Digital Commons Network^™

Children’S Exposure To Violence: A Comprehensive National Survey, David Finkelhor, Heather Turner, Richard Ormrod, Sherry Hamby, Kristen Kracke

United States Public Health Resources

This Bulletin discusses the National Survey of Children’s Exposure to Violence (NatSCEV), the most comprehensive nationwide survey of the incidence and prevalence of children’s exposure to violence to date, sponsored by the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (OJJDP) and supported by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Conducted between January and May 2008, it measured the past-year and lifetime exposure to violence for children age 17 and younger across several major categories: conventional crime, child maltreatment, victimization by peers and siblings, sexual victimization, witnessing and indirect victimization (including exposure to community violence and family violence), school …

The Role Of Glutamate And Its Receptors In Mesocorticolimbic Dopaminergic Regions In Opioid Addiction, Yuan Guo, Hui-Ling Wang, Xiao-Hui Xiang, Yan Zhao

United States Public Health Resources

Accumulating evidence suggests that glutamate, as one of the most important excitatory neurotransmitters in the brain, plays a key role in drug addiction including opioid addiction. There is substantial evidence for glutamatergic projections into mesocorticolimbic dopaminergic neurons, which are associated with opioid psychological dependence and are also the key regions of enhancement effect. Glutamate may be involved in the process of opioid addiction not only by acting on its ionotropic and metabotropic glutamate receptors that activate several signal transduction pathways, but also by interacting with other neurotransmitters or neuropeptides such as opioids, dopamine, y-aminobutyric acid and substance P in the …

Children's Behavioral Traits And Risk Of Injury: Analyses From A Case-Control Study Of Agricultural Households, Kathleen F. Carlson, Susan G. Gerberich, Bruce H. Alexander, Ann S. Masten, Timothy R. Church, John M. Shutske, Andrew D. Ryan, Colleen M. Renier

United States Public Health Resources

Problem: Children on family agricultural operations have high risk of injury. The association between children's behavioral traits and their risk of injury is not well understood. Method: Data from the Regional Rural Injury Study-II were used to assess behavioral risk factors for injury to children ages six to <20 years. A total of 379 injury events (cases) and 1,562 randomly selected controls were identified. Adjusted odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI), calculated using logistic regression, were used to estimate injury risk in reference to behavioral traits. Results: Injury risks were greater for children with high levels of depressive symptoms (OR=1.9, CI=1.0-3.7) and aggression (OR=1.6, CI=0.9-2.7), and low levels of careful/cautious behavior (OR=1.8, CI=1.1-2.9). Children with low levels of self-regulation had reduced risks (OR=0.4, CI=0.2-0.8). Discussion: Results suggest that children's behaviors affect their risk of agricultural injury. Additional research …

The Overlooked Epidemic: Addressing Hiv Prevention And Treatment Among Men Who Have Sex With Men In Sub-Saharan Africa, National Aids Control Council Of Kenya, Population Council

HIV and AIDS

Globally, less than 1 out of 20 men who have sex with men (MSM) has access to HIV prevention and care. UNAIDS has estimated that at least 5 to 10 percent of all HIV infections globally occur through male-to-male sexual activity. In spite of the high risk of HIV infection and evidence of extensive sexual networks, national HIV programs in Africa have been slow to address MSM in prevention and treatment efforts. To address these issues, the Population Council and the National AIDS Control Council of Kenya convened a meeting on May 14–15, 2008. The goals of the meeting were …

Using Motivational Interviewing In Public Health Practice To Prevent Fetal Alcohol Syndrome, Lisa J. Ficker, Cheryl Lauber, Sandra L. King, Jewell Akins, Dranoel Knox, William Ridella

Michigan Journal of Public Health

Background: Surveys of women in prenatal care at busy clinics in Detroit, Michigan have reported 12.5% continue to drink during pregnancy (Flynn et al, 2003) and women in substance abuse treatment programs in Wayne County, MI have an incidence rate for Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (FAS) of 4 in 1,000 births, double the national prevalence rate of FAS. The goal of the current study was to intervene with women at high risk for an alcohol-exposed pregnancy using techniques of Brief Motivational Interviewing (BMI) in a verbal and written format. Methods: One third (33%) of 1,784 women screened at Detroit Department of …

Childhood Obesity: The Law's Response To The Surgeon General's Call To Action To Prevent And Decrease Overweight And Obesity, Leah Loeb

Journal of Health Care Law and Policy

No abstract provided.

