Diseases Commons^™

Hiv Risk Among Nursing Students In Rwanda : Self-Efficacy, Knowledge And Attitudes, Jacqueline Wosinski

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses, Dissertations & Projects

Acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) is the leading cause of death in sub-Saharan Africa. With a prevalence rate of 3.1% in 2006, Rwanda is one of the hardest hit countries. Nurses are often the leading health professionals in rural communities and at the forefront of the fight against the HIV pandemic. Little has been written on how nurses are prepared to intervene successfully along the continuum of HIV prevention and care. A mixed-methods sequential exploratory approach was used to explore this question.

In the first phase, cognitive, socio-psychological, and environmental factors of nursing education in Rwanda in regard to HIV …

The Impact Of Being Born With Cleft And Cleft Reparative Surgery On Overall Health And Speech Outcomes, Khatansuudal Evsanaa

Master's Theses

Orofacial cleft is one of the most common and treatable birth defects in the world. If left untreated, orofacial cleft can impair normal speech development, growth, and could lead to a number of health consequences later in life. The main motivation of the study is to measure the impact of being born with cleft and the cleft reparative surgery on overall speech and health cleft for teenagers in India using difference-in-differences approach along with household fixed effects method. An overall health outcome was measured using height, weight, grip strength and BMI, and the speech acceptability was measured using a “Universal …

Type 1 Diabetes: A Non-Fiction Perspective/ Just A Kid: Emily’S Diabetes Story, Kristen Moody

Senior Honors Projects

How many people do you know with diabetes? Many Americans are living with this disease in our society today. As adults, acknowledging this prevalence seems to be an easy task. However, imagine yourself as a young elementary school child. How much do you know about diseases? What happens if a student in your classroom has a disease? What do you think of this person? For some children, these questions are an imminent reality, part of their everyday childhood life. Thinking about the answers to similar questions mentioned above, I understand the importance of a reliable, accurate, and knowledgeable source for …

Predictors Of Depressive And Anxiety Symptoms Among African American Hiv-Positive Women, Nina Katherine Sublette

Theses and Dissertations (ETD)

This descriptive correlation study had four purposes: describe depressive and anxiety symptom levels in pregnant and non-pregnant African American (AA) HIV-positive women, examine the association between underlying vulnerabilities and depressive symptoms in HIV-positive AA women, determine the association between underlying vulnerabilities and anxiety symptoms in AA HIV-positive women, and determine the predictors of depressive and anxiety symptoms among African American HIV-positive women. A convenience sample of 80 African American HIV-positive women was recruited from university-based obstetrics/-gynecology and infectious disease practices in a large metropolitan city in the Mid-South. Depressive symptoms were measured with the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale …

Application Of The Asset Mapping Model To Church Based Hiv/Aids Prevention And Control In Aba, Abia State, Nigeria, Godwin Nwadibia Aja

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses, Dissertations & Projects

This study examined whether HIV/AIDS activities were more frequent among churches with needs and assets for HIV/AIDS prevention and control in Aba, Nigeria and whether this connection was mediated by collective efficacy. A cross-sectional design was used to obtain data in two phases. First, a three-step forum focus group discussion (FFGD) method was used to obtain data from 32 representatives of five denominations. Second, a quantitative survey questionnaire was constructed based on the result of the FFGD and the collective efficacy model. This questionnaire was administered to 830 members aged 18 years and above from 83 churches that had operated …

Tetanus And Rabies Eradication In Pakistan; A Mission Not Impossible, Mohammad Wasay, Ismail A. Khatri, Naseem Salahuddin

Department of Medicine

No abstract provided.

Lower Than Expected Morbidity And Mortality For An Australian Aboriginal Population: 10-Year Follow-Up In A Decentralised Community, Kevin G. Rowley, Kerin O'Dea, Ian Anderson, Robyn Mcdermott, Karmananda Saraswati, Ricky Tilmouth, Iris Roberts, Joseph Fitz, Zaimin Wang, Alicia Jenkins, James D. Best, Zhiqiang Wang, Alex Brown

Aboriginal Policy Research Consortium International (APRCi)

Objective: Toexaminemortalityfromallcausesandfromcardiovasculardisease(CVD), and CVD hospitalisation rate for a decentralised Aboriginal community in the Northern Territory. Design and participants: For a community-based cohort of 296 people aged 15 years or older screened in 1995, we reviewed hospital and primary health care records and death certificates for the period up to December 2004 (2800 person-years of follow-up). Mainoutcomemeasures: MortalityfromallcausesandCVD,andhospitalisationwith CVD coded as a primary cause of admission; comparison with prior trends (1988 to 1995) in CVD risk factor prevalence for the community, and with NT-specific Indigenous mortality and hospitalisation rates.

