Digital Commons Network^™

Association Between Tobacco Use And Body Mass Index In Urban Indian Population: Implications For Public Health In India, Mangesh S. Pednekar, Prakash C. Gupta, Heema C. Shukla, James R. Hébert

Faculty Publications

Background: Body mass index [BMI, weight (kg)/height (m2)], a measure of relative weight, is a good overall indicator of nutritional status and predictor of overall health. As in many developing countries, the high prevalence of very low BMIs in India represents an important public health risk. Tobacco, smoked in the form of cigarettes or bidis (handmade by rolling a dried rectangular piece of temburni leaf with 0.15–0.25 g of tobacco) or chewed, is another important determinant of health. Tobacco use also may exert a strong influence on BMI.

Methods: The relationship between very low BMI (< 18.5 kg/m2) and tobacco use was examined using data from a representative cross-sectional survey of 99,598 adults (40,071 men and 59,527 women) carried out in the city of Mumbai (formerly known as Bombay) in western India. Participants were men and women aged ≥ 35 years who were residents of the main city of Mumbai.

Results: …

Pnes: Neuropsychological Impairments & Psychological Symptomatology, Adriana Macias

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses, Dissertations & Projects

The present study utilized a standardized neuropsychological evaluation and self report measures to compare 52 female patients, 18 years of age and older with a video-electroencephalogram (V-EEG) confirmed diagnosis of psychogenic non-epileptic seizures (PNES) (n₁=29) to a group of left temporal lobe epilepsy (L-TLE) demographically matched patients (n₂=23). In an attempt to overcome methodological confounds of previously reported studies, participants were chosen based on stringent exclusion criteria, which barred mixed etiologies. The purpose of this study was to investigate possible differences in neuropsychological functioning, mood, and personality characteristics between individuals with PNES and those with L-TLE. …

Identification Of Critical Determinants On Ace2 For Sars-Cov Entry And Development Of A Potent Entry Inhibitor, Dong P. Han, Adam Penn-Nicholson, Michael W. Cho

Faculty Scholarship

Severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) is caused by a novel coronavirus, SARS-CoV. Virus entry into cells is mediated through interactions between spike (S) glycoprotein and angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2). Alanine scanning mutagenesis analysis was performed to identify determinants on ACE2 critical for SARS-CoV infection. Results indicated that charged amino acids between residues 22 and 57 were important, K26 and D30, in particular. Peptides representing various regions of ACE2 critical for virus infection were chemically synthesized and evaluated for antiviral activity. Two peptides (a.a. 22–44 and 22–57) exhibited a modest antiviral activity with IC(50) of about 50 μM and 6 μM, …

Worker Crushed To Death By Falling Steel Coil, Kentucky Injury Prevention And Research Center

Fatality Case Reports--Other

On April 13, 2005, a 40-year-old male laborer was moving a 5-feet by 9-inch coil of slitted steel, weighing 6600 pounds, when it fell on him. The laborer was in the process of wrapping a chain through the middle of the coil and through a homemade device on the forks of a forklift when the coil tipped over. As the laborer tried to move away from the falling coil, it landed on his left side, breaking his left leg and causing internal injuries. Other workers in the area did not see, but heard the commotion of the falling coil. The …

Community Participation In Tribal Diabetes Programs, Carolyn Smith-Morris

Anthropology Research

No abstract provided.

Barriers For Latino Immigrants Seeking Health Care Services, Jennier Ng'andu

2006 Latino Health Summit

At the time of the presentation Ms. Ng'andu was Health Policy Analyst, National Council of La Raza.

This presentation was part of a larger track "Immigrants, Refugees, Asylees and the Undocumented: Understanding Laws that Impact their Health and Well-Being"

From the brochure:

Participants will gain a better understanding of the various status types (e.g., immigrants, refugees) of Latinos residing in the United States and learn how these status types impact individual legal rights. Specific areas to be addressed include employment, bad debt and collections, domestic violence, human trafficking, access to culturally and linguistically appropriate health care services, and access to …

Recruitment And Retention Of African Americans With Severe Mental Illness In Community Research, Michelle Hampton, Mary White, Linda Chafetz

Faculty Publications

No abstract provided.

