Women's Health Commons^™

Demographic And Socioeconomic Factors Predict Maternal Postpartum Rehospitalization: A Retrospective Numom2b Dataset Study, Colin Wakefield

Tower Health Research Day

No abstract provided.

Association Between Fetal Abdominal Growth Trajectories, Maternal Metabolite Signatures Early In Pregnancy, And Childhood Growth And Adiposity: Prospective Observational Multinational Interbio-21st Fetal Study, Jose Villar, Roseline Ochieng, Robert B. Gunier, Aris T. Papageorghiou, Stephen Rauch, Rose Mcgready, Julia M. Gauglitz, Fernando C. Barros, Manu Vatish, Shama Munim

Department of Obstetrics & Gynaecology

Background: Obesity predominantly affects populations in high-income countries and those countries facing epidemiological transition. The risk of childhood obesity is increased among infants who had overweight or obesity at birth, but in low-resource settings one in five infants are born small for gestational age. We aimed to study the relationships between: (1) maternal metabolite signatures; (2) fetal abdominal growth; and (3) postnatal growth, adiposity, and neurodevelopment.
Methods: In the prospective, multinational, observational INTERBIO-21st fetal study, conducted in maternity units in Pelotas (Brazil), Nairobi (Kenya), Karachi (Pakistan), Soweto (South Africa), Mae Sot (Thailand), and Oxford (UK), we enrolled women (≥18 years, …

Public Health Liberation – An Emerging Transdiscipline To Elucidate And Transform The Public Health Economy, Christopher Williams Mph, Joy Birungi Msc, Melody Brown Mph, Mhsa, James Deutsch Md, Phd, Felecia Williams Phd, Mpa, P.S. Perkins Ma, Patricia Bishop, Dena Walker, Ebony Moody, Rhonda Hamilton Ma, Jehan El-Bayoumi Md

Advances in Clinical Medical Research and Healthcare Delivery

Public Health Liberation (PHL) is an innovative general theory of public health aimed at accelerating health equity. This paper provides a rich synthesis of philosophical traditions, novel theories, and approaches to establish the basis for a new public health transdiscipline. The authors argue that the "public health economy" as a single analytic lens elucidates the contradictions and tensions that reproduce vast health inequity. Authored by a majority of Black women, community experiences and perspectives are a major strength of this paper because they draw upon leadership experiences with contemporary issues.

The authors begin by describing their background in public health …

Prevalence And Associated Factors Of Depression Among Middle-Aged And Elderly Women, Haichun Ye, Yajie Yan, Quan Wang

General Practice in China

Background Depression is a common mental illness threatening physical and psychological health of middle-aged and elderly people. However, there are few large-scale studies focusing on depression and its influencing factors in middle-aged and elderly Chinese women. Objective To investigate the depression prevalence and associated factors in middle-agedand elderly Chinese women, providing evidence for exploring mental health and effective interventions in this population.Methods This study was conducted from January to March 2021. Data were obtained from the China Health and RetirementLongitudinal Study (CHARLS), involving 7963 women at age 45 or over, including demographic characteristics, physicalhealth status, socio-economic features, life satisfaction, regional …

Motherhood Together: Effects Of An Adapted Prenatal Curriculum On Mother And Infant Outcomes, Rebecca Lovan, Clare Brown, Keneshia Bryant-Moore, Leslie Mccormack, Nicole Ward, Shannon Kalkwarf, Beverly English, Elizabeth Riley

Journal of Health Disparities Research and Practice

Background: Research shows that pregnant women experiencing housing insecurity are more likely to face barriers to prenatal care that can lead to negative health outcomes for both mother and infant. Previous studies have also shown that prenatal education programs provide pregnant mothers with the knowledge and resources that increase the likelihood of positive health outcomes. An interprofessional healthcare team in Central Arkansas modified an existing prenatal education program to create Motherhood Together, a program specifically tailored for pregnant women facing house insecurity.

Methods: The purpose of this initial evaluation of the Motherhood Together program was to identify the feasibility of …

Birthing While Black: The Maternal Health Experiences In Kansas, Joi Wickliffe, Alicia O’Neal, Kyla Morris, Todd Moore, Michelle L. Redmond, Sharla Smith

Journal of Health Disparities Research and Practice

The state of maternal health and infant mortality in the United States is far worse than 33 developed countries (CDCP NCHS, 2018). Black mothers and infants die at twice the rate in comparison to mothers and infants of other races (CDC, 2020). Infant mortality is the death of a child before the age of one. The Sisters and Brothers for Healthy Infants Initiative focuses on education, community engagement, elevating the voices of Black mothers and fathers, and a community birthday party to celebrate Black infants first birthday. This signature event is known as Celebrate Day 366, a day to share …

Attitudes Toward Influenza, Pertussis, And Covid-19 Vaccines Among Economically Underserved Black Women/Birthing People: A Mixed-Methods Approach, Jasmine Cooper, Hanna Lebuhn, James D. Campbell, Stacey Stephens, Wendy G. Lane, Keerthana Kumar, Kathleen M. Neuzil

Journal of Health Disparities Research and Practice

Vaccination during pregnancy is critical to the health of birthing persons and infants. Yet, persistent racial disparities in vaccination threaten health outcomes in the U.S. (Lu et al., 2015). Vaccination coverage remains low among non-Hispanic Blacks and other racial minorities – a situation magnified by the COVID-19 pandemic (Freimuth, Jamison, An, Hancock, & Quinn, 2017; Stokes et al., 2020). Consequently, understanding vaccine attitudes for systemically disadvantaged groups is paramount to promoting public health. Illuminating barriers to vaccine uptake creates space for new strategies to reduce hesitancy.

