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Education Attainment And Health: Outside The Gender Binary, Brianna Patterson Jan 2024

Education Attainment And Health: Outside The Gender Binary, Brianna Patterson

All ETDs from UAB

Transgender and gender nonbinary individuals, hereafter referred to as trans, report worse health outcomes than trans individuals whose gender identity matches their sex assigned at birth, hereafter referred to as cisgender (Bauer, Hammond, Travers et al. 2009, Cicero, Reisner, Merwin et al. 2020). Past research has indicated that social determinants of health, such as education attainment, may be responsible for these inequities (Low 2006, The Lancet Public 2020). Education’s influence on health is well known from previous research, but the association is not distributed equally. In the United States (US) educational system, state and local governments have control, not the …


Genotype And Sex Specific Effects Of Methionine Restriction On The Life And Healthspan Of Drosophila Melanogaster, Joshua Robert Smith Jan 2024

Genotype And Sex Specific Effects Of Methionine Restriction On The Life And Healthspan Of Drosophila Melanogaster, Joshua Robert Smith

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Reduced dietary intake of the amino acid methionine has been reported to significantly extend the lifespan of common laboratory model organisms including Saccharomyces cerevisiae, Mus musculus, and Drosophila melanogaster. Methionine restriction (MR) has also been achieved via non-dietary means such as metabolite supplementation and CRISPR-Cas9 gene editing. MR along with protein and calorie restriction are known as dietary interventions capable of producing pro-longevity benefits through regulation of nutrient sensing pathways. Recent studies in model organisms have also identified beneficial effects of a low methionine diet on aging-associated phenotypes and markers of overall healthspan. However, the effects of this intervention on …


Investigating Impacts Of Caregiving On Cognitive Function: Role Of Social Support, Lu Tian Jan 2024

Investigating Impacts Of Caregiving On Cognitive Function: Role Of Social Support, Lu Tian

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Study Aim: Using the stress process model as a framework, this dissertation aims to investigate the role of social support on the influence of informal caregiving on cognitive function of caregivers aged 50 years and older and to look at potential gender and racial differences in this association. Method: Leveraging data from the 2016 to 2020 waves of the Health and Retirement Study (HRS), this research employs Ordinary Least Squares (OLS) regression analysis to examine the influence of caregiving on the cognitive function of older adults. To comprehensively understand the pathways through which caregiving impacts cognitive outcomes, I use mediation …


"Decidedly Good Looking:" Horatio Alger’S Juvenile Heroes And The Racial Subtext Of The American Dream, Madison Robin Owens Jan 2024

"Decidedly Good Looking:" Horatio Alger’S Juvenile Heroes And The Racial Subtext Of The American Dream, Madison Robin Owens

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No abstract provided.


Growing Need For A Standardized Response To Radiopharmaceutical Extravasations, Michael Richard Drelich Jan 2024

Growing Need For A Standardized Response To Radiopharmaceutical Extravasations, Michael Richard Drelich

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Extravasations are medical occurrences where an injected or infused pharmaceutical is unintentionally deposited into the soft tissue near the injection site, rather than into the bloodstream. With radiopharmaceuticals, extravasations can result in potentially large radiation doses to skin and tissue. The current rate of extravasations in clinical settings is estimated to be between 3-23%. In the interest of patient safety, a clearer understanding of the dosimetry and differences in extravasation scenarios to simplify dose estimation is needed. Similarly, the NRC is considering modifying regulations to include extravasations as reportable medical events rather than to continue considering them as patient interventions. …


The Freshman Life And Student Health (Flash) Study: Using Social Network Analysis To Understand How Obesity And Stigma Impact Emerging Adult Health, Alena C. Borgatti Jan 2024

The Freshman Life And Student Health (Flash) Study: Using Social Network Analysis To Understand How Obesity And Stigma Impact Emerging Adult Health, Alena C. Borgatti

