Digital Commons Network^™

Canine Parasites In Southern Nevada Urban Dog Parks: Paravec Study, Miklo Azrael A. Alcala

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

While dogs are one of humans’ greatest companions, they also serve as hosts for a multitude of parasites. Urban dog parks serve as environments where the transmission of diseases is likely to occur. Exposure to infective agents, contained within the soil, intermediate hosts (e.g., rodents, rabbits), and feces, can directly affect the health of dogs and their owners. Other factors that can further influence canine health include age, previous diagnoses of parasites/diseases, and migration. Many dog owners visit dog parks to encourage socialization and exercise. Such activities are meant to improve health, but unawareness of microbiological organisms can lead to …

Addressing Social Inequalities Using Ai, Big Data, And Machine Learning, Erica L. Jensen, Lakell Archer, Sumaya Ali

Journal of Nonprofit Innovation

No abstract provided.

A Dual-Angle Exploration Towards Understanding Lapses In Covid-19 Social Responsibility, Sean T. H. Lee, Jerome J. X. Mah, Angela K. Y. Leung

Research Collection School of Social Sciences

Breaking infection chains requires not just behaviours that allow individuals to stay healthy and uninfected (i.e. health protective behaviours) but also for those who are possibly infected to protect others from their harboured infection risk (i.e. socially responsible behaviours). However, socially responsible behaviours entail costs without clear, immediate benefits to the individual, such that public health-risking lapses occur from time to time. In this important yet understudied area, the current exploratory study sought to identify possible psychological factors that may affect people's likelihood of engaging in socially responsible behaviours. Assuming that self-perceived infection should provide an impetus to engage in …

Endotoxin, A Novel Biomarker For The Rapid Risk Assessment Of Faecal Contamination Of Coastal And Transitional Waters, Christian R. Good, Alistair White, Joao Brandao, Simon Jackson

School of Biomedical Sciences

Current methods for testing water for faecal contamination rely on the culture of faecal indicator bacteria (FIB; Escherichia coli and Enterococci) that take 24–48 h, which leads to delays in taking proactive measures and poses a risk to public health. More rapid methods are therefore required. Here, we have tested a rapid, portable assay (Bacterisk) that detects the bacterial biomarker endotoxin in 30 min to quantify the bacterial biomass present, to evaluate 159 coastal water samples and to compare the results with the traditional culture of FIB. There was a significant correlation between the Bacterisk data given in endotoxin risk …

An Inaugural Forum On Epidemiological Modeling For Public Health Stakeholders In Arizona, Joseph R. Mihalijevic, Carmenlita Chief, Mehreen Malik, Kayode Oshinubi, Eck Doerry, Esma Gel, Crystal Hepp, Tim Lant, Sanjay Mehrotra, Samantha Sabo

Department of Supply Chain Management and Analytics: Faculty Publications

Epidemiological models—which help us understand and forecast the spread of infectious disease—can be valuable tools for public health. However, barriers exist that can make it difficult to employ epidemiological models routinely within the repertoire of public health planning. These barriers include technical challenges associated with constructing the models, challenges in obtaining appropriate data for model parameterization, and problems with clear communication of modeling outputs and uncertainty. To learn about the unique barriers and opportunities within the state of Arizona, we gathered a diverse set of 48 public health stakeholders for a day-and-a-half forum. Our research group was motivated specifically by …

Short- And Long-Term Predicted And Witnessed Consequences Of Digital Surveillance During The Covid-19 Pandemic: Scoping Review, Leigha Comer, Lorie Donelle Phd, Rn, Fcan, Bradley Hiebert, Maxwell J. Smith, Anita Kothari, Saverio Stranges, Jason Gilliland, Jed Long, Jacquelyn Burkell, Jacob J. Shelley, Jodi Hall, James Shelley, Tommy Cooke, Marionette Ngole Dione, Danica Facca

Publications

BACKGROUND: The COVID-19 pandemic has prompted the deployment of digital technologies for public health surveillance globally. The rapid development and use of these technologies have curtailed opportunities to fully consider their potential impacts (eg, for human rights, civil liberties, privacy, and marginalization of vulnerable groups). OBJECTIVE: We conducted a scoping review of peer-reviewed and gray literature to identify the types and applications of digital technologies used for surveillance during the COVID-19 pandemic and the predicted and witnessed consequences of digital surveillance. METHODS: Our methodology was informed by the 5-stage methodological framework to guide scoping reviews: identifying the research question; identifying …

