Public Health Education and Promotion Commons^™

An Argument And Plan For Promoting The Teaching And Learning Of Neglected Tropical Diseases, Kevin M. Bonney

Publications and Research

Neglected tropical diseases constitute a significant public health burden, affecting over one billion people globally, yet this group of diseases is underrepresented in the appropriation of both monetary and intellectual capital for developing improved therapies and public health campaigns. The topic of neglected tropical diseases has been similarly marginalized in the biology classrooms of our nation’s high schools and colleges, despite offering an opportunity to teach and learn about a diverse area of microbiology with far-reaching public health, social, and economic implications. Discussed herein is an argument for increasing the representation of neglected tropical diseases in microbiology education as a …

Food Insecurity Among Children In Massachusetts, Stephanie Ettinger De Cuba, Deborah A. Frank, Maya Pilgrim, Maria Buitrago, Anna Voremberg, Harris Rollinger, Denise A. Hines

New England Journal of Public Policy

This article focuses on the prevalence among Massachusetts children and families of food insecurity, inadequate access to enough nutritious food for an active and healthy life. It summarizes research findings on the association of food insecurity with less optimal children’s health and development from the prenatal period through adolescence. Food insecurity also correlates with other material hardships, such as housing and energy insecurity. Data show families’ participation in public nutrition and other assistance program is associated with decreased prevalence of food insecurity and with mitigation of its impact on children’s health and well-being. The article concludes with recommendations for policy …

Health Research Associates: Dana Library Program Supporting The Information Needs Of Small Hospitals & Public Health Agencies In Vermont, Marianne Burke, Lesley Boucher

UVM Libraries Conference Day

We will describe the purpose, methods, members and service changes, income-expense status, trends, and the value of this program.

Exercise Participation During Weight Loss On A High Protein – Low Carbohydrate Diet Plan In Females Aged 15-25 Years, Margaret Mobley-Meulman

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Weight gain due to poor diet and lack of exercise is responsible for over 300,000 deaths each year (U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 2010). Obese adults have an increased risk for serious health conditions including high blood pressure and cholesterol, type 2 diabetes, coronary heart disease, stroke, gallbladder disease, osteoarthritis, sleep apnea, respiratory problems, and certain cancers (National Cancer Institute, 2012). Participation in exercise can help control weight, strengthen muscles and bones, and reduce the incidence of cardiac events, stroke, hypertension, type 2 diabetes, colon and breast cancers, osteoporotic fractures, gallbladder disease, obesity, depression, anxiety, and delay mortality …

The Epidemiology Of Human Herpesvirus-8: Transmission Of Infection To Children In Zambian Households, Kay L. Crabtree

School of Biological Sciences: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

Human Herpes virus-8 (HHV-8) is the known etiologic agent for several malignant pathologies, including Kaposi’s sarcoma (KS), the most common tumor in children in sub-Saharan Africa. Saliva is implicated as the culprit of transmission; however there is a paucity of information regarding transmission to young children. In this study, we investigated the hypothesis that household behaviors exposing the susceptible child to saliva increase the risk of transmission of HHV-8 to that child.

To test our hypothesis a large prospective cohort study in Lusaka, Zambia, enrolling 464 young children and their households, was followed for 48 months. Socio-demographics, health histories, feeding …

Associations Between Alcohol Consumption And Fasting Blood Glucose In Young Adults, Julie Ann Lucca

Master's Theses

Current research shows moderate alcohol consumption is associated with decreased risk of diabetes and excessive consumption or binge drinking can cause insulin resistance and diabetes. In 2010, diabetes was the seventh leading cause of death in the United Statesand was responsible for significant health complications: blindness, kidney failure, and limb amputations, and is a large national economic burden. Fasting blood glucose (FBG) is a tool used to help diagnose diabetes. Abnormally high FBG, ≥100 mg/dl, is indicative of diabetes and pre-diabetes. Few studies have observed diabetic prevalence among young adults or college students. Studying young adults can help provide added …

Los Agroquímicos Usados En Las Plantaciones Bananeras Y Sus Efectos En El Agua, La Gente, Y El Ambiente En La Comunidad De Changuinola, Bocas Del Toro, Panamá., Daniela Rossi

Independent Study Project (ISP) Collection

Esta investigación analiza los efectos de los químicos que se usan en forma de fertilizantes, nematicidas, insecticidas, y pesticidas en las plantaciones bananeras en Changuinola, Panamá. Esta investigación analiza la relación entre estos químicos y la salud de la gente de la comunidad que vive adentro de las bananeras, la salud de los trabajadores de los bananales, y los efectos en el ambiente, específicamente el agua. Este estudio se realizo por medios de entrevistas informales y por analices de muestras de agua en fincas bananeras en el laboratorio de IDAAN. Los posos de agua analizados fueron de Fincas 03, 04, …

Concussion Knowledge And Attitudes In English Football (Soccer), Joshua Williams

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

While concussions are prevalent in soccer, outside the US there has been limited investigation into soccer players' knowledge and attitudes regarding concussions. The purpose of the study was to access English soccer player' concussion knowledge and attitudes. This study used a cross sectional mixed methodology design. Participants included 26 respondents (Age: 23.4 ± 4.5 years, playing experience 16.4 ± 4.4 years) playing for a Championship team in England (Response rate: 89.6%). Fifty percent of respondents had a diagnosed concussion history. Participants were administered the valid and reliable ROCKAS-ST survey divided into 5 sections and includes 3 constructs: concussion knowledge (CKI), …

Awareness Of Physical Activity Levels And Sedentary Behaviour: An Assessment Of Awareness Of Physical Activity Levels And Sedentary Behaviour Among Parents And Children, Tripat Simran Kaur Grewal

