Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

Access To Care And The Use Of Healthcare Services By Women In Rural Cameroon: A Participatory Action Research Study, Grace Tadzong-Awasum

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Women in rural Cameroon do not access health care as timeously and as often as they should. They fail to get screened for common diseases, with the consequence that such diseases are often diagnosed at a very advanced stage. This accounts for the high morbidity and mortality rates as well as low life expectancy recorded among women. The purpose of this study was to explore and understand the health access experiences of women in rural Cameroon. Methodology: Participatory action research was used guided by a Focused ethnography in phase one. Twenty-five women aged 21-77 years were recruited through local the …

Social Inclusion For Women Experiencing Homelessness, Jenna Richards

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

Background: People experiencing homelessness have been described as one of the most socially excluded groups in society due to their inequitable access to basic necessities (Everett 2009; Labonte, 2004). Particular consideration regarding social inclusion should be given to the unique vulnerabilities of sub-populations of those experiencing homelessness, such as women (Wesely & Wright, 2005) due to their increased rates of ‘hidden homelessness’ (Walsh et al., 2009) and experiences of violence and discrimination (Roschelle, 2017; Weiser et al., 2009). Community participation, particularly sports activities, have been cited as one method towards increasing social inclusion among people experiencing homelessness. However, differential access …

Laterality In The Power Five And Group Of Five Conferences In Women's College Softball, Jon C. Nachtigal

Health, Exercise, and Sports Sciences ETDs

Females in sport are under-represented in data and analysis when compared to their male counterparts. This disparity also applies to women’s softball in comparison to men’s baseball. To help fill this gap, this study evaluated the extent and impact of laterality in women’s college softball’s Power Five and Group of Five conferences from 2015-2017.

This study focused on the extent of a left-sided lateral preference in women’s college softball, possible interactions between throwing hand and batting preference, to what extent the platoon effect exists in the sport, and the extent of positional bias in the sport. As one of the …

Prevalence And Factors Associated With Female Sexual Dysfunction Amongst Women Using Hormonal And Non-Hormonal Contraception At The Aga Khan University Hospital Nairobi Clinics, Momin Butt

Theses & Dissertations

Background: Female sexual function is a complex phenomenon. It integrates all the body systems and is influenced by a variety of factors. Contraceptives have been shown to have variable effects on female sexual function, but there have not been adequately powered studies on this in our setting.

Justification: The prevalence of female sexual dysfunction (FSD) has been shown to vary among different population subsets globally. The associations of different factors with FSD have also shown variable conclusions that are not generalizable to our setting. In Kenya there is a high discontinuation rate of contraception and this is mainly attributed to …

Association Of Tissue Vitamin D Receptor Expression With Breast Cancer Molecular Subtypes In Kenyan Women, Mutambuki Kimondo

Theses & Dissertations

Background: Previous studies have shown that reduced vitamin D receptor expression in breast cancer tissue is associated with worse disease outcomes. Furthermore, studies show that estrogen negative and triple negative breast cancer is associated with a poor prognosis and a low breast tissue vitamin D receptor (VDR) expression. Other studies also report that low serum vitamin D levels are associated with more aggressive breast cancer.

Methods: This was a cross-sectional study with both a retrospective and a prospective arm. The retrospective part was nested within a larger study; previously constructed tissue microarray blocks (TMA) blocks were used for analysis …

“I Am Not Deaf”: Art-Based Participatory Action Research With Refugee Women From Burma, Hillary Rubesin

Expressive Therapies Dissertations

There are currently over 65 million displaced people across the world. Refugee women present a unique subset of those displaced. These women often struggle with “triple trauma,” but these complex issues can go unvoiced and unaddressed as the women work to hold their families together in the midst of shifting landscapes and shifting gender roles and cultural norms. The following study demonstrates how the arts can offer refugee women an opportunity to express themselves and process complex issues in effective, creative, accessible, therapeutic, and cross-cultural ways. It details the process and explores the impact of an art-based participatory action research …

