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The Geographic Pattern And Socioecological Factors Of Helicobacter Pylori Infections In The United States, Judith Ann Merryweather

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

AbstractHelicobacter pylori (H. pylori) is one of the most common human pathogens and may play a role in the development of several distinct diseases, which include gastric ulcer, duodenal ulcer, and gastric cancer. Studying geographic territories of the United States may reveal clusters with high rates of H. pylori infection and perhaps the prevalence of gastric cancer; however, geographic mapping of patterns in the United States is scarce. The purpose of this study was to investigate changes in H pylori infection patterns in the United States between two different time points (2000–2002 and 2016–2018). The primary hypotheses of this study …

Association Between Antidepressant Adherence And Major Depressive Disorder Complications, Philip Lisinge

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Despite evidence that antidepressants are more effective at treating major depressive disorder (MDD) symptoms, there is growing evidence that MDD management is still hampered by nonadherence to antidepressant treatment regimens. Researchers have suggested that MDD, if untreated, might lead to MDD-related complications, but other researchers have argued that adherence to antidepressants can lead to these same MDD-related complications. This quantitative cross-sectional study used primary data collected from 298 volunteers to examine the association between MDD-related complications and antidepressant adherence to clarify these diverging opinions. The study’s objective was to provide evidence to accept or reject the premise that antidepressant adherence …

The Experiences Of Middle-Aged Women In An Online Weight-Loss Community, Holly Fields

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The obesity epidemic continues to be a public health crisis in the United States. The number of obese middle-aged women has risen dramatically over the past few decades. Despite multiple levels of support available, not all women are receiving the support they need to reduce overweight/obesity, as evidenced by the continuing rise in obesity. Using a qualitative phenomenological approach, this study examined middle-aged women's views on exercising, eating healthily, and social support in online weight-loss communities. For this study, the health belief model (HBM) and social learning theory (SLT) were used as conceptual frameworks to understand a person's behavioral intentions …

Experiences Of Women Faculty Using Meditative Practices Through Workplace Health Promotion In Ontario, Kelly Lynn Henley

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Workplace stress is pervasive and changes to the postsecondary teaching and learning environment have contributed to stress among women faculty and adversely impacted their personal well-being. The purpose of this qualitative study was to understand how the constructs in the health belief model (HBM) play a role in the use of worksite wellness initiatives to manage stress and promote wellness among women postsecondary faculty in Ontario. The research questions were designed based on the HBM to examine the participants’ perceptions of severity and susceptibility to workplace stress, perceived benefits and barriers to participation, motivation to participate, and self-efficacy. Women faculty …

Period Poverty And Life Strains: Efforts Made To Erase Stigma And To Expand Access To Menstrual Hygiene Products, Jennifer L. Brinkley, Nicole Niebuhr

Indiana Journal of Law and Social Equality

No abstract provided.

Factorial Validation Analysis Of The Children’S Eating Behavior Questionnaires And Association With Weight Status: The Ola Tuputupua’E Cohort Study, Wenya Tian

Public Health Theses

Background: Childhood obesity is a pressing issue requiring a reliable tool for assessing health-related eating behaviors. The Child Eating Behavior Questionnaire (CEBQ) is a parent-reporting measure designed to assess multiple dimensions of children's eating behavior. This study aimed to assess CEBQ factor structure with data collected from Ola Tuputupua's Cohort and analyze the association between children's eating behavior and weight.

Methods: The confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) and exploratory factor analysis (EFA) were conducted. Multinominal logistic regression analyses were conducted to examine associations between the CEBQ subscales with children's weight (healthy weight/overweight/obesity) as the dependent variable.

Results: The original eight-factor CEBQ …

The Antitrust Alternative: Promoting Public Health Through Competition, Michael Cederblom

Indiana Journal of Law and Social Equality

No abstract provided.

