Digital Commons Network^™

Text Message Delivery Of Pre-Procedural Recommendations Prior To Lip Augmentation With Hyaluronic Acid Filler: An Evidence-Based Pilot Project, Jenna De Jonge

Doctor of Nursing Practice Final Manuscripts

Patients seeking lip augmentation procedures commonly experience self-resolving soft-tissue complications such as swelling and bruising. There are many widely accepted pre-procedural recommendations available to help patients minimize the risk of these undesirable outcomes. At a Medical Aesthetics practice in Southern California, lip augmentation patients often arrived to their appointment non-adherent to pre-procedural recommendations that were available on the practice website. Text message delivery systems have been used to improve patient adherence to healthcare instructions across a variety of healthcare settings. To address this gap, I implemented text message delivery of pre-procedural recommendations to lip augmentation patients prior to their appointment. …

Optimizing Lactation Support: Enhancing Patient-Centered Care And Breastfeeding Self Efficacy Through Data-Driven Survey Analysis, Jessica L. Doshay

Doctor of Nursing Practice Final Manuscripts

Objective: The objective of this project was to implement evaluation of an integrated lactation support model within a multi‑site pediatric primary care organization to assess patient experience and breastfeeding confidence associated with a lactation consultation.

Background: Optimizing the patient experience is an indicator of healthcare quality. Improving breastfeeding outcomes remains a national priority. Structured lactation support delivered by International Board-Certified Lactation Consultants (IBCLCs) enhances breastfeeding outcomes, the impact of this is often undocumented in primary care settings.

Methods: This quality improvement project was conducted within the lactation department of a multicenter pediatric clinic in Southern California. Pediatric clinicians who were …

Empowering Healing And Recovery: Adverse Childhood Experiences Screening In A Cognitive Behavioral Therapy Intensive Outpatient Program, Serena C. Lee

Doctor of Nursing Practice Final Manuscripts

Purpose: This evidence-based practice project implemented Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) screening in an adult Cognitive Behavioral Therapy Intensive Outpatient Program (COG IOP) at San Diego's largest behavioral health hospital to identify ACE exposure, deliver supportive interventions, and enhance clinician competency in trauma-informed care.

Background: ACEs are potentially traumatic experiences occurring before age 18 that are associated with toxic stress and worsening health outcomes. Despite evidence linking ACEs to adverse outcomes and substantial healthcare costs, routine ACE screening is not standardized in behavioral health settings.

Methods: Guided by the San Diego 8A's Evidence-Based Practice model, eligible patients were offered ACEs screening …

Supporting Nurse Practitioner Autonomy: A Policy Proposal To Advance Hospice Np Scope, Lauren Hochart

Doctor of Nursing Practice Final Manuscripts

The Nurse Practitioner (NP) profession has achieved many advancements in its autonomy and scope of practice in the last 61 years since becoming a recognized advanced practice registered nursing role. However, some areas of healthcare still limit the NPs ability to practice autonomously even though it is within their scope of practice. This is notable in the subspecialty of hospice care with regards to certifying a terminal diagnosis as part of eligibility determination for a Medicare beneficiary to be able to receive covered hospice services. This health policy paper reviews current hospice regulations and provides evidence to support the benefits …

Exercise Prescription For Adults With Prediabetes In The Primary Care Clinic, Katherine W. Hall

Doctor of Nursing Practice Final Manuscripts

Prediabetes affects approximately one in three adults in the United States, with an estimated 10% progressing to Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (T2DM) annually. Despite strong evidence supporting exercise as a first-line intervention to prevent disease progression, most patients in primary care settings do not receive structured physical activity counseling. This evidence-based project (EBP) aims to address this gap by implementing a standardized protocol to assess baseline physical activity levels and deliver individualized exercise prescriptions to adults with prediabetes in the primary care clinic.

Eligible participants, defined by HbA1c values between 5.70% and 6.49%, were identified during routine primary care visits …

Enhancing Emergency Department Preparedness For Amniotic Fluid Embolism Through Evidence-Based Simulation Training, Olivia M. Smoak

Doctor of Nursing Practice Final Manuscripts

Maternal mortality in the United States remains a significant and worsening public health concern, with increasing reliance on emergency departments (EDs) as access points for maternal care. Emergency clinicians are therefore more likely to encounter high-acuity obstetric emergencies, including maternal cardiac arrest and amniotic fluid embolism (AFE), yet often receive limited formal training in these conditions. Simulation-based education, interdisciplinary training, and cognitive aids have been identified as effective strategies to improve performance in high-risk, low-frequency events.

