Digital Commons Network^™

Public Health Trade-Offs During A Pandemic: Mobility Decline And Hypertension Risk In India, Arpita Khanna, Tomoki Fujii

Research Collection School Of Economics

The Covid pandemic dramatically altered patterns of daily life, particularly through widespread declines in mobility due to lockdowns and social distancing measures. While the economic and epidemiological effects of these restrictions have been widely studied, their broader health implications remain underexplored. This paper investigates the relationship between mobility decline during the Covid pandemic and hypertension outcomes in India. Leveraging district-level variation in mobility from Google Community Mobility Reports and health data from the 2019–2021 Indian Demographic and Health Survey (DHS), we find that a 1 percentage point reduction in mobility over the 30 days prior to interview is associated with …

Title Page And Front Matter

Michigan Journal of Public Health

No abstract provided.

Letter From The President, Marcia M. Ditmyer

Michigan Journal of Public Health

No abstract provided.

Letter From The Editor, Sarah J. Nechuta

Michigan Journal of Public Health

No abstract provided.

Influence Of Rec-Connect On Youth Physical Activity: A Multi-Year Look At Behavior Change, Cailyn A. Van Camp, Bree Bode, Jocelyn Hayward, Lauryn Lin, Nicole Jess, Marci Scott

Michigan Journal of Public Health

Background: Physical activity (PA) engagement in youth is associated with numerous health benefits. However, youth PA behaviors are influenced by a complex set of factors including school and community environments and broader societal influences. Rec-Connect^TM is a community-based intervention that aims to impact PA behavior in youth. Purpose: To assess changes in youth PA behavior across multiple years of Rec-Connect^TM implementation. Methods: SNAP-eligible youth [aged 8 to 17 (n=261, matched)] who participated in Rec-Connect^TM completed a pre and post survey to assess PA knowledge and behavior change. Educators completed implementation fidelity logs. Descriptives were conducted to examine …

A Community-Based After-School Wellness Camp’S Effect On Healthy Habit Beliefs, Staci A. O'Brien, Ranelle Brew, Madeline Krawciw, Jodie Seese, Tess Scheidel

Michigan Journal of Public Health

Introduction: Children in the United States face declining physical activity, poor nutrition, and increasing mental health concerns. As school time for wellness declines, out-of-school programs offer an alternative to promote healthy habits to students. A community-driven, multi-component after-school wellness camp was developed in response to a small-town needs assessment and implemented at a local elementary school to determine whether it would change participants’ beliefs held towards healthy habits.

Methods: Third to fifth graders at a local elementary school in Lowell, Michigan, participated in an after-school wellness camp for four weeks through education and hands-on activities focused on physical …

Evaluating Parent Workshops To Reduce Sexual Health Misinformation, Marshall Farrior

Capstone Projects and Master's Theses

This capstone project addressed the problem of sexual health misinformation among youth in Santa Cruz County, which stems from cultural factors, limited parental communication, and inadequate comprehensive sexual health education. Implemented through the Santa Cruz County Public Health Department’s Teen Health Outreach (THO) program, the project evaluated the effectiveness of parent workshops designed to build the capacity of adults’ knowledge and confidence to discuss sexual and reproductive health topics with youth. Serving primarily Hispanic/Latino communities in Watsonville and Freedom, THO collaborates with local schools and organizations to deliver workshops. The intervention aimed to reduce misinformation by empowering parents as trusted …

Engaging Independence, Anthony Cazares

Capstone Projects and Master's Theses

This capstone project was completed in partnership with Gateway Center of Monterey County through the Collaborative Health and Human Services (CHHS) program at California State University, Monterey Bay. Gateway Center is a nonprofit organization that provides services for adults with developmental, cognitive, and physical disabilities. The organization identified a need to improve client engagement and staff support, as existing activities had become outdated and inconsistent. This project implemented an evidence-based, activity-based curriculum aligned with the Community Integration Model, a framework that emphasizes participation, inclusion, and independence for individuals with disabilities. Staff received physical binders and digital resources to guide activity …