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Both racial discrimination and weight stigma have been identified as risk factors for poorer mental, physical, and social health. College students are vulnerable to the effects of stigma, as they greatly value peer acceptance and friendships during a pivotal time of emotional and health behavior development. The present study was the first to use social network analysis to examine the impact of weight and racial discrimination on the development of college social relationships and how these experiences influence students’ physical and mental health. 1330 participants (69% of on-campus freshmen) completed a brief survey on social networks, physical health, mental health, …


Use Of Psilocybin And Other Classic Psychedelics In Fibromyalgia: A Survey Study, Kathleen Hodgin Jan 2024

Use Of Psilocybin And Other Classic Psychedelics In Fibromyalgia: A Survey Study, Kathleen Hodgin

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Psilocybin and other classic psychedelics may have potential for treatment of fibromyalgia, a chronic condition characterized by widespread musculoskeletal pain and other symptoms including fatigue, cognitive difficulties, and sleep problems. In this exploratory, descriptive study, an online survey was distributed among individuals with fibromyalgia to gather reports of any changes in pain related to past classic psychedelic use. Sixty-four participants with fibromyalgia completed the study, with most having used psilocybin mushrooms or LSD. In addition to recreational use and other reasons, use of psychedelics for mental health or pain-related reasons was frequently endorsed. Of the participants who reported experiencing any …


Environmental Influences On The Physiology Of Cnidarians And Their Symbionts, Shelby Gantt Jan 2024

Environmental Influences On The Physiology Of Cnidarians And Their Symbionts, Shelby Gantt

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Corals and other cnidarians maintain complex symbioses that include photosynthetic endosymbiotic dinoflagellates (Symbiodiniaceae), protozoans, fungi, bacteria, archaea, and other metazoans, collectively known as the holobiont. The stability of these associations is crucial for holobiont resilience and adaptation to environmental conditions and are the results of long-term ecological and evolutionary processes. Environmental factors such as light availability, seasonal environmental fluctuations, and warmer, more acidic conditions can disrupt these symbiotic associations and alter holobiont functioning. To understand the influence of different environments on cnidarian host and symbiont physiology, two framework coral species (Acropora palmata and Orbicella faveolata) from nursery-raised and wild populations …


Exploring The Associations Between Cognitive Training, Social Determinants Of Health, And Driving Behaviors: A Longitudinal Analysis Of The Active Study, Katie Wheeler Jan 2024

Exploring The Associations Between Cognitive Training, Social Determinants Of Health, And Driving Behaviors: A Longitudinal Analysis Of The Active Study, Katie Wheeler

All ETDs from UAB

As the average lifespan increases, older adults are remaining independent into older ages than before. The ability to drive a vehicle is an essential part of daily living that helps older adults maintain independence. Cognitive training, specifically speed of processing training (SOPT), is an intervention that has consistently shown to benefit older adult’s driving abilities and driving behaviors. This dissertation examined the longitudinal association between cognitive training and primary driving location on crash risk across 20 years (Paper 1), investigated the effects of cognitive training and dosage on driving mobility across 10 years (Paper 2), and explored social determinants of …


Identification Of The Synthetic Cannabinoids Bzo-Poxizid And Mda-19 Using Gas Chromatography- Mass Spectrometry, Samantha Way Jan 2024

Identification Of The Synthetic Cannabinoids Bzo-Poxizid And Mda-19 Using Gas Chromatography- Mass Spectrometry, Samantha Way

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Synthetic cannabinoids are synthetic compounds created to mimic the effects of naturally derived cannabis. They are up to 100 times more potent than natural cannabis, and due to their cannabinoid-like activity, they are considered schedule one drugs in Alabama. They are also the most common new psychoactive substance in the state of Alabama. The possible threat to public health and their schedule one status makes it necessary to develop a method for the detection of these substances. BZO-POXIZID and MDA-19 are two synthetic cannabinoids of recent interest. This study was conducted to validate a method for the detection of these …


