Paul L. Delamater
· Associate ProfessorVerifiedUniversity of North Carolina at Chapel Hill · Geography
Active 2001–2026
About
Paul L. Delamater is a professor at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. His webpage highlights his involvement in research areas including health care access and use, vaccination and exemptions, and other related projects. The page lists students who have completed degrees under his supervision, indicating his role in mentoring graduate and undergraduate research in geographic and cartographic science as well as earth systems and geoinformation science. His students' theses and dissertations cover topics such as environmental suitability for Rift Valley Fever, wildlife-vehicle collisions in Vermont, cloud-to-ground lightning geography in Yellowstone National Park, and hospital surge capacity for influenza epidemics in North Carolina. The page also references recent vaccination research published in JAMA, suggesting his active engagement in public health research. Overall, the information reflects Professor Delamater's focus on applying geographic and spatial analysis methods to health and environmental issues.
Research topics
- Computer Science
- Medicine
- Environmental health
- Virology
- Engineering
- Political Science
- Internal medicine
- Demography
- Psychiatry
- Geography
- Statistics
- Transport engineering
- Law
- Intensive care medicine
- Cartography
- Psychology
- Management science
- Mathematics
Selected publications
Journal of American College Health · 2026-04-24
articleSenior authorThe pandemic increased vaccine hesitancy among rural students, emphasizing the need to rebuild trust in rural communities.
UNC Libraries · 2026-04-10
articleOpen accessWildfire smoke exposure is associated with a range of adverse health outcomes. People who are incarcerated may be especially vulnerable to smoke exposure because, compared to non‐incarcerated people, they lack agency to control their exposure. The goal of this study, within California, is to (a) geographically characterize wildfire‐attributable PM2.5 exposure from 2015 to 2020 and (b) to determine whether the burden of wildfire PM2.5 exposure is higher in neighborhoods that contain carceral facilities compared to neighborhoods without carceral facilities. Data on wildfire‐attributable PM2.5 was linked to census‐tract level counts of incarcerated and non‐incarcerated populations. Statewide statistics on wildfire‐attributable PM2.5 were calculated for five exposure metrics: (a) number of weeks with wildfire PM2.5 > 5 μg/m3, (b) number of days with non‐zero wildfire PM2.5, (c) mean daily wildfire PM2.5 during the peak exposure week, (d) number of smoke waves (defined as ≥2 consecutive days with >15 μg/m3 wildfire PM2.5), and (e) average of the annual mean wildfire PM2.5 concentrations. To spatially compare wildfire PM2.5 exposure among incarcerated people to non‐incarcerated neighbors, population‐weighted exposure metrics were calculated for each tract containing incarcerated people and compared to surrounding tracts' exposures using non‐incarcerated population weights. Across California, census tracts containing incarcerated people had heightened wildfire‐attributable PM2.5 exposures and a large proportion of California's incarcerated population (48.5%) resided in tracts in the highest quartile of non‐zero wildfire PM2.5 days compared to non‐incarcerated people (25.9%). Prisons and jails in areas that have high wildfire smoke exposure levels should improve ventilation capabilities, provide protective equipment and develop preparedness plans.
Social Science & Medicine · 2026-03-01
articleDOAJ (DOAJ: Directory of Open Access Journals) · 2026-01-01
articleOpen accessPLoS ONE · 2026-04-20
articleOpen accessOBJECTIVE: High densities of alcohol, tobacco, and fast-food retailers each pose increased risk of behaviors that contribute to chronic diseases. However, retail density studies typically examine only one type of retailer at a time. This study examines co-location patterns of alcohol, tobacco, and fast-food retailers in North Carolina, a geographically and demographically diverse US state. METHODS: Using 2021 data, we calculated tract-level density of each retailer type (retailers per 1,000 residents) and categorized tracts as "high density" (≥ 75th percentile) or not in each retailer type. We then determined the percentage of residents that lived in tracts high in one, two, three, or none of the retailer types. Additionally, using bivariate logistic regression, we examined the relationship between tracts' demographic composition and likelihood of being high in all retailer types. RESULTS: Among individuals residing in areas with a high density of any retailer type (36.5% of the state's population), most lived in areas simultaneously high in alcohol, tobacco, and fast-food retailers (9.7%) - exceeding those who lived in areas high in only fast food (9%), only tobacco (4.6%), or only alcohol (3.6%). Areas with a higher percentage of residents below 150% of the federal poverty line, lower median household income, or a larger African American population were more likely to be high in all three retailer types simultaneously (all p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Our analysis revealed a substantial degree of co-location of alcohol, tobacco, and fast-food retailers, as well as important disparities in the demographic characteristics of the residents in areas where such retailers are more likely to co-locate. This analysis could be expanded to other states, providing insights into reinforcing retail-related risks for chronic diseases and health disparities nationwide.
