Reduction among People with Disabilities

Counties: Atlantic, Camden, Cumberland, Gloucester

Target population: Adults aged 18 and older with intellectual and developmental disabilities

Funding: $20,000

Findings: The study highlights the need for longer interventions, improved survey instruments, and larger sample sizes to effectively address the multiple needs of people with disabilities. Despite challenges, the program showcased promising results, with participants demonstrating improved knowledge of healthy breakfast options. However, significant changes in other areas, such as overall nutrition habits and distress levels, were not observed. The "Snack, Chat & Chill" program primarily improved participants' knowledge of healthy breakfast choices, with no other significant changes in nutrition knowledge or behaviors among the participants or their caregivers. This singular improvement highlights the need for longer interventions, improved survey instruments with high reliability, and larger sample size. Engagement in the program was higher among people with disabilities with structured activity preferences and caregiver support, indicating that program reach may be enhanced through targeted recruitment and supportive environments for these individuals.

Improving Opioid Use Disorder Treatment Retention After Release From Incarceration (ongoing)

Counties: Camden

Target population: People who are addicted to opiates and are being release from the Camden County Department of Corrections

Funding: $20,000

This project aims to fill a critical gap in understanding post-release buprenorphine treatment engagement among incarcerated individuals with opioid use disorder. It will shed light on socioeconomic and medical factors affecting treatment engagement. The findings will inform stakeholders in southern New Jersey about social determinants of health and treatment facilitators, enabling the development of a model referral system to improve substance use treatment transfer from correctional facilities to community providers. Ultimately, the project aims to develop evidence-based interventions and expand our efforts statewide.

"The data gathered in the Population Health Impact Report is incredibly valuable, as it will help to inform policy and guide programs in the future," said Camden Mayor Victor Carstarphen. "As elected officials, we are obligated to do our part to improve the quality of life for our residents. I am incredibly grateful to the Rowan University/Rutgers-Camden Board of Governors for undertaking this worthwhile research. I expect this information will be another critical tool as we continue to improve the city and neighboring communities."

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