Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

The Orphan Train Movement And Its Influence On Child Welfare Policy In Kansas, Robert Schremmer, Jane F. Knapp Md

Posters

The Orphan Train Movement was responsible for relocating thousands of children from large eastern cities to rural areas and can be seen as the forerunner to today's foster care system.

Massachusetts Healthy Aging Data Report: Community Profiles, Elizabeth Dugan, Frank Porell, Nina Silverstein, Ruth Palombo, Stacey Mann

Gerontology Institute Publications

The Massachusetts Healthy Aging Data Report: Community Profiles was created by researchers at the Gerontology Institute of the John W. McCormack Graduate School of Policy and Global Studies at the University of Massachusetts Boston and commissioned by the Tufts Health Plan Foundation.

In this report, we have created a custom profile of nearly 100 healthy aging indicators for every city and town in Massachusetts including the 16 neighborhoods of Boston (367 Community Profiles). Each Community Profile is designed to help community residents, agencies, providers, and governments understand the older adults who live in their cities and towns – their ages, …

Social Determinants Affecting The Mental Health Of Hiv Infected Latino Men Who Have Sex With Men Living On The U.S. - Mexican Border, Oscar Beltran

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

The HIV/AIDS global pandemic is more than three decades old, and although the continual advancement of antiretroviral therapies have successfully decreased the mortality rates of people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA), little has been done to improve their mental health status and positive inclusion in society (eliminating discrimination and stigma). This is especially true with the Latino PLWHA living in the U.S.-Mexico border area.

This paper presents data from a qualitative study focused on exploring the mental health issues of a subsample of 40 Latino men who have sex with men (MSM) living with HIV/AIDS on the U.S.-Mexico Border. This subsample …

A Pilot Study Examining The Impact Of A Brief Health Education Intervention On Food Choices And Exercise In A Hispanic College Student Sample, Julie Ann Blow

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

It has been suggested that intervention efforts should focus on prevention of weight gain and the adoption of healthy eating and physical activity behaviors. There is a dearth of literature as to what theoretically-based interventions would be most amenable and efficacious in a Hispanic college student sample. This study assessed the impact of a pilot intervention based on components derived from Self-Determination Theory (SDT) and the Transtheoretical Model (TTM) that focused on increasing healthy eating and physical activity in Hispanic college students. Measures in the study included demographics, theoretical constructs from SDT and the TTM, eating behavior, and a food …

A Comparison Of Water-Related Perceptions And Practices Among Residents Living In Colonias In West Texas And South New Mexico, Relying On Container Or Well Water, Lydia Berenice Garcia

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

ABSTRACT

In the U.S. - Mexico border region, colonia residents must cope with the lack of clean water supply and other basic sanitary services. Because of the lack of infrastructure, colonia residents rely on alternative water supplies including either private wells or hauled water stored in large above-ground containers. Little is known about residents' perceptions of their water supplies, their use practices, and how water-related use and perceptions might differ between colonia residents relying on well water or container water. The purpose of this study was to examine the water-related perceptions and practices of people living in colonias, and to …

Relationship Between Intimate Partner Violence And Alcohol Use Among Hispanic Women In The Border Region, Sujehy Arredondo

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

BACKGROUND AND SIGNIFICANCE: Hispanic/Latinos are the largest and fastest growing minority group in the United States and are disproportionately affected by alcohol use and intimate partner violence (IPV). Although a strong relationship between substance use and IPV has been documented in the literature, no studies have explored this relationship among Hispanic women in the El Paso, TX. STUDY AIMS: The aims of this study are to (1) determine the prevalence of alcohol use and intimate partner violence and (2) assess the association between IPV and alcohol use among Hispanic women living in the El Paso Border Region. METHODS: Project VIDA …

Psychographic Characteristics And Health Behaviors In Young Adults, Jose Alonso Cabriales

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

Tobacco use remains the leading cause of preventable death in the U.S. Non trivial smoking rates are observed among young adults and Hispanics, particularly as light and intermittent smoking is on the rise. Additionally, the assessment of other health behaviors including alcohol use, physical activity, and dietary practices seems warranted in young adults. The primary aim of this study was to identify clusters of individuals based on psychographics (e.g., lifestyle, preferences, personality characteristics), and their relation to tobacco use within a primarily Hispanic young adult border sample. Secondary aims were the assessment of group differences with respect to alcohol use, …

A Comparison Of Perceived Stress And Body Mass Index In Hispanic And Non-Hispanic College Students, Luisa Ileana Garcia

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

The Hispanic population in the United States is rapidly increasing and for this reason it is critical to better understand positive and negative factors that may impact the health of Hispanics. Past studies have focused mostly on physiological stress but fewer studies have examined possible differences in cognitively perceived stress. Past studies have suggested that stress reactivity may be lower among Hispanics; and that overall, females experience greater stress than males regardless of ethnicity. Other studies have shown that stress increases the likelihood of increased body mass index (BMI) and body fat accumulation. The purpose of this study was to …

