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A Rights-Based Analysis Of Reproductive Health In Cuba, Rachel Libby

Open Access Theses

Despite tremendous growth in health and human rights literature over the past two decades, discussion on relationship between the two disciplines has remained noticeably absent from academic work on general health and medicine in Cuba. This thesis intends to demonstrate the value of a health and human rights approach in presenting a balanced analysis of reproductive health in Cuba. Ethnographic information collected over two trips to Cuba, interviews, and extensive literature reviews are systematically analyzed through the Jonathan Mann’s health and human rights framework. The resulting conclusion is that a rights-based analysis of healthcare in Cuba can lend greater understanding …

Hov To The Md? A Multilevel Analysis Of Urban Sprawl And The Risk For Negative Health Outcomes, William Mark Sweatman Ph.D.

Sociology Dissertations

Urban sprawl often has a negative connotation, used as a derogatory label for certain forms and consequences of land development that are seen as environmentally and socially unpleasant. Although sprawl may be seen as offensive, there may be other, far greater and more harmful consequences of sprawl. The literature indicates that rates of negative health outcomes, such as obesity, tend to be higher in more developed areas. However, aside from a few studies, little empirical research looks specifically at the influence of sprawl when it comes to individual health. This research project focuses on sprawl and examines the relationships it …

Health Worker Experiences With Environmental Pollution : Health In Urban Targeted Community : A Study Of Pollution And Clinicians' Experiences And Attitudes Towards It In Urban Low-Income Communities And Communities Of Color, Leslie B. Bosworth

Theses, Dissertations, and Projects

Research suggests that exposure to pollution can impact people's health, and that there are more chances for exposure in some urban low-income communities or communities of color. The purpose of the study is to explore whether social service oriented clinicians consider whether their clients are exposed to pollution, how large of a problem the believe pollution is for their clients, and what actions they and their clients have taken to protect against pollution. A second purpose is to assess whether clinicians view pollution as product of discrimination. A third purpose is to see if pollution is indeed higher in lower-income …

Food For Thought: A Strengths-Based Approach To Examining The Biomedical And Psychological Health Of Latino Migrant And Seasonal Farm Workers In Georgia, Joanna R. Weinberg

Psychology Dissertations

Inherent in their living and working conditions, Migrant and Seasonal Farm Workers (MSFWs) are exposed to a multitude of environmental and psychosocial stressors that make them susceptible to adverse health outcomes. Utilizing a resilience framework, the current study examined both the physical and psychological health functioning of MSFWs in Georgia, a state heavily reliant on farm worker labor where relatively few research studies with MSFWs have been conducted to date. Based on a sample of 120 Latino, male, MSFWs in South Georgia, results indicated that approximately 1 out of 3 farm workers were at risk for iron-deficiency anemia. Similar to …

Factors Predicting Exercise Behavior Of Graduate Students, Bibha Gautam

Theses and Dissertations

Graduate school is often experienced as a time of increased demands/expectations resulting in heightened levels of stress due to academic work, family responsibilities, job demands, financial pressure, and other life related issues. Besides stress, graduate school also brings about significant physical inactivity due to the shift of the immediate priority to academic accomplishment. Reports of increasing prevalence of cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factors among students highlight that this group may have particular risk not well-identified. Yet, relative risk can be reduced by lifestyle modifications, such as eating well, exercising, and stress reduction. The majority of the risk factors, to a …

Greenway Design And Planning For Healthy Communities: Case Study Of Knoxville, Yilin Shi

Masters Theses

Abstract

Greenway design and planning have become a multi-functional, multi-objective approach to address social, cultural and ecological concerns. Traditional greenway design and planning have focused more on ecological, historic and recreational values. However, the current focus of greenway planning is also shifting to community health, which includes both physical health and emotional health. This thesis focuses on physical health. This concern arises out of observations on obesity and physical inactivity as two of the most serious health problems in the United States which greatly threaten the quality of life in the country. Greenways can help address the issues of obesity …

The Impact Of Depression And Health On Sexual Satisfaction For Older Couples, Victoria Celeste Scott

Theses and Dissertations

This study of 535 older married couples examined the relationship between depression and health and sexual satisfaction directly and when mediated by communication. The sample included 535 older couples who completed a survey questionnaire known as Project Couple Retire. Among the items in the questionnaire were measures of depression, health, perception of sexual intimacy, communication and other demographic information. Results from Structural Equation Modeling indicated that for women, health was a significant predictor of sexual satisfaction. For both genders, the results suggest that depression, when mediated by communication, is a predictor of sexual satisfaction among older couples.