Violence Against Women Raises Risk Of Cervical Cancer, Ann L. Coker, Claudia Hopenhayn, Christopher P. Desimone, Heather M. Bush, Leslie Crofford

CRVAW Faculty Journal Articles

Background: An emerging literature suggests that violence against women (VAW), particularly sexual violence, may increase the risk of acquiring a sexually transmitted infection (STI) and, therefore, may be associated with cervical cancer development. The purpose of this cross-sectional analysis was to determine if women who had experienced violence had higher prevalence rates of invasive cervical cancer.

Methods: Women aged 18–88 who joined the Kentucky Women’s Health Registry (2006–2007) and completed a questionnaire were included in the sample. Multivariate logistic regression analyses were used to adjust odds ratio (OR) for confounders (e.g., age, education, current marital status, lifetime illegal drug use, …

Hospice Africa Uganda: End-Of-Project Evaluation Of Palliative Care Services, Annette Bongiovanni, Mary Alexis Greenan

HIV and AIDS

Hospice Africa Uganda (HAU) is a nongovernmental organization that provides palliative care services to people living with HIV/AIDS (PHA) and cancer. Based in Kampala, HAU aims to scale-up palliative care within and beyond the nation’s borders. From 2005–08, HAU sought to achieve the following objectives: 1) Increase coverage and scope of palliative care services available to PHA and their families; 2) Train health workers and other HIV/AIDS care providers to integrate pain management, symptom control, and end-of-life care into their existing HIV/AIDS support programs; 3) Build the capacity of families, communities, and community-based organizations in palliative care provision; 4) Integrate …

Health Belief Model Of Breast Cancer Screening For Female College Students, Kirsten M. Frankenfield

Master's Theses and Doctoral Dissertations

No abstract provided.

Examining Conversational Constraints In Vietnamese Patient-Doctor Communication: A Case Study, Kimberly Tran

XULAneXUS

The purpose of this study was to determine the use of conversational constraints among older members of the New Orleans Vietnamese community within the primary healthcare context. A purposive sample of seven Vietnamese male and five Vietnamese female immigrants between the ages of 47 and 80 was interviewed. Conversational constraints were evident in the responses relating to communication with physicians. The respondents emphasized relational conversational constraints such as minimal imposition on the physician’s autonomy, prevention of hurting the physician’s feelings, and prevention of negative evaluation by the physician. Conversely, task-oriented conversational constraints such as concern for clarity and effectiveness were …

A Religious Oriented Approach To Addressing Female Genital Mutilation/Cutting Among The Somali Community Of Wajir, Kenya, Maryam Sheikh Abdi, Ian Askew

Reproductive Health

The Somali ethnic community, in Kenya as well in Somalia, Djibouti, and Ethiopia, has practiced genital cutting for centuries and the practice appears to have remained largely unchanged. The community practices the severest form of FGM/C, type III or infibulation. The Population Council’s FRONTIERS program, with support from USAID/Kenya, carried out two studies to better understand the practice of FGM/C among the Somalis in North Eastern Province so as to inform the design and implementation of interventions that would encourage abandonment of the practice. Both studies collected data through in-depth interviews and focus group discussions with community and religious leaders, …

Benefit Design Of Medicare Drug Plans: An Analysis Of Ohio And The National Landscape From 2006 Through 2009, Brad Haverkos

Master of Public Health Program Student Publications

Objectives: Since previous research was fragmented and incomplete, I described changes in the benefit designs of stand-alone PDPs in the United States from 2006 through 2009. In addition, I identified trends in the PDP market of Ohio and compared them to the national data. The intent was to discover changes that might only be observed during the examination of a smaller market. I then presented the enrollment data of stand-alone PDPs in Ohio and discussed the benefit designs of popular plans to help further understand the PDP market dynamics.

