Public Health Commons^™

Geospatiotemporal And Causal Inferential Study Of European Epidemiological Patterns Of Cannabis- And Substance-Related Congenital Orofacial Anomalies, Albert Stuart Reece, Gary Kenneth Hulse

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Introduction:

Since high rates of congenital anomalies (CAs), including facial CAs (FCAs), causally attributed to antenatal and community cannabis use have been reported in several recent series, it was of interest to examine this subject in detail in Europe.

Methods:

CA data were taken from the EUROCAT database. Drug exposure data were downloaded from the European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction (EMCDDA). Income was taken from the World Bank’s online sources.

Results:

On the bivariate maps of both orofacial clefts and holoprosencephaly against resin, the Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol concentration rates of both covariates increased together in France, Bulgaria, and the …

Sars-Cov-2 Seroprevalence In Children Worldwide: A Systematic Review And Meta-Analysis, Reza Naeimi, Mahdi Sepidarkish, Abolfazl Mollalo, Hamid Parsa, Sanaz Mahjour, Fatemeh Safarpour, Mustafa Almukhtar, Amal Mechaal, Hiam Chemaitelly, Behnam Sartip, Elika Marhoommirzabak, Ali Ardekani, Peter J Hotez, Robin B Gasser, Ali Rostami

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

BACKGROUND: The higher hospitalisation rates of those aged 0-19 years (referred to herein as 'children') observed since the emergence of the immune-evasive SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant and subvariants, along with the persisting vaccination disparities highlighted a need for in-depth knowledge of SARS-CoV-2 sero-epidemiology in children. Here, we conducted this systematic review to assess SARS-CoV-2 seroprevalence and determinants in children worldwide.

METHODS: In this systematic review and meta-analysis study, we searched international and preprinted scientific databases from December 1, 2019 to July 10, 2022. Pooled seroprevalences were estimated according to World Health Organization (WHO) regions (at 95% confidence intervals, CIs) using random-effects …

Telemedicine Use Among Physiatrists During The Early Phase Of The Covid-19 Pandemic And Potential For Future Use, Sameer Siddiqui, Ellen Farr, Nathaniel Dusto, Liqi Chen, Masha Kocherginsky, Felicia Skelton, Monica Verduzco-Gutierrez, Sujin Lee

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

No abstract provided.

Why Does The X Chromosome Lag Behind Autosomes In Gwas Findings?, Ivan P Gorlov, Christopher I Amos

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

The X-chromosome is among the largest human chromosomes. It differs from autosomes by a number of important features including hemizygosity in males, an almost complete inactivation of one copy in females, and unique patterns of recombination. We used data from the Catalog of Published Genome Wide Association Studies to compare densities of the GWAS-detected SNPs on the X-chromosome and autosomes. The density of GWAS-detected SNPs on the X-chromosome is 6-fold lower compared to the density of the GWAS-detected SNPs on autosomes. Differences between the X-chromosome and autosomes cannot be explained by differences in the overall SNP density, lower X-chromosome coverage …

Remote Care Adoption In Underserved Congenital Heart Disease Patients During The Covid-19 Era, Ruth M Vaughan, Judson A Moore, Jasmine S Moreno, Karla J Dyer, Abiodun O Oluyomi, Keila N Lopez

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

The COVID-19 pandemic restricted in-person appointments and prompted an increase in remote healthcare delivery. Our goal was to assess access to remote care for complex pediatric cardiology patients. We performed a retrospective chart review of Texas Children's Hospital (TCH) pediatric cardiology outpatient appointments from March 2020 to December 2020 for established congenital heart disease (CHD) patients 1 to 17 yo. Primary outcome variables were remote care use of telemedicine and patient portal activation. Primary predictor variables were age, sex, insurance, race/ethnicity, language, and location. Descriptive statistics were used to analyze patient demographics. Multivariate logistic regression determined associations with remote care …

A Synthesis Of Evidence For Cancer-Specific Screening Interventions: A Preventive Medicine Golden Jubilee Review, Suvi Rintala, Kristina R Dahlstrom, Eduardo L Franco, Karolina Louvanto