Results: Mortality in the cohort was 964/100 000 person-years, significantly lower than …

Birth Weight, Infant Growth, And Childhood Body Mass Index: Hong Kong’S Children Of 1997 Birth Cohort, L. L. Hui, Mary Schooling, Shirley Sze Lee Leung, Kwok Hang Mak, Lai Ming Ho, Tai Hing Lam, Gabriel M. Leung

Publications and Research

Objective
To investigate the association between birth weight, infant growth rate, and childhood adiposity as a proxy for adult metabolic or cardiovascular risk in a Chinese population with a history of recent and rapid economic development.

Design
Prospective study in a population-representative birth cohort.

Setting
Hong Kong Chinese population.

Participants
Six thousand seventy-five term births (77.5% successful follow-up).

Main Exposures
Birth weight and growth rate (change in the weight z score) at ages 0 to 3 and 3 to 12 months.

Main Outcome Measure: Body mass index (BMI) (calculated as the weight in kilograms divided by the height in …

Healing Kentucky, Nancy Disher Baird

Library Faculty Publications

No abstract provided.

The Mind-Body Connection: The Association Between Adolescent Locus Of Control And Indicators Of Physical Health, C. Jayne Brahler, James Cropper

Physical Therapy Faculty Publications

Locus of control (LOC) describes an individual’s generalized beliefs or expectancies that their reinforcements are under internal versus external control (1). An individual exhibits either an internal or external LOC. This study examines the link between LOC and selected health risk factors in adolescents. A convenience sample of 167 high school physical education students completed a 13-item LOC questionnaire based on Rotter’s 1966 instrument.

Various anthropometric measurements, blood pressure, body mass index (BMI), and body fat were recorded on all subjects. A subsample of 61 female students received blood chemistry analysis that included a lipid profile, hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c), Apo …

Does Economic Development Contribute To Sex Differences In Ischaemic Heart Disease Mortality? Hong Kong As A Natural Experiment Using A Case-Control Study, Mary Schooling, Tai Hing Lam, Sai Yin Ho, Kwok Hang Mak, Gabriel M. Leung

Publications and Research

Background
The male excess risk of premature ischemic heart disease (IHD) mortality may be partially due to an unknown macro-environmental influence associated with economic development. We examined whether excess male risk of IHD mortality was higher with birth in an economically developed environment.

Methods
We used multivariable logistic regression in a population-based case-control study of all adult deaths in Hong Kong Chinese in 1998 to compare sex differences in IHD mortality (1,189 deaths in men, 1,035 deaths in women and 20,842 controls) between Hong Kong residents born in economically developed Hong Kong or in contemporaneously undeveloped Guangdong province in China. …

Assessment Of Risk Factors For Hiv Infection Among Men Who Have Sex With Men In The Metropolitan Area Of Campinas City, Brazil, Using Respondent-Driven Sampling, Maeve De Mello, Adriana De Araujo Pinho, Magda Chinaglia, Waimar Tun, Aristides Barbosa Junior, Maria Cristina, F.J. Ilario, Paulo Reis, Regina C.S. Salles, Suzanne Westman, Juan Diaz

HIV and AIDS

The Population Council, in collaboration with the Brazil Ministry of Health, the Municipal Program of STD/AIDS of Campinas, and the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention/Global AIDS Program/Brazil, conducted a study to characterize the sociodemographic, behavioral, and environmental factors associated with subgroups of MSM who are most at risk for HIV infection. This research is the first Brazilian study to provide population-based estimates for HIV, syphilis, and HIV-related risk behaviors using an innovative sampling technique to reach members of the target population. Our data suggest the importance for HIV prevention programs to address not only sexual risk reduction, but …

Is It Feasible To Integrate Alcohol-Related Risk Reduction Counseling Into Vct Services? Findings From Kenya, Caroline Mackenzie, Karusa Kiragu, George Odingo, Rukia Yassin, Peter Shikuku, Patrick Angala, Nduku Kilonzo, William Sinkele, Melania Akinyi

