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Assessing Acceptability Of Covid-19 Vaccine Booster Dose Among Adult Americans: A Cross-Sectional Study, Tesfaye Yadete, Kavita Batra, Dale M. Netski, Sabrina Antonio, Michael J. Patros, Johan C. Bester Dec 2021

Assessing Acceptability Of Covid-19 Vaccine Booster Dose Among Adult Americans: A Cross-Sectional Study, Tesfaye Yadete, Kavita Batra, Dale M. Netski, Sabrina Antonio, Michael J. Patros, Johan C. Bester

School of Medicine Faculty Publications

Given the emergence of breakthrough infections, new variants, and concerns of waning immunity from the primary COVID-19 vaccines, booster shots emerged as a viable option to shore-up protection against COVID-19. Following the recent authorization of vaccine boosters among vulnerable Americans, this study aims to assess COVID-19 vaccine booster hesitancy and its associated factors in a nationally representative sample. A web-based 48-item psychometric valid survey was used to measure vaccine literacy, vaccine confidence, trust, and general attitudes towards vaccines. Data were analyzed through Chi-square (with a post hoc contingency table analysis) and independent-sample t-/Welch tests. Among 2138 participants, nearly 62% intended …


Vaccine Hesitancy Within Nevada Counties, June 2021, Kelliann Beavers, Madison Frazee-Bench, William E. Brown Jr. Sep 2021

Vaccine Hesitancy Within Nevada Counties, June 2021, Kelliann Beavers, Madison Frazee-Bench, William E. Brown Jr.

Health

This fact sheet highlights estimated rates of vaccine hesitancy, vaccination rates, the index of social vulnerability, and the level of concern for 17 Nevada counties as of June, 2021. The data are reported in the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation (ASPE) estimates.


A Theory-Based Analysis Of Covid-19 Vaccine Hesitancy Among African Americans In The United States: A Recent Evidence, Manoj Sharma, Kavita Batra, Ravi Batra Sep 2021

A Theory-Based Analysis Of Covid-19 Vaccine Hesitancy Among African Americans In The United States: A Recent Evidence, Manoj Sharma, Kavita Batra, Ravi Batra

Environmental & Occupational Health Faculty Publications

African Americans have been disproportionately vaccinated at lower rates, which warrants the development of theory-based interventions to reduce vaccine hesitancy in this group. The fourth-generation theories, e.g., multi-theory model (MTM) of health behavior change, are vital in developing behavioral interventions. Therefore, the current study aims to determine recent trends in COVID-19 vaccination rates and to test the MTM model in predicting the initiation of COVID-19 vaccines among vaccine-hesitant Blacks. A sample of 428 unvaccinated African Americans were recruited through a web-based survey using a 28-item psychometric valid questionnaire. Chi-square, independent-samples-t-test or Welch’s t test, and Pearson’s correlation tests were utilized …


Testing The Multi-Theory Model (Mtm) To Predict The Use Of New Technology For Social Connectedness In The Covid-19 Pandemic, Manoj Sharma, Kavita Batra, Jason Flatt Jul 2021

Testing The Multi-Theory Model (Mtm) To Predict The Use Of New Technology For Social Connectedness In The Covid-19 Pandemic, Manoj Sharma, Kavita Batra, Jason Flatt

Environmental & Occupational Health Faculty Publications

Loneliness or social isolation, recently described as a “behavioral epidemic,” remains a long-standing public health issue, which has worsened during the COVID-19 pandemic. The use of technology has been suggested to enhance social connectedness and to decrease the negative health outcomes associated with social isolation. However, till today, no theory-based studies were performed to examine the determinants of technology use. Therefore, the current study aims to test theory-based determinants in explaining the adoption of new technology in a nationally representative sample during the COVID-19 pandemic (n = 382). A psychometrically reliable and valid instrument based on the multi-theory model (MTM) …


Lagged Meteorological Impacts On Covid-19 Incidence Among High-Risk Counties In The United States—A Spatiotemporal Analysis, Lung-Chang Chien, Lung-Wen Antony Chen, Ro-Ting Lin Jul 2021

Lagged Meteorological Impacts On Covid-19 Incidence Among High-Risk Counties In The United States—A Spatiotemporal Analysis, Lung-Chang Chien, Lung-Wen Antony Chen, Ro-Ting Lin

