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Full-Text Articles in Public Health

Improving Prenatal Education In A Health Center: A Pilot Study, Marcy Keddy Boucher, Hugh Silk, Judith A. Savageau, Katharine C. Barnard, Mary Flynn Dec 2011

Improving Prenatal Education In A Health Center: A Pilot Study, Marcy Keddy Boucher, Hugh Silk, Judith A. Savageau, Katharine C. Barnard, Mary Flynn

Judith A. Savageau

Background: Currently, the timing and variety of health education topics that are covered during prenatal visits are decided upon by the individual physician caring for the patient. Consequently, some patients do not gain exposure to important subject matter that could potentially improve their satisfaction and pregnancy outcomes. Previously reported studies have found evidence that improved patient education may increase rates of breastfeeding (as well as duration), seat belt use during pregnancy, and decrease preterm low birth weight infants. In addition, one study has shown that when prenatal visits are targeted to specific objectives, the number of prenatal visits can …


Advancing Stage Of Female Reproductive Life Associated With Bipolar Illness Exacerbation, Wendy K. Marsh, Terence Ketter, Sybil L. Crawford, Julia V. Johnson, Anthony J. Rothschild Sep 2011

Advancing Stage Of Female Reproductive Life Associated With Bipolar Illness Exacerbation, Wendy K. Marsh, Terence Ketter, Sybil L. Crawford, Julia V. Johnson, Anthony J. Rothschild

Sybil L. Crawford

Introduction: Perimenopause confers an increased risk of depression in the general population, yet bipolar disorder mood course remains unknown. Methods: Clinic visits in 519 premenopausal, 116 perimenopausal including 13 women transitioning from peri- to postmenopause, and 133 postmenopausal women with bipolar disorder who received naturalistic treatment in the multisite STEP-Bipolar Disorder study over 19.8 +/- 15.5 months were analyzed for mood state. Results: Advancing female reproductive stage was associated with significant decline in mood elevation; significant decline in euthymia; no significant difference in major depression; and symptomatic significant increase. Conclusions: Advancing stage of female reproductive life was associated with bipolar …


Effective Outreach: Tools Of The Trade For Heading Back-To-School, Florida Covering Kids & Families Jun 2011

Effective Outreach: Tools Of The Trade For Heading Back-To-School, Florida Covering Kids & Families

Florida Covering Kids & Families

Effective marketing and education through outreach strategies are critical to guarantee uninsured but eligible children enroll and retain coverage in Children’s Health Insurance Programs, such as Florida KidCare. The implementation of effective outreach can eliminate enrollment barriers. The authors cite that the tools for innovative practices for effective outreach strategies include: personal contact and involvement with an outreach coalition.


Community-Based Coalitions: Influencing Policy & Practice, Florida Covering Kids & Families May 2011

Community-Based Coalitions: Influencing Policy & Practice, Florida Covering Kids & Families

Florida Covering Kids & Families

Simple approaches to outreach can increase enrollment in CHIP. The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (2010) found community-based coalitions can be simple yet effective methods to communicate needed policy and practice changes to those “charged with implementing insurance coverage”. Community-based coalitions are able to bring to light enrollment and retention barriers increasing the awareness of stakeholders and hopefully, help to create effective solutions.


Type, Content, And Source Of Social Support Perceived By Women During Pregnancy: Evidence From Matlab, Bangladesh, Joyce K. Edmonds, Moni Paul, Lynn M. Sibley Apr 2011

Type, Content, And Source Of Social Support Perceived By Women During Pregnancy: Evidence From Matlab, Bangladesh, Joyce K. Edmonds, Moni Paul, Lynn M. Sibley

Joyce K. Edmonds

Specific and contextualized data on social support during distinct health events are needed to improve social support interventions. This study identified the type, content, and source of social support perceived by women during pregnancy. In-depth interviews with 25 women, aged 18-49 years, living in Matlab, Bangladesh, were conducted. The findings demonstrated that women perceived, the receipt of eight distinct types of support. The four most frequently-mentioned types included: practical help with routine activities, information/advice, emotional support and assurance, as well as the provision of resources and material goods. Sources varied by type of support and most frequently included--mothers, mothers-in-law, sisters-in-law, …


