Digital Commons Network^™

A Multicenter Retrospective Cohort Study To Characterize Patients Hospitalized With Multisystem Inflammatory Syndrome In Adults And Coronavirus Disease 2019 In The United States, 2020-2021, Michael Melgar, Joseph Y Abrams, Shana Godfred-Cato, Ami B Shah, Amit Garg, Andrew Strunk, Mangala Narasimhan, Jonathan Koptyev, Alexandra Norden, David Musheyev, Fahmida Rashid, Rachel Tannenbaum, Rosa M Estrada-Y-Martin, Bela Patel, Siddharth Karanth, Chad J Achenbach, Gavin T Hall, Sara M Hockney, Matthew Caputo, Lilian M Abbo, Laura Beauchamps, Stephen Morris, Renzo O Cifuentes, Annabelle De St Maurice, Douglas S Bell, Kavitha K Prabaker, Fernando J Sanz Vidorreta, Evan Bryant, David K Cohen, Rohith Mohan, Christopher P Libby, Spencer Soohoo, Tristel J Domingo, Angela P Campbell, Ermias D Belay

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Background: The diagnosis of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2)-associated multisystem inflammatory syndrome in adults (MIS-A) requires distinguishing it from acute coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) and may affect clinical management.

Methods: In this retrospective cohort study, we applied the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention case definition to identify adults hospitalized with MIS-A at 6 academic medical centers from 1 March 2020 to 31 December 2021. Patients MIS-A were matched by age group, sex, site, and admission date at a 1:2 ratio to patients hospitalized with acute symptomatic COVID-19. Conditional logistic regression was used to compare demographic characteristics, …

Understanding The Implications Of Underreporting, Vaccine Efficiency And Social Behavior On The Post-Pandemic Spread Using Physics Informed Neural Networks: A Case Study Of China, Samiran Ghosh, Alonso Ogueda-Oliva, Aditi Ghosh, Malay Banerjee

Faculty Publications

In late 2019, the emergence of COVID-19 in Wuhan, China, led to the implementation of stringent measures forming the zero-COVID policy aimed at eliminating transmission. Zero COVID policy basically aimed at completely eliminating the transmission of COVID-19. However, the relaxation of this policy in late 2022 reportedly resulted in a rapid surge of COVID-19 cases. The aim of this work is to investigate the factors contributing to this outbreak using a new SEIR-type epidemic model with time-dependent level of immunity. Our model incorporates a time-dependent level of immunity considering vaccine doses administered and time-post-vaccination dependent vaccine efficacy. We find that …

Contact Tracing For Covid-19 In A Healthcare Institution: Our Experience And Lessons Learned, Mahalakshmy Thulasingam,, Yuvaraj Krishnamoorthy, Ramya Nagarajan, Sathish Rajaa, Marie Gilbert Majella, Dinesh Kumar Giriyappa, Cincy Merin Varughese, Subitha Lakshminarayanan, Palanivel Chinnakali, Sitanshu Sekhar Kar, Ramesh Babu, Sreejith Parameswaran, Santhosh Satheesh, Vivekanandan Pillai, Sonali Sarkar

International Journal of Health and Allied Sciences

During the initial phases of the COVID-19 pandemic contact tracing was used to control spread of the disease. It played a key role in health care institute which continued to work even during lockdown. In this piece of work, we share the lessons learnt from the contact tracing activity done in the health care institution during April to July 2020. The training needs of persons involved in contact tracing, the follow of activities, use of technology, methods to fill the missing gaps were the key lessons learnt. Its documentation supports in setting up contact tracing activity for any emerging infectious …

Optimal Management Of Renewable Energy Resources To Increase Resilience Of Power Systems, Tohid Khalili

Electrical and Computer Engineering ETDs

The main goal of this dissertation is to improve the resilience of power systems using different techniques and optimization approaches regarding new technologies. Thus, several test cases with various objective functions are proposed. Voltage regulation and demand response programs are used to investigate and improve the system's financial and reliability status. In addition, COVID-19’s effect with the high presence of renewable energy resources is examined from financial, risk, and reliability points of view. Finally, a new model for the wildfire risk is proposed in a large distribution system to increase the reliability of the system with the usage of reclosers …

