Digital Commons Network^™

Investigating Environmental And Socioeconomic Contributors To Adult Obesity In The Rio Grande Valley, John Nicholas Cauba, Jihoo Woo, Russel Wiggins, Shizue Mito

School of Medicine Publications

Obesity in the Rio Grande Valley (RGV) of Texas remains a critical public health concern, with rates (46.9%) significantly exceeding those of Texas (36%) and the U.S. (34%) (p < 0.001). This study used 2024 County Health Rankings data to analyze environmental and socioeconomic contributors to obesity across 240 Texas counties, with a population-weighted focus on Hidalgo, Cameron, Starr, and Willacy counties. The RGV exhibited markedly poorer access to exercise, higher rates of physical inactivity, lower Food Environment Index scores (FEI = 4.3 vs. 5.7 in Texas), higher rates of uninsurance, worse patient-to–primary care physician (PCP) ratios (2152:1 vs. Texas 1660:1), and increased preventable hospitalizations. Multiple linear regression identified physical inactivity (β = 0.6, p = 0.01) and access to exercise (β = −0.02, p = 0.02) as significant predictors of obesity. Notably, higher uninsured rates were associated with lower reported obesity, likely due to underdiagnosis in the absence of routine care. These findings emphasize the need for targeted interventions addressing food access, environmental and recreational infrastructure, along with healthcare infrastructure in the RGV, where socioeconomic disadvantage and structural barriers magnify the impact of national obesity trends on the regional level.

The Impact Of Adverse Childhood Experiences And Living With Hiv On Cardiovascular Health And Cardiometabolic Disorders In An African Population: An Analysis Of The Indepth Community In Rural South Africa, Samuel Gavi

Theses and Dissertations

Background: Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) have been shown to be associated with cardiometabolic disorders (CMDs) and poor CVH; however, in Africa, this has not been well studied. Cardiovascular health (CVH) is an important measure of risk for cardiovascular diseases (CVD) developed by the American Heart Association (AHA). With the increasing prevalence of CVD in Africa, CVH is a potential upstream prevention approach. Africa also has the highest prevalence of HIV, and an increasing prevalence of comorbidities associated with it. Various mechanisms have been investigated to explain the relationship between CVD and chronic HIV infection. This study explores the potential relationship …

The Intersection Of Rurality And Wellness: A Multi-Manuscript Investigation Into Rural Well-Being, Lucas Perez

Theses and Dissertations

Rural communities face unique mental health and wellness challenges, including geographic isolation, provider shortages, and stigma surrounding help-seeking. This dissertation explores rural wellness through three interrelated studies, utilizing both qualitative and quantitative methods to examine disparities, perceptions of rurality, and demographic influences on well-being. The first study utilized the Five Factor Wellness Inventory (5F-WEL) to compare wellness scores between rural and non-rural individuals. The second study employed Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA) to explore rural definitions of wellness, as well as barriers and strengths related to mental health. The third study examined how perceptions of rurality and demographic factors predict wellness …

Investigating Mechanisms And Day-Level Factors That Influence Children’S 24-Hour Movement Behaviors, Hannah Parker

Theses and Dissertations

Twenty-four hour movement behaviors (i.e., physical activity (PA), screen time (ST), and sleep) are associated with health outcomes, chronic disease (obesity, type 2 diabetes), and mortality. Most literature evaluating children’s 24-hour movement behaviors has focused on static person-level demographic information such as age or biological sex. Relatively less work has examined the variable factors that change day to day, such as environment or context. The Structured Days Hypothesis (SDH) suggests that when children are in structured environments, they have healthier movement behaviors compared to less structured environments where children have more discretionary time to engage in obesogenic behaviors. Besides school/childcare, …

Bibliometric Evaluation Of Published Indian Research On “Knowledge, Attitude, And Practices”, Sandeep Sachdeva, T. R. Sachdev, Ruchi Sachdeva

Indian Journal of Health Sciences and Biomedical Research KLEU

Objective:

Evaluation of knowledge, attitude, and practices (KAPs) based published Indian research on selected parameters.

