Community Health Commons^™

An Examination Of The Association Between State Medicaid Perinatal Services And Birth Outcomes, Joy Morgan Myers

Honors Theses

This thesis investigated the connection between socioeconomic status, healthcare coverage, and birth outcomes. The research question that was posed specifically looked at twenty perinatal services that states covered under Medicaid to varying degrees to see their association, if any, with premature birth rates and low birthweight rates. State-level and Mississippi county-level data were compiled regarding preterm birth rates, low birthweight rates, presumptive eligibility adoption, and coverage of twenty different perinatal services. Using these data, the correlation between state Medicaid expansion status and birth outcomes was first calculated in order to determine if variation in birth outcomes was associated with expanded …

Exploring The Relationship Between Dietary Self-Monitoring With A Mobile App And Weight Change, Jason Payne

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Background: Approximately 70% of the adult population in the United States has overweight or obesity and increased risk for developing chronic diseases. Dietary self-monitoring adherence using a paper diary is associated with weight loss; however, few studies have examined this association with dietary self-monitoring apps. Objectives: 1) explore if an association exists between app-based dietary self-monitoring and weight change among adults with overweight or obesity and 2) explore the relationships between the frequency, consistency, and completeness of self-monitoring and weight change. Methods: Participants self-monitored dietary intake for 8 weeks using the app Calorie Counter by FatSecret. Participants were assigned …

Addressing Covid 19 Among Vulnerable Populations, Tim Crawford, Sydney Silverstein, Craig Woolley, Laura M. Luehrmann

Population and Public Health Sciences Faculty Publications

This is the fifth installment in the Shelter in Place (SiP) Lecture series. This installment deals with the impact and implications of the Shelter in Place order on differing populations. It discusses how a variety of populations have differing experiences with social distancing, the virus, and other implications of the current pandemic.

A Nutritional And Environmental Analysis Of Local Food Pantries Accessible To College Students In Rural North Carolina, Emily E. Frymark, Jonathon Stickford, Alisha Farris

Journal of Appalachian Health

Introduction: Food insecurity is a growing concern among college students and is especially prevalent in rural areas. Food pantries often serve as a resource to food insecure individuals yet, their policies, standards, and nutritional quality vary due to the unpredictability of food donations.

Purpose: To examine the nutritional quality of food items and adherence of best practices at local food pantries accessible to college students near a university in rural Appalachia.

Methods: Three food pantries in North Carolina were selected due to their proximity to a local, rural university. Food items were analyzed for nutrient and food …

“En Defensa Por La Salud”: Los Actores Sociales En La Construcción Del Movimiento Social En Chile, Karina Martinez

Independent Study Project (ISP) Collection

This investigation aimed to describe the construction of the social movement for health demands in the frame of the social outbreak in Chile in October 2019. In addition to identifying the main health demands of this movement, it also had a focus on understanding the role of social organizations in the construction of the movement and placing it within the broader socio-political movement that arises from the social outbreak. The research design was qualitative and descriptive. Having been a remote investigation, it was largely based on literature review with the support of information from a semi-structured interview. Regarding the results, …

Feasibility Of Long Acting Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (Prep) In Rural Communities, William A. Mase, Ellie Purdy

Health Policy & Community Health: Faculty Publications

Published as part of the "Eagles Talking About the Public’s Health" Commentaries.

Link: https://jphcoph.georgiasouthern.edu/opr/etaph/

Evaluation Of The Impact Of Social Collaborations On Sexual And Reproductive Health Knowledge, Lucki Word, Jaila Campbell, Manar T. Edriss, Destiny Stroman, Jewel Evans, Melanie Hanna-Johnson, Md, Anil N. F. Aranha, Phd

Medical Student Research Symposium

Introduction: Developments in technology, such as the popularity of mobile devices and social media outlets, have enhanced the ability of individuals to communicate. Currently, search engines allow for easy exploration of information related to every topic of interest. Our study purpose was to evaluate the impact of technological and social collaborations on sexual and reproductive health knowledge (SRHK).

Methods: A 50-item survey instrument, integrating factors of sociodemographics, number/type of social collaborations, technological communication use, and SRHK, was developed to assess familiarity with sexual and reproductive health perceptions. The survey was provided to consenting patients in an ambulatory, primary care setting. …

Effect Of Influenza Vaccination On Mortality And Risk Of Hospitalization In Elderly Individuals With And Without Disabilities: A Nationwide, Population-Based Cohort Study, Yu-Chia Chang, Ho-Jui Tung, Yu-Tung Huang, Chin-Te Lu, Ernawaty Ernawaty, Szu-Yuan Wu

