Public Health Commons^™

Association Between Smoking And Child Mortality Rate In Georgia Counties., Kingsley A. Kalu, Ho-Jui Tung Dr

GS4 Georgia Southern Student Scholars Symposium

Association between Smoking and Child Mortality Rate in Georgia Counties.

Background:

Despite the major advances in health care, child mortality is still a major concern in the United States and Georgia included. Studies have shown that smoking (especially secondhand smoke) can cause multiple health problems in children, including mortality.

Objective:

The study objective is to examine the association between smoking and child mortality rate in Georgia counties.

Methods:

This study used data from the 2021 County Health Rankings for Georgia State. The total number of counties analyzed in Georgia was 159. Descriptive statistics and linear regression analyses were conducted to …

The Microbial Load On Used Disposable Face Masks: Exploring Sustainable Disinfection Methods, Clara Ray

GS4 Georgia Southern Student Scholars Symposium

Face masks have become common-place in public settings since the onset of the global COVID-19 pandemic, with many people choosing to wear masks in order to mitigate the risk of becoming infected with viral or bacterial infections. Two of the most widely-available types of masks are cloth masks, which may be reused if cleaned properly, and disposable surgical masks. Despite the fact that surgical masks are intended for one-time use, many people chose to store and re-wear them. The purpose of this study was to determine the changes in biological contamination on surgical face masks after daily wear and overnight …

Social Media Engagement Among Individuals With Depression Or Anxiety Disorder, Elizabeth Ayangunna, Gulzar Shah

GS4 Georgia Southern Student Scholars Symposium

Background

With the increasing use of the Internet and its constant shaping of our perception of realities, knowing the consumer’s social media behavior can lead to the development of health interventions based on their preferred engagement pattern. This is particularly important for people with mental health conditions such as depression or anxiety disorder who may have challenges getting support from familiar people due to the stigma associated with these conditions.

Objective

The objective of this study is to examine the patterns of social media use and its correlates, including depression or anxiety disorder.

Methods

This study combined data from 4 …

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.

Overall Microbial Activity On Shopping Carts Handles: Relationship With Ambient Temperature, Relative Humidity, Moisture, And Ultraviolet Radiations, Grayson Rentz, Atin Adhikari

GS4 Georgia Southern Student Scholars Symposium

Goals and Objectives: Microbial contamination in shopping cart handles were previously reported but how the microbial load in shopping cart handles vary in different seasons and its relationship with ambient temperature (T), relative humidity (RH), surface moisture, and ultraviolet radiations (UV) are largely understudied. This study aims at exploring microbial loads on shopping cart handles in three grocery stores during fall and winter and its relationship with real-time T, RH, moisture, and UV levels.

Theoretical Framework: Most of us do not realize that microbes are often present on many common stuffs outdoors. When we touch shopping cart handles by bare …

Continuum Of A Declining Trend In Correct Self-Perception Of Body Weight Among American Adults, Amber Morgan

GS4 Georgia Southern Student Scholars Symposium

Background: Over the past few decades, the prevalence of obesity in the United States has steadily increased with the proportion of obese Americans projected to be about fifty percent in 2030. With more than half of adults being overweight or obese (OW/OB), an increasing number of adults failed to accurately perceive body weight, which may be a major barrier to weight loss strategies, thus, presenting a substantial challenge to prevention efforts. The objective of this study was to assess the dynamic trend of body weight related self-perception among American adults and provide recommendations for improving obesity prevention strategies.

Methods …

Predictors Of Having Hpv Vaccination Among Young Adults: A Brfss 2014 Study, Deborah Kanda

GS4 Georgia Southern Student Scholars Symposium

Goals and Objectives

The objective of this study is to evaluate the association of social determinants of health on HPV vaccination rates among adults between the ages of 18-34 years.

Theoretical Framework

HPV is the most common sexually transmitted infection. Vaccination has been found to lower the risk of HPV infection. However, HPV vaccination rates still lag behind compared to other recommended vaccines for the same age group. Investigating and addressing factors that affect HPV vaccination rates would support efforts to increase vaccination.

Methodology/Data

Data from the 2014 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System were used for this study. The eight …

Inhalable Exposure Levels Of Airborne Mold Spores In Rural Georgia Homes, Jacquelyn Lewis, Alli Mcinerney, Errol Spence, Bushra Shah, Atin Adhikari

GS4 Georgia Southern Student Scholars Symposium

Exposure to mold is known to cause allergic symptoms. Most molds produce highly allergenic proteins or glycoproteins that can cause hypersensitivity diseases in susceptible hosts. Between 10% and 60% of genetically susceptible persons develop immediate hypersensitivity to mold. The Institute of Medicine report on Damp Indoor Spaces and Health states that there is sufficient evidence to conclude that a causal relationship exists between the presence of mold and upper respiratory tract symptoms, cough, hypersensitivity pneumonitis in susceptible persons, wheeze, and asthma symptoms in sensitized asthmatic persons. To our knowledge, no research has been conducted in rural Georgia to test the …