Methodology:

A bibliometric analysis of Indian KAP research manuscript published in journals indexed in PubMed for the last 2 years and/or published in Indian Journal of Community Medicine (IJCM) and Indian Journal of Public Health (IJPH) for the last 15 years (year 2000–2014) was undertaken under certain criteria.

Results:

PubMed (

n

= 196) revealed maximum KAP research undertaken from the states of Karnataka (16.8%) followed by Delhi (9.6%), Maharashtra (9.1%), and more than two states (11.7%). There was poor reflection with no publication of …

An Analysis Of The Role Of Sugar Industry Leaders In The Formulation Of Sugar-Sweetened Beverages Excise Tax Using Advocacy Coalition Framework, Samantha Franchezka S. Ching, Sherwin E. Ona

Asia-Pacific Social Science Review

This paper examines the case of the Philippines in formulating its sugar-sweetened beverages (SSBs) excise tax policy through the lens of the Advocacy Coalition Framework (ACF). This case study used qualitative techniques to establish the networks and analyze the dynamics and interactions between the local sugar industry leaders and beverage manufacturing companies, as well as their advocacy strategies that influenced policy brokers from the government. The paper also highlights the complexities and the delicate balance needed to reconcile the differing interests of well-established political and economic groups and their effects on policy formulation. Their interactions were examined through the ACF, …

Evaluating Impacts Of Improved Flooring On Enteric And Parasitic Infections In Rural Households In Kenya: Study Protocol For A Cluster-Randomised Controlled Trial, Katherine E. Halliday, Stella Kepha, Hugo Legge, Elizabeth Allen, Robert Dreibelbis, Lynne Elson, Beatrice K. Kakoi, Carlos Mcharo, Sharon Muli, Jacinta Mwongeli, Doris Njomo, Margaret M. Njoroge, Victoria Ochwal, William E. Oswald, Martin Rono, Tuva K. Safari, Ulrike Filinger, James Wambua Kaluli, Charles S. Mwandawiro, Rachel L. Pullan

All Peer-Reviewed Publications

Introduction Earthen floors are often damp or dusty and difficult to clean, providing an ideal environment for faecal pathogens and parasites. Observational studies have revealed associations between household flooring and health outcomes, but robust experimental evidence is scant. This study will evaluate the impact of an improved household flooring intervention on enteric infections, soil-transmitted helminth (STH) infections and tungiasis through implementation of a cluster-randomised trial in two rural settings in Kwale and Bungoma Counties, Kenya. Methods and analyses 440 clusters (households) across both sites are allocated to control or intervention group, in which a low-cost, sealed, washable, cement-based floor is …

Covid-19 & Healthcare (Re)Privatization? A Comparative Analysis Of High And Medium Per Capita Gdp Countries, Kristina Donders, Kaitlyn Matthews, Brittany Reyes, Frank. H. Rizzo

Working Papers Series

This paper examines whether the COVID-19 pandemic accelerated healthcare privatization in high- and medium-GDP countries. Drawing on political economy theories of path dependence and privatization, we analyze changes in public and private healthcare expenditures in eight countries: Canada, Chile, Denmark, Georgia, Luxembourg, Norway, the Philippines, and South Korea—comparing data from 2019 and 2022. Using World Bank indicators on healthcare financing, GDP, aging populations, and food insecurity, we find that although healthcare expenditures generally increased during the pandemic, this increase was primarily in public, not private, spending. Case studies of Georgia and South Korea reveal that local economic and demographic pressures, …

One Health Interventions And Challenges Under Rural African Smallholder Farmer Settings: A Scoping Review, Evanson R. Omuse, Honest Machekano, Bonoukpoè M. Sokame, Daniel M. Mutyambai, Thomas Dubois, Sevgan Subramanian, Frank Chidawanyika

