Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

Trends In Contraceptive Use, Type, And Distribution Following Implementation Of The Affordable Care Act, Frank A. Catrone

Master of Public Health Program Student Publications

Background: Over half of all births in the United States are the result of unintended pregnancies. Nearly one half of those women are using contraception incorrectly, and the rest are not using it at all. A major barrier to the use of highly effective methods of contraception is cost. One of the major goals of The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA) was to make highly effective contraceptives available to all women at no cost.

Objective: To examine the changes in utilization and methods of contraception since the ACA was effected in 2012.

Methods: Comparisons were made on summary …

Increasing Physician Awareness Of And Referral To The National Diabetes Prevention Program (Dpp) Using Continuing Medical Education (Cme), Justin T. Kelley

Master of Public Health Program Student Publications

Importance: Diabetes is a growing public health threat. One in eleven individuals have diabetes and one in three individuals have prediabetes. Without intervention, 15-30% of individuals with prediabetes will develop diabetes within five years. The National Diabetes Prevention Program (DPP) led by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is proven to prevent or delay the development of diabetes in individuals with prediabetes.

Objective: A continuing medical education (CME) activity was created to increase physician awareness of and referral to the DPP. The goal was to promote the DPP among first-line treatments for prediabetes.

Methods: The types and requirements …

Factors Contributing To The "Dominican Paradox" Of Maternal Mortality, Cherissa Garcia

Master of Public Health Program Student Publications

Despite having one of the highest rates of institutionalized birth in the region, Dominican maternal mortality rates are higher than the regional average. This phenomenon is referred to as the “Dominican Paradox.” The purpose of this paper is to identify factors beyond the established healthcare system that may contribute to the “Dominican Paradox.” Literature about the “Dominican Paradox” often attempts to explain the paradox in terms of the current healthcare system alone. Over reliance on the healthcare system has likely contributed to the “Dominican Paradox.” Most of prevalent causes of maternal mortality in the Dominican Republic are strongly linked to …

Older Adults With Elevated Bmi Are At Greater Risk Of Accelerated Knee Osteoarthritis: Data From The Osteoarthritis Initiative, Kyle D. Wallace

Master of Public Health Program Student Publications

Background: Around 35% of adults with osteoarthritis (OA) have knee osteoarthritis (KOA), which generally progresses over several years; however, some individuals experience accelerated KOA (AKOA), a rapid progression to end-stage disease within 48-months. Purpose: To assess baseline differences among those who develop the different types of KOA, and to determine if baseline characteristics and measures can be used to predict an individual’s KOA status (Common KOA or AKOA) 48 months later.

Methods: Cross-sectional analysis of data from the Osteoarthritis Initiative (OAI) was completed. At baseline, 4,769 participants were enrolled. Data from individuals (n = 1,561) free of radiographic KOA (Kellgren-Lawrence …

A Set Of Smart Practices For Public Health Department Accreditation By Public Health Accreditation Board, Veer Raghava Kumar Marthy

Master of Public Health Program Student Publications

Purpose: The purpose of this research is to determine smart practices that could be used by a public health department to have an efficient, productive and successful accreditation by the Public Health Accreditation Board (PHAB).

Methodology: Accreditation coordinators of eight accredited Ohio-based public health departments were interviewed in 2016. A qualitative study was conducted using semi-structured interviews with funneling. Results were generated using a hybrid model of analysis that included a content analysis to make valid inferences from the interview data.

Results: The accreditation coordinators identified a series of smart practices. Six prominent themes that were identified and labeled as …

Best Practices: Emergency Medical Management To Hydrazine Exposure, M. Bradley Brough

Master of Public Health Program Student Publications

Objective: Hydrazine is a toxic industrial chemical with significant health risk. It is commonly used in aerospace technologies as a propellant fuel source for rockets and aircraft. The purpose of this project was to perform a comparative analysis of the emergency algorithms at United States Air Force installations where occupational hydrazine exposure may occur and then create a best practices approach for medical responders.

Methods: After review of current Occupational Safety and Health Administration standards and requirements for hydrazine, six United States Air Force Medical Group installation response protocols were analyzed and compared to each other and to current medical …

The Association Between Secondhand Smoke Exposure And Metabolic Syndrome In Children With Elevated Bmi, Alexandra Lawson

Master of Public Health Program Student Publications

Background & Purpose: The childhood obesity epidemic is associated with increased metabolic syndrome (MetS) and cardiovascular morbidity. The purpose of this study was to determine whether secondhand tobacco smoke exposure (SHSe) is associated with MetS in children with elevated body mass index (BMI).