The purpose of the evidence-based practice project was to evaluate whether an interdisciplinary simulation with obstetric-led debrief and introduction of the AFE checklist improves …

Innovating Adhd Care: A Doctoral Capstone On A Pilot Adult Adhd Diagnostic Clinic Implementation, Fozia Aman

Doctor of Nursing Practice Final Manuscripts

Objective: To evaluate whether an APRN-led pilot Adult ADHD Diagnostic Clinic within a large academic healthcare system in the San Diego area improves timely access to diagnostic evaluation and optimizes care disposition for adults with suspected ADHD.

Background: Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is characterized by inattention and/or hyperactivity-impulsivity that interferes with functioning in daily life. It often emerges in childhood and persists into adulthood, affecting approximately 360 million adults globally. Despite its prevalence and associated functional and psychiatric burden, adult ADHD remains underdiagnosed and undertreated due to limited primary care training, stigma, and reduced access to psychiatric services, resulting in delayed …

Sleep Tight: A Sleep Hygiene Bundle For Adults To Improve Sleep Quality In A Skilled Nursing Facility, Meaghan Corbin

Doctor of Nursing Practice Final Manuscripts

Abstract

Nearly two thirds of skilled nursing facility (SNF) residents report poor sleep. Negative consequences of poor sleep are depressed mood, anxiety, pain, cognitive impairment, increased risk for dementia, fatigue, decreased concentration, and lower activity participation. A review of literature has shown that implementation of non-pharmacological sleep interventions can significantly improve sleep quality. The aim to screen SNF residents on current self-reported sleep quality and provide non-pharmacological sleep interventions. The evidence-based project utilized the 8 A’s Model. Using the Pittsburg Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), a resident with a score above 0, received the non-pharmacological sleep hygiene bundle: eye mask, earplugs, …

Improving Transition To Adult Care: Assessing Health Insurance Literacy In Adolescent Patients With Congenital Heart Disease, Kaitlyn V. Mudge

Doctor of Nursing Practice Final Manuscripts

Background: With advances in surgery and medical management, 95% of children with congenital heart disease (CHD) survive into adulthood. Transition to adult care is an intricate process. Up to 60% of adolescents fail to follow through with cardiology care, facing three times the risk of needing emergency services. Only 25% of young adults with CHD knew of the need to change their care to an adult provider and to acquire health insurance as an adult. One barrier to successful transition is a lack of insurance coverage and limited insurance health literacy. Higher insurance literacy is associated with increased utilization …

Narrative Roots - What We Inherit, What We Tell, What We Become: Intergenerational Storytelling, Meaning-Making, And Mental Health, Adam Sholder

Critical and Creative Thinking Capstones Collection

This capstone synthesis explores how the family stories we inherit and the stories we tell across generations shape who we become, with particular attention to their impact on identity and mental health. Drawing on narrative identity theory, reflective practice, and relational understandings of family life, it introduces the Recursive Narrative Integration Model, which positions intergenerational storytelling as both a method of inquiry and a mechanism of meaning-making. Informed by a recursive process of creative and reflective writing, this synthesis approaches storytelling not only as an object of study, but as a lived and generative practice through which experience and narrative …

Perinatal Mental Health Screening And Care Among Those With Pregnancy Complications, Alison N Goulding, Terri L Fletcher, Emily S Miller

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Perinatal mental health conditions are common and, without effective treatment, can contribute to adverse maternal and child outcomes. In the United States, mental health conditions are a leading cause of maternal morbidity and mortality, contributing to over 20% of pregnancy-related deaths. This expert review aims to assess current literature and provide recommendations regarding mental health care in high-risk patients who experience pregnancy complications. Individuals experiencing pregnancy complications are at increased risk for perinatal mental health conditions, including depression, anxiety, and post-traumatic stress disorder, as compared to those with uncomplicated pregnancies. Despite this increased disease burden, there is limited research on …

Optimizing Vitamin A Intervention: Strengthening Supplementation With Targeted Biscuit Fortification, Mayfa Yemima Simanjuntak, Nadia Amanda, Yuli Berliana Simanjuntak, Carissa Wityadarda, Lesta Livolina Simamora