Designing Employer-Sponsored Mental Health Benefits, Rachel Sethi, Joanne Jee, Lisa Chimento, D. Richard Mauery

Health Policy and Management Faculty Publications

No abstract provided.

Adherence To Principles Of Motivational Interviewing And Client Within-Session Behavior, Delwyn Catley, Kari Jo Harris, Matthew S. Mayo, Sandra Hall, Kolawole S. Okuyemi, Thuy Boardman, Jasjit S. Ahluwalia

Public and Community Health Sciences Faculty Publications

The purpose of this study was to examine whether counselor adherence to Motivational Interviewing (MI) principles was associated with more productive within-session client behavior in a smoking cessation trial for African American smokers. For these analyses 89 baseline counseling sessions of the trial were audiotaped and coded using the Motivational Interviewing Skill Code (MISC). Counselor adherence indicators included a global subjective rating of MI adherence and the frequency of MI-consistent and MI-inconsistent counselor behaviors described in the MISC. Indicators of productive client behaviors included global subjective ratings of within-session client functioning and counselor-client interaction, as well as the frequency of …

Characteristics Of Social Smoking Among College Students, Kimberly Waters, Kari J. Harris, Sandra Hall, Niaman Nazir, Alex Waigandt

Public and Community Health Sciences Faculty Publications

Social smoking is a newly identified phenomenon in the young adult population that is poorly understood. We investigated differences in social smoking (smoking most commonly while partying or socializing) and other smoking within a convenience sample of college smokers (n = 351) from a large midwestern university. Results revealed that 70% of 351 current (past 30-day) smokers reported social smoking. No significant difference was found in motivation to quit between smoking groups. However, a significant difference was found between groups in confidence to quit, the number of days smoked, and the number of cigarettes smoked on those days. More …

Strengthening Care And Support Services In The Era Of Treatment: Symposium Report, Horizons Program

HIV and AIDS

Sub-Saharan Africa has been devastated by the AIDS epidemic, with almost 26 million people infected in the region. As international attention continues to focus on sub-Saharan Africa as the region most affected by AIDS, hopeful signs have emerged, such as increased access to antiretroviral therapy (ART). Although the availability of ART has greatly increased in South Africa, care and support services continue to play a critical role in the lives of people infected and affected by HIV. In response to a growing call from program managers and researchers in South Africa to engage in a dialogue with policymakers and donors …

Preparedness For Hiv/Aids Service Delivery: The 2005 Kenya Health Workers Survey, National Aids And Std Control Programme, Ministry Of Health Kenya

HIV and AIDS

Kenya is one of the few countries that has succeeded in changing the course of the HIV/AIDS epidemic, and there is strong evidence of a decline in incidence. However, AIDS-related deaths now exceed new infections, and almost nine out of ten Kenyan adults do not know their HIV status. The expansion of HIV services in Kenya, including voluntary counseling and training and prevention of mother-to-child transmission programs, has enabled more Kenyans to learn their status. However, this leaves out many individuals who could benefit from HIV testing and counseling, such as hospital patients. Patients who present to a health-care facility …

Yaari Dosti: Young Men Redefine Masculinity, A Training Manual, Horizons Program, Coro For Literacy, Mamta, Instituto Promundo

HIV and AIDS

This training manual, developed by the Population Council in collaboration with Instituto PROMUNDO, CORO for Literacy, MAMTA, and DAUD promotes gender equity and addresses masculinity as a strategy for the prevention of HIV. Adapted from the “Program H: Working with Young Men Series” developed in Brazil by Instituto PROMUNDO, it promotes the positive aspects of masculinity, encourages men’s participation in sexual and reproductive health, promotes respect for sexual diversity, and improves understanding of the body and sexuality. In this manual, HIV prevention is addressed within the larger framework of gender roles and relationships. Gender disparity, widely prevalent in Indian society …

Interim Report In Nevada, Children Run Better Unleaded, Nevada Institute For Children’S Research And Policy, The Southern Nevada Health District

Nevada Institute for Children's Research and Policy Reports

The purpose of the current document is to highlight the need for this program in the state of Nevada, information regarding the dangers of lead exposure, current and future directions of the program, and necessary improvements for a successful program.

