Digital Commons Network^™

A Breakthrough In Accessibility: Over-The-Counter Oral Contraceptives, Alisha Riggins, Emmanuela Nwaonumah, Tobi Oloyede, Joanne Chopak-Foss, Logan Cowan, Elizabeth Olayinka

Eagles Talking About the Public’s Health

No abstract provided.

Knowledge Of Pregnancy And Postpartum Complications Up To One Year Postpartum Compared By Rurality, Evelyn Frances Fagan, Alisha Riggins, Ariel A. Alston, Mario Keko, Ana M. Palacios, Helen Bland, Joanne Chopak-Foss

Georgia Public Health Association Annual Meeting & Conference

Introduction: Georgia has one of the highest maternal mortality rate in the U.S. at 46.2 maternal deaths per 100,000 live births, disproportionately affecting Black and rural populations. This study sought to 1) assess knowledge of Georgian adults about complications and urgent warning signs both during pregnancy and up to 1-year postpartum, and 2) characterize knowledge within rural and urban population.

Methods: As part of a larger study, an online survey with previously validated questions was distributed to Georgia residents through social media and email. Data was grouped into 2 different categories: 1) pregnancy warning signs and 2) post-partum warning signs. …

Fighting For The Public’S Health: Challenges And Opportunities To Reinvigorate Public Health Advocacy, Madeleine S. Frey

Georgia Public Health Association Annual Meeting & Conference

Background

Covid-19 shed a painful light on racial health disparities. As health officials asserted their public health authority to stop the pandemic and promote health equity, elected officials moved to limit their ability to do so. Without strong advocacy infrastructure, public health has struggled to defend its legal public health authority, support the workforce, and ensure equitable health outcomes for everyone.

Methods

Fighting for Public Health, a 2022 Feasibility Study from the Network for Public Health Law, assessed what’s happening in public health advocacy, and what’s needed to strengthen it on state and national levels. With funding from Healthcare …

Jiann-Ping Hsu College Of Public Health Magazine, Georgia Southern University

College of Public Health: News & Publications

• Message from the Dean: Stuart H. Tedders, PhD
• Remembering Dr. Evans Afriyie-Gyawu
• Exploring Research Focus Areas
• Alumni Feature: Overcoming Hurdles
• Research Feature: It's a weighted issue.
• Research Feature: The effectiveness of lactation cookies
• Period Equity Movement Earns National Recognition
• Leaving Her Mark
• Georgia on Our Mind
• Center for Addiction Recovery: Transforming Lives through Comprehensive Support
• Center for Public Health Practice and Research: The LEAD Academy: A Hospital Leadership Training Program
• Office of Practice and Research: Continued Engagement in Practice and Research
• Office of Teaching and Learning
• Office of Health Equity and Community: Engagement Continued Engagement in Practice and Research
• Awards, …

The Impact Of Pandemics On Healthcare Providers' Workloads: A Scoping Review, Gemma Doleman, Annemarie De Leo, Dianne Bloxsome

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Aims: To review and synthesize available evidence exploring the impact of pandemics on direct healthcare providers' workloads in the acute care setting. Design: Scoping review. Data Sources: A review of English research articles published up to August 2022 that examined the impact of pandemics on healthcare providers’ workloads was undertaken. Studies were identified by searching four electronic databases: Medline (EBSCO), CINAHL (EBSCO), Web of Science and PsychInfo (EBSCO). Fifty-five studies met the inclusion criteria. Review Methods: The review followed the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analyses Scoping Review checklist. Results: Healthcare workers experience an increase in workload pressures …

We Can Do This / Juntos Sí Podemos: A Critical Discourse Analysis Of Government-Sponsored Covid-19 Public Service Announcements (Psas) In English And Spanish, Katalina R. Peterson

Scripps Senior Theses

Communication inequities are known to negatively impact people from socioeconomically and linguistically disadvantaged backgrounds during public health crises (Gomez-Aguinaga et al., 2021). In the United States, Hispanics—especially those who speak Spanish—have been among the communities most disproportionately affected by COVID-19 (National Center for Health Statistics, 2022). The pandemic has underscored the importance of understanding the linguistic and discursive strategies implemented by institutions entrusted with disseminating public health information to reach diverse audiences, especially the most vulnerable. This paper analyzes the linguistic practices used to create public service announcements (PSA) produced in English and Spanish by health agencies at both the …