Maternal Exposure Of Perfluoroalkyl Substances (Pfas) During Pregnancy And Wheeze In Children : The Upstate Kids Study, Faria Sharmin

Legacy Theses & Dissertations (2009 - 2024)

Background: Prenatal exposure to perfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs), a group of persistent environmental chemicals with endocrine disrupting abilities, has been associated with immunomodulation and may contribute to the etiology of asthma in young children. The need for research and additional prospective analysis clearly exists to measure the impact of the chemicals (PFAS) on child wheeze or asthma. We used newborn dried blood spots to quantify two PFAS and their associations with infant wheeze in the Upstate KIDS population.Methods: We measured, perfluoro octane - sulfonic acid (PFOS) and perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) in 2071 singleton and 1040 twin infants born to mothers in …

Investigating The Association Between Adverse Childhood Experiences And Obesity While Considering Race, Ethnicity, Sex, And Sexual Orientation, Mariama Ceesay

Legacy Theses & Dissertations (2009 - 2024)

AbstractObesity is a chronic disease that plagues about 34% of the world population and rising (CDC,2023). Obesity develops over time due to lifestyle factors, biological factors, and the environment. Life course epidemiology approaches understanding the etiology of obesity by pinpointing how particular events in a lifetime can facilitate later life obesity. One emerging important early life factor that may influence adult obesity risk is adverse childhood experiences (ACEs). Rates of ACEs are higher in sexual minorities, women, and nonwhite individuals (Hughes et al., 2022). Furthermore, the rate of obesity is higher in women and nonwhite communities (CDC,2023). Knowing this information, …

Gestational Epigenetic Aging : Prenatal Influences And Early Life Associations, Emilia Pawlowski

Legacy Theses & Dissertations (2009 - 2024)

Development Origins of Health (DOHaD) evidence suggests that prenatal exposures have an important impact on offspring health throughout the life course. Environmental and psychosocial exposures during fetal development are associated with a range of health outcomes for offspring, and effects are often sex specific. One of the mechanisms which may explain differences in health outcomes is epigenetic alterations, which are the molecular mechanisms that regulate gene expression and can be modified during fetal development. Many studies have shown that psychosocial stress and social adversity can modulate epigenetic mechanisms and affect health. While there are several methods for measuring epigenetic alterations, …

Examining The Association Between Childhood Adversity And Later Life Cardiometabolic Diseases, Shreya Shrinivas

Legacy Theses & Dissertations (2009 - 2024)

ACEs stands for Adverse Childhood Experiences, which are traumatic or stressful events that occur in childhood before the age of 18 (Wisner, 2022). These experiences can include physical, emotional, or sexual abuse; neglect; household dysfunction, such as parental separation, domestic violence, substance abuse, or incarceration; or exposure to community violence, racism, or discrimination. Research has shown that individuals who experience ACEs are at a higher risk for developing chronic diseases such as heart disease, diabetes, cancer, and mental health disorders later in life (Felitti, 2002). This is because ACEs can cause toxic stress, which is chronic activation of the stress …

Black Maternal And Infant Mortality Rates And Food Apartheid In Louisville, Maame Dei

Undergraduate Theses

The purpose of this thesis is to determine whether there is a correlation between the Black maternal and infant mortality rates and food apartheid or food deserts. This thesis will highlight that further research is needed in understanding how food insecurity may influence maternal and infant mortality. This thesis collected data from several midsize cities to assess accessibility to healthy food options and maternal and infant mortality rates. The cities were selected based on similarities in demographic and geographic makeup and having experienced a similar pattern of redlining. St. Louis, Memphis, Knoxville, and Pittsburgh were cities that were chosen for …

The Digital Divide: The Path Towards Digital Inclusivity, Angelica Gonzalez Almanza

Social Justice | Senior Theses

The gap between those Americans who use or have access to ICTs and those who do not is referred to as the digital divide (PACEs, 2002). The pandemic has increased dependence on technology and exacerbated the digital divide, which perpetuates existing systems of racism and poverty (Early et al., 2021). In this study, a mixed-method approach was conducted to understand what digital literacy skills parents need to overcome the digital divide and support their child's education. Specifically, the study explored how the program Impact Technology training has affected parents' involvement with their child's education. There were 175 Latinx parents that …