Overwhelmed: A Qualitative Study Of The Mental Health Experiences Of Mothers Of Minor Children After Release From Jail And Prison, Ann Elizabeth Stanton

Theses and Dissertations

Mass incarceration in US jails and prisons is a major public health concern. Over one million women are released from US jails and prisons each year. Incarcerated women experience disproportionately high rates of mental health issues and most incarcerated women are mothers of minor children. Mothers of minor children who leave jails and prisons with mental health issues face increased risks of experiencing substance use, risky behaviors, homelessness, and recidivism. Their children are also at increased risk for adverse mental health, behavioral, and social outcomes. The purpose of this study was to explore the mental health experiences of mothers of …

Roller Derby As A Form Of Self-Empowerment: An Examination Of Female Athletes' Resilience To Intimate Partner Violence, Esmeralda Castillo

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study is to explore if playing roller derby can yield one more resilient to Intimate Partner Violence (IPV). IPV is a major wellness concern to our present lives. However, there are many who experience violence, yet do not develop debilitating symptoms. The subject of resilience has emerged to account for this. Resilience can be interpreted as “bouncing back” from adversity, and adapting well to sources of stress (American Psychological Association, n.d.). Sport psychologists have recognized sport as a site for the development of resilient qualities. For females, team sports offer a context to experience empowerment. The …

The Lived Experience Of Afghan Women Refugees In Three Metropolitan Areas Of The Southeastern Us: A Phenomenological Study, Brenda Brown Dns, Rn, Cne

Doctorate of Nursing Science Dissertations

The global refugee crisis has reached epic proportions. Statistics from the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR, 2016) reported that in 2015 a record 65.3 million people worldwide, or 39,976 people per day, were displaced, either within their native countries or as asylees and refugees. Afghanistan, from 1980-2014, was the country with the largest number of outgoing refugees and it now ranks third in the world. At the opposite end of the continuum the United States remains the primary host country for refugees, asylees, and resettled refugees from all countries, including Afghanistan. The refugee experience is fraught with challenges …

Does Lavender Aromatherapy Or Tea Improve Quality Of Sleep In Women?, Meredith A. Mcnelis

PCOM Physician Assistant Studies Student Scholarship

Objective: The objective of this selective EBM review is to determine whether or not “Does Lavender Aromatherapy or Tea Improve Quality of Sleep in Women?”

Study Design: Systematic review of three English language, primary, randomized controlled trials published between 2012 and 2015.

Data Sources: Three randomized controlled trials were obtained using PubMed and NCBI.

Outcomes Measured: The clinical outcome of sleep quality was measured in these studies via the Postpartum Sleep Quality Scale (PSQS), the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index and the Chinese Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (CPSQI).

Results: Statistical significance was determined for each randomized control trial (RCT) using pvalue …

Online Support Group For Chinese Women With Ovarian Or Cervical Cancer, Yuan Xing

Honors Undergraduate Theses

Women with gynecological (GYN) cancer experience a wide spectrum of physical, emotional and social effects after diagnosis and treatment of their cancer. The insufficient availability of local support groups, limited transportation for the rural Chinese population and a shortage of oncologists make it difficult to have face-to-face support groups for Chinese GYN cancer patients. However, the wide access of Internet has provided an opportunity for people to have online support groups. The purpose of this study was to observe and describe the types of support given to and by Chinese GYN cancer survivors in a QQ chat group. This was …

Essential Components Of Participation For An Exercise Program For Underserved, Older, African-American Females, Marina Meinert

Honors Undergraduate Theses

Physical activity (PA) is beneficial to people of all ages and ethnicities. Regular physical activity can reduce the risk of multiple chronic diseases, improve mood and sleep and allows your body to function better overall (CDC, 2018). However, populations that are more vulnerable to adverse health risks may benefit more than others from regular physical activity. This study was designed to identify the motivating factors for physical activity in a sample of older, African-American women of lower socioeconomic status (SES). This particular subgroup was chosen because of their increased risk of obesity and cardiovascular disease due to unhealthy lifestyle factors, …

