Public Health Commons^™

“My Ob/Gyn Has The Worst Bedside Manner…” A Qualitative Analysis Of Patient-Provider Communication And Mental Health Outcomes Of Women In Rural Georgia, Tobi F. Oloyede

College of Graduate Studies: Theses & Dissertations

Despite technological advances in medicine and public health innovations, maternal mortality in the United States remains significantly higher than in other developed countries. Specifically, Georgia ranks as the second worst place to give birth in the country. Maternal mental health conditions are common, manageable complications that can happen at any point during pregnancy, childbirth, or in the first year following delivery, with 1 in 5 women affected. Unfortunately, 75% of women who experience MMH symptoms are left untreated.

This study focuses on patient-provider communication through the birthing experiences of women who have been pregnant in Georgia to examine how their …

Virtual Home Visits During Covid-19 Pandemic: Mothers' And Home Visitors' Perspectives, Abdullah Al-Taiar, Michele A. Kekeh, Stephanie Ewers, Amy L. Prusinski, Kimberly J. Alombro, Nancy Welch

Community & Environmental Health Faculty Publications

Background

The experiences of mothers enrolled in Maternal, Infant and Early Childhood Home Visiting (MIECHV) program with virtual home visiting (VHV) during the pandemic remain mostly unknown. This study aimed to describe in detail the experience of home visitors and mothers with VHV during COVID-19 pandemic. This is a prerequisite for guiding future efforts to optimize MIECHV services that are provided through virtual operation.

Methods

Focus groups discussion were conducted with home visitors (n = 13) and mothers (n = 30) who were enrolled in BabyCare program in Virginia from January 2019 to June 2022. This included mothers who received …

Period Poverty And Life Strains: Efforts Made To Erase Stigma And To Expand Access To Menstrual Hygiene Products, Jennifer L. Brinkley, Nicole Niebuhr

Indiana Journal of Law and Social Equality

No abstract provided.

Black Maternal And Infant Mortality Rates And Food Apartheid In Louisville, Maame Dei

Undergraduate Theses

The purpose of this thesis is to determine whether there is a correlation between the Black maternal and infant mortality rates and food apartheid or food deserts. This thesis will highlight that further research is needed in understanding how food insecurity may influence maternal and infant mortality. This thesis collected data from several midsize cities to assess accessibility to healthy food options and maternal and infant mortality rates. The cities were selected based on similarities in demographic and geographic makeup and having experienced a similar pattern of redlining. St. Louis, Memphis, Knoxville, and Pittsburgh were cities that were chosen for …

Maternal Postnatal Depressive Symptoms And Its Effects On Infant Bonding, Tammy Nguyen

Nursing | Senior Theses

The objective of this thesis is to gain insight on precipitating factors that increase postpartum mother’s depressive symptoms, including stress and anxiety, and how attachment is influenced. Maternal-infant bonding is defined as the emotional relationship and interaction between mother and infant. Postnatal depressive symptoms typically are under-diagnosed due to a lack of education and the stigma of believing that the effects are “normal” consequences of motherhood. Those affected may not seek professional help. Unrealistic expectations about bonding with their infants can have a negative mental health impact on mothers and influence infants’ behaviors. High expectations of needing to be a …

Thinly Rooted: Dobbs, Tradition, And Reproductive Justice, Darren L. Hutchinson

Faculty Articles

In Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization, the Supreme Court overruled Roe v. Wade and Planned Parenthood of Southeastern Pennsylvania v. Casey. These two cases held that the Due Process Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment encompassed a right of women to terminate a pregnancy. Roe reflected over 60 years of substantive due process precedent finding and reaffirming a constitutional right of privacy with several animating themes, including bodily integrity, equality, and dignity. The Court’s substantive due process doctrine had established that the analysis in such cases would involve multiple points of inquiry, such as tradition, contemporary practices, and …

The Lifecourse Perspective Theory As A Strategy For Improving Maternal Mortality In Georgia, Joanne Chopak-Foss, Alisha Riggins

Georgia Public Health Association Annual Meeting & Conference

Background: Maternal mortality and morbidity outcomes in Georgia are among the highest in the United States, with women of color experiencing higher rates of morbidity and mortality compared to their White counterparts. Public health policies such as Medicaid expansion have been suggested as one method for improving maternal mortality. In addition, the Life Course Perspective or Theory approach to maternal and child health suggests a complex interplay of biological, behavioral, psychological and social protective factors contributes to health outcomes across the span of a person’s life.

