Public Health Commons^™

A Process Evaluation Of The Green Period Pantry Project, Gabi Wiggill

Honors College Theses

Introduction: The Green Period Pantry (GPP) was a health promotion initiative that was implemented in collaboration with the Office of Student Wellness and Health Promotion. It was created using $48,000 in grant money applied for and received from Sustain Southern as part of the Sustainability Fee Grants at Georgia Southern University. The purpose of the project was to supply students who experienced menstruation with reusable menstrual hygiene products. Another purpose was to describe the process from idea inception to implementation through collaboration with the Office of Student Wellness and Health Promotion. Results: A total of 3,506 units of reusable Menstrual …

The Lifecourse Perspective Theory As A Strategy For Improving Maternal Mortality In Georgia, Joanne Chopak-Foss, Alisha Riggins

Georgia Public Health Association Annual Meeting and Conference

Background: Maternal mortality and morbidity outcomes in Georgia are among the highest in the United States, with women of color experiencing higher rates of morbidity and mortality compared to their White counterparts. Public health policies such as Medicaid expansion have been suggested as one method for improving maternal mortality. In addition, the Life Course Perspective or Theory approach to maternal and child health suggests a complex interplay of biological, behavioral, psychological and social protective factors contributes to health outcomes across the span of a person’s life.

Methods: Using the Lifecourse Theory Perspective/Theory along with current maternal health policies the presenters …

Knowledge Of Pregnancy And Postpartum Complications Up To One Year Postpartum Compared By Rurality, Evelyn Frances Fagan, Alisha Riggins, Ariel A. Alston, Mario Keko, Ana M. Palacios, Helen Bland, Joanne Chopak-Foss

Georgia Public Health Association Annual Meeting and Conference

Introduction: Georgia has one of the highest maternal mortality rate in the U.S. at 46.2 maternal deaths per 100,000 live births, disproportionately affecting Black and rural populations. This study sought to 1) assess knowledge of Georgian adults about complications and urgent warning signs both during pregnancy and up to 1-year postpartum, and 2) characterize knowledge within rural and urban population.

Methods: As part of a larger study, an online survey with previously validated questions was distributed to Georgia residents through social media and email. Data was grouped into 2 different categories: 1) pregnancy warning signs and 2) post-partum warning signs. …

Assessment Of The Utilization Of Healthcare Services Specific To Pregnancy-Related Complications In Rural And Medically Underserved Georgia, Diana L. Aguirre

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Maternal mortality is a continuing issue, with rates for the state of Georgia (3.7 per 100,000 live births) are higher than that of the US rates (2.9 per 100,000 per live births) (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for Health Statistics, n.d., 2023). However, maternal mortality may not account for health disparity factors, apart from access to quality care and physiological issues, which is a factor in pregnancy-related deaths, Pregnancy-related death, as defined by the US Centers for Disease and Control (CDC), is a death of a woman that occurs during or within one year of pregnancy that …

What Could Go Wrong? Patient And Hospital Characteristics Associated With Pediatric Quality Of Inpatient Care And Pediatric Adverse Events, Michael H. Samawi

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This study aims to analyze associations between hospital and patient characteristics with pediatric adverse events (PAE) in the inpatient hospital setting, utilizing the framework of pediatric quality indicators (PDIs) from the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) indicators. Three PDIs were identified and utilized for this purpose: NQI 03 Neonatal Blood Stream Infection, PDI 09 Postoperative Respiratory Failure, and PDI 10 Postoperative Sepsis. The data used for the study is based on an analysis of discharge data from the Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project (HCUP) Kid’s Inpatient Databases (KID) for the year 2019. The findings contribute to the growing …

Medical Providers' Use Of Maternal Mental Health Screening Tools During Prenatal Appointments In Southeast Georgia, Andreka Ewing

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

In the United States, maternal mental health disorders are the most common comorbidities experienced during pregnancy and after childbirth. In particular, the state of Georgia reports that 1 in 7 Georgian mothers experience depression, anxiety, obsessive-compulsive disorders, or psychosis related to these disorders. Research suggests that untreated maternal mental health can have adverse effects on the mother and unborn child. Conditions such as autism, mixed handedness, reduced cognitive ability, and affective disorders can develop while the child is in the womb of a depressed mother. Routine maternal mental health screening using a validated screening tool has been recommended to help …

Evaluation Of The Loving Support Peer Counseling Program On Breastfeeding Duration Rates Among African American Women Enrolled In The Program (2017-2018), Nancy S. Jeffery

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Mothers and babies form an inseparable biological and social unit; the health and nutrition of one group cannot be divorced from the health and nutrition of the other.”-World Health Organization. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of the Loving Support Peer Counseling (LSPC) program, under the WIC program in the state of Georgia, on breastfeeding duration rates among African American postpartum primiparas women. This observational study analyzed state-level data from January 2017 through December 2018. A cross-sectional design was used to evaluate the effectiveness of the Loving Support Peer Counseling Program (LSPC) in six of the …

Infant Car Seat Safety Education And Confidence Measure For Maternal-Child Nursing Students, Mariah A. Arnett

Honors College Theses

Studies have shown that nursing students experience a greater-than-normal amount of anxiety and decreased clinical confidence when in settings involving infants and children, which is said to have a negative impact on the learning experience (Lassche, 2013; Moscaritolo, 2009). Patient education is a vital aspect of nursing, but one that the student nurse may not feel comfortable taking part in, either because of their lack of nursing experience or because of a lack of experience with infants and infant safety (Potter, 2020; Lassche, 2013). This project attempts to assess for a change in clinical confidence after providing a subject specific …

Public Health Interventions For Children Of Incarcerated Parents, Daniel Bullman

GS4 Georgia Southern Student Scholars Symposium

The impact of social and structural determinants of health have lifelong consequences on an individual’s quality of life. Literature focusing on child health and wellbeing of incarcerated parents indicate significant negative health outcomes and adopted detrimental health behaviors. Using a systematic realist review, recent publications were reviewed for their potential discussion or recommendation for interventions in changing health outcomes. This review found that additional research is needed in identifying and testing potential interventions or determining if parallel public health initiatives have had positive impacts in promoting the health behavior change process for children and adolescents of incarcerated parents.