Public Health Implications: A Scoping Review Of Opioid Prevention Programs Among Adolescents, Joseph Donnelly, Elena Saldutti, Lisa Ellis Gavin, Michael Hecht

Department of Public Health Scholarship and Creative Works

This article presents a comprehensive review of the pressing issue of adolescent opioid and fentanyl deaths and overdoses, highlighting the urgent need for effective prevention strategies and educational interventions. The escalating crisis of opioid abuse among adolescents necessitates immediate attention from drug educators, concerned parents, and society as a whole. We examine the alarming rise in adolescent opioid and fentanyl-related fatalities, emphasizing the unique challenges posed by fentanyl's potency and the dangerous allure it holds for young individuals. By analyzing existing harm reduction strategies, we underscore the crucial role they play in mitigating the devastating consequences of opioid use. Moreover, …

Maize, Fish, And Leafy Greens: Agricultural Diversity In Rural Zambia, Claire Gillespie

NUTR/GLST 498b: Global Research Experiences in Nutrition and Health

In Zambia, where 40% of children are stunted, there is limited interest in farming among primary school children as they consider their future. As grocery stores replace open-air markets, access to indigenous foods will become more difficult. Although 73 different types of foods were found in open-air markets, Zambian diets tend to be monotonous. Maize is the staple food and maize-based foods such as nshima are consumed daily, perpetuating low nutritional intake. Increasing crop diversity can increase balanced diets in Zambian school children and better support a growing population.

Running From Malnutrition: Zambian Children And Growth In The Eastern And Southern Provinces, Cole Murphy

NUTR/GLST 498b: Global Research Experiences in Nutrition and Health

Although malnutrition rates remain high in Zambia, there are limited data for primary school children on factors that contribute to poor growth. This study was designed to examine one factor rarely considered in research about stunting, i.e., energy expenditure among primary school children and its contribution to short stature. § §Historically, stunting has been a major public health issue in much of sub-Saharan Africa and continues to yield severe consequences for physical and mental development throughout the lifespan (Iversen et al., 2022). §Both household food insecurity and dietary diversity are significantly associated with stunting in Sub-Saharan Africa (Gassara et al., …

Risk Factors Of Human Papillomavirus Positive Oropharyngeal Cancer In Men, Kentress Davison

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The human papillomavirus (HPV) is a leading domestic and global sexually transmitted disease. The purpose of this secondary quantitative, cross-sectional study is to investigate if there is an relationship between the rate of oral HPV-oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (OPSCC) and race, exposure to smoking cigarettes (tobacco), risky sexual behavior, and participation in oral sex of male-to-male contact vs. male-to-female contact. The social cognitive theory grounded this study. The University of Alabama at Birmingham cancer database population supplied the study’s sample size of 337 males greater than 18 years of age with a diagnosis of OPSCC. I conducted descriptive analyses using …

Age, Race/Hispanic Origin, And Covid-19 Mortality Among Sickle Cell Disease Patients In The United States, Joe Lamont Ndula

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The COVID-19 pandemic remains a global health challenge, with 6.7 million deaths worldwide as of January 2023. It has illuminated the health iniquities in underserved communities and populations like those with sickle cell disease (SCD). Researchers have associated the COVID-19 outcome among SCD patients in other regions of the globe. The purpose of this retrospective cross-sectional observational study was to investigate the relationship between age, race/Hispanic origin, and COVID-19 mortality among persons with SCD in the United States from January 2020 to March 2021. The Krieger ecosocial theory of disease distribution framed the study. Data were drawn from an existing …

Traditional Healing And Biomedicine Use In Urban American Indians Living With Diabetes, Elin Elise Kambuga

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The purpose of this interpretative qualitative study was to describe influences that affect the use of traditional healing and biomedical health services for type 2 diabetes to help health educators develop more culturally competent diabetes education programs for urban American Indian/Alaska Native (AI/AN) communities in the United States. The theoretical framework used for this study was the social ecological model (SEM). Using the SEM, the research questions were crafted to explore experiences of participants connected to personal, interpersonal, community, institutional, policy, and educational factors that influenced the use of traditional healing and biomedical health services. Urban AI/AN adults living in …