Effectiveness Of A Bivalent Mrna Vaccine Dose Against Symptomatic Sars-Cov-2 Infection Among U.S. Healthcare Personnel, September 2022–May 2023, Ian D. Plumb, Melissa Briggs Hagen, Ryan Wiegand, Ghinwa Dumyati, Christopher Myers, Karisa K. Harland, Anusha Krishnadasan, Jade James Gist, Glen Abedi, Katherine E. Fleming-Dutra, Nora Chea, Jane E. Lee, Melissa Kellogg, Alexandra Edmundson, Amber Britton, Lucy E. Wilson, Sara A. Lovett, Valerie Ocampo, Tiffanie M. Markus, Howard A. Smithline, Peter C. Hou, Lilly C. Lee, William Mower, Fernand Rwamwejo, Mark T. Steele, Stephen C. Lim, Walter A. Schrading, Brian Chinnock

School of Medicine Faculty Publications

Background: Bivalent mRNA vaccines were recommended since September 2022. However, coverage with a recent vaccine dose has been limited, and there are few robust estimates of bivalent VE against symptomatic SARS-CoV-2 infection (COVID-19). We estimated VE of a bivalent mRNA vaccine dose against COVID-19 among eligible U.S. healthcare personnel who had previously received monovalent mRNA vaccine doses. Methods: We conducted a case-control study in 22 U.S. states, and enrolled healthcare personnel with COVID-19 (case-participants) or without COVID-19 (control-participants) during September 2022–May 2023. Participants were considered eligible for a bivalent mRNA dose if they had received 2–4 monovalent (ancestral-strain) mRNA vaccine …

Post-Acute Sequelae Of Covid-19 (Pasc) In Pediatrics: Factors That Impact Symptom Severity And Referral To Treatment., Catherine Soprano, Ryan Ngo, Casey A Konys, Ashley Bazier, Katherine Salamon

Department of Medicine Faculty Papers

The post-acute sequelae of COVID-19 (PASC) is a complex condition. While there are emerging studies on its effects in adults, there is scarce research regarding the long-term effects of COVID-19 infection among youth. Several researchers have likened long-haul COVID-19 to chronic fatigue syndrome/myalgic encephalomyelitis (CFS/ME) and postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (POTS). In adults, the prognosis for these diagnoses is less promising than that in youth; however, there is currently very little information available on the presentation of youth with PASC. A better understanding of the specific symptom presentation for youth diagnosed with PASC is necessary. Retrospective chart reviews were conducted …

Are The Housing Staff Alright? A Hermeneutic Phenomenological Examination Of The Experiences Of On-Campus Student Housing Professionals Through The Covid-19 Pandemic, Megan J. Chibanga

Teacher Education, Educational Leadership & Policy ETDs

College and university housing professionals served a role they were generally underprepared for as long-term crisis managers during the global COVID-19 pandemic. The COVID-19 pandemic interrupted and shifted higher education operating structures on a grand scale, and housing staff were asked to continue operating on-campus housing facilities throughout the ever-changing response to COVID-19. The purpose of this hermeneutic phenomenological study was to understand the lived experiences of housing professionals during the COVID-19 pandemic. Through the collective experiences of 21 participants three major threads emerged: comfort in the unknown, a need for connection and community, and relentless resilience. Each of these …

N-95 Masks Have No Effect On Spontaneous Physical Activity, Dalton Lesser, Jake Laufenberg, Zachary Zeigler

International Journal of Exercise Science: Conference Proceedings

In recent years, the use of facemasks has greatly increased, especially due to the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. Many individuals were required to wear a face mask for long durations. The impact of mask wearing on spontaneous physical activity (PA) is unknown. PURPOSE: This study seeks to determine if wearing an N-95 mask for extended duration would have any impact on spontaneous physical activity. METHODS: 12 total participants aged 18-21 yr. were recruited for this experimental cross-over study. Subjects reported to the lab twice, separated by one week, to receive a wrist-worn accelerometer. One condition was control …

Impact Of Amphan And Yaas Cyclones That Struck During The Covid-19 And Its Lockdown Periods On Life And Livelihood In The Sundarban Adjacent Gangetic West Bengal - A Brief Report, Indian Statistical Institute

Monographs

The report of this Project was edited by Hari Charan Behera, Tarun Kabiraj, Kuntal Ghosh, Rabindranath Jana, and Partha De.