A Randomized Controlled Trial Combining House Screening And Insecticide-Treated Nets Reduces Malaria Transmission In Northwestern Ethiopia, Aklilu K. Belay, Abebe Asale, Catherine L. Sole, Abdullahi A. Yusuf, Baldwyn Torto, Zewdu Abro, Menale Kassie, Clifford M. Mutero, David P. Tchouassi

All Peer-Reviewed Publications

House screening (HS) of doors, eaves, and windows using wire-mesh has demonstrated potential in the integrated vector management of malaria. However, limited epidemiological data are available to guide its implementation across different ecological settings. In a 16-month randomized controlled trial (follow-up period) conducted across three agroecological areas (dry mountain, plateau highland, and semi-arid) in Jabi Tehnan district, northwestern Ethiopia, treatment houses were equipped with HS combined with insecticide-treated nets (ITNs), while control houses received ITNs only. The intervention led to a significant 2.3-fold reduction in indoor malaria vector density, the primary entomologic outcome, largely influenced by An. gambiae s.l. mosquitoes. …

Environmental Sanitation In Long-Term Care Facilities: A Focus On Regulations And Implementations, Ruwan Dissanayake Dissanayake Mudiyanselage

All Theses

Environmental sanitation is a fundamental component of infection prevention in long-term care facilities (LTCFs), where residents are at increased risk due to advanced age, underlying health conditions, and communal living arrangements. Despite its critical role, significant gaps remain in implementing environmental sanitation procedures and the regulatory frameworks that guide them.

This study combines two components: (1) an across-state regulatory review of environmental sanitation in LTCF regulations and (2) a cross-sectional survey assessing environmental sanitation characteristics of nursing homes (NHs) and assisted living facilities (ALFs) and Rural and Urban LTCF observation study in South Carolina (SC) . For the regulatory review …

Large-Scale Experimental Study On The Impact Of Air Cleaning & Ventilation On Indoor Air Quality And Student Illness-Related Absenteeism, Daud Nosham

Dissertations and Doctoral Documents, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, 2023–

This large-scale randomized experimental field study investigated the effect of portable air purifiers (PAPs) on classroom’s air quality and student’s illness related absenteeism. PAPs were installed in 317 classrooms from various school districts located in Eastern Nebraska. The classrooms were randomly assigned into four conditions: three treatment conditions (T1, T2 & T3) and one control condition (device without any filter). T1 was equipped with HEPA filters, T2 added Activated Carbon (AC) layer to HEPA, and T3 further integrated Germicidal Ultraviolet (GUV) alongside HEPA and AC filters. The measured variables were carbon dioxide (CO2), fine particles (PN2.5) and coarse particles (PNcoarse), …

Preparing For “Disease X”: Lessons From Tax And Non-Tax Policy Responses To The Covid-19 Pandemic In Singapore And Australia, Vincent Ooi

Research Collection Yong Pung How School Of Law

During the Covid-19 pandemic, a lack of pre-pandemic planning resulted in sub-optimal policy outcomes. Crucial lessons can be drawn from the experience of Singapore and Australia in the pandemic in implementing various tax and non-tax economic measures; lessons that can help in preparing for the next pandemic (“Disease X”). This article analyses and critically evaluates three main categories of economic measures: direct payments, tax measures and non-tax “other” measures. It finds that direct payment measures such as jobs support had a very significant impact on preserving jobs and supporting the economy. However, eligibility conditions have to be carefully designed for …

Public Views Towards Lifespan, Healthspan, And Healthy Longevity Medicine In Singapore: A Qualitative Study From The Healthy Longevity (Helo) Initiatives, Belinda Wang, Anna Szucs, Elena Sandalova, Zhi Meng Lim, E. J. Horberg, Paul A. O’Keefe, Louis Island, Sonny Rosenthal, Andrea B. Maier

