Public Health Commons^™

Food Insecurity As A Predictor Of Hurricane Exposure Among Underserved Adolescents, Katherine R. Arlinghaus, Daphne C. Hernandez, Craig Johnston

Health Behavior Research

Low-income populations are at increased risk for experiencing negative hurricane exposures and food insecurity. However, little is known regarding how pre-hurricane food insecurity experiences are related to youth hurricane exposure. This study examined the types of hurricane disaster exposures low-income, ethnic minority adolescents experienced during Hurricane Harvey and examined the association between food insecurity and hurricane exposure. Low-income adolescents (n = 185) were recruited from a Houston-area school district. Two days before the hurricane, food insecurity was assessed. Adolescents with at least one affirmative answer on the 9-item USDA Child Food Security Survey Module were classified as food insecure. …

Mentoring The Next Generation Of Health Professionals: A Mentor-The-Mentor Approach, Andrea L. Demaria, Stephanie Meier, Jaziel L. Ramos-Ortiz

Health Behavior Research

The purpose of this commentary is to share team-based mentoring strategies used for successful interdisciplinary research team productivity and sustainability. This commentary lists and describes the top ten considerations for building a productive mentor-the-mentor approach, inspired by the train-the-trainer method. The approach promotes reciprocal training and individualized experiences, while producing positive professional and personal outcomes. We pinpoint how relationship-building rooted in passion and clear communication, explicit expectations and regular celebrations, and routine paired with a bit of play enhances productivity and encourages future health professionals to emerge as leaders in the field.

Violent Conflict And Breastfeeding: The Case Of Iraq, Vidya Diwakar, Michael A. Malcolm, George Naufal

Economics & Finance Faculty Publications

Background: This study explores the relationship between armed conflict and breastfeeding practices of Iraqi mothers. To date, the relationship between violent conflict and breastfeeding is surprisingly understudied. Especially in the Middle East, which is conflict-prone and has a young population, research on war and household behavior is critical for promoting recovery and sustainable development. Methods: This study employs a unique pairing of the Iraq Body Count Database and the 2006 and 2011 Multiple Indicator Cluster Surveys for Iraq. We use probit models to explore the association between armed conflict and several breastfeeding outcomes – whether a child was ever breastfed, …

Supporting Families Of A Deaf Or Hard Of Hearing Child: Key Findings From A National Needs Assessment, Alyson C. Ward, Vicki Hunting, Diane D. Behl

Journal of Early Hearing Detection and Intervention

This article reports findings from a national needs assessment to ascertain the needs of families of young children who are deaf or hard of hearing (DHH), and what supports, resources and opportunities Early Hearing Detection and Intervention (EHDI) programs and EHDI-contracted Family-based Organizations (FBOs) were providing to families. Results were intended to guide the activities of a federally funded technical assistance center charged with promoting Family Leadership in Language & Learning for families of children who are DHH. There were 458 completed surveys by parents of children who were DHH between the ages of 0-6. Surveys were completed by 56 …

Postpartum Endometritis And Infection Following Incomplete Or Complete Abortion: Case Definition & Guidelines For Data Collection, Analysis, And Presentation Of Maternal Immunization Safety Data, C E. Rouse, L O. Eckert, F M. Muñoz, J S A. Stringer, S Kochhar, L Bartlett, M Sanicas, D J. Dudley, D M. Harper, Fyezah Jehan

Department of Paediatrics and Child Health

Abstract are not provided by the author/publisher

Maternal Addiction Treatment Education Research Program, Meghan Gannon, Lhd, Msph

Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology Posters

MATER is a program in the Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology at Thomas Jefferson University Hospitals, and includes the Sidney Kimmel Medical College departments of OB/GYN, Pediatrics and Psychiatry. The MATER Program includes Family Center Outpatient and Intensive Outpatient Services and My Sister’s Place Residential Program

Family Center Outpatient and Intensive Outpatient Programs

• 18 years or older
• Pregnant or parenting
• Needing treatment for any substance problems

My Sister's Place Residential Program

• 18 years or older
• Pregnant or parenting
• Needing treatment for any substance problems
• Children under 6 years old are welcome to live in the residence with their mother

Prevention Of Cytomegalovirus Lntection In Pregnant Mothers And Neonates, Aisha Oliver, Taylor Gauthier, Breanne Rizzo, Alison Huet, Natalie Dipietro

