Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

Maternal Leisure-Time Physical Activity And Risk Of Preterm Birth: A Systematic Review Of The Literature, Mira Kahn, Loretta Dipietro, Kimberly Robien

GW Research Days 2016 - 2020

Background: Preterm birth is a leading cause of infant death and regular physical activity may reduce the risk for preterm birth because of its beneficial effects on pregnancy complications such as preeclampsia, excessive weight gain, and gestational diabetes. On average, however, pregnant women report lower levels of physical activity compared with those who are not pregnant. This systematic review examined low, moderate and vigorous leisure-time physical activity (LTPA) during pregnancy and the outcome of preterm birth.

Methods: Key words related to preterm birth and physical activity were used to search relevant databases (Medline, Cochrane, CINAHL, Sports Discuss and Scopus). Studies …

Predictors Of Malnutrition In Different Geographic Regions Of Peru, Elizabeth Lacroix

GW Research Days 2016 - 2020

Malnutrition is responsible for over 3 million childhood deaths each year. Those who survive early nutritional deficiencies and the subsequent growth failure face life-long consequences, including long-term deficits in cognitive development, decreased academic achievement, and reduced economic opportunities later in life. Low height for age, or stunting, indicates chronic malnutrition, while low weight for height (wasting) indicates acute malnutrition. Caloric deficiencies, micronutrient deficiencies, intestinal parasites, and diarrheal diseases all directly contribute to acute and chronic undernutrition.

Peru is an ethnically and geographically diverse country that has experienced great economic growth and dramatic health improvements in the last decade. Nationally, stunting …

Promotion Of Drinking Water Among Latino Immigrant Youth, Nicole Barrett, Allison Elkins, Uriyoan Colón-Ramos, Ivonne Rivera, W. Douglas Evans, Mark Edberg

GW Research Days 2016 - 2020

Objective: To design an innovative intervention to increase drinking water behaviors among Latino immigrant youth.

Methods: We conducted two rounds of focus groups, totaling 10 sessions (n=61), with Latino immigrant youth, aged 6-18 years, living in Langley Park, Maryland. Participants were stratified into focus groups by age group (elementary, middle, and high school) and language preference (Spanish and English). A professional, bilingual-speaking moderator used a semistructured discussion guide to examine: (1) what youth preferred to drink in different settings and why, (2) their reactions to promotional messages, (3) slogans that would entice them to drink more water in school and …

Smoking Characteristics And Psychiatric Comorbidities Of Pregnant Smokers: An Analysis Of Quit4baby Randomized Controlled Trial, Shawn Chiang, Lorien C. Abroms, Jennifer M. Schindler-Ruwisch, Leah E. Leavitt

GW Research Days 2016 - 2020

Background: Text messaging or short message service (SMS) programs have been shown to be effective in helping adult smokers quit smoking (Abroms et al., 2014). However, to our knowledge, no prior research has examined psychiatric comorbidities associated with smoking in the text messaging context. The risk of smoking has been shown to increase as a function of the number of psychiatric illnesses with which a person is diagnosed (Aubin, Rollema, Svensson, & Winterer, 2012). The current study examined this association and other correlates of smoking-psychiatric comorbidity in a sample of U.S. pregnant smokers enrolled in Quit4Baby, a smoking cessation text …