Public Health Commons^™

Maternal, Child, And Parenting Factors Associated With Obesity Among Pre-Kindergarten Children In Mississippi, Jerome R. Kolbo

Journal of Public Health in the Deep South

Background: Obesity among children and youth has been consistently assessed among public school students in Mississippi since 2005. Significant declines in the prevalence of obesity among elementary students over the past decade suggest that changes may be occurring prior to entry into public school. Purpose: The purpose was to collect anthropometric data on a weighted, representative sample of children ages 3 to 5 years in licensed childcare facilities across Mississippi, and to correlate maternal, child, and parenting characteristics to obesity. Methods: The Body Mass Index was calculated using measured height and weight data. Results: A total of 14.12% of the …

Speech-Language Pathologists And Respiratory Therapists: Team Approach To Caring For Patients With Long-Term Tracheotomy, Javis M. Knott

Journal of Public Health in the Deep South

Background: Recent technological advances, together with growing social acceptance of patients with disabilities, has led to a realization of the importance of long-term management of technologically dependent and chronically ill patients with tracheostomies. This includes tracheostomy patients who are ventilator dependent, neurological patients, patients with severe illness such as stroke, and so forth. These patients are able to have a higher quality of life and communicate verbally due to advances in health care. One of the major advancements is communicating via a tracheostomy. Hence, this study will provide ways in which respiratory therapists (RTs) and speech-language pathologists (SLPs) can work …

Remaining In The Workforce After Motherhood: Does The Family Medical Leave Act Play A Role In The Decisions Of Mississippi Mothers?, Danielle Fastring

Journal of Public Health in the Deep South

Background: Increased maternity leave has been shown to have a positive impact on maternal and child health, and to increase the length of time mothers breastfeed their infants. After childbirth, working women must decide if and when they will return to the workforce. Purpose: To determine the impact of current U.S. family leave policies on Mississippi mothers’ decisions to return to work after the birth of their first child. Methods: A survey was developed to collect information about factors influencing mothers’ decisions to return to work after the birth of their first child. The survey collected study eligibility information, demographics, …

Using Medicaid Data To Identify Factors That Predict Reinstitutionalization Of Mississippians With Disabilities And Elderly People, Hwanseok Choi

Journal of Public Health in the Deep South

Background: Mississippi Bridge to Independence (B2I) was Mississippi’s Money Follows the Person (MFP) program seeking to rebalance the state’s long-term care system by transitioning Medicaid beneficiaries from institutional living to home- and community-based settings (HCBS). Success of initial transitions has been documented in state cost-savings and participants’ quality of life increases. However, reinstitutionalization poses a challenge to sustaining a positive outcome for the initiative. Purpose: Therefore, the purpose of this research is to identify the underlying causes of participants’ reinstitutionalization. Methods: The Quality of Life (QoL) survey designed by Mathematica Policy Research was used to measure variables in 7 categories. …

The Relationship Between Obesity And Depression Among Federally Qualified Health Center Patients, Hwanseok Choi

Journal of Public Health in the Deep South

Background: Obesity has reached epidemic levels in Mississippi. In the shadow of these skyrocketing obesity levels, there are comorbid high levels of depression. Both obesity and depression complicate and, in many cases, compromise critical health outcomes. A significant association between obesity and depression has been suspected for decades. Purpose: The purpose of this study is to examine the relationship between obesity and depression among patients receiving medical care from a Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC) in a southern state. Methods: The sample was comprised of 3,272 subjects. The Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9) was used to measure the severity of depression, …

Poverty And Commercial Surrogacy In India: An Intersectional Analytical Approach, Sheela Suryanarayanan

Dignity: A Journal of Analysis of Exploitation and Violence

The destination and source countries for commercial surrogacy match world patterns of inequality. India, Nepal, Thailand, Mexico, and Cambodia banned commercial surrogacy, moving the market to other less-developed countries in South Africa and South America. India had a commercial surrogacy boom until exploitative factors led to the passage of the Surrogacy (Regulation) Bill in 2019, which banned the practice. This paper examines surrogacy's monetary, health, and emotional effects on 45 surrogate mothers in Gujarat State, India. The study revealed that a majority (63%) of the very poor women remained very poor post-surgery. Surrogate mothers in poor households had to do …