Pharmacy and Wellness Review

Congenital cytomegalovirus (CMV) is the most common virus spread in utero from mother to fetus, leading to more long-term problems and childhood deaths than other conditions such as Down syndrome, fetal alcohol syndrome, pediatric HIV/AIDS, or neural tube defects. The majority of congenital CMV infections are primary infections in which the mother acquires the infection during pregnancy. Current treatment options for CMV infection are available, but there is limited data on safety and effectiveness in pregnant mothers and neonates. Prevention by screening for CMV is associated with a high cost, and vaccines are currently unavailable. Studies show that education and …

Human Milk Omega-3 Fatty Acid Composition Is Associated With Infant Temperament, Jennifer Hahn-Holbrook, Adi Fish, Laura M. Glynn

Psychology Faculty Articles and Research

There is growing evidence that omega-3 (n-3) polyunsaturated fatty-acids (PUFAs) are important for the brain development in childhood and are necessary for an optimal health in adults. However, there have been no studies examining how the n-3 PUFA composition of human milk influences infant behavior or temperament. To fill this knowledge gap, 52 breastfeeding mothers provided milk samples at 3 months postpartum and completed the Infant Behavior Questionnaire (IBQ-R), a widely used parent-report measure of infant temperament. Milk was assessed for n-3 PUFAs and omega-6 (n-6) PUFAs using gas-liquid chromatography. The total fat and the ratio of n6/n-3 fatty acids …

Implementing A Community-Based Breastfeeding And Infant Support Tent At University Of Arkansas Athletic Events, Moranda Clark

The Eleanor Mann School of Nursing Undergraduate Honors Theses

Breastfeeding is such an important role in a mother and baby’s relationship as it establishes a unique bond while also providing health benefits for both parties involved. Unfortunately, many women are discriminated against for trying to breastfeed in public and with little to no designated breastfeeding areas or sanitary places in such spaces; they are left with very few viable options. During the last year I have been completing an internship surrounding the subject of breastfeeding and have helped to implement a breastfeeding and infant support tent at University of Arkansas athletic events. My work has included extensive research, lactation …

Comparing The Care Of Pregnant Women In Ghana And The United States, Olivia Zander

Honors Projects

During pregnancy, factors such as maternal nutrition, location of delivery, the number of antenatal care visits, maternal age, and more can all impact the health of both the mother and the developing fetus. All of these factors are subject to change based on where the mother lives and the resources that her country has to offer her. The objective of this paper was to compare and contrast the nutritional and non-nutritional care of pregnant women in Ghana and the United States and its impact on maternal/child mortality in the two countries. The information collected for this project was taken from …

Developing A Training Program For Omaha Metro Area Sexual Assault Nurse Examiners Caring For Individuals With Developmental Disabilities, Emily Blanchard

Capstone Experience

Individuals with developmental disabilities experience many barriers to healthcare and are at a substantially higher risk for sexual assault and trauma. There is a need for more inclusive and collaborative healthcare policies, practices, and education to guide healthcare providers during their encounters with individuals with developmental disabilities as patients, especially during forensic examinations following sexual assault and trauma. In the Omaha metro area, physical therapists at the Munroe-Meyer institute provide clinical services in a transdisciplinary program that refer victims of sexual violence to local health systems’ Sexual Health Nurse Examiners (SANEs).

There is an existing service gap for individuals with …

Characterization Of The Impact Of Prenatal Cigarette Smoke Exposure On Age- And Sex-Specific Sirt1-Mediated Hepatic Molecular Phenotype In C57bl/6 Mice., Kendall S. Stocke

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

In the U.S., 7.2% of women still report having smoked at some point during pregnancy despite known risks to fetal health. Prenatal cigarette smoke exposure (CSE) in children puts them at risk for low birth weight, premature birth, and other adverse impacts on developmental and postnatal health. Children subjected to prenatal CSE have a higher risk of adulthood metabolic disease predicted by the Barker Hypothesis. The hepatic molecular phenotype associated with this risk is unknown. This dissertation characterizes the prenatal CSE-induced hepatic molecular phenotype during three key life stages. We used a murine model of prenatal CSE utilizing a Teague …

What Happened To This Child? Identifying Factors That Influence The Identification And Categorization Of Child Maltreatment In The United States, Erika Tullberg

Dissertations and Theses

Background: Research has shown that adverse childhood experiences are strongly linked with health outcomes over the life course, and that child maltreatment – generally defined as physical abuse, sexual abuse, emotional maltreatment and neglect – can have an immediate, negative impact on child health and development and a longer-term impact on adolescent and adult health, including the leading causes of morbidity and mortality in the U.S. With such significant consequences, the accurate identification of child maltreatment is critical.