Health Policy & Community Health: Faculty Publications

Purpose: The effects of influenza vaccines are unclear for elderly individuals with disabilities. We use a population-based cohort study to estimate the effects of influenza vaccines in elderly individuals with and without disabilities. Methods: Data were taken from the National Health Insurance Research Database and Disabled Population Profile of Taiwan. A total of 2,741,403 adults aged 65 or older were identified and 394,490 were people with a disability. These two groups were further divided into those who had or had not received an influenza vaccine. Generalized estimating equations (GEE) were used to compare the relative risks (RRs) of …

Medicaid Home Visitation And Maternal And Infant Care And Health: A Reassessment Of Program Effectiveness, Cristian Meghea, Zhiying You, Jennifer E. Raffo, Lee Anne Roman

Michigan Journal of Public Health

Introduction: The Maternal Infant Health Program, MIHP, is Michigan's largest home visiting program for Medicaid-eligible pregnant women and infants. Prior quasi-experimental propensity score matched MIHP evaluations were limited by the possibility of selection bias due to the limited available baseline characteristics. The purpose of this study was to assess the effectiveness of MIHP including previously unobserved baseline characteristics to mitigate the possibility of selection bias.

Methods: We analyzed health care and outcomes of mothers and their infants using linked administrative and screening data. All Medicaid pregnant women with a singleton birth in Michigan between 2009 and 2012 who were prenatally …

Promoting Bike Safety And Physical Activity In The Community: The Kenton-Hardin County Family Bike Program, Jamie Hunsicker

Ada Chats

No abstract provided.

A Health Disparity Action Plan: Achieving Equity Through Clinical Trials, Affordable Care, And Professional Development, Daniel Schafer, Shefa Moten, Ayesha Khan, Mauro Ferrari, Boris Lushniak, Edwin Burkett, Asad Moten

Journal of Health Disparities Research and Practice

Given the threatened nature of affordable care in the United States, it is crucial to underscore its importance. What is more, the reason such care is so important is the presence of an oft-unacknowledged disparity in access to quality care in this country and, indeed, around the world. A world without health disparities can be achieved and will be characterized by prompt and quality care available to all and at all stages of the care continuum. Further insurance reform is needed beyond the Affordable Care Act, while local care must be more accessible in rural, urban, and other underserved areas. …

Covid-19 In Indigenous Communities: Five Protective Factors Of “Exercising” Sovereignty, Kelsey Leonard, Natalie Welch, Alisse Ali-Joseph

Faculty Publications

Indigenous Peoples have an inherent responsibility and right to “exercising” sovereignty - the practice of sport and physical activity in performance of our cultural, political, and spiritual citizenship (Ali-Joseph 2018). During the COVID-19 pandemic, access to and equity (inequity) in sport and physical activity has been felt (physically, spiritually, politically) within Indigenous communities. We implement an abundance-based Indigenous approach to understanding Indigenous Peoples’ responses to the coronavirus pandemic through sport and its far-reaching ramifications in Indian Country. In response to the COVID-19 pandemic we have seen Indigenous Peoples utilize social media such as Facebook and TikTok to reimagine Indigenous sport …

A Qualitative Analysis Of Caregiver Goals For Urban Children With And Without Asthma, Megan M. Carlson

Theses and Dissertations

Pediatric asthma is a major public health concern that disproportionately affects children of color and youth living in low-income, urban areas. The implications for public health, child health, and family functioning necessitates our understanding and addressing experiences by families who are facing barriers within their socio-demographic context in addition to the stressors associated with managing pediatric asthma. The current study applied qualitative methods to interviews with caregivers of children with and without asthma in an effort to more deeply connect with caregivers’ experiences and yield richer information about the intersection of identities as Black caregivers living in an urban setting …

A Scoping Review Of Theoretical Models And Conceptual Frameworks Used In Public Health Services And Systems Research (Phssr) Literature, Zahra Shahin, Anna Messick, Jenna Harris, Kristie C. Waterfield, Gulzar H. Shah

Health Policy & Community Health: Faculty Publications

Objectives

Theoretical models and conceptual frameworks are often used to design research methods. This study aims to provide an overview of the application of theoretical models and conceptual frameworks in Public Health Services and Systems Research (PHSSR). We also examine how the integration of such terms in research can improve intervention designs and support the decision-making process within the field of public health practice.

Methods

A scoping review was conducted using publications from public health journals to identify relevant articles in the field of PHSSR. The eligibility of studies was determined after performing evaluations through a full-text review of each …

Maternal Mortality Among African American Women In The State Of Georgia, Causes, Policy, And Ethical Considerations, Zahra Shahin, Isabella M. Hardwick, Nancy Jeffery, Jalisa Jordan, William Mase

Health Policy & Community Health: Faculty Publications

Background

The U.S. is currently one of thirteen countries where maternal mortality rates (MMR) is worse now than it was fifteen years ago. Reducing maternal mortality is one of the significant challenges facing the health system in the United States, especially in the State of Georgia, which has one of the highest MMR in the nation. The purpose of this review is to explore the causes, policy, and ethical contextual factors contributing to increased maternal mortality rates among African American women in the State of Georgia. Also, identifying and addressing weaknesses and gaps that exist in the healthcare system and …

Critical Issues In Health, Janet R. Heller

Open Educational Resources

This is a personal health course for today's college student. Topics cover basic information on mental health, nutrition, substance use disorder, violence prevention, chronic diseases, infectious diseases and reproductive health.

