Public Health Commons^™

Use Of Low-Cost Particle Counters For Cotton Dust Exposure Assessment In Textile Mills In Low- And Middle-Income Countries, Asaad Ahmed Nafees, Abdul Rehman Iqbal, Paul Cullinan, Sara De Matteis, Peter Burney, Sean Semple

Community Health Sciences

Objective: There is a lack of consensus on methods for cotton dust measurement in the textile industry, and techniques vary between countries-relying mostly on cumbersome, traditional approaches. We undertook comparisons of standard, gravimetric methods with low-cost optical particle counters for personal and area dust measurements in textile mills in Pakistan.
Methods: We included male textile workers from the weaving sections of seven cotton mills in Karachi. We used the Institute of Occupational Medicine (IOM) sampler with a Casella Apex 2 standard pump and the Purple Air (PA-II-SD) for measuring personal exposures to inhalable airborne particles (n = 31). We used …

Community And Provider Acceptability Of The Covid-19 Vaccine: A Systematic Review And Meta-Analysis, Christian Akem Dimala, Benjamin Momo Kadia, Hai Nguyen, Anthony Donato

Advances in Clinical Medical Research and Healthcare Delivery

Background:

The novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) vaccines may help control the current pandemic but would require immunization levels that would achieve herd immunity. This study aimed to quantify current COVID-19 vaccine acceptance rates, as well as characterize the determinants, enablers and barriers to vaccine acceptability across the globe by synthesizing published evidence.

Methods:

A systematic review and meta-analysis of studies was performed on studies assessing the acceptability of a COVID-19 vaccine published between November 1^st, 2019, and November 30^th, 2020. PubMed, Embase and Cochrane central were searched for eligible studies. Data extracted from retained studies was …

Childbirth Educators’ Role Regarding Pregnant Women And Cervical Cancer Prevention, Olufunmiso Oyetunde Asamu, Hadi Danawi

Journal of Excellence in Nursing and Healthcare Practice

Childbirth educators play an important role in educating pregnant women regarding their health. They bridge the gap between pregnant women and healthcare providers. A paucity of information exists on the benefits that pregnant women derive from interactions with childbirth educators regarding early cervical cancer detection. The purpose of our cross-sectional study was to investigate the association among education during early pregnancy offered by the childbirth educators, access to childbirth educators, availability of childbirth educators in the United States and survival from cervical cancer. Secondary data from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) on 520,153 women were analyzed using logistic …

Perspectives Of Primary Care Physicians On Acceptance And Barriers To Covid-19 Vaccination, Philip Day, Chance Strenth, Neelima Kale, F. David Schneider, Elizabeth Mayfield Arnold

Family and Community Medicine Faculty Publications

OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to examine the perspectives of primary care physicians in Texas around vaccine acceptance and potential patient barriers to vaccination. National surveys have shown fluctuating levels of acceptance for COVID-19 vaccination, and primary care physicians could play a crucial role in increasing vaccine uptake.

DESIGN: This study employed a cross-sectional anonymous survey design to collect data using an online questionnaire. Participants were asked about vaccination practices and policies at their practice site, perceptions of patient and community acceptance and confidence in responding to patient vaccine concerns.

SETTING: From November 2020 to January 2021, family …

Parental Support And Monitoring As Associated With Adolescent Alcohol And Tobacco Use By Gender And Age, Rosalina Mills, Michael J. Mann, Megan L. Smith, Alfgeir L. Kristjansson

Public and Population Health Faculty Publications and Presentations

Background: Parental support (PS) and parental monitoring (PM) are known protective factors against adolescent substance use (SU). However, little is known about whether PS and PM may affect SU outcomes differently by gender and age. This study examined the relationship between PS and PM and adolescent SU, specifically alcohol and tobacco use, stratified by gender and age group.

Methods: Middle and high school students (n = 2351, 48.5% Female) completed surveys of self-reported SU, perceived PS and PM, and socioeconomic background. Age group was defined dichotomously as grade 7–8 Middle school and grade 9–10 High school students. PS and …

Social Isolation And Loneliness Among Rural And Urban People With Disabilities, University Of Montana Rural Institute

Health and Wellness

Social connection is the experience of interacting with and feeling connected to other people. A lack of social connections can lead to social isolation and loneliness. Social isolation is an objective measure based on a limited number of social connections. Loneliness is the perception of being isolated or feeling alone. Both social isolation and loneliness are associated with adverse physical and mental health outcomes. Researchers used data from two national surveys to understand the experiences of social isolation and loneliness among people with disabilities. Findings indicate people with disabilities report higher rates of social isolation and loneliness than people without …