Mentorship Matters: Promising Results From Vpha’S Pilot Mentorship Program, Ashley Tharpe, Stacey B. Plichta, Anna R. Robertson, Kim Baskette

Virginia Journal of Public Health

Purpose

The Virginia Public Health Association (VPHA) Pilot Mentorship Program seeks to support public health students, early career professionals, and career switchers throughout the Commonwealth of Virginia in their growth as public health professionals. The program provides opportunities for participants to gain job-seeking and professional communication skills through live webinars, to connect with each other through online networking events, to manage stress through wellness webinars, and to interact with experienced public health professionals.

Methods

VPHA formed a volunteer committee to develop and implement the program in Fall 2022. Initially, the program was envisioned as a traditional one-to-one mentoring program; however, …

The Cure For World Peace: A Public Health Strategy, Eva Eleftheriadis

Undergraduate Honors Theses

Health and the environment impact the security and stability of the global community, as can be seen through the effects of pandemics and climate change. This paper attempts to address these factors by helping create a preventative strategy for countries to be better equipped to face these challenges, and decrease the extent of future manifestations. Starting with a comparative analysis of the Black Death and the COVID-19 pandemic, this paper explores the relationship that exists between health, the environment, and human behavior. The analysis suggests that when these aspects are mutually beneficial, there is an increase in human security, which …

Lyme Disease In The Northeast: The Unintended Consequence Of Suburban Development, Hayden Neubert

Student Theses 2015-Present

This paper addresses the role of suburban development in the suburbs of the Northeastern United States in increasing human Lyme disease infection. Over the past 50 years, Lyme disease has become the most common vector-borne disease in the United States. In 2021, the two states with the most Lyme disease cases were New York and New Jersey, with a collective 6,524 cases, with Connecticut still representing 541 total cases. It is not a coincidence that case numbers are concentrated in suburban areas with high forest fragmentation. Chapter 1 of this essay analyzes how human land development disrupts bioregulatory ecosystem actors …

Digital Health Literacy, Vaccine Information Sources, And Vaccine Acceptance Among Parents In Ontario: Quantitative Findings From A Mixed Methods Study, Sarah Ashfield, Lorie Donelle Phd, Rn, Fcan, Panagiota Tryphonopoulos, Ève Dubé, Maxwell Smith

Faculty Publications

Parents make important vaccination decisions for their children and many variables affect parents’ decisions to accept or decline vaccines. Parents are tasked with locating, understanding, and applying information to inform health decisions often using online resources; however, the digital health literacy levels of parents are unknown. The purpose of this study was to investigate parents’ digital health literacy levels, their sources for vaccine information, and analyze how demographics, digital health literacy, health literacy, parental attitudes and vaccine beliefs, trust, and vaccine information sources predict vaccine acceptance. Quantitative findings of a mixed methods study that examined parental vaccine decision making across …

Pandemic Pandemonium: The Interconnectedness Of Environmental And Public Health Through The Lens Of Covid-19, Hanna Giedraitis

Student Theses 2015-Present

In 2020, the world was launched into a global pandemic it was completely unprepared to fight. This pandemic began in the midst of tragic environmental disasters, including the largest wildfire recorded in California history. Once the global lockdown began, many long-standing environmental problems began to remedy themselves due to the sudden halt of human interaction. However, there were major environmental setbacks in the healthcare industry as increased medical waste and single-use items became a necessity. This thesis addresses how the pandemic impacted the environment through a lens of sustainability and public health, and how healthcare industries can be more prepared …

Assessing Impact Of Image-Based Immunization Education On Pediatric Vaccine Uptake Within Families Of Low English Literacy, Ahmed Ali, Mariam Bassalious, Sharfaa Chowdhury, Coral Hufnagel, Salwa Bajjey, Amaal Haimout, Nelia Afonso, Raouf Seifeldin

