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Makeher, Maeve R. Wallace

Student Projects

Makeher is a multi-media work that grapples with the existential dilemma of creation within the context of our increasingly unreliable world. Anchored by a concern for the implications of childbirth, my art studies themes of life's genesis and the world we leave behind.

My subject matter, an amalgamation of mirrors, planets, silver, body parts, hair, and tights, are tools with which I explore these themes. Using silver fabric, I abstract the human form. By integrating disassembled body parts with mirrors, I reflect on the fragmented and multifaceted nature of the human existence. This process is not just about the creation …

The Relationship Between Marijuana Use And Menstrual Health Among Us Females Within The General Fertility Bracket, Jamaldeen Abdulrahman

Public Health Theses

ABSTRACT Introduction: The escalating prevalence of marijuana use among women of reproductive age in the United States has raised concerns about its potential impact on reproductive health. The World Health Organization identifies cannabis as the most widely cultivated, trafficked, and abused illicit drug globally, with around 147 million individuals, constituting approximately 2.5% of the world's population, admitting to annual cannabis consumption. In the U.S. marijuana use is decriminalized in most States and holds the distinction of being the most frequently used psychoactive substance, emphasizing the urgency of investigating its impact on reproductive health among the population. Aim: Menstrual irregularities can …

Support, Networks, And Relationships: Findings From A Mixed-Methods Evaluation Of A Mentorship Programme For Early Career Women Researchers In Sexual And Reproductive Health And Rights, Muhammad Asim, Peter Muriuki Gatheru, Joy J. Chebet, Mehr G. Shah, Anna Thorson, Vanessa Brizuela

Community Health Sciences

Low research output among women researchers in health research has been linked to inadequate mentorship opportunities for early career women researchers and particularly in sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) field. Mentorship has been recognized as a contributor to strengthening research capacity and as beneficial for both mentors and mentees. Women researchers oftentimes experience negative impacts of organizational and structural gender inequities related to formal and informal mentoring. In 2020, the UNDP/UNFPA/UNICEF/WHO/World Bank Special Programme of Research, Development and Research Training in Human Reproduction at WHO launched a mentorship programme for early career SRHR women researchers from low- and …

Refugee Women’S Receptiveness For Virtual Engagement On Reproductive Health During The Covid-19 Pandemic, Heike Thiel De Bocanegra, Zahra Goliaei, Nossin Khan, Sereen Banna, Rawnaq Behnam, Sheila K Mody

Faculty Publications & Research of the TUC Public Health Program

BACKGROUND: Refugee women who leave their country due to persecution and violence have multiple barriers to sexual and reproductive health (SRH) services. The COVID-19 pandemic added an additional barrier to in-person reproductive health education, dialogue, and clinical care. This study aimed to assess the potential of using virtual group meetings as a forum for refugee women to learn about and discuss reproductive health concerns such as cervical cancer screening, family planning, childbirth, and postpartum care.

METHOD: We conducted semi-structured interviews with 36 refugee women and stakeholders to assess factors that impact refugee women's receptiveness for virtual platforms to obtain information …

Reproductive Journeys Of Indo-Caribbean Women From Trinidad And Tobago And Guyana To New York, Tannuja Devi Rozario

Doctoral Dissertations

Given the lack of support by the U.S. federal government for reproductive health, this dissertation examines a puzzle: why are Indo-Caribbean women from Guyana and Trinidad journeying to New York for reproductive health care? I focus on a global community in Queens, New York, to unravel this puzzle. I conducted semi-structured in-depth interviews with 82 Indo-Caribbean women and participant observations in women empowerment groups hosted by activists in New York. Each chapter in this dissertation focuses on various motivations and negotiations during reproductive journeys. First, this dissertation finds that social networks and grassroots organizations in New York facilitated reproductive journeys …

Intimate Conversations: A Mixed-Methods Study Of African American Father-Adolescent Sexual Risk Communication, Shanda A. Vereen

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Background: Approximately 50% of African American (AA) high school students are sexually active and a large proportion of sexually active AA students report engaging in sexual risk behaviors such as not using condoms at last intercourse. Consequently, AA adolescents in the United States experience outcomes of risky sexual behaviors at high rates. Evidence shows parents have an effect on shaping adolescent attitudes, values, and beliefs regarding sex through sexual risk communication (SRC). Although parent-adolescent SRC is associated with reductions in sexual risk behaviors among AA adolescents, research has primarily focused on mothers. While parents acknowledge that SRC is traditionally viewed …

The Reproductive Consequences Of Low Energy Availability In Females, Courtney Couture

Graduate Student Theses, Dissertations, & Professional Papers

No abstract provided.