All Peer-Reviewed Publications

The global human population is rapidly increasing, escalating interactions of people, animals and the environment. This has led to more convoluted health challenges, for which African smallholder farmers bear the brunt. The One Health (OH) approach recognises the interconnectedness of these health challenges and thus follows a transdisciplinary approach involving diverse stakeholders to address them. Although there have recently been global concerted efforts and studies on OH, an information gap exists in Africa, particularly regarding smallholder farmers and their needs. Additionally, evaluation frameworks and outcome metrics for OH initiatives are still unclear. Thus, this study was conducted to critically map …

Real-World Implementation Of A Noninvasive, Ai-Augmented, Anemia-Screening Smartphone App And Personalization For Hemoglobin Level Self-Monitoring, Robert G. Mannino, Julie Sullivan, Jennifer K. Frediani, Paul George, Jeremy Whitson, James Tumlin, L. Andrew Lyon, Erika A. Tyburski, Wilbur A. Lam

Engineering Faculty Articles and Research

Anemia, characterized by low blood hemoglobin (Hgb) levels, afflicts >2 billion individuals worldwide. Here, we report real-world data generated by a smartphone app that noninvasively screens for anemia using only “fingernail selfies.” App data for anemia screening were obtained from >1.4 million uses across the United States enabling geographic mapping of Hgb levels. Of those, 9,061 users also self-reported complete blood count Hgb levels for comparison, resulting in accuracy and performance that match gold standard laboratory testing and a sensitivity and specificity of 89% and 93%, respectively, when using an anemia cutoff of 12.5 g/dL. Geotagged data enabled construction of …

The Interaction Between Physical Activity And Fruit And Vegetable Intake On Body Composition, Om S. Ghetia

Honors Scholar Theses

Objective: Fruit and Vegetable (FV) intake and Physical Activity (PA) are important lifestyle factors associated with body composition. This study assessed the combined impact of meeting FV intake and PA recommendations on body composition measures including body mass index (BMI), percent body fat (PBF), and waist circumference (WC) in adults aged 20–64 years from diverse backgrounds.

Design: A cross-sectional study conducted in Northeastern Connecticut.

Methods: A total of 124 participants completed a one-week dietary and PA record followed by anthropometric assessments. Participants were categorized into groups based on FV intake (≥400 g/day vs. < 400 g/day) and PA levels (≥600 MET-minutes/week vs. < 600 MET-minutes/week). Independent t-tests and chi-square tests were used to compare dietary intake, PA levels, and body composition outcomes across groups.

Results: Participants meeting FV recommendations had significantly …

Conflict, Human Development, And Neonatal Health: A Regional Analysis Of The Eastern Mediterranean, Zynub A. Al-Sherri

Honors Theses

Background. The effects of war and conflict on a population are direct and indirect in nature. One of the most devastating consequences is the destruction of healthcare infrastructure, which severely disrupts access to essential services and impedes long-term socioeconomic development. Among those most affected are newborns, as the neonatal period represents the most vulnerable stage of a child’s life and serves as a sensitive indicator of a society’s overall health and socioeconomic conditions. Given the persistent instability in the Eastern Mediterranean Region (EMR), this study aimed to explore how conflict and human development are associated with neonatal health outcomes …

Analyzing The Association Of Competitive Food Policy On Competitive Food Content In U.S. Schools., Mary E. Curnutte

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

OBJECTIVES: School food can have a profound effect on the population’s health. Thirty million children receive food at school and consume half their daily calorie intake at school. Competitive foods are foods sold outside of school breakfast and lunch, such as those sold in vending machines. A new ruling for Smart Snacks Standards, a set of competitive food guidelines, started in the school year 2014-2015. It is known that competitive foods undermine school lunch participation, and a decrease in school lunch consumption is associated with poorer student health. Additionally, an increase in competitive foods tends to be of nutrient-poor …

A Comparative Analysis Of Advertising Appeals In Anti- Smoking Advertisements (Print And Online Display Ads) From 1990s To 2020s In The U.K, Ayomide Adebare Mr, Jill Nash Dr