Occurrence Of High-Risk Clonal Lineages St58, St69, St224, And St410 Among Extended-Spectrum-Lactamase-Producing Escherichia Coli Isolated From Healthy Free-Range Chickens (Gallus Gallus Domesticus) In A Rural Region In Tunisia, Saloua Benlabidi, Anis Raddaoui, Sana Lengliz, Sarah Cheriet, Paul Hynds, Wafa Achour, Taoufik Ghrairi, Mohamed Salah Abbassi Salah Abbassi

Articles

Antimicrobial-resistant Escherichia coli isolates have emerged in various ecologic compartments and evolved to spread globally. We sought to (1.) investigate the occurrence of ESBL-producing E. coli (ESBL-Ec) in feces from free-range chickens in a rural region and (2.) characterize the genetic background of antimicrobial resistance and the genetic relatedness of collected isolates. Ninety-five feces swabs from free-range chickens associated with two households (House 1/House 2) in a rural region in northern Tunisia were collected. Samples were screened to recover ESBL-Ec, and collected isolates were characterized for phenotype/genotype of antimicrobial resistance, integrons, and molecular typing (pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) and multilocus …

Walkable Neighborhoods: Linkages Between Place, Health, And Happiness In Younger And Older Adults, Kevin M. Leyden, Michael J. Hogan, Lorraine D'Arcy, Brendan Bunting, Sebastiaan Bierema

Articles

Problem, research strategy, and findings: We examined whether living in a walkable neighborhood influenced the happiness of younger and older city residents. The data for this study came from a comprehensive household population survey of 1,064 adults living in 16 neighborhoods in Dublin City (Ireland) and its suburbs. We used multigroup structural equation modeling to analyze the direct and indirect effects of walkability on happiness, mediated by health, trust, and satisfaction with neighborhood appearance. We found living in a walkable neighborhood was directly linked to the happiness of people aged 36 to 45 (p¼.001) and, to a lesser extent, those …

The Disaster Health System: Built For Collaboration And Coordination In A Complex Environment, Leslie E. Taylor

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

This qualitative case study examined patient distribution and coordination during complex, rapidly changing, uncertain emergencies or disasters. The study explored how Washington State’s Northwest Healthcare Response Network (NHRN) uses the state’s patient tracking system, WaTrac, as a collaboration tool for Emergency Support Function 8 (ESF 8) and public health emergency operations. This study used complexity theory to address a gap in the literature, acknowledging the importance of relationships among members of the NHRN and how the patient tracking system could enhance positive patient outcomes. This study included nine healthcare response participants; all were members of the NHRN healthcare coalition serving …

Examining The U.S. Disaster Management Program: A Case Study Of The U.S. Virgin Islands Hurricanes Irma And Maria Evacuation, Victoria F. Vachon

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

AbstractWhether from natural or human causes, every global community is at risk for overwhelming, destabilizing incidents. Hurricanes Irma and Maria devastated the U.S. Virgin Islands in late August and early September 2017, necessitating the urgent evacuation of hemodialysis patients over 1000 miles to the U.S. mainland. Because the damage and response to the U.S. territory were unprecedented, the public health implications of the government’s strategies on the evacuated population subset were unexplored. However, available information suggested that some evacuees sustained avoidable harm while in the protracted care and custody of the government. This qualitative case study, conceptually framed by Bronfenbrenner’s …

Factors Associated With Intent To Quit Smoking Among U.S. Adult Smokers, Patrese Ann Nesbitt

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Smoking and tobacco use continue to be a public health issue for over 40 million Americans, which explains the appropriateness and abundance of smoking cessation programs throughout the United States. The purpose of this quantitative correlational study was to examine the associations between independent variables of marital status, advice from a medical clinician, and use of community smoking cessation resources and the dependent variable of intent to quit smoking, controlling for race, ethnicity, gender, and age. The theory of reasoned action was used to guide the study. Data from the National Adult Tobacco Survey (N = 12,357) were analyzed using …

Clinical Research Principal Investigators’ Perspectives Of Improving The Diversity Of Clinical Research Participants, Nadine Hyacinth Spring

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Clinical trials are needed to make new medications, devices, and diagnostic tools available. Participants in these clinical trials have historically come from a homogeneous group, and there is a recognized need for increased diversity and representation in these clinical research studies. The absence of diversity in clinical trials makes it difficult for clinicians and researchers to know which medications and devices are safe and effective for specific populations. This basic qualitative phenomenological study was conducted to explore the experiences of clinical research principal investigators regarding diversity in clinical research studies and how to improve it. The theoretical framework for this …