Shifting Support For Inequitable Gender Norms Among Young Indian Men To Reduce Hiv Risk And Partner Violence, Ravi K. Verma, Vaishali Sharma Mahendra, Julie Pulerwitz, Sujata Khandekar, Gary Barker, P. Fulpagare, S.K. Singh

HIV and AIDS

India accounts for the second largest population of people living with HIV/AIDS (5.1 million), and almost half of new infections occur in young men below age 30. While there are multiple factors influencing young men’s HIV risk in India, one that is receiving increasing attention is early socialization about masculinity. Young men in India mature and develop in a male-dominated context, having little contact with female peers and virtually no sex education. In this context, most boys develop a sense of masculinity characterized by male dominance in the sexual arena and other areas. Although there is increasing awareness of the …

Metro Richmond Latino Health Services & Resource Guide – 2006, Virginia Commonwealth University

2006 Latino Health Summit

This Guide was produced by the VCU Institute for Women’s Health, VCU Center on Health Disparities, and CLAS Act Virginia as a resource for the fall 2006 Latino Health Summit: Latino Cultures and Beliefs in Health Care. The purpose of this Guide is to provide a practical tool for community health care professionals to use in their work by assisting in cataloguing key provider and patient resources and services. The guide will be posted on the VCU Institute for Women’s Health and VCU Center on Health Disparities websites, which will be updated on a regular basis.

Day Of Dialogue On Public Sector Pricing Of Pharmaceutical Products, Population Council

Formulation/Product Development

For decades, patients, doctors, ethicists, and other interested parties have debated the economics of the pharmaceutical industry. What is the best way to get medications and related products to the people who need them, regardless of their ability to pay? Can prices be lowered without jeopardizing basic research for new drugs? Are pharmaceutical company pricing practices monopolistic? What are the legal and ethical obligations related to drugs developed—partially or fully—with public funds? The Population Council convened a daylong meeting of academics, scientists, representatives from the nonprofit sector, the pharmaceutical industry, foundations, and government donor agencies, and practicing lawyers and doctors. …

Science-Based Organic Farming 2006: Toward Local And Secure Food Systems, Charles A. Francis, Katja Koehler-Cole, Twyla Hansen, Peter Skelton

Publications from the Center for Applied Rural Innovation (CARI)

Organic farming includes growing food and fiber—animals, agronomic crops, horticultural fruits and vegetables, related products—as one dynamic and rapidly evolving component of our complex U.S. food system. Even as more farmers are moving toward organic certification and participation in an environmentally sound and economically lucrative market, questions arise about the long-term social impacts and sustainability of a set of practices that has gone from a movement to an industry. Consolidations in the organic trade have brought multinational corporations to the table, as they have observed a grassroots activity that has grown by 20% per year for the past two decades, …

School Violence, Irvin Sam Schonfeld

Publications and Research

The purpose of this chapter is threefold. First, the chapter summarizes what is known about the prevalence of violence and weapons in U.S. schools. Second, the chapter examines theories that bear on school violence and the empirical evidence linked to those theories. Third, the chapter looks at attempts to prevent school violence and, consequently, the suffering school violence causes.

Ic107: Program: 10th Biennial Symposium On Minorities, The Medically Underserved & Cancer. Celebrating 20 Years Of Progress. Committed To Eliminating Disparities... The Journey Continues, Intercultural Cancer Council

Informational and Promotional Materials

Program details the events, speakers, attendees, and discussions during the 10th Biennial Symposium on Minorities, the Medically Underserved & Cancer presented by Intercultural Cancer Council and jointly sponsored by Baylor College of Medicine. The symposium took place April 19-23, 2006 at the OMNI Shoreham in Washington, DC. See more at Intercultural Cancer Council Records.

