Digital Commons Network^™

Conceptions Of Service Provider Preparedness, Aaron Engstrom

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Victims of human trafficking often need a variety of services to recover from their experiences. Service providers are organizations that aim to meet the personal and environmental needs of survivors by providing resources and guidance. However, the efficacy of services offered to survivors has not been robustly studied, which could leave unsuccessful survivor outcomes unnoticed. The purpose of this case study was to learn how service provider employees prepared to meet survivors’ needs. The combination of social cognitive theory and social constructionist theory served as the lens through which service provider employee conceptions of preparedness were explored. Four service provider …

Length Of Stay In A Homeless Shelter And Mitigating Homelessness, Uwemedimo S. Etteyit

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

AbstractHomelessness is a major public health issue in the United States. Every night, thousands of people have no residence to call their own. Most homeless persons turn to homeless shelters for help. Despite the homeless shelters, the problem of homelessness persists. This study examined the concept that the length of time spent at a homeless shelter is related to the homeless persons mitigating their homelessness through home placement, jobs, and healthcare access. Homelessness was examined using the socioecological model with its attendant levels of influence. On the intrapersonal level, socioeconomic status, education, old age, veteran status, and disability were factors. …

The Double Burden Of Intra-Household Malnutrition Among Mother–Child Dyads In South Africa, Puveshni Crozier

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Household-level double burden of malnutrition (HL-DBM) challenges traditional South African vertical malnutrition programs. Research has associated a household with an overweight/obese mother of reproductive age and her under 5-year-old child with signs of undernutrition (wasting, stunting, or thinness) with socioeconomic levels, maternal characteristics, features of the household, and child’s demographics. Grounded in the social determinants of health conceptual framework, this study aimed to investigate the determinants of HL-DBM in South Africa across the reproductive-child health continuum. Using the representative 2017 Wave 5 South African National Income Dynamics Study survey secondary data, a total sample of 314 homes met this non-experimental …

Association Between Poverty Level And Prehypertension Risk Among U.S. Adults, Cynthia Adeyemi

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Prehypertension (PreHTN) is a significant risk factor for hypertension (HTN) that has been observed in both pediatric and adult populations. In the United States, adjusted mortality rate attributed to HTN in 2018 was highest among non-Hispanic Black (NHB) men followed by NHB females. The purpose of this study was to measure whether lowest, middle, and highest poverty group (LMHPG) and PreHTN varied by age, gender, race, and ethnicity (Hispanic compared to non-Hispanic [HcNH]) and whether the association varied by participants responding yes or no to having been told by a doctor or healthcare professional that they have PreHTN. This study, …

Nicu Services For Preterm Babies: Experiences Of Aghem Women Of Northwest Cameroon, Deudonne Kum Amuam

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The experiences of women with health care services continue to be a challenge for health care workers in providing quality care. Women’s poor impressions of health care services in sub-Saharan Africa stems from the negative behavior of health care workers during the provision of care to mothers and their preterm babies. The lack of data on women's experience with health care services in Cameroon was the problem this study addressed. The study's purpose was to understand Aghem women's experience with health services provided for their preterm babies in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) and how they perceived that their …

Birthplace Decision Making Experiences Of The Ugep Women Of Southern Nigeria, Thomas Okoi Ofem

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The purpose of this basic qualitative study was to explore and describe how behavioral, normative, and control beliefs shape women's birthplace decision-making experiences. The study sought to better understand how Ugep women of southern Nigeria decided where to give birth after attending antenatal care. Using the theory of planned behavior as a framework, a purposeful sample of nine women aged 25 to 35 years who attended antenatal clinic at least twice at the selected primary health facility but gave birth at home during the past year was recruited. Data collection was through face-to-face, semistructured interviews. Audio recordings of interviews were …

Role Of Hypertension In Low-Birth-Weight Racial Disparities Among Virginian Women, Ashli Owen

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Low birth weight (LBW) is a leading cause of infant mortality globally, but it disproportionately burdens the Black community in the United States, with a rate twice that of White women. Further, hypertensive disorders of pregnancy (HDsP) increase LBW incidence. The purpose of the study was to assess the association between HDsP and LBW, maternal race and LBW, and the moderation effect of HDsP on race and LBW on Black and White women in Virginia. The theoretical framework for this study was based on the lifecourse health development model, which states that health should be viewed as an outcome of …