Research Collection College of Integrative Studies

Introduction: Healthy Longevity Medicine (HLM) offers a strategy to reduce the healthspan-lifespan gap, yet public perspectives remain unclear. This study refines the Healthy Longevity (HELO) framework through a qualitative exploration of public views towards lifespan, healthspan, and HLM.Methods: Individuals living in Singapore participated in semi-structured group or individual discussions to explore (a) their understanding of lifespan and healthspan, (b) motivational factors for health behaviours, and (c) their awareness of HLM. Sampling maximised variation across age, sex, and ethnicity. Data obtained through 13 discussions were analysed with a mixed, inductive-deductive approach employing the HELO framework.Results: Thirty-six participants (mean age = 49.4 …

Updated Prevalence Estimates Of Obesity Among Adults In The United States, 2005–2018, Ashley W. Kranjac, Dinko Kranjac

Sociology Faculty Articles and Research

Introduction

Body mass index is an imperfect measure of excess adiposity but is ingrained in both research and clinical practice to define and diagnose adult obesity. The addition of waist circumference measure is recommended to fully capture obesity-related health risks at a population level. The latest reframing of obesity by the Lancet Commission relies on body mass index and waist circumference, as well as organ dysfunction and functional limitations, to differentiate between preclinical and clinical obesity.

Methods

Using data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (2005–2018), we adhere to the proposed redefinition to examine obesity trends in the …

Association Of Area Deprivation Index With Perinatal And Covid-19 Outcomes During The Early Pandemic: A Secondary Analysis Of A Prospective Cohort Study, Abigail Bell, Megan Foeller, Candice Woolfolk, Emily Diveley, Fan Zhang, Amy Scheffer, Ruizhi Huang, Daniel Jackson, Nandini Raghuraman, Ebony Carter, Indira U Mysorekar, Jeannie C Kelly

Center on Aging Staff Publications

Objective: We sought to evaluate the relationship between neighborhood-level deprivation and perinatal outcomes, particularly preterm birth, as well as COVID-19 outcomes among pregnant patients during the early pandemic.

Methods: We performed a secondary analysis of a prospective longitudinal cohort study that investigated the impact of prenatal COVID-19 exposure on perinatal outcomes. Pregnant patients were recruited 12/23/20-7/18/22 and serially assessed for COVID-19 exposure during pregnancy, with serum antibody testing, electronic medical record review, and patient report. For this secondary analysis, address at the time of delivery was used to categorize patients into low ADI (≤50th percentile Area Deprivation Index, indicating low …

Assessing Post-Pandemic Engagement In The Supplemental Nutrition Program For Women, Infants, And Children (Wic) In Northeast Tennessee, Christen Minnick

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Since 1974, the federal Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) has provided healthy food resources, nutrition education, and provider referrals for families at risk for poor nutrition. Public health professionals have consistently presented evidence that WIC engagement reduces premature births and infant mortality, improves child health and development, and increases specialized care access for participants. While average monthly participation in WIC has increased since the program’s inception, trends indicate that only around half of eligible families have consistently engaged with the program since 2011. Research has linked declining WIC participation to administrative burden, citing learning, psychological, compliance, …

Identifying Alcohol Intervention-Relevant Constructs For Greek Life: Examining Across Greek Membership And Gender Among College Students, Emily Susan Renzoni

Psychology Theses & Dissertations

Among college populations, students who are members of social Greek life organizations (i.e., social fraternities and sororities) drink more and experience higher rates of negative alcohol-related consequences than their non-affiliated peers. Although there has been success of alcohol interventions in general college populations, research has shown that college drinking interventions that are delivered to students in Greek life are not efficacious in reducing alcohol consumption or related consequences. It is meaningful to investigate if the content commonly addressed in these interventions, although well-documented as being linked to drinking in the general college population, has the same associations for students who …

