Summary

Combining expertise in legal epidemiology and policy evaluation, this collaborative project will identify and evaluate laws and policies related to HIV, Viral Hepatitis, sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), and Tuberculosis. The results of this study will strengthen the ability of public health stakeholders to deploy evidence-based policies to improve health and reduce disparities.

Research Methods

The project team will identify legal topics of greatest salience to NCHHSTP; build longitudinal legal datasets using the policy surveillance process; make the legal data available to policymakers, the public and researchers on a CDC-housed website and dashboard; conduct and collaborate with CDC to timely and rigorously evaluate the implementation and effects of these laws; and make all findings and other products available to stakeholders in a timely and user-friendly manner. The team will use the legal data created, along with quasi-experimental study designs, application of the novel policy target trial emulation framework, and data science best practices to measure the effects of key policies on morbidity, mortality and disparities in HIV, viral hepatitis, STDs, and tuberculosis.

Acknowledgements

Research Team

• Alina Schnake-Mahl, ScD, MPH
• Ana V. Diez Roux, MD, PhD, MPH

Partners

• The Center for Public Health Law Research at Temple University Beasley School of Law (CPHLR)
• Stony Brook University

Funding for this project is provided by CDC’s National Center for HIV, Viral Hepatitis, STD, and TB Prevention (NCHHSTP).