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

The goal of cancer screening guidelines is to inform health practitioners to practice evidence-based cancer prevention. Cancer screening aims to detect treatable precancerous lesions or early-stage disease to enable actions aimed at decreasing morbidity and mortality. Continuous assessment of the available evidence for or against screening interventions by various organizations often results in conflicting recommendations and create challenges for providers and policymakers. Here we have summarized the current cancer screening recommendations by five leading organizations in North America and Europe: the National Cancer Institute's Physician Data Query (PDQ), the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF), the Canadian Task Force on …

An Integrated Multi-Omics Analysis Of Sleep-Disordered Breathing Traits Implicates P2xr4 Purinergic Signaling, Nuzulul Kurniansyah, Danielle A Wallace, Ying Zhang, Bing Yu, Brian Cade, Heming Wang, Heather M Ochs-Balcom, Alexander P Reiner, Alberto R Ramos, Joshua D Smith, Jianwen Cai, Martha Daviglus, Phyllis C Zee, Robert Kaplan, Charles Kooperberg, Stephen S Rich, Jerome I Rotter, Sina A Gharib, Susan Redline, Tamar Sofer

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Sleep Disordered Breathing (SDB) is a common disease associated with increased risk for cardiometabolic, cardiovascular, and cognitive diseases. How SDB affects the molecular environment is still poorly understood. We study the association of three SDB measures with gene expression measured using RNA-seq in multiple blood tissues from the Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis. We develop genetic instrumental variables for the associated transcripts as polygenic risk scores (tPRS), then generalize and validate the tPRS in the Women's Health Initiative. We measure the associations of the validated tPRS with SDB and serum metabolites in Hispanic Community Health Study/Study of Latinos. Here we find …

A Delicate Balance Between Antibody Evasion And Ace2 Affinity For Omicron Ba275, Jiandong Huo, Aiste Dijokaite-Guraliuc, Chang Liu, Daming Zhou, Helen M Ginn, Raksha Das, Piyada Supasa, Muneeswaran Selvaraj, Rungtiwa Nutalai, Aekkachai Tuekprakhon, Helen M E Duyvesteyn, Alexander J Mentzer, Donal Skelly, Thomas G Ritter, Ali Amini, Sagida Bibi, Sandra Adele, Sile Ann Johnson, Neil G Paterson, Mark A Williams, David R Hall, Megan Plowright, Thomas A H Newman, Hailey Hornsby, Thushan I De Silva, Nigel Temperton, Paul Klenerman, Eleanor Barnes, Susanna J Dunachie, Andrew J Pollard, Teresa Lambe, Philip Goulder, Optic Consortium, Isaric4c Consortium, Elizabeth E Fry, Juthathip Mongkolsapaya, Jingshan Ren, David I Stuart, Gavin R Screaton

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Variants of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) have caused successive global waves of infection. These variants, with multiple mutations in the spike protein, are thought to facilitate escape from natural and vaccine-induced immunity and often increase in affinity for ACE2. The latest variant to cause concern is BA.2.75, identified in India where it is now the dominant strain, with evidence of wider dissemination. BA.2.75 is derived from BA.2 and contains four additional mutations in the receptor-binding domain (RBD). Here, we perform an antigenic and biophysical characterization of BA.2.75, revealing an interesting balance between humoral evasion and ACE2 receptor …

The Impact Of Covid-19 Pandemic Upon Non-Elective Admissions And Surgery At A Safety-Net Hospital, Aurelien Amiot, Jean-Francois Rahier, Filip Baert, Stephane Nahon, Ailsa Hart, Nikos Viazis, Livia Biancone, Eugeni Domenech, Catherine Reenears, Laurent Peyrin-Biroulet, Laurent Beaugerie, Johan Burisch, I-Care Collaborator Group

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: There are concerns regarding the potential impact of the COVID-19 outbreak on patients with inflammatory bowel disease [IBD]. We report on the impact of the COVID-19 outbreak in a European prospective cohort study of patients with IBD.

