Exploring the Influence of Environmental Characteristics on the Prevalence of Self- Reported Diabetes in Connecticut

• Main Author: Abiola, Suleiman Manuel Gomes
• Format: Dissertation
• Language: English
• Published: ProQuest Dissertations & Theses 01-01-2022
• Subjects: Economics; Exercise; Exercise, kinesiology, and sport sciences; Health care management; Health insurance; Kinesiology; Obesity; Public health; Socioeconomic factors; Sociology
• ISBN: 9798382896595

Background:Diabetes prevalence in Connecticut is increasing, however, it is unclear whether the environmental, sociopolitical, socioeconomic and health-related characteristics of Connecticut towns are associated with diabetes prevalence.Objective:To describe the distribution of diabetes across Connecticut and determine whether significant predictive relationships exist between communities’ characteristics and diabetes prevalence.Methods:This study was based on a secondary analysis of survey data from CT DataHaven’s 2015 and 2018 Community Wellbeing Survey and PolicyMap’s 2017 and 2018 Health Outcome Estimates and Risk Factor Estimates. Spatial auto-regressive modeling was used to test for predictive relationships.Results:Diabetes was significantly auto-correlated and had similar values across different types of communities. Sociopolitical factors, current smoking, anhedonia and anxiety predicted significantly higher diabetes prevalence, while health insurance predicted lower diabetes prevalence.Conclusion:Community characteristics may have a small impact on diabetes prevalence, however, further research employing spatial structural modeling, is needed to clarify more detailed relationships.