Journal of Indonesian Health Policy and Administration

Vitamin A deficiency (VAD) remains a persistent public health challenge in Indonesia, particularly among children under five and breastfeeding mothers. This study aimed to analyze the distribution of vitamin A interventions and assess the potential of biscuit fortification as a complementary strategy. This study employs a literature review using the Health Policy Triangle (HPT) framework, examining policy context, content, key actors, and implementation processes related to vitamin A interventions. The analysis was conducted using secondary data from government reports, international agencies, and peer-reviewed literature published between 2018 and 2025, with comparative evidence from Vietnam, Bangladesh, and Ghana. The findings show …

Rethinking Flow: The Paradox Of Renoprotection Without Increased Renal Blood Flow In Cardiopulmonary Bypass, Shiksha Mohan, Ronald A Shaju, Sharan Misra, Titiksha Sharma, Veeraj K Sirivolu, Abhinav Rajkumar, Anthony Rodas-Camacho, Aizah Zaidi, Dhruv Dhingra, Ilma Khan, Rishav Bhattacharya, Vishal Pancholy, Shivam Banerjee, Shreyo Ghosh, Shiyi Li, Kenneth K Liao, Carl P Walther, Nandan K Mondal

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

No abstract provided.

Knowledge And Perception Of Patients Regarding A Postpartum Standardized Hypertensive Disorder Educational Program, Arin Everett, Niranjana Balu, Santiago Ortiz Barragan, Marly Azzi, Sanela Potchileev, Courtney Bisson, Ariel Mueller, Lea Runesha, Sajid Shahul, Sarosh Rana

Graduate Medical Education Research Journal

Background. Hypertensive disorders of pregnancy (HDP) are a major contributor to rising maternal mortality in the United States. The postpartum period represents a critical window to provide education aimed at reducing the risks of complications. This study evaluates the patients’ understanding of HDP and their retention of key education concepts during the first six weeks postpartum after participation in a structured quality improvement program.

Methods. Prospective cohort study of patients diagnosed with HDP were enrolled in the remote blood pressure monitoring program (RPM) and delivered between June 2023 and January 2024. Baseline surveys were administered prior to discharge and repeated …

A Literature Review Of Burnout And Associated Tools In Residency Programs, Foluso Obisanya, Fatima Mncube-Barnes, Kudiratu A. Proctor, Charles A. Mcdaniel, Donna M. Alexander, Tyrece D. Hunter

Graduate Medical Education Research Journal

Background. Burnout poses considerable challenges in workplaces, particularly for resident physicians. This intricate phenomenon stems from a myriad of factors that include, but are not limited to, staff shortages, excessive workloads, specific job responsibilities, work environments, and individual psychological factors. The Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education encourages institutions to incorporate wellness as a fundamental component of residency training programs.

Methods. The aim of this review was to investigate burnout among resident physicians via a comprehensive literature review to elucidate this significant issue and identify potential preventative intervention strategies. We analyzed the issue of burnout across various residency specialties, providing …

Clinician Perspectives On Fistula Mental Health, Victoria K. Leonard

Doctoral Dissertations

Background – Obstetric fistula is a childbirth injury caused by prolonged labor that leads to stillbirth and incontinence, spurring social exclusion and isolation. These layers of trauma put women with fistula at great risk for psychological suffering, which has profound negative socioeconomic impacts on them, their families, and communities. This study captured treatment as usual at Comprehensive Community Based Rehabilitation in Tanzania (CCBRT), the country’s largest provider of fistula care.

Method – Improving holistic fistula treatment requires engaging the clinicians who care for women with fistula. This study aimed to investigate the training, beliefs, and treatment approaches of nurses and …

Mri-Based Deep Learning Radiomics Model For Automated Classification Of Disc Degeneration In The Lumbar Spine, Shiv Patil, Om Gandhi, Mert Karabacak, Matthew Carr, Konstantinos Margetis

Student Papers, Posters & Projects

Disc degeneration in the lumbar spine is a major cause of low back pain (LBP). The accurate grading of disc degeneration on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is critical for clinical management and patient selection for spine surgery. This study aims to develop and evaluate machine learning (ML) models that combine features from deep learning (DL) and radiomics for the automated prediction of Pfirrmann grade (PG), a measure of disc degeneration, using multi-parametric lumbar spine MRI. Sagittal T1, T2, and T2 SPACE MRIs of 218 patients with LBP were acquired from the SPIDER dataset. For each intervertebral disc and available sequence, …