Evaluation And Identification Of Risk Factors For Stress Among Maquiladora Workers Based On The Mexican Official Standard 035 Survey Tool, Andrea Baca Melendez

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

Background and significance: Occupational psychosocial risk factors are workplace conditions that can trigger physiological, emotional, cognitive, and behavioral changes. They are strongly associated with mental health issues such as anxiety and depression, as well as non-mental health conditions like myocardial infarction, stroke, and occupational injuries. Analyzing these risks from a sociodemographic perspective provides valuable insights for improving work environments and workers’ well-being. Purpose: This study aimed to identify and determine the levels of occupational psychosocial risk factors among workers in a manufacturing company in Cd. Juárez, Chihuahua, and to examine their relationship with sociodemographic variables to inform future interventions in …

Exploring Intersectional Risks Of Substance Use Disorder, Mental Health, Hiv/Aids, And Hepatitis C Among Hispanic Adults On The Tx-Mx Border: A Mixed-Methods Study, Md Mohsin

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to explore intersectional risks of substance use disorders, mental health, HIV/AIDS, and HCV among Mexican-origin Hispanic adults on the Texas-Mexico border. Methods: The study employed an exploratory sequential mixed-methods approach, which involved collecting and analyzing qualitative data first, followed by quantitative data collection. Selected purposively, 15 in-depth interviews were conducted among the target population. Using convenient sampling, 106 cross-sectional surveys were conducted. Qualitative interview data were analyzed manually using thematic analysis. Quantitative data analyses included univariate descriptive analysis, bivariate, and multivariable penalized logistic regression, negative binomial, and zero-inflated negative binomial regression. Results: The …

Sars-Cov-2 Rna-Binding Protein Suppresses Extracellular Mirna Release, Hyejin Mun, Chang Hoon Shin, Qingxuan Fei, Andrea Estefania Lopez Giraldo, Kyoung-Min Choi, Ji Won Lee, Kyungmin Kim, Kyung-Won Min, Leilei Shi, Mark T Bedford, Dong-Chan Kim, Yoo Lim Chun, Seonghyun Ryu, Dongin Kim, Jeong Ho Chang, Ryan T Westrope, Michelle Shay, Edward Nguyen, Junho K Hur, Abigail Agyenda, Nam Chul Kim, Sung-Ung Kang, Woonghee Lee, Je-Hyun Yoon

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

SARS-CoV-2 is the betacoronavirus causing the COVID-19 pandemic. Although the SARS-CoV-2 genome and transcriptome were reported previously, the function of individual viral proteins is largely unknown. Utilizing biochemical and molecular biology methods, we identified that four SARS-CoV-2 RNA-binding proteins (RBPs) regulate the host RNA metabolism by direct interaction with mature miRNA let-7b revealed by Nuclear Magnetic Resonance spectroscopy (NMR). SARS-CoV-2 RBP Nsp9 primarily binds mature miRNA let-7b, a direct ligand of the Toll-like Receptor 7 (TLR7), one of the potential SARS-CoV-2 therapeutics. Nsp9 suppresses host gene expression possibly by promoting let-7b-mediated silencing of a cellular RNA polymerase, POLR2D. In addition, …

A Cross-Sectional Audit Of The Australian Community Food Environment Highlights The Prominent Role Of Chain Food Outlets, Claire Elizabeth Pulker, Lucy Meredith Butcher, Frith Klug, Clare Whitton, Gina S.A. Trapp

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Background: Food retail and food service outlets can be part of a chain, or independently operated. Chain food outlets are likely to have the most influence over community food environments but have not been routinely identified in studies which map and monitor access to food, highlighting an important knowledge gap. This study aimed to identify the food retail and food service outlets present within metropolitan Perth, including presence of chain and independent food outlets; and examine differences across local governments. Methods: A nutrition-focused classification framework was applied to all food businesses registered by 32 local governments in Perth, Western Australia, …