Self-Management Support Program For Dialysis Patients, Elmer Sadiang-Abay

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

AbstractChronic kidney disease (CKD) prevalence rates have been on the rise in recent years, and currently, about 37 million Americans are living with the disease. Most patients with CKD progress to end-stage renal disease (ESRD), resulting in additional treatments, including kidney transplants and hemodialysis (HD). HD treatments depend on patients’ adherence to self-management practices. The practice gap was the lack of guidelines for staff to use with ESRD patients to teach self-management strategies. This project aimed to develop an evidence-based clinical practice guideline (CPG) on a self-management support program for dialysis patients for use by health care providers at the …

Sociodemographic And Behavioral Predictors Of Obesity Among Female Asian Indian Immigrants In The United States, Afiya Saleem

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Individuals from low-income countries such as those in the Asian region migrate to high-income countries and adopt obesogenic behaviors like sedentary lifestyles and high fat and sugar intake. This results in increased susceptibility to obesity, diabetes mellitus, cardiovascular disease, and stroke. Previous research has demonstrated that migrants from South Asian countries are at an increased risk of developing obesity, type 2 diabetes, and hypertension; however, little is known about the factors that contribute to this phenomenon. This was a quantitative, cross-sectional study guided by the social-ecological model. This study used secondary data from the National Health Interview survey to investigate …

Association Between Parental Socioeconomic Status And Childhood Obesity In The Southwest Geopolitical Zone Of Nigeria, Omatsola Aboyowa Sifo

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

AbstractGlobally, childhood obesity is a major social and public health concern characterized by complications such as high cholesterol and high blood pressure. The purpose of this quantitative cross-sectional study was to examine the association between childhood obesity in children age 6–12 years and the socioeconomic status of their parents in the Southwest geopolitical zone of Nigeria. Social cognitive theory served as the theoretical framework for the study. Questionnaire data were collected from 384 parents/guardians of children age 6–12 years across three states in the Southwest geopolitical zone of Nigeria. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and multiple logistic regression at …

Risk Factors Of Malnutrition In Children Under 5 In Nigeria, Itanwan James

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Malnutrition in children under 5 years remains an important public health challenge as it spurs child mortality and morbidity in developing countries, including Nigeria. The purpose of this quantitative cross-sectional study was to explore the risk factors of malnutrition in children under 5 years of age in Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria. Socioecological and health belief models were applied to examine risk factors of malnutrition among these children. This study used a secondary dataset of 1,235 participants obtained from Akwa Ibom State Demographic and Health Survey database. Pearson’s chi-square test and binary logistic regression were adopted for the analyses. The results …

Life Experiences Of Head Start Teachers In A Midwestern Region Pursuing Higher Education, Jeanette O. Keyes

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

AbstractThe 2007 Head Start Reauthorization Act mandated that all Head Start teachers have at least an associate degree and 50% of teachers within each Head Start program should have a baccalaureate degree in early childhood education. The problem addressed in this study was that Head Start teachers from a Midwestern region encountered barriers as they pursued higher education to meet mandated requirements to continue employment. The purpose of this study was to explore the life experiences, barriers, coping strategies and views of support needed by Head Start teachers who were completing their degrees. Tinto’s academic and social integration model and …

Experiences Of African American Women Living With Herpes Simplex Virus 2, Cherlisa Jackson, Yitza A. Arcelay-Rojas

Journal of Social, Behavioral, and Health Sciences

In the United States, the prevalence of herpes simplex virus 2 (HSV-2) continues to be the highest among African American women. Yet the perceived benefit of discussing sexual health, as well as recognizing a need to discuss HSV-2 with a health-care provider, is a gap in research. The purpose of this interpretive qualitative study was to understand the experiences of African American women who received an asymptomatic HSV-2 diagnosis. Semistructured interviews of seven participants were used to explore the experiences of African American women diagnosed with HSV-2, including barriers and challenges of discussing HSV-2 with health-care providers. Participants highlighted that …