Method: A retrospective chart review was conducted on children aged six to 11 years with elevated BMI seen in a pediatric lipid clinic from 2008-2014. Data included age, sex, race, BMI, and five MetS criteria. MetS was defined as BMI ≥85th percentile and ≥two of the following: systolic or diastolic blood pressure ≥90th percentile, HDL/dL, triglycerides >150 …

Examining The Relationship Between Adequate Sleep, Sleep Behaviors, And Psychological Distress In College Students, Neil Knight

Master of Public Health Program Student Publications

Objective: Examine the relationship between sleep hygiene behaviors, overall distress, and total hours of sleep in a college population. The predictors analyzed were: sleep quality, total hours of sleep, level of distress, bedtime, wake time, time to fall asleep, alcohol/drug use, exercise, caffeine consumption and grade point average.

Methods: A retrospective chart review gathered client information from the CCAPS-34 questionnaire and the Standardized Data Set (SDS), obtained by Counseling and Wellness Services at Wright State University. ANOVA determined statistically significant relationships between the variables.

Results: Seven-hundred sixty-seven charts were reviewed. The majority of students included in the study were white …

Sustainable Improvement In Immunization Rates For Seniors: A Local And Community-Wide Effort, Linda C. Lopez

Master of Public Health Program Student Publications

Objective: Overall: To improve influenza and pneumococcal immunization rates in patients age ≥65 years by developing relationships with community organizations that would provide opportunities for community member education about adult vaccines. Pre/post Surveys: To assess potential changes in influenza and pneumococcal immunization knowledge and opinions in community members exposed to an educational presentation.

Methods: Using personal and university resources, contact was made with several organizations serving the senior, underserved population in West Dayton, Ohio. An educational presentation about adult immunizations was developed and used at ten community events. The presentation included oral and written communication, and was based on the …

Immigrants And Refugees As Vulnerable Populations: Considerations For School Based Health Centers, Gaïa D. C. Oliver

Master of Public Health Program Student Publications

School based health centers (SBHC) have been shown to benefit domestic populations both in terms of bettering health and bettering academics while being effective over the long term. There is, however, lacking evidence on how they impact immigrant and refugee communities, which are some of the most vulnerable United States communities in terms of health risks. Through discussion of literature, this paper defines and reviews the criteria for vulnerable populations and explains how this term applies to immigrant and refugee populations. School based health centers and their documented health and academic benefits for domestic high risk populations are discussed and …

Is The Breeze Making You Wheeze? Air Quality And Asthma In The Us, Gaurav A. Nagar

Master of Public Health Program Student Publications

Objective: A secular trend towards increased current and lifetime asthma prevalence has been observed in the US. The current study compared ambient Air Quality Index (AQI) data and asthma prevalence data from all fifty US states.

Methods: Air pollution is measured as AQI by the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). County level AQI data are available at the EPA website. Asthma prevalence data for each state are available on the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) website. Data from 50 US states (2011-2013) were analyzed for AQI and asthma prevalence. The average of proportions for all counties in each …

Association Of Secondhand Tobacco Smoke And Abdominal Adiposity In The United States Population, Omar T. Tahtamooni

Master of Public Health Program Student Publications

Background: Secondhand smoke (SHS) exposure occurs when people inhale smoke from tobacco products or inhale smoke that has been expelled by other smokers. Exposure to SHS increases the risk of many metabolic and chronic diseases, such as cardiovascular disease.

Purpose: To evaluate the association between SHS and abdominal adiposity in US adults. Methods: Data from 2011-2012 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) was used to examine the relationship between SHS exposure and abdominal adiposity, Sagittal Abdominal Diameter [SAD]), after adjusting for covariates (age, gender, ethnicity, and income) (n=4,012). Univariate linear regression analyses were used to predict association of smoking …

From Their Home To Ours: Establishing Environmental And Health Literacy Via Urban Gardening For At-Risk Youth, Tiffany B. Hunter

Master of Public Health Program Student Publications

The Global Health concentration of the Master of Public Health highly encourages its students to participate in efforts which promote health and prevent disease either for a cultural group abroad or with a local disparate group (e.g. first-generation immigrants, established minority groups). The current research aimed to develop a similar model of community engagement and health promotion within an urban setting as witnessed in a developing country.