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

The purpose of this study was to assess awareness of physical activity and sedentary behaviour among parents and children aged 10-13 years. Associations between awareness and factors including age, BMI, gender, and obesity status were also examined. A total of 53 parent-child dyads participated in the study. Agreement between parent and child subjective measures (self-report) and objectively measured physical activity was examined to determine awareness. Most parents (87%) and children (83%) overestimated child moderate-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) beyond 30 minutes/day. The majority of parents (87%) and children (85%) also underestimated child sedentary behaviour by at least 3 hours/day. Older children …

Area Specific Self-Esteem, Values, And Adolescent Sexual Behavior, Michael Young, Joseph Donnelly, George Denny

Department of Public Health Scholarship and Creative Works

This study examined area-specific self-esteem scores by sexual behavior relative to adolescents' values concerning participation in sexual intercourse as an unmarried teenager. The sample consisted of 332 students in grades 7–12 from a Southern rural school district. Students were asked if they had ever had sexual intercourse (yes/no) and if they had participated in sexual intercourse in the last month (yes/no). Respondents also indicated on a 4-point scale their response to the statement “It is against my values to have sex as an unmarried teenager.” Data were analyzed using a 2 × 4 (behavior x values) analysis of variance for …

Co-Active Life Coaching As A Treatment For Adults With Obesity, Courtney Newnham-Kanas, Jennifer Irwin, Don Morrow

Donald Morrow

This study evaluates the impact of one-on-one coaching on the waist circumference, BMI, self-esteem, self-efficacy, physical activity, and functional health status of adults with obesity. A one-group within- subjects, pre-test post-test study design was used. The study took place at the University of Western Ontario from June-October 2007. A total of 20 men and women aged 35-55, with a BMI ≥ 30 participated in the study. Each engaged in six to eight 35-minute sessions with a Certified Professional Co-Active Coach during which they explored desired changes and how to achieve them. Paired t-tests were used to analyse the pre- and …

Co-Active Coaching As An Intervention For Obesity Among Female University Students, Melissa Van Zandvoort, Jennifer Irwin, Don Morrow

Donald Morrow

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to assess the impact of Co-active coaching on obese female university students’ body mass index (BMI), waist circumference (WC), functional health status and self-esteem, and conjointly to identify the coaching skills and primary agenda topics that facilitate coaching’s efficacy as an intervention for obesity.

Design: A multiple-baseline, single-subject research design was utilized.Methods: Two certified coaches provided an average of nine, 35-minute, one-on-one sessions with five students whose BMI?30kg/m2 (obesity threshold). Measures included BMI, WC, the Short-Form 36 (SF-36) Health Survey, and the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale. Visual inspection was used to analyze changes in …

The Impact Of Co-Active Life Coaching On Female University Students With Obesity, Melissa Van Zandvoort, Jennifer Irwin, Don Morrow

Donald Morrow

The purpose of this qualitative study was to explore the impact of Co-active life coaching on obese female university students. Five obese (BMI ≥ 30kg/m2), female university students received an average of nine weekly, 35-minute, one-on-one sessions with a certified coach. Semi- structured, in-depth interviews before and after participating in the coaching intervention were conducted, and inductive content analysis was utilized. Strategies to enhance data trustworthiness were incorporated throughout. Participants initially reported: struggling with barriers and experiencing pressure from family to lose weight; negative relationships with themselves; feeling self-conscious and remorse for their size and lifestyle choices. At the conclusion …

The Impact Of Co-Active Coaching On Physically Inactive 12 To 14 Year Olds In Ontario, Paul Gorczynski, Don Morrow, Jennifer Irwin

Donald Morrow

This study assessed the impact of life coaching on physical activity participation, self-efficacy, social support, and perceived behavioural control among physically inactive youth between the ages of 12 and 14 years in London, Ontario. The multiple-baseline across participants single case-experimental design study consisted of five 12 to 14 year olds. Six coaching sessions were conducted over two months by a certified professional Co-active coach. Physical activity increased for one participant while the other participants’ physical activity remained unchanged. No significant changes occurred in self-efficacy, social support, and perceived behavioural control with specific regard to becoming more physically active. Results indicted …

Health Promotion Theory In Practice: An Analysis Of Co-Active Coaching, Jennifer Irwin, Don Morrow

Donald Morrow

According to the World Health Organization (1986), “health promotion is the process of enabling people to increase control over, and to improve their own health.” To bring this process and its desired outcomes to fruition, many theories and models for understanding and altering health behaviours have been designed and utilized (Ajzen, 1988; Bandura, 1986; Fishbein & Ajzen; 1975; Freire, 1973, 1974; Jessor & Jessor, 1977; Prochaska, 1979). Practitioners of behaviour change implementation are legion, as therapists, counsellors, social workers and so forth. Coaching (in various iterations such as life coaching, personal coaching, executive coaching) is a recent and growing behavioural …

The Mediating Role Of Dietary Patterns On The Relation Between Acculturation, Psychosocial Factors, And Cardiovascular Disease Risk Factors In The U.S. - Mexico Border, Ximena Burgos

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

Chronic diseases affect both, developed and developing countries around the world. In the U.S., cardiovascular diseases (CVD) are the leading cause of death for all groups including Hispanics (Heron, 2009). Hispanics are disproportionally affected by CVD and experience risk factors at higher rates than non-Hispanic whites (Swenson, 2002). Although CVD are among the most expensive and widespread health problems, they are among the most preventable. Evidence shows that diet plays a very important role in the development of chronic diseases; current dietary changes are partially responsible for the increasing epidemic of chronic diseases worldwide. It is well established that the …