PATIENTS AND METHODS: We prospectively collected data from 5457 patients with IBD nested in the ongoing I-CARE project and still followed up in April 2020, with monthly online monitoring of clinical activity, treatment, imaging and endoscopy. Investigators were also contacted to report incidental cases.

RESULTS: In total, 233 [4.3%] reported COVID-19 and 12 [0.2%] severe COVID-19, with no COVID-19 deaths. …

Supplementing Glycine And N-Acetylcysteine (Glynac) In Older Adults Improves Glutathione Deficiency, Oxidative Stress, Mitochondrial Dysfunction, Inflammation, Physical Function, And Aging Hallmarks: A Randomized Clinical Trial, Premranjan Kumar, Chun Liu, James Suliburk, Jean W Hsu, Raja Muthupillai, Farook Jahoor, Charles G Minard, George E Taffet, Rajagopal V Sekhar

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

BACKGROUND: Elevated oxidative stress (OxS), mitochondrial dysfunction, and hallmarks of aging are identified as key contributors to aging, but improving/reversing these defects in older adults (OA) is challenging. In prior studies, we identified that deficiency of the intracellular antioxidant glutathione (GSH) could play a role and reported that supplementing GlyNAC (combination of glycine and N-acetylcysteine [NAC]) in aged mice improved GSH deficiency, OxS, mitochondrial fatty-acid oxidation (MFO), and insulin resistance (IR). To test whether GlyNAC supplementation in OA could improve GSH deficiency, OxS, mitochondrial dysfunction, IR, physical function, and aging hallmarks, we conducted a placebo-controlled randomized clinical trial.

METHODS: Twenty-four …

Determining The Proportionality Of Ischemic Stroke Risk Factors To Age, Elizabeth Hunter, John D. Kelleher

Articles

While age is an important risk factor, there are some disadvantages to including it in a stroke risk model: age can dominate the risk score and lead to over-or under-predictions in some age groups. There is evidence to suggest that some of these disadvantages are due to the non-proportionality of other risk factors with age, eg, risk factors contribute differently to stroke risk based on an individual’s age. In this paper, we present a framework to test if risk factors are proportional with age. We then apply the framework to a set of risk factors using Framingham heart study data …

A Simple Seir-V Model To Estimate Covid-19 Prevalence And Predict Sars-Cov-2 Transmission Using Wastewater-Based Surveillance Data, Tin Phan, Samantha Brozak, Bruce Pell, Anna Gitter, Amy Xiao, Kristina D Mena, Yang Kuang, Fuqing Wu

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Wastewater-based surveillance (WBS) has been widely used as a public health tool to monitor SARS-CoV-2 transmission. However, epidemiological inference from WBS data remains understudied and limits its application. In this study, we have established a quantitative framework to estimate COVID-19 prevalence and predict SARS-CoV-2 transmission through integrating WBS data into an SEIR-V model. We conceptually divide the individual-level viral shedding course into exposed, infectious, and recovery phases as an analogy to the compartments in a population-level SEIR model. We demonstrated that the effect of temperature on viral losses in the sewer can be straightforwardly incorporated in our framework. Using WBS …

Socio-Demographic Determinants Of Non-Utilisation Of Antenatal Care Services By Women In The Northern Region Of Nigeria, Abubakar Yakubu Abbani, Yothin Sawangdee, Olusola Akintoye Omisakin, Maretalinia Maretalinia

Journal of Health Research

Background: A large proportion of women in the northern region of Nigeria do not utilise antenatal care (ANC) services. As a result, the region has the worst maternal and child health indicators. This study aims to identify the socio-demographic determinants of the non-utilisation of ANC services by pregnant women to provide evidence for policymakers to base decisions towards addressing the problem.

Methods: Data from the 2018 Nigeria Demographic and Health Survey was used with a sample of 14,421 women with a pregnancy history. Descriptive, bivariate, and hierarchical regression analyses were applied to the data using STATA software version 15.