Centering Communities Of Color In The Modernization Of A Public Health Survey System: Lessons From Oregon, Daniel F. López-Cevallos, Kusuma Madamala, Mira Mohsini, Andres Lopez, Roberta Hunte, Ryan Petteway, Tim Holbert

School of Social Work Faculty Publications and Presentations

Context: Public health survey systems are tools for informing public health programming and policy at the national, state, and local levels. Among the challenges states face with these kinds of surveys include concerns about the representativeness of communities of color and lack of community engagement in survey design, analysis, and interpretation of results or dissemination, which raises questions about their integrity and relevance.

Approach: Using a data equity framework (rooted in antiracism and intersectionality), the purpose of this project was to describe a formative participatory assessment approach to address challenges in Oregon Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) and Student …

Acceptance Of Communication Technology, Emotional Support And Subjective Well-Being For Chinese Older Adults Living Alone During Covid-19: A Moderated Mediation Model, Ze Ling Nai, Woan Shin Tan, William Tov

Research Collection School of Social Sciences

Stringent social distancing measures implemented to control the spread of COVID-19 affected older adults living alone by limiting their social interaction beyond their households. During these restrictions, interactions beyond the household could be facilitated by communication technology (CT) such as voice calls, instant messages. Our study provides evidence on how CT acceptance could influence the emotional support and in turn, subjective well-being (SWB) of older adults living alone. We did a cross-sectional survey with 293 community-dwelling Chinese older adults. Participants were surveyed from September to November 2020 and had completed measures on CT acceptance (competency), emotional support, and SWB. PROCESS …

An Examination Of The Relationships Between The Neighborhood Social Environment, Adiposity, And Cardiometabolic Disease Risk In Adolescence: A Cross-Sectional Study, Kara D. Denstel, Robbie A. Beyl, Denise M. Danos, Maura M. Kepper, Amanda E. Staiano, Katherine T. Theall, Tung Sung Tseng, Stephanie T. Broyles

School of Public Health Faculty Publications

Background: Disadvantaged neighborhood environments are a source of chronic stress which undermines optimal adolescent health. This study investigated relationships between the neighborhood social environment, specifically, chronic stress exposures, adiposity, and cardiometabolic disease risk factors among 288 Louisiana adolescents aged 10 to 16 years. Methods: This cross-sectional study utilized baseline data from the Translational Investigation of Growth and Everyday Routines in Kids (TIGER Kids) study. Adolescent data were obtained using self-reported questionnaires (demographics and perceived neighborhood disorder), anthropometry, body imaging, and a blood draw while objective neighborhood data for the concentrated disadvantage index were acquired from the 2016 American Community Survey …

The Ninth Myth Of Appalachia, Randolph Wykoff

Journal of Appalachian Health

Many stereotypes afflict our much-maligned region, and the Jonesborough­­–Washington County History Museum displays eight of these "myths of Appalachia." Here, our Editor-in-Chief suggests a ninth—that the people of Appalachia "do not care" about their health—and argues that regional health disparities result not from apathy but from a confluence of socioeconomic factors.

Self-Reported Consumption Of Bottled Water V. Tap Water In Appalachian And Non-Appalachian Kentucky, Jason W. Marion

Journal of Appalachian Health

Introduction: Quantitative studies on drinking water perceptions in Appalachia are limited. High-profile water infrastructure failures in the U.S. and Eastern Kentucky, coupled with human-made and natural disasters in the Appalachian Region, have likely impacted opinions regarding tap water.

Purpose: To use existing unexplored data to describe baseline tap water v. bottled water consumption in Kentucky.