Ebola And Social Media, Kathryn C. Finch

GS4 Georgia Southern Student Scholars Symposium

We were interested in knowing the impact of social media during the 2014-2015 West Africa Ebola epidemic. The aim of this systematic review is to provide clinicians, public health practitioners and policy-makers with a comprehensive overview of the up-to-date literature on Ebola and social media. We critically appraised the quality and utility of these studies, and identified the gaps in our current understanding that invite further research efforts. In particular, we focused on the research questions and the methods of the studies: a) What were the research questions of a given study? b) What study design and research methods were …

Analysis Of Relapse In Leukemia Patients With Missing Data Using An Extension Of The Em Algorithm, Braydon Schaible

GS4 Georgia Southern Student Scholars Symposium

Introduction: Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) and acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) are two types of acute leukemia. When complete remission of leukemia has not been achieved or the disease refracts to its stage in initial chemotherapy, relapse occurs. Leukemia has poor prognosis for patients with relapse. This sample included AML and ALL patients. The purpose of this study was to use and extension of the Expectation-Maximization (EM) algorithm in order to find significant factors that affect the occurrence of relapse in leukemia patients with missing data.

Methods: The EM logistic model consists of three steps. First, the initial logistic regression intercept …

Effects Of Serum Levels Of Vitamin A And Precursors On Colorectal Cancer Mortlaity, Chimuanya Okoli

GS4 Georgia Southern Student Scholars Symposium

Objective: To examine the relationship between serum levels of Vitamin A and precursors on Colorectal cancer mortality. Methods: A retrospective cohort study was conducted with 14,358 adults who participated in NHANES III. Data was collected via in home interviews and visits by participants to a mobile examination centre for blood sample collection. Characteristics such as family income, educational attainment, marital status, race and ethnicity, alcohol consumption, cigarette smoking, self reported health, type of resident, body size, cancer status at base line, vegetable consumption and fruit juice consumption were examined. Hazard ratio estimates for all-cause and cancer-related deaths among individuals with …

Effect Of Air Flow Rates In Versatrap Slit Impactor Cassettes On The Collection Of Atmospheric Mold Spores In A Rural Community, Bushra Shah, Tedd Gandy, Oreoluwa Adeyinka, Galela Shebani, Atin Adhikari

GS4 Georgia Southern Student Scholars Symposium

Exposure to mold allergens including mold spores and hyphal fragments are associated with allergic sensitization which is a risk factor for asthma in a community. Smaller aerodynamic size of spores (åµm) allows them to penetrate and settle in the lower airways and produce damaging byproducts (allergens, glucans, mycotoxins, and other immunomodulators). Usually mold spores in ambient atmosphere are collected by impactors in air monitoring stations and in most cases these impactors are operated in a single standard air flow rate. However, sampling efficiency of an impactor can change in different air flow rates and since spore aerodynamic sizes vary a …

Secondary Data Analysis Based On Children Health Survey: On Factors Associated To Overall Dental Health Of Children In Usa, Kavita Gohil

GS4 Georgia Southern Student Scholars Symposium

The mouth is the portal of entry into the body, thus it is essential to attain and maintain oral health care. This process begins from the early period of life. Humans have two sets of teeth, and they start developing even before birth and development lasts till the age of around 25 years. Thus it is essential to take care of teeth during early stages of life, as they can affect overall well-being of the human. This paper describes how children's oral health is affected by external and internal factors and also risk factors which are associated with their oral …

Microbial Activity And Airborne Culturable Microbial Concentrations In South Georgia Homes, Alli Mcinerney, Jacquelyn Lewis, Errol Spence, Bushra Shah, Atin Adhikari

GS4 Georgia Southern Student Scholars Symposium

Indoor microorganisms and microbial allergens can lead to harmful respiratory effects in the human body such as allergies, asthma, chronic bronchitis, infections, and even contamination of food stuffs. This study was conducted in order to test the indoor microbial pollutants in local Statesboro homes, and relate the findings to respiratory disease symptoms of occupants. Thus far, samples have been collected and data analyzed for 15 homes. This specific part of the study focuses on the amount of adenosine triphosphate (ATP) in homes. ATP is a source of energy produced through glucose metabolism and the citric acid cycle. ATP levels can …

Effect Of Natural Products Against Growth Of Three Allergenic And Toxigenic Molds, Brittany Loadholt, Teyaijah Givens, Nosa Lloyd Nwaonumah, Bushra Shah, Atin Adhikari

GS4 Georgia Southern Student Scholars Symposium

Dampness and fungal exposures in buildings are widespread, with estimates ranging from 18% to 50% of buildings being affected. Of the 21.8 million people reported to have asthma in the USA, approximately 4.6 million cases are attributable to dampness and mold exposure in the home. Consequent national annual cost of asthma is about $3.5 billion. Several fungal genera from damp environments were reported to be associated with allergy and/or asthma and some species can release mycotoxins in the environment. Although there are several mold inhibitor or disinfectant solutions and sprays available in the market for cleaning and inhibiting mold growth, …

