Digital Commons Network^™

Treatment-Seeking Behaviors And Malaria Prevalence Among Under-5 Children In Niger, Aissa Yaye Habi

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Malaria is a deadly vector-borne disease that mainly affects children in Africa, especially in Niger. Although public health efforts in malaria prevention have been successful in many parts of the world, malaria remains a significant public burden in sub-Saharan Africa, especially among children. Despite the numerous studies conducted on individual factors influencing the prevalence of malaria in sub-Saharan Africa and Niger, there is little knowledge about the collective influence of treatment-seeking behaviors and malaria prevalence among under-5 children in Niger. This study was a quantitative study with a cross-sectional design guided by the social-ecological model (SEM) that used secondary data …

Experiences With Addiction Transfer Among Weight Loss Surgery Recipients, Latoya Smalls

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Obesity remains a significant problem linked to psychological, behavioral, metabolic, and environmental factors. Some individuals who struggle with obesity turn to weight loss surgery. Studies exploring the long-term effects of weight loss surgery and its connection with transfer addiction have reached conflicting findings. This phenomenological study was conducted according to procedures developed by Husserl and Giorgi. Data were collected for this qualitative study through semistructured interviews with 10 bariatric weight loss surgery recipients. Data were analyzed using the five stages of Giorgi’s descriptive phenomenological method process of data analysis. Analysis of the data led to five themes and eight subthemes. …

Gestational Weight Gain, Level Of Education, And Infant Mortality Among African American Women, George Lee Amanambu

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Abstract

African American (AA) women in Mississippi have a higher burden of infant mortality, especially those with low income and educational levels, as compared to other regions of the country. However, it is unknown if abnormal gestation weight gain (GWG) is contributing to this increased burden. This quantitative cross-sectional study examined the association between GWG (25-35lbs), level of education, income, and infant mortality among AA women with normal prepregnancy body weight who were between 30 to 47 years old in the state of Mississippi from 2016 to 2018. Biopsychosocial and ecosocial models were used as the theoretical foundation to design …

Prison Medical Professionals’ Perspectives On Dignity In Death For End-Of-Life Inmates, Charlene Lupo

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Health care requirements of older persons in prison are complicated, and many may require palliative care before their term is completed. The purpose of this qualitative interpretative phenomenological analysis was to explore perspectives on dignity in death for end-of-life inmates through the lens of nine prison medical professionals. Concepts of dignity provided the conceptual framework for the study. Data were collected from one-to-one audio-recorded Zoom interviews and reflective literature articles. Axial coding and thematic data analysis were used to identify five themes: committed to their vocation, lack of services in administering proper health care, institutional barriers prohibiting death with dignity, …

Early College High School, Dual Enrollment, Traditional College, And Time To Obtain A 2-Year Degree, Christopher D. Mccraw

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Early college high school (ECHS) and dual enrollment programs offer opportunities for students to work toward their 2-year degree while still in high school. The problem for this study was that the ECHS and dual enrollment programs had not been compared to see if they facilitated 2-year college degree completion compared to one another and to a traditional college program. The problem was urgent because there was a need to evaluate two different ECHS screening methods, assuming significantly less time to degree completion for the ECHS students. The purpose of this quantitative project study was to determine if the time …

A Study Of Racialized Identity Among Single, White Mothers Of Biracial Children, Shonjala Moore

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

A limited amount of research addresses the challenges single, White, birth mothers of Black-White biracial children have experienced with racialized identity within their kinships and social networks. In this transcendental, descriptive, phenomenological study, the lived experiences of eight single, White, birth mothers of Black-White biracial children were investigated to address that research gap. The conceptual framework was Helms’s Black and White racial identity theory. After thematic analysis of semistructured interview data, five themes emerged to describe the experiences of the single, White, birth mothers of Black-White biracial children: (a) the mother’s insight, (b) racism, (c) attitude about a Black partner, …

Parents’ Perceptions Of Kinesthetic Learning And Academic Performance Among Students With Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, Beverly Mount

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Students with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) struggle academically more than students without ADHD. Although kinesthetic learning, a motor and tactile style of experiential learning, has been found to benefit students generally, parents’ perceptions of it as an educational intervention for students with ADHD has not been examined. The purpose of this qualitative study was to explore parents’ perceptions of kinesthetic learning and academic performance among students with ADHD. The experiential learning theory, which posits that learning occurs through experience, was the theoretical framework for the study. Eleven parents participated in an open-ended question interview ranging from 7 to 22 …

Weight Change And Hyponatremia As Predictors Of Polydipsia Among Persons With Schizophrenia, Kingsley Okechukwu Nwachukwu