Barbara Dane: The Forgotten Activist, Jacob Kennedy Jan 2024

Barbara Dane: The Forgotten Activist, Jacob Kennedy

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Barbara Dane is best understood as an unsung hero of the New Left and Folk Revival because since her graduation from high school in 1945, she has used every resource at her disposal to support and grow various movements. She has picketed for the labor movement, canvassed for the Progressive party, traveled to Mississippi to perform for the civil rights movement and SNCC, marched for peace as part of the anti-war movement, and performed and advocated for the Feminist movement throughout her lifetime. Dane has traveled the globe from war-torn Prague in 1947, Cuba in 1966, and Northern Vietnam in …


Temporal And Epigenetic Mechanisms Underlying Dietary Phytochemicals In Breast Cancer Prevention, Andrew Brane Jan 2024

Temporal And Epigenetic Mechanisms Underlying Dietary Phytochemicals In Breast Cancer Prevention, Andrew Brane

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Breast cancer (BC) is a widespread malignancy that, despite advancements in treatments and improvements in survival, had an estimated 297,790 new cases and 43,170 mortalities in 2023. With around 1 in every 8 women in the US expected to be diagnosed with BC at some point in their lives, the economic, societal, and healthcare burdens associated with this disease cannot be understated. Because of this, treatments and preventions that are affordable, efficacious, and easily administered are in high demand. Preventive therapies have shown great promise in reducing disease burden with relatively few serious side effects. BC prevention through the consumption …


Fentanyl Overdoses And Use Of Randox Multistat For Investigative Purposes, Clarissa Danielle Lawen Jan 2024

Fentanyl Overdoses And Use Of Randox Multistat For Investigative Purposes, Clarissa Danielle Lawen

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The opioid epidemic started in the early 1990s with the rise of prescription overdoses. In more recent years, heroin and fentanyl use has rapidly increased. Fentanyl, specifically, is 50 to 100 times more potent than morphine. To keep up with the ever-evolving epidemic, the Randox MultiSTAT was validated for use in the medical examiner autopsy suite for the potential to aid medical examiners in triaging the need for a full autopsy versus an external examination with toxicology testing. The Randox MultiSTAT is a triage tool and investigatory screen designed to provide presumptive test results across multiple matrices. It can detect …


Examining U.S. National Trends In Adult Mental Illness And Naturalistic Psychedelic Drug Use, Daniel Grossman Jan 2024

Examining U.S. National Trends In Adult Mental Illness And Naturalistic Psychedelic Drug Use, Daniel Grossman

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Psychedelic drugs have gained prominent attention in recent years for their therapeutic potential in treating mental illness in clinical settings. Concurrently, population studies show increasing prevalence and notable demographic changes among naturalistic psychedelic users, as well as mixed associations between different types of naturalistic psychedelic use and mental health. However, despite this ongoing cultural shift, little is known about temporal changes in the mental health profiles of naturalistic psychedelic users at the population level. This thesis examined national trends in the association between past year naturalistic use of LSD, MDMA, and DMT/AMT/Foxy and past year mental illness among US adults, …


Motor Development Of Individuals Referred For An Asd Evaluation, Timothy Gary Hilty Jan 2024

Motor Development Of Individuals Referred For An Asd Evaluation, Timothy Gary Hilty

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Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is neurodevelopmental disorder that affects 1 in 36 children. Fine motor skill delays and deficits are a common occurrence among autistic individuals. Fine motor delays tend to present in toddlerhood and deficits tend to persist into adulthood. However, fine motor skill delays and deficits are not a component of the diagnostic criteria for an ASD diagnosis. While fine motor differences between autistic and typically developing individuals are well established, it remains unclear if these differences exist between autistic individuals and those with other neurodevelopmental disorders and whether they provide additional insight into diagnosing ASD more accurately. …


Longitudinal Effects Of Adolescent Digital Media Use On Sleep, Cardiometabolic Health, And Mental Health, Caroline Watson Jan 2024