The Talk Of Unwed Adolescent Fathers Of Mexican Origin: A Discourse Analysis, Jose Arturo Jaime

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

Since the 1970s, changing family and marriage trends in the United States have led to a dramatic 41% increase in the rate of unwed parents also known as fragile families, i.e., those at high risk of living in poverty and/or disintegrating (McLanahan, Garfinkel, Mincy, & Donahue, 2013, p.3). By 2011, more than 20 million children (28%) lived in biological father-absent homes and one-fourth, or five million, of these children were Hispanic of any race (U.S. Census Bureau, 2012). Recent studies suggest a clear disparity in cognitive, behavioral and health outcomes for children who live with single or cohabiting parents when …

Barriers To Disaster Preparedness, Evacuation, And Emergency Response In The Colonias Of El Paso County, Anthony Mark Lechuga

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

The colonias serve as a unique challenge to healthcare professionals and government agencies in developing programs and policies to reach these underserved communities. Minorities, persons of low socioeconomic status, and disabled or medically dependent persons are disproportionally affected by disasters. Researchers have studied several health outcomes prevalent in residents of colonias; however, barriers to disaster preparedness, evacuation, and emergency response have rarely, if ever, been studied in this population. This cross-sectional study applied the constructs of the Health Belief Model to identify common factors, barriers, and attitudes related to disaster preparedness, evacuation, disaster perceptions, and risk communication. Participants of this …

Association Between Hepatitis C Virus Knowledge And Drug Use Risk Behaviors Among People Who Inject Drugs, Ciudad Juárez, Chihuahua, 2012, Leah Nicole Morgan

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

BACKGROUND: Needle sharing during injection drug use is the most common mode of transmission for the Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) in the U.S. The scientific literature on the relationship between knowledge and risk behaviors for HCV transmission among people who inject drugs (PWID) is minimal. Evidence-based and harm reduction programs (e.g., needle exchange programs; reducing needle and works sharing) exist to reduce the risks of HCV and other blood-borne pathogens, however these programs are not widely available. Solutions to reduce HCV transmission in the general population involve changes at the individual level as well as at the policy level. On …

Developmental And Autism Screening Process By Pediatrician Offices In El Paso County, Julian Thomas Murillo

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

Autism spectrum disorders (ASD) is a group of neurodevelopmental disorders characterized by either an emerging and gradual course or developmental regression in early childhood. Symptoms of ASD typically include deficits in social interaction and communication with unusually restricted interests. Due to the concern of the recent increase in diagnosis of ASD and the broadening of ASD diagnosis with the updates to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manuel (DSM), the process of how qualified physicians and other clinicians go about diagnosing ASD is often overlooked. Early diagnosis of ASD is crucial given that the earlier the diagnosis is given, the sooner intervention …

Food Safety Knowledge And Self-Reported Practices Of Food Handlers In Jamaica, Marcia Annmarie Thelwell-Reid

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Food-borne illnesses are responsible for disease globally. One of the most important strategies for combating food-borne diseases is the training of food handlers. Using social cognition theory as a framework, the purpose of this study was to assess the effectiveness of the mandatory training program for food handlers in a rural parish in Jamaica. A cross-sectional survey, using self-administered questionnaires, was used to assess and compare food safety knowledge and self-reported practices of food handlers trained in 2 government training programs, while using untrained food handlers as controls. Descriptive and inferential statistics such as t test, chi-square test, and ANOVA …

Experiences And Perceptions Of Pregnant Unmarried Adolescents In Nigeria, Priscilla Ndidi Asonye

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Sexual activity among unmarried adolescents is a major public health problem in Nigeria, because unmarried pregnant girls are more likely to have multiple sex partners and are less likely to use contraceptives, putting them at greater risk for sexually transmitted diseases (STD), unplanned pregnancy, abortion, social isolation, and poverty. Teen pregnancy and STD rates are on the rise in Nigeria, yet few data exist on the experience of the adolescents themselves. This phenomenological study was designed to explore the in-depth experiences of 10 pregnant, unmarried adolescent girls aged 16-19, including the factors contributing to their sexual activity. An ecological model …

“I’M Just Like Everyone Else, I Just Happen To Be Hiv Positive”: Challenges Faced By Young Urban Black Women As They Strive To Achieve Normative Life Goals, M N. Mabachi, J K. Dariotis, J Anderson, S Finocchario-Kessler

