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Full-Text Articles in Medicine and Health Sciences

Practice And Lived Experience Of Menstrual Exiles (Chhaupadi) Among Adolescent Girls In Far Western Nepal. December 2018, Prabisha Amatya, Saruna Ghimire, Karen E. Callahan, Binaya Kumar Baral, Krishna C. Poudel Dec 2018

Practice And Lived Experience Of Menstrual Exiles (Chhaupadi) Among Adolescent Girls In Far Western Nepal. December 2018, Prabisha Amatya, Saruna Ghimire, Karen E. Callahan, Binaya Kumar Baral, Krishna C. Poudel

Public Health Faculty Publications

Background: Menstrual exile, also known as Chhaupadi, is a tradition of “untouchability” in far-western Nepal. Forbidden from touching other people and objects, women and girls are required to live away from the community, typically in a livestock shed, during menstruation. We assessed the lived experiences of Chhaupadi among Nepalese adolescent girls in the far-western Achham district of Nepal, observed the safety and sanitation of their living spaces during Chhaupadi, and assessed the perceptions of local adult stakeholders towards the practice of Chhaupadi. Methods: We collected data from 107 adolescent girls using a self-administered survey in two local schools in Achham. …


Healthy Food Options At Dollar Discount Stores Are Equivalent In Quality And Lower In Price Compared To Grocery Stores: An Examination In Las Vegas, Nv, Courtney Coughenour, Timothy J. Bungum, M. Nikki Regalado Dec 2018

Healthy Food Options At Dollar Discount Stores Are Equivalent In Quality And Lower In Price Compared To Grocery Stores: An Examination In Las Vegas, Nv, Courtney Coughenour, Timothy J. Bungum, M. Nikki Regalado

Public Health Faculty Publications

Food deserts indicate limited access to and affordability of healthy foods. One potential mediator is the availability of healthy food in non-traditional outlets such as dollar-discount stores, stores selling produce at the fixed $1 price. The purpose of this study was to compare availability, quality, price differences in ‘healthier’ versus ‘regular’ food choices, price per each food item, and summary score in dollar-discount stores to grocery stores in Las Vegas using the NEMS-S; a protocol consisting of three subscores—availability, quality, price of healthier versus regular food, and a summary score. [...] see article for full abstract


Perceived Walkability, Social Capital, And Self-Reported Physical Activity In Las Vegas College Students, Melissa Bartshe, Courtney Coughenour, Jennifer Pharr Aug 2018

Perceived Walkability, Social Capital, And Self-Reported Physical Activity In Las Vegas College Students, Melissa Bartshe, Courtney Coughenour, Jennifer Pharr

Public Health Faculty Publications

College students are an understudied, vulnerable population, whose inactivity rates exceed those reported by U.S. adults. Walkability in sprawling cities, such as Las Vegas, is challenged due to automobile-oriented development. The purpose of this study was to assess the relationship between perceived neighborhood walkability, social capital, and meeting physical activity recommendations among University of Nevada-Las Vegas college students. Of the 410 participants, 42.2% met physical activity recommendations, 77.1% were female, 37.3% were white, and 79.5% owned a vehicle. Logistic regression showed that social capital (odds ratio (OR) = 1.25, p = 0.04) and gender... (see full text for full abstract


Limited Contribution Of Health Behaviours To Expanding Income-Related Chronic Disease Disparities Based On A Nationwide Cross-Sectional Study In China, Qing Wang, Jay J, Shen, Kaitlyn Frakes Aug 2018

Limited Contribution Of Health Behaviours To Expanding Income-Related Chronic Disease Disparities Based On A Nationwide Cross-Sectional Study In China, Qing Wang, Jay J, Shen, Kaitlyn Frakes

Public Health Faculty Publications

This study estimated the association of income and prevalence of cardiovascular diseases (CVD) and hypertension, and then quantified the contribution of health behaviors to the association in China. Using the 2013 survey of the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study (CHARLS), a logit model was applied to examine income-related health disparities in relation to CVD and hypertension. A four-step regression method was then constructed to measure the role of health behaviors in income-related health disparities. Using indirect effects, mediation by health behaviors was examined. Income-related health disparities in chronic diseases were found to exist in China. Specifically, individuals in the …