Longitudinal Effects Of Adolescent Digital Media Use On Sleep, Cardiometabolic Health, And Mental Health, Caroline Watson

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Background Digital media use has become an integral part of society and may contribute to adverse physical and mental health outcomes, particularly among adolescents. However, few studies have examined the longitudinal effects of adolescent digital media use across the transition from adolescence to young adulthood. As adolescents present as a highrisk group for the adverse effects of digital media use on mental and physical health, the present studies identified digital media use trajectories from adolescence into young adulthood and examined these trajectories as predictors of sleep duration, cardiometabolic health, and mental health outcomes in young adulthood. Methods Participants (Mage=15.53; 56.86% …


Titanium-45 Radiochemistry For The Development Of Pet Radiopharmaceuticals, Fnu Shefali Jan 2024

Titanium-45 Radiochemistry For The Development Of Pet Radiopharmaceuticals, Fnu Shefali

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Imaging using nuclear medicine techniques has enabled non-invasive measurements of biomarkers for a wide range of diseases including cancer and neurodegenerative disorders. The production and characterization of new radioisotopes are crucial steps in designing radiopharmaceuticals for nuclear imaging applications. 45Ti is a novel radionuclide with desired physical characteristics for use in Positron Emission Tomography (PET) imaging. The half-life of 3.08 h is ideal for the imaging of small peptides. In addition, the 45Ti decay by positron emission (85 %) and a low mean positron energy (0.439 MeV) offers high spatial resolution. The production route of 45Ti is straightforward due to …


Characterizing The Reproductive System Of Avrainvillea In HawaiʻI, Brinkley Mikayla Thornton Jan 2024

Characterizing The Reproductive System Of Avrainvillea In HawaiʻI, Brinkley Mikayla Thornton

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Sex has generated incredible life cycle diversity across eukaryotes. Differences in the timing of meiosis and fertilization have generated tremendous variation in the duration of haploid and diploid phases. To understand what drives eukaryotic sexual diversity, there remains a need to determine the rates of sexual and asexual reproduction in natural populations. Moreover, life cycle diversity is predicted to be correlated with the reproductive system. Yet, most studies on reproductive variation have focused on diploid or diploid dominant organisms, hindering the ability to understand sex. Macroalgae can serve as useful models to overcome this limitation via life cycle and reproductive …


Knocking At The Door: The Life And Legacy Of Dr. James Montgomery, Haley Eloise Wells Jan 2024

Knocking At The Door: The Life And Legacy Of Dr. James Montgomery, Haley Eloise Wells

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The life and work of Black Birmingham cardiologist, Dr. James T. Montgomery, demonstrates the importance of viewing the history of health activism and Birmingham civil rights history as two interconnected histories that influenced each other. Traditionally, secondary scholarship on the Birmingham civil rights movement and scholarship on the history of healthcare have been treated as two separate areas of study. Scholars such as Glenn Eskew and Diane McWhorter have written extensively on the civil rights movement in Birmingham, but their scholarship excludes any comprehensive discussion of the fight for racial justice within Birmingham’s medical field. Conversely, scholars such as Thomas …


Using The Social Ecological Model To Assess The Correlates Of Unprotected Sex Among African American Emerging Adults, Shirlacia S. Gray Jan 2024

Using The Social Ecological Model To Assess The Correlates Of Unprotected Sex Among African American Emerging Adults, Shirlacia S. Gray

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USING THE SOCIAL ECOLOGICAL MODEL TO ASSESS THE CORRELATES OF UNPROTECTED SEX AMONG AFRICAN AMERICAN EMERGING ADULTS SHIRLACIA S. GRAY DEVELOPMENTAL PSYCHOLOGY ABSTRACT Background: The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported that HIV diagnoses for Black/African American men and women are 8x and 15x higher than white individuals, respectively. While the social determinants of health largely influence HIV transmission rates, reducing risky behaviors can lower the risk for HIV. This current study used the Social Ecological Model to investigate correlates of unprotected sex. Methods: Participants were recruited through respondent-driven sampling. Participant's demographics (age, gender, years of education, financial …


