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Lipid Genetics In Pregnant Women: Maneuvering The Challenges Of Using Degraded Samples, Kylee Meece

Mahurin Honors College Capstone Experience/Thesis Projects

The results of this project will explore a novel approach to lipid metabolism in pregnant women by exploring the relationship between maternal gene expression of genes critical for fat metabolism, protein expression, and maternal and neonatal outcomes. The study will also examine gene expression in lean pregnant women compared to obese pregnant women, shedding light into the adverse pathology of obesity during pregnancy. These findings may uncover a mechanism related to gene-expression that connects unfavorable maternal fat metabolism to inflammation and/or insulin resistance, which may help to uncover future targets for interventions.

The analysis of lipid gene expression requires the …

Is Physical Activity During Late Pregnancy Related To Infant Body Composition At Birth?, Brenna Menke

Masters Theses & Specialist Projects

Exercise is typically regarded as having a positive impact on maternal and infant health. However, the relationship between maternal physical activity and infant body composition is unclear. The aim of this project was to determine how a physically active lifestyle during late pregnancy influences infant anthropometrics at birth. Pregnant women (34-39 weeks gestation) with low-risk pregnancies were given the Pregnancy Physical Activity Questionnaire (PPAQ) and an accelerometer to wear on their non-dominant wrist for seven consecutive days. Approximately 24-48 hours after delivery, infant body composition was assessed utilizing air displacement plethysmography at the patients’ bedside. Fifty-five pregnant women participated (age: …

Metabolism During Pregnancy And Postpartum: How Does It Change And What Factors Influence It?, Kristin Yoho

Masters Theses & Specialist Projects

PURPOSE: Pregnancy is a physically impactful process in a woman’s life. During this time, a woman will gain weight and research has shown that many women will retain some extra weight after delivery. Because of this, recovery in the postpartum period is pivotal to avoiding the implications of weight retention. The postpartum period is vastly understudied in both the research and medical communities and this gap between pregnancy and postpartum research needs to be bridged. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to investigate metabolic changes from pregnancy to postpartum and to study how factors such as sleep and breastfeeding …

Maternal Health In Eastern Tanzania: Antenatal, Delivery And Postnatal Care, Christina Sego

Mahurin Honors College Capstone Experience/Thesis Projects

The purpose of this study is to evaluate maternal health conditions in eastern Tanzania and identify areas and conditions for improvement of healthcare. Tanzania is ranked 27th highest country in maternal mortality in the world (The World Factbook: Tanzania, 2018). Maternal health is an ongoing challenge Tanzania is facing as a country. This experiment was designed to identity areas of service in the district hospital setting that could advance quality of care. This study was conducted in Sinza Palestina Hospital, a district hospital on the outskirts of Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. Data was collected in the form of observation, interviews …

Child Sexual Abuse And The Impact Of Rurality On Foster Care Outcomes: An Exploratory Analysis, Austin G. Griffiths, April L. Murphy, Whitney Harper

Social Work Faculty Publications

Given the cost of long-term foster care placement in both human and economic terms, few studies have specifically explored if any factors help to predict why this vulnerable population spends significantly more time in foster care. The overarching goal of this exploratory study was to use binary logistic regression to investigate whether any child demographic or environmental characteristics predicted the discharge of a child placed in Kentucky's foster care system for child sexual abuse. Results indicated that children in the most rural areas of the state were over 10 times more likely to be discharged from foster care during the …

Impact On Material And Child Health Knowledge As A Result Of Participation In A Family Resource\Youth Services Center New And Expectant Parenting Series, Donna Sims

Masters Theses & Specialist Projects

The purpose of this study was to determine whether participation in a Family Resource\Youth Services Center New and Expectant Parenting Series had an impact on maternal and child health knowledge of parents and their future behavior choices. The study had two components. First, a telephone survey was conducted with 40 past program participants asking them nine questions concerning behavior and lifestyle choices in regards to child safety, breast or bottle feeding, immunizations, car seat use, etc. Secondly, thirty participants were given a pretest and posttest questionnaire. As a control group, there were 25 Lamaze class participants, who also completed the …

Health Attitude Changes As A Result Of Participating In A Worksite Prenatial Education Program, Vickie Gibson

Masters Theses & Specialist Projects

The purpose of this study was to determine whether differences in health beliefs exist between participants attending worksite prenatal education classes and participants receiving only prenatal education self-help materials. A multiple treatment study was performed on a sample of convenience of 169 women enrolled in Fruit of the Loom's worksite prenatal education program. Group 1 subjects received class and materials while Group 2 subjects received materials only. Study participants were asked to complete an 18-item Likert scale questionnaire prior to enrolling in the program and again upon completion. Sixty-two subjects completed both the pre- and posttest questionnaires. Analysis of covariance …

Ua68/10/1 Sociological Symposium No. 8 – Childbirth & Infancy Life Cycle Series, Wku Sociology

WKU Archives Records

Table of Contents:

• Hernandez, Pedro F. Catholic Church & Birth Control in Latin America
• Kovit, Leonard. Labor is Hard Work: Notes on the Social Organization of Childbirth
• McNurlen, Lewis J. Childbirth: A Family Affair
• Miller, Rita Seiden & Ron Miller. Social Values Supporting Pregnancy: Dilemma for Population Control
• Newman, John F. & William L. Graves. Neo-Natal Mortality & Socio-Economic Status
• Newman, Lucille F. The Anthropology of Birth
• Rutzen, S. Robert. Urban Life & Breast Feeding: A Sociological Analysis
• Schulz, Barbara & Richard Schulz. Family Size Preferences & Sex Composition
• Steinhoff, Patricia G., Roy G. Smith & Milton Diamond. Characteristics & …