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

AbstractPolydipsia is found in 20% of inpatients with chronic severe mental disorders. Of this, 80% are diagnosed with chronic schizophrenia, hence polydipsia is strongly associated with chronic schizophrenia. Despite the prevalence and serious health complications of coexisting polydipsia in this population, its current method of detection is flawed. The purpose of this quantitative study was to accurately identify comorbid polydipsia in schizophrenia using periodic weight change and hyponatremia. The Wilson’s complexity theory and primary data were used to attempt to explain the relationship between weight change and hyponatremia and polydipsia, in a cross-sectional study design. The dependent variable was polydipsia, …

Juvenile Probation Officers' Perceptions Of Strategies To Reduce Juvenile Delinquency In Maryland, Ebenezer Nwaedozie Obonna

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

AbstractYoung offenders aged 10 to 17 years have increasingly become involved with the juvenile justice system, causing concerns about their future prospects and their role in positively contributing to the prosperity of society, particularly in Maryland. The purpose of this qualitative descriptive study was to provide detailed descriptions of the strategies that stakeholders in the juvenile criminal justice system and the offenders can use to reduce youth crime in Maryland. Cognitive-behavioral therapy theory provided the framework for the study. Data were collected from semistructured interviews with 11 probation officers from Maryland. Findings from thematic analysis demonstrated that some juvenile justice …

Depression, Drug Use, And Hsv-2 Among Women Who Have Sex With Women, Viani Picchetti

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV-2), the main cause of genital herpes, is an incurable sexually transmitted infection responsible in 2018 for 18.6 million infections in the United States. HSV-2 is twice as frequent in women than in men. Women who have sex with women (WSW) have a higher prevalence of depression and drug use than women who have sex exclusively with men (WSM), which are each related to HSV-2 as they increase the likelihood of engaging in risky sexual behaviors. The purpose of this study was to assess the predictive relationship between depression status, nonprescription drug use status, and …

Perspectives Of Parents Of Black Head Start Graduates Regarding The Black-White Achievement Gap, Telisa Pitts

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The problem of this study was the achievement gap that exists between Black and White children prior to kindergarten entrance. As children continue in school this gap grows substantially; therefore, it was important to understand perspectives of stakeholders regarding this gap. The purpose of this study was to explore perspectives of parents of Black Head Start graduates regarding the Black-White achievement gap, and how those perspectives shaped parents’ actions in promoting their children’s kindergarten readiness. The conceptual framework for this study was based on Bronfenbrenner’s ecological theory. The research questions focused on parents’ perspectives and how they believed those perspectives …

Grief Experiences Of Mothers After A Child’S Death From A Drug Overdose, Shonetesha L. Quail

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

AbstractResearch on young adult deaths primarily focuses on other causes of death such as homicide, suicide, and accidents. There is very little research surrounding maternal bereavement when the cause of death is from a drug overdose. The purpose of this phenomenological study was to explore the perceptions, attitudes, and lived experiences of grieving mothers who had a biological, adopted, or stepchild die from a drug overdose when the decease’s age was between 18 and 25. Guided by Le Poi Devin’s multidimensional grief theory, the study sought a better understanding to assist mental health and other healthcare providers in developing individualized …

Conceptualization Of Gender Variant Inclusive Healthcare Service Delivery, Tamesha Rhyne

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Gender variant people experience a variety of health concerns for which they seek the assistance of healthcare providers. These concerns may range from chronic health conditions and psychological disorders to gender affirming concerns. Due to living in a heteronormative society, gender variant individuals are more susceptible to experiencing stigmatization, discrimination, and other forms of unfair treatment while accessing healthcare services, which contributes to poor health outcomes. This treatment may be attributed to the lack of knowledge, competency, and training of healthcare providers as it relates to trans-inclusive care. Grounded in minority stress theory and intersectionality theory, the purpose of this …

The Lived Experiences And Perceptions Of Young Adults Who Have Transitioned Out Of State Or Other Care, Linda Rose Ross

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

AbstractOver 20,000 young adults are released from state care annually and 100,000 young adults are released from justice centers. Past studies have revealed that young adults 18-24 years of age transitioning out of care are not prepared for independent living and may face many adversities. The problem is that young adults have difficulties finding permanent housing once emancipated from state care, their biological homes, or juvenile justice centers. The purpose of this study was to explore the perceptions and experiences of young adults 18-24 years of age and how their experiences and life skills helped on their journey to acquire …

Factors Impacting Vicarious Traumatization In Metropolitan Law Enforcement Officers, Falisa Asberry

