Public Health Commons^™

Herbs, Home Medicine, And Self-Reliance: A Study On The Current Status Of Traditional Home Medicine In Idukki District, Kerala, Richard Gaunt

Independent Study Project (ISP) Collection

Home medical knowledge, or knowledge of how one’s surroundings can be used to maintain and restore health, can be an important tool for health self-sufficiency in rural places as well as for the ecological conservation of important plants and natural materials. The Indian state of Kerala has a rich heritage of traditional medicine, found in the historically inter-related forms of codified Ayurveda and folk knowledge. In Idukki district, a region of Kerala nestled in the hills of the Western Ghats, rural households engage in small-scale home-gardening and agroforestry, which in addition to providing nutritionally diverse food is a source of …

Childhood Obesity In School-Aged Children: A Public Health Crisis, Carrie St. Hilaire (Class Of 2015)

SHU Undergraduate Works

Childhood obesity is a public and community health problem with real and serious consequences. Public health (school) nurses are in prime positions to advance change by promoting healthy food choices, encouraging an active and healthy lifestyle, and educating children, families, and communities as to the benefits of these choices. Our children are our future, and by making lifestyle changes together we can move forward toward a healthier future for all.

Annual Report 2014, Forum Staff

National Health Policy Forum

This annual report describes the activities of the Forum during the 2014 calendar year, and provides a snapshot of our audience and resources.

Healthy Options: A Community-Based Program To Address Food Insecurity, Amy B. Dailey, Audrey Hess, Camille Horton, Emily Constantian, Salma Monani, Betsy Wargo, Kim Davidson, Kathy Gaskin

Center for Public Service Research

The objectives of this study are to better understand the lived experience of food insecurity in our community and to examine the impact of a community-based program developed to increase access to local, healthy foods. Participants were given monthly vouchers to spend at local farmers’ markets and invited to engage in a variety of community activities. Using a community-based participatory research framework, mixed methods were employed. Survey results suggest that most respondents were satisfied with the program and many increased their fruit and vegetable consumption. However, over 40% of respondents reported a higher level of stress over having enough money …

Using Neuroscience To Create A Paradigm Shift In Addiction Treatment And Theory, Tabitha E.H. Moses

Student Works

Drug abuse has long fascinated philosophers and scientists. Many different models have attempted to elucidate the mechanism behind drug addiction and analyze whether an addict has a choice in his behavior. The problem with these models is that they seem to suggest only two ways of viewing addiction. These models suggest either that a person cannot control his addiction and is therefore deserving of treatment, or that suggest a person can control their addictions and is not deserving of treatment, and instead needs threats of punishment to stop their behavior. I believe these approaches are too simplistic and do not …

The Impact Of Vaccine Hesitancy On The Polio Vaccine In South Asia, Leah Everist

Independent Study Project (ISP) Collection

A disease that paralyzes hundreds of children each year, polio is incurable but also entirely preventable through vaccination. Though part of the reason some children are not reached for immunization is that they are in areas too volatile for healthcare workers to access, vaccine hesitancy is increasingly being recognized as an important player. The objective of this study is to ascertain the degree to which vaccine hesitancy affects polio vaccine campaigns in Afghanistan and Pakistan, the countries in South Asia where polio continues to be endemic, to assess the drivers behind hesitancy in this region, and to present recommendations for …

Babies First: Ensuring Proper Infant Nutrition During Emergencies, Abigail M. Alonso

Independent Study Project (ISP) Collection

Background: Breastfeeding is the best source of nutrition for an infant, living in all regions and cultures. Recommendations apply across the board, from developed nations to refugee camps, from women with HIV to those with time constraints regarding feeding. There also exists a complex relationship between corporations that provide BMS and the NGOs working to promote breastfeeding in emergency situations amongst vulnerable populations.

