Digital Commons Network^™

Exploring Cultural Values, Beliefs, And Perceptions Of Human Papillomavirus Vaccine Acceptance In African American Men, Rashida Henderson

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Introduction: African American (AA) /Black men have a higher rate of anal and rectal HPV-associated cancer, which the HPV vaccine can prevent. Purpose: This study aimed to understand the cultural values, perceptions, and beliefs of the HPV vaccine in African American/Black Men. Method: Through a focused ethnography, a semi-structured guide was utilized to interview 24 AA men. Inclusion criteria included identifying as AA/Black, aged 18-30 years, born and living in the United States, identify and born as male, and able to understand, read, and write English. Results: Through Leininger’s Four Phases of Analysis, three themes emerged: 1) lack of knowledge …

Caregiver-Child Conversations About Sex In African American Women, Hannah King

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Using grounded theory methods, this study examines the experience of African American women during their caregiver-child conversations about sex and the impacts of the conversations on their sexual attitudes. The process of these conversations begins with an unplanned topic and progresses further to identify six essential themes of these conversations: gender differences, race and religion, protective/emphasis on protection, lack of knowledge, withholding knowledge, and sex negativity/shame. African American women’s description of the process included feelings of shame and negativity towards their sexuality. Caregivers promoted positive messages about sex by having open conversations that advocated for equality between the genders, empower …

A Faith-Based Approach To Promote African American Healthy Heart Behaviors, Gwendolyn Gaston

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

More than 100 million American people have some form of cardiovascular disease. African American life expectancy is 3.4 years shorter than that of Caucasians, with an estimated 32% difference in cardiovascular disease mortality between Caucasian and African American men and a 43% difference between Caucasian and African American women. The purpose of this project was to utilize a faith-based approach in developing a heart-healthy program for addressing health disparities in an African American Baptist Church. The program focused on improving cardiovascular health literacy and addressing modifiable risk factors. The results of this project revealed that African Americans need interventions to …

Perceptions Of Physical Activity Engagement Among African American Emerging Adults At Georgia Southern University - Statesboro Campus, Addison Mickens

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Introduction: Physical Activity (PA) is critical to the health and well-being of African American emerging adults, ages 18-25. Research suggests that African American (AA) college students engage in less PA than other racial/ethnic groups. Few studies have examined the relationship between the collegiate built environment (CBE) impact on PA in this population. The Social Ecological Model (SEM) and the Social Cognitive Theory (SCT) were used to show how the environment facilitates influence on the behavior through physical and social factors affecting the behavior of engaging in PA. Methods: The purpose of this cross-sectional, concurrent multi-method study was to determine barriers …

Cultural Aspects Of End Of Life Advance Care Planning For African Americans: An Ethnonursing Study, John Collins

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Introduction: Advance directive completion rates among the general population are low. Studies report even lower completion rates among African Americans are impacted by demographic variables, cultural distinctives related to patient autonomy, mistrust of the healthcare system, low health literacy, strong spiritual beliefs, desire for aggressive interventions, importance of family-communal decision making, and presence of comorbidities. End of Life (EOL) advance care planning (ACP) promotes patient and family centered care. The purpose of this study was to identify culturally based meanings, expressions, and traditions of EOL ACP and decision making among African Americans, to better understand and provide culturally congruent nursing …

The Myth Of Promiscuity: Examining Black Male Sexual Narratives And Sexual Identity, Seth Young

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Black masculinity and sexuality are common topics across areas of philosophy, psychology, cultural studies and others. Yet, these topics are dedicated to the racial narrative of hypersexual Black male, the sexual objectification of Black men, and their presumed promiscuity. While such topics are important, there is little qualitative research that looks at the complexity and emotionality of African American men’s sexual experiences. Using the theoretical research on black masculinity and sexuality as its backdrop, this dissertation explores how heterosexual, African American men experience their sexuality. The study incorporates narrative inquiry and in-depth, semi-structured interviews to gather stories of five African …

Colorectal Cancer Fit Screening In The Hope Vi Population Of Jefferson County, Kentucky., Jeffrey D. Stone

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Using pre-post survey data collected from 209 randomly selected African American people from the population of former residents of Clarksdale and Sheppard Square public housing areas, this study explores the relationship between individual characteristics and colorectal cancer screening behavior, measured by the uptake of the Fecal Immunochemical Test (FIT) and by prior colorectal screening, while controlling for neighborhood factors and geographic proximity to healthcare facilities. This particular public housing population is of interest because of their relocation from the downtown area, where healthcare facilities are within walking distances, to other public housing units either in large apartment complexes or scattered …

Mammography Utilization In African American Women, April D. Kidd

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Purpose: Breast cancer presents differently among women causing breast cancer health disparities with women of color disproportionally shouldering later-stage screening, incidence, and treatment, and greater mortality. This study assessed 10 predictors and rates of recent and long-term mammography utilization for women 43-79 years of age to better understand differences among age strata and races. This was the first study to use both the calculated Gail Risk scores (calculates absolute breast cancer risk over time intervals) from the 2010 National Health Interview Survey (NHIS) and a temporary homelessness variable in predicting mammography utilization using national-level data.

Theoretical Framework: A modified Behavioral …

Bone Mineral Density, Preventative Behaviors And Risk Factors In African American And Caucasian Mother-Daughter Pairs, Mary Haskins Haskins

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

It is expected that by 2030, elderly minorities will comprise 20.2 million of the total 72.8 million population of Americans over 65 years (pollard, 2013). For African American women over the age of 50, 5% have osteoporosis and an estimated 35% have low bone mass (nof, n.d.). It is estimated that while over 40% of African American women over 80 years meet criteria for treatment, yet less than 12% are actually treated (Cauley, 2011). Striking disparities exist between African American and Caucasian women's likelihood for dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry (dxa) referral, the measurement tool that is used to diagnosis osteoporosis. (Hamrick, …

Preventing Childhood Obesity: A Mixed Methods Study Into The Perceptions Of African Americans In A Rural Community, Dayna S. Alexander

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Preventing childhood obesity is a global priority due to adverse health risks and financial burdens. With childhood obesity rates stabilizing it is difficult to determine which factors alone (i.e., genetic, environmental, behavioral, or demographic) increase susceptibility to childhood obesity. Parents influence childhood obesity risk factors through their parenting styles and behaviors. Social behavioral theories and public health evidence demonstrate including parents in childhood obesity efforts could assist in reducing childhood obesity rates. The objective of this study was to assess perceptions of childhood obesity among African Americans with children enrolled in a rural elementary school in the Deep South. The …

African American Grandparents Raising Their Grandchildren In Rural Areas: A Phenomenological Investigation In South Georgia, Emmanuel Nii Okai Clottey

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Grandparents are increasingly raising their grandchildren in the United States of America. Those grandparents who live in rural areas face limited resources to help them raise their grandchildren. This phenomenological study is an investigation of the phenomenon of African American grandparents raising their grandchildren in Southeastern rural Georgia and the resources available to them. It looked at what it will take to start a faith-based or community-based support group for these Africa American grandparents raising their grandchildren in a rural setting. The concept of phenomenology served as the theoretical foundation for the study with social ecological model and social support …