Hiv And Women: Incongruent Policies, Criminal Consequences, Aziza Ahmed Feb 2011

Hiv And Women: Incongruent Policies, Criminal Consequences, Aziza Ahmed

Aziza Ahmed

The new agency UN WOMEN must play an active role in the standardization of laws and policies at the global and national level where their incongruence has negative and often criminal consequences for the health and lives of women and girls. This article focuses in on three such examples: opt-out testing for HIV, criminalization of vertical transmission, and the new World Health Organization guidelines on breastfeeding.


Δ-Aminolevulinic Acid Dehydratase Single Nucleotide Polymorphism 2 And Peptide Transporter 2*2 Haplotype May Differentially Mediate Lead Exposure In Male Children, Christina Sobin, Natali Parisi, Tanner Schaub, Marisela Gutierrez, Alma Ortega Jan 2011

Δ-Aminolevulinic Acid Dehydratase Single Nucleotide Polymorphism 2 And Peptide Transporter 2*2 Haplotype May Differentially Mediate Lead Exposure In Male Children, Christina Sobin, Natali Parisi, Tanner Schaub, Marisela Gutierrez, Alma Ortega

Christina Sobin, Ph.D.

Child low-level lead (Pb) exposure is an unresolved public health problem and an unaddressed child health disparity. Particularly in cases of low-level exposure, source removal can be impossible to accomplish, and the only practical strategy for reducing risk may be primary prevention. Genetic biomarkers of increased neurotoxic risk could help to identify small subgroups of children for early intervention. Previous studies have suggested that, by way of a distinct mechanism, d-aminolevulinic acid dehydratase single nucleotide polymorphism 2 (ALAD2) and/or peptide transporter 2*2 haplotype (hPEPT2*2) increase Pb blood burden in children. Studies have not yet examined whether sex mediates the effects …


The Role Of Problem Orientation Cognitive Distortions In Depression And Anxiety Intervention For Young Adults., Coralie Wilson Dec 2010

The Role Of Problem Orientation Cognitive Distortions In Depression And Anxiety Intervention For Young Adults., Coralie Wilson

Coralie J Wilson

Interventions that aim to improve social problem-solving skills can significantly reduce the severity of anxiety and depression symptoms in young people. Anxious and depressed individuals often have a negative orientation to problem solution which acts as a barrier to implementing problem-solving skills. Research with older adults suggests that symptoms impair problem-solving abilities through cognitive processes associated with the development of anxiety and depression. In this study we extend previous investigations by assessing the extent to which specific cognitive distortions and symptoms of anxiety and depression are associated with negative problem orientation in a sample of 285 young adults aged 18 …


Rural Adolescents’ Help Seeking Intentions For Emotional Problems: The Influence Of Perceived Benefits And Stoicism., Coralie Wilson Dec 2010

Rural Adolescents’ Help Seeking Intentions For Emotional Problems: The Influence Of Perceived Benefits And Stoicism., Coralie Wilson

Coralie J Wilson

This paper is the second from a larger multi-cite study developed and led by the third author which explores factors that influence adolescents' help-seeking intentions. Specifically, this paper investigates the extent to which perceived benefits of help seeking, stoicism, gender and symptoms of psychological distress are associated with intentions to seek professional help for emotional problems. A cross sectional self-report questionnaire was administered to adolescents recruited from seven high schools in rural towns in the Riverina region of New South Wales. A total of 778 adolescents were recruited. The sample included 373 male and 404 female participants between 13 and …


Predicting Adolescents’ Future Intentions To Seek Help For Mental Health Problems., Coralie J. Wilson Dec 2010

Predicting Adolescents’ Future Intentions To Seek Help For Mental Health Problems., Coralie J. Wilson