Journal of Applied Marketing Theory

This study provides a comparative analysis of advertising appeals in static anti-smoking advertisements in the U.K. from the 1990s to the 2020s, using quantitative content analysis. The research evaluates print and online display advertisements, focusing on the prevalence of rational (gain-framed and statistical) and emotional (fear and guilt) appeals. The study investigates shifts in appeal usage over time and the broader societal and regulatory influences driving these changes. Findings indicate a strategic shift in public health messaging, moving from fear-based appeals in the 1990s to increased reliance on gain-framed appeals by the 2020s. This study enhances academic understanding of how …

Social Media Use In Health Education: National Children's Dental Health Month Social Media Toolkit, Jazmin Pelayo

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

National Children's Dental Health Month (NCDHM) was created by the American Dental Association and is celebrated annually by local oral health programs all around the country. The celebration began as a one-day event on February 8, 1949, expanded to a week-long observance in 1955, and was later extended to a month-long celebration in 1981. Today local oral health programs celebrate NCDHM in a variety of ways but the one I will be focusing on is a social media tool kit. A social media tool kit consists of videos or posts that are posted on different platforms such as the www.smilesbc.org …

Improving Nutrition Outcomes Through Enhanced Allocative Efficiency Of Investments In 24 High Risk Counties In Kenya: An Optima Nutrition Modelling Study, Morris Ogero, Nick Scott, Veronica Kirogo, Anthony Ngugi

Population Health, East Africa

Introduction ;Undernutrition remains a significant global challenge, severely impacting children’s development and growth. To address this, the Sustainable Development Goals target a substantial reduction in stunting and wasting by 2025. Achieving these goals requires scaling up evidence-based nutritional interventions; however, limited budgets pose challenges in funding all necessary programs. To assist policymakers in making informed decisions, the World Bank developed the Optima Nutrition Modelling tool, which optimizes the allocation of nutrition investments. Kenya, with its high prevalence of stunting, was the focus of this study. Using the Optima Nutrition model, we aimed to (1) assess the impact of scaling up …

Genomic Diversity Of Salmonella Enterica Serotype Braenderup In New York State, Nicole Zac Soligno

Biological Sciences

The Gram-negative Salmonella enterica (family Enterobacteriaceae) is a common foodborne pathogen mainly isolated from foods of animal origin. Salmonella can be transmitted to humans, causing diverse symptoms, from self-limiting gastrointestinal diseases to more fatal typhoid fever. The young, elderly, and Individuals with weakened immune systems are especially at risk from salmonellosis. Salmonella is a concern to public health and the food industry throughout the world, and its severity depends largely on its serotype, a classification based on the unique combination of surface antigens. In this study, I aimed to elucidate the population structure and antimicrobial resistance determinants of S. enterica …

Investigating The Spatial Distribution Of Food Insecurity And Its Associated Factors Across Mississippi Counties, Elizabeth C. Swindell, Riley Morgan, Dylan Barker, Ruaa Al Juboori

Journal of Public Health in the Deep South

Background: Mississippi has one of the highest rates of food insecurity in the United States, with many counties experiencing significant disparities in access to healthy food. Therefore, understanding the spatial distribution of these disparities is essential for developing targeted interventions.

Purpose: This study aims to investigate the spatial distribution of food insecurity and its associated social and health factors across Mississippi counties to identify areas in need of intervention.

Methods: Cross sectional study was conducted using publicly available datasets to examine food insecurity and its associated factors at the county level. Pearson correlations and bivariate Moran’s I were used to …

Social Health Among Adolescents In The Global School-Based Student Health Survey (Gshs), Luke Pontoriero, Sarah Simon, Lauren Anderson

Seaver College Research And Scholarly Achievement Symposium

Background: Social health is a function of the quantity and quality of relationships, including with family members and peers. Adolescents who report being lonely or having no close friends have a low quantity of relationships, and those who feel that their peers are unkind and their parents are not understanding have low quality relationships. We examined whether poor social health is associated with violent behavior.