Methods: Each year, CMS collected and released information on benefit characteristics …

The Cultural Production Of Health Inequalities: A Cross-Sectional, Multilevel Examination Of 52 Countries, Carol L. Mansyur, Benjamin C. Amick Iii, Ronald B. Harrist, Luisa Franzini, Robert E. Roberts

Community & Environmental Health Faculty Publications

In a 2001 report, the U.S. National Institutes of Health called for more integration of the social sciences into health-related research, including research guided by theories and methods that take social and cultural systems into consideration. Based on a theoretical framework that integrates Hofstede's cultural dimensions with sociological theory, the authors used multilevel modeling to explore the association of culture with structural inequality and health disparities. Their results support the idea that cultural dimensions and social structure, along with economic development, may account for much of the cross-national variation in the distribution of health inequalities. Sensitivity tests also suggest that …

Handbook On Sensitive Practice For Health Care Practitioners: Lessons From Adult Survivors Of Childhood Sexual Abuse, Candice L. Schachter, Carol A. Stalker, Eli Teram, Gerri C. Lasiuk, Alanna Danilkewich

Lyle S. Hallman Social Work Faculty Publications

This handbook is the culmination of a multiphase, multidisciplinary research project that used grounded theory and participatory action research to illuminate ways that healthcare providers can work sensitively (in a trauma-informed way) with adult survivors of childhood sexual abuse.

The research identified nine Principles of Sensitive Practice: respect, rapport, taking time, sharing information and control, respecting boundaries, fostering mutual learning, understanding non-linear healing and demonstrating an understanding of trauma to patients. Specific guidelines were developed for a wide variety of issues pertinent to clinical practice such as, removal of clothing, touch, responding to disclosures of abuse, managing triggers among others. …

Ua3/1/2/1 President's Office-Cherry - Correspondence - General, Wku Archives

WKU Archives Collection Inventories

General correspondence regarding Western Kentucky University. Incoming letters are mainly addressed to Henry Hardin Cherry. Responses are made by Cherry and occasionally by faculty and staff. The president's secretary Mattie McLean is the writer for some of the letters signed by Cherry.

Some of Cherry's personal papers are also found in this series most notably those pertaining to his political aspirations and two candidacies for the Kentucky governorship. Copies of outgoing correspondence begin to appear in Box 1, Folder 50.

A Field-Based Testing Protocol For Assessing Gross Motor Skills In Preschool Children: The Children's Activity And Movement In Preschool Study Motor Skills Protocol, Harriet G. Williams, Karin A. Pfeiffer, Marsha Dowda, Chevy Jeter, Shaverra Jones, Russell R. Pate

Faculty Publications

The purpose of this study was to develop a valid and reliable tool for use in assessing motor skills in preschool children in field-based settings. The development of the Children’s Activity and Movement in Preschool Study Motor Skills Protocol included evidence of its reliability and validity for use in field-based environments as part of large epidemiological studies. Following pilot work, 297 children (3–5 years old) from 22 preschools were tested using the final version of the Children’s Activity and Movement in Preschool Study Motor Skills Protocol and the Test of Gross Motor Development (2nd Edition). Reliability of the Children’s Activity …

Health Literacy In The Mathematics Classroom: The Iowa Core Curriculum As An Opportunity To Deepen Students’ Understanding Of Mathematics, Elana Joram, Susan Roberts-Dobie, Nadene Davidson

Faculty Publications

By 2012, all high schools in Iowa will be required to incorporate the new Iowa Core Curriculum, followed by elementary and middle schools in 2014 (Iowa Department of Education, 2009). The Iowa Core Curriculum addresses the question: "How is Iowa's educational system preparing our youth for successful lives in the 21st-century global environment?" (Davidson, 2009). It consists of core content standards, and identifies essential concepts and skills for content areas. The Iowa Core Curriculum also includes the ―21st Century Skills‖ of ―health, financial, technology, and civic literacy, and employability skills. These skills are to be infused into existing subject matter …

Human Traffficking In Romania: An Analysis Of Prevention And Outreach Activities, Janet Ho, Noemi Salantiu, Georgiana But, Susan Roberts-Dobie, Anca Magyar, Razvan Chereches