Objective: The objective of this paper is to expose breastfeeding promotion, using the Dadaab camps in Northeastern Kenya as a case study of IYCF programs and support of breastfeeding among low-literacy populations with an emphasis on women …

Comparing Lung Function Of Textile Workers With The Healthy Pakistani Population, Unaib Rabbani, Asaad Ahmed Nafees

Community Health Sciences

Background: The purpose of this study was to compare lung function of textile workers with healthy Pakistani population, compare predicted values based on the European Respiratory Society (ERS) equations with those based on the Pakistani equations, and to develop predictor equations for textile workers in Pakistan.
Methods: This was a secondary analysis of data from two previous surveys where lung function of textile workers was compared with healthy Pakistani men. Spirometry was performed according to the American Thoracic Society guidelines. Independent sample t-test was used to compare the lung function parameters and multivariate linear regression was used to develop predictor …

A Study Of Low Weight Bearing Exercise And Its Effect On Bone Density, Elizabeth Markle

Undergraduate Honors Thesis Projects

Exercise has been a proven key to maintaining overall good health. There are many benefits of exercise: improved blood flood and overall heart strength, stronger muscles, improved cardiovascular system and it actively works to prevent superfluous fat storage on the body (Bassuk, 2013). Among these benefits is also the improvement and strengthening of bones (Bassuk, 2013). Bone strength can also be referred to as bone density and is very important to a person’s overall health because it relates directly to skeletal strength, posture, factors that affect falling and consequentially the fracturing of bones (Mayo Clinic Health Letter, 2011). A higher …

The National Health Security Preparedness Index: Harnessing Evidence & Experience To Drive Improvement, Glen P. Mays

Health Management and Policy Presentations

This presentation profiles the National Health Security Preparedness Index as a mechanism for measuring preparedness and resiliency levels across the U.S. Forthcoming enhancements in measurement and analytic methodologies will allow the Index to play heightened roles in informing policies and practices that protect the U.S. population from a broad range of hazards.

Teaching Health Centers: A Promising Approach For Building Primary Care Work Force For The 21 St Century, Leighton Ku, Fitzhugh Mullan, Christine Cerrano, Zoe Barber, Peter Shin

Geiger Gibson/RCHN Community Health Foundation Research Collaborative

No abstract provided.

Prevalence Of Obesity And Estimated Medical And Work Loss Costs Attributable To High Bmi: The Baptist Health South Florida Employee Study, Khurram Nasir, Emir Veledar, Chukwuemeka Osondu, Ehimen Aneni, Oluseye Ogunmoroti, Sankalp Das, Maribeth Rouseff, Thinh Tran, Don Parris, Leah Holzwarth, Henry Guzman, Theodore Feldman, Michael Ozner, Jonathan Fialkow, Bernie Fernandez, Jack Ziffer, Arthur Agatston

All Publications

No abstract provided.

How Far Will They Go?: Assessing The Travel Distance Of Current And Former Drug Users To Access Harm Reduction Services, Sean Allen, Monica S. Ruiz, Allison O'Rourke

Prevention and Community Health Faculty Publications

Background

Prior research has explored spatial access to syringe exchange programs (SEPs) among people who inject drugs (PWID), but little is known about service utilization by former PWID who continue to access services (e.g., HIV screenings and referrals for social services) at harm reduction providers. The purpose of this research is to examine differences in access to SEPs between current and former PWID seeking services at a mobile SEP in Washington, DC.

Findings

A geometric point distance estimation technique was applied to data collected as part of a PWID population estimation study that took place in Washington, DC, in March …

Community Health Centers: A 2013 Profile And Prospects As Aca Implementation Proceeds, Peter Shin, Jessica Sharac, Zoe Barber, Sara J. Rosenbaum, Julia Paradise

Geiger Gibson/RCHN Community Health Foundation Research Collaborative

In 2013, more than 1,200 federally funded community health centers provided access to care for low-income populations living in medically underserved communities throughout the country. The Affordable Care Act made expansion of health centers a key part of its strategy for ensuring that these communities would realize the benefits of increased health insurance coverage for their residents. As health insurance coverage expands under the Affordable Care Act (ACA) and the demand for primary care increases, the role of health centers is likely to increase. A key question going forward is whether health centers’ expanded capacity, developed over the past five …