Strengthening Adolescent Reproductive Health As A Strategy To Diminish Maternal Mortality: A Case Study In Malang, Keppi Sukesi

Journal of International Women's Studies

The aims of this study are: (1) describing adolescent knowledge and understanding of reproductive health, (2) describing gender issues related to adolescent reproductive health, (3) describing delayed medical assistance due to socio-cultural aspects resulting in the death of the mother, and (4) strengthening adolescent awareness of reproductive health as a strategy to decrease maternal mortality. Based on a qualitative approach with a case study design, the research was conducted at Malang Regency using the snowball method, and a survey on adolescent understanding of reproduction was conducted in Singosari and Pujon. Results demonstrated that adolescent knowledge of reproductive health is relatively …

Assessment Of School- Going Children For 2d’S And Adolescent Health Using Rbsk As A Screening Tool In East Singh Hum District Of Jharkhand -A Comparative Cross-Sectional Study, Khushboo Juneja

Health collection

Presently working on ICMR-STS project to assess the prevalence of 2D’s and adolescent health conditions and to determine the association between the various biosocial factors and health conditions among the school-going children. This study will throw light on the prevalence of 2D’s and adolescent health in our study area that would be able to fill in the gaps in literature for the same.

1. Shree T, Juneja K, Srivastava S, Mahajan H. Perceptions of Undergraduate Medical Students towards Online Learning in a Medical College in the National Capital Region (NCR), India: Medical Students Perceptions to Online Learning. Indian Journal of …

Anti-Abortion Crisis Pregnancy Centers In Central Florida, Isabel Adamus

Honors Program Theses

Anti-abortion pregnancy centers, also known as crisis pregnancy centers (CPCs), are nonprofit organizations that target pregnant women and aim to dissuade them from considering abortion. In the U.S., CPCs are increasing in prevalence, accumulating government/state funding and support, and becoming more medicalized. Medicalization includes offering limited medical services, such as pregnancy testing, limited ultrasounds, and testing for sexually transmitted infections (STIs). CPCs are largely unlicensed and unregulated, frequently advertising in misleading ways and providing inaccurate health information. The goal of this research is to (1) understand how CPCs in Central Florida utilize rhetorical strategies to frame their services and health …

Behavioral Tactics To Support Providers In Offering Quality Care: Insights From Provider Behavior Change Research And Practice, Emily Zimmerman, Jana Smith

Sexual and Reproductive Health, Rights, and Choices

This document offers a synthesis of insights from recent research and design activities conducted by ideas42 through Breakthrough RESEARCH, Breakthrough ACTION, and other projects across nine different low- and middle-income settings about the behavioral roots of challenges health care providers face in providing high quality services. We discuss how the physical and social environment in which they work and live sends signals to providers about what is important, how they can navigate difficulties, and how well they are performing. We discuss how experiences outside the health facility impact how providers approach their professional duties. We also discuss how pervasive time …

Findings From The Violence Outcomes In Covid-19 Era Study (Voces-19): Baseline Results, Silvana Larrea-Schiavon, Lina López-Lalinde, Isabel Vieitez Martínez, Ricardo Regules, Juan Pablo Gutiérrez, René Nevárez, Cristina Macgregor, Pablo López, Nicole Haberland, Thoai Ngo

Poverty, Gender, and Youth

This report presents findings from the baseline survey of the Violence Outcomes in COVID-19 Era Study (VOCES-19). The study, conducted by Population Council Mexico in collaboration with the National Institute of Youth and the National Center for Gender Equity and Reproductive Health aims to understand the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and accompanying mitigation measures on the experience and perception of violence among 15–24-year-olds living in Mexico, as well as its effects on other social, economic, and health, related outcomes. The primary objectives for this first survey round were to gather baseline information on several outcomes of interest, assess differential …