Frank Deane

This study examined whether high school students’ current symptoms of general psychological distress, self-rated social problem-solving skills, and recent help-seeking experiences predict their future intentions to seek help for a mental health problem. At Time 1, 98 high school students, aged 12-17 years, completed the study self-report survey that included measures of psychological distress, social problem-solving skill, and recent help-seeking behaviour. At Time 2, three weeks later, the same students completed measures of help-seeking intentions. Students with more severe levels of distress symptoms at Time 1 had lower intentions to seek help for a mental health problem at Time 2. …


The Impact Of Internet Vs. Traditional Special Supplemental Nutrition Program For Women, Infants, And Children Nutrition Education On Fruit And Vegetable Intake, Robert J. Bensley Dec 2010

The Impact Of Internet Vs. Traditional Special Supplemental Nutrition Program For Women, Infants, And Children Nutrition Education On Fruit And Vegetable Intake, Robert J. Bensley

Robert J Bensley

The purpose of this project was to compare the impact of Internet nutrition education to traditional nutrition education on Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) participant fruit and vegetable consumption. Interventions were delivered at 15 WIC clinics after normal WIC clinic operations or delivered online. A total of 692 and 872 participants from eight WIC agencies self-enrolled into two phases. A quasi experimental design using an interrupted time series to determine the impact of two methods of nutrition education and follow-up nutrition counseling was used. Data were collected online and at Michigan WIC clinics during 2005-2007 …


Sex And Hiv Disclosure, Aziza Ahmed, Beri Hull Dec 2010

Sex And Hiv Disclosure, Aziza Ahmed, Beri Hull

Aziza Ahmed

No abstract provided.


The Value Of Critique And Distributive Analysis To Addressing The Needs Of Sex Workers In The Context Of Hiv: A Response To Libby Adler’S “Gay Rights And Lefts”, Aziza Ahmed Dec 2010

The Value Of Critique And Distributive Analysis To Addressing The Needs Of Sex Workers In The Context Of Hiv: A Response To Libby Adler’S “Gay Rights And Lefts”, Aziza Ahmed

Aziza Ahmed

No abstract provided.


Postpartum Screening For Diabetes Among Women With A History Of Gestational Diabetes Mellitus, Lisa Chasan-Taber, A Tovar, E Eggleston, E Oken Dec 2010

Postpartum Screening For Diabetes Among Women With A History Of Gestational Diabetes Mellitus, Lisa Chasan-Taber, A Tovar, E Eggleston, E Oken

Lisa Chasan-Taber

Introduction To make recommendations for future clinical, public health, and research practices for women with abnormal glucose tolerance during pregnancy, we reviewed the latest evidence regarding rates of postpartum diabetes screening and types of screening tests. Methods We searched PubMed for journal articles published from January 2008 through December 2010 that reported on postpartum screening and studies designed to prevent progression to type 2 diabetes among women with gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM). Two authors independently reviewed titles and abstracts from 265 articles. Results From 34% to 73% of women with GDM completed postpartum glucose screening. Predictors of higher screening rates …


Feasibility And Efficacy Of A Physical Activity Intervention Among Pregnant Women: The Behaviors Affecting Baby And You (B.A.B.Y.) Study, Lisa Chasan-Taber, Marushka Silveira, Bess H. Marcus, Barry Braun, Edward Stanek, Glenn Markenson Dec 2010

Feasibility And Efficacy Of A Physical Activity Intervention Among Pregnant Women: The Behaviors Affecting Baby And You (B.A.B.Y.) Study, Lisa Chasan-Taber, Marushka Silveira, Bess H. Marcus, Barry Braun, Edward Stanek, Glenn Markenson

Lisa Chasan-Taber

Background: Physical activity during pregnancy is associated with reduced risk of adverse maternal and fetal outcomes. However, the majority of pregnant women are inactive and interventions designed to increase exercise during pregnancy are sparse. We evaluated the feasibility and preliminary efficacy of an exercise intervention among a diverse sample of pregnant women. Methods: The B.A.B.Y. (Behaviors Affecting Baby and You) Study is conducted at a large tertiary care facility in Western Massachusetts. We randomized 110 prenatal care patients (60% Hispanic) to an individually tailored 12-week exercise intervention arm (n = 58) or to a health and wellness control arm (n …