"To Conceive With Child Is The Earnest Desire If Not Of All, Yet Of Most Women": The Advancement Of Prenatal Care And Childbirth In Early Modern England: 1500-1770, Victoria E.C. Glover

Theses and Dissertations

This thesis analyzes medical manuals published in England between 1500 and 1770 to trace developing medical understandings and prescriptive approaches to conception, pregnancy, and childbirth. While there have been plenty of books written regarding social and religious changes in the reproductive process during the early modern era, there is a dearth of scholarly work focusing on the medical changes which took place in obstetrics over this period. Early modern England was a time of great change in the field of obstetrics as physicians incorporated newly-discovered knowledge about the male and female body, new fields and tools, and new or revived …

Women's Perceptions Of Malaria In The Western Rural Areas Of Sierra Leone, Marcella Davies

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Malaria is one of the leading causes of death for children and women in Sierra Leone. The purpose of this qualitative study was to explore and understand the lived experiences of women from the rural areas of Sierra Leone regarding malaria. A purposive sample of Krio women from the western rural area, aged 21-55 years, spoke English, and had taken care of someone with malaria described their perceptions and lived experiences with the disease in face-to-face interviews. The research questions were based on the health belief model and focused on knowledge, beliefs, and perceptions about malaria prevention and treatment. Interpretative …

Intervention For Women In Costa Rica Who Are Discouraged And Have Food Insecurity And Excess Body Weight, Tatiana Martínez-Jaikel

Theses and Dissertations

ntroduction: The coexistence of food insecurity and excess body weight has been wellrecognized by researchers, and it has been documented in women, but not men. Both food insecurity and excess body weight have multiple consequences for physical and mental health. Concerns have been raised about interventions aimed to reduce food insecurity because these programs might contribute to excess body weight, particularly in adult women. Our previous in-depth qualitative research in Costa Rica showed that discouragement was the primary link in the coexistence of food insecurity and excess body weight among Costa Rican women, and that the family and existing gender …

Comparative Effectiveness Of Conventional And Novel Sampling Methods For The Recruitment Of Sexual Minority Identified Women, Sarah M. Piperato

Theses and Dissertations

Sexual minority identified (SMI) women have an amplified risk for risky health behaviors and chronic health conditions. Current research on mechanisms related to health disparities in SMI women is limited. Research targeting SMI women has relied on small, convenience samples to address health disparities. Due to the nature of this population, probability sampling methods are ineffective and inefficient and cost prohibitive. The purpose of this dissertation was threefold. First, we examined the current state of literature to gain insight on prevalent sampling strategies used to access SMI women for health-related research. Second, we compared the efficacy of two sampling strategies, …

A Structured Weight Loss Program To Combat Obesity In Women, Tara English

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Rates of obesity and the associated comorbidities continue to increase for women in the United States. Despite information available, efforts at weight loss are often unsuccessful because women lack integral knowledge of how to approach the various components essential for weight loss. This doctoral project was created to address the practice question of whether obesity can be reduced through a step-wise weight loss program that identifies essential elements to reduce weight in menopausal age women. Guided by the information-motivation-behavioral skills model, this project led 17 volunteer participants from a Northwest, Florida primary care clinic through 6 weeks of protocols supplemented …

Understanding Haitian Women’S Health Care In Immokalee, Florida, Usa, Michele Leigh Flippo Bolduc

Theses and Dissertations--Geography

This social science research project takes a critical approach to understanding the health of a population by using the health care system as an entry point through which we can see how large-scale social processes produce a particular health care landscape in the rural, im/migrant farmworker community of Immokalee, Florida, USA. Using a multi-scalar analysis of health care, I investigate how anti-immigrant legislation and neoliberal economics influence the experience of health care for health care providers and Haitian im/migrant women navigating these processes. First, I argue that anti-immigrant and pro-market discourses have been successful in limiting the accessibility to health …

Hiv Testing Service Utilization Among Men And Women In Dominica, Carol Rosetta Jno.Baptiste-Smith