Resultados Del Estudio Sobre Violencia En La Era Covid-19 (Voces-19): Línea Base Reporte, Silvana Larrea-Schiavon, Lina López-Lalinde, Isabel Vieitez Martínez, Ricardo Regules, Juan Pablo Gutiérrez, René Nevárez, Cristina Macgregor, Pablo López, Nicole Haberland, Thoai Ngo

Poverty, Gender, and Youth

Este informe presenta los resultados de la encuesta basal del estudio VOCES-19. El estudio, realizado por el Population Council México en colaboración con el Instituto Nacional de la Juventud y el Centro Nacional de Equidad de Género y Salud Reproductiva, tiene como objetivo comprender el impacto de la pandemia de COVID-19 y las medidas de mitigación que la acompañan en la experiencia y la percepción de la violencia entre las y los jóvenes de 15 a 24 años que viven en México, así como otros impactos sociales, económicos y relacionados con la salud. Los objetivos principales de esta primera ronda …

Understanding Community Health Volunteer Incentive Preferences In Kenya, Frontline Health Project, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School Of Public Health

Reproductive Health

In Kenya, community health services are implemented through community health units. Community health volunteers (CHVs) who serve these units are chosen by the community and trained by community health extension workers. This brief summarizes qualitative and quantitative findings from the Frontline Health project’s discrete choice experiment study in Kenya, which aimed to understand incentive preferences of CHVs with the aim of improving motivation, performance, and retention of CHVs.

Identifying Factors That Support Community Health Worker Motivation, Job Satisfaction, And Retention In Haiti, Frontline Health Project, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School Of Public Health

Reproductive Health

Community health workers (CHWs) play a critical role in Haiti’s health system, by connecting communities—particularly rural and hard-to-reach populations—to healthcare services. The Frontline Health project conducted a study to better understand the types of incentive structures that can best support the CHWs in Haiti and this brief summarizes those findings.

Providing Family Planning And Reproductive Health Services In Factory Settings: Lessons From Port Said, Egypt, Nesrine Salama, Maryam Essam, Nahla G. Abdel-Tawab, Elizabeth Tobey

Reproductive Health

This policy brief provides lessons for providing family planning and reproductive health (FP/RH) services in a factory setting, based on lessons learned from an Evidence Project intervention implemented in Port Said, Egypt. The number of workers in the industrial sector in Egypt is about 2.6 million, most of them of childbearing age. Women account for more than 50% of the workforce in some sectors, like the garment sector. Given the high proportions of workers of reproductive ages in factory settings, it is crucial that those workers are reached with FP information and FP/RH services.

Meeting The Family Planning And Reproductive Health Needs Of Factory Workers, Evidence Project

Reproductive Health

Workplace health programming, when it exists, has typically focused narrowly on occupational health and safety compliance. Few studies have been conducted on programs for family planning/reproductive health (FP/RH) for factory workers. The Evidence Project contributed to improving workers’ FP/RH through two sets of activities: (1) advocacy efforts to improve FP/RH practices and global and corporate policies to improve workplace practices, and (2) two implementation science studies to assess the impact of workplace FP/RH programs on workers’ health. This brief summarizes that work.

Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome: Pathophysiology And Chronic Health Implications, Makilah Witt

Nursing Student Class Projects (Formerly MSN)

Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS) is the most common endocrine disorder affecting women of reproductive age. If untreated, women suffer a myriad of secondary sequala and chronic diseases. The prevalence of PCOS is rising and greatly impacts patients' physical, mental, and emotional health, diminishes community health, and increases healthcare costs. However, many providers fail to properly diagnose patients, understand how this disease impacts women, or provide appropriate interventions to prevent chronic health problems. This paper outlines the pathophysiology of PCOS, identifies signs and symptoms, and provides recommendations for treatment and holistic patient care for the role of the Advance Practice Nurse.