Predicting Maximum Concentric And Eccentric Squat Strength From Maximum Isometric Squat Strength, Michael A. Dunn Jan 2024

Predicting Maximum Concentric And Eccentric Squat Strength From Maximum Isometric Squat Strength, Michael A. Dunn

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Resistive squat exercise is a well-established technique to enhance the strength of muscles and bone of the back in humans. Such type of exercise could prove highly beneficial for individuals with pathological condition of the back such as osteoporosis. Notably, the rehabilitation programs aimed at strengthening the muscles and bone of the back require the knowledge of the patient’s one repetition maximum (1RM). Finding the 1RM squat value could lead to injury due to the higher weights involved. In addition, testing for 1RM could be not feasible in older populations or young population with chronic back conditions The isometric squat …


Multi-Enclave Blockchain Architecture Integrating Useful Work For Member Selection In Committee-Based Consensus, Shawn C. Adams Jan 2024

Multi-Enclave Blockchain Architecture Integrating Useful Work For Member Selection In Committee-Based Consensus, Shawn C. Adams

All ETDs from UAB

Blockchains offer an alternative approach to centralized systems for data and record storage by using independently operated nodes in a distributed and decentralized network. Within a blockchain network, each node maintains an identical version of all data, without being directly controlled or managed by any centralized entity. Nodes maintain the synchronization of data through the network's consensus mechanism, a protocol built into the nodes to determine which node is given the right to append data to the network. Once chosen, the data added by the node is propagated to other nodes which update their local records to maintain synchronization. Common …


Associations Of Religious Involvement And Cultural Justifications With Depressive Symptoms And Burden Among Caregivers, Maizonne Fields Jan 2024

Associations Of Religious Involvement And Cultural Justifications With Depressive Symptoms And Burden Among Caregivers, Maizonne Fields

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With the advancement of medicine, life expectancy has increased globally. As a result, the need for a caregiver by an older adult has also risen. A caregiver is often a spouse, child, or friend of an older adult that assists an older adult that is experiencing changes in their ability to complete activities of daily living and/or instrumental activities of daily living. Caregivers are often unpaid for their assistance and can be at heightened risk for negative mental health outcomes. This study used the Stress Process Model to investigate the associations of high levels of religious commitment or involvement (RCI) …


The Effect Of The Chemical And Physical Properties Of Cotton On The Retention Of Spermatozoa, Brynnen Hendrix Jan 2024

The Effect Of The Chemical And Physical Properties Of Cotton On The Retention Of Spermatozoa, Brynnen Hendrix

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Studies have shown that spermatozoa persist on cotton fabric under various conditions after being washed multiple times. The purpose of this study was to observe the number of sperm cells removed from cotton fabric over the course of multiple wash cycles. This study also explored how various treatment methods impact the rate of removal and number of cells removed. In this study, sperm cells were counted using a hemacytometer to estimate the average number of cells in a 20 µL semen stain. Twenty stains were prepared on cotton fabric and washed in a microfuge tube with 200 µL of reverse …


A Colorblind Approach To Silencing African American Voices Through The Banning Of Critical Race Theory, Mia J. Freeman Jan 2023

A Colorblind Approach To Silencing African American Voices Through The Banning Of Critical Race Theory, Mia J. Freeman

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This thesis focused on addressing the framing of criticisms of Toni Morrison's Beloved in the state of Virginia through the context of African American Criticism and Critical Race Theory. The methodology undertaken addresses the central research question, How might African American Criticism and Critical Race Theory provide a theoretical framework for responding to recent criticisms about Beloved? The researcher approached Beloved by historicizing select passages from the novel and situating those passages and the realities they reflect in the context of criticisms waged by parents and politicians. The thesis also explained how tenets of African American Criticism and Critical Race …