A Call To Action: Towards A Compendium For Culturally Responsive And Inclusive Pain Management, Arvie Vitente, Rob Sweet, Lester Jones

Philippine Journal of Physical Therapy

Introduction: Pain is a pervasive global health problem, yet its assessment and management remain shaped by biomedical, monolingual, and culturally narrow assumptions that do not fully reflect the lived realities of diverse populations. Although contemporary pain science recognizes pain as a personal experience influenced by biological, psychological, and social factors, inequities persist across racial, ethnic, linguistic, and cultural groups.

Main Body: These inequities affect how pain is expressed, interpreted, documented, and treated, particularly among Indigenous peoples, migrants, refugees, and patients with limited English proficiency. In this perspective, we call for the development of a comprehensive compendium on culturally responsive and …

Self-Reported Gum Bleeding, Oral Health Behaviors, And Cardiovascular Risk Indicators Among Adults Aged 45-70 In A Community Dental Setting., Kimberleigh Edwards

Population Health Leadership and Analytics Theses

Cardiovascular disease remains a leading cause of morbidity and mortality among adults in the United States, particularly during midlife and older adulthood. Periodontal inflammation and poor oral hygiene behaviors have been linked to increased cardiovascular risk through systemic inflammatory pathways. This exploratory cross-sectional study described patterns of self reported gum bleeding, oral hygiene behaviors, and cardiovascular risk factors among 29 adults aged 45 to 70 at a community dental clinic using the researcher-developed Oral and Heart Health Study Questionnaire. Fourteen participants reported both gum bleeding and at least one cardiovascular risk factor. Participants who reported inconsistent flossing and infrequent professional …

Iterative Cannabis Care Plans Are Associated With Higher Rates Of Symptom Relief And Lower Side-Effect Burden In Oncology Patients, Brooke Worster, Md, Kristen Parton, Mba, Gregory Garber, Msw

Kimmel Cancer Center Papers, Presentations, and Grand Rounds

Background/Research Objective

Cannabis is increasingly used to manage cancer-related symptoms including pain, sleep disturbance, anxiety, and appetite or gastrointestinal complaints. However, patient responses are highly variable, clinicians report limited confidence in guiding use, and optimal dosing is difficult to predict from baseline characteristics. We evaluated whether an iterative, guided cannabis care model incorporating ongoing patient feedback and care-plan adjustments is associated with improved symptom relief and lower side-effect burden in a real-world oncology population.

Can Behavioral Interventions Promote Health Equity In Pediatric Type 1 Diabetes? A Narrative Review Of Promising Treatments, Paul T. Enlow, Jaquelin Flores Garcia, Julia Price, Kristen A. Torres, David V. Wagner

Department of Pediatrics Faculty Papers

Purpose of review: Synthesize data on whether existing behavioral interventions can improve health equity among youth with type 1 diabetes.

Recent findings: While existing behavioral interventions demonstrated efficacy in improving health and/or psychosocial outcomes, evidence that these same interventions may improve health equity were lacking. Most interventions were evaluated using predominantly White and affluent samples and some studies did not report on racial, ethnic, or sociodemographic characteristics of their sample. Only a few interventions have been adapted for youth from minoritized backgrounds. Recent multisystemic and technology/mHealth interventions recruited samples that were sociodemographically representative of youth experiencing disparities, suggesting that these …

Neutrophil Extracellular Traps Offer A New Therapeutic Target For Elephant Endotheliotropic Herpes Virus-Hemorrhagic Disease (Eehv-Hd), Lisa M Abegglen, Aaron Rogers, Gareth Mitchell, C Bradley Nelson, Madison I Sanborn, Ryan Kennington, Mckenna Rogers, Virginia R Pearson, Miranda Sharp, Lauren L Howard, Erin Latimer, Jennifer A Landolfi, Christine Molter, Erika Crook, Wendy Kiso, Dennis Schmitt, Paul D Ling, Kimberly Martinod, Joshua D Schiffman