Association Between Fruit And Vegetable Consumption And Sleep Quantity In Pregnant Women, Kassandra Snook

GS4 Georgia Southern Student Scholars Symposium

The National Sleep Foundation recommends an average sleep time duration of 7-9 hours per day for adults aged 18-64 years old. Unfortunately, women are prone to encounter sleep disruptions during pregnancy that can prevent them from the recommended amount of sleep. Poor sleep during pregnancy is associated with an increased risk for birth complications, including low birth weight and stillbirth. Studies have found that sleeping less and poor sleep quality is associated with lower consumption of fruits and vegetables and good sleep quality/adequate sleep is associated with increased fruit and vegetable consumption. The objective of this study was to determine …

Airborne Bacterial Exposure At Workers' Breathing Height In An Organic Farm Of Rural Georgia, Tedd Gandy, Nabanita Mukherjee, Bushra Shah, Subhrajit K. Saha, Pratik Banerjee, Atin Adhikari

GS4 Georgia Southern Student Scholars Symposium

Organic farming has potentials to contribute substantially to future sustainable agricultural production by improving soil quality, pest control, and reduction of adverse environmental impacts in rural agricultural communities. On the other hand, application of natural farmyard manure may increase the microbial biomass in this environment and consequently microbial exposure levels among workers could be increased. To explore this possibility of excess exposure, particularly to airborne bacteria, we conducted air sampling at the vicinity of poultry and dairy sections of a large organic farm in a rural Georgia location. For air sampling, a Biostage viable cascade impactor was utilized, which comprises …

Effect Of Natural Products On Overall Microbial Activity In Household Items, Teyaijah Givens, Nosa Lloyd Nwaonumah, Brittany Loadholt, Bushra Shah, Atin Adhikari

GS4 Georgia Southern Student Scholars Symposium

Indoor contamination from microorganisms is an important health hazard issue (e.g., respiratory allergy, infections, and food contamination). Particularly, growth of molds and bacteria in damp environmental conditions could be hazardous for the occupants susceptible to microbial allergens. The growing awareness concerning the adverse effects of chlorine bleach and cleaning chemicals calls for field-testing new natural ingredients with functional properties against microorganisms. Essential oils possess a wide spectrum of antimicrobial activity, which may be of great importance for controlling indoor microbial exposure. The objective of this study was to investigate how microbial growth in different surfaces of homes reacted to the …

Using The Theory Of Reasoned Action To Examine The Knowledge, Attitudes, And Beliefs Among Georgia Physicians Towards The Therapeutic Use Of Medical Cannabis, Shannon Antoine-Hardy

GS4 Georgia Southern Student Scholars Symposium

An understanding of the current status of Georgia physiciansÕ knowledge level and attitudes towards medical Cannabis (MC) still remains unknown. Obtaining this information is essential in determining acceptance of MC within local medical communities, as well as influencing the outcomes of political efforts at both the state and federal level. Because science of medical cannabis is generally not required in todayÕs medical training, it is imperative that physicians and other health care professionals close the education gap on MC in clinical care. Therefore, the purpose of the study is to examine physicians' attitudes, knowledge, and beliefs towards the therapeutic use …

The Impact Of A Nutrition Education Intervention On Self-Reported Feelings Of Food Insecurity, Caitlin Koch

GS4 Georgia Southern Student Scholars Symposium

Abstract Unavailable

Your Life With Type Ii Diabetes: The Relationship Between Overall Health With And Without Diabetes, Cory Brandt, Jessika Jackson, Helen W. Bland

GS4 Georgia Southern Student Scholars Symposium

The purpose of this study is to assess the behavior of patients with Type 2 Diabetes and their ability to maintain a healthy and unassisted lifestyle. Research has shown showed that adults, especially older adults, with T2D will live a less healthy and more assisted lifestyle. In the United States it’s estimated that 25.6 million adults have T2D and another 79 million are at beginning stages of T2D (Kanaya, Gregorich, & Grossman, 2012). There are numerous health behaviors that can affect the risk of having T2D (Basha & Sunnarao, 2012). The instrument used in this study was a 17-question behavioral …

Parental Feeding Behavior: Influences On Elementary Children's Health, Cydni Martin, Jennifer Paquin, Helen W. Bland

GS4 Georgia Southern Student Scholars Symposium

The purpose of this study was to assess the nutrition and physical activity of children. The hypothesis was that parental feeding styles will influence the healthy eating habits and physical activity among children. Childhood obesity has been called one of the most serious public health challenges of the 21st century (World Health Organization, n.d). In the past 30 years, childhood obesity has more than doubled in children and tripled in adolescents (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2013). The research design used was a quantitative, descriptive, non-experimental, self-reported study in which a 27-question survey measured the parents’ child feeding behavior …