GeoHealth · 2026-04-01
articleOpen accessSenior authorAbstract Wildfire smoke exposure is associated with a range of adverse health outcomes. People who are incarcerated may be especially vulnerable to smoke exposure because, compared to non‐incarcerated people, they lack agency to control their exposure. The goal of this study, within California, is to (a) geographically characterize wildfire‐attributable PM 2.5 exposure from 2015 to 2020 and (b) to determine whether the burden of wildfire PM 2.5 exposure is higher in neighborhoods that contain carceral facilities compared to neighborhoods without carceral facilities. Data on wildfire‐attributable PM 2.5 was linked to census‐tract level counts of incarcerated and non‐incarcerated populations. Statewide statistics on wildfire‐attributable PM 2.5 were calculated for five exposure metrics: (a) number of weeks with wildfire PM 2.5 > 5 μg/m 3 , (b) number of days with non‐zero wildfire PM 2.5 , (c) mean daily wildfire PM 2.5 during the peak exposure week, (d) number of smoke waves (defined as ≥2 consecutive days with >15 μg/m 3 wildfire PM 2.5 ), and (e) average of the annual mean wildfire PM 2.5 concentrations. To spatially compare wildfire PM 2.5 exposure among incarcerated people to non‐incarcerated neighbors, population‐weighted exposure metrics were calculated for each tract containing incarcerated people and compared to surrounding tracts' exposures using non‐incarcerated population weights. Across California, census tracts containing incarcerated people had heightened wildfire‐attributable PM 2.5 exposures and a large proportion of California's incarcerated population (48.5%) resided in tracts in the highest quartile of non‐zero wildfire PM 2.5 days compared to non‐incarcerated people (25.9%). Prisons and jails in areas that have high wildfire smoke exposure levels should improve ventilation capabilities, provide protective equipment and develop preparedness plans.
Transactions of the Royal Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene · 2026-03-31
articleBACKGROUND: Beliefs of a child's primary caregiver are known to influence immunization uptake. As coverage increases, the characteristics of households with undervaccinated children may be shifting. METHODS: We conducted a cross-sectional survey of households with a child 12-23 months of age. Vaccine status was verified by inspection of immunization cards or caregiver report. Composite scores captured caregiver beliefs and experiences with vaccination. Associations between these measures and vaccination status were evaluated using weighted logistic regression. RESULTS: Caregivers of 1689 children were surveyed. The odds of full vaccination were not associated with composite beliefs (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] 1.04 [95% confidence interval {CI} 0.95 to 1.14]) or experiences scores (aOR 1.04 [95% CI 0.96 to 1.13]). Specific beliefs that vaccines prevent severe disease (aOR 2.68 [95% CI 1.64 to 4.37]) and protect the community (aOR 1.67 [95% CI 1.10 to 2.53]) were positively associated, whereas beliefs that children receive too many vaccines (aOR 0.60 [95% CI 0.44 to 0.83]) were negatively associated with full vaccination. Positive experiences, including knowing someone affected by a vaccine-preventable disease (aOR 2.10 [95% CI 1.47 to 3.00]) were also linked to full vaccination. CONCLUSIONS: Although composite scores were not associated with immunization status, individual beliefs and experiences may still factor into caregiver decisions to vaccinate their children.