Relationship Between Maternal Language And Use Of Electronic Cigarettes In Pregnancy, Tara Halpern

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Tobacco use has been a long-standing known modifiable risk factor to maternal health. Although there have been many efforts to encourage smoking cessation, use of electronic cigarettes in pregnancy has been increasing over the years. Understanding potential factors that may play a role in the increased use of electronic cigarettes is important to improve maternal and fetal health outcomes. The social ecological model provides the theoretical framework for this study. The purpose of this study is to determine whether a woman’s primary language and pregnancy health care factors (i.e., access to health care 12 months prior to pregnancy, access to …

Predictors Of Psychoactive Substance Abuse Among Eastern Nigeran Youth, Kingsley Chidiebere Izuka

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

AbstractPsychoactive substance (PAS) abuse is a major public health problem leading to increased morbidity and mortality. In Nigeria, the incidence rate of PAS abuse has remained high, particularly in the youth population. The purpose of this study was to examine the influence of social factors and school enrollment status on PAS abuse in youth in Southeast Nigeria. The social ecological model and the theory of reasoned action were the theoretical frameworks used for this study; they were selected due to their focus on multiple levels of factors that influence behavior. A quantitative cross-sectional study design approach was used to determine …

Academic Performance And E-Cigarette Use Among Teenagers, Jeremy Tan Rondael

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Early e-cigarette use by youth has the capacity to create an early addiction to nicotine, increasing the risk of life-long dependency and the possible development of multiple cardiovascular and pulmonary diseases. Reinforced by the socioecological model, the purpose of this study was to determine if academic performance is associated with e-cigarette use among teenagers and young people and if the presence of adverse childhood events (e.g., cyberbullying in school and/or the presence of homelessness) mediated this association. This study included all respondents (N = 1,401) from the state of Nevada who answered the 2019 National Youth Risk Behavior Survey. Binary …

Clinical Research Principal Investigators’ Perspectives Of Improving The Diversity Of Clinical Research Participants, Nadine Hyacinth Spring

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Clinical trials are needed to make new medications, devices, and diagnostic tools available. Participants in these clinical trials have historically come from a homogeneous group, and there is a recognized need for increased diversity and representation in these clinical research studies. The absence of diversity in clinical trials makes it difficult for clinicians and researchers to know which medications and devices are safe and effective for specific populations. This basic qualitative phenomenological study was conducted to explore the experiences of clinical research principal investigators regarding diversity in clinical research studies and how to improve it. The theoretical framework for this …

Association Between Knowledge Of Human Papillomavirus, Related Cancers, And Barriers To Information, Joycelyn Larbie

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Globally, over 250,000 women die every year from cervical cancer and human papillomavirus (HPV). The purpose of this quantitative study was to discover the relation between sociodemographic factors of age, educational attainment, socioeconomic status, personal belief, and knowledge about HPV and related cancers. A cross-sectional design was used to determine statistical relationships. Secondary de-identified data from the Health Information National Trends Survey 2018 was accessed from the National Center Institute and was employed in the study. The study used a simple random technique to select a sample of 3,504 women. Logistic regression was used to estimate the odds of knowing …

Association Between Knowledge Of Human Papillomavirus, Related Cancers, And Barriers To Information, Joycelyn Larbie

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Globally, over 250,000 women die every year from cervical cancer and human papillomavirus (HPV). The purpose of this quantitative study was to discover the relation between sociodemographic factors of age, educational attainment, socioeconomic status, personal belief, and knowledge about HPV and related cancers. A cross-sectional design was used to determine statistical relationships. Secondary de-identified data from the Health Information National Trends Survey 2018 was accessed from the National Center Institute and was employed in the study. The study used a simple random technique to select a sample of 3,504 women. Logistic regression was used to estimate the odds of knowing …

Predictors Of Psychoactive Substance Abuse Among Eastern Nigeran Youth, Kingsley Chidiebere Izuka

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

AbstractPsychoactive substance (PAS) abuse is a major public health problem leading to increased morbidity and mortality. In Nigeria, the incidence rate of PAS abuse has remained high, particularly in the youth population. The purpose of this study was to examine the influence of social factors and school enrollment status on PAS abuse in youth in Southeast Nigeria. The social ecological model and the theory of reasoned action were the theoretical frameworks used for this study; they were selected due to their focus on multiple levels of factors that influence behavior. A quantitative cross-sectional study design approach was used to determine …