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

AbstractThe exposure to work-related trauma and the relationship to gender, age, years of service, and education level and their impact on the development of vicarious traumatization (VT) on metropolitan law enforcement officers has been underexamined. This quantitative correlational study aimed to examine whether the mediating variable resilience, along with the independent variables gender, age, years of service, and level of education, impacted the dependent variable VT. The constructivist self-development theory and the resilience theory were used as the framework for the study. The professional quality of life scale was used to measure the independent variables and VT. The resilience scale …

Predictors Of Time Spent Counseling: Counselors’ Professional Identity, Counseling Competencies, And Principal Relationship, Lori P. Barthel

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

This quantitative study was an inquiry into whether Louisiana school counselors’ perceptions of their professional identity, quality of principal-school counselor relationships, and confidence level (self-efficacy) of providing school-based mental health services (SBMHS) including counseling skills, addressing student issues, and working with students who have a Diagnostic and Statistical Manual diagnosis influence the frequency of counseling services provided to K-12 students. The theoretical lenses were the leader-member exchange theory and social cognitive theory. The hypotheses were that Louisiana school counselors (N=147) who identify as mental health providers working in a K-12 school setting with higher ratings of relationship quality with their …

Low Income African American Parents Experiences Managing Obese Young Children Weight Loss, Angela Berry

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

February 2022 Abstract In the United States, 17% of children between the ages of two to 19 years are diagnosed with obesity more than any other chronic health condition. African American children living in the United States have an obesity rate of 22% compared to White children who have an obesity rate of 14.1%. These high obesity rates created situations in which these children are likely to experience significant lifelong health problems. The purpose of this descriptive qualitative phenomenological study was to describe the experiences of African American parents of low-income managing weight-loss in their young children with obesity between …

The Role Of Child And Adult Sexual Fantasies And Criminal Paraphilia Involving Serial Sexual Murderers, Heather Brown

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Childhood trauma may be a reason a child develops maladaptive coping mechanisms such as sexual fantasies and paraphilia. These coping mechanisms increase in intensity, leading to sexual violence to gain a sense of power and control. Even though researchers have identified that serial sexual killers suffer from child and adult sexual fantasies and criminal paraphilia, details of the sexual fantasies and paraphilia have not been examined. The purpose of this qualitative exploratory case study was to explore the role of child and adult sexual fantasies and criminal paraphilia involving serial sexual murderers. Hickey’s trauma-control model and relational paraphilic attachment theory …

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 …

Experiences Of Bsn Graduates Integrating Cultural Competence When Caring For Multicultural Patients, Judith A. Daniels

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Registered nurses entering the workforce with baccalaureate of science degrees in nursing (BSN) are expected to be knowledgeable and skilled in planning and caring for multicultural patients, but there is little information on what experiences new nurses have in implementing culturally competent care. The purpose of this descriptive phenomenological study, guided by the Campinha-Bacote process of cultural competence in the delivery of health care services model, was to understand the lived experiences of BSN graduates with one year or less experience in implementing cultural competence in planning care for their multicultural patients. The research question directly addressed this purpose. Ten …

Therapists’ And Teachers’ Experiences Of Children With Aggression: A Children’S Partial Hospitalization Program, Kimberlee Joy Dunlap

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Aggression is an indicator of future criminal behavior. It can be a result of trauma, substance-abusing parents, or executive functioning. Research has shown that aggression in childhood often creates criminal behavior later in life, thus researchers suggest that more studies are conducted on programs that help children with aggression. The purpose of this qualitative study was to examine the experiences of therapists who work with aggressive children in a children’s partial hospitalization program, and those teachers who have had these children in class before entering the program and upon discharge from the program. The qualitative study was done using semi-structured …

Returning Home: The Reported Reintegration Experiences Of Parents/Guardians Of African American Female Youth, Jenay Garrett

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

African American, female youth remain overrepresented in juvenile detention centers. Parental involvement has been identified as a major factor in the success of a youth’s reintegration into the community post detention; however, there is limited information about the experiences of parents/guardians of African American female youth during reintegration. The purpose of this generic, qualitative study was to gain insight and understanding regarding the reported reintegration experiences of parents/guardians of African American teenage daughters returning, home post detention, regarding their role development as parents/guardians during that time. The theoretical framework for this study is parent development theory (PDT) developed by Dr. …

Diabetes, Obesity, Geographic Location Of The Patient And Clostridium Difficile Infection In The United States, Mary (Maribeth) Greenway

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

AbstractClostridium difficile infection (CDI) is a major nosocomial threat to be reckoned with in the current health care setting in the United States. Advancing age, underlying chronic disease associated with inflammation (including Diabetes Mellitus Type I ([DMI]), Diabetes Type II ([DMII]), and obesity), trauma, immunodeficiency and other factors that diminish the overall health of an individual, and increase an individual’s susceptibility to CDI. The ecological framework was used to determine the relationship between geographic, chronic diseases and the occurrence of infectious diseases. To continue enhancing knowledge related to CDI susceptibility this quantitative study used the 2010 National Hospital Discharge Survey …