Sociocultural And Structural Factors Contributing To Delays In Treatment For Children With Severe Malaria: A Qualitative Study In Southwestern Uganda, Radhika Sundararajan, Juliet Mwanga-Amumpaire, Harriet Adrama, Jackline Tumuhairwe, Sheilla Mbabazi, Kenneth Mworozi, Ryan W. Carroll, David Bangsberg, Yap Boum Ii, Norma C. Ware

OHSU-PSU School of Public Health Faculty Publications and Presentations

Malaria is a leading cause of pediatric mortality, and Uganda has among the highest incidences in the world. Increased morbidity and mortality are associated with delays to care. This qualitative study sought to characterize barriers to prompt allopathic care for children hospitalized with severe malaria in the endemic region of southwestern Uganda. Minimally structured, qualitative interviews were conducted with guardians of children admitted to a regional hospital with severe malaria. Using an inductive and content analytic approach, transcripts were analyzed to identify and define categories that explain delayed care. These categories represented two broad themes: sociocultural and structural factors. Sociocultural …

Reflections And Projections: Prevention, Policy And Health, Drew Harris Dpm, Mph

Population Health Matters (Formerly Health Policy Newsletter)

No abstract provided.

Refugee Resettlement In Philadelphia: Medical And Community Partnerships, Morgan Leafe Md

Population Health Matters (Formerly Health Policy Newsletter)

No abstract provided.

Bidirectional Global Health Education: The Rvcp-Jeff Health Exchange Program, Ellen J. Plumb Md, James D. Plumb Md, Mph, Komal S. Soin Md

Population Health Matters (Formerly Health Policy Newsletter)

No abstract provided.

The Public Health Service, Jennifer Jenson

National Health Policy Forum

This document provides an overview of the Public Health Service (PHS) within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, including a brief history and discussion of the agencies and offices that constitute the PHS today. Information on the mission, key programs, and budgets of PHS agencies and offices is also included.

Impact Of Hiv Testing And Counseling (Htc) Knowledge On Hiv Prevention Practices Among Traditional Birth Attendants In Nigeria, Alice Osuji, Jennifer R. Pharr, Uche Nwokoro, Anulika Ike, Christiana Ali, Ogheneaga Ejiro, John Osuyali, Michael Obiefune, Kevin Fiscella, Echezona E. Ezeanolue

Environmental & Global Health Faculty Research

Nigeria is second in the world for the number of people with HIV and has a high rate of mother-to-child transmission (MTCT). Over 60% of births in Nigeria occur outside of health care facilities, and because of this, Traditional Birth Attendants (TBAs) play a significant role in maternal and child health. It is important that TBAs be knowledgeable about HIV prevention. The purpose of this study was to determine the impact of HIV testing and counseling (HTC) knowledge on the HIV prevention practices among TBAs in Nigeria. Five hundred TBAs were surveyed. Chi-square and logistic regression were used to assess …

Delivering A “Dose Of Hope”: A Faith-Based Program To Increase Older African Americans’ Participation In Clinical Trials, Paula M. Frew, Saad B. Omer, Kimberly Parker, Marcus Bolton, Jay Schamel, Eve Shapiro, Lauren Owens, Diane Saint-Victor, Sahithi Boggavarapu, Nikia Braxton, Matthew Archibald, Ameeta S. Kalokhe, Takeia Horton, Christin M. Root, Vincent L. Fenimore, Aaron M. Anderson

Environmental & Global Health Faculty Research

Background: Underrepresentation of older-age racial and ethnic minorities in clinical research is a significant barrier to health in the United States, as it impedes medical research advancement of effective preventive and therapeutic strategies. Objective: The objective of the study was to develop and test the feasibility of a community-developed faith-based intervention and evaluate its potential to increase the number of older African Americans in clinical research. Methods: Using a cluster-randomized design, we worked with six matched churches to enroll at least 210 persons. We provided those in the intervention group churches with three educational sessions on the role of clinical …

Health Policy Essentials: Common Health Care Acronyms, National Health Policy Forum

National Health Policy Forum

No abstract provided.