Results: …

Effectiveness Of Interactive Text Message Service At The Thailand National Quitline: A Randomized Controlled Trial, Suwimon Rojnawee, Chollada Jongsomjitt, Jintana Yunibhand

Journal of Health Research

Background: Automatic instant messaging systems are currently a well-known smoking reduction tool for public health. However, smokers’ engagement is lacking, as many prefer to communicate with experts during the quitting period so they can receive advice on dealing with the consequences of nicotine abstinence. Therefore, this study aimed to assess the effectiveness of an interactive text messaging service at the Thailand National Quitline.

Method: The study was conducted as a randomized controlled trial. A total of 314 smokers were eligible, 153 of whom were randomly assigned to receive two-way short messages encouraging them to quit smoking. After the date of …

Multisite Evaluation Of Prediction Models For Emergency Department Crowding Before And During The Covid-19 Pandemic, Ari J Smith, Brian W Patterson, Michael S Pulia, John Mayer, Rebecca J Schwei, Radha Nagarajan, Frank Liao, Manish N Shah, Justin J Boutilier

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

OBJECTIVE: To develop a machine learning framework to forecast emergency department (ED) crowding and to evaluate model performance under spatial and temporal data drift.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: We obtained 4 datasets, identified by the location: 1-large academic hospital and 2-rural hospital, and time period: pre-coronavirus disease (COVID) (January 1, 2019-February 1, 2020) and COVID-era (May 15, 2020-February 1, 2021). Our primary target was a binary outcome that is equal to 1 if the number of patients with acute respiratory illness that were ED boarding for more than 4 h was above a prescribed historical percentile. We trained a random forest …

Correction: Carnitine Palmitoyl Transferase 1 A Is A Novel Diagnostic And Predictive Biomarker For Breast Cancer, Zheqiong Tan, Yaru Zou, Man Zhu, Zhenzhao Luo, Tangwei Wu, Chao Zheng, Aqing Xie, Hui Wang, Shiqiang Fang, Shuiyi Liu, Yong Li, Zhongxin Lu

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

No abstract provided.

Bacteriuria In Older Adults Triggers Confusion In Healthcare Providers: A Mindful Pause To Treat The Worry, Robin L.P. Jump

Faculty Scholarship

The evidence base for refraining from screening for or treating asymptomatic bacteriuria (ASB) in older adults is strong, but both practices remain prevalent. Clinical confusion over how to respond to a change from baseline, when to order a urinalysis and urine culture, and what to do with a positive urine culture fuels unnecessary antibiotic use for ASB. If the provider can take a mindful pause to apply evidenced-based assessment tools, the resulting increased clarity in how to manage the situation can reduce overtreatment of ASB.

Not A Waste: Wastewater Surveillance To Enhance Public Health, Anna Gitter, Jeremiah Oghuan, Anuja Rajendra Godbole, Carlos A. Chavarria, Carlos Monserrat, Tao Hu, Yun Wang, Anthony W. Maresso, Blake M. Hanson, Kristina D. Mena, Fuqing Wu

Pharmacy Faculty Articles and Research

Domestic wastewater, when collected and evaluated appropriately, can provide valuable health-related information for a community. As a relatively unbiased and non-invasive approach, wastewater surveillance may complement current practices towards mitigating risks and protecting population health. Spurred by the COVID-19 pandemic, wastewater programs are now widely implemented to monitor viral infection trends in sewersheds and inform public health decision-making. This review summarizes recent developments in wastewater-based epidemiology for detecting and monitoring communicable infectious diseases, dissemination of antimicrobial resistance, and illicit drug consumption. Wastewater surveillance, a quickly advancing Frontier in environmental science, is becoming a new tool to enhance public health, improve …

Trends And Racial/Ethnic Differences In Predictors Of Cervical Cancer Screening Among Us Women Ages 30-64 Years, Itunu O Sokale, Jane R Montealegre, Abiodun O Oluyomi, Aaron P Thrift

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

BACKGROUND: Cervical cancer screening (CCS) participation has decreased in the United States over the last several decades, contributing to cervical cancer's sustained incidence and mortality. This study examined recent trends and racial/ethnic differences in predictors of CCS uptake among US women.