HIV and AIDS

In Kenya, an estimated 30 percent of men report to be alcohol users which may be fueling the HIV pandemic, due to its association with high-risk sexual behavior and reduced inhibitions. The Population Council’s Horizons program collaborated on a study to improve screening of clients for alcohol use, provision of feedback of screening results, and referrals to care and support during voluntary testing and counseling (VCT) for HIV. Overall, the results indicate that it is feasible to integrate alcohol risk reduction counseling into VCT, and that it is generally accepted by providers and clients alike. This study therefore supports the …

Catalyzing Personal And Social Change Around Gender, Sexuality, And Hiv: Impact Evaluation Of Puntos De Encuentro´S Communication Strategy In Nicaragua, Irela Solorzano, Amy Bank, Rodolfo Pena, Henry Espinoza, Mary Ellsberg, Julie Pulerwitz

HIV and AIDS

Somos Diferentes, Somos Iguales (SDSI) is a communication for social change strategy whose objective is to prevent future HIV infections in Nicaragua, through mass communication actions that include educational entertainment programs, strengthening of local capacity, and the development of alliances within the communities. This report presents the results of an interinstitutional evaluation to explore the impact of SDSI on gender equity, stigma reduction, personalization of risk perception, knowledge and use of services, interpersonal communication, HIV prevention practices, and individual and collective effectiveness for HIV prevention. The impact evaluation showed that the SDSI strategy made a great contribution in key aspects …

Propiciando Cambio Personal Y Social Alrededor Del Género, Sexualidad Y Vih: Evaluación De Impacto De La Estrategia De Comunicación De Puntos De Encuentro En Nicaragua, Irela Solorzano, Amy Bank, Rodolfo Pena, Henry Espinoza, Mary Ellsberg, Julie Pulerwitz

HIV and AIDS

Somos Diferentes, Somos Iguales (SDSI) is a communication for social change strategy whose objective is to prevent future HIV infections in Nicaragua, through mass communication actions that include educational entertainment programs, strengthening of local capacity, and the development of alliances within the communities. This report presents the results of an interinstitutional evaluation to explore the impact of SDSI on gender equity, stigma reduction, personalization of risk perception, knowledge and use of services, interpersonal communication, HIV prevention practices, and individual and collective effectiveness for HIV prevention. The impact evaluation showed that the SDSI strategy made a great contribution in key aspects …

Caring For Caregivers: An Hiv/Aids Workplace Intervention For Hospital Staff In Zambia—Evaluation Results, Karusa Kiragu, Mutinta Nyumbu, Thabale J. Ngulube, Panganani Njobvu, Chilufya Mwaba, Arthur Kalimbwe, Spike Bradford

HIV and AIDS

The Horizons Program collaborated on a Caring for Caregivers initiative in Zambia whose objective was to develop and test a risk-reduction workplace program for hospital staff. This was motivated by the recognition that hospital workers are often overlooked in HIV programming, and yet many are infected or affected by HIV. It was also motivated by the fact that hospital staff are heterogeneous, with both clinical and non-clinical staff having varying levels of understanding regarding HIV transmission. Caring for Caregivers was a peer education program targeted at hospital staff and implemented in two hospitals in Zambia, with a combined staff of …

Repositioning Postnatal Care In A High Hiv Environment: Swaziland, Charlotte E. Warren, Rachel Shongwe, Allen Waligo, Mohammed Mahdi, Goldy Mazia, Indira Narayanan

HIV and AIDS

This Horizons report from the Swaziland Ministry of Health and Social Welfare discusses findings from an intervention which aimed to reposition postnatal care within the context of a high HIV prevalence environment. The objectives were to determine if changes to the sexual and reproductive health guidelines on postnatal care would result in the timely and quality provision of key components of essential maternal and newborn care in the postnatal period, increase utilization of postnatal care services among all postpartum women, and improve the care and follow up of HIV-positive postpartum women and their infants. The study confirms that the introduction …

Improving Hospital-Based Quality Of Care In Vietnam By Reducing Hiv-Related Stigma And Discrimination, Khuat Thi Hai Oanh, Kim Ashburn, Julie Pulerwitz, Jessica Ogden, Laura Nyblade

HIV and AIDS

To address HIV-related stigma and discrimination, and improve the quality of care in the healthcare setting in Vietnam, the Institute for Social and Development Studies, the International Center for Research on Women, and the Horizons Program conducted intervention research in four hospitals. The study team conceptualized two fundamental causes of HIV-related stigma: 1) fear of casual transmission; and 2) negative values/social judgments and associations between HIV and certain behaviors and groups, such as sex workers and injecting drug users. Both intervention strategies successfully reduced stigma and discrimination toward HIV-positive patients in these healthcare settings. The findings show that addressing stigma …

