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Full-Text Articles in Medicine and Health Sciences
Modeling Depression Treatment Strategies For Human Immunodeficiency Virus (Hiv) Positive Patients, Rongbing Xie
Modeling Depression Treatment Strategies For Human Immunodeficiency Virus (Hiv) Positive Patients, Rongbing Xie
All ETDs from UAB
This dissertation empirically examines the associations between depression and HIV-related outcomes, simulates both care and outcomes under different depression care strategies, and compares the cost effectiveness of various depression care strategies to the current care strategy. The empirical investigations reveal the negative associations between depression and HIV-related outcomes using two longitudinal patient-level databases. Furthermore, the patterns and outcomes of depression care are identified and simulated using agent-based modeling. Finally, simulated costs and effectiveness are used to evaluate different depression care strategies for reducing new HIV infections and improving quality of life. The current standard of care for depression among patients …
Individual And Institutional Level Factors That Influence Hiv Testing And Counseling Utilization During Antenatal Care In Nigeria, Modupeoluwa O. Durojaiye
Individual And Institutional Level Factors That Influence Hiv Testing And Counseling Utilization During Antenatal Care In Nigeria, Modupeoluwa O. Durojaiye
All ETDs from UAB
Of the estimated 150,000 new HIV infections in children in 2015, 122,000 occurred in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), with Nigeria accounting for a third of all cases. Most of these infections were acquired via mother-to-child transmission (MTCT). HIV testing and counseling, a critical first step in the prevention of MTCT (PMTCT), can ensure that HIV-positive women access services that can reduce HIV transmission risk. Incorporating HIV testing and counseling into antenatal care (ANC) is an integral component of the World Health Organization (WHO) strategies. This dissertation aims to understand factors that influence HIV testing and counseling during ANC. It is comprised …
Publc Hospital Conversions: A Question Of Social Capital?, Antionette Smith Epps
Publc Hospital Conversions: A Question Of Social Capital?, Antionette Smith Epps
All ETDs from UAB
ABSTRACT Between 1975 and 2015, the number of public hospitals decreased by 43%, from 1761 to 1003. Public hospitals have undergone changes in ownership status, structural and/or governance conversions and closures. Reasons for these changes are varied and numerous, however, many studies identify financial difficulties as a major reason that decision-makers consider an ownership change. Some public hospitals persist despite exhibiting financial issues. Therefore, there may be other factors contributing to the persistence of some public hospitals. This paper examines the potential role of social capital or community engagement and cohesion as a factor in determining if a public hospital …
Autism Spectrum Disorders And Social-Ecological Models: Understanding How Context Drives Prevalence, Anne Elizabeth Brisendine
Autism Spectrum Disorders And Social-Ecological Models: Understanding How Context Drives Prevalence, Anne Elizabeth Brisendine
All ETDs from UAB
Background: While there has been significant work done to explore disparities in autism spectrum disorder (ASD) diagnoses with respect to individual characteristics, little work has been done to examine the overall system and structure of the environment in which ASD identification is made and how it is related to diagnosis and services. The purpose of this study is to better understand the social-ecological factors that impact ASD diagnoses at the population level. Methods: In the first aim of this dissertation, a tailored social ecological model was developed and examined across variables in the 2011/12 National Survey of Children’s Health. In …
Quality Of Care And Racial Disparities In Head And Neck Cancer Treatment, Siddharth Jain
Quality Of Care And Racial Disparities In Head And Neck Cancer Treatment, Siddharth Jain
All ETDs from UAB
PURPOSE: Intensity-modulated radiotherapy (IMRT) is a development of conventional radiotherapy in the treatment for most Head and Neck Cancers (HNC). There is no sufficient evidence to suggest that some physicians are associated with better outcomes in HNC patients. Also, there is limited data that showed that African Americans have poor outcomes compared to other races among HNC patients. We conducted a cross-sectional analysis to evaluate the effect of radiation oncologist characteristics on outcomes in HNC patients treated with IMRT, and factors associated with racial disparities in the treatment outcomes. METHODS: The study used Surveillance Epidemiology and End Results (SEER)-Medicare linked …
Implementation Of Repeat Hiv Testing During Pregnancy In Kenya, Anna Joy Graves Rogers
Implementation Of Repeat Hiv Testing During Pregnancy In Kenya, Anna Joy Graves Rogers
All ETDs from UAB
It is estimated that a third of all mother-to-child transmission (MTCT) of HIV occurs in women with incident HIV infection during pregnancy, potentially contributing to over 37,000 pediatric HIV infections globally and 4,300 infections in Kenya on an annual basis. Since most pregnant women with acute HIV infection test negative for HIV during routine early-pregnancy antenatal testing, they may not receive access to life-saving antiretroviral therapy (ART) for their own sake, as well as to prevent perinatal HIV transmission. A comprehensive strategy to eliminate MTCT will require identifying and addressing incident HIV infection. International recommendations suggest that pregnant women in …