Managing natural disasters like cyclones that struck back to back particularly during Covid-19 pandemic is a mammoth challenge for any country in the world. Covid-19 has already resulted to an increase in the global poverty level from 8.3% in 2019 to 9.2% in 2020 with about eight million additional workers falling into poverty (Sun, et al 2023). Developing countries in Asia, Africa, and Latin America are among the most vulnerable due to disrupted supply chain. Further, the coastal regions of …

Three Essays On Disability Claiming And Mental Health, Samsun Naher

Economics ETDs

This dissertation is a collection of three essays that study the interconnection between the Affordable Care Act (ACA) Marketplace plans and disability claiming and the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on prescription drug utilization for anxiety and depression among Medicaid enrollees. The first essay examines the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on prescription drug use for anxiety and depression among Medicaid enrollees, using Medicaid State Drug Utilization Data. The findings suggest that the COVID-19 pandemic increased the use of prescription drugs for anxiety and depression relative to prescription drugs use for all conditions, but decreased prescription drugs use for anxiety …

The Great Resignation: An Exploration Of Strategies To Combat School Bus Driver Shortages In The Post-Covid-19 Era, James E. Cole Jr.

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Leading school transportation providers have been turning toward data-driven incentive programs to engage, motivate, and get the best out of their school bus drivers, but the nationwide school bus driver shortage has emerged as a pressing issue of critical importance affecting the education system, transportation infrastructure, and safety of students across the United States. School bus driving is one of the most challenging driving jobs, and low wages, demanding schedules, stringent licensing requirements, and the COVID-19 pandemic have exacerbated the shortage of drivers. Identification of strategies to improve school bus driver retention was the objective of this qualitative phenomenological study. …

Correlations Between Mental Health, Physical Activity, And Body Composition In American College Students After The Covid-19 Pandemic Lockdown, Luis Torres, Manuela C Caciula, Alin S Tomoiaga, Carmen Gugu-Gramatopol

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Restrictions associated with the COVID-19 pandemic had forced American college students to significantly reduce their daily energy expenditure and increase their sedentary behaviors, thus presumably increasing mental health symptoms, decreasing physical activity levels, and enhancing the promotion of unhealthy eating habits. This study aimed to explore the correlations between mental health symptoms, physical activity levels, and body composition in college students in the years following the pandemic, focusing on the lingering effects of lockdown measures. American college students completed pre-existing, well-validated surveys for both mental health (Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale) and physical activity (International Physical Activity Questionnaire—Long Form). Body …

A Retrospective Analysis Of Hearing Screening Outcomes In Infants Whose Mothers Were Covid-19 Positive During Pregnancy, Sangamanatha Ankmnal Ankmnal Veeranna, Charles G. Marx, Hwanseok Choi, Clinton White, Kimberly Ward

Journal of Early Hearing Detection and Intervention

Background: This study examined hearing screening referral rates over a three-year period, including testing performed pre-pandemic (2019) and during the first two years (2020 and 2021) of the onset of the spread of COVID-19.

Methods: This study conducted a retrospective analysis of 8,130 hearing screening referral records from 2019 – 2021, obtained from a large regional level II trauma center. These records were generated from the universal hearing screening process which utilized automated auditory brainstem response devices.

Results: There was no significant change in the number of infants screened for hearing loss and hearing screening outcomes between the pre-pandemic and …

Sociodemographic Factors Influencing Pandemic-Era Ehdi Use And Access, Nicole Perez, David Adkins, Marissa Schuh, Jennifer B. Shinn, Lori Travis, Matthew L. Bush

Journal of Early Hearing Detection and Intervention

Objective: The COVID-19 pandemic impact on Early Hearing Detection and Intervention (EHDI) programs is unknown. This research evaluated sociodemographic factors influencing adherence to EDHI diagnostic testing and the incidence of infant hearing loss during the pandemic.

Method: We evaluated EHDI adherence and incidence of hearing loss in Kentucky before and during the COVID-19 pandemic. Using univariate and multivariate analysis, we evaluated the association of these outcomes to sociodemographic variables.

