Public Health Commons^™

Risk Of Kidney Stones In Living Kidney Donors: A Matched Cohort Study, Sonia Thomas

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

A kidney stone in a person with one kidney requires urgent attention which may result in surgical and/or hospital attention. We conducted a matched retrospective cohort study to determine if living kidney donors compared to healthy non-donors have a higher risk of: 1) kidney stones with surgical intervention, and 2) hospital encounters for kidney stones. We reviewed and linked information from pre-donation charts to Ontario healthcare databases. We selected healthy non-donors from the general population, matching ten non-donors to every donor, to generate a cohort of 2,019 donors and 20,190 non-donors. There was no difference in the rate of 1) …

The Impact Of Intrauterine Exposure To Gestational Diabetes Mellitus On Early Childhood Body Mass Index Trajectories, Aniq Anam

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

Background: Although gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) has been linked to pediatric obesity, there is limited research on the impact of intrauterine exposure to GDM on trajectories of childhood growth. Objective: To assess the effect of prenatal GDM exposure on childhood body mass index (BMI) trajectories. Design: Analyses were conducted using data from cycles 2 to 6 (1994-2004; N=3412 children) of the National Longitudinal Survey of Children and Youth. Latent growth curve modelling (LGCM) was used to model BMI trajectories from age 2 to 10 years with prenatal exposure to GDM as a predictor. Effect modification by breastfeeding was assessed. Results: …

Evaluation Of Ontario's Street Racers, Stunt And Aggressive Drivers Legislation, Aizhan Meirambayeva

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

The purpose of this thesis was to conduct a process and outcome evaluation of the deterrent effect of Ontario’s Street Racers, Stunt and Aggressive Drivers Legislation. The focus of this study was on police enforcement (implementation), a change in speeding on the provincial highways (intermediate outcome) as well as on a decrease in both extreme speeding convictions and casualties, measured as a sum of injuries and fatalities (criterion outcomes). The deterrent effect of the legislation on Ontario drivers was examined, using data obtained from the Ministry of Transportation of Ontario. Employing interrupted time series …

Risk Factors For Diabetes Mellitus: A Comparative Analysis Of Subpopulation Differences In A Large Canadian Sample, Michael James Taylor

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

Objectives: Certain Canadian subpopulations observe numerous modifiable and non-modifiable risk factors for diabetes. This study compares immigrants and Aboriginals (First Nations, Inuit, and Métis) with Canada-born individuals at higher risks for diabetes, and deciphers the determinant differences between them.

Methods: Pooled Canadian Community Health Survey data (2001-2010) were used. Time trends for diabetes within each subsample were calculated using individual survey year prevalence rates; diabetes diagnoses were self-reported (N=33,565). Various risk factors were also examined using logistic regression.

Results: Diabetes prevalence rates significantly increased from 2001 to 2010 for each subpopulation, as well as the total sample: Canada-Born individuals (3.9% …

Violence Among Cocaine And Simultaneous Cocaine And Alcohol Abusers: Results From A Cross-Sectional Study Of Treatment Clients, Sameer Imtiaz

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

A population known for substantial violence is the substance abuse treatment population. This study assessed: (1) extent of violence, (2) personality and mental health correlates of violence, and (3) sex differences in correlates of violence. Data were obtained from the Patterns and Consequences of Cocaine and Alcohol Use for Substance Abuse Treatment Clients Study (N = 403). Logistic regression with backward elimination procedures and modified Poisson regression were used to assess the study objectives. Violence was reported by 44% of treatment clients. Furthermore, number of other drugs used per week (RR: 1.124, 95% CI: 1.063 - 1.189) and aggressive personality …

An Exploration Of The Relationships Between Markers Of Social Status And Position And Hiv Risk Behaviours In African, Caribbean, And Other Black Populations, Shamara M. Baidoobonso

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

African, Caribbean, and other Black (ACB) people are a priority group for HIV prevention in Canada, but little is known about the epidemiology of HIV risk in this population. The overall goal of this thesis is to guide HIV prevention interventions for ACB communities. It focuses on social factors that impact HIV vulnerability.

This research used data from the Black, African, and Caribbean Canadian Health Study—a mixed methods study that used 30 semi-structured interviews, and a cross-sectional survey using a structured, self-administered quantitative questionnaire to collect information about HIV and health from 188 ACB people.

The first manuscript compares risk …

Determinants Of Negative Pathways To Care And Their Impact On Service Disengagement In First-Episode Psychosis., Kelly K. Anderson, Rebecca Fuhrer, Norbert Schmitz, Ashok K Malla

Epidemiology and Biostatistics Publications

PURPOSE: Although there have been numerous studies on pathways to care in first-episode psychosis (FEP), few have examined the determinants of the pathway to care and its impact on subsequent engagement with mental health services.

METHODS: Using a sample of 324 FEP patients from a catchment area-based early intervention (EI) program in Montréal, we estimated the association of several socio-demographic, clinical, and service-level factors with negative pathways to care and treatment delay. We also assessed the impact of the pathway to care on time to disengagement from EI services.

RESULTS: Few socio-demographic or clinical factors were predictive of negative pathways …