Public Health Commons^™

Predictors Of Hiv Testing Amongst Women Of Childbearing Age In Nigeria, Hassana Bashir Yakasai

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

HIV infection is still a public health issue in Nigeria. One of the sustainable development goal targets is to eliminate new HIV infections by the year 2030. Women of childbearing age are a vital group to focus on in eliminating new infections because HIV infection can be transmitted from women to their partners and their children. Nigeria accounts for about one-third of the cases of mother-to-child infections in the world. The purpose of this three manuscript dissertation was to investigate socioecological factors, demographic factors and knowledge of mother-to-child transmission of HIV infection (MTCT) as they relate to HIV testing in …

Association Between Asymptomatic Malaria Infection And Pregnancy Outcome In Delta State, Nigeria, Sadiatu Sally Obi

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Pregnant women are vulnerable due to the pregnancy-induced suppressed immunity in malaria-endemic areas. Asymptomatic malaria in pregnancy (MiP) threatens both the mother, fetus, and neonate via chronic placental malaria which impacts maternal-neonatal exchange. Some studies reported that MiP risk factors vary across locations, however, there are few studies on MiP and pregnancy outcome in Nigeria. The purpose of this study was to investigate the association between asymptomatic placental malaria infection and pregnancy outcome among parturients in Asaba, Delta State, Nigeria. This study was developed with a quantitative methodology that utilized primary and secondary healthcare data from 483 subjects aged 18–49 …

Relationship Between Cultural And Religious Practices And Ebola Virus In Freetown, Sierra Leone, Richmond Samuel Kpange

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The 2014 Ebola virus epidemic in the West Coast of Africa was a historically unprecedented epidemic with a sustained spread in multiple West African nations, including Sierra Leone. The World Health Organization (WHO) classified Sierra Leone as a high Ebola-affected country as it reported the highest number of deaths (14,124) during the last Ebola outbreak compared to other Ebola-affected countries. Public health experts have given little attention to the impact of sociocultural factors on infectious diseases, especially Ebola. The purpose of this study was to ascertain whether there is a relationship between the spread of EVD and a patient’s gender, …

Living In An Oil-Polluted Region In Nigeria As A Risk Factor In Colorectal Cancer Development, Steve Nwachi Onya

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Due to differences in exposure to various risk factors, colorectal cancer (CRC) rates differ in regions of Nigeria. Although the people living in the Southsouth, an oil-producing region, are concerned that they are most affected, there is insufficient research to address these concerns. The purpose of this quantitative ecological study was to investigate whether living in the oil-polluted region in Nigeria is associated with an excess CRC incidence rate. The potential spatial autocorrelation of CRC incidence among the contiguous regions was also examined. The study was grounded in the ecosocial theoretical framework. Data were extracted from the Nigeria National System …

Exploring The Relationship Between Antenatal Care And Postnatal Care To Newborn Outcomes In Borno State, Northeastern Nigeria, Adebe Gabriel

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Newborn outcomes (morbidity or mortality) have been on the increase in Borno State. This study explores the relationship between antenatal care (ANC) and postnatal care (PNC) and newborn outcomes among women in Mafa local government area, Borno State. Also examined were the relationships between transportation and newborn outcomes, women’s knowledge of illness during pregnancy and ANC attendance, availability of staff/health workers, availability of supplies/equipment relations with ANC and PNC attendance. The three delays model was used as theoretical framework. The research will be useful for government and program-implementing partners to guide quality reproductive maternal newborn child adolescent health and nutrition …

Risk Factors For Foodborne Illness Outbreaks In Retail Food Establishments, Brendalee Viveiros

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Despite policies and interventions over the last two decades, foodborne illness remains a significant public health concern. According to the CDC’s Foodborne Disease Outbreak Surveillance System, 60% of reported foodborne illness outbreaks involved food that was prepared at a restaurant. Reducing foodborne illness outbreaks that occur at restaurants would have a significant impact on the overall number of foodborne illnesses that occur each year. The purpose of this study was to quantitatively analyze the differences in risk factors in food establishments that have had a foodborne illness outbreak compared to food establishments that have not. This study used Reckwitz’s theory …

Introduction To Special Issue Of Plant Virus Emergence, Michael M. Goodin, Jeanmarie Verchot

Plant Pathology Faculty Publications

No abstract provided.