Achieving The American Dream: Facilitators And Barriers To Homeownership Among Immigrants, Lutchmie Narine, Marcia A. Shobe

Public Health, Food Studies, and Nutrition

As of March 2003, the immigrant population in the United States (US) has reached 33.5 million individuals. Finding a way out of poverty is very difficult for many immigrants due to both individual and institutional barriers to savings and asset accumulation. Given that the primary sources of wealth among native-born households is through homeownership, it is only fitting that foreign-born households would also wish to achieve the “American Dream.” This paper outlines significant supports and barriers to savings and, more importantly, homeownership among US immigrants. Several suggestions for asset-based policy development for immigrants are also included in the discussion. By …

Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (Sars): Knowledge, Attitudes, Practices And Sources Of Information Among Physicians Answering A Sars Fever Hotline Service, J.-F. Deng, B. Olowokure, S.C. Kaydos-Daniels, H.-J. Chang, R.S. Barwick, M.-L. Lee, C.-Y. Deng, S.H. Factor, C.-E. Chiang, S.A. Maloney, The Sars International Field Team

United States Public Health Resources

In June 2003, Taiwan introduced a severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) telephone hotline service to provide concerned callers with rapid access to information, advice and appropriate referral where necessary. This paper reports an evaluation of the knowledge, attitude, practices and sources of information relating to SARS among physicians who staffed the SARS fever hotline service. A retrospective survey was conducted using a self-administered postal questionnaire. Participants were physicians who staffed a SARS hotline during the SARS epidemic in Taipei, Taiwan from June 1 to 10, 2003. A response rate of 83% was obtained. All respondents knew the causative agent of …

Graduated Driver Licensing And Teenage Driver Research In 2006, James Hedlund, Ruth Schults, Richard Compton

United States Public Health Resources

This is the third update of research on graduated driver licensing (GDL) and related teenage driver issues. It briefly summarizes research published since or not included in the 2005 update (Hedlund, J., & Compton, R. (2005). Graduated driver licensing research in 2004 and 2005. Journal of Safety Research, 36(2), 109–119.), describes research in progress of which the authors are aware, and announces plans for a symposium on teenage driving and GDL to be held in February 2007.

Calibrating The Wealth And Health Of Nations: Trade, Health, And Foreign Policy After The Wto's First Decade, David P. Fidler

Articles by Maurer Faculty

One of the most important themes to emerge from the relationship between trade and health in the first ten year's of the WTO's existence is the challenge of achieving policy coherence. This task is a foreign policy challenge for WTO Members, which requires looking at the relationship between trade and health against the backdrop of the making and implementing of foreign policy. Policy coherence has generally become a major concern for foreign policymakers because post-Cold War trends, such as accelerating globalization, seriously challenge traditional foreign policy assumptions, practices, and institutions. Part of this new context for foreign policy involves the …

Reducing Aids-Related Stigma And Discrimination In Indian Hospitals, Vaishali Sharma Mahendra, Laelia Gilborn, Bitra George, Luke Samson, Rupa Mudoi, Sarita Jadav, Indrani Gupta, Shalini Bharat, Celine Daly

HIV and AIDS

People living with HIV/AIDS in India, as elsewhere, face stigma and discrimination in a variety of contexts. Research in India has shown that stigma and discrimination against HIV-positive people and those perceived to be infected are common in hospitals and act as barriers to seeking and receiving critical treatment and care services. Recognizing the need to move beyond documentation of the problem, three New Delhi hospitals; SHARAN, an Indian NGO; and the Horizons program, with support from the National AIDS Control Organisation (NACO), carried out an operations research project to develop and test responses to hospital-based stigma and discrimination against …