Predicting Adolescents’ Future Intentions To Seek Help For Mental Health Problems., Coralie J. Wilson Dec 2010

Predicting Adolescents’ Future Intentions To Seek Help For Mental Health Problems., Coralie J. Wilson

Coralie J Wilson

This study examined whether high school students’ current symptoms of general psychological distress, self-rated social problem-solving skills, and recent help-seeking experiences predict their future intentions to seek help for a mental health problem. At Time 1, 98 high school students, aged 12-17 years, completed the study self-report survey that included measures of psychological distress, social problem-solving skill, and recent help-seeking behaviour. At Time 2, three weeks later, the same students completed measures of help-seeking intentions. Students with more severe levels of distress symptoms at Time 1 had lower intentions to seek help for a mental health problem at Time 2. …


Feminism, Power, And Sex Work In The Context Of Hiv/Aids: Consequences For Women's Health, Aziza Ahmed Dec 2010

Feminism, Power, And Sex Work In The Context Of Hiv/Aids: Consequences For Women's Health, Aziza Ahmed

Aziza Ahmed

No abstract provided.


Early Access And Help Seeking: Practice Implications And New Initiatives., Coralie J. Wilson Dec 2010

Early Access And Help Seeking: Practice Implications And New Initiatives., Coralie J. Wilson

Coralie J Wilson

Seeking appropriate help for early signs and symptoms of psychological distress can reduce the long-term impact of many mental disorders. This article describes practice implications and new initiatives for promoting early access and help-seeking among young people. Relevant help-seeking research is reviewed, and prominent help-seeking barriers are discussed. Prominent barriers for young people include: incomplete mental health and emotional literacy, beliefs about having little need for help versus having a need for autonomy, and the process of help-negation for different symptoms of psychological distress. To improve early access to appropriate help and mental health services, barriers that can be reduced, …


Alternatives To Criminalization Of Hiv Transmission And Exposure, Aziza Ahmed Dec 2010

Alternatives To Criminalization Of Hiv Transmission And Exposure, Aziza Ahmed

Aziza Ahmed

No abstract provided.


Rural Adolescents’ Help Seeking Intentions For Emotional Problems: The Influence Of Perceived Benefits And Stoicism., Coralie J. Wilson Dec 2010

Rural Adolescents’ Help Seeking Intentions For Emotional Problems: The Influence Of Perceived Benefits And Stoicism., Coralie J. Wilson

Frank Deane

This paper is the second from a larger multi-cite study developed and led by the third author which explores factors that influence adolescents' help-seeking intentions. Specifically, this paper investigates the extent to which perceived benefits of help seeking, stoicism, gender and symptoms of psychological distress are associated with intentions to seek professional help for emotional problems. A cross sectional self-report questionnaire was administered to adolescents recruited from seven high schools in rural towns in the Riverina region of New South Wales. A total of 778 adolescents were recruited. The sample included 373 male and 404 female participants between 13 and …


The Effects Of Need For Autonomy And Preference For Seeking Help From Informal Sources On Emerging Adults’ Intentions To Access Mental Health Services For Common Mental Disorders And Suicidal Thoughts., Coralie J. Wilson Dec 2010

The Effects Of Need For Autonomy And Preference For Seeking Help From Informal Sources On Emerging Adults’ Intentions To Access Mental Health Services For Common Mental Disorders And Suicidal Thoughts., Coralie J. Wilson

Coralie J Wilson

Emerging or early adulthood is the life stage spanning 18-25 years of age. In Australia, anxiety and affective disorders (often classified as ‘common mental disorders’) are prevalent in this age group and suicide is also a concern. Professional mental health care can reduce the long-term impact of these mental health problems and protect against the development of severe forms of these disorders. However, up to three-quarters of young people with mental health needs do not seek professional help for their condition. This study aimed to examine the extent to which belief in the need for autonomy and intentions to seek …