Methods: Using the Lifecourse Theory Perspective/Theory along with current maternal health policies the presenters …

Empowering Choices: Patient Education For Contraceptive Confidence, Maria Anns Abraham

Nursing | Student Research Posters

The complexity of birth control options significantly impacts women's lives, with hormonal contraceptives being commonly used but often misunderstood. These contraceptives, which contain estrogen and progestin or progestin only, come in various forms such as pills, implants, IUDs, injections, the vaginal ring, and skin patches, offering benefits such as reduced menstrual cramps and ectopic pregnancy risk. However, they can also lead to adverse effects including increased blood pressure, nausea, headaches, breakthrough bleeding, and heightened risk of blood clots, with research indicating a potential link between their use and a decline in mental health. Given the prevalence of depression, particularly in …

Cervical Cancer Prevention In The Philippines, Kate Isabel Juanillo

Nursing | Student Research Posters

Although cervical cancer is preventable, it continues to pose a significant health concern in the Philippines as evidenced by high cervical cancer diagnosis rates. The purpose of this quantitative study is to investigate low cervical cancer screening rates and the effectiveness of educational interventions in increasing awareness and screening rates. A literature review will examine topics such as low cervical cancer screening rates, cervical cancer screening methods, and barriers. This research proposal involves a quasi-experimental study that investigates education as an intervention for increasing cervical cancer awareness and cervical cancer screening rates. Fifty Filipino women will be randomly assigned to …

Effects Of Menopause In Coronary Artery Disease, Angelica Gonzales

Nursing | Student Research Posters

No abstract provided.

Empowering Low-Income Women With Breast Cancer: Promoting Acupuncture At Community Health Fairs, Katrina Ramos

Nursing | Student Research Posters

No abstract provided.

The Strong Black Woman Schema: A Proactive Approach To Conceptualizing And Providing Mental Health Treatment For Black Women Who Identify With The Strong Black Woman Schema, Kendra Mulder

DSW Capstone Projects

The Strong Black Woman Schema is the ideology that Black women should display mental and physical strength, stoicism, and nurturer traits. While Black women who identify with this schema typically associate this term with a positive identity, there are adverse outcomes that stem from this identification. Black women who identify with the Strong Black Woman schema experience higher rates of depression, anxiety, and psychological distress. No treatment modality has been determined to treat Black women who identify with the Strong Black Woman Schema. This capstone presentation will present a systematic literature review that discusses how the Strong Black Woman Schema …

Physical Inactivity And Single-Female Caregivers, Johanna Hoch, Rachel Hogg-Graham Dr., John Lyons Dr., Maureen Jones Dr.

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

Physical activity is vital for human health. However, many adults in the United States and beyond do not reach the pre-determined recommended levels of activity needed for health benefits. Single-female caregivers present a unique and vulnerable population that is often more inactive than their partnered peers or single-male caregivers. The primary purpose of this cross-sectional investigation was to identify the prevalence of physical inactivity in single-family, female-led households and determine differences in personal factors and social determinants of health between single-female caregivers who indicated they were physically active compared to single-female caregivers who indicated they were not physically active. A …

The Struggles Black Women Face In Federally Qualified Community Health Centers In South Carolina: A Phenomenological Exploration Of Women In Leadership Positions, Sharon Black

Dissertations

This qualitative interpretive phenomenological study examined the professional lived experiences of Black women who hold leadership positions within Federally Qualified Community Health Centers (FQHCs) in South Carolina. The researcher examined their experiences through the lens of Belenky’s (1986) Ways of Knowing framework, focusing on self-expression, voice, and how the participants processed their leadership experiences. In addition, the study draws on Crenshaw’s Intersectionality and Black Feminist Post-structuralist theories. The study explores the difficulties, successes, and strategies these women use, focusing on stereotypes, challenges in leadership roles, diversity of experiences, and the importance of voice themes.