Bibliometric Analysis Of Gaps In Research On Asbestos-Related Diseases: Declining Emphasis On Public Health Over 26 Years, Ro-Ting Lin, Matthew John Soeberg, Lung-Chang Chien, Scott Fisher, Jukka Takala, Richard Lemen, Tim Driscoll, Ken Takahashi Jul 2018

Bibliometric Analysis Of Gaps In Research On Asbestos-Related Diseases: Declining Emphasis On Public Health Over 26 Years, Ro-Ting Lin, Matthew John Soeberg, Lung-Chang Chien, Scott Fisher, Jukka Takala, Richard Lemen, Tim Driscoll, Ken Takahashi

Public Health Faculty Publications

Objectives The global burden of asbestos-related diseases (ARDs) is significant, and most of the world’s population live in countries where asbestos use continues. We examined the gaps between ARD research and suggestions of WHO and the International Labour Organization on prevention. Methods From the Web of Science, we collected data on all articles published during 1991–2016 and identified a subset of ARD-related articles. We classified articles into three research areas—laboratory, clinical and public health—and examined their time trends. For all and the top 11 countries publishing ARD-related articles, we calculated the proportions of all ARD-related articles that were in each …


Nonlinear Associations Between Working Hours And Overwork-Related Cerebrovascular And Cardiovascular Diseases (Ccvd), Ro-Ting Lin, Lung-Chang Chien, Ichiro Kawachi Jun 2018

Nonlinear Associations Between Working Hours And Overwork-Related Cerebrovascular And Cardiovascular Diseases (Ccvd), Ro-Ting Lin, Lung-Chang Chien, Ichiro Kawachi

Public Health Faculty Publications

Long working hours are recognized as a risk factor for cerebrovascular and cardiovascular diseases (CCVD). We investigated the relationship between working hours and different CCVD severity outcomes—death, disability, and illness—across industries in Taiwan from 2006 to 2016. We applied a generalized additive mixed model to estimate the association between working hours and the rate of each severity outcome, adjusted for salary, unemployment rate, time, and a random intercept. Industry-average working hours were significantly associated with each outcome level of overwork-related CCVD, especially when monthly working hours increased from 169 (relative risk [RR] = 1.46, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.002–2.12) to …


Pediatric To Adult Healthcare Transitioning For Adolescents Living With Hiv In Nigeria: A National Survey, Okikiolu A. Badejo, William A. Menson, Nadia A. Sam-Agudu, Jennifer Pharr, Salome Erekaha, Tamara Bruno, Gift Nwanne, Olabanjo Ogunsola, Jude Ilozumba, Olusegun Busari, Echezona E. Ezeanolue Jun 2018

Pediatric To Adult Healthcare Transitioning For Adolescents Living With Hiv In Nigeria: A National Survey, Okikiolu A. Badejo, William A. Menson, Nadia A. Sam-Agudu, Jennifer Pharr, Salome Erekaha, Tamara Bruno, Gift Nwanne, Olabanjo Ogunsola, Jude Ilozumba, Olusegun Busari, Echezona E. Ezeanolue

Public Health Faculty Publications

Introduction The period of transition from pediatric to adult care has been associated with poor health outcomes among 10–19 year old adolescents living with HIV (ALHIV). This has prompted a focus on the quality of transition services, especially in high ALHIV-burden countries. Due to lack of guidelines, there are no healthcare transition standards for Nigeria’s estimated 240,000 ALHIV. We conducted a nationwide survey to characterize routine transition procedures for Nigerian ALHIV. Materials and methods This cross-sectional survey was conducted at public healthcare facilities supported by five local HIV service implementing partners. Comprehensive HIV treatment facilities with ≥1 year of HIV …


Life Satisfaction Among Elderly Patients In Nepal: Associations With Nutritional And Mental Well-Being. Health And Quality Of Life Outcomes, Saruna Ghimire, Binaya Kurmar Baral, Isha Karmacharya, Karen E. Callahan, Shiva Raj Mishra Jun 2018

Life Satisfaction Among Elderly Patients In Nepal: Associations With Nutritional And Mental Well-Being. Health And Quality Of Life Outcomes, Saruna Ghimire, Binaya Kurmar Baral, Isha Karmacharya, Karen E. Callahan, Shiva Raj Mishra