Urban Administrators Perspectives Of Exclusionary Discipline Techniques And The School-To-Prison Pipeline, Sabrina Enid Johnson

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

There is an overrepresentation of elementary-age, Black boys being suspended across the United States. Researchers have found that if these boys are disconnected from school at an early age, they are at risk of becoming part of the school-to-prison pipeline (STPP). Educators, particularly those in urban settings, need to understand more about the use of exclusionary discipline policies and practices. The purpose of this generic qualitative study was to understand how urban educators consider the consequences of exclusionary discipline practices and the overrepresentation of elementary-age, Black boys who receive them compared to others. Critical race theory informed this study. Ten …

Bullying, Participation In Violence, Suicidal Ideation, And Behavior Among African American Youth, Kierystan Lorquoyea Johnson

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Suicide is the second leading cause of death among adolescent, teens, and young adults. Suicidal ideation is a predictor of suicide attempts. Guided by the integrated motivational-volitional model and social cognitive theory, Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance Survey data were used to investigate whether traditional bullying, cyberbullying, and participation in physically violent behavior (independent variables) were associated with suicidal ideation and behavior (dependent variables) among African American high school aged youth controlling for age, gender, physical, and sexual abuse. It was found that experiencing traditional bullying increased suicidal ideation significantly, as there is an 82% increase in likelihood. There was also …

Perceived Discrimination As A Moderator Of The Relationship Between Allostatic Load And Asthma Control, Vera Kern

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

While asthma prevalence in the United States is generally declining, African Americans tend to experience poorer outcomes regarding asthma severity and control. The purpose of the present study was to test whether discrimination (everyday and lifetime) moderated the relationship between allostatic load and asthma severity/asthma control (dyspnea and peak flow). In previous literature, researchers established the relationship between allostatic load and asthma severity/asthma control among African Americans. The biopsychosocial model and allostatic load theory served as the theoretical frameworks for this study. In this cross-sectional, nonexperimental, quantitative design, 201 African Americans between the ages of 34 and 82 years were …

Resilience And Success Of Graduated Undergraduates Who Experienced Homelessness During Their Undergraduate Years, Sheena Lashell Moore

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Approximately 9% of students who attend 4-year colleges and community colleges have experienced homelessness at some time during their undergraduate years. Researchers have primarily focused on the negative effects of homelessness of these students related to academic success. The purpose of this qualitative multiple case study was to investigate the internal goals and drives associated with the resiliency of graduated undergraduates as well as support systems they believed helped them overcome barriers to become academically successful. Resiliency theory was the theoretical framework for the study. Semistructured interviews were conducted with two women regarding their experiences. Data were analyzed using a …

Stigma And Discrimination’S Effect On Hiv Testing Of Pregnant Women In Nigeria, Charles Echezona Nzelu

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The utilization of HIV testing services among pregnant women in Nigeria has not been optimal. Although much is known about the determinants of HIV testing among pregnant women, there is a gap in knowledge on determinants for pregnant women infected with the virus, specifically whether stigma and discrimination are barriers. The purpose of this study was to examine the effect of stigmatizing attitudes and personal knowledge of discriminatory practices towards persons living with HIV/AIDS on the decision by pregnant Nigerian women aged 15-49 years to test for HIV during antenatal visits or childbirth. The health belief model served as the …

Maternal Attachment And The Role Of Disparate Biology In Lesbian Co-Mothers, Annisha J. Peets

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Lesbian co-mothers represent a unique population whose alternative family structure has received additional attention resulting from legal changes permitting same-sex marriage. Challenging the heteronormative status quo through lesbian mothering offers numerous facets of familial relationship development and dynamics worth exploring. Prior research has focused on exploring how adoptive lesbian co-mothers navigate the emotional connections to their children; however, it has not adequately explored how lesbian couples negotiate unequal biological ties to their children and the extent to which biology influences which mother forms a primary bond to the child. This study explored the disparate role of biology and any influences …

Strategies Business Leaders Use To Mitigate Online Credit Card Fraud, Clarissa Rosario-Tavarez

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Online credit card fraud targeting banks, customers, and businesses costs millions of U.S. dollars annually. Online business leaders face challenges securing and regulating the online payment processing environment. Grounded in the situational crime prevention theory, the purpose of this qualitative multiple case study was to explore strategies online business leaders use to mitigate the loss of revenue caused by online credit card fraud. The participants comprised five online business leaders of an organization in the Southwest of the United States, who implemented strategies that successfully mitigated revenue losses due to online credit card fraud. The data were collected from semistructured …