Anal Human Papillomavirus Infection Among Men Who Have Sex With Men And Transgender Women Living With And Without Hiv In Pakistan: Findings From A Cross-Sectional Study, Muslima Ejaz, Soren Andersson, Salma Batool, Tazeen Saeed Ali, Anna Mia Ekström

Community Health Sciences

Objectives: The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of infection, genotypes and risk factors for human papillomavirus (HPV) among men who have sex with men (MSM) and transgender women living with and without HIV in Pakistan. Anal infection with HPV is very common worldwide among MSM, particularly among MSM living with HIV. The high prevalence of HIV among MSM and male-to-female transgendered individuals in Pakistan is a significant health concern since access to screening and health-seeking is often delayed in this stigmatised key population.
Design: This cross-sectional study was conducted between March 2016 and November 2017.
Participants, …

Breakthrough Research—Social And Behavior Change Costing Community Of Practice Series Brief #4: Social And Behavior Change Costs Associated With Insecticide Treated Bed Net Distribution For Malaria Prevention, Breakthrough Research

Sexual and Reproductive Health, Rights, and Choices

Breakthrough RESEARCH is gathering, analyzing, and sharing evidence on the costs and impact of social and behavior change (SBC) interventions to support the case that investing in SBC is crucial for improving health and advancing development. A review of the SBC costing literature identified 147 studies on SBC costs, methodological shortcomings, and knowledge gaps that can be addressed in new SBC costing studies. To address these gaps, Breakthrough RESEARCH issued the “Guidelines for Costing of Social and Behavior Change Health Interventions,” which lays out 17 principles for conducting high-quality costing studies. This brief complements the guidelines and highlights important issues …

Utilization Of Psychotherapeutic Interventions By Pediatric Psychosocial Providers, Cynthia Fair, Amanda Thompson, Marie Barnett, Stacy R. Flowers, June Burke, Lori Wiener

Family Medicine Faculty Publications

One of the Standards of Psychosocial Care for Children with Cancer and their Families recommends that all youth with cancer and their family members have access to psychotherapeutic interventions and support throughout the cancer trajectory. This study was created to identify the psychosocial interventions and services provided to children with cancer and their family members, to ascertain whether there are differences in interventions provided by age of the patient and stage of treatment, and to learn about barriers to psychosocial service provision. An online survey was disseminated to psychosocial providers through the listservs of national and international professional organizations. The …

Health Inequality Analysis In Europe: Exploring The Potential Of The Eq-5d As Outcome, Inge Spronk, Juanita A. Haagsma, Erica I. Lubetkin, Suzanne Polinder, M F. Janssen, G J. Bonsel

Publications and Research

Objective: This study explored the additive value of the multi-item EuroQol 5-Dimension 5-Level (EQ-5D-5L) as an outcome measure in health inequality analyses, relative to the single-item EuroQol visual analog scale (EQ VAS).

Methods: A sample comprising the general population from Italy, the Netherlands, and United Kingdom (UK) completed the EQ-5D-5L and the EQ VAS. The level of education was selected as a proxy for socio-economic status (SES). EQ-5D-5L level sum scores (LSS) were compared against EQ VAS scores. Stratified and multivariable analyses were used to study the associations between SES and the LSS/EQ VAS relative to the presence of chronic …

J Mich Dent Assoc November 2021

The Journal of the Michigan Dental Association

Every month, The Journal of the Michigan Dental Association brings news, information, and features about Michigan dentistry to our state's oral health community and the MDA's 6,200+ members. No publication reaches more Michigan dentists!

In this issue, the reader will find the following original content:

• Cover stories with a “Focus on Advocacy: Helping Dentistry Succeed”, including “MDA Dental PAC: What It Is and Why It Matters “, “2021 Advocacy Success — and More to Come “, and “Dental Programs Maintained in 2021-22 State Budget”.
• A feature article on “The Anishinaabe Dental Outreach Program”.
• A feature article, “How Your Website and …

Health Technology In School-Based Health Centers: Supporting Continuous Care During Covid-19, Erin Sullivan, Anna Goddard, Paula Fields, Suzanne Mackey