International Journal of Global Health and Health Disparities

Human trafficking is a growing problem in Romania and around the world. Romania is considered a transit and origin country for human trafficking. Most victims are transported externally to more developed countries, although many victims will stay within Romanian borders. The Romanian government, Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs), and other stakeholders are making efforts to prevent trafficking. This descriptive study, based on a series of qualitative interviews, examines the actions NGOs, governmental organizations, and church leaders in Cluj County, Romania are taking to prevent trafficking. The strengths and weaknesses of existing programs, as well as recommendations for future action are discussed. A …

Infected Justice : The Impact Of Hiv/Aids On The Police In Anglo-Phone Sub-Saharan Africa, Nathan Carl Meehan

Legacy Theses & Dissertations (2009 - 2024)

Sub-Saharan Africa is an epicenter of the HIV/AIDS epidemic. This disease is affecting nearly every aspect of society in this region. This disease destroys individuals, strains family structures, weakens economies, burdens health systems, and can destabilize entire countries. The police are also being affected by HIV/AIDS. The way in which this disease impacts police organizations in sub-Saharan Africa is understudied. This project sought to estimate the HIV/AIDS impacts on police organizations in Anglo-phone sub-Sahara by utilizing the available literature on how HIV/AIDS affects military, civil service, healthcare, and education organizations in these same countries. It also attempts to identify the …

Harm Reduction In Outpatient Drug-Free Substance Abuse Treatment Settings, Michael Eversman

Legacy Theses & Dissertations (2009 - 2024)

In the United States, drug-free substance abuse treatment programs generally operate under an abstinence-only, disease model based service orientation. Citing several reasons, critics suggest disease model approaches hinder client utilization and retention within such services. The framework of harm reduction offers an alternative approach to substance abuse treatment services and may have potential for improving utilization and retention outcomes. Yet little is known about how harm reduction is perceived by practitioners in drug-free substance abuse treatment settings, and the circumstances in which harm reduction may or may not be accepted. In addition, despite a body of narrative literature suggesting harm …

Directory Of Programs For Rural Girls In Ethiopia, Elshaday Kifle, Mekuria Yilma, Emil Parker

Poverty, Gender, and Youth

Rural girls in Ethiopia face significant challenges on a host of issues including health, education, civic participation, and access to services. Beyond traditional female roles of wife and mother, the livelihood options open to girls and women are narrow. The goal of the Ethiopia “Brain Trust” project is to expand and improve programs for rural girls in Ethiopia. Under the Trust, a team of program practitioners convenes to explore best practices in reaching and supporting rural girls. Currently, 18 organizations are represented in the Trust. In addition, the Trust seeks to improve networking and information sharing among program practitioners working …

Needs Assessment Of Marginalised, Socially Excluded Immigrant Populations In Johannesburg, South Africa, Population Council

Poverty, Gender, and Youth

The birth of democracy in South Africa and the subsequent economic boom have made the country a prospective haven for many Africans willing or forced to leave their countries. Johannesburg has maintained its reputation as a city where everything is possible and accessible. Berea, Hillbrow, and Yeoville have become destinations for both internal and international (cross-border) migrants as a consequence of their proximity to the city center. However, migrant populations face obstacles that limit access to basic services such as health care, housing, transportation, employment, credit, and security. Asylum-seekers, refugees, and the undocumented are particularly vulnerable and at risk of …

Characteristics Associated With Smoking In A Hispanic Sample., D. Rodriguez Esquivel, Theodore Cooper, J. Blow, M. Resor

Departmental Papers (Psych)

No abstract provided.