Perspectives On The Use Of Molecular Hiv Data For Public Health, Margaret Watson

College of Graduate Studies: Theses & Dissertations

Background. Effective HIV treatment and pre-exposure prophylaxis can drastically reduce the risk of acquiring HIV and prevent most future transmission, but these advances are not accessible to many who could most benefit from them. Advances in use of molecular sequence data to inform prevention efforts, paired with supportive interventions, have the potential to identify clusters of rapid HIV transmission and focus prevention resources toward areas of highest need. Although molecular cluster detection has been successfully used in other areas of public health, advocates for people with HIV have raised concerns about the application of this approach because of HIV …

Incorporating Public Health Into Transportation Decision Making, Bruce Appleyard, Tim Garrett

Mineta Transportation Institute

Investments in transportation have the potential to significantly affect public health outcomes. Decisions to build highways, transit, or bikeways, for example, influence how residents and visitors move around a metropolitan area. Personal travel habits and proximity to transportation infrastructure play a role in how likely people are to be physically active or be exposed to dangerous traffic and toxic pollution. For this study, the research team reviewed the literature that links transportation infrastructure, the surrounding built environment context, and public health outcomes such as chronic heart and lung diseases, obesity, and death. The team then researched publicly available data that …

Turnover, Covid-19, And Reasons For Leaving And Staying Within Governmental Public Health, Jonathan P. Leider, Gulzar H. Shah, Valerie A. Yeager, Jingjing Yin, Kusuma Madamala

Biostatistics, Epidemiology & Environmental Health Sciences: Faculty Publications

Background and Objectives:

Public health workforce recruitment and retention continue to challenge public health agencies. This study aims to describe the trends in intention to leave and retire and analyze factors associated with intentions to leave and intentions to stay.

Design:

Using national-level data from the 2017 and 2021 Public Health Workforce Interests and Needs Surveys, bivariate analyses of intent to leave were conducted using a Rao-Scott adjusted chi-square and multivariate analysis using logistic regression models.

Results:

In 2021, 20% of employees planned to retire and 30% were considering leaving. In contrast, 23% of employees planned to retire and 28% …

Documenting The Presence Of Chagas Disease In Prehistoric North America: Applying The Stockholm Paradigm To Archaeoparasitology, Part Ii, Karl J. Reinhard, Daniel R. Brooks, Aida Romera Barbera, T. Michael Fink

Karl Reinhard Publications

The DAMA protocol (Document, Assess, Monitor, Act) is the applied aspect of the Stockholm Paradigm. Evidence from archaeology and history of medicine has a demonstrated value in documenting infection risk for specific study areas. Bioarchaeological remains and historical documents show vivid examples of pathology related to the Chagas disease life cycle. The science of archaeology defines the lifestyles that created risk of triatomine kissing bug infestations and trypanosome protozoa infections. Paleogenetics, in the form of molecular analyses of Trypanosoma cruzi, elucidate the temporal origins of genetic variants and adaptation to human environments. We illustrate how these fields reveal the risk …

Exploring The Evolution Of Trypanosoma Cruzi And The Emergence Of Chagas Disease In The Context Of Environmental Change: Applying The Stockholm Paradigm To Archaeoparasitology, Part I, Aida Romera Barbera, Daniel R. Brooks, T. Michael Fink, Karl J. Reinhard

Karl Reinhard Publications

The Stockholm Paradigm is an evolutionary synthesis that explains the emergence of novel pathogens in the context of environmental disturbances. Considering the urgent climate change situation, anticipation stands as key to prevent and mitigate the effects that climate change can have in the emergence of pathogens. However, the success of preventive measures is hindered by a limited knowledge of the interplaying dynamics between biology, environment, and culture leading to emerging infectious diseases. For many decades, bioarchaeologists have been gathering data on past human-environment interactions, therefore contributing to the conversation. Archaeoparasitology, at the intersection between pathology, bioarchaeology, and biology, is uniquely …

How The Commonwealth Of The Northern Mariana Islands Stalled Covid-19 For 22 Months And Managed Its First Significant Community Transmission, Dwayne Davis, Stephanie Kern-Allely, Lily Muldoon, John M. Tudela, Jesse Tudela, Renea Raho, Heather S. Pangelinan, Halina Palacios, John Tabaguel, Alan Hinson, Guillermo Lifoifoi, Warren Villagomez, Joseph R. Fauver, Haley L. Cash, Esther Muña, Sean T. Casey, Ali S. Khan

Journal Articles: Epidemiology

OBJECTIVE: The Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI) is a remote Pacific island territory with a population of 47 329 that successfully prevented the significant introduction of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) until late 2021. This study documents how the response to the introduction of COVID-19 in CNMI in 2021 was conducted with limited resources without overwhelming local clinical capacity or compromising health service delivery for the population.