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Elephant populations are threatened by elephant endotheliotropic herpesvirus-hemorrhagic disease (EEHV-HD), a fast-acting infection that often kills very young elephants before they reach maturity. Because it strikes calves at a critical age for survival of the species, EEHV-HD is a major challenge for global conservation. Understanding how the disease causes such severe illness is essential to improving outcomes. In other hemorrhagic diseases, dangerous blood clots form when immune cells release sticky webs of DNA called neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs). We investigate whether this process occurs in elephants with EEHV-HD. Here we show, for the first time, that elephant heterophils (neutrophils) release …

Choline Counteracts Pregnancy Undernutrition-Associated Colitis In Sheep By Restoring Microbiota Driven Bile Acid Metabolism, Weibin Wu, Peng Jiao, Yamei Gu, Huizhen Lu, Caiyun Fan, Zheng Sun, Lizhuang Hao, Shengyong Mao, Jianbo Cheng, Yanfeng Xue

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

High-fertility sheep experience undernutrition during late gestation, which induces body metabolic disruption and intestinal inflammation. Crucially, the gut microbiota-bile acid axis is a promising intestinal inflammation target, but how choline modulates this axis in livestock enteritis is unknown. This study investigated choline's protective mechanisms against undernutrition-induced intestinal inflammation in sheep, focusing on gut microbiota and bile acid regulation. Choline consistently alleviates colitis severity, restores epithelial barrier integrity, and suppresses intestinal inflammation. These protective effects are accompanied by pronounced remodeling of the colonic microbial ecosystem, characterized by the enrichment of Clostridiales bacterium to elevate bile salt hydrolase activity and regulate bile …

Coxfa4l2 Upregulation Preserves Residual Cytochrome C Oxidase Activity In Coxfa4-Related Leigh-Like Encephalopathy, Micol Falabella, Sandra Lopez Calcerrada, Jana Aref, Jiaze Gao, William L Macken, Chiara Pizzamiglio, Renata Kabiljo, Anna Lucia Francavilla, Pauline Gaignard, Antoine Pouzet, Jonathan Levy, Giulia Barcia, Jamie K Leighton, Efstathia Chronopoulou, Germaine Pierre, Riza Köksal Özgül, Ali Dursun, Rebecca Halligan, Helen Mundy, Javeria Raza Alvi, Tipu Sultan, William James Craigen, Lisa Emrick, Jill A Rosenfeld, Gehad Elmakkawy, Jihye Kim, Joseph J Gleeson, Aboulfazl Rad, Gabriela Oprea, Maqbool Hussain, Khalil Ur Rehman, Sadia Riaz, Robert W Taylor, Vincent Procaccio, Maha S Zaki, Erika Fernandez-Vizarra, Ciro Leonardo Pierri, Michael G Hanna, Henry Houlden, Reza Maroofian, Cristina Ugalde, Jan-Willem Taanman, Robert D S Pitceathly

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Primary mitochondrial diseases (PMDs) affect approximately 1 in 4300 individuals and cause early-onset neuromuscular and multisystem dysfunction with reduced lifespan. They result from pathogenic variants in mitochondrial or nuclear DNA that impair oxidative phosphorylation. Cytochrome c oxidase (COX; complex IV) deficiency is a well-established cause of PMD, leading to a broad spectrum of phenotypes. COXFA4 (cytochrome c oxidase subunit FA4), formerly NDUFA4, is a nuclear-encoded COX subunit, but its role in disease remains poorly defined. We report the largest genetically confirmed cohort of COXFA4-related PMD to date, comprising 13 individuals from 12 families with biallelic pathogenic COXFA4 variants. All present …

Rural-Urban Differences In Hypertension Prevalence And Control In A Large Regional Health System Cohort, Yordanos M Tiruneh, Susan Mcbride, Huaxin Song, Matthew Decaro, Alaa Rihan, Theresa Byrd, Alex Baham, Jared W Magnani, Elmer V Bernstam, Jarett D Berry

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Background: Rural US populations bear a high burden of cardiovascular disease, with hypertension contributing to the rural-urban gap. We examined hypertension prevalence and control across the rural-urban continuum among patients in a large healthcare system in Northeast Texas.