Posters

• Vaccinations have been hailed as the most effective public health strategy in mitigating infectious diseases. Since the advent of vaccines at the end of the 18th century, the incidence, prevalence, and mortality of vaccine-preventable diseases have markedly decreased.
• Vaccine hesitancy has been increasing within the last decade due to various reasons including misinformation and a lack of understanding. 2 This is especially true amongst patients with limited literacy skills as traditional vaccine education material is not optimal for their understanding.
• Several studies across various healthcare disciplines have shown that the use of picture-based health education for patients with limited literacy …

Water Justice And Equity: The Disproportionate Effects Of Pollution On Black, Indigenous, And Other Communities Of Color, Rae Cade

Theses, Dissertations and Culminating Projects

Access to clean drinking water is a basic human right, regardless of an individual’s background. Yet, discriminatory practices in the United States have disproportionately burdened Black, Indigenous, and other people of color (BIPOC) with contaminated sources of water. Understanding how and why water is disproportionately contaminated in areas with increased diversity, and identifying and targeting areas of environmental injustice, are essential steps for ensuring future water equity. Here, I examine the drivers of inequitable access to clean drinking water within the northeastern United States. In chapter one, I look at the historical drivers of land inequity within the United States. …

Pneumococcal And Influenza Vaccine Co-Administration In The Incarcerated Population, Kaitlyn Stroh

Doctor of Nursing Practice Projects

Background/Significance: Streptococcus pneumoniae is responsible for 20-60% of U.S. bacterial pneumonia cases and has a mortality rate of 10-30%. Invasive pneumococcal disease (IPD) occurs when streptococcus pneumoniae invades otherwise sterile sites. Adherence to immunization guidelines is 60-70% effective at preventing IPD. Co-administration of pneumococcal and influenza vaccines has shown promise at increasing uptake of the pneumococcal vaccine and enhancing immunological response. Population/Setting: A state-run Department of Corrections (DOC) clinic system serving just over 30,000 individuals was the site for this project. Incarcerated individuals present an increased risk of contracting pneumococcal disease due to close living quarters. Other risk factors such …

Latent Tb Treatment Regimens In 2023: Wetmore Tb Clinic In New Orleans, Amy Wolfe, Priyanka Jadhav, Amber May, Shandrica Seymour, Angela Blanchard, Juzar Ali

School of Medicine Faculty Publications

The USPSTF has updated Latent TB Infection (LTBI) screening and treatment recommendations in 2023; describing treatment courses, side effects and benefits associated with each regimen. Overall, rifampin-containing shortened regimens are the preferred modality for LTBI treatment. A recent study in 2023 evaluated adherence and tolerance of the isoniazid(INH) + rifapentine(RPT), or “3HP” regimen and identified patient groups that may be at higher risk for non-completion of this regimen. It emphasized the need for targeted education at the beginning of treatment, to avoid early discontinuation. Our experience in New Orleans demonstrated that the 3HP is well-tolerated, with higher completion rates than …

Modeling An Infection Outbreak With Quarantine: The Sibkr Model, Mikenna Dew, Amanda Langosch, Theadora Baker-Wallerstein

Rose-Hulman Undergraduate Mathematics Journal

Influenza is a respiratory infection that places a substantial burden in the world population each year. In this project, we study and interpret a data set from a flu outbreak in a British boarding school in 1978 with mathematical modeling. First, we propose a generalization of the SIR model based on the quarantine measure in place and establish the long-time behavior of the model. By analyzing the model mathematically, we determine the analytic formulas of the basic reproduction number, the long-time limit of solutions, and the maximum number of infection population. Moreover, we estimate the parameters of the model based …

Ensuring K-12 School Safety During A Respiratory Viral Pandemic, Dan Li

Yale Graduate School of Arts and Sciences Dissertations

In recent times, the world has witnessed an unprecedented global crisis with the outbreak of COVID-19. This pandemic has not only brought about a paradigm shift in our daily lives but has also significantly impacted various sectors of society, including the education system. K-12 schools are a major concern for viral transmission due to the close social interactions between children, crowded institutional environments, and suboptimal vaccine coverage. Children have close interactions with their household members, who are active in all sectors of society. The K-12 educational landscape has faced an array of challenges in the face of managing the COVID-19 …

Personal Data And Vaccination Hesitancy: Covid-19’S Lessons For Public Health Federalism, Charles D. Curran

Catholic University Law Review

During the COVID-19 vaccination campaign, the federal government adopted a more centralized approach to the collection of public health data. Although the states previously had controlled the storage of vaccination information, the federal government’s Operation Warp Speed plan required the reporting of recipients’ personal information on the grounds that it was needed to monitor the safety of novel vaccines and ensure correct administration of their multi-dose regimens.