Results: There were 71,206 births and 1,385 referred infant hearing screening tests during the study period. Infants during the pandemic had a 24% lower odds of hearing testing adherence (OR …

Covid‑19‑Related Risk, Resilience, And Mental Health Among Mexican American Mothers Across The First Year Of The Pandemic, Amy L. Non, Elizabeth S. Clausing, Sandraluz Lara‑Cinisomo, Kimberly L. D’Anna Hernandez

Center for Brain, Biology, and Behavior: Faculty Publications

Background Latina mothers have been especially affected by the pandemic and historically exhibit high rates of depression and anxiety. However, few longitudinal studies have assessed the effect of the pandemic on this vulnerable population. We hypothesized that COVID-19-related stressors would associate with psychological distress among Latina mothers across the first year of the pandemic.

Methods We investigated COVID-19-related impact, stigma, and fears across two critical time points and changes in these measures in relation to changes in maternal anxiety and depression among mothers of Mexican descent living in Southern California (n=152). Surveys were administered within 5–16 weeks of …

Aspire: Activity Safety Planning And Infection Risk Estimator For Covid-19, Maveron Tyriel V. Aguares, Anne Nicole U. Gabor, Thaniel C. Lee, Cy Wenvir A. Padillon, Shirley B. Chu

Sinaya: A Philippine Journal for Senior High School Teachers and Students

The COVID-19 pandemic has prompted multiple researchers to investigate this domain since 2020. One aspect being explored in this topic is the available tools in assisting the public in estimating virus risks. Due to the limited availability of the tools, Jimenez and Peng created the Aerosol Transmission Estimator, which is a peer-reviewed risk estimator that garnered positive reception. The tool is encoded in Google sheets. However, people may find it difficult to use due to the terminologies and information presented in that sheet. To solve this, MyCOVIDRisk, a user-friendly website was built for this estimator, but it is only configured …

Intellectual Property And “The Lost Year” Of Covid-19 Deaths, Madhavi Sunder, Haochen Sun

Georgetown Law Faculty Publications and Other Works

Protecting intellectual property (IP) is a question of life and death. COVID-19 vaccines, partially incentivized by IP, are estimated to have saved nearly 20 million lives worldwide during the first year of their availability in 2021. However, most of the benefits of this life-saving technology went to high- and upper-middle-income countries. Despite 10 billion vaccines being produced by the end of 2021, only 4 percent of people in low-income countries were fully vaccinated. Paradoxically, IP may also be partly responsible for hundreds of thousands of lives lost in 2021, due to an insufficient supply of vaccines and inequitable access during …

A Report Of National Symposium On Livelihood Challenges And Opportunities During And Post Covid-19 Pandemic, Indian Statistical Institute

Monographs

This report of the Symposium was edited by the Hari Charan Behera, Tarun Kabiraj, Rabindranath Jana.

In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic and subsequent natural disasters such as cyclones in West Bengal and Odisha, rural households dependent on agriculture and daily wages have encountered unprecedented challenges. These challenges have disproportionately affected vulnerable communities with limited livelihood access, exacerbating the socio-economic disparities prevalent in these regions. The symposium aims to delve into the multifaceted impact of these crises on rural households, shedding light on the adversities faced by farmers and informal workers while also exploring the newfound opportunities that have …

Frequency Of Dysnatremia In Patients Admitted With Covid-19 Infection And Its Prognostic Implication, Farah Gul Khan, Saadia Sattar, Muhammad M. Yaqoob, Nida Vallani, Maryam Asad

Section of Nephrology

Objective: We aimed to investigate the frequency of dysnatremia among patients admitted with COVID-19 infection and its association with inpatient mortality.
Methods: This retrospective longitudinal study was conducted for 12 weeks. Serum sodium levels were recorded at admission, during the hospital stay, and within 48 hours of discharge or death. Logistic regression was used to determine the predictors of mortality.
Results: This study included 574 patients (69.7% men, age 55.6 ± 14.4 years). On admission, mean sodium was 135.9 ± 6.4 mEq/L; 39% had hyponatremia and 4.7% had hypernatremia. During admission, hypernatremia increased to 18.8%; maximum sodium in patients who …

A Primary Qualitative Study Exploring Adult Bame Individuals' Experiences Regarding Physical Activity From The North-East Of England During The Covid-19 Pandemic, Johnson Mbabazi, Fiona Macgregor, Jeff Breckon, Barry Tolchard, Edward Kunonga, Dorothy Irene Nalweyiso, Abiola Fashina, Lawrence Achilles Nnyanzi