Methods: We analyzed the electronic health record data from 363,539 patients with at least one outpatient encounter between September 2021 and April 2025. We defined hypertension using ICD-10-CM codes, antihypertensive prescriptions, or a blood pressure ≥ 130/80 mm Hg. We classified rurality using the Rural-Urban Commuting Area categories. Multivariable logistic regression models were adjusted for age, sex, race, ethnicity, insurance, and level …

When The Therapist Is An Algorithm: Understanding Autism Spectrum Students’ Acceptance Of Generative Ai As A Mental Well-Being Tool Through The Technological Acceptance Model, Jossy P. George, Peter Muttungal, Benny Jeyekumar Davidson, Nishi Priya

Northeast Journal of Complex Systems (NEJCS)

This study examines the psychological and technological factors of the acceptance and emotional well-being of 349 college students with autism who use generative artificial intelligence tools as sources of psychological and emotional support. Grounded on the model of Technology Acceptance Model (TAM), the research studies relationships among perceived empathy, perceived usefulness, ease of use, emotional trust, continuance intention, and overall well-being. Structural equation modelling found that the perceived empathy was a significant predictor of ease of use and usefulness, while emotional trust and continuance intention proved to be significant predictors of emotional well-being. To reinforce these results, predictive modelling performed …

Cognitive Predictors Of Functional Recovery After Traumatic Brain Injury, Disha A. Thakkar, Charles J. Golden

Archives of Assessment Psychology

This study examined whether the Brief Test of Adult Cognition by Telephone (BTACT), administered during acute rehabilitation, improved the prediction of 5-year functional outcomes after traumatic brain injury (TBI) beyond standard demographic and injury-severity variables. Data were obtained from the Traumatic Brain Injury Model Systems (TBIMS) National Database (N = 6,880; enrolled 2017 onward). Missing data were handled using multiple imputation (20 datasets). Hierarchical multiple regressions were conducted with the Functional Independence Measure (FIM) and the Glasgow Outcome Scale–Extended (GOS-E) as outcome measures. Demographics (age, sex, education, race) were entered in Block 1, injury severity indicators (post-traumatic amnesia [PTA] duration, …

Prior Traumatic Brain Injury As A Predictor Of Cognitive Deficits After Moderate-To-Severe Injury, Disha A. Thakkar, Charles J. Golden

Archives of Assessment Psychology

Prior traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) are common among individuals who later sustain a moderate-to-severe TBI (msTBI), and cumulative injury models suggest repeated TBIs may worsen long-term cognitive outcomes. This study tested whether prior TBI history independently contributes to cognitive performance one year after an index msTBI beyond demographic and injury-severity factors. Data were drawn from the Traumatic Brain Injury Model Systems National Database (N = 6,880 enrolled since 2017). 2,773 participants completed the Brief Test of Adult Cognition by Telephone at one-year follow-up. Hierarchical regression models evaluated whether prior TBI history accounted for incremental variance in overall cognitive status and …

Poor Compliance With Private Nursing And Midwifery Practice Guidelines In Urban Settings In Uganda, Dan Muramuzi, Edson Atwine, Barbara Okiror, Mercy Muwema, Christine Nimwesiga, Laban Muteebwa

School of Nursing & Midwifery, East Africa

Background: Optimal compliance with private practice guidelines is one of the core components of quality improvement in nursing and midwifery professions. Private nursing and midwifery practice guidelines in Uganda were introduced in 2019. However, little has been documented about compliance with these guidelines, despite playing a crucial role in ensuring safe nursing and midwifery practice and maintenance of professional standards.  We assessed the compliance with private nursing and midwifery practice guidelines of Uganda (2019) and explored barriers to optimal compliance with these guidelines in private health facilities licensed by the Uganda Nursing and Midwifery Council (UNMC) in Kampala Metropolitan …

Assessing Impact Of Heat Waves On Pregnancy And Lactation Amidst Climate Change: A Scoping Review., Susan Anyango, Grace Nakate

School of Nursing & Midwifery, East Africa

Background: The escalation of heat waves, attributed to climate change, represents a global public health concern, with pregnant
and lactating women identified as particularly vulnerable due to Physiological and hormonal changes.

Aim: To review the existing research on the effects of heat waves on pregnancy and lactation, identifying potential health risks and outcomes.

Methods: A structured search across PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and Google Scholar was conducted using terms related
to heat waves, pregnancy, lactation, and climate change. Inclusion criteria focused on peer-reviewed empirical
studies in English.

Results: Heat waves are linked to increased risks of preterm labor, low …