Promoting More Gender-Equitable Norms And Behaviors Among Young Men As An Hiv/Aids Prevention Strategy, Julie Pulerwitz, Gary Barker, Marcio Segundo, Marcos Nascimento

HIV and AIDS

The Population Council and the Promundo Institute studied the effectiveness of interventions in Brazil designed to change the attitudes of young men in relation to gender norms and reducing the risk of contracting HIV/STIs. One conclusion of the study was the recognition of the importance of engaging young people (men and women) in the issue of gender relations and the risks of HIV contamination. The results of the study indicate that addressing inequitable gender norms, particularly those that define masculinity, can be an important element of HIV prevention strategies. These findings suggest that group education interventions can successfully influence young …

Abc Messages For Hiv Prevention In Kenya: Clarity And Confusion, Barriers And Facilitators, Julie Pulerwitz, Tiffany Lillie, Louis Apicella, Ann P. Mccauley, Tobey C. Nelson, Simon Ochieng, Peter Mwarogo, Karusa Kiragu, Edward Kunyanga

HIV and AIDS

The Horizons Program and FHI/IMPACT developed a collaborative research study to explore how adults and youth in Kenya define and perceive the ABC (abstinence/being faithful/consistent condom use) terms and behaviors. Additional objectives of the study were to identify attitudes and norms around the ABC behaviors that influence perceptions of them, and the role of important actors in transmitting messages about them. Findings highlight potential challenges in promoting each of the ABC behaviors, as well as some positive elements that can be built upon when developing programs. HIV prevention programs that incorporate ABC messages—both in Kenya and elsewhere—should consider a number …

Examining Adherence And Sexual Behavior Among Patients On Antiretroviral Therapy In India, Avina Sarna, Indrani Gupta, Sanjay Pujari, A.K. Sengar, Rajiv Garg, Ellen Weiss

HIV and AIDS

With increased availability of ART, HIV-positive individuals are living healthier lives and continuing or resuming sexual activity. However, optimism related to ART’s success in slowing disease progression, reducing viral load, and improving health status may lead to more risky sexual practices and a possible increase in transmission of infections. To determining the sexual behavior of HIV-positive persons on ART, the Horizons program, in collaboration with research partners in Delhi and Pune, conducted a study to assess current levels of adherence to ART among a sample of people living with HIV/AIDS, identify the factors that influence their adherence to treatment, and …

Orphans And Vulnerable Youth In Bulawayo, Zimbabwe: An Exploratory Study Of Psychosocial Well-Being And Psychosocial Support, Laelia Gilborn, Louis Apicella, Jonathan Brakarsh, Linda Dube, Kyle Jemison, Mark Kluckow, Tricia Smith, Leslie M. Snider

HIV and AIDS

This Population Council Horizons report presents findings from an exploratory study by the Regional Psychosocial Support Initiative and Catholic Relief Services’ Support to Replicable, Innovative Village/Community-level Efforts Program of vulnerable youth living in and around Bulawayo, Zimbabwe. It describes their demographic characteristics, exposure to stress and trauma, and psychosocial well-being. The report also highlights the relationships between psychosocial well-being outcomes and exposure to stress and trauma, and the differences in psychosocial well-being between males and females, orphaned and nonorphaned youth, and younger and older adolescents. The report concludes with program and research implications.

Understanding Barriers And Challenges To Effective Community Participation In The Rollout Of Hiv/Aids Treatment And Care Services: Report On Research Results Dissemination Meetings, Population Council, Health Systems Trust

HIV and AIDS

The Population Council and Health Systems Trust conducted national, provincial, and community dissemination meetings in 2006 in KwaZulu Natal (KZN), Limpopo, and Gauteng provinces to share results from a 2005 research study: “Understanding barriers and challenges to effective community participation in the rollout of HIV/AIDS treatment and care services.” The objectives were to share the research findings with the communities and organizations that participated in the study; solicit participants’ input in understanding and utilizing the findings; facilitate interaction and exchange between stakeholders including community and facility-based providers involved in ART services; develop key strategies to operationalize findings and for development …