International Journal of Physical Activity and Health

Researchers have found that people from BAME communities have worse health outcomes from many health interventions and face health disparities. BAME individuals experience health inequities and lower health intervention results. The experiences of adult Teesside-based BAME individuals' regarding physical activity (PA) during the COVID-19 pandemic were mapped onto the capability, opportunity, and motivation model of behaviour (COM-B). Twelve adult BAME participants were interviewed using semi-structured interviews that lasted 40 to 60 minutes and captured participant perceptions of how their PA and perceptions related to living a healthy PA lifestyle during the pandemic between April and August 2022 via Microsoft Teams. …

Is Coping Enough? Examining Coping And Burnout Among Educators In A Pandemic, Caitlyn Jezowit

Theses and Dissertations

Coronavirus-19 (COVID-19) intensified workplace stressors for educators worldwide. A teacher’s job demands and resources contribute to workplace stress, which can lead to burnout and can have negative effects on the school environment, student outcomes, and turnover intentions. Coping strategies and one’s coping self-efficacy are critical to stress management. This study examined how teachers perceive their coping strategies and abilities, and their job characteristics during the pandemic. The current study also explored the associations among the perceived impact of COVID-19, job demands and resources, coping, burnout symptoms, and turnover intentions. In this study, 198 teachers completed a survey about their perceptions …

Comparison Of Joint Mobilization And Movement Pattern Training For Patients With Hip-Related Groin Pain: A Pilot Randomized Clinical Trial, Marcie Harris-Hayes, Patricia Zorn, Karen Steger-May, Megan M Burgess, Rebecca D Demargel, Suzanne Kuebler, John Clohisy, Simon Haroutounian

2020-Current year OA Pubs

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to assess the feasibility of completing a randomized clinical trial (RCT) and examine the preliminary effects of 2 interventions for hip-related groin pain (HRGP).

METHODS: In this pilot RCT, patients with HRGP, who were 18 to 40 years old, were randomized (1:1 ratio) to a joint mobilization (JtMob) group or a movement pattern training (MoveTrain) group. Both treatments included 10 supervised sessions and a home exercise program. The goal of JtMob was to reduce pain and improve mobility through peripherally and centrally mediated pain mechanisms. The key element was physical therapist-provided JtMob. The …

Monocytes And Macrophages Promote Increased Tissue Factor-Factor Viia-Dependent Procoagulant Activity In Response To The Sars-Cov-2 Spike Protein, James Harte

ORBioM (Open Research BioSciences Meeting)

Background

Venous thromboembolism (VTE) is a high-incidence complication of severe SARS-CoV-2-associated COVID-19. Recently, abnormal tissue factor expression has been linked to thromboembolic events in patients with COVID-19. Monocytes and macrophages are the predominant source of tissue factor in peripheral circulation, which suggests a potential pathomechanistic interplay between SARS-CoV-2 and the monocyte-macrophage axis. However, the link between monocytes and macrophages and the thromboembolic risk associated with COVID-19 is largely unaddressed.

Aims

In this study, we investigated changes in monocyte/macrophage procoagulant activity in response to the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein.

Methods

Immortalised human-derived monocytes and differentiated macrophages were treated with the SARS-CoV-2 spike …

Contending With Covid: Examining Levels Of Anxiety Among College-Aged Adults In The Wake Of The Pandemic, Madison C. Harris

Undergraduate Research (Journal)

Much is unknown about the impact of pandemics, as well as their corollary effects. Paying particular attention to the demographic characteristics of participants (gender, race/ethnicity, and familial income), this quantitative study examines differences in levels of anxiety in separate, unmatched samples of college students before and after social distancing due to COVID-19. Via an online survey platform, participants (N = 156) completed self-report measures which gathered demographic characteristics and levels of anxiety. A four-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) did not show significant differences in levels of anxiety among participants across gender, race, familial income, or social distancing status. Implications for …

Medicine And Kindness, A Glorious Concurrence?, Araya Gautam

Patient Experience Journal

This article unfolds the journey of a 28-year-old junior doctor entangled in the throes of a pernicious anemia diagnosis during her travels abroad, a scenario exacerbated by the grip of a COVID-19 lockdown. Adrift without medical insurance and distant from her family, she found herself under the care of a compassionate on-call resident, emphasizing the crucial role of kindness and compassion in her predicament. Her treatment regimen encompassed a series of CBC tests meticulously tracking cobalamin and ferritin levels, complemented by extensive examinations for iron deficiency and a regimen of vital vitamin B12 injections, all carried out under vigilant scrutiny …