Public Health Faculty Publications

Background: The associations between meteorological factors and coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) have been discussed globally; however, because of short study periods, the lack of considering lagged effects, and different study areas, results from the literature were diverse and even contradictory. Objective: The primary purpose of this study is to conduct more reliable research to evaluate the lagged meteorological impacts on COVID-19 incidence by considering a relatively long study period and diversified high-risk areas in the United States. Methods: This study adopted the distributed lagged nonlinear model with a spatial function to analyze COVID-19 incidence predicted by multiple meteorological measures from …


Helping Mothers Survive: Program Evaluation And Early Outcomes Of Maternal Care Training In The Dominican Republic, Meghan Smith, Alexandra Leader, Wanny Roa, Ericka Jaramillo, Davina Lazala, Jose Flores, Claudia Cadet, Ruraj Vazifedan, Suzanne Bentley, Lloyd Jensen Jun 2021

Helping Mothers Survive: Program Evaluation And Early Outcomes Of Maternal Care Training In The Dominican Republic, Meghan Smith, Alexandra Leader, Wanny Roa, Ericka Jaramillo, Davina Lazala, Jose Flores, Claudia Cadet, Ruraj Vazifedan, Suzanne Bentley, Lloyd Jensen

School of Medicine Faculty Publications

Introduction: In 2017, approximately 295,000 women died during and immediately following pregnancy and childbirth worldwide, with 94% of these deaths occurring in low-resource settings. The Dominican Republic (DR) exhibits one of the highest maternal mortality ratios in the region of Latin America and the Caribbean despite the fact that 99% of registered births in the country are reportedly attended by a skilled birth attendant. This paradox implies that programs to support healthcare worker knowledge and skills improvement are vital to improving maternal health outcomes in the DR. Helping Mothers Survive (HMS) is a provider training program developed by Jhpiego and …


Conceptualization Of College Students' Covid-19 Related Mask-Wearing Behaviors Using The Multi-Theory Model Of Health Behavior Change, Robert E. Davis, Manoj Sharma, Kayla E. Simon, Amanda H. Wilkerson May 2021

Conceptualization Of College Students' Covid-19 Related Mask-Wearing Behaviors Using The Multi-Theory Model Of Health Behavior Change, Robert E. Davis, Manoj Sharma, Kayla E. Simon, Amanda H. Wilkerson

Environmental & Occupational Health Faculty Presentations

Background: Recommendations and policies, regarding the use of face coverings, have been instituted to control transmission of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Understanding of psychosocial factors related to the use of face coverings within the context of COVID-19 is needed. This study aimed to conceptualize mask-wearing behavior among students using the Multi-theory Model (MTM) of behavior change. Methods: In October 2020, students (n = 595) enrolled in a large public southeastern US university were recruited to participate in a cross-sectional survey, using a valid and reliable instrument. Univariate, bivariate, and multivariate techniques described mask-wearing behavior and differentiated theoretical drivers of mask-wearing …


Conceptualization Of College Students' Covid-19 Related Mask-Wearing Behaviors Using The Multi-Theory Model Of Health Behavior Change, Robert E. Davis, Manoj Sharma, Kayla E. Simon, Amanda H. Wilkerson May 2021

Conceptualization Of College Students' Covid-19 Related Mask-Wearing Behaviors Using The Multi-Theory Model Of Health Behavior Change, Robert E. Davis, Manoj Sharma, Kayla E. Simon, Amanda H. Wilkerson

Environmental & Occupational Health Faculty Publications

Background: Recommendations and policies, regarding the use of face coverings, have been instituted to control transmission of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Understanding of psychosocial factors related to the use of face coverings within the context of COVID-19 is needed. This study aimed to conceptualize mask-wearing behavior among students using the Multi-theory Model (MTM) of behavior change. Methods: In October 2020, students (n = 595) enrolled in a large public southeastern US university were recruited to participate in a cross-sectional survey, using a valid and reliable instrument. Univariate, bivariate, and multivariate techniques described mask-wearing behavior and differentiated theoretical drivers of mask-wearing …


Economic Insecurity As A Risk Factor During The Covid-19 Pandemic, Klaus E. Cavalhieri Apr 2021

Economic Insecurity As A Risk Factor During The Covid-19 Pandemic, Klaus E. Cavalhieri

