September 2024
This study used a new social determinants of health (SDH) measure (Index of Structural Equality and Support [I-SES]) based on the Healthy People 2030 framework to investigate whether participation in high-quality early childhood programs in high-poverty neighborhoods is associated with neighborhood-level SDH at midlife. Results showed that Child-Parent Center program participants had significantly higher mean I-SES scores in adulthood. These findings reinforce the importance of early childhood education in addressing health disparities and contributing to healthier, more equitable communities and suggest that educational attainment is a key mechanism for health promotion.
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