Child welfare caseworkers are charged with protecting the safety and fostering the well-being of children who have been identified as maltreated or …

The Effect Of Parent-Infant Swim Classes On Maternal Parenting Competence, Emotional Availability, And Aquatic Handling, Hope Sadowski, Chanele Molano

Showcase of Graduate Student Scholarship and Creative Activities

Low parenting competence and limited emotional availability decrease the quality of the parent-infant relationship (Young, 2011; Sturge-Apple et al., 2012). However, co-occupations, or reciprocal relationships where the occupations of two or more individuals are interactively shaping each other, have been associated with strengthening parent-infant relationships (Pierce, 2009; Price & Stephenson, 2009). Parent-infant swim classes are co-occupation based interventions that facilitate close bodily contact and teach parents handling skills that can generalize into the home. Numerous websites allude to the benefits of these classes; however, there are currently no evidence-based claims supported by the occupational therapy literature. The researchers hypothesized that …

Prevalence And Characterization Of Adverse Childhood Experiences Of Women In Substance Use Treatment, Meghan Gannon, Phd, Msph, Vanessa Short, Phd, Mph, Marianna Lanoue, Phd, Diane J. Abatemarco, Phd, Msw

Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology Posters

• Rates of illicit drug use among women reproductive age significant national public health problem
• Adverse childhood experiences (ACE’s) associated with higher rates of prenatal depression and maternal childhood maltreatment
• Ace’s prevalent in those with Opioid Use Disorder (OUD)

Aims of Study:

1. Determine prevalence of ACE’s in a population of pregnant and parenting women in treatment for substance use disorder
2. Characterize ACE’s
3. Compare our sample to Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) Pennsylvania data

Detecting, Preventing, And Treating Sexually Transmitted Diseases Among Adolescent Arrestees: An Unmet Public Health Need, Christopher Salvatore, Steven Belenko, Richard Dembo, Matthew Rollie, Kristina Childs

Christopher Salvatore

Studies of detained and incarcerated adolescent offenders in the United States indicate that these juveniles have an elevated risk of sexually transmitted diseases (STDs). However, many more arrestees enter the “front end” of the juvenile justice system that is detained or incarcerated, and research into the STD risk profiles and service needs of this larger group is lacking. An expansion of STD testing (including of asymptomatic youths), prevention, and treatment is needed, as is improved knowledge about gender- and race-specific services. A pilot program in Florida has shown that juvenile justice and public health systems can collaborate to implement STD …

Unlocking Data To Deliver Infant Mortality Solutions, Kylie Veleta

Innovation and SimLab

No abstract provided.

Cross-Cutting Narratives Of Opioid Use Disorder Among Pregnant Women And Mothers: Implications For Humanistic Care, Alice Fiddian-Green

Doctoral Dissertations

Opioid-related fatalities in the U.S. have increased drastically. Pregnant women and mothers with opioid use disorders (OUD) are a rapidly growing and vulnerable population. Using a critical narrative approach, this dissertation examines how the syndemic of trauma, substance use, and mental health conditions influences opioid use and treatment trajectories among pregnant women and mothers across the lifecourse. The goal of this dissertation was to examine three discursive resources that shape the social construction of perinatal and maternal opioid use across all strata of social life: macro-level (news media), meso-level (scientific), and micro-level (individual) narratives. Informed by 18-months of ethnographic observation, …

Improving Chinese Mothers’ Health Literacy: A Wechat Intervention, Qiong Chen

Doctoral Dissertations

The health literacy and eHealth literacy of women during the reproductive age is crucial, as it can affect their health and the health of their children. Promoting health literacy is essential to achieve mothers’ empowerment by improving access to and capacity of using health information effectively. However, functional, interactive, and critical health literacy and eHealth literacy have never been assessed among Chinese women. The first study during this dissertation assessed functional, interactive, and critical health literacy and eHealth literacy among 421 of Chinese mothers with children under 3 years old. The results revealed overall less than optimal level of health …

Addressing Postpartum Smoking Relapse Among Low-Income Women: A Randomized Control Trial, Kristine Alaniz, Bruce Christiansen, Tingting Sullivan, Lisette Khalil, Michael C. Fiore

Journal of Patient-Centered Research and Reviews

Purpose: Smoking during pregnancy can have dire consequences for both the baby and mother. Low-income pregnant women smoke at particularly high rates. Among women who quit during pregnancy, postpartum relapse is high. This randomized control trial tested the effect of adding postpartum assistance to an existing smoking cessation program (First Breath) designed for low-income women.