Orientation Virtual Meeting National Advisory Committee For The National Health Security Preparedness Index, Glen P. Mays, Anna Goodman Hoover, Michael Childress

Health Management and Policy Presentations

Refining the measures and methodologies used within the National Health Security Preparedness Index will allow users to make more meaningful comparisons of preparedness levels across U.S. geographic areas and to assess changes in preparedness over time.

Creating A Healthier Campus: A Report On The Effectiveness Of Nsu’S “Slimming With The Sharks” Wellness Program, Corey Peacock, Tobin Silver, Pradeep Vanguri

Quadrivium: A Journal of Multidisciplinary Scholarship

With a recent increase in college obesity rates, it is imperative to assess the effectiveness of campus-wide fitness programs while encouraging other institutes of higher education to do so. It is presently uncertain whether these programs are advantageous or disadvantageous for improving campus-wide obesity rates; therefore, assessing campus-wide fitness programs and reporting results may bring awareness to college campus obesity rates and clarify a solution to the problem. NSU’s RecPlex offered “Slimming with the Sharks,” a structured, multiple-component, weight loss initiative available to all students, faculty, and staff. The following is a brief report of “Slimming with the Sharks” data …

Care With Dignity: Understanding How To Care For Hiv Positive And Formerly Incarcerated Populations, Caroline Komanecky, Terry Trudeau, Med, James D. Plumb, Md, Mph, Helen Koenig, Md

CwiC-PH

Philadelphia FIGHT is a comprehensive HIV/AIDS service organization providing primary care, consumer education, advocacy, and research on potential treatments and vaccines. FIGHT was formed as a partnership of individuals living with HIV/AIDS and clinicians, who joined together to improve the lives of people living with the disease. Today, FIGHT serves an even broader patient population and recently received designation as a Federally Qualified Health Center. FIGHT strives to address not only HIV-infected patients, but all at-risk populations through education, outreach, and preventative medicine. The annual Bridging the Gaps interns are responsible for several projects, including a client satisfaction survey, a …

Chhs February 2015 E-Newsletter, Dr. John Bonaguro, Dean, Vashon S. Wells, Editor, Wku College Of Health & Human Services

College of Health & Human Services Publications

No abstract provided.

Establishing Roots In West Philadelphia, Nina Millman, James Larosa, Skip Weiner, Rickie Brawer, Mph, Phd, James D. Plumb, Md, Mph

CwiC-PH

Urban Tree Connection

Urban Tree Connection is an organization that utilizes plots of land which have been abandoned. The organization uses the land to create gardens that grow produce which is then sold at markets and to the community. Their goal is to provide access to fresh fruits and vegetables in the food desert areas of West Philadelphia. Members of the community are able to get involved by allowing some of their land to be used as gardens and helping to maintain the sites. The organization also tries to spread information about sustainability including a compost program in the neighborhood.

An Interdisciplinary Approach To Combat Obesity In The Galapagos, Christopher Busack, Bethany Fox

CwiC-PH

Galapagos Background

• Total Population (2010) = 25,124¹
• Largest city = Puerto Ayora (Santa Cruz)
• Average monthly income in Galapagos = $772.03/month²
• Average monthly income in mainland Ecuador = $251.70/month²
• Booming tourism industry contributes to rapid population growth³

4 of 18 main islands (>1km²) open for human residence (Santa Cruz, Isabela, San Cristobal, Floreana)

Bridging The Gaps Chip: Prevention Point, Patrick Prior, Clayton Ruley, Mss, Mlsp, Shp, Rickie Brawer, Mph, Phd, James D. Plumb, Md, Mph

CwiC-PH

Prevention Point Philadelphia aims to reduce the harm associated with injection drug use and sex industry work through an array of harm reduction programs, including syringe exchange, condom distribution, naloxone rescue, social workers, and opioid replacement therapy.

Addiction: A Treatable Disease, Nathaniel Graham

CwiC-PH

Addiction: Definitions and Statistics

Nearly 1 in 7 Americans (~40 million people) are addicted to a chemical substance.

An additional 2 in 7 Americans (~80 million people) qualify as risky substance users; those who use chemical substances in ways that threaten their health and safety.