The study provides practical suggestions for …

Gender Differences In Administration Of Tpa In Treatment Of Ischemic Stroke, Christina Annerino

CURE Proceedings

As medicine and pharmacology advance through the years, new life-saving treatments are studied or discovered every day, and a medical emergency is no longer a death sentence. Even with conditions as serious as ischemic stroke, there is hope for survival and rehabilitation with the ‘clot-busting’ drug, tissue plasminogen activator, colloquially known as ‘tPA’. tPA is a thrombolytic agent, a substance that acts on fibrin in clots to dissolve them so they can no longer cause ischemia in blood vessels that results in a stroke. (Vega, 2022). tPA is an extremely effective treatment for ischemic stroke, demonstrated in 2013 by a …

The Promis Women Education Program: Promoting Cervical Cancer Prevention Methods Among Muslim Women In Virginia, Asmaa M. Namoos

Theses and Dissertations

Abstract

Purpose: US Muslim women have suboptimal participation in cervical cancer screening and prevention services. This is due in part to a lack of access to culturally relevant education programs. To address this issue three aims were identified: Aim 1. Adapt existing evidence- based educational materials for a religious and culturally appropriate intervention; Aim 2. Test the preliminary efficacy of the intervention and Aim 3. Assess the feasibility and acceptability of the intervention and materials.

Methods: The ORBIT model for developing behavioral interventions guided intervention design, refinement (Phase I), and preliminary testing (Phase II). Focus groups and interviews were conducted …

The Expected Risks And Exacerbations Of Poverty, Mental Health Disorders, And Maternal Mortality From Abortion Bans: A Comparative Literature Analysis, Daniel J. Francisco

All Master's Theses

Background. Early termination of a pregnancy (hereinafter referred to as an “abortion”) has been debated in the United States (U.S.) for decades, without much regard to the negative outcomes that forced pregnancies have for those assigned female at birth regarding poverty, mental health and maternal mortality. In 1973, access to safe abortions was protected so long that the procedure was done within the legal gestational period and/or was necessary for the health and safety of the patient (Blackmun, 1972). Unfortunately, in 2022, the Supreme Court took that protection away and made it legal for states to determine the reproductive rights …

Choose Well: Summary Of Mid-Point Evaluation Findings, Center For Applied Reasearch And Evaluation In Women's Health, East Tennessee State University

Center for Applied Research and Evaluation (CARE) in Women's Health Reports

This report summarizes key findings related to the evaluation of the Choose Well Initiative at the mid-point. Results are not complete but provide a brief summary of key findings and evidence to date.

Abortion Decisions As Humanizing Acts: The Application Of Ambivalent Sexism And Objectification To Women-Centered Anti-Abortion Rhetoric, Rachel L. Dyer, Olivia R. Checkalski, Sarah Gervais

Department of Psychology: Faculty Publications

Women-centered anti-abortion rhetoric, grounded in ostensibly positive beliefs that pregnant people are precious objects who must be protected from having abortions, has proliferated anti-abortion activism and legislation. However, abortion stigma, marked by negative perceptions of people who terminate pregnancies, is the most widely used theoretical tool for understanding the social and psychological implications of abortion. In this article, we first integrate these two seemingly contradictory perspectives on abortion through the lens of ambivalent sexism theory. We then argue that ambivalent sexism paves the way for objectifying perceptions and treatment of pregnant people; specifically, our typology of reproductive objectification provides a …

Effect Of Positive Emotion Intervention During Late Pregnancy On Improving Colostrum Secretion: A Randomised Control Trial Protocol, Kechen Xu, Ying Xie, Xiujun Han, Ying Yu, Suqing Liu, Suliu Wu, Qian Yang, Qi Zhang

Community & Environmental Health Faculty Publications

Introduction Though evidence has revealed the beneficial effects of cognitive improvement interventions on breastfeeding, the effect of psychological interventions has rarely been studied. This study aims to test whether promoting a positive emotion intervention, 'Three Good Things' intervention, during the last trimester of pregnancy can enhance early colostrum secretion and breastfeeding behaviours by modulating the hormones associated with lactation (prolactin and insulin-like growth factor I). We will attempt to promote exclusive breastfeeding by using physiological behavioural measures.