Nursing Faculty Publications

Background: Children and adolescents in the United States face disparities by race, ethnicity, and socioeconomic status, including unequal access to consistent and high-quality healthcare. School-based health centers (SBHCs) promote health equity by delivering primary, mental, and other health services directly to students in their schools. The COVID-19 outbreak in the United States resulted in schools and SBHCs closing their physical sites and pivoting to virtual service delivery. Methods: In the months immediately following school closures, school-based health center practitioners and sponsors participated in an online listening series to share how they used technology to creatively advertise services, engage with students, …

A Mixed Methods Case Study Of Food Shopping In A Community With High Infant Mortality, Sarah Evenosky, Eleanor Lewis, Katherine Isselmann Disantis

College of Population Health Faculty Papers

In the U.S., preterm birth disproportionately impacts certain racial/ethnic groups, with Black women experiencing preterm birth at a rate 50% higher than other groups. Among the numerous factors that likely contribute to these increased rates are neighborhood characteristics, such as food environment. In this mixed-methods case study, we evaluated how pregnant women living in a predominately minority, lower income community with high preterm birth rates navigate and perceive their food environment. Qualitative interviews were performed to assess perceptions of food environment (n = 7) along with geographic and observational assessments of their food environment. Participants traveled an average of 2.10 …

Desire To Limiting Child Birth And The Associated Determinants Among Married Females: Sukh Survey-Karachi, Pakistan, Shama Razzaq, Saleem Jessani, Sumera Aziz Ali, Zahid Abbasi, Sarah Saleem

Community Health Sciences

Objective: High rates of population growth negatively influence the social and economic development of a country. This study aimed to determine the women's desire to limiting child birth in future (fertility intention) and its determinants among Pakistani women of reproductive age resident of Karachi.
Methods: A community-based, multistage cross-sectional study was carried out among residents of the squatter settlements in Karachi. The were 4,485 married residents, and currently non-pregnant females of 18 to 49 years old. Framework adapted has been based on "Pullum 1980" to operationalize the outcome of determining the desire to limiting childbearing and the factors related with …

Financing Mechanisms Applied For Successful Universal Health Coverage In Malaysia, Thailand And Singapore - Lessons For Pakistan, Rawshan Jabeen, Unaib Rabbani, Nazish Abbas

Community Health Sciences

Universal health coverage is a global agenda and, currently for Pakistan, achieving this goal is a challenge because of a number of constraints. The current narrative review was planned to describe an overview of the provision of health insurance in Malaysia, Thailand and Singapore that have achieved universal health coverage, and to propose a roadmap for Pakistan. Literature search was conducted on Google Scholar and PubMed databases as well as on the World Bank website to retrieve relevant articles. The three studied countries achieved universal health coverage by gradually increasing allocation for health and through various mechanisms, such as health …

Unintended Pregnancy And The Associated Factors Among Pregnant Females: Sukh Survey-Karachi, Pakistan, Shama Razzaq, Saleem Jessani, Narjis Rizvi, Sarah Saleem

Community Health Sciences

Objective: Unintended pregnancy has become a substantially growing reproductive health concern in South Asian region. The objective of this survey was to assess the magnitude of unintended pregnancy along with its correlates among currently pregnant women residing in Karachi.
Methods: A community based, multistage, cross-sectional study was carried out among 612 currently pregnant women from squatter settlements of Karachi, inquiring for "unintended pregnancy", outcome of interest. Multivariable logistic analysis was done using SPSS v.19 to determine associated factors.
Results: Of 612 pregnant women interviewed, 168(27.4%) reported their pregnancies as unintended. The multivariable regression identified a high likelihood of unintended pregnancy …

Overcoming The Challenges Of Community-Engaged Emergency Referrals In A Rural District Of Pakistan, Imran Naeem Abbasi, Sameen Siddiqi

Community Health Sciences

A functional referral system for addressing health emergencies requires coordinated efforts by health system's stakeholders and the community. Using the Rural Health Programme (RHP) Thatta as a platform provided by an academic institution, district health system stakeholders and the community of Mirpur Sakro, taluka of Thatta, were engaged to strengthen the referral system for health emergencies through active community engagement. Through consultations with stakeholders, a referral system plan was developed with community volunteers from each village as focal persons for transportation, referring patients to health facilities and maintaining referral documentation. The stakeholders' experience and perceptions about the referral system were …

A Research Framework For Evaluating Next Generation Sequencing In Community-Acquired Pneumonia, Ashley M. Wilde, Elena Swingler, Sarah E. Moore Pharmd, Brian C. Bohn Pharmd, Matthew Song Pharmd, Bcidp, Ruth Carrico, Julio A. Ramirez

The University of Louisville Journal of Respiratory Infections

No abstract provided.