Perceptions Of Community Pharmacists, Patent And Proprietary Medicine Vendors, And Their Clients Regarding Quality Of Family Planning Services: The Integrate Project, The Integrate Project

Reproductive Health

The IntegratE Project is a four-year initiative (2017–21) implemented by the Population Council and partners that seeks to increase access to contraceptive methods by involving the private sector (community pharmacists [CPs] and patent and proprietary medicine vendors [PPMVs]) in family planning (FP) service delivery in Lagos and Kaduna States, Nigeria. The project aims to establish a regulatory system with the Pharmacists Council of Nigeria to ensure that CPs and PPMVs provide quality FP services, comply with FP regulations, and report service statistics to the Health Information Management System (HMIS). To achieve this, the project is implementing: a pilot three-tiered accreditation …

Integrate Project Results: Family Planning Knowledge And Quality Of Care Received From Community Pharmacists And Patent And Proprietary Medicine Vendors, The Integrate Project

Reproductive Health

In Nigeria, Community Pharmacists (CPs) and Patent and Proprietary Medicine Vendors (PPMVs) are the first point of care for many common illnesses. Although CPs and PPMVs are not formally recognized as family planning (FP) service providers, 22% of modern contraceptive users report receiving their last method from a PPMV and 12% from a private pharmacy. PPMVs are popular for FP because of their widespread availability, consistent drug stocks, extended hours, personable interactions, and lack of separate fees for consultations. As the Federal Ministry of Health explores expanding its task sharing policy to include CPs and PPMVs, evidence is needed on …

Women's Perceptions On The Effects Of Covid-19 On Access And Use Of Private Sector Family Planning Services In Nigeria: The Integrate Project, The Integrate Project

Reproductive Health

In Nigeria, Community Pharmacists (CPs) and Patent and Proprietary Medicine Vendors (PPMVs) are the first point of care for many common illnesses. Although CPs and PPMVs are not formally recognized as family planning (FP) service providers, 22% of modern contraceptive users report receiving their last method from a PPMV and 12% from a private pharmacy. PPMVs are popular for FP because of their widespread availability, consistent drug stocks, extended hours, personable interactions, and lack of separate fees for consultations. As in many places, the COVID-19 pandemic poses unprecedented challenges to health services in Nigeria. By limiting person-to-person contact, especially during …

Health And Ideations Of Married Female Adolescents, Breakthrough Research

Reproductive Health

This brief provides rigorous evidence-based insights to implementers and researchers of social and behavior change (SBC) programs that seek to improve knowledge, attitudes, norms, and behaviors of married female adolescents. The brief focuses on married adolescents’ uptake of services and health knowledge in Kebbi, Sokoto, and Zamfara states in northwestern Nigeria using a subset of data from a household survey of married women ages 15–49 years. It is one of a series of briefs that present findings from a Breakthrough RESEARCH study that uniquely captures data on a wide range of psychosocial drivers of behavioral outcomes in the areas of …

Preferred Incentives For Improving Community Health Worker Satisfaction And Retention In Bangladesh, Frontline Health Project, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School Of Public Health

Reproductive Health

Community health workers (CHWs) are critical actors within community health systems, providing a range of reproductive, maternal, child, and primary health information, counseling, and services. To better understand factors that influence CHWs’ work motivation and satisfaction in Bangladesh, the Frontline Health project, implemented with collaborators from Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, and supported by the government of Bangladesh’s Directorate General of Health Services and the Directorate General of Family Planning, conducted a discrete choice experiment (DCE) study. This brief presents key qualitative findings from the DCE study in Bangladesh and implications for program and policy stakeholders.

Advancing Integrated Family Planning (Fp)/Hiv Counseling With Evidence (Advice): Review Of Fp Decision Support Tools And Hiv Vulnerability Assessment Tools, Eileen Yam, Tracy Mcclair

HIV and AIDS

This review identified innovative approaches to broadening both the platforms through which FP decision support is offered (digital or otherwise), as well as the timing of lending that support (i.e., during pre-consultation time). In addition, by focusing on the HIV vulnerability domains that are particularly relevant to FP clients, developers of future FP decision support tools can incorporate questions and lines of inquiry that explore whether and how clients’ behaviors and characteristics may place them at increased risk of HIV acquisition and inform their contraceptive choices to optimize dual protection.