During an internship with Israel’s Ministry of Health, I witnessed a successful community garden and environmental education program designed for children whom reside in an Arab village. Much like the Israeli Arab community …

Descriptive Epidemiology Of Air Transportation Fatalities From The United States Air Force Mortality Registry, Richard O. Speakman

Master of Public Health Program Student Publications

Background: United States Air Force (USAF) personnel and retirees participate in aviation both on and off duty. Because aviation mortality is investigated by aircraft ownership, the combined mortality rate for on and off duty flying is unknown, as is aircraft-associated mortality among USAF retirees.

Methods: Mortality data were obtained from the Air Force Mortality Registry (AFMR) and publically available datasets. Air Transport deaths were defined following the Tenth International Classification of Diseases. USAF Active Duty (AD), Guard (ANG), Reserve (ARC) components, aggregate, and retiree rates (1988-2008) were calculated. Sex, age and rank-adjusted AD and retiree rates were compared with US …

The Trend Of Communicable And Non-Communicable Diseases In East African Community (Eac) Countries: Case Study Of Burundi, Rwanda, And Uganda - 1990 To 2013, Emile Shumbusho

Master of Public Health Program Student Publications

Background: In low and middle-income countries (LMICs), non-communicable diseases (NCDs) are rapidly emerging alongside a well-documented persistence of communicable diseases (CDs) in fragile health care systems. In sub-Saharan Africa, chronic NCDs are expected to overtake CDs as the leading cause of death. The aim of this study was to compare mortality rates due to CDs and NCDs between developed countries, developing countries, Burundi, Rwanda, and Uganda from 1990 to 2013.

Methods: A descriptive study with longitudinal and cross-sectional analyses of mortality rates was conducted using the global burden of disease (GBD) study data. Tableau Public 9.3 software was utilized to …

Utilizing Social Media To Educate School Nutrition Professionals, Ashley Seybold

Master of Public Health Program Student Publications

Background: Schools enrolled in United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Team Nutrition (TN) projects often have positive outcomes and develop useful resources. The challenge was to find an accessible mean to share outcomes and resources with schools across Ohio.

Purpose: The purpose of this project was to design a blog to educate school nutrition professionals and build awareness of positive activities related to Ohio school meals. This project also aimed to identify indicators of engagement, make recommendations for research and practice, and identify a set of best practices for future blog site use. Methods: The foundation of the blog ( …

The Evolution Of The Intersection Of Hiv And Breastfeeding In Global Policy, Kristin M. Sinning

Master of Public Health Program Student Publications

Increasing breastfeeding rates and reducing HIV/AIDS are two important global health priorities, and their intersection has led to policies that meet mutual goals of supporting, protecting and promoting breastfeeding and reducing the risk of HIV/AIDS. The World Health Organization has developed and released recommendations, policies, and guidance on infant feeding and the risk of transmission through breastfeeding. This analysis provides a historical, chronological perspective on the global policies for infant feeding in the case of an HIV-positive mother, an analysis of changes, and recommendations for the future. The policies evaluated demonstrate the evolution in knowledge and recommendations for infant feeding …

Five Rivers Family Health Center Community Health Needs Assessment, Kara Yutzy

Master of Public Health Program Student Publications

Objectives: To conduct a community health needs assessment (CHNA) on the three zip codes around Five Rivers Family Health Center (FRFHC) in order to guide healthcare professionals in creating goals and priorities for needed health services in their health center’s targeted community.

Methods: The investigator gathered zip code specific data from the American Community Survey, Public Health - Dayton & Montgomery County, the Dayton Police Department, and other online sources for the FRFHC CHNA zip codes. Data on the targeted zip codes was compared to data from Montgomery County, Ohio, and the United States.

Results: The greatest disparities between the …

Strengths And Challenges Of A Rural Ohio Public Health Department: Considerations For Effective Service Delivery And Emergency Preparedness, Cindy L. Harris Graessle

Master of Public Health Program Student Publications

The local public health department is the main entity in cities and counties established to ensure the safety, health, and well-being of its community members. In many cases, particularly in rural areas, the health department may be the community’s closest access to health care, providing not only clinical care, but preventive services as well. These rural health departments have additional challenges that may not be experienced in the larger, more populated metropolitan areas. These challenges include lack of resources and funding that impact daily operations, expanded registered sanitarian responsibilities, and emergency preparedness difficulties with resource allocation and communication. Despite these …