Methods: We analyzed data from the Global School-based Student Health Survey (GSHS), which employs a standardized two-stage cluster sampling method and a validated questionnaire to explore health and risk behaviors among nationally representative samples of …

Oral Hygiene And Cardiovascular Health, Md. S. Zaman, S. M. Golam Alam, Mohammed S. Razzaque

School of Medicine Publications

The human oral microbiome plays a vital role in maintaining oral and systemic health. This diverse microbial community includes over 700 bacterial species, some of which are implicated in developing systemic diseases, particularly cardiovascular diseases (CVDs). Research highlights a strong association between periodontal disease and increased cardiovascular risk, suggesting that good oral hygiene practices may reduce the incidence of CVDs. Porphyromonas gingivalis and Fusobacterium nucleatum drive chronic inflammation in periodontal disease; these bacteria can extend beyond the mouth and contribute to systemic inflammatory responses. The inflammatory factors, including C-reactive protein (CRP), interleukins (IL-1, IL-6), and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), damage …

Strengthening The Paediatric Clinical Trial Ecosystem To Better Inform Policy And Programmes, James A. Berkley, Judd L. Walson, Glenda Gray, Fiona Russell, Zulfiqar Ahmed Bhutta, Per Ashorn, Shane A. Norris, Ebunoluwa A. Adejuyigbe, Rebecca Grais, Bernhards Ogutu

Institute for Global Health and Development

The first WHO Global Clinical Trials Forum was convened in November, 2023 to develop a shared vision of an effective global clinical trial infrastructure. The Paediatric Clinical Trials Working Group was formed to provide perspectives, identify challenges, and propose solutions to strengthen the paediatric clinical trials ecosystem. Participants represented paediatric disciplines, including infectious diseases, nutrition, neonatology, pharmacology, oncology, neurodevelopment, public health, and policy. Childhood diseases have profound lifelong effects on health, livelihoods, and societies. Investment in early childhood results in highly cost-effective changes to lifelong health, productivity, and human capital returns. Yet, there remain substantial gaps in knowledge on the …

Factors Associated With Access To Water, Sanitation, And Hygiene (Wash) Services In Communities Along Siem Reap River, Cambodia, Cindy Is Lee, Yee Chu Kwa, Aminiril Aa Hamid, Norlilawati Suboh, Massimo Maio, Michaela L Goodson, Claire L Walsh

Journal of Health Research

Background: Access to clean water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) are essential rights that impact individual and community health. The Siem Reap River is a vital water source in Cambodia for domestic, agricultural, and industrial use. However, limited local data and resources in the region exacerbate the challenge of providing adequate WASH services. This study aimed to evaluate WASH provision for communities living near the Siem Reap River and identify associated factors.

Method: A cross-sectional study in April 2023 across four Siem Reap River villages used purposive sampling to select 120 respondents from diverse backgrounds. Data were gathered through face-to-face …

Red Meat Consumption And Hypertension: An Updated Review, Tara S Allen, Michael Najem, Alexis C Wood, Danielle J Lee, Lorena S Pacheco, Lori B Daniels, Matthew A Allison

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: Hypertension (HTN) is a major risk factor for cardiovascular diseases (CVD). The global prevalence of HTN and related CVD mortality continues to rise. The development of HTN is influenced by genetic predisposition and modifiable risk factors, including diet. One area of ongoing debate is the relationship between red meat consumption and risk of HTN.

RECENT FINDINGS: Processed red meat has become increasingly implicated in the pathogenesis and morbidity of HTN, though randomized control trials comparing HTN-related outcomes associated with red meat subtypes have yielded heterogenous results. This review summarizes the existing relevant literature and highlights the methodological …

Examining Health Insurance And Non-Medical Challenges Among Vietnamese Americans In Texas During The Covid-19 Pandemic, Alexander Le, Saba Siddiqi, Celine Nguyen, Ben King, Paul Gerardo Yeh, Jannette Diep, Lauren Gilbert, Bich-May Nguyen