Contents include as OER reading list and a sample outline.

A revised syllabus was added on July 28, 2026. The changes were made to reflect more current information.

Racial Segregation As A Social Determinant Of Health: Evidence From The State Of Georgia, Simon Medcalfe, Catherine P. Slade, Divesia Lee

Journal of the Georgia Public Health Association

Background: Despite decades of research, determining the causes of racial disparities in health remains a pernicious problem in the public health arena. Challenges include further refining definitions of health as well as expanding frameworks for social determinants of health to include relevant and related predictors. Racial segregation as a social determinant of health is understudied but of growing interest in the discourse on health disparities. This paper explores empirically the relationship between racial segregation and other predictors of social determinants of health and their collective impact on health outcomes defined in both objective and subjective terms.

Methods: Ordinary least squares …

Creating A Community-Based Protocol To Prevent Unintended Pregnancy In Homeless Women In Monongalia County, West Virginia, Jessica Eva Wukasch

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Background: At any given time, 10% of homeless women are pregnant, about twice the rate of all U.S. women of reproductive age (5%) (Healthcare for the Homeless, 2001). According to Healthcare for the Homeless Council ([HHC], 2012), approximately “73% of pregnancies among homeless women were unintended at the time of conception.” In addition, “about 12% of homeless children are placed in foster care compared to 1% of other children” (HHC, 2012). There is an evident need to address unintended pregnancy among homeless women.

Objective: The overall objective was to create an accessible and useful community-based protocol to reduce the rate …

Association Of Common Chronic Pain Conditions To Incident Alzheimer’S Disease And Related Dementias In Two Cohorts Of Older Medicare Beneficiaries, Sumaira Khalid

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Objective: The purpose of this research was to study the collective and incremental association of common non-cancer chronic pain conditions (NCPC) to risk for Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias (ADRD); to explore the potential mediating influence of mood and sleep disorders; and to assess the potential synergistic effects of NCPC’s and multimorbidity on ADRD risk. This research also aimed to study the contribution of NCPC to ADRD risk in poor, rural, underserved United States populations who suffer a disproportionate burden of ADRD risk factors. To achieve these goals, this dissertation pursued three specific aims: 1) assess the association of …

Offering Medical Providers Capacity And Competence In Caring For Transgender And Non-Binary Patients: Evaluation Of A Pilot Digital Training Program, Lexis Manzara

Master's Projects and Capstones

Purpose: Stigma and discrimination in health care settings contribute to health disparities for transgender and non-binary (TGNB) people. Evidence suggests that a lack of training on the care for transgender and non-binary TGNB patients in medical school curricula has contributed to providers feeling unprepared to provide quality care for this population. Health care providers have the opportunity to play a key role in the reduction of health disparities for TGNB patients.

Methods: Twenty-five health care providers completed the eight-module digital training program. Pre- and post-tests assessed provider knowledge, self-efficacy, preparedness, and behavior. Paired samples t-tests were conducted to compare pre-and …

Improving Access To Mental Health Care With Nurse Practitioners, Jessica Whelan

Dissertations

Problem: Over 40% of those with mental illness are untreated since the supply of psychiatrists does not meet the demand. The psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner (PMHNP) may be an adjunct in providing those services. The purpose of this quality assurance study was to evaluate outcomes of care between a PMHNP and a psychiatrist (medical doctor [MD]).

Methods: An observational, descriptive design with a retrospective medical record review of adult patients over a six-month period in a suburban, Midwestern, privately owned psychiatric practice.

Results: A total of 787 individual patients encountered at least one visit (N=787) although 3,679 …

Associations Among Knowledge, Attitudes, And Practices Toward Palliative Care Consultation Service In Healthcare Staffs: A Cross-Sectional Study, Li-Chun Huang, Ho-Jui Tung, Pei-Chao Lin

Health Policy & Community Health: Faculty Publications

Background

The palliative care consultation service (PCCS) of the National Health Insurance payments has been promoted in Taiwan since 2011, although few studies have been conducted on healthcare staffs’ knowledge, attitudes, and practices regarding PCCS in Taiwan; consequently, the main objective of this study was to explore any correlations regarding the above by cross-sectional design using convenience sampling.