METHODS: We analyzed combined data from the 2016 to 2020 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) and included 235,713 women ages 30 to 64 years without a hysterectomy. We used simple linear regression to assess trends over time and multivariable logistic regression models to evaluate racial/ethnic differences in predictors of up-to-date CCS.

RESULTS: We found little change in CCS …

Urbanization And Physical Activity In The Global Prospective Urban And Rural Epidemiology Study, Kwadwo Boakye, Marit Bovbjerg, John Schuna Jr, Adam Branscum, Ravi Prasad Varma, Rosnah Ismail, Olga Barbarash, Juan Dominguez, Yuksel Altuntas, Romaina Iqbal

Community Health Sciences

Urbanization may influence physical activity (PA) levels, although little evidence is available for low- and middle- income countries where urbanization is occurring fastest. We evaluated associations between urbanization and total PA, as well as work-, leisure-, home-, and transport-specific PA, for 138,206 adults living in 698 communities across 22 countries within the Prospective Urban and Rural Epidemiology (PURE) study. The 1-week long-form International PA Questionnaire was administered at baseline (2003-2015). We used satellite-derived population density and impervious surface area estimates to quantify baseline urbanization levels for study communities, as well as change measures for 5- and 10-years prior to PA …

Ifi27 Transcription Is An Early Predictor For Covid-19 Outcomes, A Multi-Cohort Observational Study, Maryam Shojaei, Amir Shamshirian, James Monkman, Laura Grice, Minh Tran, Chin Wee Tan, Siok Min Teo, Gustavo Rodrigues Rossi, Timothy R. Mcculloch, Marek Nalos, Maedeh Raei, Alireza Razavi, Roya Ghasemian, Mobina Gheibi, Fatemeh Roozbeh, Peter D. Sly, Kirsten M. Spann, Keng Yih Chew, Yanshan Zhu, Yao Xia, Timothy J. Wells, Alexandra Cristina Senegaglia, Carmen Lúcia Kuniyoshi, Claudio Luciano Franck, Anna Flavia Ribeiro Dos Santos, Lucia De Noronha, Sepideh Motamen, Reza Valadan, Omolbanin Amjadi, Rajan Gogna, Esha Madan, Reza Alizadeh-Navaei, Liliana Lamperti, Felipe Zuñiga, Estefania Nova-Lamperti, Gonzalo Labarca, Ben Knippenberg, Velma Herwanto, Ya Wang, Amy Phu, Tracy Chew, Timothy Kwan, Karan Kim, Sally Teoh, Tiana M. Pelaia, Win Sen Kuan, Yvette Jee, Jon Iredell, Ken O’Byrne, John F. Fraser, Melissa J. Davis, Gabrielle T. Belz, Majid E. Warkiani, Carlos Salomon Gallo, Fernando Souza-Fonseca-Guimaraes, Quan Nguyen, Anthony Mclean, Arutha Kulasinghe, Kirsty R. Short, Benjamin Tang

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Purpose:

Robust biomarkers that predict disease outcomes amongst COVID-19 patients are necessary for both patient triage and resource prioritisation. Numerous candidate biomarkers have been proposed for COVID-19. However, at present, there is no consensus on the best diagnostic approach to predict outcomes in infected patients. Moreover, it is not clear whether such tools would apply to other potentially pandemic pathogens and therefore of use as stockpile for future pandemic preparedness.

Methods:

We conducted a multi-cohort observational study to investigate the biology and the prognostic role of interferon alpha-inducible protein 27 (IFI27) in COVID-19 patients.