Prevalence And Correlates Of Secondary Syringe Exchange (Sse) Among People Who Inject Drugs (Pwid) In Rural Kentucky, Jordan R. Wilson

Theses and Dissertations--Public Health (M.P.H. & Dr.P.H.)

Aim: To describe the prevalence of secondary syringe exchange (SSE) in a sample of syringe service program (SSP) clients in rural Appalachian Kentucky and to identify the correlates of SSE.

Methods: Participants (n=338) completed interviewer-administered questionnaires. Only those who reported having ever exchanged syringes at a SSP (n=140) were included in analysis. SSE was measured through self-report of obtaining syringes for someone else at a SSP in the past 6 months. Prevalence and correlates of SSE were examined using bivariate analysis and multiple logistic regression.

Results: Overall, 30% of participants reported SSE. Participants in the second [aOR= 3.83; 95% CI: …

Injuries Among Distillery Workers: Workers' Compensation First Reports Of Injury, 2010-2019, Mira Hali Mirzaian

Theses and Dissertations--Public Health (M.P.H. & Dr.P.H.)

AIMS: To identify the most frequent type, nature, and cause of work-related injury amongst distillery workers as well as contributing factors to the injurious event in an effort to inform potential intervention.

METHODS: Workers’ Compensation First Reports of Injury (FROI) from the years 2010-2019 (N=974) were obtained. Variables were created for ‘occupational category’ and ‘accident description’ to assist in the elucidation of the injurious event. The Ratchet Circular Scan Test was used to assess seasonal variation in injury. Kernal Density Analysis was conducted to assess rates of injury by calendar year.

RESULTS: Amongst injured distillery workers, 908 of the injuries …

Symptoms Of Depression And Anxiety Are Associated With Substances Used In Electronic Nicotine Delivery Systems (Ends): A Longitudinal Analysis From The Texas Adolescent Tobacco And Marketing Surveillance System (Tatams), Jacob Smith, Stephanie Clendennen, Anna V. Wilkinson, Melissa B. Harrell

MEDI 9331 Scholarly Activities Clinical Years

Introduction

Electronic nicotine delivery systems (ENDS) use with nicotine or THC among adolescents and young adults is increasing. The goal of our research was to examine relationships between symptoms of anxiety or depression and ENDS use, whether with nicotine or THC, among young people in four major metropolitan areas of Texas.

Methods

The sample was 57.6% female and 37.6% Hispanic. Data were derived from Wave 9 (Spring, 2019) and Wave 10 (Fall, 2019) of the Texas Adolescent Tobacco and Marketing Surveillance system. Logistic regression analyses examined associations between symptoms of depression, anxiety, or comorbid depression and anxiety in the Spring, …

Nutritional Approach For Increasing Public Health During Pandemic Of Covid-19: A Comprehensive Review Of Antiviral Nutrients And Nutraceuticals, Vahideh Ebrahimzadeh-Attari, Ghodratollah Panahi, James R. Hébert Scd, Alireza Ostadrahimi, Maryam Saghafi-Asl, Neda Lotfi-Yaghin, Behzad Baradaran

Faculty Publications

Background: The novel coronavirus (COVID-19) is considered as the most life-threatening pandemic disease during the last decade. The individual nutritional status, though usually ignored in the management of COVID-19, plays a critical role in the immune function and pathogenesis of infection. Accordingly, the present review article aimed to report the effects of nutrients and nutraceuticals on respiratory viral infections including COVID-19, with a focus on their mechanisms of action.