Exploring And Validating Associations Between Six Systemic Inflammatory Indices And Ischemic Stroke In A Middle-Aged And Old Chinese Population, Yulu Zheng, Zheng Guo, Jingzheng Wang, Zhiyuan Wu, Xiaolin Chen, Yahong Zhu, Guangle Shan, Haifeng Hou, Xingang Li

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Background: Inflammation and maladaptive immune mechanisms have been substantiated as integral components in the critical pathological processes of the injury cascade in ischemic stroke (IS). This study aimed to explore the associations between six systemic inflammatory indices and IS in a Chinese population. Methods: This was a case-control study based on the retrospective review of electronic medical records from two hospitals in Shandong Province, China. Systemic inflammatory indices, including the systemic inflammation response index (SIRI), systemic immune inflammation index (SII), pan-immune-inflammation value (PIV), neutrophil lymphocyte ratio (NLR), platelet lymphocyte ratio (PLR), and lymphocyte monocyte ratio (LMR), were calculated. Logistic regression …

Potential Adverse Effects On Lifestyle And Food Intake Pattern In Night Shift Workers, Stacie L. Coleman

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

Abstract

Night shift work is prevalent in healthcare and other industries, yet its effects on lifestyle factors such as food intake, sleep quality, and mental health remain underexplored. This study investigates the impact of night shift schedules on nurses’ wellness, focusing on eating patterns, sleep, physical activity, and mood. A sample of 13 nurses were divided into two shift groups: day (n=5) and night (n=8); and they completed a questionnaire to assess the variables related to their behavior, food choices, eating habits, sleep patterns.

The results of previous research studies indicate that night shift nurses are more likely to adopt …

Neighborhood-Level Social Vulnerability, Race And Ethnicity, And Stage At Diagnosis: A Population-Based Study Of 12,957 Patients With Oral Cavity Cancer, Guillermo A Tortolero, Erich M Sturgis, Jose-Miguel Yamal, Melissa F Peskin, Cici Bauer, Caitlin C Murphy

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Background: Oral cavity cancer (OCC) is marked by racial and ethnic disparities. We examined these differences in OCC stage at diagnosis and whether neighborhood-level social vulnerability, a measure of susceptibility to hardship at the census-tract level, modifies disparities.

Methods: We identified adults newly diagnosed with OCC (1995 to 2020) from the Texas Cancer Registry. We estimated the association between stage at diagnosis and race and ethnicity using logistic regression and assessed effect modification by neighborhood-level social vulnerability.

Results: The sample included 12,957 reported OCC cases, 77% non-Hispanic White, 6% non-Hispanic Black, and 14% Hispanic patients, and 47.4% late stage at …

Feasibility Of Home-Based Urine Collection In Children Under 5 Years In The Origins Birth Cohort Study: Mixed Method Protocol And Sample Completion Results, Courtney D.A. Kidd, Najma A. Moumin, Andrea Macrae, Tim J. Green, Desiree T. Silva, Susan L. Prescott, Nina D’Vaz

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Background: Urine is an attractive biospecimen for nutritional status and population health surveys. It is an excellent non-invasive alternative to blood for appropriate biomarkers in young children and is suitable for home-based collection, enabling representative collections across a population. However, the bulk of literature in this population is restricted to collection in primary care settings. Feasibility of home-based collection at scale has not been tested. Here, we describe a mixed method approach to collect urine samples in a large cohort study with children under 5 years. Methods: The ORIGINS Project is an ongoing birth cohort investigating early life influences on …

A National Survey Of Osteopaths’ Conceptions Of Practice In France: Structural Validity Of The Osteo-Taqfr And The Tendency Toward Technical Rationality, Oliver P. Thomson, Loïc Treffel, Agathe Wagner, Erwann Jacquot, Jerry Draper-Rodi, Chantal Morin, Brett Vaughan