Manuscripts, Articles, Book Chapters and Other Papers

Younger, low-income, black women are disproportionately affected by the HIV/AIDS epidemic in the U.S. Using thematic analysis of 20 semi-structured interviews with young women receiving HIV care in an urban east coast setting, this study provides insights on how living with HIV influences these women’s future aspirations including economic independence, intimate relationships, and family formation in the context of their socio-cultural and economic environment. One major emergent theme expressed by participants was the desire to be considered normal while seeking to meet the developmental benchmarks of emerging adulthood. Gaining economic independence through education and career opportunities was important, as was …

Pilot Study Of Safe Sisters: A Sexual Assault Prevention Program For Sorority Women, Alicia Pugh Cambron

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Sexual violence is a serious problem that can have lasting, harmful effects on victims and their family, friends, and communities (CDC, 2014). Approximately one in five women will become a victim of sexual violence at some point in their lifetime (RAINN, 2009). College women are at a greater risk for rape and other forms of sexual assault than women in the general population (Fisher, Cullen & Turner, 2000). During an academic school year, approximately three percent of college women became a victim of sexual violence (Tijaden & Thoennes, 1998). Sorority women are four times more likely to experience sexual violence …

The Impact Of Vaccination Schedules On Infants' And Children's Physio-Psychological Health: A Qualitative Investigation, Dina A. Alsalih

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Many people may have become increasingly concerned about the risks associated with vaccines. At the same time, there is a lack of qualitative research on the impact of various vaccinations schedules on individuals' physio-psychological health. In addition, "mandatory" versus "nonmandatory, but recommended" vaccines are still under debate in some Western countries. The purpose of this ethnographic study was to provide an in-depth understanding of the beliefs, experiences, and perceptions of adolescents, parents, and health care providers regarding different vaccination schedules. The health belief model was used as the theoretical framework. The sample consisted of adolescents and parents from different vaccination …

Employing Provider Mentoring/Coaching To Improve Preventive Quality Ordering, Julie Knox-Woodward

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Preventive quality ordering is a provider intervention aimed at disease prevention through the ordering of industry-recommended health maintenance tests. This pilot study evaluated the effectiveness of provider mentoring/coaching to improve preventive quality ordering using the 2014 Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality best practice preventive clinical services guidelines. Literature indicates provider inconsistency in preventive and quality ordering as the primary cause of disparate health outcomes. Guided by theories of modeling and role-modeling, as well as the theory of cognitive continuum, this pilot study offered provider mentoring/coaching to encourage timely preventative quality ordering. Routinely monitored historic provider practice patterns in a …

Correlates Of Asthma Among The Minority Population In South Bronx,New York, Veronica Chibumma Uwanaka

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Asthma among children has become an inherent problem in many communities in the United States, especially among the minority population. The South Bronx has a large minority population and a high prevalence of asthma. However, no study to date has explored the factors associated with this high prevalence rates in this population. Drawing from theories of social ecology and environmental health, the objective of this quantitative cross-sectional study is to investigate the correlates of asthma among children in the South Bronx by studying the sociodemographic and environmental risk factors, including parental occupation; neighborhood and housing characteristics, air quality, and poverty. …

The Impact Of Prostate Cancer On Survivors' Sense Of Meaning In Life, Carol Lynn Brady

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Research has shown that meaning in life is a universal human need, regardless of cultural identity or education. This research study investigated how the encounter with prostate cancer impacted men's sense of well-being and what they considered meaningful in life. An interpretative phenomenological research design was used because of its descriptive nature and its focus on the individual's perspective. The sample included 6 men between the ages of 18 and 65 who had been out of treatment for 1 year. Participants completed essays about their perceptions and experiences over 3 periods of time: before diagnosis, during treatment, and as survivors. …

Inspiring Change: Exercise Self-Efficacy, Dispositional Optimism, And Perceived Stress In College Seniors, Joshua M. Garrin

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Prohealth competencies, positive outcome expectancies, and adaptive stress appraisals have profound implications for the real-world transition of college seniors—a population for which engagement in physical activity reflects a preeminent concern. Prior studies on exercise self-efficacy (ESE), dispositional optimism (DO), perceived stress (PS), and physical activity have yielded inconclusive evidence of the emergent psychosocial challenges encountered during the final year of the college experience. Using a triadic framework of self-efficacy, attribution, and cognitive appraisal theories, this crosssectional, quantitative study was conducted using a web survey to examine (a) the impact of physical activity level on ESE, DO, and PS; (b) the …

Effects Of A Classroom Curriculum On Physical Activity And Its Psychological Predictors In High School Students, John Trinity Edd, James J. Annesi Ph.D.