Methods: Telephone-based cross-sectional data were obtained from the 2013 Kentucky Health Issues Poll (KHIP) directed by the Foundation for a Healthy Kentucky. Among many items in KHIP, self-reported consumption of bottled water over tap water, reasons for bottled water use, and demographic data were obtained. …

The Prevalence Of Human Papillomavirus Vaccination Among Racial And Ethnic Minority Adolescents During The Covid-19 Pandemic, Chinenye Lynette Ejezie, Lara S Savas, Casey Durand, Ross Shegog, Paula Cuccaro

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

BACKGROUND: Human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination among adolescents has steadily improved over the past several years. However, research conducted to determine whether the COVID-19 pandemic disrupted this positive trend in HPV vaccine initiation among racial and ethnic minority adolescents is limited. Therefore, this study was conducted to determine if the COVID-19 pandemic and the resulting changes in the US health-care sector affected the increasing HPV vaccine initiation among non-Hispanic Black and Hispanic adolescents aged 13-17 years.

METHODS: Using a cross-sectional design to examine data from the National Immunization Survey-Teen (2019-2021), logistic regression and moderation analysis were used to model race-specific variations …

Evaluation Of A Faculty Fellows Program In Science Communication, Stacy Stanifer, Beverly Delidow, Kathy Rademacher, Luz Huntington-Moskos, Kelly Kennoy, Amanda Thaxton-Wiggins, Craig Wilmhoff, Ellen J. Hahn

Journal of Appalachian Health

Introduction: Science communication plays a crucial role in tackling pressing regional, national, and global health issues. Effective communication with various audiences is integral to dissemination of science findings.

Purpose: This study evaluates changes in self-efficacy and attitudes toward science communication skills over time and also assesses program outcomes and satisfaction with a Faculty Fellows in Science Communication (FFSC) program among faculty (N = 30) with interest in environmental health science and/or education in Appalachia Kentucky.

Methods: A mixed methods program evaluation was employed using longitudinal data on behaviors, attitudes, and program outcomes from three cohorts of Faculty Fellows who participated …

A Polygenic Risk Score For Alzheimer’S Disease Constructed Using Apoe-Region Variants Has Stronger Association Than Apoe Alleles With Mild Cognitive Impairment In Hispanic/Latino Adults In The Us, Tamar Sofer, Nuzulul Kurniansyah, Einat Granot-Hershkovitz, Matthew O Goodman, Wassim Tarraf, Iris Broce, Richard B Lipton, Martha Daviglus, Melissa Lamar, Sylvia Wassertheil-Smoller, Jianwen Cai, Charles S Decarli, Hector M Gonzalez, Myriam Fornage

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

INTRODUCTION: Polygenic Risk Scores (PRSs) are summaries of genetic risk alleles for an outcome.

METHODS: We used summary statistics from five GWASs of AD to construct PRSs in 4,189 diverse Hispanics/Latinos (mean age 63 years) from the Study of Latinos-Investigation of Neurocognitive Aging (SOL-INCA). We assessed the PRS associations with MCI in the combined set of people and in diverse subgroups, and when including and excluding the APOE gene region. We also assessed PRS associations with MCI in an independent dataset from the Mass General Brigham Biobank.

RESULTS: A simple sum of 5 PRSs ("PRSsum"), each constructed based on a …

The Impact Of Vaccinations And Chronic Disease On Covid Death Rates, James L. Doti

Economics Faculty Articles and Research

This study presents a theoretical and empirical regression model to measure the efficacy of vaccinations in reducing COVID death rates across states over the 3/10/21 to 12/28/22 period. During that period, it was estimated that the availability of vaccinations resulted in a reduction of 427,000 COVID deaths in the nation. To arrive at that estimate, other covariants were held constant. In particular, it was found that chronic disease should be included as an explanatory variable to arrive at unbiased measures of the efficacy of vaccinations in reducing deaths. In addition, the percentage of people over the age of 65 was …

A Study Of Approaches To Mitigate Seafarer Fatigue Based On Workload Self-Assessment By Ship's Crew, Jun Liu

World Maritime University Dissertations

No abstract provided.

Improving Pilot Boarding Arrangements To Prevent Transfer Accidents, Wenduan Song

World Maritime University Dissertations

No abstract provided.

Research On Prevention And Management Of Seafarer Fatigue, Yiheng Xu

World Maritime University Dissertations

No abstract provided.