Methods

A total of 210 healthcare staff members were enrolled from a regional hospital from June 1, 2018, to September 30, 2018. Questionnaire items on the Palliative Care Consultation Service Inventory (KAP-PCCSI) were used to measure healthcare staff’s knowledge, attitudes, and practices …

A Need For Patient-Friendly Language For Those With Low Health Literacy In Advanced Care Planning, Denisha Allicock, Addison Mickens, Tilicia Mayo-Gamble

Health Policy & Community Health: Faculty Publications

Work published by Georgia Southern University Press.

Characteristics Of The Health Information Technology Workforce In Georgia, Imaobong Ekpo, Emmanuel Akowuah, Bettye Apenteng, Samuel T. Opoku

Health Policy & Community Health: Faculty Publications

Background: Advancement in medical technology, as well as the Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health Act, has in part influenced the demand for health information technology (HIT) workers. While other sectors have experienced a tremendous increase in the information technology workforce, the health sector lags in this regard. The aim of this study was to describe the characteristics of the HIT workforce in Georgia, relative to surrounding states and the United States.

Methods: The supply of the HIT workforce in Georgia, surrounding states, and the United States was estimated using data from the 2014-2016 American Community Survey (ACS). …

Leveraging Technology To Address Patient-Centered Outcomes In Sickle Cell Disease, Tilicia Mayo-Gamble, Delores P. Quasie-Woode

Health Policy & Community Health: Faculty Publications

Work published by Georgia Southern University Press.

An Overview Of The Health Profile Of Syrian Refugees Arriving In Kentucky From 2012-2017, Camila Calderon, Annie Rominger

Journal of Refugee & Global Health

Background:

The civil unrest in Syria has led to millions of displaced Syrians. The United States has relocated over 15,000 Syrian refugees, mostly arriving since 2015. Little is known about the health of Syrian refugees entering the United States.

Methods:

Syrian refugees in Kentucky who had a medical screening and documented RHA from October 2012 to September 2017 were included in the study. The information is collected and stored in the Arriving Refugee Informatics Surveillance and Epidemiology (ARIVE) database. This study is a retrospective review of the ARIVE database to describe the general health of the Syrian refugees …

Perceptions Of Health Practices And Interactions With The Us Healthcare System Among Bhutanese Refugees: A Qualitative Approach, Amy E. Szajna

Journal of Refugee & Global Health

Purpose

The aim of this pilot study was to explore health practices of Bhutanese refugees and their interactions with the US healthcare system and providers.

Methodology

Researchers conducted 12 in-depth interviews and 7 patient-provider observation units as part of this descriptive qualitative study.

Results

Participants identified individual definitions of health and behaviors they value to maintain health. They identified significant trust and faith in their healthcare provider and valued provider-directed suggestions. Participants cited concerns with patient-provider communication resulting from limited English proficiency and frequent changes in primary care providers.

Discussion

This study is useful to inform further research and potential …

Do Not Miss Your Shot: Improving Follow-Up In Patients Receiving Long-Acting Injectable Medications, Mary O'Hara

Doctor of Nursing Practice Final Manuscripts

Background: Serious mental illness including schizophrenia and bipolar disorder affects 1 in 24 adults in California. These chronic disorders are difficult to treat and often sabotaged by medication nonadherence. Long-acting injectable (LAI) medications are one strategy to combat medication nonadherence. Effectively providing treatment with LAI medications can be challenging at the clinic level.

Objectives: Reduce the number of days without medication by reducing the number of days between injection due date and injection administration for patients receiving LAI medications.

Design: Establish appointments for all injection visits. Standardize visit protocol for injection encounters to optimize provider time. Arrange immediate follow-up and …

Assessment Of The Perceived Access To Health Care By Migrant And Seasonal Farm Workers In Southern New Jersey, Karen Custodio, Xitlalichomiha O'Dell, Lori Talbot

Rowan-Virtua Research Day

Migrant and seasonal farm workers (MSFW) are one of the most economically disadvantaged populations in the United States. MSFW confront numerous health challenges as a result of occupational hazards, poor living conditions, and inadequate nutrition, in addition to common health concerns like diabetes and hypertension. The objective of this study was to identify major barriers to health care for individuals working in the agriculture industry in southern New Jersey. Though there are numerous factors which impact health for migrant farmers, we hypothesized that language, financial burden, and fear from immigration status will be the most significant. Research was conducted using …

Great Plains Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System Project, Florence G. Duran

Capstone Experience: Master of Public Health

Background: Great Plains American Indians/Alaska Natives (AI/ANs) experience higher mortality rates than Non-Hispanic Whites from the same region. The National Behavioral Risk Factors Surveillance System (BRFSS) survey can have limitations of the estimates the health risks behaviors and services from one Tribal community to another. Goals and Objectives: The goal of this project is to address the lack of Tribal specific data among AI/ANs in the Great Plains region (ND, SD, NE, IA) by using Great Plains Tribal BRFSS data that captured information for three tribes in the Great Plains region. Tribal specific data will allow tribes to access, …