Methods: Studies were identified via systematic searches of the databases including PubMed/ MEDLINE, ScienceDirect, Scopus, and Google Scholar from 2000 until April 2020, using keywords. All relevant clinical and experimental studies …

The Intellectual Property Of Covid-19, Ana Santos Rutschman

All Faculty Scholarship

The response to COVID-19 is indissolubly tied to intellectual property. In an increasingly globalized world in which infectious disease pathogens travel faster and wider than before, the development of vaccines, treatments and other forms of medical technology has become an integral part of public health preparedness and response frameworks. The development of these technologies, and to a certain extent the allocation and distribution of resulting outputs, is informed by intellectual property regimes. These regimes influence the commitment of R&D resources, shape scientific collaborations and, in some cases, may condition the widespread availability of emerging technologies. As seen throughout this chapter, …

The Need To Incorporate Communities In Compartmental Models, Michael J. Kane, Owais Gilani

Faculty Journal Articles

Tian et al. provide a framework for assessing population- level interventions of disease outbreaks through the construction of counterfactuals in a large-scale, natural experiment assessing the efficacy of mild, but early interventions compared to delayed interventions. The technique is applied to the recent SARS-CoV-2 outbreak with the population of Shenzhen, China acting as the mild-but-early treatment group and a combination of several US counties resembling Shenzhen but enacting a delayed intervention acting as the control. To help further the development of this framework and identify an avenue for further enhancement, we focus on the use and potential limitations of compartmental …

Examining Social Vulnerability And The Association With Covid-19 Incidence In Harris County, Texas, Guillermo A Tortolero, Marcia De Oliveira Otto, Ryan Ramphul, Jose-Miguel Yamal, Alison Rector, Michael Brown, Melissa F Peskin, Dania Mofleh, Eric Boerwinkle

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Studies have investigated the association between social vulnerability and SARS-CoV-2 incidence. However, few studies have examined small geographic units such as census tracts, examined geographic regions with large numbers of Hispanic and Black populations, controlled for testing rates, and incorporated stay-at-home measures into their analyses. Understanding the relationship between social vulnerability and SARS-CoV-2 incidence is critical to understanding the interplay between social determinants and implementing risk mitigation guidelines to curtail the spread of infectious diseases. The objective of this study was to examine the relationship between CDC's Social Vulnerability Index (SVI) and SARS-CoV-2 incidence while controlling for testing rates and …

Analysis Of Covid 19 Mortality And Case Fatality In A Low Income Region Of Brazil, Carlos Eduardo Siqueira, Luiz C De Abreu

Gastón Institute Publications

Introduction: Inserted in the vulnerable context of the Brazilian Amazon, the state of Tocantins has suffered damages with the dissemination of COVID-19 in its territory; however, little evidence is published from this state. Objective: This study aims to analyze the case-fatality, mortality, and incidence of COVID-19 in Tocantins. Methods: This is an ecological study, population-based, time- series analysis of COVID-19 cases and deaths in the state of Tocantins from March 2020 to August 2021. Results: During the examined period, 219,031 COVID-19 cases, and 3,594 deaths were registered due to disease. Two possible occurrence peaks were characterized in this time- series …

A Time-Series Ecological Study Protocol To Analyze Trends Of Incidence, Mortality, Lethality Of Covid-19 In Brazil, Luiz C De Abreu, Khalifa Elmusharaf, Carlos Eduardo Siqueira

Gastón Institute Publications

Introduction: since the first case of COVID-19 was confirmed in February 2020, Brazil has reported more than 20 million cases and more than 600,000 deaths on October 31, 2021. The behavior of the pandemic was also different in the various states, from the less developed to the more developed, such as the state of São Paulo. Objective: to describe step-by-step time series for analyzing trends in mortality, lethality and incidence of COVID-19 in Brazil. Methods: a protocol for an ecological study of time series, covering the 26 states and the federal district (Brasilia). Results: the descriptions have the potential to …

Mortalidad Por Diabetes En Guatemala 2018: Patrones E Inequidades, Alejandro Cerón, Gila Goldstein

Anthropology: Faculty Scholarship

El presente estudio busca analizar la mortalidad por diabetes en Guatemala con el propósito de identificar posibles criterios epidemiológicos que orienten la priorización de acciones de salud pública. El riesgo de morir de diabetes en Guatemala muestra marcadas desigualdades por departamento, las que son aún más marcadas al comparar por municipio. El riesgo de morir es también más alto en mujeres, en personas mestizas o ladinas, en niveles educativos bajos, y en personas que se dedican a ocupaciones elementales. Deberían implementarse medidas de salud pública orientadas a los municipios y grupos en mayor riesgo de morir de diabetes. Este estudio …

A Mixed Methods Approach To Examine Racial Disparities In Adherence To Surveillance Mammography Among Breast Cancer Survivors, Megan C. Edmonds