Assessment Of Risk Factors For Hiv Infection In Female Sex Workers And Men Who Have Sex With Men In Ciudad Del Este, Paraguay, Magda Chinaglia, Waimar Tun, Maeve Mello, Magdalena Insfran, Juan Diaz

HIV and AIDS

Research conducted by the Population Council/Brazil, supported by the USAID-funded Horizons Project, documents findings from a study in Paraguay among men who have sex with men and female sex workers to estimate HIV and syphilis prevalence; examine knowledge, attitudes, and risk behaviors related to HIV and STIs; and describe the contextual and behavioral factors influencing HIV and STI transmission. Findings provide guidance to the development of HIV and STI prevention and care interventions and further operations research to test strategies and interventions to reduce the spread of HIV and STIs in these groups.

School As A Workplace In Kenya: Evaluation Of The Teachers Matter Hiv/Aids Project, Karusa Kiragu, Caroline Mackenzie, Jennifer Weiss, Murungaru Kimani, Debbie Gachuhi

HIV and AIDS

The Horizons program of the Population Council embarked on an operations research initiative in Kenya to test the feasibility of implementing a teacher-centered workplace program based in schools. The study was conducted in partnership with the Ministry of Education, the Kenya Institute of Education, the Teachers Service Commission, and UNICEF. Called Teachers Matter, the project’s main audience was primary and secondary school teachers. The purpose of the research was to assess whether such a program would improve teachers’ HIV-related knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors; increase the proportion of teachers seeking voluntary testing and counseling; and enhance their ability to cope with …

Moving Forward: Tackling Stigma In A Tanzanian Community, Laura Nyblade, Kerry Macquarrie, Gideon Kwesigabo, Aparna Jain, Lusajo Kajula, Fausta Philip, William Henerico Tibesigwa, Jessie K. Mbwambo

HIV and AIDS

The International Center for Research on Women, the Muhimbili University College of the Health Sciences, the Population Council, and Family Health International conducted an evaluation of a community-based effort to reduce stigma surrounding HIV infections in a peri-urban community in Tanzania. Results presented a mixed, but hopeful, picture for a way forward in tackling stigma at the community level. Tackling stigma requires that the individuals tasked with doing this undergo personal change. Programs can start by focusing stigma-reduction efforts on a smaller, more manageable geographical area and adding specific anti-stigma components to their portfolio of activities. Engaging community opinion leaders …

If You Build It, Will They Come? Kenya Healthy Start Pediatric Hiv Study: A Diagnostic Study Investigating Barriers To Hiv Treatment And Care Among Children, Karusa Kiragu, Katie D. Schenk, Julie Murugi, Avina Sarna

HIV and AIDS

In Kenya the proportion of eligible HIV-positive children receiving ART treatment is only 11 percent. This study explored and documented possible barriers in the community to accessing pediatric HIV testing and treatment, to guide the development of new interventions to encourage uptake. The study identified barriers such as cost, use of traditional healers, low knowledge of treatment options, attitudinal barriers, stigma, unique treatment issues, and dissatisfaction with available services. Additionally, healthcare workers missed opportunities to provide services and cited numerous service-side challenges. The study recommends prioritizing community awareness, mobile clinics, strengthening capacity of healthcare workers, supporting family-based HIV testing, and …

Has The Hiv Epidemic Peaked?, John Bongaarts, Thomas Buettner, Gerhard Heilig, Francois Pelletier

Poverty, Gender, and Youth

This working paper reviews the highly diverse regional and country patterns of HIV epidemics and discusses possible causes of the geographic variation in epidemic sizes. The main finding of this analysis is that the HIV epidemic reached a major turning point over the past decade. The peak years of HIV incidence rates are past for all regions, and the peaks of prevalence rates are mostly in the past except in Eastern Europe, where it is expected to peak in 2008. But owing in part to the life-prolonging effect of antiretroviral therapy and to sustained population growth, the absolute number of …

Sexual Behavior And Sti/Hiv Status Among Adolescents In Rural Malawi: An Evaluation Of The Effect Of Interview Mode On Reporting, Barbara Mensch, Paul C. Hewett, Richard Gregory, Stephane Helleringer

Poverty, Gender, and Youth

This paper presents the results from an interview-mode experiment conducted by the Population Council with unmarried young women in rural southern Malawi. To collect data on sexual behavior and the dynamics of HIV transmission, respondents were randomly assigned to either an audio computer-assisted self-interview (ACASI) or a conventional face-to-face (FTF) interview. Clear evidence indicates that the mode of interviewing and probing concerning various sexual partnerships affects respondents’ reporting of their sexual activity, yet the results are not always in accordance with expectations. Reporting for “ever had sex” and “sex with a boyfriend” is higher in the FTF mode, whereas, when …