Understanding Disparities In Clinical Trials For Native Hawaiian Men, Gabriela A. Layi, Kevin Cassel, Maile Taualii, Jeffrey L. Berenberg, Erin O. Bantum

Journal of Health Disparities Research and Practice

Understanding low rates of participation by minority populations in clinical trials is critical for reducing and eliminating disparities. We examined beliefs and attitudes of Native Hawaiian men related to illness and cancer to better understand their rates of participation in clinical trials. We conducted face-to-face interviews with Native Hawaiian key informants throughout the State of Hawai‘i using quota sampling methods to obtain a range of perspectives about attitudes towards health care seeking to provide insight into low clinical trials participation. Interviews were audio-taped, transcribed, and independently coded by researchers. Thematic analysis guided the extraction of relevant data from the discussions. …

Racial And Ethnic Data Reported For Peanut Allergy Epidemiology Do Little To Advance Its Cause, Treatment, Or Prevention, Nigel Mark Thomas

Publications and Research

No abstract provided.

Spatiotemporal Variation And Socioeconomic Factors Of Financial Hardships Of Out-Of-Pocket Health Expenditure In Pakistan, Muhammad Ashar Malik, Iqbal Azam Syed, Amir Khan, Faisal Rifaq, Kinza Chaudhary

Community Health Sciences

Background: Financial hardships of out-of-pocket health expenditure (OPHE) is a growing concern for health policy makers in many low and middle-income countries. Spatiotemporal variation between Pakistan's four provinces over 2001-2015 is discussed, which would help comparing existing health services delivery and financial risk protection plans.
Aims: In this paper, we estimate financial hardship of OPHE in Pakistan.
Methods: We use the data sets of the household integrated economic surveys 2001-02, 2005-06, 2010-11 and 2015-16. We estimate OPHE share in household total and non-subsistence expenditure, catastrophic headcount at the threshold of OPHE ≥ 10% of total expenditure or OPHE ≥ 25% …

Process Evaluation Of The Early Implementation Stages Of The National Diabetes Prevention Program Through Kentucky Cooperative Extension: Perceptions Of Adopters And Potential Adopters, Nicole Breazeale, Heather Norman-Burgdolf, Katherine Counts, Lovoria B. Williams

Dietetics and Human Nutrition Faculty Publications

With the growing demand for lifestyle change programs that prevent or delay Type 2 diabetes onset, community organizations with broad reach should be explored for national dissemination of the National Diabetes Prevention Program (NDPP). This study evaluates the early implementation of the NDPP through Cooperative Extension in four Kentucky counties and explores the feasibility of scaling up the program to additional counties. Using a qualitative approach, semi-structured telephone interviews were conducted with 12 Family and Consumer Sciences (FCS) Agents – four who were participating in the pilot (adopters) and eight who had no experience with the NDPP (potential adopters). Five …

Access To Health Care In Appalachia: Perception And Reality, Michele Morrone, Cory E. Cronin, Kristin Schuller, Shannon E. Nicks

Journal of Appalachian Health

Introduction: Health disparities such as cancer and diabetes are well documented in Appalachia. These disparities contribute to health status, and by many indicators, Appalachian people are less healthy than those who live in other parts of the country. Access to health care is one factor that contributes to health disparities. Access to care is complex and involves both intrinsic and extrinsic aspects, including satisfaction with quality of care. This research sought to compare Appalachian to non-Appalachian communities in terms of perceptions of access to care.

Methods: We implemented a statewide survey to quantify perceptions of multiple components of …

Understanding Polarizing Community Perspectives On Harm Reduction Strategies: Challenges To Addressing The Opioid Crisis In Appalachian Pennsylvania, Stephanie L. Creasy Mph, Jessica R. Thompson Med, Christina F. Mair Phd, Jessica G. Burke Phd

Journal of Appalachian Health

Introduction: Rural communities face barriers to opioid treatment and overdose prevention including concerns about stigma and lack of harm reduction services.

Purpose: The aim of this study was to explore community perspectives and understanding of harm reduction approaches to opioid use and overdose in a high-risk Northern Appalachian case community in Pennsylvania.