Impact Of Covid-19 On A Smoking Cessation Intervention: A Look At Recruitment And Retention, Elizabeth S. Hawes Jan 2023

Impact Of Covid-19 On A Smoking Cessation Intervention: A Look At Recruitment And Retention, Elizabeth S. Hawes

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While smoking prevalence rates have declined in the general population over the past 50 years, persons in the criminal legal population have disproportionally high rates of smoking. Previous research suggests that smoking cessation interventions and campaigns have missed targeting this population. Due to the COVD-19 pandemic, many ongoing clinical trials had to rapidly shift to using remote trials, including our smoking cessation trial with the criminal legal population. The purpose of this secondary analysis was to compare recruitment rate, study adherence, retention, NRT adherence, and quit attempts for participants who completed the study as planned (In Person), after implementation of …


Examining Associations Between Sources Of Stress And Experimental Pain Sensitivity In Pediatric Patients With Functional Abdominal Pain Disorders, Corinne Taylor Evans Jan 2023

Examining Associations Between Sources Of Stress And Experimental Pain Sensitivity In Pediatric Patients With Functional Abdominal Pain Disorders, Corinne Taylor Evans

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Functional abdominal pain disorders (FAPDs) are one of the most common pain complaints among children and adolescents. Research demonstrates a relationship between multiple sources of stress and pain responses. However, research has not yet explored the role of stress in pain processing and sensitivity in youth with FAPDs. Thus, the present study aimed to examine associations between biopsychosocial sources of stress and experimental pain sensitivity in pediatric patients with FAPDs. Additionally, racial differences in clinical and experimental pain responses were explored. Analytical findings did not support hypotheses as the biological, social, and psychological sources of stress did not predict experimental …


Correlates Of Life Space Mobility, Driving Frequency And Exposure Amon Older Blacks/African Americans And Whites With Diabetes, Henrietta Armah Jan 2023

Correlates Of Life Space Mobility, Driving Frequency And Exposure Amon Older Blacks/African Americans And Whites With Diabetes, Henrietta Armah

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Diabetes mellitus is one of the most common chronic diseases among older adults, affecting all aspects of daily living including restricted life space mobility, driving and building relationships outside of the home. The aim of this study was to investigate the covariate-adjusted associations of cognitive functioning, depressive symptoms, amount of support received and satisfaction with support with life space mobility, driving frequency and driving exposure among Blacks/African Americans and Whites with diabetes. The study used a representative sample of 247 older adults aged 65 and above from the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) Diabetes and Aging Study of Health …


Microwave Plasma Cvd Sythesis Of Superhard Cnob Materials, Kallol Chakrabarty Jan 2023

Microwave Plasma Cvd Sythesis Of Superhard Cnob Materials, Kallol Chakrabarty

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Superhard materials are catching a lot of attention due to their unique properties and practical applications. When the hardness value of the material exceeds 40 GPa by the Vickers hardness test, the material is called superhard. Diamond is the hardest known material with a hardness value of 70-100 GPa. Although diamond is electrically insulating and thermally conductive, it has significant limitations. In addition to its high cost, it is prone to oxidation at temperatures above 800 °C and unsuitable for high-speed machining of ferrous alloys because of chemical reactions with iron group elements. Thus, diamond is unaffordable and unfavorable for …


"'Wimpy White Boy Syndrome': Does It Exist In The Nicu?", Brittany Nicole Stewart Jan 2023

"'Wimpy White Boy Syndrome': Does It Exist In The Nicu?", Brittany Nicole Stewart

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“Wimpy White Boy Syndrome” (WWBS) is a social phenomenon and belief that exists in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU), where white boys fare the worst and Black girls fare the best. However, this belief is based on little to no empirical evidence and contradicts the majority of the research that documents Black Americans tend to have worse health outcomes than white Americans. Utilizing electronic medical record data from a Southern, regional, and level IV neonatal intensive care unit, this research project explored racial differences in length of hospital stay, mortality, and resource allocation among low and very low birthweight …