A Multi-Vitamin For The Built Environment: Exploring How A Multi-Sectoral And Multi-Institutional Partnership Links Health And The Beltline, Brooke Barnes

Public Health Theses

The Atlanta BeltLine is an innovative redevelopment project re-shaping Atlanta residents’ access to, multi-use trails, parks, public transportation, housing and employment opportunities. The primary purpose of this project was to develop a research proposal to study and analyze the health benefits associated with multi-use trails within BeltLine communities. A secondary purpose of this project was to evaluate the multi-sectoral and multi-institutional partnership that was formed to develop the research proposal and study the influence of the BeltLine on health outcomes. In August 2010 representatives from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Emory University, Georgia Institute of Technology, Georgia State …

Adults With Developmental Disabilities As A Health Disparity In The Community, Hillary R. Closs

Social Welfare

No abstract provided.

Impact Of Expressive Writing About Workplace Events : Stress, Job Satisfaction And Well-Being, Sheetal R. Gai

Theses, Dissertations and Culminating Projects

Expressive Writing interventions have been widely used in clinical and medical settings. It has been shown that by exploring thoughts and feelings associated with stressful events can help individuals benefit in terms of reducing stress and improving health and psychological well-being. The present study examines the effectiveness of an expressive writing intervention among expatriates from Asia working in Information Technology industry in United States. A pre-post test design was applied. The study was conducted over 12 weeks, in which participants (N=30) completed pre assessment, and then were randomly assigned to different writing conditions Thoughts and Emotions condition (focused on thinking …

Circadian Rhythm Of Cortisol And Estradiol In Healthy Women, Karyn G. Butler

Wayne State University Dissertations

ABSTRACT

CIRCADIAN RHYTHM OF CORTISOL AND ESTRADIOL IN HEALTHY WOMEN

by

KARYN G. BUTLER

AUGUST 2011

Advisor: Dr. Jean E. Davis

Major: Nursing

Degree: Doctor of Philosophy

Daily variation in human processes and behaviors has been identified for centuries. Study of these circadian rhythms demonstrates their role in human health. Sickness behaviors include alterations in affect, sleep quality and energy. The study of the relationship between circadian rhythms has been limited to isolated rhythms. The role of temporal relationships among rhythms has received little attention. Sickness behaviors are prevalent in many disorders including depression, cancer, and autoimmune disorders. Two hormones …

An Investigation Of The Relationship Between Religion And Marriage On Self-Reported Health, Patrick Joseph Graham, Jr

LSU Master's Theses

A significant body of literature has focused on the effects of religion on health and marriage on health, as well as on religion and marriage. However, there is limited research on the effects of religion and marriage on self-reported health. Using the first and only wave of the Panel Study of American Religion and Ethnicity, ordinary least square regression models are compared to investigate the causal effects of religion and marriage on self-reported health. In the analysis, it is found that religion and marriage, as forms of social support, individually have significant affects on self-reported health as the literature indicates …

Chronic Health Conditions Of Individuals In Public Housing, Alicia A. Arnett

Theses and Dissertations--Nutrition and Food Systems

A majority of low-income individuals living in public housing today are working or receiving some kind of assistance, but still struggle to make ends meet. Previous studies show that cost and availability are barriers to healthy eating for low-income individuals. The purpose of this study was to determine relationships among nutrition habits, health status, sources of income, and food and living resources for low-income residents in public housing. The study utilizes data collected over five years on the impact of the revitalization of the families. The sample was randomly selected from residents of the housing property in a Kentucky city. …

Asset Effects For Children With Disabilities: Analysis Of Educational And Health Outcomes, Jin Huang

All Theses and Dissertations (ETDs)

In the last two decades, asset-based social policies, which encourage families, especially low-income families, to accumulate assets by providing appropriate institutional settings, have received increasing attention from policymakers and researchers. Various programs and strategies have been outlined to improve saving and asset ownership opportunities in disadvantaged populations. Although there are multiple proposals of asset-based programs for children with disabilities, few of them have been implemented. To better inform asset-based policy practices for children with disabilities, this study examines asset effects for this population using the secondary survey data. Asset effects refer to the hypothesized positive influences of household assets on …

Evaluating Changes In Families With Members On Military Deployment, Jill Brink

All Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Other Capstone Projects

With ongoing operations in the Middle East, military families face a large amount of stress surrounding deployment. While many studies have been conducted on soldier mental health, few have been published on the health of their families and even less on their children. The present case studies examine the mental health of military children, the change in family environment, and the social supports dependent spouses use during deployment. Two families are presented in this study. One family represents an Army Reserve family and the other an Air Force family. By comparing scores to standardized scores, it was shown that mental …