Transit Mobility And Premature Birth In New York City: A Population-Based Study, Ross B. Maddux

Theses and Dissertations

Transit mobility has been recognized as an essential element to economic attainment, environmental sustainability, and as a vital part of public health⁠. Social and economic disparities paired with elusive and inefficient public transit present real barriers for the ability of efficient planning and use of time⁠. Lengthier commutes and generally less efficient travel contribute to stress during a pregnancy and limit the ability to access work and prenatal care. In survey studies of women utilizing clinics as their prenatal care provider, nearly 25% listed transportation as a barrier to accessing care.

Prior research has not linked directly premature birth and …

Effectiveness Of Interventions Designed To Prevent Or Respond To Female Genital Mutilation: A Review Of Evidence, Dennis Matanda, Melanie Croce-Galis, Jill Gay, Karen Hardee

Reproductive Health

Girls are one-third less likely to be subjected to female genital mutilation (FGM) today than 30 years ago. However, rapid population growth in some of the world’s poorest countries, where FGM persists, threatens to roll back progress. In 2020 alone, an estimated 4.1 million girls were at risk of being subjected to FGM. Without concerted and accelerated actions to end the practice, an estimated 68 million additional girls will have been subjected to FGM by 2030. Despite intensified global research efforts to inform strategies to address FGM, there has been little synergy between evidence generation and the implementation of programs …

Issues For Consideration In The Scale-Up Of The Inclusion Of Family Planning In The National Health Insurance Benefits Package In Ghana, Kamil Fuseini, Augustine Ankomah

Reproductive Health

Ghana is working toward achieving universal health coverage (UHC). This is driven, in part, by the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), specifically SDG 3—Good Health and Well-Being, which seeks to ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages. Achieving this feat will improve equity of access as people, especially the poor can access quality health services without financial hardships. Ensuring equitable access to family planning (FP) is essential to securing the well-being of women and supporting the health and development of communities. One pathway to ensuring equity is the inclusion of FP in affordable insurance. While the inclusion …

Inclusion Of Family Planning Within The National Health Insurance Benefits Package In Ghana: A Health Facility Assessment, Population Council, Ministry Of Health, Ghana Health Service, National Health Insurance Authority, Marie Stopes International Ghana

Reproductive Health

In Ghana, National Health Insurance Act 852 of 2012 ensures that health-care benefits include family planning (FP) services, however people continue to pay for FP services because the policy is yet to be implemented in practice. Under the leadership of the Ministry of Health, the National Health Insurance Authority in collaboration with the Ghana Health Service, Marie Stopes International-Ghana and the Population Council implemented a pilot project to remove FP service out-of-pocket costs. All modern clinical FP methods were added to national health insurance and expensed by health facilities through the national health insurance claims process. The intervention significantly increased …

Effectiveness Of Interventions Designed To Prevent Or Respond To Female Genital Mutilation: Evidence Brief, Dennis Matanda, Melanie Croce-Galis, Jill Gay, Karen Hardee

Reproductive Health

Despite intensified efforts to conduct research globally that informs strategies to address female genital mutilation (FGM), there has been limited rigorous high-quality evidence on interventions that are effective in ending the practice. As we begin the final decade of acceleration toward zero new cases of FGM by 2030, increasing the rigor, relevance, and utility of research for programming, policy development, and resource allocation is critical. This brief highlights key findings from an evidence review that synthesized and assessed the quality and strength of existing evidence on FGM interventions from 2008 to 2020. A number of studies have collated evidence on …

Diet Diversity Among Pregnant Women And Young Children—Insights For Improving Malaria, Family Planning, And Maternal And Child Health Outcomes In Northwestern Nigeria Through Social And Behavior Change Programming, Breakthrough Research

Reproductive Health

This research brief provides rigorous, evidence-based insights to policy-makers, implementers, and researchers of social and behavior change (SBC) programs on maternal and child nutrition during the 1,000-day period between a woman’s pregnancy and her child’s second birthday. It is one of a series of briefs presenting findings from a Breakthrough RESEARCH study that uniquely captures data on a wide range of psychosocial drivers of behavioral outcomes in family planning, malaria, and maternal, newborn and child health and nutrition (MNCH+N) in the three northwestern states of Nigeria.