Christopher L. Edwards

Sickle cell disease (SCD) is a chronic hematologic condition characterized by recurrent pain crises that contribute to psychological distress and activity avoidance. The fear of movement due to anticipated pain (Kinesiophobia) has been identified as an important factor within chronic pain literature, yet it is an underexplored factor within chronic pain conditions like SCD, particularly in relation to psychological symptom expression. The present study examined whether age and kinesiophobia are associated with symptom dimensions of somatization, anxiety, and specific phobia in adults with SCD. Participants (N = 100–102) were recruited from a medical center in North Carolina, where they completed the Tampa Scale of Kinesiophobia (TSK) and the Symptom Checklist-90-R (SCL-90-R). Hierarchical linear regression analyses were utilized to assess the predictive value of age and kinesiophobia across symptom domains. In any model, age did not emerge as a significant predictor. The inclusion of kinesiophobia significantly improved the somatization model, accounting for an additional 7.3% of variance, and emerged as a statistically significant predictor, β = 0.255, p = 0.011. Conversely, neither age nor kinesiophobia emerged as significant predictors of anxiety or specific phobia in this sample. The findings suggest that kinesiophobia may be more specifically associated with somatic symptom expression rather than broader domains of psychological distress in individuals with SCD. Further research is needed to examine the mechanisms that underlie this relationship and to determine if targeting kinesiophobia in this population may improve clinical outcomes.

Despite the growing recognition of social factors that underlie health disparities in historically disenfranchised populations, the health and well-being of Latinas remain underexplored in the extant literature. There are several key challenges for this population, including access to healthcare, mental health disparities, and cultural practices that contribute to Latina health outcomes. By identifying both barriers and protective factors, we will posit solutions based on an ecologically valid understanding of the nuances of Latina health. We will advocate for interventions, based on research, which can reduce disparities and promote health equity for this underserved population. This paper aims to bridge this gap by examining the existing literature concerning health disparities in Latinas to uncover the unique factors that influence health outcomes of this population with a focus on social, cultural, economic, and environmental determinants.

Maternal and child health (MCH) disparities remain a critical public health concern in the United States, with the Southern region experiencing some of the nation’s highest maternal mortality rates. Black and Latinx women are disproportionately affected, reflecting persistent structural and systemic inequities. This review examines maternal health disparities among Black and Latinx women in the Southern United States and identifies structural, social, and policy-related contributors to these inequities. A narrative review approach was used to synthesize epidemiological data, policy reports, and peer-reviewed literature published between 2000 and 2025, drawing on national surveillance systems such as CDC WONDER and the National Center for Health Statistics, as well as state-level reports and policy analyses relevant to maternal health in Southern states. Across the region, maternal mortality rates frequently exceeded the national average of 23.2 deaths per 100,000 live births, with several states reporting rates above 38 deaths per 100,000. Structural contributors included limited access to maternity care, rural hospital closures, Medicaid non-expansion, chronic disease burden, and experiences of discrimination within healthcare systems, while social determinants such as poverty, housing instability, language barriers, and immigration-related fears further compounded risks for Black and Latinx women. In the post-Roe context, restrictive reproductive health policies intensified existing inequities. Overall, maternal health disparities among Black and Latinx women in the Southern United States are driven by interconnected structural, social, and policy factors, underscoring the need for coordinated policy reforms, expansion of culturally responsive care models, and targeted investment in Southern communities disproportionately affected by maternal mortality.

Sickle cell disease (SCD) is a collection of genetic lesions that manifest in the diminished effectiveness of hemoglobin. We collected and reviewed the recent and extant literature on SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) and SCD. We posit an answer to the question associated with any adaptive responses to COVID-19 in individuals with SCD. We collected papers from MEDLINE and all available published papers on COVID-19 and SCD. Unlike a formal meta-analysis, given the early phase of this review in the pandemic, we did not seek unpublished papers. We found an emerging literature where case studies dominated, and traditional large N epidemiological studies were absent. Patients with SCD share many comorbid illnesses with an increased risk of mortality associated with contracting COVID-19. There is sufficient empirical justification to accelerate research on the impact of a viral pathogen like COVID-19 on individuals with SCD. *************************************************************** List of all authors: Michaela Boggan,1,2,3 Christopher L. Edwards,1,2,3 Jordan Meek,1,2,3 Mary Wood,4 W. Jeff Bryson,5 John J. Sollers,1,2,3 Debra O. Parker,1,2,3 Camela S. Barker,2,5 Jessica Miller,2,6 Brianna Downey,2,5 Asha Lockett,2,5 Jazmin Rosales,1,2,3 Courtney Munroe, Jr.,2 Noa Wax,2,5 Sharena Scott,1,2,3 Bridget Pittman,1,2,3 Merell Turner,1,2,3 Hillary T. Dietahin,1,2,3 Eric Smith,1,2,3 Alexandria McDougald,1,2,3 Samantha Beavers,1,2,3 Lakaiya Meadows,1,2,3 Maya Walker,1,2,3 Andrea Richardson,1,2,3 John J. Sollers, IV,2,8 Grace D. Donahue,2,8 Goldie Byrd,7 Malik Muhammad,1,2 Alvin Kidd,9 Walter Charles,1,2 Jonathan Livingston,1,2,3 Shiv Sudhakar10 1North Carolina Central University; 2NCCU Psychoneuroendocrine and Rare Diseases Laboratory; 3NCCU Debra O. Parker Research Incubator; 4Duke University Medical Center; 5Fielding Graduate University; 6Bridges Point Sickle Cell Foundation; 7Wake Forest Medical Center; 8Thomas Moore University; 9Livingston College; 10California Northstate University, United States