Over the course of the pandemic response, this more centralized federal approach to data collection added a new dimension to pre-existing vaccination hesitancy. Requirements that recipients furnish individual information deterred vaccination among undocumented …

The Persistent Public Health Emergency, Yael Zakai Cannon

Georgetown Law Faculty Publications and Other Works

May 11, 2023 was ostensibly a day of celebration. With infections and deaths from COVID-19 down, the federal government announced the end of the official Public Health Emergency three years after its initial declaration. But the conclusion of the Public Health Emergency also signaled the termination of unprecedented health protection measures—outside the realm of healthcare—such as eviction and utility shutoff moratoria and emergency rental and utility assistance. These COVID-era measures successfully cut eviction filings nationally by more than half and provided people in many jurisdictions with the protections and assistance needed to maintain their electricity, heat, water, and gas. Now …

Covid-19 Vaccine Effectiveness Among People Living With And Without Hiv In South Carolina, Usa: Protocol Of A Population-Based Cohort Study, Xueying Yang, Jiajia Zhang Ph.D., Bankole Olatosi, Sharon Weissman, Xiaoming Li Ph.D.

Faculty Publications

Introduction Despite the effectiveness of COVID-19 vaccines in preventing severe COVID-19 outcomes, a small percentage of fully vaccinated persons will develop symptomatic or asymptomatic infections with SARSCoV-2, which is referred to as ‘breakthrough COVID-19’. People living with HIV (PLWH) appear to have an elevated risk of severe COVID-19 outcomes, yet the effectiveness of the COVID-19 vaccine in this population remains unclear due to the limited research efforts in this population in the real world. This study aims to characterise and compare the breakthrough COVID-19 (eg, prevalence and disease severity) between PLWH and non-PLWH and then examine whether HIV markers play …

Factors That Influence Stunting In The Maratua District Of Berau, Indonesia, Risa Haryati Tambunan, Elis Nurbaeti

Folia Medica Indonesiana

Highlights: 1. This study investigated the factors contributing to stunting in a remote area, which has not received sufficient attention from key stakeholders. 2. The findings of this study can serve as a reference for the government in addressing stunting through intervention strategies that incorporate paternal roles to improve children's nutritional status. Abstract Stunting is a community health problem with significant impacts. The estimated prevalence rate of stunting was 24.4% in Indonesia and 25.7% in the Berau Regency. Stunting is a growth disorder caused by chronic malnutrition during the first 1,000 days of life. It is characterized by a height-for-age …

Symposium; Gender, Health, And The Constitution: Hysteria Redux: Gaslighting In The Age Of Covid, Jane Campbell Moriarty

ConLawNOW

This article addresses the relationship among hysteria, gaslighting, and gender during the Covid pandemic in the political and public-health messaging about Covid. It analyzes the U.S. public health messaging in the age of Covid, explaining how individualism, gender, and gaslighting have shaped the public response to the virus and negatively affected public health. In explaining the poor U.S. public health outcomes during Covid, the article evaluates the role of disinformation about vaccines, the “feminization” of masking, and the “vax and relax” public mantra, which suggested that those who did not relax were perhaps a bit hysterical. Finally, the article considers …

Voices From Grenada: An Impact Evaluation Of A Community-Academic Partnership., Sade Richardson

Doctor of Social Work Capstone Projects

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the impact of the community-academic partnership between the University of Michigan School of Public Health Office of Public Health Practice and the Grenadian community. Five key informant interviews were conducted to analyze the partnership from the perspectives of the community partners in Grenada to understand the strengths, challenges, and existing opportunities, specifically within the context of a global collaboration.