Methods: A small town approximately 10 miles from Pittsburgh was identified as the community with the greatest predicted probabilities of epidemic outbreak using posteriors from spatial models of hospitalizations for opioid use disorders. We interviewed 20 key stakeholders in the case community in using a semi-structured interview guide …

The Impact Of Faith Community Nursing Programs For Chronic Disease Screening And Management In Vulnerable Populations: A Comprehensive Review Of The Literature, Gabri Warren

International Journal of Faith Community Nursing

Faith Community Nursing (FCN) programs in the United States (U.S.) emerged in the 1980's; however, the intertwining of health promotion in religious institutions has been present for millennia. Today, challenges facing healthcare are prompting health care providers to find creative and cost-effective methods of providing care. Determining whether FCN positively impacts the health of individuals with limited access to healthcare services would encourage healthcare providers to collaborate with the specialty, reinforcing the benefit of their service. An integrative literature review was conducted to identify studies measuring the impact of FCN on the health outcomes of individuals with hypertension (Baig, Mangione, …

Homelessness And Covid-19, Justin Macneill, Alexa Lahey, Nina Teo

Purdue Journal of Service-Learning and International Engagement

The COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated the struggle of people experiencing homelessness (PEH) and presented new challenges to those serving this vulnerable population. To better understand and articulate how COVID has impacted both PEH and their ecosystem of support, we compared the national response - aggregated via a literature review of both gray and academic literature - to the statewide response in Indiana and the local response in Tippecanoe County.

Local homelessness providers emphasized that organizational partnerships are key - policy changes in one organization can have malignant effect extending throughout and putting additional strain on other organizations within the local …

Student Pharmacists’ Response To A Pandemic: Service-Learning Through Contact Tracing, Antoinette Martin, William Harris, Alexander Szu-Wei Chao, Caroline Blankemeier, Diane Hobbs, Emily Hall, Emily Harvath, Madilyn Eberle, Monica L. Miller, Rakhi Karwa

Purdue Journal of Service-Learning and International Engagement

In March 2020, the SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) pandemic disrupted education nationwide. To safely deliver in-person classes, Purdue University contracted One-to-One Health, creating the Protect Purdue Health Center (PPHC). The PPHC was a central location for information, testing, and case management for Purdue students, staff, faculty and their dependents. Contact tracing is a proven public health measure that has been utilized to control the spread of infectious diseases by identifying and isolating potential active cases. The communicative nature of contact tracing, along with its need for clinical decision-making skills makes the student pharmacist an ideal candidate for aiding in this pandemic response. …

A Community Health Initiative: Health To The Power Of You, Stephanie Hendricks

Purdue Journal of Service-Learning and International Engagement

In April 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic impacted the number of visits to ambulatory care practices and was reported to have declined by nearly 60%. The extent of this decline is alarming as outpatient visits help manage chronic diseases in patients, such as diabetes, high blood pressure, and high cholesterol. This trend sparked an interest in pharmacist and student pharmacist, Dr. Cynthia Koh-Knox Sharp and Stephanie Hendricks, respectively, as it offered an opportunity to help serve the Greater Lafayette community. We created Health to the Power of You (Health^You), which targets two of Lafayette’s neglected populations: community members experiencing …

Promoting Inclusion Of Adults With Disabilities In Local Fitness Programs: A Needs Assessment, Samantha M. Ross, Bridgette Schram, Kathleen Mccarty, Nicole Fiscella, Willie Chun Wai Leung, Kayla Lindland

Developmental Disabilities Network Journal

Fit-Pals* is a university-based, service-learning program with a mission to prepare adults with disabilities to engage in lifelong physical activity. We conducted a Needs Assessment to evaluate recent programmatic partnerships with community-based fitness organizations. We aimed to (1) evaluate organizational perceptions of Fit-Pals’ partnership efforts, and (2) identify perceived organizational needs to improve inclusion practices. Representatives from each of our seven partner organizations participated in an online-survey, follow-up interviews, and a stakeholder meeting. A thematic analysis of survey and interview responses highlighted areas for programmatic growth related to training in disability awareness and fitness accommodations, and improved communication across all …

Refining A Postpandemic Approach To Cancer Screening, Michael A. Thompson

Journal of Patient-Centered Research and Reviews

In introducing Volume 8, Issue 4 of Journal of Patient-Centered Research and Reviews — a specially themed issue comprised of several works focused on improving cancer screening processes in clinical practice — JPCRR editor and hematologist/oncologist Michael Thompson reflects on the current state of various screening modalities and how the pandemic has already begun to shape ongoing research in this area. A delicate balance must be struck between avoiding overtesting or overdiagnosis and identifying the presence of malignant tumors early enough to allow for successful treatment.