Results:

We show that IFI27 is …

Epidemiological/Disease And Economic Burdens Of Cervical Cancer In 2010–2014: Are Younger Women At Risk?, Chuhao Xi, Jay J. Shen, Betty Burston, Soumya Upadhyay, Shoujun Zhou

Healthcare Administration and Policy Faculty Research

Objective: Cervical cancer is an important factor threatening women’s health in China. This study examined the epidemiological and economic burden of cervical cancer among the medically insured population, which could provide data support for government departments to formulate policies. Methods: All new cases of cervical cancer under the Urban Employee Basic Medical Insurance (UEBMI) plan in a provincial capital city in eastern China from 2010 to 2014 were collected. The Cox proportional hazard model was used to analyze the factors affecting the survival rates for cervical cancer. Outpatient and hospitalization expenses were used to assess the direct economic burden, and …

Exploring First Responders' Use And Perceptions On Continuous Health And Environmental Monitoring, Jacob Grothe, Sarah Tucker, Anthony Blake, Chandran Achutan, Sharon J. Medcalf, Troy Suwondo, Ann Fruhling, Aaron Yoder

Journal Articles: Epidemiology

First responders lose their lives in the line of duty each year, and many of these deaths result from strenuous physical exertion and exposure to harmful environmental agents. Continuous health monitoring may detect diseases and alert the first responder when vital signs are reaching critical levels. However, continuous monitoring must be acceptable to first responders. The purpose of this study was to discover first responders' current use of wearable technology, their perceptions of what health and environmental indicators should be monitored, and who should be permitted to monitor them. The survey was sent to 645 first responders employed by 24 …

Viral Kinetics Of Sequential Sars-Cov-2 Infections, Stephen M. Kissler, James A. Hay, Joseph R. Fauver, Christina Mack, Caroline G. Tai, Deverick J. Anderson, David D. Ho, Nathan D. Grubaugh, Yonatan H. Grad

Journal Articles: Epidemiology

The impact of a prior SARS-CoV-2 infection on the progression of subsequent infections has been unclear. Using a convenience sample of 94,812 longitudinal RT-qPCR measurements from anterior nares and oropharyngeal swabs, we identified 71 individuals with two well-sampled SARS-CoV-2 infections between March 11^th, 2020, and July 28^th, 2022. We compared the SARS-CoV-2 viral kinetics of first vs. second infections in this group, adjusting for viral variant, vaccination status, and age. Relative to first infections, second infections usually featured a faster clearance time. Furthermore, a person's relative (rank-order) viral clearance time, compared to others infected with the …

A Lifestyle Management Coaching Intervention For Fear Of Cancer Recurrence In Young Breast Cancer Survivors, Lisa R. Murphy

DNP Research Projects

Abstract

Objective: A significant challenge facing young breast cancer (BC) survivors is learning how to manage fear of cancer recurrence (FCR) during survivorship. Limited tailored FCR interventions and age-appropriate support exist. This Doctor of Nursing (DNP) project, based upon best practice guidelines, aimed to evaluate how a Lifestyle Management Coaching Intervention (LMCI) could help young female BC survivors learn how to decrease and manage their FCR more effectively and experience improved health outcomes.

Method: Eligible participants were female BC survivors aged 18-59 with Stage I-III BC demonstrating elevated baseline FCR screening scores during the extended survival period recruited from the …

Accelerated Sars-Cov-2 Intrahost Evolution Leading To Distinct Genotypes During Chronic Infection, Chrispin Chaguza, Anne M. Hahn, Mary E. Petrone, Shuntai Zhou, David Ferguson, Mallery I. Breban, Kien Pham, Mario A. Peña-Hernández, Christopher Castaldi, Verity Hill, Yale Sars-Cov-2 Genomic Surveillance Initiative, Wade Schulz, Ronald I. Swanstrom, Scott C. Roberts, Nathan D. Grubaugh, Kendall Billig, Rebecca Earnest, Joseph R. Fauver, Chaney C. Kalinch, Nicholas Kerantzas, Tobias R. Koch, Bony De Kumar, Marie L. Landry, Isabel M. Ott, David Peaper, Irina R. Tikhonova, Chantal B. F. Vogels