The Meaning Of Health And Help Seeking Behaviours Among Refugees Who Have Experienced Collective Violence In Their Countries Of Origin: A Canadian Perspective, Gracia Mabaya

Digitized Theses

This study aimed at understanding the meaning of health and the help seeking behaviours, pre and post migration, of refugees who have experienced collective violence in their countries of origin. An interpretative phenomenological approach with a purposive sample of three men and three women was used. Prior to migration, the participants’ meaning of health was deeply influenced by their experience of collective violence, which rendered their embodied experience of life as non-existent and meaningless. Access to health care was limited by the unavailability of sound medical infrastructures and lack of finances. Post migration, the perception of their health and help …

Hiv Education For Youth In Transition To Adulthood, Peter Eugene Gamache

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation investigated the role of Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) stigma in program implementation. A case study design comprising qualitative methods provided in-depth, context-sensitive comparisons of adult educator (n = 8) and youth (n = 67) perspectives among programs that provide HIV services and those that provide risk reduction services. Nearly half of the youth participants were male, 42% were female, and 6% identified as transgender. Two thirds of participants were Black or African American, one quarter of participants were Hispanic or Latino, and the average participant age was 19. Although program personnel from all youth service programs in this …

Contributions Of Wellness On Student Achievement And Behavioral Engagement, Eric Michael Vreeman

Theses Digitization Project

The purpose of this study was to investigate the role that wellness plays in relation to previously identified variables that have been predictive of students who dropout. These variables include student engagement constructs such as academic achievement and behavioral tendencies in school. The study included 563 public school students in grade seven through nine.

Moving From The Couch To The Mat : Clinicians And The Practice Of Yoga, Their Practice And Recommendations Of Yoga As An Adjunct To Therapy, Sarah Maria Mcnulty

Theses, Dissertations, and Projects

The purpose of this exploratory/descriptive survey was to inquire of therapists who might or might not have a personal yoga practice, whether they recommend it to their clients as an adjunct to therapy. There has been an increasing research literature regarding the treatment of both physical and mental health issues with body work modalities that go beyond traditional –talking cure– interventions; yoga has been shown in some such studies to have positive influence on the lives of those who practice it, including clinicians themselves for purposes of self-care and avoiding burnout. Questions posed by the current survey were –Do clinicians …

An Interdisciplinary Approach To Improving Student Physical Activity And Nutritional Behaviors, Amelia Carolyn Chappell

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Freshmen are thought to be the most at risk group within the college population exhibiting levels of nutrition and physical activity well below national recommendations for health. PURPOSE: The purpose of the research project was to evaluate the effect of a Healthful Living Residential Interest Group (RIG) program on freshman exercise and nutrition habits, and physical fitness. METHODS: The Healthful Living themed RIG (n=19) within the freshman dormitories served as the intervention group and was compared to a Math themed Residential Interest Group (n=22) and a First Year Experience (FYE) course (n=23) with a physical activity focus similar to the …

Health Literacy: A Community-Based Mixed Methods Study Of Prescription Medication Self-Management Among Community Dwelling Older Adults, Joy P. Deupree

All ETDs from UAB

During the next decade, it is estimated that 7,918 Americans will turn 60 years old every day. This increase is expected to impact future health care costs. The aging population must be knowledgeable about health care needs to self-manage chronic conditions requiring multiple medications. Nearly half of all American adults have limited literacy skills. Adults at the lowest literacy levels may misunderstand instructions from a health care professional. Confusion about health care instructions can put patients at risk for adverse drug events. The purpose of this two-phase, explanatory mixed methods study was to explore how community dwelling adults ages 60 …

Evaluation Of A Health Newsletter Intended For Sageplus Participants, Karen Lynn Anderson

All Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Other Capstone Projects

Little is known about the effectiveness of the SagePlus newsletter as a motivational tool for influencing behavior change. The purpose of this study was to determine the reading level of the SagePlus newsletter and to evaluate the effectiveness of the SagePlus newsletter as a communication and motivational tool for SagePlus participants. A nonexperimental, descriptive correlational design was used in this study. Forty English speaking participants were contacted and agreed to participate in the telephone survey from a potential list of 190 participants. A modified questionnaire containing 20 multiple choice and open-ended questions was used in a telephone survey. Data was …