Beyond The Social Determinants Of Learning™ A Walden University Position Paper, Andrea Lindell, Ann Morgan, Barry H. Sugarman, Debra J. Tervala, Jorg Westermann, Kathy P. Strang, Kelly L. Costner, Maléka N. Ingram, Marilyn Powell, Nina M. Mccune, Rebecca L. Jobe, Savitri Dixon-Saxon, Sue Subocz, Wiilam Schulz

White Papers

The Social Determinants of Health (SDOH), presented by the World Health Organization (WHO) and a cross-organizational global commission in the early 2000s, provide an understanding of health status of individuals and communities. SDOH consider societal forces and conditions such as housing, work conditions, environment, and education (Braveman & Gottlieb, 2014; WHO, 2021). The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (n.d.) launched a “Healthy People 2030” initiative, addressing five key social determinants of health and offering a framework from which organizations can build strategy: 1. Healthcare access and quality 2. Education access and quality 3. Social and community context 4. …

Advancing Behavioral Health Literacy, James Scollione

Journal of Social, Behavioral, and Health Sciences

Accessing, comprehending, and using information to make informed decisions and improve one’s overall health or well-being are the foci of health literacy. The concept of behavioral health was introduced in the early 1980s and, since then, it has influenced new ideas (e.g., behavioral health literacy and integrated behavioral health care) and gained research and public attention. My aim is to provide an overview of definitions (i.e., health literacy, mental health literacy, and behavioral health literacy) and their connection to each other. I propose an expanded and honed definition of behavioral health literacy to enhance the behavioral health literacy and well-being …

Social Media Behaviors And Experiences During The Covid-19 Pandemic: Associations With Anxiety, Depression, And Stress, J. Mitchell Vaterlaus, Lori A. Spruance, Emily V. Patten

Journal of Social, Behavioral, and Health Sciences

The majority of research concerning public health crises and social media platforms has focused on analyzing the accuracy of information within social media posts. The current exploratory study explored social media users’ specific social media behaviors and experiences during the early weeks of the COVID-19 pandemic and whether these behaviors and experiences related to anxiety, depression, and stress. Data were collected March 21–31, 2020 from adults in the United States (N = 564) through snowball sampling on social media sites and Prime Panels. Online surveys included questions regarding social media use during the pandemic and the Depression Anxiety and …

Risk Perception And Coping Strategies Among Direct Support Professionals In The Age Of Covid-19., Johanna Loporto, Kelly E. Spina

Journal of Social, Behavioral, and Health Sciences

The spread of novel coronavirus (COVID-19) across the globe and its associated morbidity and mortality has impacted and challenged society in many ways, which resulted in adapting to a new way of life. One underrecognized and unaddressed area is the mental health of essential employees providing services to people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD). Direct support professionals (DSPs) serve an important function in the daily supervision and care of clients with IDD. It is not clear, however, how these essential workers perceived their own risk of contracting COVID-19 while working during this pandemic. Our research presents results of a …

Assessment Of The Prevalence Of Multidimensional Poverty In Nigeria: Evidence From Oto/Ijanikin, Lagos State, Tope Shola Akinyetun, Jamiu Abiodun Alausa, Dare Deji Odeyemi, Aihonsu Samuel Ahoton

Journal of Sustainable Social Impact

Poverty in Nigeria is endemic and continues to deepen even amid economic growth. We found that, beyond income, Nigeria is faced with multidimensional poverty that involves healthcare, education, and living standards, with several indicators. Recently dubbed the poverty capital of the world, Nigeria faces an enormous challenge in combating multidimensional poverty. Our study, which was theoretically analyzed using social exclusion theory, adopts both qualitative and quantitative approaches to examine the extent of multidimensional poverty in Nigeria, with particular attention on Oto/Ijanikin, which is a semiurban suburb of Lagos State. Primary data were gathered from the study area, while secondary data …

Adult Obesity In Sanpete County, Utah, Matthew Larson

Selected Social Change Portfolios in Prevention, Intervention, and Consultation

Goal Statement: To reduce the rates of adult obesity in Sanpete County, Utah.