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

When COVID-19 data on Asian Americans are available, they are frequently aggregated, concealing community-specific concerns. Consequently, there is limited COVID-19 literature on Vietnamese Americans. In this study, we investigated the association between health insurance coverage and non-medical challenges during the COVID-19 pandemic, in Vietnamese Americans in Texas. The NIH Community Engagement Alliance (CEAL) Common Survey 2 was administered electronically in English and Vietnamese and contained 23 questions about non-medical drivers of health, COVID-19 vaccination, and research participation. Vietnamese American adults in Texas were recruited between September 2021 and March 2022 via partnerships with community organizations. Responses were compared and analyzed …

Minerals And Human Health: From Deficiency To Toxicity, Mohammed S. Razzaque, Sunil J. Wimalawansa

School of Medicine Publications

Minerals are essential nutrients that play critical roles in human health by regulating various physiological functions. Examples include bone development, enzyme function, nerve signaling, and the immune response. Both the deficiencies and toxicities of minerals can have significant health implications. Deficiencies in macrominerals such as calcium, magnesium, and phosphate can lead to osteoporosis (associated with falls and fractures), cardiovascular events, and neuromuscular dysfunction. Trace mineral deficiencies, such as iron and zinc. Selenium deficiency impairs oxygen transport, immune function, and antioxidant defenses, contributing to anemia, delaying wound healing, and increasing susceptibility to infectious diseases. Conversely, excessive intake of minerals can have …

Fluoridation Facts, American Dental Association

Fluoridation Facts

Fluoridation Facts is the ADA's premier resource on fluoridation, answering frequently asked questions about community water fluoridation and the latest scientific research. The book assists policy makers and the general public in making informed decisions about fluoridation. With an easy-to-use question-and-answer format that draws on more than 400 references, the book answers queries about fluoridation's effectiveness, safety, practice and cost-effectiveness. 114 pages.

Validating Search Strategies For Healthy People 2030’S Leading Health Indicators: An Update On The Ph/Ha Caucus’S Structured Evidence Queries Project, Samantha Guss, Anita Kuiken, Erin Wentz, Dani Lapreze, Erin Reardon, Laura Zeigen, Courtney Pyche

VCU Libraries Faculty and Staff Presentations

The Public Health/Health Administration (PH/HA) Caucus’s work in developing Structured Evidence Queries (SEQs) for Healthy People 2030’s leading health indicators, an initiative from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) aimed at improving the nation’s health in measurable ways highlights their search validation strategy and plans for outreach and assessment as the project nears completion. The SEQs, developed for PubMed, are designed to measure progress toward specified health outcomes while addressing health disparities and promoting health equity. The team collaboratively developed and peer-reviewed these SEQs, refining criteria and creating a validation strategy using resources from HHS. Plans for …

Covid-19 In The History Of Capitalism, Victor Wallis

Faculty Works

The obvious role of capital in generating poverty, war, and environmental breakdown has not led to a parallel recognition of how deeply it shapes the ideology and practice of healthcare. Progressives view access to healthcare as a matter of “right,” but with rare exceptions they do not focus attention on the wider determinants of health policy – from the life-conditions that shape public health to the prevalence, in capitalist countries, of market-inspired remedies. Looking at the US experience and noting how capitalist priorities have permeated official policies toward Covid-19, this essay discusses how medical objections to these policies have been …

Would Exercise, Household Income, Nutritional Education, Or Transportation Play A Pivotal Role In Decreasing Prevalence Of Obesity In Hidalgo County, Chijoke Anyaehie

Gulf Coast Division GME Research Day 2025

No abstract provided.

German Cockroach Allergen Mitigation, Olivia Katz

Theses and Dissertations--Entomology

German cockroaches (Blatella germanica L.) remain one of the most challenging indoor pests to manage, due in large part to their cryptic nature, rapid reproduction, and resistance to insecticides. Because of their close proximity to humans, they also pose several serious health threats, including the production and dissemination of several potent allergens linked to asthma development and exacerbation. Given the risks associated with cockroach allergens, we examined the longevity of two distinct cockroach allergens (Bla g 1 and Bla g 5) in the home environment and the efficacy of cleaners at removing these allergens. Our findings show that Bla …