Journal of Social, Behavioral, and Health Sciences

Recent research indicates that recommended amounts of physical activity suggested for health benefits are rarely met in high-school–age adolescents. A pilot study was conducted to investigate the effects of a classroom health-education–based curriculum intervention on the physical activity of high school students. A within-group research design was used on data from a sample of ninth grade boys and girls (N = 104) who received six classroom health education lessons over 5 weeks based on social cognitive theory. The lessons focused on improvements in the theory-based psychological variables of mood, body satisfaction, physical self-concept, and exercise self-efficacy. Mixed-model repeated-measures ANOVAs …

The Sociocultural Basis Of Epidemiology Of Hypertension Among Residents Of Ogun State, Vernon E. Norman

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

There is a high prevalence of hypertension in Nigeria. Limited knowledge of hypertension, how to prevent it, its outcomes, rapid urbanization, and the adoption of Western eating habits are implicated. Hypertension is an important issue because chronic disease places economic, social, and disease burdens on society. The purpose of this mixed-methods study was to investigate lifestyle practices, knowledge, and attitudes on risks and prevention of hypertension among residents of Ogun State, Nigeria (N = 79). The conceptual framework for this study focused on how knowledge, attitudes, and practices influence the dietary habits, behaviors, and ultimately blood pressure . The PEN-3 …

Factors Influencing U.S Army Personnel Meeting Body Mass Index Standards, Salma Theus

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Factors Influencing U.S. Army Personnel Meeting Body Mass Index Standards

by

Salma Theus

MS, California State University, Dominguez Hills, 2008

BA, La Sierra University, 2005

Dissertation Submitted in Partial Fulfillment

of the Requirements for the Degree of

Doctor of Philosophy

Psychology

Walden University

September 2014

U.S. Army Regulations require soldiers to be fit, as excessive weight negatively impacts their readiness, health, and morale. A quantitative study examined if personal, behavioral, and/or environmental factors predict a soldier's self-efficacy and body mass index. Data were obtained from 117 soldiers on 6 scales: the Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery, the Army Physical Fitness …

African American Women's Perceptions Of Personal Risks For Heart Disease, Fecelia Laurice Holt

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Heart disease has been the primary cause of death among both men and women in the United States. More African American women are developing and dying from heart disease than any other ethnic group; yet, they are less likely than European American women to know that they have the major risk factors for heart disease. The purpose of this study was to determine the overall knowledge and health beliefs about heart disease among African American women. Five health belief model constructs of perceived susceptibility, perceived severity, perceived benefits, perceived barriers, and cues to action were applied as the theoretical framework …

Physician As Teacher: Promoting Health And Wellness Among Elementary School Students, Jill E. Stefaniak, Victoria C. Lucia

STEMPS Faculty Publications

BACKGROUND: Every day, physicians engage in teaching during their patient encounters. It may be that medical students who are introduced to the principles of teaching and learning are more likely to become good communicators and learners. Service-learning may be an effective way for medical students to practice skills in teaching and communication in a real-world setting, while also filling a need within the community. The purpose of this study was to identify common themes within medical students' reflections on what they learned through participating in a teaching exercise with local elementary school children.

METHODS: As a required component of a …

The Burden Of Avian Influenza Viruses In Community Ponds In California, Zin Htway

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Emerging influenza viruses continue to challenge public health. The problem is public health science professionals have been battling emerging human influenza diseases with tactile and reactionary methods because there is a lack of knowledge and data at the human-animal interface. This research was a baseline study of the proportion of influenza A virus (IAV) in urban and rural communities in California. The population was artificial recirculating water ponds in the geographic locations of rural and urban Californian communities. Surface water samples [N = 182] were collected from artificial recirculating ponds in California. Positivity for IAV was verified by real time …

Prevalence Of Neonatal Tetanus In Northeastern Nigeria, Jalal-Eddeen Abubakar Saleh

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Although efforts have been made towards improving the health of children across the globe with notable results, neonatal tetanus (NNT) remains a major contributor to the neonatal death rates in Nigeria. This problem calls for a concerted effort by the government to achieve the revised global NNT elimination deadline of 2015. The purpose of this cross-sectional quantitative study using secondary data was to establish the prevalence of NNT in Nigeria's northeast region and to ascertain if there was any significant difference in frequency of antenatal care (ANC), trained traditional birth attendants (TBAs), and umbilical cord treatments, using single sample proportions …

Refining Computerized Physician Order Entry Initiatives In An Adult Intensive Care Unit, Chevita Fuller

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Computerized physician order entry (CPOE) is used in healthcare organizations to improve workflow processes and transcription, as well as to prevent prescribing errors. Previous research has indicated challenges associated with CPOE for end-users that predispose patients to unsafe practices. Unsafe CPOE practices can be detrimental within the intensive care unit (ICU) setting due to the complexity of nursing care. Consequently, end-user satisfaction and understanding of CPOE and electronic health record (EHR) functionality are vital to avoid error omissions. CPOE initiatives should be refined post system implementation to improve clinical workflow, medication processes, and end-user satisfaction. The purpose of this quality …

Oral Health Knowledge, Attitudes, And Practices Among Secondary School Students In Nigeria, Johnson John Omale

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

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