Trained in medical sociology and public health, Andrea Polonijo studies how social factors such as income, education, race-ethnicity, and sexual orientation influence health behaviors and health outcomes. Her current primary research projects aim to identify and address barriers to vaccination among diverse populations. Her research on childhood, adolescent, and older adult vaccination disparities has appeared in leading public health and medical sociology journals, including the Journal of Health and Social Behavior, Social Science & Medicine, SSM-Population Health, Preventive Medicine, and the Journals of Gerontology: Series B. Dr. Polonijo is also a collaborator on community based participatory research projects addressing LGBTQ+ health disparities, ethical payment for participation in research studies, and HIV and aging.
Research Interests:
- Health disparities
- LGBTQ+ health
- Medical sociology
- Prosocial behavior
- Social determinants of health
- Vaccination policy and uptake