The Potential For Sustainability Of Malaria In Pregnancy Initiatives In East And Southern Africa: Kenya And Malawi, Washington Onyango-Ouma, Sam Agatre Okuonzi, Doreen Ali, Harriet Birungi, Annie Mwangi

Reproductive Health

This study assesses the sustainability of initiatives to improve maternal and child health survival by preventing and treating illness from malaria, and documents best practices for promoting sustainability and lessons for replication in countries where malaria is endemic. The study applied the Child Survival Sustainability Assessment framework to initiatives in Kenya and Malawi to analyze progress toward sustainability, including not only a biomedical perspective but also the human, social, and organizational processes that influence sustainability of health projects. The report concludes that Malaria in Pregnancy (MIP) interventions were sustained within and beyond the project districts in both countries. Furthermore, both …

Sexual And Reproductive Health Needs Of Adolescents Perinatally Infected With Hiv In Uganda, Harriet Birungi, John Frank Mugisha, Juliana K. Nyombi, Francis Obare, Humphres Evelia, Hannington Nyinkavu

Reproductive Health

In Uganda, HIV/AIDS treatment, care and support programs are still organized around either adult or pediatric care and fail to adequately address the needs of adolescents, specifically perinatally-infected adolescents. This study, implemented jointly by the Population Council's Frontiers in Reproductive Health (FRONTIERS) program and the AIDS Support Organization (TASO), aimed to better understand the reproductive health and sexuality of this population group, and to identify anxieties or fears they have around entering social stages of adulthood. This study confirms that wide programmatic gaps exist in addressing the sexual and reproductive health needs of young people perinatally infected with HIV who …

Situation Analysis Of The Integration Of Family Planning Services In Postpartum, Postabortion And Prevention Of Mother To Child Transmission Programs In Nicaragua, Freddy Solis, Ana Del Carmen Rojas, Gadea Adilia, M. Estela Rivero-Fuentes, Ricardo Vernon

Reproductive Health

Between September 2005 and April 2007, FRONTIERS and Alva, a Nicaraguan consulting firm, conducted a situation analysis of the provision and use of contraceptive services in postpartum, postabortion and prevention of mother-to-child transmission of HIV (PMTCT) programs. The project‘s objective was to assess the degree to which contraceptive services were linked to postpartum, postabortion and PMTCT services and if this allowed the programs to meet the contraceptive needs of their clients. The project proposes recommendations for improving the quality of these programs.

Concurrent Panel Session 2: Health Challenges Facing Las Vegas, Carlos Brandenburg, Shawn Gerstenberger, Zaven Khachaturian, John Mcdonald, Dennis Pirages, Thom Reilly, Kathy Silver, Bonnie Sorenson, Carolyn B. Yucha, Maurizio Trevisan

Shaping the Future of Southern Nevada: Economic, Environmental, and Social Sustainability

Moderator: Marcia Turner, NSHE Health Science System Scribe: Candace Griffith, UNLV Department of Sociology Conference white paper & Full summary of panel session, 8 pages

Predictors Of Emotional Reactions In Women Treated For Breast Cancer, Erin E. Ramirez

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses, Dissertations & Projects

Breast cancer can be a devastating disease that impacts a woman in all spheres of her life (Ingram, 1989). Previous studies have examined the impact of breast cancer on body satisfaction, as well as the impact on emotional well-being. Studies have also examined the role of the coping style that a woman engages in response to the diagnosis and treatment of breast cancer in the woman's psychological adjustment to the disease. However, to date, no research has introduced and tested a multifaceted model.

The purpose of this study was to develop a model predicting psychological maladjustment in women treated for …

Predictors Of Emotional Reactions In Women Treated For Breast Cancer, Erin E. Ramirez

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses, Dissertations & Projects

Breast cancer can be a devastating disease that impacts a woman in all spheres of her life (Ingram, 1989). Previous studies have examined the impact of breast cancer on body satisfaction, as well as the impact on emotional well-being. Studies have also examined the role of the coping style that a woman engages in response to the diagnosis and treatment of breast cancer in the woman's psychological adjustment to the disease. However, to date, no research has introduced and tested a multifaceted model.

The purpose of this study was to develop a model predicting psychological maladjustment in women treated for …