"We Just Have To Trust The People In White Lab Coats": Analyzing Distrust In Vaccine Hesitant Comments On The Hhs Nondiscrimination In Health Programs And Activities Proposed Rule, Hima Bindu Lakshmi Vedantham

Dissertations and Theses

Vaccine attitudes provide a valuable site for analyzing trust relations on both interpersonal and institutional levels. This study is a content analysis of public comments submitted from August through October 2022 in response to a proposed rule issued by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, which sought to strengthen non-discrimination protections in healthcare programs. Specifically, it examines the role of distrust in shaping and reinforcing vaccine hesitant beliefs, experiences, and healthcare decisions. The five themes identified in the study illustrate a breakdown in trust in pharmaceutical companies, government actors, and healthcare providers, reflecting broader social patterns. In the …

Association Between Chronic Disease And Substance Use Among Older Adults In Tennessee, Manik Ahuja, Jessica Stamey, Johanna Cimilluca, Kawther Al Skir, Mary K. Herndon, Kathleen Baggett, Thiveya Sathiyasaleen, Praveen Fernandopulle

ETSU Faculty Works

Background:

Design and methods:

Prenatal Exposure To Maternal Mood Entropy Is Associated With A Weakened And Inflexible Salience Network In Adolescence, Robert J. Jirsaraie, Anton M. Palma, Steven L. Small, Curt A. Sandman, Elysia Poggi Davis, Tallie Z. Baram, Hal S. Stern, Laura M. Glynn, Michael A. Yassa

Psychology Faculty Articles and Research

Background

Methods

Lessons Learned For Engaging Latino Families In Community-Based Programs, Alejandro Reyes Peralta, Ghaffar Ali Hurtado Choque, Marla Reicks, Silvia Alvarez De Davila, Darya Soltani

Journal of Extension

A family-skills program for Latino fathers and youth was implemented to prevent youth obesity. Lessons learned focused on practices to address barriers to engagement and retention among fathers and youth within the Latino community. Program development issues included selection of organizations, facilitators, language, and delivery methods. Implementation issues included timing and location. Cultural issues regarding learner needs, and teaching and implementation methods need to be considered. Using the lessons learned, Extension professionals can create impactful programs that engage and retain Latino fathers and youth.

Metapopulation Dynamics Of Sars-Cov-2 Transmission In A Small-Scale Amazonian Society, Thomas Kraft, Edmond Seabright, Sarah Alami, Samuel M. Jenness, Paul L. Hooper, Bret Beheim, Helen Davis, Daniel K. Cummings, Daniel Eid Rodriguez, Maguin Gutierrez Cayuba, Emily J. Miner, Xavier De Lamballerie, Lucia Inchauste, Stéphane Priet, Benjamin Trumble, Jonathan Stieglitz, Hillard Kaplan, Michael Gurven

ESI Publications

The severity of infectious disease outbreaks is governed by patterns of human contact, which vary by geography, social organization, mobility, access to technology and healthcare, economic development, and culture. Whereas globalized societies and urban centers exhibit characteristics that can heighten vulnerability to pandemics, small-scale subsistence societies occupying remote, rural areas may be buffered. Accordingly, voluntary collective isolation has been proposed as one strategy to mitigate the impacts of COVID-19 and other pandemics on small-scale Indigenous populations with minimal access to healthcare infrastructure. To assess the vulnerability of such populations and the viability of interventions such as voluntary collective isolation, we …

A Mixed Methods Approach To Understanding The Links Between Mining, Climate Change And Selected Health Outcomes In India, Mary J. Cheruvillil

Dissertations and Theses

Despite ample evidence of the significant role that mining activities play in determining health outcomes, in India there is a dearth of comprehensive health studies that draw linkages between mining and health. The purpose of the following study is to investigate the impact of mining activities on population health in India using three different methods: ecological multivariable regression, exploratory spatial data analysis (ESDA) and content analysis of government documents using a phenomenological approach. The first aim uses the ecological multivariable regression to examine associations between mining activities and children’s malnutrition outcomes at the district level. Census data, the Demographic Health …

Covid-19 Mortality Rates Were Higher In States That Limited Governments From Enacting Public Health Emergency Orders, Xue Zhang, Mildred Warner, Gen Meredith