Obesity And Hyperandrogenism, Amit M. Deokar, Shawn J. Smith, Amanda J. Goodwin, Hatim A. Omar

Pediatrics Faculty Publications

This chapter has a two-fold objective. One, it addresses the association of hyperandrogenism and obesity and the complex metabolic derangements that are part of the problem. Clinical management of these co-morbidities is challenging and complex. Second, this article will aid health care providers with the key features to an early diagnosis and intervention to decrease the morbidities in the short as well as long term. Method: Systematic review of articles and information on the topic of interest that were published in the last 15 years. Conclusion: Obesity and hyperandrogenism are integral parts of Metabolic Syndrome/Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS)/Hyperandrogenism, Insulin resistance, …

Characteristics Of Children Attending Asthma Camp -- American Lung Association (Ala) In Nevada, 2008, Priyank Shetty

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

This study is based on data provided by American Lung Association (ALA) on the children participating in summer asthma camp in Las Vegas and Reno, Nevada. 56 children participated in the camp in 2008. Universal Health History Form was used which is a comprehensive form to be filled out by parent and physician. Pre-test and Post-test Asthma forms were used to ascertain asthma knowledge before and after the camp.

The purpose of this study was to assess the trigger knowledge of the camp attendees and the measure of agreement between Physician and Parent report of child's asthma severity. In Nevada, …

Public Opinion On Childhood Obesity As A Driving Force For Policy And Intervention Development, Charkarra Anderson-Lewis, Bonnie Harbaugh, Jerome R. Kolbo, Lei Zhang

Faculty Publications

Childhood obesity is a complex issue in which evidence describing strategies and methods for prevention are needed. It is important that the public’s perception of childhood obesity is understood. This includes determining attitudes about childhood obesity and assessing support for an array of policies and prevention initiatives. A multidisciplinary research team at The University of Southern Mississippi conducted the Mississippi Public Perception of Childhood Obesity telephone survey. Childhood obesity information was elicited from 1,352 Mississippi adults. Telephone interviewing was conducted using WinCATI on a sample selected using random-digit dialing. Data were weighted to reflect race, sex, and age distribution of …

Walk To Jerusalem: Facilitating Physical Activity In A Faith Community, Lisa Schmidt

Master's Theses and Doctoral Dissertations

Obesity and physical inactivity are on the rise in our society today. Combined with poor eating habits, many Americans are overweight or obese. Churches have become important settings for providing health education programs, especially for African-American populations. There have been mixed results from faith-based physical activity studies, and few have been conducted with Caucasian populations. The present study used the Walk to Jerusalem program as a motivational tool within a Caucasian faith-based setting. The objectives were to increase physical activity, decrease blood pressure and weight, if needed, and improve attitude toward physical activity. The primary objective of the project was …

Hazards And Gender In Children's Work: An Egyptian Perspective, Nadia Zibani

Poverty, Gender, and Youth

Girls and boys can and do work. They work for a variety of reasons related to poverty or failures in educational systems, and they work to support themselves and their families or to learn skills for future careers. The types of work carried out by children often differ according to the gender of the child. Additionally, the hazards they face in their work can also be differentiated on the basis of gender. The present study attempts to develop a better understanding of the gender aspects of children’s work with a particular focus on the gender-differentiated hazards that exist therein. This …

And How Will You Remember Me, My Child? Redefining Fatherhood In Turkey, Gary Barker, Deniz Dogruoz, Debbie Rogow

Poverty, Gender, and Youth

This issue of Quality/Calidad/Qualité profiles the AÇEV Father Support Program, a series of 13-week-long support groups for fathers across Turkey. Fatherhood (and men’s roles in the lives of children in general) is an ideal starting point for engaging men in gender equality for two key reasons: most men want to be involved in the lives of children, whether their own biological children or younger siblings, nieces, or nephews; and responsibility for the care of children is at the heart of gender inequality. The program reached nearly 10,000 men, teaching them about their role in the development of their children and …

Gender And Reproductive Health Services: Putting Gender Perspective Into Practice, Frontiers In Reproductive Health

Reproductive Health

Promoting gender equity is widely acknowledged as important for improving reproductive health (RH) programs, as gender shapes all aspects of RH service delivery. Thus promoting gender equity—fairness and justice in responsibilities and access to benefits for women, men, girls, and boys—is a major goal for RH programs. But how can programs operationalize the concept of gender perspective when delivering family planning (FP) and other RH services? What impact does this have on use and effectiveness? FRONTIERS projects have improved understanding of the impact of gender issues on RH and have helped identify effective actions for incorporating gender perspective into services. …