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Voluntary HIV/AIDS testing and counselling (VHTC) is one of the preventive measures used in many countries to decrease the spread of HIV/AIDS. Archived data from National HIV/AIDS Response Program's (NHARP) raw 2016 dataset were used to identify relationships and to assess significant differences between sociodemographic factors and selected sexual risk behaviours versus VHTC practices among adults 18 years and older who resided in Dominica. The health belief model was used as the framework for this cross-sectional study. The sample comprised 982 participants (40% [394] men and 60% [588] women). Logistic regression analysis was used to assess associations between sociodemographic and …

An Investigation Into The Relationship Between Spirituality And Coping Responses Among Women With A Visual Impairment, Sandra Marie Bullins

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to examine coping responses, specifically by women, and the relationship between those coping responses and a woman’s self-reported spirituality. The sample was comprised of women (n = 175) from the United States and 10 foreign countries. The results of a correlational analysis showed a strong positive relationship (r= 0.46, p<0.0001) between scores on the Spirituality Assessment Scale (SAS) and the Brief Cope (BC). There were also statistically significant correlations among subscales of the SAS and BC subscales. A multivariate analysis of variance was performed to evaluate the impact that select demographic variables might have on spirituality and coping responses. The results of the MANOVA showed no effect and were not statistically significant at alpha 0.1.

The Harsh Reality: A Feminist Perspective On The Experiences Of Women Coaching Male Athletes, Emilee Shearer

All Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Other Capstone Projects

This study, using a qualitative approach, examines the impact of patriarchy on females who coach a male-dominated sports team. The purpose of the study is to identify and examine the experiences of females who coach a male-dominated sports team in order to have a better understanding of the impact of the gender binary and patriarchy in the sport field. A qualitative approach was used in this study to gain an understanding of the individual and commonality of the experiences of women coaches. There were five female coaches interviewed; one was a high school basketball coach, two were high school football …

Intimate Partner Violence And Its Impact On Pregnant Women And Their Infants: A Systematic Review, Rachel Ashley, Emily Pagni, Alissarh Choujaa

Williams Honors College, Honors Research Projects

Abstract

In the United States, about 324,000 pregnant women are victims of Intimate Partner Violence (IPV) annually. IPV is any type of physical, sexual, or emotional abuse of women or men in family units. IPV has detrimental effects on pregnant women and their babies, from their physical health to their mental health. It is important for nurses and other healthcare providers to have knowledge and understanding about IPV in this population and to use effective interventions and screening procedures. The purpose of this systematic review is to review and critically analyze evidence about IPV in pregnant women. The literature search …

Chemotherapy Knowledge And Health Literacy Among Women With Breast Cancer, Pearman Detreville Parker

Theses and Dissertations

Chemotherapy education is imperative for patients to gain the knowledge to manage side effects, adhere to prescribed cycles, and recognize the severity of symptoms that require immediate provider contact. Two vital factors – the readability of teaching materials and the patient’s health literacy – must be considered during chemotherapy education. However, materials are often not assessed for readability. Further, the influence of a patient’s health literacy level and demographic factors on chemotherapy knowledge has not yet been investigated. The specific aims are to: (1) critique the readability and format of chemotherapy education materials; (2) explore how women with breast cancer …

Impact Of Health Insurance And Sociodemographic Characteristics On Survival For Women Diagnosed With Breast Cancer In Kentucky, Pramila Rai

Theses and Dissertations--Public Health (M.P.H. & Dr.P.H.)

Introduction Objective of the study was to explore the impact of health insurance and socio-demographic factors on survival for breast cancer patients in Kentucky. Breast cancer is the most prevalent cancer among women in the US. Breast cancer survival is affected by various factors including health insurance, residence, age, race, geographical distance, income.

Methods The data were obtained from Kentucky Cancer Registry and included 47,128 women diagnosed with primary breast cancer between 2000 to 2014. The relationship of health insurance and other socio-demographic factors was analyzed using Cox regression.

ResultsThe overall five-year survival proportion was 0.97, 0.76 and 0.71 …