Center for Policy Research

State and local governments enacted various public health emergency policies during the COVID-19 pandemic that resulted in lower infection and death rates than would have occurred without these policies. However, some states limited emergency public health authority of state executives, state governors, and state and local officials during the pandemic. This brief summarizes the results of a study that used data from the Center for Public Health Law Research and Oxford COVID-19 Government Response Tracker to explore which states passed laws that limited emergency public health authority during the COVID-19 pandemic and the effects of those limitations on COVID-19 death …

The Grindr Complex: The Behavioral Health Impact Of Sexual Racism On Latinx Men Who Have Sex With Men, Luisalfredo Plascencia

Doctoral Dissertations

Given the social history surrounding the issue of HIV/AIDS in the LGBTQ+ community and the unique and intersectional experiences that Latinx Men who have Sex Men (MSM) have in their community, this dissertation’s research will contribute to the growing work on sexual racism and how it correlates with various elements of behavioral health. The study investigated the moderation impact of Latinx cultural values of caballerismo and familismo on the relationship between experiences sexual racism to mental health symptoms. The study also examined the moderation of caballerismo and familismo and psychological flexibility on the relationship between experiences of sexual racism to …

Utilization And Costs Of Home Hemodialysis, In-Center Hemodialysis, And Peritoneal Dialysis Among Patients With End-Stage Renal Disease (Esrd) In The United States, Andres Mauricio Garcia Sierra

Electronic Theses and Dissertations, 2020-2023

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a condition that requires access to renal replacement therapies (RRTs) to enable patients to live. The use of such therapies has been continuously researched due to the high cost to payers and their patients. This dissertation aimed to analyze the incidence, prevalence, and mortality of renal replacement therapies in patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD), and document cost trends and analyze possible inequalities in access to these therapies. Based on an integrated health risk management (IHRM) model, this study examined patient characteristics associated with renal replacement therapies in ESRD patients through a pooled cross-sectional study …

“Am I Light Enough?”: Mercury Poisoning Due To Skin-Lightening Products, A Policy, And A Culturally Competent Solution, Raven Joyce Redaniel Uayan

Master's Projects and Capstones

Introduction: This paper aims to declare skin-lightening products containing mercury as a public health issue that deserves recognition in health and attention in health policy reforms.

Background and Literature Review: The public health issue analyzed with research and literature review encompasses worldwide mercury poisoning cases, databases of illegal skin-lightening creams, cosmetic safety laws, and policies on online selling platforms. The literature review addresses the existing knowledge regarding mercury in skin-lightening products and identifies the gaps in health policy and awareness surrounding this issue.

Methods: The paper includes many articles analyzing the issue from a global perspective, utilizing …

An Exploration Of Policies, Equity, And Emerging Threats To The Traffic Safety Environment In The U.S., Sachi Verma

Theses & Dissertations

Road traffic crashes are among one of the leading causes of death around the globe. Additionally, it also causes long-term physical disabilities, mental trauma, and financial pressure. By implementing road safety guidelines such as speed limits, drug and alcohol checkpoints, restraints, and penalties, motor vehicle crashes can be reduced. Road traffic crash survival primarily depends on emergency medical service's timely triaging. Rapid triaging and reduced response times can help road traffic crash morbidities and mortalities. However, several factors can be responsible for EMS delays in responding to a fatal crash. This dissertation aims to observe multiple factors related to EMS …

Supporting Oaxacan Youth Mental Health, Academic Achievement, And Cultural Connection, Itahi Arteaga, Jazminne Orozco Arteaga, Rebecca Heymann

Summer 2023 Virtual OTD Capstone Symposium

Oaxacan Indigenous youth in the U.S. experience generational, cultural, and social conflicts that impact their participation, performance, and well-being, yet there are no occupation-based programs that address their mental health, academic achievement, and cultural connection In San Diego.

The purpose of the capstone project was to develop a culturally-informed occupational therapy program for Oaxacan indigenous youth that will motivate and provide the skills needed to navigate different cultures while encouraging belonging.