Journal Articles: Epidemiology

The chronic infection hypothesis for novel severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) variant emergence is increasingly gaining credence following the appearance of Omicron. Here, we investigate intrahost evolution and genetic diversity of lineage B.1.517 during a SARS-CoV-2 chronic infection lasting for 471 days (and still ongoing) with consistently recovered infectious virus and high viral genome copies. During the infection, we find an accelerated virus evolutionary rate translating to 35 nucleotide substitutions per year, approximately 2-fold higher than the global SARS-CoV-2 evolutionary rate. This intrahost evolution results in the emergence and persistence of at least three genetically distinct genotypes, suggesting …

The Role Of Educational Level In The Practice Of Female Circumcision In Oredo Lga Of Edo State, Nigeria, Akhimien Osamede

Health Sciences

Background: The aim of this study was to determine the role of educational level in the practice of Female Circumcision in Oredo Local Government Area of Edo State, Nigeria. Nigeria ranks third in the global burden of FGM and Southern Nigeria, which Edo State is in, has the highest national prevalence. Infection, bleeding, infertility, and death are some of the complications of FGM. Due to it harmful outcomes, in 1999, Edo State banned FGM and in 2015 the Government of Nigeria enacted a law banning FGM. Methods: This was a descriptive cross-sectional study of 200 male and female respondents, aged …

Contraception And Healthcare Utilization By Reproductive-Age Women Who Use Drugs In Rural Communities: A Cross-Sectional Survey., Ximena A. Levander, Canyon A. Foot, Sara L. Magnusson, Ryan R. Cook, Jerel M. Ezell, Judith Feinberg, Vivian F. Go, Kathryn E. Lancaster, Elizabeth Salisbury-Afshar, Gordon S. Smith, Ryan P. Westergaard, April M. Young, Judith I. Tsui, P. Todd Korthuis

Epidemiology and Environmental Health Faculty Publications

BACKGROUND: Women who use drugs (WWUD) have low rates of contraceptive use and high rates of unintended pregnancy. Drug use is common among women in rural U.S. communities, with limited data on how they utilize reproductive, substance use disorder (SUD), and healthcare services.

OBJECTIVE: We determined contraceptive use prevalence among WWUD in rural communities then compared estimates to women from similar rural areas. We investigated characteristics of those using contraceptives, and associations between contraceptive use and SUD treatment, healthcare utilization, and substance use.

DESIGN: Rural Opioids Initiative (ROI) - cross-sectional survey using respondent-driven sampling (RDS) involving eight rural U.S. regions …

Recent Advances In Research And Management Of Human Monkeypox Virus: An Emerging Global Health Threat, Parveen Kumar, Benu Chaudhary, Nishant Yadav, Sushma Devi, Ashutosh Pareek, Sujatha Alla, Fnu Kajal, Behdin Nowrouzi-Kia, Vijay Kumar Chattu, Madan Mohan Gupta

Engineering Management & Systems Engineering Faculty Publications

In 2003, the United States saw an epidemic of monkeypox that was later traced back to rodents of West Africa infected with the monkeypox virus (MPXV). Disease in the United States seemed less severe than the smallpox-like disease in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). In this study, researchers analyzed data from Central Africa: two distinct MPXV clades were confirmed by sequencing the genomes of MPXV isolates from Western Africa, the United States, and Central Africa. By comparing open reading frames across MPXV clades, scientists can infer which virus proteins might account for the observed variation in pathogenicity in …

Disparate Access To Medical Coverage Associated With Type 2 Diabetes Care In Low-Income And Rural Communities In Georgia, Crystal Alexis Symone Edwards

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Disparate access to diabetes care in rural and low-income communities among older adults has been an ongoing issue among Americans. Type 2 diabetes in low-income and rural communities has continuously burdened many residents due to age, costs of care, income, geographic location, and education levels. Researchers have demonstrated that providing resources and tools to rural and low-income communities would assist in decreasing type 2 diabetes and increase education and awareness. The purpose of this quantitative cross-sectional study using secondary data was to examine the relationship between health insurance status and lack of access to health care resources and delay of …