Maternal Folate Status And Risk Factors For Autism Spectrum Disorders, Michael M. Haniff

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Autism spectrum disorders (ASD) are thought to be influenced by environmental, genetic, and maternal factors, including potential links to periconceptional folic acid. This quantitative case-control study, guided by the life course theory, explored the association of maternal risk factors (age, race, education, income, folate status, gestational diabetes, gestational hypertension, and MTHFR mutation) on the precipitation of ASD in offspring. The sample comprised 96 mothers of children with ASD and 143 mothers of children without ASD. Logistic regression analysis indicated no significant association between maternal folate status and ASD (OR = 1.00, 95% CI [1.000, 0.001], p = .755). Mothers with …

Pancreatic Cancer: Quantitative Study Investigating The Regional Risk Factors In North Carolina, Holly Marie Myers

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Pancreatic cancer is the fourth-leading cause of cancer-related deaths in the United States, killing more than 90% of individuals diagnosed within 5 years. Due to the lack of signs and symptoms, 82% of all pancreatic cancer cases are diagnosed in terminal stages. As such, the most powerful method to reducing the morbidity and mortality of pancreatic cancer is to further investigate the risk factors. According to the theoretical framework of the ecosocial theory, long-term exposure to exposures to unfavorable socioecological and environmental factors serve as a “web of causation” for adverse health outcomes. Using data from the North Carolina Department …

Food Environment As A Moderator In The Relationship Between Ultra-Processed Food Intake And Mortality In The United States, Brandon Jerod Grandy

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

According to recent studies, the consumption of ultra-processed food is a major issue that leads to fatal outcomes within the United States, which is relevant because this type of food has become more accessible over the years. Using data from the National Health And Nutrition Examination Survey III (NHANES III), previous researchers found that frequent consumption of ultra-processed foods was associated with greater chances of all-cause mortality in U.S. adults, but little research has focused on factors that can impact ultra-processed food consumption, such as food environment. The purpose of this quantitative longitudinal study was to examine the effect of …

Examining The Impact Of Teenage Pregnancy And Its Associated Factors On High School Graduation Rates In Ohio, Eshita Garg, Empress James

Scholarship in Medicine - All Papers

Objective: Our objective is to determine the impact of teen pregnancy, and its associated factors (e.g., child poverty, single-parent households, disconnected youth) on high school graduation rates in Ohio. Introduction: Failure to complete high school often results due to a process known as educational disengagement. This process has been studied to include such factors like teenage pregnancy, which is often linked to increased absences and decreased participation in class. While studies indicate that programs should emphasize attendance and engagement, rather than teenage pregnancy prevention, we also examine factors that are commonly associated with teenage pregnancy. Such variables that contribute to …

The Impact Of Healthcare Disparities In Rural Ohio, Bailey Stammen, Sara Curtis

Scholarship in Medicine - All Papers

Rural communities in the state of Ohio face barriers to care that affect the health of the population. This paper investigates the extent to which the general state of health, life expectancy, uninsured rates, and access to primary care providers can be affected by living in a rural community and how these variables have changed over time. Data from urban and rural counties in Ohio, taken from 2016 to 2022 via the 2022 County Health Rankings, will be used to explore health-related concerns. There were significant findings of decreased general health and access to primary care providers for rural communities …

Prevalence Of Multimorbidity In The Atherosclerosis Risk In Communities Study At Baseline, Katie Highfill

Theses and Dissertations--Public Health (M.P.H. & Dr.P.H.)

Aim: The aim of this study is to examine the prevalence of multimorbidity among middle-aged adults in the Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities Study at baseline by examining the demographic and socioeconomic characteristics of the participants.