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Background: Despite the growing popularity of osteopathy in France, little is known about how French osteopaths conceptualise key aspects of their practice, including skills, knowledge, and decision-making. This study aimed to adapt and validate the Osteopaths' Therapeutic Approaches Questionnaire (Osteo-TAQ) for use in a French osteopathic population (Osteo-TAQfr) and to examine the professional profile and core elements of clinical practice among French osteopaths. The first objective was to establish the psychometric properties of the Osteo-TAQfr within a French osteopathic population. The second aim was to explore French osteopaths’ conceptions of practice and their approach to patient care, thereby contributing to …

Interventions, Programmes And Resources That Address Culturally And Linguistically Diverse Consumer And Carers’ Cancer Information Needs: A Mixed Methods Systematic Review, Lisa Whitehead, Deborah Kirk, Pelden Chejor, Weiting Liu, Minh Nguyen, Caroline Balczer, Charlene Lan, Melissa Evans

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Background: Culturally and linguistically diverse (CaLD) consumers and carers have been identified as experiencing high levels of unmet needs relating to information and support across the cancer journey. This review identified and evaluated the effectiveness of strategies to meet the cancer information needs of consumers and carers from CaLD backgrounds. Methods: This review followed Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) methodology for systematic reviews. Databases searched included MEDLINE, CINAHL Ultimate, PsycINFO and AMED, ProQuest Dissertations and Theses, and GreyNet. Published and unpublished studies between 2013 - May 2024 on interventions, programmes or resources developed for adults (aged 18 years and over) from …

Assessing Hesitancy Towards Paediatric Vaccines Among Healthcare Professionals: A Descriptive Cross-Sectional Study From The United Arab Emirates, Drishti D. Kampani, Kamel A. Samara, Mohammed Mahfouz, Ahmad Hisham Al-Anoud, Amna Basel Al-Beer, Humaid Altaheri, Hiba Jawdat Barqawi, Eman Abu-Gharbieh

Abington Jefferson Health Papers

BACKGROUND: Vaccination is one of the most effective public health interventions, preventing millions of deaths globally. However, vaccine hesitancy persists, not only among the public, but also among healthcare professionals (HCPs), who serve as key sources of vaccine information. This study assesses HCPs' vaccination attitudes and estimates the prevalence and determinants of vaccine hesitancy in the UAE.

DESIGN AND METHODS: This cross-sectional, descriptive study surveyed HCPs across the UAE from March to October 2024 using a 57-item questionnaire adapted from previous literature. Univariate, bivariate (chi-squared test), and multivariate (logistic regression) analyses were conducted.

RESULTS: HCPs demonstrated generally positive attitudes towards …

Sex Differences In Cardiovascular Disease And Associated Factors In People Living With Hiv: Evidence From All Of Us Program, Hao Zhang, Huiyi Xia, Fanghui Shi, Qingyang Li, Sharon Weissman, Xiaoming Li, Xueying Yang

Faculty Publications

Background

People living with HIV (PLWH) face a higher risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD), with significant sex differences in outcomes. However, it is unclear whether these differences are driven by distinct risk factor profiles or by a differential impact of shared risk factors. This study aimed to identify factors associated with CVD among PLWH and to specifically assess for effect modification by sex using a large, diverse nationwide database.

Methods

We utilized data from the All of Us Research Program (AoU). The primary outcome was a composite of coronary artery disease or stroke. We used multivariable logistic regression to identify …

Young Adults And Early-Onset Psychosis: A Grounded Theory Study Of Experiences Of Identity Development, Katherine Hayden-Lewis, Deborah Rubel

The Qualitative Report

While identity development is a crucial task for young individuals ages 15-25, current research inadequately centralizes identity development in the context of first-time psychosis related to schizophrenia spectrum disorders. This study addresses the knowledge gap by exploring the grand research question, “How does a young person experience their identity development after the first episode of psychosis?”. Constructivist grounded theory methods influenced by critical frameworks were used to collect and analyze data with seven young adults engaged in first episode psychosis programs. Participants were young adults, between the ages of 19-24, that at the time of the study were enrolled in …