Methods: Of 185 study participants, 94 women were randomly assigned to the standard First Breath program (control) and 91 to an enhanced program. First Breath consisted of evidence-based smoking cessation counseling provided at every prenatal visit. The enhanced program included all First Breath services plus …

Patient And Provider Perspectives On How Trust Influences Maternal Vaccine Acceptance Among Pregnant Women In Kenya, Stacy W. Nganga, Nancy A. Otieno, Maxwell Adero, Dominic Ouma, Sandra S. Chaves, Jennifer R. Verani, Marc-Alain Widdowson, Andrew Wilson, Irina Bergenfeld, Courtni Andrews, Vincent L. Fenimore, Ines Gonzalez-Casanova, Paula M. Frew, Saad B. Omer, Fauzia A. Malik

Environmental & Occupational Health Faculty Publications

Background Pregnant women and newborns are at high risk for infectious diseases. Altered immunity status during pregnancy and challenges fully vaccinating newborns contribute to this medical reality. Maternal immunization is a strategy to protect pregnant women and their newborns. This study aimed to find out how patient-provider relationships affect maternal vaccine uptake, particularly in the context of a lower middle- income country where limited research in this area exists. Methods We conducted semi-structured, in-depth narrative interviews of both providers and pregnant women from four sites in Kenya: Siaya, Nairobi, Mombasa, and Marsabit. Interviews were conducted in either English or one …

A Pharmacist's Role In Educating On The Health Risks Of Smoking During Pregnancy And Helping Patients With Smoking Cessation, Alexandra Herman, Cassandra Hacker, Emily Wells, Brian Heilbronner, Brittany L. Long

Pharmacy and Wellness Review

While many people know smoking causes cancer, heart disease and other major health problems, smoking during pregnancy causes additional fetal health complications including birth defects, premature birth and infant death. Cigarettes contain carbon monoxide and nicotine, both of which can cause a decrease in oxygen delivery to the fetus' developing tissues causing organs like the brain, lungs, kidneys and ears not to develop properly. If children are exposed to these toxins through secondhand smoke after birth, they are more likely to experience severe health problems such as ear infections, cataracts, lung cancer and heart disease. It is also known that …

Maternal And Infant Health Benefits Related To Infantile Feeding Methods, Michaela Wolford, Alexa Bouts, Carmen Lariccia, Cara Walden, Anh Dao Le, Andrew M. Roecker

Pharmacy and Wellness Review

Human breast milk is known to provide the most complete nutrition to growing infants. There may be more gained from breastfeeding than simply nutritional fulfillment-recent research has uncovered benefits related to the development and health of infants. Breastfeeding has been shown to stimulate immune system development by exposing the infant to bacteria and antibodies from the mother. Breastfeeding may also benefit nursing mothers by improving insulin sensitivity and glucose tolerance as well as decreasing postpartum weight gain. In place of breastfeeding, formulas are able to provide an infant with necessary nutrition. Many infant formulas have been enriched with probiotics and …

Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome From Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitor Use During Pregnancy, Elizabeth Kramer, Maria Patnella, Rachel Bulko, Allie Harrison, Hannah Lamb, Manoranjan D'Souza

Pharmacy and Wellness Review

Neonatal abstinence syndrome (NAS) is a concern for infants born to mothers receiving treatment with a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) throughout the pregnancy. The risk of NAS associated with SSRI use during pregnancy varies with the specific SSRI that is used by the patient during pregnancy. Common symptoms of NAS include premature delivery, gastrointestinal disturbances, irritability, low birth weight, short length and lack of response to various stimuli. Neonates that present with these symptoms can be scored using either the Finnegan or Lipsitz scoring tools. Neonates experiencing NAS can be calmed or treated using nonpharmacologic methods such as swaddling, …