Methods

I included 15,698 participants from the Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities (ARIC) baseline visit. Participants were randomly selected from 4 different locations in the United States. Multimorbidity was defined as the prevalence of 2 or more chronic conditions in an individual. Three different multimorbidity definitions (MM1, MM2, and MM3) were created with different inclusion criterion. Prevalence of each multimorbidity definition was analyzed among participants using …

Factors Affecting The Decision Making To Use Thai Traditional Medical Postpartum Care Services Among Pregnant And Postpartum Women In Bangkok, Thailand, Lunlalin Sirichai

Chulalongkorn University Theses and Dissertations (Chula ETD)

After giving birth, there will be changes in the body during the postpartum period to return to the normal state as before pregnancy. Postpartum women often have common problems, such as lower back pain, breast engorgement, plugged milk ducts, mastitis, and not having enough breast milk. In Thai traditional medicine, there has been postpartum care for a long time. Thai traditional medicine postpartum care services, also referred to as Yu-Fai, can assist in easing postpartum discomfort. But at present, the number of people receiving postpartum care services with Thai traditional medicine is still low. Therefore, this study aimed to determine …

Association Between Oral Health Behavior,Oral Hygiene Status, And Oral Health Status Among Primary School Children In Bangkok, Thailand : A Latent Class Analysis, Pemmika Intato

Chulalongkorn University Theses and Dissertations (Chula ETD)

Oral health affects both the overall health and quality of life of children. Dental caries and gingivitis are one of the most common global oral health problems among school children, including those in Thailand. Both problems are diet- and behavioral-related diseases, with various risk factors contribute to dental caries and gingivitis. This study aims to classify the clusters of oral health status among primary school children in Bangkok, Thailand, and identify association between the identified classes, oral health behavior, and oral hygiene status. The study utilized secondary data from dental chart records in the School Oral Health Promotion Program, Department …

Association Between Greenness And Environmental Parameters Exposure And Depression Among Residents In Bangkok, Thailand: An Ecological Longitudinal Study, Wilaipak Nilsalai

Chulalongkorn University Theses and Dissertations (Chula ETD)

Depression and mental health issues are on the rise, and it is hypothesized that environmental factors may play a role in the development of these diseases. Greenness is one of the potential factors, and this study aims to investigate the relationship between living in greener areas and depression incidence in Bangkok. This is an ecological longitudinal study using secondary data documented between 2018 and 2020, utilizing data on depression (ICD-10 F32, F33), environmental parameters (PM2.5 (µg/m3), temperature (ºC), relative humidity (RH; %), and demographic variables (population density, number of communities, number of hospitals, number of healthcare centers, and divorce rate) …

Effects Of A Therapeutic Lifestyle Modification Intervention On Cardio-Metabolic Health, Sexual Functioning, And Health-Related Quality Of Life In Perimenopausal Chinese Women: A Randomized Controlled Trial, Yuru Wang

Chulalongkorn University Theses and Dissertations (Chula ETD)

Objectives: Our study aimed to explore the effects of a therapeutic lifestyle modification (TLM) intervention on cardiometabolic health, sexual functioning, and health-related quality of life in perimenopausal Chinese women. Methods: This was a 12-week, two-parallel arm, randomized controlled trial conducted in the First Affiliated Hospital of Yunnan University of Chinese Medicine, Kunming City, China. Ninety-four eligible perimenopausal women aged between 40 and 55 years were randomly assigned to either a TLM intervention or usual care at a 1:1 ratio. Menopause-specific quality of life (MENQOL), female sexual function index (FSFI), pelvic floor muscle strength (PFMS), and composite cardiometabolic biomarkers were evaluated …

Implementing A Mobile Saliva Rinse Screening For P16 Markers For Hpv (Human Papillomavirus) Positive Head And Neck Cancers In Central Kentucky, Madeline Brown

Theses and Dissertations--Public Health (M.P.H. & Dr.P.H.)

Rates of HPV-related head and neck cancers are increasing across the nation and more specifically, there has been a significant increase in the state of Kentucky. This study focuses on the implementation of a mobile clinic saliva-rinse screening program. This program will be set up at UK Athletics Men's basketball and football games in hopes of recruiting middle aged men ages 45-60, who are the target audience of the study. This is the population with highest prevalence for HPV positive head and neck cancers and also the population least likely to visit their health providers regularly. A quick saliva rinse …