Significant Findings: Adult obesity in Sanpete County, Utah, has been steadily rising since 2004 (County Health Rankings and Roadmaps, n.d.). Risk factors such as poor diet and lack of physical activity contribute to obesity prevalence. Protective factors are linked to healthy family practices and community support, such as access to healthy foods and recreation. Social cognitive theory is a proven and effective preventative intervention for this population, particularly regarding positive changes in dietary and lifestyle habits (National Cancer Institute, 2005). The Hispanic population in this area is …

Challenges For Higher Education In Times Of Covid-19: How Three Countries Have Responded, Robert L. Funk

Higher Learning Research Communications

The COVID-19 pandemic brings to the fore strengths and weaknesses in many public policies, including higher education. There are at least three separate but related areas where institutions of higher learning have been stressed by COVID-19: financing, issues related to the logistics of learning, and inequality. These problems are especially pronounced in countries that suffer from high levels of inequality, such as Chile. This editorial offers a review of some of these challenges and their implication for long-term education policy, touching on the cases of Chile, Canada, and the United States.

University Professors’ Perceptions About Patient Safety Teaching In An Interprofessional Education Experience: A Phenomenological Study, Gabriele Vilanova, Andreas Xyrichis, Elena Bohomol, Rosana Aparecida Salvador Rossit

Journal of Social, Behavioral, and Health Sciences

Background: Interprofessional education (IPE) and patient safety are recurrent and linked themes within the field of healthcare worldwide. International organizations have repeatedly called for and research has shown the benefits of health and social care professionals learning how to work collaboratively and efficiently to provide safer and better care. This study was undertaken to explore professors’ perceptions and experiences of an IPE curricula project with a view to improving future patient safety teaching in undergraduate health courses.

Methods: This qualitative study utilized phenomenology as a theoretical framework. The participants were 11 professors from a public university in south-eastern Brazil, recruited …

Bed And Breakfast: The Role Of Sleep In Breakfast Intake, Ashley R. Macpherson, Natalie D. Dautovich

Journal of Social, Behavioral, and Health Sciences

Breakfast intake is associated with numerous positive physical and mental health outcomes, yet skipping breakfast remains common in adults. Sleep behaviors show potential as predictors of breakfast intake; the existing literature, however, has methodological limitations. The current investigation explored the association of means and intraindividual variability of a variety of sleep behaviors (bedtime, midsleep, sleep duration) as predictors of the frequency of eating breakfast and frequency of high-protein breakfast intake. Hierarchical regressions were conducted to assess direct associations between sleep behaviors and breakfast intake frequency. Variability in bedtime was a significant predictor of the frequency of breakfast intake, with greater …

Family-Based Caregiving: Does Lumping Asian Americans Together Do More Harm Than Good?, Suryadewi E. Nugraheni, Julia F. Hastings

Journal of Social, Behavioral, and Health Sciences

Asian American family caregivers have gained increased attention due to the need to provide life-sustaining aid at home given the rising numbers of older adults. This article reflects upon caregiving-related research studies that have overlooked the circumstances Asian American caregivers bring to the home-care context. Policies written to address community needs tend to omit the social circumstances many Asian American caregivers must face when trying to take advantage of programs and services. For example, the eligibility requirements fail to recognize distinctive cultural values embedded within the caregiving processes. Further, most Asian American data is aggregated. Aggregating data by ethnicity limits …

Reducing Hygiene-Related Disease And Malnutrition In Rwanda, Amans Ntakarutimana, Jeanne Kagwiza, Emmy Bushaija, David Tumusiime, Kristin Schuller

Journal of Social, Behavioral, and Health Sciences

Water sanitation and hygiene-related disease and malnutrition are a high priority in developing countries, including Rwanda. Interventions that can trigger and sustain household-level behavioral change and practice are needed. A case-control study was conducted to assess the potential of the Community Health Club (CHC) intervention, which consisted of village-based health education on water sanitation, hygiene, nutrition, and monitoring of households’ practices to reduce water sanitation and hygiene-related disease and malnutrition. The study targeted one village which had been exposed to the CHC. As a control, one village was picked from among villages that had not been exposed to CHC intervention. …

Educate Pregnant Women On Negative Effects Of Tobacco Use During Pregnancy In Okaloosa County, Florida, Cristina Dunahoo

Selected Social Change Portfolios in Prevention, Intervention, and Consultation

Goal Statement: Increase pregnant smokers’ awareness of the adverse effects of tobacco use on unborn babies and identify local resources that can be utilized to help pregnant women quit smoking and maintain a tobacco-free lifestyle.