Theses and Dissertations

PURPOSE: Annual surveillance mammography is a critical part of routine cancer care for breast cancer (BC) survivors; reducing mortality by 39%. However, disparities exist with regard to adherence to surveillance mammograms among BC survivors; Black women are 44% less likely to adhere than their White counterparts. Despite the existence of this racial disparity for over a decade, little is known about factors that explain reasons for Black BC survivors’ non-adherence. This is because most studies have not evaluated the role of healthcare delivery or psychosocial factors. Guided by the Behavioral Model for Vulnerable Populations, the purpose of this mixed methods …

Modeling Substance Use And Mental Disorder Comorbidity Using Latent Variable And Network Approaches, Courtney T. Blondino

Theses and Dissertations

Introduction. Substance use disorder (SUD) is a common condition that affects millions of Americans. Addressing SUD has been complicated by comorbid mental disorders and co-occurring substance use. Consequently, detailing and addressing SUD and comorbid SUD represent an important goal to improve the health of Americans.

Objective. The research goal of this dissertation was to characterize the comorbidity between substance use, including tobacco use, and mental disorder symptoms measured as negative affect and externalizing symptoms in a population-based sample using latent variable and network approaches.

Methods. Waves 1 – 3 from the Population Assessment of Tobacco and Health Study were used. …

Demographic And Socioeconomic Determinants Of Lassa Fever In Edo State, Nigeria, Faith Ogagaroghene Ireye

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Lassa fever is a viral hemorrhagic fever caused by the Lassa virus and associated with significant morbidity and mortality. Yearly outbreaks of the disease occur in Edo State, Nigeria. The purpose of this study was to examine the demographic and socioeconomic factors that can influence transmission of the disease. The Commission on Social Determinants of Health conceptual framework was used in this research study. This framework describes the relationship between structural and intermediary factors and how they determine health outcomes. To answer the research question of how demographic and socioeconomic factors influence Lassa fever transmission in Edo State, a cross-sectional …

Analysis Of Malaria-Induced Anemia And Gender Differences Among Children In Nigeria, Temitope Bamgbose

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Malaria is one of the leading causes of death among children under 5 years old in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). Also, public health efforts on malaria prevention have been successful in many regions but remains an issue in SSA. Malaria-induced anemia (MA) is associated with health complications among children. The impact of several sociodemographic factors (age, gender, residential type, and parent’s educational level) and malaria preventive/intervention measures such as mosquito net use and malaria medication use among children under 5 years old in Nigeria were assessed to inform malaria best practices and strategies, prioritize resource allocation, and support existing literature on …

Social Determinants Of Maternal And Neonatal Birth Outcomes Among Syrian Refugees In Lebanon, Mona Charbel Kiwan

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Neonatal and maternal health indicators have been impacted due to Syrian refugees’ displacement in Lebanon and an increase in child marriage rates from 13% in pre-conflict Syria to 41%. Using the causal continuum framework, the retrospective cross-sectional study’s purpose was to examine whether there is a statistically significant association between adverse maternal and birth health outcomes among Syrian refugees in Lebanon and social determinants of health. The sample size drawn from UNHCR database included 48,083 maternal and 4,288 neonatal refugees admitted to the secondary health care in 2018. Pearson chi-square and binomial logistic regression results showed that employed, newcomers mothers …

Impact Of Case Management On Childhood Lead Exposure In Marion County, Indiana, Maliki Yacouba

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recently declared that no amount of childhood blood lead level (BLL) is safe. The purpose of this quantitative study with a retrospective cohort design was to evaluate the effectiveness of case management intervention on children diagnosed with elevated BLL (EBLL; ≥ 5 μg/dL) in Marion, County, Indiana. The health belief model was used as the theoretical foundation for the study. A data set of 160 lead exposure case management records was analyzed to find whether: (a) BLL at post-case-management time significantly differ from BLL at baseline (b) BLL at post-case-management time is affected …

Suicidal Ideation Among American Indian And Alaska Natives In The United States, Lacie Lashawn Tillman