To investigate Black women’s/birthing people attitudes toward influenza and pertussis vaccination during pregnancy, we …

A Cut Above The Rest: A Qualitative Study To Evaluate The Feasibility Of Implementing Early Childhood Mental Health Interventions Into Boston Black/African American Barbershops And Beauty Salons, Lauren Ansong-Depass

Journal of Health Disparities Research and Practice

Objective: This qualitative research aimed to fill a gap in literature by determining the feasibility of implementing early childhood mental health tools into Black/African American barbershops and beauty salons in three Boston neighborhoods: Dorchester, Mattapan, or Roxbury.

Methods: Qualitative data collection included key informant interviews with two African American pediatric mental health clinicians who worked with children and families that lived in Mattapan, Dorchester, and/or Roxbury neighborhoods (n=2), a barber who worked in Mattapan (n=1), and a focus group of an active parent council hosted by the city of Boston (n=9). Data was analyzed using descriptive and simultaneous coding methods …

Eliminating Covid-19 Related Birth Disparities Through Telehealth, Thometta Cozart, Jennie Joseph, Uzoamaka Nwafor, Shambria Davis, Kendra Ippel, Deanna Wathington

Journal of Health Disparities Research and Practice

Out of 36 developed countries, the U.S. ranks 33 for infant mortality. In the U.S, the infant mortality rates occur at higher rates among African Americans. Black infants have a higher likelihood to die from low birth weights or other birth-related complications compared to White infants. Furthermore, some of these women reside in unsafe pregnancy areas also known as “materno toxic” zones which are characterized by the presence of crime, food insecurity etc. Though Black mothers are 2.3 times more likely to receive late or no prenatal care compared to White mothers, the COVID-19 pandemic exacerbated these issues by making …

When Keeping It Real Is Required: Challenging The Pandemic Of Racism In Lactation Land, Tameka Jackson-Dyer

Journal of Health Disparities Research and Practice

Human milk is the optimal source of nutrition for infants, but few are able to provide their milk to their babies for the minimum twelve months recommended by health experts. This is especially true for Black women. Due to structural racism embedded in medical care, implicit bias of healthcare providers and generational traumas that began during American chattel slavery, Black women are less likely than every other ethnic group to initiate breastfeeding. Those that do are often sabotaged by unsupportive systems and lack of access to clinically-skilled, culturally respectful lactation consultants. Calling out the racism that exists in Lactation Land …

Editors’ Notes, Nekeshia Jones, Sharla Smith, Melva Thompson-Robinson

Journal of Health Disparities Research and Practice

No abstract provided.

Inspire Yourself: Volunteer!, Judith Sullivan

Journal of Transformative Touch

Doing volunteer short Zero Balancing sessions once a month for 13 years for staff, volunteers and sometimes "guests" at The Haven, a a multi-resource day shelter in downtown Charlottesville, Virginia supports the community in many ways.

Menstrual Irregularities Following Covid-19 Vaccination: A Global Cross-Sectional Survey, Azza Sarfraz, Zouina Sarfraz, Muzna Sarfraz, Zainab Nadeem, Miguel Felix, Ivan Cherrez-Ojeda

Department of Paediatrics and Child Health

Introduction: The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccination generates protective immunity against SARS-CoV-2 infection. There is no clear evidence of COVID-19 vaccine-induced menstrual irregularities.
Objective: To identify potential menstrual irregularities following COVID-19 vaccine among females.
Methods: A worldwide cross-sectional survey study was conducted from June 10, 2021, to July 10, 2021 using online mediums. The survey consisted of 15 questions divided into baseline characteristics, vaccination status and dosage, menstruation and relate factors, and thoughts and knowledge about menstrual irregularities. Non-probability convenience sampling method was used including 510 responses. The results were tabulated, with bivariate analysis and chi-square test results. The sensitivity …

A Qualitative Investigation Of Individual, Interpersonal, And Institutional Contributions To Postpartum Work-Family Balance, Sidney Smith, Laura Schwab Reese, Kilian Kelly, Tessa Bauman, Madison Wierenga, Anna Bohning, Andrea L. Demaria