Zika Virus Induced Neurological Disorders And Impacts On Public Health, Alexandra Herman, Martha Zimmerman, Olivia Vanscoy, Olivia Henton, Lindsey Peters

Pharmacy and Wellness Review

Zika virus is a public health emergency of international concern. Zika virus (ZIKV) is a mosquito-borne pathogen that is carried by the Aedes genus. Zika is spread through direct bite and nonvector transmission. Most individuals infected with Zika will be asymptomatic, but some may present nonspecific viral symptoms. A rising number of neurological disorders in newborns whose mothers were infected with ZIKV during pregnancy have been reported due to recent outbreaks. Neurological disorders affect both the central and peripheral nervous systems and can result from bacterial, viral, fungal or parasitic infections of the nervous system or from the immune response …

Zika Virus: Infectious Process And Public Health Response, Morgan Homan, Julia Dickman, Jenna Deininger, Austin Hopkins, Olivia Henton, Steven N. Leonard

Pharmacy and Wellness Review

The Zika virus has become a growing concern as a global pandemic. Since being identified in Uganda in 1947, the virus has spread around the world, recently emerging in South America with a great impact on Brazil. As of 2016, Zika has made its appearance in the United States and is now actively being transmitted in Florida. The virus is a mosquito-vectored flavivirus primarily transmitted by the Aedes mosquito which infects a human through biting. Transmission through sexual intercourse is also possible as well as transmission from a pregnant woman to her fetus. This latter form of transmission presents the …

Makena®: A Drug For Reducing The Risk Of Preterm Labor, Amanda Lovell, Kasie Bellman, Kelsey Fink, Jessica Beck, Michelle Musser

Pharmacy and Wellness Review

Makena®, hydroxyprogesterone caproate, is an intramuscular injection that is U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved to reduce the risk of preterm delivery before 37 weeks of pregnancy in pregnant women with a history of spontaneous preterm birth, who are not currently carrying multiple children. One in nine babies born in the United States each year is born prematurely, or before 37 weeks gestation, and mothers who have previously delivered a premature baby are 2.5 times more likely to deliver another baby prematurely. Makena® is administered by a health care professional as a single intramuscular injection to the hip and …

Immunization Guidelines For Pregnant Women, Kelly Dye, Maria Laikos, Tristan Maiers, Eric Stack, Natalie Dipietro

Pharmacy and Wellness Review

There are many misconceptions among the general public regarding the administration of vaccinations during pregnancy. It is imperative for pharmacists to be current regarding guidelines and updates about recommended vaccines. Data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) indicate that while some vaccines are highly recommended during pregnancy, others have limited safety data or are contraindicated. As new data emerges on the safety and efficacy of immunizations during pregnancy, pharmacists should continue to review the literature to stay up-to-date on vaccination recommendations. The CDC also has information available for pharmacists and other health care professionals regarding the use …

Improving Maternal And Fetal Health: A Look At Thyroid Function During Pregnancy, Sarah Ginty, Jessica Beck, Taylor Gauthier, Amanda Meyer, Michelle R. Musser

Pharmacy and Wellness Review

Maintenance of thyroid function during pregnancy is critical for both maternal and fetal health and development; therefore, knowledge regarding the relationship between thyroid hormones and pregnancy is essential. The American Thyroid Association task force has developed clinical guidelines on the diagnosis and treatment of thyroid disease during pregnancy. Gestational thyroid diseases are divided into two classifications, hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism, which are further divided into more specific classifications based on clinical presentation. Differentiation, diagnosis, and monitoring of thyroid diseases throughout pregnancy require assessing symptoms, as well as obtaining levels of thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) and free thyroxine (FT4) concentration by a simple …

Effects Of Acute Physical Activity On Nih Toolbox-Measured Cognitive Functions Among Children In Authentic Education Settings, H. G. Calvert, J. M. Barcelona, D. Melville, L. Turner

University Author Recognition Bibliography: 2019

Introduction: Identifying a dose of physical activity (PA) that can improve cognitive function in children has important implications for school-day PA recommendations. Researchers and educators have interest in this link as it relates to both health and academic performance. This study examined the dose-response relationship between PA and improvement in cognition in a sample of fifth and sixth grade students.

Methods: Participants (n = 156) from eight classes each completed two of four different cognitive assessments on an iPad, both before and after exposure to one of four randomized, 10-min PA conditions (sedentary, light, moderate, and vigorous). Conditions …