METHODS: Data from COVID-19 case investigations, contact tracing, the Commonwealth's immunization registry and whole genome sequencing were collated and analysed as part of this study.

RESULTS: Between 26 March 2020 and 31 December …

Exploring Barriers And Promoters Of Crc Screening Use Among Agricultural Operators: A Pilot Study Of An Application Of Concept Mapping, Cheryl Beseler, Jungyoon Kim, Roma Subramanian, Susan Harris, Karen Funkenbusch, Aaron Yoder, Tamara Robinson, Jason M. Foster, Shinobu Watanabe-Galloway

Journal Articles: Epidemiology

INTRODUCTION: The purpose of the study was to identify barriers and facilitators of colorectal cancer (CRC) screening use among agricultural operators in Nebraska, US.

METHODS: The concept mapping approach was used to engage participants and enhance the generation of ideas and opinions regarding CRC screening. Two focus groups (seven women and seven men) were conducted.

RESULTS: Among women, the cost domain was most agreed upon as important, followed by experiencing symptoms, awareness, and family. Among men, the important concepts related to CRC screening were family and friend support, feeling too young to get CRC, family or personal history of CRC, …

Food Insecurity On College Campuses: Addressing The Issue Through A Student-Centered Perspective, Thomas Ard

Theses and Dissertations--Kinesiology and Health Promotion

Research indicates food insecurity (FI) has become a consistent challenge for college students. However, more is needed regarding the students' lived experiences of food insecurity following the COVID-19 pandemic. Universities play a vital role in assisting students with food insecurity through food assistance programs, on-campus resources, and financial help, which impacts their physiological needs and academic performance. A better understanding of what influences students' perceptions and decisions about whether to engage in these resources is essential.

This dissertation's purpose was to explore how college students living with food insecurity experience engaging in food assistance programs (FAP). The study used a …

Exploring Disparities In Prenatal Smoking And The Role Of Adverse Childhood Experiences, Patricia Da Rosa

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Cigarette smoking is the most common cause of premature death, killing half of its users. During pregnancy, smoking continues to be the leading cause of premature death for both mothers and newborns. Research has consistently demonstrated smoking is not randomly distributed across populations; it is, instead, socially patterned. Women from lower socioeconomic backgrounds, those experiencing mental health issues, and rural area residents are disproportionately affected. The life course framework emphasizes the impact of exposures in early life on shaping health inequities. Eliminating health inequities, including risky behaviors such as smoking, requires an understanding of the pathways that generate these inequities. …

Physical Activity And Exercise With Blood Flow Restriction As Medicine During The Covid-19 Pandemic And Beyond, Isaac J. Wedig

Dissertations, Master's Theses and Master's Reports

During the COVID-19 pandemic, physical activity levels have decreased and sitting time has increased. This is a major concern as physical inactivity increases the risk for severe COVID-19 outcomes. Evidence also indicates that COVID-19 survivors can experience reduced physical function (i.e., ability to complete daily living activities) long after acute illness. Currently, there are no evidence-based guidelines for recovering physical function following COVID-19 infection. Exercise with blood flow restriction (BFR) presents a promising rehabilitation strategy as the benefits of traditional exercise can be achieved using lower intensities. However, several barriers such as cost, access to equipment, and lack of standardized …

Statistical Methods For Gwas And The Impact Of Diabetic Medication Adherence On Healthcare Costs, Meida Wang

Dissertations, Master's Theses and Master's Reports

This dissertation includes three Chapters. In Chapter One, we develop a computationally efficient clustering linear combination approach to jointly analyze multiple phenotypes for GWAS. In this paper, based on the existing CLC method and ACAT strategy, we develop the ceCLC method to test association between multiple phenotypes and a genetic variant. In Chapter Two, we develop a novel method called sCLC for association studies of multiple phenotypes and a genetic variant based on GWAS summary statistics. Simulation results show that sCLC can control Type I error rates well and has the highest power in most scenarios. In Chapter Three, we …