Public Health Faculty Publications

Nepal’s demography is aging rapidly, yet few studies to date have examined how this has affected the health and well-being of the elderly, defined as those above 60 years in Nepal’s Senior Citizen Act (2006). Our study, abbreviated NepEldQOLII, aims to assess perceived life satisfaction, and evaluate its relationship with nutritional health and mental well-being among the burgeoning Nepalese elderly population...(See full text for complete abstract)


Birth History As A Predictor Of Adverse Birth Outcomes: Evidence From State Vital Statistics Data, Dejun Su, Kaeli Samson, Ashvita Garg, Corrine Hanson, Ann L. Anderson Berry, Ge Lin Kan, Ming Qu May 2018

Birth History As A Predictor Of Adverse Birth Outcomes: Evidence From State Vital Statistics Data, Dejun Su, Kaeli Samson, Ashvita Garg, Corrine Hanson, Ann L. Anderson Berry, Ge Lin Kan, Ming Qu

Public Health Faculty Publications

One of the most important predictors of preterm births (PTBs) or low-birth-weight births (LBWBs) is whether a mother has had a history of these birth outcomes. This study examined how different characterizations of birth history (e.g., any previous incidence of PTBs or LBWBs, immediate previous birth that was preterm or of low birth weight, and number of previous PTBs or LBWBs) were associated with PTBs or LBWBs. Based on birth records (n = 98,776) reported to the vital statistics electronic registration system in Nebraska from 2005 to 2014, mothers with a history of PTBs or LBWBs were more likely to …


Does Exam-Targeted Training Help Village Doctors Pass The Certified (Assistant) Physician Exam And Improve Their Practical Skills? A Cross-Sectional Analysis Of Village Doctors' Perspectives In Changzhou In Eastern China, Xiaohong Li, Jay J. Shen, Fang Yao, Chunxin Jiang, Fengshui Chang, Fengfeng Hao, Jun Lu May 2018

Does Exam-Targeted Training Help Village Doctors Pass The Certified (Assistant) Physician Exam And Improve Their Practical Skills? A Cross-Sectional Analysis Of Village Doctors' Perspectives In Changzhou In Eastern China, Xiaohong Li, Jay J. Shen, Fang Yao, Chunxin Jiang, Fengshui Chang, Fengfeng Hao, Jun Lu

Public Health Faculty Publications

Background Quality of health care needs to be improved in rural China. The Chinese government, based on the 1999 Law on Physicians, started implementing the Rural Doctor Practice Regulation in 2004 to increase the percentage of certified physicians among village doctors. Special exam-targeted training for rural doctors therefore was launched as a national initiative. This study examined these rural doctors’ perceptions of whether that training helps them pass the exam and whether it improves their skills. Methods Three counties were selected from the 4 counties in Changzhou City in eastern China, and 844 village doctors were surveyed by a questionnaire …


Lagged Influence Of Fine Particulate Matter And Geographic Disparities On Clinic Visits For Children’S Asthma In Taiwan, Lung-Chang Chien, Yu-An Chen, Hwa-Lung Yu Apr 2018

Lagged Influence Of Fine Particulate Matter And Geographic Disparities On Clinic Visits For Children’S Asthma In Taiwan, Lung-Chang Chien, Yu-An Chen, Hwa-Lung Yu

Public Health Faculty Publications

Recent studies have revealed the influence of fine particulate matter (PM2.5) on increased medication use, hospital admission, and emergency room visits for asthma attack in children, but the lagged influence of PM2.5 on children’s asthma and geographic disparities of children’s asthma have rarely been discussed simultaneously. This study investigated the documented diagnosis of children’s asthma in clinic visits for children aged less than 15 years old that were associated with PM2.5 in two counties located in west-central Taiwan during 2005–2010. The result shows that PM2.5 had a significant lagged effect on children’s asthma for up to 6 days. A significantly …


Predictors Of Swimming Ability Among Children And Adolescents In The United States, Jennifer Pharr, Carol Irwin, Todd Layne, Richard Irwin Feb 2018

Predictors Of Swimming Ability Among Children And Adolescents In The United States, Jennifer Pharr, Carol Irwin, Todd Layne, Richard Irwin