Health Behavior Research

Managing personal and professional responsibilities may be challenging during the postpartum period, as employees navigate new roles, responsibilities, and family dynamics. The purpose of this paper was to understand the work/life balance experiences of diverse stakeholders and identify opportunities to improve the work environment. We conducted a series of in-depth focus groups with faculty, staff, and graduate students (n = 22), and in-depth interviews with administrators (n = 10) at a research-intensive university in the United States. A six-phase thematic analysis approach was used to examine the experiences and perspectives of individuals with different roles. Three themes with …

A Reasoned Action Approach To Pregnant Smokers’ Intention To Switch To E-Cigarettes: Does Educational Attainment Influence Theory Application?, Eric D. Schisler, Paul Branscum, Lydia Buckley, Rebecca Mccann, Emily Richardson, Abbie Luzius, Page D. Dobbs

Health Behavior Research

Social determinant research has noted educational attainment to be among the strongest influencing factors for tobacco use during pregnancy. Concurrently, maternal e-cigarette use has doubled in recent years, with some citing it as a safer alternative to combustible cigarettes. To better understand the decision-making practices of pregnant persons based on educational attainment, the reasoned action approach (RAA) was used to evaluate factors that may be associated with the intention to switch from cigarettes to e-cigarettes. A sample of U.S. pregnant persons (n = 267) between 18-40 years of age, who smoked at least one cigarette in the past 30 …

Barriers And Facilitators To Exclusive Breastfeeding In Rural Pakistan: A Qualitative Exploratory Study, Atif Riaz, Shelina Bhamani, Sheraz Ahmed, Fayyaz Umrani, Sadaf Jakhro, Abdul Khaliq Qureshi, Syed Asad Ali

Department of Paediatrics and Child Health

Background: Exclusive breastfeeding (EBF) of children until six months of age is considered one of the most critical interventions in tackling childhood undernutrition. EBF rates are suboptimal in Pakistan, particularly in rural areas where child undernutrition is most prevalent. This study aimed to explore barriers to EBF in a rural context of Pakistan.
Methods: The study was conducted in the rural district Matiari of Sindh, Pakistan, during Jan-March 2020. We used a qualitative exploratory study design and conducted 36 focus group discussions (FGDs). Participants were purposively selected mothers who had not practiced EBF during their previous childbirth, their spouses and …

Standardizing Perinatal Mental Health Interventions: A Guide For The U.S., Maile Lauren Robles

Master's Projects and Capstones

The term perinatal individual refers to women and other individuals who are pregnant or who have been pregnant within the last 12 months. Every year, in the United States there are 700 pregnancy-related deaths and 10% are due to mental health causes including death by suicide. Mental health conditions including but not limited to anxiety, depression, substance use disorders, and post-traumatic stress disorder affect one in five perinatal individuals throughout the United States. This increases perinatal morbidity, hospitalization costs, and economic burden nationwide.

After 43 days postpartum, mental health conditions are the second leading cause of death. The United States …

How Can Single Mothers Care For Themselves And Their Children During The Covid-19 Pandemic?, Lisbeth Alexandra Pino Gavidia

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

This work investigates how single mothers maintain healthy behaviours for themselves and their children as they try to meet the evolving COVID-19 public recommendations. Everyone has had to adapt to changing public health rules. Single mothers may have unique challenges as they juggle to adapt to changing family responsibilities since they do not have another person helping in the home, and help outside the home may be restricted by public health rules. My research plan addressed these questions to learn more about the experiences of single mothers during the pandemic: 1) What are the changes in family responsibilities? 2) How …

Menstrual And Fertility Tracking Apps And The Post Roe V. Wade Era, Samantha T. Campanella

Undergraduate Student Research Internships Conference

In the first section of the paper, I will place current conversations about data privacy within the broader context of restrictions that have been placed on reproductive rights by examining historical trajectories. Emphasis will be placed on the historical trajectory of how past policies and ideologies have worked against Roe v. Wade, and how this trajectory contributes to a decrease in access to abortions. In addition, recent news stories have documented the overturning of Roe v. Wade in several jurisdictions within the United States, which confirms the criminalization of abortion. In light of this, experts have raised awareness about the …

The Global Network Socioeconomic Status Index As A Predictor Of Stillbirths, Perinatal Mortality, And Neonatal Mortality In Rural Communities In Low And Lower Middle Income Country Sites Of The Global Network For Women's And Children's Health Research, Archana B. Patel, Carla M. Bann, Cherryl S. Kolhe, Adrien Lokangaka, Antoinette Tshefu, Melissa Bauserman, Lester Figueroa, Nancy F. Krebs, Fabian Esamai, Sarah Saleem

Community Health Sciences

Background: Globally, socioeconomic status (SES) is an important health determinant across a range of health conditions and diseases. However, measuring SES within low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) can be particularly challenging given the variation and diversity of LMIC populations.
Objective: The current study investigates whether maternal SES as assessed by the newly developed Global Network-SES Index is associated with pregnancy outcomes (stillbirths, perinatal mortality, and neonatal mortality) in six LMICs: Democratic Republic of the Congo, Guatemala, India, Kenya, Pakistan, and Zambia.
Methods: The analysis included data from 87,923 women enrolled in the Maternal and Newborn Health Registry of the NICHD-funded …