Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

Gender Differences In Risk Behaviors Of Adolescents Enrolled In An Inner City Charter High School, Kimbra Dent

Master of Public Health Program Student Publications

Adolescents engage in health risk behaviors (Grunbaum, 2001). Persons engaging in high‐risk behaviors during adolescence have disproportionally poor health as adults (Grunbaum et al., 2003; Resnick et al., 1997). Adolescents comprise a target group for health promotion and education programs to establish healthy lifestyle choices that transcend into adulthood. The purpose of this descriptive research study was to identify, analyze, and compare the health interests and health risk behaviors between male and female inner city, adolescent, charter high school students. The study served as a needs assessment before a health promotion and education program was implemented into the high school. …

The Relationship Of Maternal Age, Trimester Of Entry Into Prenatal Care, Maternal Postpartum Depression, And Race With Birth Weight Of Infants Born In Cincinnati, Ohio, Kelli Kohake

Master of Public Health Program Student Publications

Healthcare, resources, and technology in the United States (U.S.) has improved, yet the U.S. ranks 29th in the world for the highest infant mortality rates – behind other less developed countries. Within the U.S., Ohio (and Hamilton County in particular) has high rates of infant mortality. Low birth weight and preterm births are a major cause of infant mortality. Data analysis was done consisting of descriptive statistics and Analysis of Variance of the prenatal patients served at the Cincinnati Health Department health centers who delivered in 2009, with dependent variables of birth weight and postpartum depression. Independent variables included maternal …

Environmental Influences On Pediatric Obesity: An Examination Of The 2007 National Survey Of Children's Health (Nsch), Donny Dunfee

Master of Public Health Program Student Publications

Obese children are more likely to become obese as adults; hence, they are at increased risk for a number of adult diseases. As with adult obesity, several variables contribute to the increasing prevalence of childhood obesity. The intent of this report is to illustrate the connection between childhood obesity and the social environmental interactions of populations. With the increasing prevalence of obesity in adults and children, healthcare and public health professionals view childhood overweight and obesity as one of the most serious public health concerns of our time. This research conducts a secondary analysis of the National Survey of Children’s …

Assessment Of Support Service Needs Of Primary Caregivers Of Hiv And Aids Infected Children: A Review Of Literature And Suggestions For Practice, Barry Eneh

Master of Public Health Program Student Publications

Summary: With the advent of highly active antiretroviral treatment, routine screening and treatment options for pregnant women for perinatally acquired HIV and AIDS, infection is on dramatic decline in the U.S. In spite of the declines and the medical advances, primary and informal caregivers of infected children continue to face innumerable challenges with regard to the availability, access and utilization of non-medical supportive service care needs. HIV/AIDS continues to create unique challenges for infected children and the non-infected family caregivers at multiple levels; impacting their relationships, resources and resilience.

Objective: This literature review identifies and assesses the unique and critical …

Zoonotic Disease In Ohio: Surveillance, Preparation, And Response, Erik B. Balster

Master of Public Health Program Student Publications

This paper examines the state of public health preparation and response capacity to zoonotic infectious disease in the state of Ohio. A comprehensive literature review of zoonotic disease emergence and re-emergence, the National Veterinary Stockpile (NVS), the One Health Initiative, emergency response, and Ohio policy was performed in conjunction with telephone interviews. This study shows that responsibilities and systems integral to disease preparedness, such as sentinel surveillance and reporting, vary significantly between two key departments: the Ohio Department of Health (ODH) and the Ohio Department of Agriculture (ODA). Consistency and standardization of agency, mirroring the One Health Initiative, must be …

The Complementary Roles Of Public Health & Medicine In The Us Health Care System, David Buchanan

UMass Institute for Global Health Community Education and Outreach

No abstract provided.

Pskov Youth Reproductive Health Project, David Buchanan

UMass Institute for Global Health Community Education and Outreach

The goals of the Comprehensive Community-Based Public Health Prevention Project in Pskov, Russia are: (1) to improve reproductive health outcomes, by reducing high rates of abortion and STIs, by increasing use of protective contraceptive methods; and (2) to increase life expectancy and improve quality of life, by reducing high rates of diabetes and stroke, by implementing community-based health promotion activities focusing on improving dietary and physical activities and reducing smoking and alcohol consumption, in Pskov, Russia.

The project is based in the city of Pskov, which is the capital of Pskov Oblast. Pskov Oblast is one of 86 states in …

Public Health Clinical Demonstration Project For Smoking Cessation In Veterans With Posttraumatic Stress Disorder, Eric A. Dedert, Sarah M. Wilson, Patrick S. Calhoun, Scott D. Moore, Kim W. Hamlett-Berry, Jean C. Beckham

Public Health Resources

Veterans with post traumatic stress disorder are at high risk for smoking and experience difficulty with smoking cessation. We designed this clinical demonstration project to provide a low-cost, feasibly implemented smoking cessation intervention that would maximize the number of smokers who accessed the intervention. Five hundred eighty-four veteran smokers were contacted by invitational letters. Interested veterans received follow-up telephone calls using standardized scripts offering three intervention resources: 1) a referral to the National Cancer Institute's Smoking Quitline, 2) web-based counseling, and 3) local Veteran Affairs pharmacologic treatment for smoking cessation. Twenty-three percent of survey recipients participated in the clinical program. …