Public Health Faculty Publications

Swimming is an important source of physical activity and a life skill to prevent drowning. However, little research has been conducted to understand predictors of swimming ability. The purpose of this study was to understand factors that predict swimming ability among children and adolescents in the United States (US). This was a cross-sectional survey conducted between February and April of 2017 across five geographically diverse cities. Participants were accessed through the Young Christian Men’s Association (YMCA) and included parents of children aged 4–11 years old and adolescents aged 12–17 years old. Independent t-test, analysis of variance (ANOVA), and univariate and …


Reliability Of Self-Reported Mobile Phone Ownership In Rural North-Central Nigeria: Cross-Sectional Study, William Nii Ayitey Menson Md, Phd, John Olajide Olawepo Msc, Md, Tamara Bruno Mph, Semiu Olatunde Gbadamosi Md, Mph, Nannim Fazing Nalda Mph, Victor Anyebe Md, Amaka Ogidi Med, Chima Onoka Mph, Phd, Md, John Okpanachi Oko Md, Echezona Edozie Ezeanolue Md, Mph Jan 2018

Reliability Of Self-Reported Mobile Phone Ownership In Rural North-Central Nigeria: Cross-Sectional Study, William Nii Ayitey Menson Md, Phd, John Olajide Olawepo Msc, Md, Tamara Bruno Mph, Semiu Olatunde Gbadamosi Md, Mph, Nannim Fazing Nalda Mph, Victor Anyebe Md, Amaka Ogidi Med, Chima Onoka Mph, Phd, Md, John Okpanachi Oko Md, Echezona Edozie Ezeanolue Md, Mph

Public Health Faculty Publications

Background: Health practitioners seek to leverage the ubiquity of the mobile phone to increase the impact and robustness of their interventions, particularly in resource-limited settings. However, data on the reliability of self-reported mobile phone access is minimal. Objective: We sought to ascertain the reliability of self-reported ownership of and access to mobile phones among a population of rural dwellers in north-central Nigeria. Methods: We contacted participants in a community-based HIV testing program by phone to determine actual as opposed to self-reported mobile phone access. ...(Please see full text for complete abstract)


Biomedical Informatics Applications For Precision Management Of Neurodegenerative Diseases, Justin B. Miller, Guogen Shan, Joseph Lombardo, Gustavo Jimenez-Maggoria Jan 2018

Biomedical Informatics Applications For Precision Management Of Neurodegenerative Diseases, Justin B. Miller, Guogen Shan, Joseph Lombardo, Gustavo Jimenez-Maggoria

Public Health Faculty Publications

Modern medicine is in the midst of a revolution driven by “big data,” rapidly advancing computing power, and broader integration of technology into healthcare. Highly detailed and individualized profiles of both health and disease states are now possible, including biomarkers, genomic profiles, cognitive and behavioral phenotypes, high-frequency assessments, and medical imaging. Although these data are incredibly complex, they can potentially be used to understand multi-determinant causal relationships, elucidate modifiable factors, and ultimately customize treatments based on individual parameters. Especially for neurodegenerative diseases, where an effective therapeutic agent has yet to be discovered, there remains a critical need for an interdisciplinary …


Statistical Advances In Clinical Trials And Clinical Research, Guogen Shan, Sarah Banks, Justin B. Miller, Aaron Ritter, Charles Bernick, Joseph Lombardo, Jeffrey L. Cummings Jan 2018

Statistical Advances In Clinical Trials And Clinical Research, Guogen Shan, Sarah Banks, Justin B. Miller, Aaron Ritter, Charles Bernick, Joseph Lombardo, Jeffrey L. Cummings

Public Health Faculty Publications

Introduction New treatments for neurodegenerative disease are urgently needed, and clinical trial methods are an essential component of new drug development. Although a parallel-group study design for neurological disorder clinical trials is commonly used to test the effectiveness of a new treatment as compared to placebo, it does not efficiently use information from the on-going study to increase the success rate of a trial or to stop a trial earlier when the new treatment is indeed ineffective. Methods We review some recent advances in designs for clinical trials, including futility designs and adaptive designs. Results Futility designs and noninferiority designs …