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Suicidal ideation is a silent public health issue across the United States. Evidence suggests that suicidal ideation is a predictor of suicide attempt and completion. Suicide is a leading cause of death among American Indians and Alaska Natives (AIs/ANs) in the United States, especially among younger people. Alcohol and illicit drug use, coupled with poor social conditions, can lead to suicidal ideations—and sometimes suicide completion. Using social cognitive theory, this quantitative cross-sectional study compared variables within the 2017, 2018, and 2019 National Survey on Drug Use and Health to determine the effect that alcohol and/or illicit drug use has on …

Medication Beliefs And Behaviors Of Hypertensive Caribbean Immigrants Living In New York City, Nadia Williams

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Hypertension remains a worldwide health phenomenon with serious health consequences including heart attack, stroke, aneurysm, and heart failure. Beliefs about medicines have been shown to influence hypertension outcomes. Medication adherence has emerged as a vital component of hypertension control and management. However, there has been limited research which addresses beliefs about medicines and medication adherence in Blacks of Caribbean origin. The purpose of this quantitative cross-sectional study was to identify the beliefs about medications held among hypertensive Caribbean immigrants living in New York City using the Beliefs about Medicines Questionnaire to identify what factors/barriers were related to these specific medication …

Effect Of Insecticide-Treated Nets On Anemia In Nigerian Children, Adamu Onu

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Childhood anemia is a significant public health problem in Nigeria and frequently coexists with malaria. The mortality associated with malaria increases when anemia is present. Insecticide-treated nets (ITNs) are a cheap and effective malaria preventive measure that can provide a protective barrier from insects. There are conflicting results from several studies on the effect of ITNs on anemia in children, with fewer studies on the effect of ITNs on anemia in Nigerian children. This study aimed to measure the effect of ITN use on anemia among children aged 6–59 months in Nigeria. The social ecological model was used as the …

Predictors Of Cancer Information Seeking Among Adults With A Family History Of Cancer, Oluwakemi Akindeju Fawole

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Cancer is a significant cause of illness and mortality in the United States. A family history of cancer is a valuable factor for assessing disease risk and increasing cancer information-seeking behaviors for prevention. Guided by the health belief model, this quantitative study addressed the predictors of cancer information seeking behavior among adults with a family history of cancer. In this study, data from 8,473 participants in the 2017–2019 Health Information Trends Analysis Survey were analyzed using multivariate logistic regression. This analysis addressed whether there was a statistically significant difference in sociodemographic factors, measures of health status, and health care engagement …

Receiving Positive Hiv Test Results From Home Testing And Suicidality, Nekeisha A. Hewitt

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Limited studies have been conducted on whether receiving a positive result from at-home HIV testing correlates with suicidality (suicidal attempt or ideation). Based on the Ajzen theory of planned behavior, this cross-sectional study comprises a surveyed convenience sample of (N = 213) HIV -positive or negative adults who either tested for HIV at home or in-clinic. The purpose of this study was to explore any association between testing positive for HIV using the HIV at-home test kit and (a) suicidal attempt and (b) suicidal ideation; also, to discover any association between (c) HIV-negative and suicidality and (d) all HIV-positives …

Substance Use, Mental Health Problems And Missed Appointments By Race, Gender, And Sexual Orientation Among Hiv-Infected Individuals, Abraham Adonis Anderson

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) disproportionately affects African American men who have sex with men. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, in 2020 African American adult and adolescent African American men accounted for 42% (16,002) of all HIV diagnoses (37,968). Furthermore, while substance use is common among this population, in previous studies very few individuals with HIV have reported receiving substance abuse treatment or discussing substance use with HIV medical providers. The purpose of this study was to examine the differences in substance use/mental health problems by race, gender, and sexual orientation among HIV-infected individuals. This study also …

How Cyber Activity Influences Depression And Anxiety In Teenagers, Mary Fridah Gatwiri Muiruri

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Both depression and anxiety have been a focus of scholars since their rates have recently skyrocketed from 5.4 % in 2003 to 20 % currently among teenagers in the United States. Although numerous studies have assessed the association between playing video games and depression, few studies have examined how cyberbullying and screen time contribute to depressive symptoms in teenagers. The purpose of this study was to analyze cyberbullying and screen time on depression in teens. . The exploration of associations between the dependent variable, depression, and the independent variables, screen time, video gaming, and cyberbullying, were guided by Bandura’s social …