Evaluation Of Prevalence, Transmission, And Prevention Methods Of Salmonellosis From Pet Turtles In Michigan, Karina Ballester, Edwin Vazquez, Mahdi Saeed, Paul C. Bartlett

Michigan Journal of Public Health

The sale and distribution of turtles with a carapace smaller than four inches in diameter was banned by federal law in 1975 on the grounds that such animals were frequently associated with human Salmonella infections. However, the popularity of these small turtles as pets has resurfaced, and in many places in Michigan they are being sold illegally. This study was conducted in Michigan to determine the prevalence of Salmonella spp. in the most popular pet turtle species, Trachemys scripta elegans commonly known as red-eared sliders, and to evaluate the compliance of pet stores with laws concerning the sale of these …

Examining The Impact Of California's Medical Marijuana Program On Public Health, John C. Lamb

CMC Senior Theses

The debate surrounding marijuana legalization has increased its popularity in recent years, as the state of California seriously considers the complete legalization of the substance for those ages 21 and over. This would make California the first government in recorded history to regulate the cultivation and sale of marijuana on a commercial level. Advocates back the economic positives concerning high tax revenues, but those opposed argue that the dangers associated with public health greatly outweigh any monetary gain. The present study attempts to reveal the possible public health concerns, even potential benefits, caused by marijuana use and its distribution. Specifically, …

An Examination Of The Association Of Selected Toxic Metals With Total And Central Obesity Indices: Nhanes 99-02, Miguel A. Padilla, Mai Elobeid, Douglas M. Ruden, David B. Allison

Psychology Faculty Publications

It is conceivable that toxic metals contribute to obesity by influencing various aspects of metabolism, such as by substituting for essential micronutrients and vital metals, or by inducing oxidative stress. Deficiency of the essential metal zinc decreases adiposity in humans and rodent models, whereas deficiencies of chromium, copper, iron, and magnesium increases adiposity. This study utilized the NHANES 99-02 data to explore the association between waist circumference and body mass index with the body burdens of selected toxic metals (barium, cadmium, cobalt, cesium, molybdenum, lead, antimony, thallium, and tungsten). Some of the associations were significant direct relationships (barium and thallium), …

Are Serum Aluminum Levels A Risk Factor In The Appearance Of Spontaneous Pneumothorax?, Serdar Han, Rasi̇h Yazkan, Bülent Koçer, Gülteki̇n Gülbahar, Serdal Kenan Köse, Koray Dural, Ünal Sakinci

Turkish Journal of Medical Sciences

To investigate the relationship between aluminum and spontaneous pneumothorax (SP) development. Materials and methods: A patient group and a control group were formed with 100 individuals in each. The serum aluminum levels of the groups were determined and statistically compared. Results: The mean serum aluminum levels were 5.6 ± 2.4 \mug/L (1.6-11.9) and 23.2 ± 15.4 \mug/L (2-81) in the control and SP groups, respectively (P < 0.001). The specificity and sensitivity of the measurement of aluminum level were 74.4% and 86.4% in the SP group. The risk of SP development was found to be 18 times higher in individuals with high serum levels of aluminum compared to that in individuals with low serum levels of aluminum. Conclusion: A high level of aluminum is a risk factor for the development of SP.

The Role Of Community Advisory Boards In Health Research: Divergent Views In The South African Experience, David Buchanan, Priscilla Reddy, Sibusio Sifunda, Shamagonam James, Nasheen Naidoo

UMass Institute for Global Health Faculty Publications

In the light of the growing involvement of community advisory boards (CABs) in health research, this study presents empirical findings of the functions and operations of CABs in HIV/AIDS vaccine trials in South Africa. The individual and focus group interviews with CAB members, principal investigators, research staff, community educators, recruiters, ethics committee members, trial participants and South African AIDS Vaccine Initiative (SAAVI) staff members demonstrated differences in the respondents’ perceptions of the roles and responsibilities of CABs. These findings question the roles of the CABs. Are they primarily there to serve and be accountable to the community, or to serve …

Bacterial Resistance To Antibiotics:How It Happens,Why It's Important,And What You Can Do About It., Richard Philp

Richard B. Philp

Bacterial resistance to antibiotics has become a major clinical problem exacerbated by the widespread and sometimes inappropriate use of antibiotics. Reasons for its emergence, mechanisms of resistance, types of resistance and appropriate public behaviour to combat the problem are discussed in language accessable to the general public.

The Ces-D In Chinese American Women: Construct Validity, Diagnostic Validity For Major Depression, And Cultural Response Bias., Z Li, M Hicks

Madelyn Hsiao-Rei Hicks

Previous studies of the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale (CES-D) in Chinese Americans describe internal reliability and factor structure. We report CES-D construct validity and diagnostic validity for major depression in a probability sample of 168 community-dwelling Chinese American women. Internal consistency was satisfactory (Cronbach's alpha=0.86). Good construct validity was indicated by significantly higher mean CES-D scores for respondents who reported lower social support, worse self-perceived general health, or stressful life events, including intimate partner violence. Cultural response bias was found, with positively-stated CES-D items (e.g. "I was happy") producing higher depression scores in immigrants and subjects who preferred …

Prodromal Research: Public Health Initiatives For Prevention Of Schizophrenia, Amresh Srivastava

Amresh Srivastava

No abstract provided.