Journal of Health Disparities Research and Practice

The novel coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is currently spreading at a rapid rate worldwide. The current pandemic may have several adverse effects on overall psychological functioning and health behaviors. Economic insecurity, operationalized as financial strain and employment uncertainty, can be a significant risk factor for both psychological outcomes and compliance with shelter-in-place recommendations (i.e., health behaviors). One hundred and twenty four participants answered survey data on economic security, fear of COVID-19, health care system distrust, anxiety, well-being, and compliance with CDC recommendations to curb the spread of COVID-19 (i.e., health behaviors; CDC, 2020). Economic security was significantly associated with well-being, …


Impact Of Covid-19 On Healthcare Labor Market In The United States: Lower Paid Workers Experienced Higher Vulnerability And Slower Recovery, Neeraj Bhandari, Kavita Batra, Soumya Upadhyay, Christopher Cochran Apr 2021

Impact Of Covid-19 On Healthcare Labor Market In The United States: Lower Paid Workers Experienced Higher Vulnerability And Slower Recovery, Neeraj Bhandari, Kavita Batra, Soumya Upadhyay, Christopher Cochran

Healthcare Administration & Policy Faculty Publications

The resilience of the healthcare industry, often considered recession-proof, is being tested by the COVID-19 induced reductions in physical mobility and restrictions on elective and non-emergent medical procedures. We assess early COVID-19 effects on the dynamics of decline and recovery in healthcare labor markets in the United States. Descriptive analyses with monthly cross-sectional data on unemployment rates, employment, labor market entry/exit, and weekly work hours among healthcare workers in each healthcare industry and occupation, using the Current Population Survey from July 2019−2020 were performed. We found that unemployment rates increased dramatically for all healthcare industries, with the strongest early impacts …


Environmentally Marginalized Populations: The "Perfect Storm" For Infectious Disease Pandemics, Including Covid-19, Gabriella Y. Meltzer, Oyemwenosa Avenbuan, Christina Awada, Oluwakemi B. Oyetade, Tricia Blackman, Simona Kwon Drph, Mph, Esther Erdei Phd, Judith T. Zelikoff Phd Feb 2021

Environmentally Marginalized Populations: The "Perfect Storm" For Infectious Disease Pandemics, Including Covid-19, Gabriella Y. Meltzer, Oyemwenosa Avenbuan, Christina Awada, Oluwakemi B. Oyetade, Tricia Blackman, Simona Kwon Drph, Mph, Esther Erdei Phd, Judith T. Zelikoff Phd

Journal of Health Disparities Research and Practice

COVID-19 has exacted a severe toll on the United States population’s physical and mental health and its effects have been felt most severely among people of color and low socioeconomic status. Using illustrative case studies, this commentary argues that in addition to COVID-19 health disparities created by psychosocial stressors such as the inability to socially distance and access quality healthcare, environmental justice communities have the additional burden of disproportionate exposure to toxic contaminants that contribute to their higher risk of COVID-19. Environmental contaminants including heavy metals and persistent organic pollutants found contaminating their nearby environments can alter the immune response, …


Explaining Handwashing Behavior In A Sample Of College Students During Covid-19 Pandemic Using The Multi-Theory Model (Mtm) Of Health Behavior Change: A Single Institutional Cross-Sectional Survey, Manoj Sharma, Kavita Batra, Robert E. Davis, Amanda H. Wilkerson Jan 2021

Explaining Handwashing Behavior In A Sample Of College Students During Covid-19 Pandemic Using The Multi-Theory Model (Mtm) Of Health Behavior Change: A Single Institutional Cross-Sectional Survey, Manoj Sharma, Kavita Batra, Robert E. Davis, Amanda H. Wilkerson

Environmental & Occupational Health Faculty Publications

Amidst the COVID-19 pandemic, handwashing offers a simple and effective hygienic measure for disease prevention. Reportedly, a significant proportion of college students did not follow handwashing recommendations provided by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in the pre-COVID era. The purpose of this cross-sectional study was to explore and explain the handwashing behavior among college students during the COVID-19 pandemic using a contemporary fourth-generation multi-theory model (MTM) of health behavior change. Data were collected from 713 college students at a large public university in the Southern U.S. in October 2020 using a validated 36-item survey. Statistical analyses included …