Faculty And Students’ Perceptions Of Online Nursing Courses During Emergency Remote Teaching, Katie Daigle, Tammy Dannehl, Susan Lacey

Journal of Interprofessional Practice and Collaboration

Abstract

Background: During the COVID-19 pandemic, a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) program transitioned from a traditional format to emergency remote teaching (ERT).

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to ascertain faculty and student perceptions about teaching and learning online.

Methods: A qualitative study was conducted with a set of four standard questions asked in focus groups about perceptions of online teaching and learning. The participants were BSN faculty and students from an upper level nursing course. These sessions were recorded and transcribed. Themes were developed from the data.

Results: There were three faculty focus groups (N=18) and …

The Influence Of Nature On Well-Being During The Covid-19 Pandemic: Views From New England Island Residents, Nicole Kras, Jennifer Keenan

New Community College

Researchers are beginning to explore the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on island populations, but little is known about the experiences of the residents of Nantucket and Martha’s Vineyard in the Northeast region of the United States. In this study, islanders (N=41) provide insight into how spending time in nature influenced their well-being, especially their mental well-being, during this unprecedented time. For the majority of participants, the influence of nature on their well-being increased during the pandemic. Additionally, participants shared benefits of island living such as isolation from the mainland, as well as challenges such as food and supply shortages. …

A Phenomenological Exploration Of Women’S Lived Experiences During Their Pregnancy Lifecycle, Ashley J. Blount, Charmayne R. Adams, Kara M. Schneider, Gurudutt Pendyala, Ann L. Anderson-Berry, Corrine Hanson

Office of Health Promotion Scholarship

When considering peri-and-post natal health, there are several biopsychosocial risk factors at play. Biological, psychological, and social health factors are significant in contributing to maternal wellbeing and influencing maternal morbidity/mortality [1]. The Covid-19 pandemic had significant impacts on general populations and on vulnerable groups such as pre-peri-and-post natal women [2]. In previous epidemics, pregnant women were reluctant to attend hospitals and doctors’ appointments due to fear of infection [3]. Covid-19 has shown similar effects [2] and as such, risks associated with the pregnancy lifecycle have increased. A phenomenological investigation found themes of women experiencing negative healthcare, struggles with self-advocacy, heightened …

Do Online Consumers Value Corporate Social Responsibility More In Times Of Uncertainty?: Evidence From Online Auctions Conducted During The Onset Of The Covid-19 Pandemic, Andrew S. Manikas, James R. Kroes, E. Shaunn Mattingly, Garrett A. Mcbrayer

IT and Supply Chain Management Faculty Publications and Presentations

The relationships between Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) and consumer behaviors have been widely explored in the literature. From the consumer standpoint, it has been shown that individuals largely want to be socially responsible actors and that, more than ever, they consider the CSR aspects of products or services when contemplating purchasing decisions. We utilize data from 23,247 online auctions conducted before and during the COVID-19 pandemic to analyze in what way consumer preferences might be influenced by how the CSR characteristics of products are touted in their descriptions. We find that a greater CSR emphasis is positively associated with an …

Promoting Data Harmonization To Evaluate Vaccine Hesitancy In Lmics: Approach And Applications, Ryan Rego, Yuri Zhukov, Kyrani Reneau, Amy Pienta, Kristina L. Rice, Patrick Brady, Geoffrey Siwo, Peninah Wachira, Amina Abubakar, Ken Kollman

Institute for Human Development, East Africa

Background: Factors influencing the health of populations are subjects of interdisciplinary study. However, datasets relevant to public health often lack interdisciplinary breath. It is difficult to combine data on health outcomes with datasets on potentially important contextual factors, like political violence or development, due to incompatible levels of geographic support; differing data formats and structures; differences in sampling procedures and wording; and the stability of temporal trends. We present a computational package to combine spatially misaligned datasets, and provide an illustrative analysis of multi-dimensional factors in health outcomes.

Methods: We rely on a new software toolkit, Sub-National Geospatial Data Archive …