The findings highlighted the benefits of community-based collaboration, considerations for partnership design, and opportunities for education, practice, policy, research, and leadership. The organizations spoke highly of the partnership, underscoring their desire for expanded …

Sexual Orientation And Gender Identity Measures And Viral Suppression For People Living With Hiv: A Protocol For A Population-Based Cohort Study, Xueying Yang, Bankole Olatosi Ph.D., Sharon Weissman, Xiaoming Li Ph.D., Jiajia Zhang Ph.D.

Faculty Publications

Introduction The measure of sexual orientation and gender identity (SOGI) data in electronic health records (EHR) has been critical for addressing health disparities and inequalities, especially for HIV care. Given that gender and sexual minorities (eg, transgender, men who have sex with men and intersex) are key groups in people living with HIV (PLWH), SOGI data can facilitate a more accurate understanding about the HIV outcomes (eg, viral suppression) among this key group and then lead to tailored therapeutic services. The two-step SOGI collection method as an emerging gender measurement can be used to measure SOGI status in medical settings. …

Regional Geographies And Public Health Lessons Of The Covid-19 Pandemic In The Arctic, Sweta Tiwari, Andrey N. Petrov, Nikolay Golosov, Michele Devlin, Mark Welford, John Degroote, Tatiana Degai, Stanislav Ksenofontov

Faculty Publications

Objectives: This study examines the COVID-19 pandemic’s spatiotemporal dynamics in 52 sub-regions in eight Arctic states. This study further investigates the potential impact of early vaccination coverage on subsequent COVID-19 outcomes within these regions, potentially revealing public health insights of global significance. Methods: We assessed the outcomes of the COVID-19 pandemic in Arctic sub-regions using three key epidemiological variables: confirmed cases, confirmed deaths, and case fatality ratio (CFR), along with vaccination rates to evaluate the effectiveness of the early vaccination campaign on the later dynamics of COVID-19 outcomes in these regions. Results: From February 2020 to February 2023, the Arctic …

The Impact Of Censorship On Covid-19 Policy Formation In The United States, Victor Wallis

Faculty Works

No abstract provided.

A Proposed International Legal Instrument To Combat Future Zoonotic Outbreaks, Mikiela Vazquez

Emory International Law Review

No abstract provided.

The Crucial Role Of Community Medicine In Improving Public Health, Malik Maaz Ahmad, Imran Ahmed Khan, Neha Priyanka

Digital Journal of Clinical Medicine

Community medicine, also known as Social and Preventive Medicine, is a specialized field of medicine that focuses on promoting and protecting the health and well-being of communities and populations. Unlike other medical specialties that primarily focus on individual patients, community medicine takes a broader approach, addressing the health needs of entire populations. The specialty of community medicine plays a vital role in clinical practice and public health. Its focus on prevention, population health, and evidence-based medicine makes it an essential discipline in improving the health and well-being of communities. Community-based medical education is of vital relevance in the modern change …

Does Federal Preemption Inoculate Us Against The Alarming Prospect Of State Vaccine Bans?, Lars Noah

UF Law Faculty Publications

With growing resistance to vaccinations-premised, for instance, on misplaced fears of side effects or religious objections-it takes little effort to imagine that a state might act to prohibit some or all uses of a particular vaccine licensed by the federal government. Indeed, one year ago, legislators in a couple of states toyed with the idea of banning the primary vaccines against Covid-19, and, twenty years ago, half a dozen states effectively barred certain uses of one flu vaccine formulation. Although federal law should preempt at least some of these types of state restrictions, the Supremacy Clause of the U.S. Constitution …

Effective Public Health Communication In A Post-Covid-19 America: Lessons From Behavioral Science, Molly J. Walker Wilson

Lewis & Clark Law Review

As we emerge from the worst of the COVID-19 pandemic, Americans are still reeling from the loss of life, the financial fallout, and the deep divide that continues to characterize our social and political institutions. Public health experts who were tasked with communicating facts and advice to the American public faced a daunting challenge, particularly because three distinct groups of Americans received messages differently. One group of Americans was receptive to scientific findings and amenable to taking recommended precautions. A second group was skeptical about the safety and efficacy of available vaccines, and genuinely confused or suspicious about the source …