Significant Findings: In Okaloosa County, Florida, studies have found that pregnant women who continue smoking while pregnant comprise nearly double the state average of 7.4 percent among White women (e.g. 13.1 percent), and nearly four times the 3.6 percent of Black women in Florida (McLaughlin, 2017). Given the wide range of adverse outcomes associated with tobacco use during pregnancy, the author recommends that various stakeholders …

Drinking Behavior Among College Students: Interventions To Increase Mindfulness And Social Capital, Jenna C. Anderson, Antonio J. Gardner, Barry Hunt

Journal of Social, Behavioral, and Health Sciences

The impacts of drinking behaviors are far-reaching, with college student drinking contributing to over 1,500 deaths and an estimated 696,000 assaults on college campuses each year (National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism [NIAAA], 2019). There are a variety of explanations to explain why college students engage in risky drinking behaviors. However, there is evidence to suggest that drinking and other substance use may be a result of complex psychological origins, including adverse childhood experiences (ACEs). This paper reviews the literature available on ACEs among college students, how these experiences impact alcohol use among this population, and potential areas for …

Insights From The Implementation And Adoption Of Community-Based Health Interventions, Amans Ntakarutimana, Jeanne Kagwiza, Emmy Bushaija, David Tumusiime, Kristin Schuller, Nelson Ekane

Journal of Social, Behavioral, and Health Sciences

Abstract

Effective implementation of health interventions is critical for maximum adoption and optimal health outcomes. This qualitative study assessed the differences in Community Health Club (CHC) implementation in villages using qualitative research methods. Villages in Rusizi district in Rwanda were purposively selected with high, medium, and low adoption rates. The results revealed that the traits and skills of intervention facilitators (providers or implementers) at the village level, the involvement of the head of the village in the CHC intervention activities, and the support supervision by the Community Environmental Health Officer from the health center may have contributed to high rates …

Food Insecurity Experiences Of Idaho Head Start Families, Sherry Deiter, Yitza A. Arcelay-Rojas

Journal of Social, Behavioral, and Health Sciences

Using the social-ecological model, this basic interpretive qualitative study sought to examine the phenomenon of food insecurity among Idaho Head Start enrolled families, focusing on barriers and deterrents to accessing available nutrition assistance programs. A total of 11 interviews were conducted with parents who had children enrolled in five Idaho Head Start programs. The data were coded and analyzed and are reflective of how individual, interpersonal, community, and organizational levels factors are reflected in participants’ decisions to access available nutrition assistance programs. Participants reported feelings of stigma and shame and transportation concerns as individual barriers as well as the interpersonal …

An Evaluation Of A Maternal Health And Extreme Heat Exposure Training, Adelle Dora Monteblanco, Jennifer K. Vanos, Sarah Leroy, Patricia M. Juarez, Gregg M. Garfin

Journal of Social, Behavioral, and Health Sciences

Growing empirical evidence documents the potential risk of extreme heat exposure to pregnant individuals. These risks include adverse birth outcomes, such as preterm birth and low birth weight. Climate change will exacerbate extreme heat exposures to a large portion of the global population, and pregnant individuals need to understand the risks and protective measures needed. Maternal health workers are a key mechanism for conveying this information to pregnant individuals. The authors assess a training of maternal health workers in El Paso, Texas, through two research instruments. First, eight maternal health workers completed an educational workshop and consented to participation; pre- …

Impact Of Social Barrier Removal On Primary Care Use By Managed Care Enrollees, Pamme Lyons-Taylor

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Personal health represents a complex relationship among social, physical, and emotional factors that can be influenced by health-seeking behaviors. Prior research indicates that greater use of preventive services leads to longer life and lower healthcare costs. For some populations, evidence suggests that social barriers hinder access to preventive services. To better understand the relationship between social factors and the other personal-health factors, de-identified healthcare claims and social service encounter data for 4,480 low-income individuals enrolled in Medicare Advantage or Managed Medicaid at one national health insurance were examined using a retrospective, quasi-experimental design for services rendered between October 1, 2014 …