An Examination Of The Relationship Between Childhood Punishment And Adult Ipv, Anna G. Griffith

Honors College Theses

The goal of this project is to examine the relationship between childhood punishment and experiencing intimate partner violence (IPV) as an adult. Using an anonymous, self-report survey, students from Georgia Southern University were asked about their experiences with IPV, as well as their experiences of childhood punishment administered by both mother and father. The results show that children who receive corporal, verbal, and emotional punishment from their mother are more likely to experience all forms of IPV later in life. When analyzing the same relationships with fathers, corporal punishment is not associated with IPV while verbal and emotional punishment is.

Characteristics And Regions Of Hospital Locations And The Risk Of Postpartum Hemorrhage., Zahra Shahin

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Background: Postpartum hemorrhage (PPH) is one of the contributing factors to maternal morbidity and mortality that in addition to maternal risk factors, may be related to other factors such as obstetric practice and clinical management of postpartum hemorrhage. Therefore, this study aimed to explore the association of postpartum hemorrhage with characteristics and regions of hospital locations across the United States, as the outcomes may create opportunities to improve policies and protocols regarding PPH management more effectively. Method: A retrospective study was performed using the 2018 National Inpatient Sample (NIS) database. Low-risk delivery hospitalizations involving the third stage of labor with …

An Analysis Of Georgia Mothers Who Gave Birth In 2015 And 2016 Without Receiving Prenatal Care, Joncel Stephens, Shanta R. Dube, Merrilee Gober

Journal of the Georgia Public Health Association

Background: The present study characterizes the population of women residing in the state of Georgia who did not receive prenatal care before giving birth to a live infant. The association between mother’s place of residence (rural/non-rural) and preterm delivery was also examined.

Methods: This study examined data obtained from the Georgia Department of Public Health which includes data for 7,062 mothers who did not receive prenatal care before giving birth to a live infant in Georgia in the years 2015 and 2016. Data on the resulting births was also studied. Descriptive analyses of the following variables were used …

We Need Sex Ed, Too! : Addressing The Sexual Risk Behaviors Of System Involved Youth, Nadine Finigan-Carr

National Youth Advocacy and Resilience Conference

System involved youth (e.g., youth in child welfare or juvenile services) are a vulnerable population with increased risk for unintended pregnancy, HIV, and STIs. This workshop is designed to (1) identify their sexual reproductive health risk behaviors; (2) describe the related determinants; and, (3) improve awareness of how educators can promote the development of positive sexual risk behaviors among them.

Factors Associated With Iron-Folic Acid Supplement Use Among Pregnant Women In Karu, Nasarawa State, Nigeria - A Cross Sectional Study Using Theory Of Planned Behavior, Toyin O. Akomolafe

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Introduction: Iron-folic acid supplementation is one of the key interventions provided during antenatal care (ANC) services to reduce iron deficiency, maternal anemia, low birthweight and other pregnancy-related complications responsible for maternal and neonatal mortality. However, use of iron-folic acid supplements and adherence with recommended dosage in Nigeria is low. The purpose of this cross-sectional study was to examine factors associated with iron-folic acid supplements use among pregnant women in Karu local government area (LGA), Nasarawa, Nigeria. Methods: Questionnaires were administered in face-to-face interviews with 64 pregnant women (18 – 49 years old) and 19 healthcare providers in selected …

Cutting The Cords: Provider, Payer, Policy And Maternity Outcomes In Selected U. S. States, Courtney Gustin

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Objective: The purpose of this study was to determine if there is variation in interventions and complications in the labors of women cared for by nurse midwives compared with physicians after controlling for medical risks and sociodemographic factors in pregnant women in Georgia, New Mexico, Illinois, Virginia, and Alaska.

Methods: The study was based on a secondary analysis of 2015 Birth Certificate Data from the National Center for Health Statistics. The outcome variables included VBAC, induction/augmentation of labor, third and fourth-degree laceration, and chorioamnionitis. The exposure of interest was provider type- nurse-midwife or physician. Multiple logistic regression was used to …

Universal Coverage In Developing Countries: A Summative Evaluation Of Maternal Policies In Ghana And Burkina Faso, Kiswendsida Aida Sawadogo

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The Word Health Organization (WHO) has declared health to be a fundamental human right, yet more than 400 million people around the world do not have access to essential health services. Millions of Africans are unable to access or afford needed services without sustaining economic hardship. Sub-Saharan Africa is behind the rest of the world on coverage of essential health services such as planning, immunization, and sanitation and continues to grapple with higher rates of child mortality, maternal death, and communicable diseases. Despite bearing 25 percent of the world’s disease burden, the region only retains 3 percent of its doctors. …