UNC Libraries · 2026-05-02
articleOpen accessObjective: High densities of alcohol, tobacco, and fast-food retailers each pose increased risk of behaviors that contribute to chronic diseases. However, retail density studies typically examine only one type of retailer at a time. This study examines co-location patterns of alcohol, tobacco, and fast-food retailers in North Carolina, a geographically and demographically diverse US state. Methods: Using 2021 data, we calculated tract-level density of each retailer type (retailers per 1,000 residents) and categorized tracts as “high density” (≥ 75th percentile) or not in each retailer type. We then determined the percentage of residents that lived in tracts high in one, two, three, or none of the retailer types. Additionally, using bivariate logistic regression, we examined the relationship between tracts’ demographic composition and likelihood of being high in all retailer types. Results: Among individuals residing in areas with a high density of any retailer type (36.5% of the state’s population), most lived in areas simultaneously high in alcohol, tobacco, and fast-food retailers (9.7%) – exceeding those who lived in areas high in only fast food (9%), only tobacco (4.6%), or only alcohol (3.6%). Areas with a higher percentage of residents below 150% of the federal poverty line, lower median household income, or a larger African American population were more likely to be high in all three retailer types simultaneously (all p < 0.05). Conclusion: Our analysis revealed a substantial degree of co-location of alcohol, tobacco, and fast-food retailers, as well as important disparities in the demographic characteristics of the residents in areas where such retailers are more likely to co-locate. This analysis could be expanded to other states, providing insights into reinforcing retail-related risks for chronic diseases and health disparities nationwide.
Geographic dimensions of gastric cancer risk in western Honduras: A spatial ecological analysis
Health & Place · 2025-12-02
articleOpen accessGastric cancer is fifth most common cancer globally, with a complex and multifactorial etiology, including human and bacterial genetics, health behaviors, and environmental exposures. Honduras has among the highest rates of gastric cancer in the western hemisphere, and previous research indicates that gastric cancer risk varies geographically at a sub-national scale. We analyzed characteristics of all 788 incident cases diagnosed in western Honduras between 2002 and 2015 for which residence information was available to assess geographic patterns of excess risk and population-level risk factors. We built hierarchal Bayesian Poisson models to implement spatial ecological analysis stratified by sex and gastric cancer sub-type (diffuse, intestinal, mixed/indeterminate) to explore sex and sub-type specific etiologies. We identified differential geospatial patterns of high observed relative risk (i.e., greater than 1.0) for across male/female and diffuse/intestinal strata. Unexplained variance was more spatially structured in models for males, but less so among females, suggesting that unobserved, spatially autocorrelated factors contributing to geographic risk patterns among males in this area. Additionally, ecological associations varied by sex/sub-type strata. Among males, risk of intestinal gastric cancer was elevated with an increase in the percentage of indigenous Maya/Chortí in the population, but this association was not detected in female strata. Our findings demonstrated substantial differences in geographic patterns of risk across sex and ancestry, which implicated that unobserved, sex-stratified factors, such as germline mutations and behaviors, play a role in shaping geographic patterns of cancer risk at the subnational level in western Honduras.
UNC Libraries · 2025-07-18
articleOpen accessSenior authorIn March 2017, the Pennsylvania Department of Health reduced the time allowed to demonstrate compliance with school-entry vaccination requirements from eight months to five days. We describe changes in provisional enrollment, vaccine exemptions, and vaccine coverage rates before and after the new regulation. Across Pennsylvania, provisional enrollment decreased from 11.1% in 2016/17 to 2.5% in 2017/18 (77% relative decrease). Personal belief exemptions continued a modest upward trend, similar to previous years, and medical exemptions remained steady. Among kindergartners, coverage with ≥ 2 doses of MMR vaccine and 2 doses of Varicella vaccine increased; similar increases were seen for the MCV and Tdap vaccines among 7th graders. However, improvements in coverage and reductions in provisional enrollment were not consistent across counties. Provisional enrollment in Philadelphia County during the 2017/18 school year (10.4%) did not substantially decrease. The statewide reduction in provisional enrollment suggests that the new regulations accomplished the goal of increasing the proportion of students who are up-to-date on required vaccines at the beginning of the school year without a significant increase in vaccine exemptions. However, the persistence of high provisional enrollment in some counties points to additional barriers to this goal in some schools and regions.
Frequent coauthors
- 23 shared
Timothy F. Leslie
George Mason University
- 22 shared
Shelley D. Golden
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
- 21 shared
Whitney R. Robinson
Duke University
- 21 shared
Kurt M. Ribisl
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
- 19 shared
Saad B. Omer
Southwestern Medical Center
- 19 shared
Amanda Y. Kong
University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center
- 18 shared
Y. Tony Yang
George Washington University
- 17 shared
Christopher D. Baggett
Labs
Education
Ph.D.
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Awards & honors
- Fellow at the Carolina Population Center
- Fellow at the Sheps Center for Health Services Research
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