Methods and analysis This study is designed as a randomised controlled trial conducted in the Women's Hospital School of Medicine at Zhejiang University …

The Role Of Porn Literacy In Comprehensive Sex Education To Reduce Endorsements Of Gendered Sexual Violence And Support Healthy Adolescent Development, Kiana Harnish

Scripps Senior Theses

Due to stigmatization of sex and insufficient sexual education, modern-day adolescents rely on free online pornography as a source of education about sex and relationships. This thesis provides a review of the connections between adolescent porn use and the socialization of sexual violence (SV) and coercion against women, comprehensive sex education (CSE) and healthy adolescent sexual development, and porn literacy (PL) and sexual attitude or behavior changes. Porn literacy aims to equip adolescents with tools to critically analyze sexualied media and messages, to empower them to make informed decisions to engage or disengage with porn and their sexuality in a …

Campus Sexual Violence In The Time Of Covid-L9, Hannah Holt

Master’s Theses

Campus sexual assault (CSA) was likely on the rise in the United States (Koss et al., 2022) even prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, during which there was a global increase in violence against women. The present study is a needed addition to the limited rigorous scientific studies on the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on campus sexual assault (CSA). A mixed-methods, ecological, and critical feminist approach was used to investigate CSA during the mitigation period. The present study specifically utilized the Sexual Experiences Survey (Koss et al., 2007) to assess changes in frequency of victimization within two representative samples of …

Selinexor In Combination With Weekly Paclitaxel In Patients With Metastatic Solid Tumors: Results Of An Open Label, Single-Center, Multi-Arm Phase 1b Study With Expansion Phase In Ovarian Cancer, Shannon N Westin, Siqing Fu, Apostolia Tsimberidou, Sarina Piha-Paul, Fechukwu Akhmedzhanov, Bulent Yilmaz, Lacey Mcquinn, Amanda L Brink, Jing Gong, Cheuk Hong Leung, Heather Lin, David S Hong, Shubham Pant, Brett Carter, Amir Jazaeri, David Gershenson, Anil K Sood, Robert L Coleman, Jatin Shah, Funda Meric-Bernstam, Aung Naing

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

OBJECTIVE: Selinexor is a first-in-class, oral selective inhibitor of nuclear export (SINE) compound which blocks Exportin-1 (XPO1). Our objective was to determine maximum tolerated dose (MTD) and recommended phase II dose (RP2D) of selinexor and weekly paclitaxel.

METHODS: This was an open label, single-center, multi-arm phase 1b study utilizing a "3 + 3" design and a "basket-type" expansion in recurrent solid tumors. Selinexor (60 mg or 80 mg twice weekly orally) and weekly paclitaxel (80 mg IV 2 week on, 1 week off) were one of 13 parallel arms. Efficacy was evaluated using RECIST version 1.1.

RESULTS: All 35 patients …

Understanding Fertility Behavior Of The Forcibly Displaced Myanmar Nationals In Bangladesh: A Qualitative Study, Md Anwer Hossain, Mohammad Bellal Hossain

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

INTRODUCTION: Rohingya- the Forcibly Displaced Myanmar Nationals (FDMN)- are largely characterized by a high total fertility rate (TFR) and a low contraceptive prevalence rate. This study aimed to explore the reasons behind their high fertility behavior by utilizing the Theory of Planned Behavior.

DATA AND METHOD: We adopted a cross-sectional qualitative research approach. Fifteen semi-structured, face-to-face in-depth interviews were conducted with the Rohingya husbands, wives, and community leaders (Majhi and Imam/Khatib) living in Camps 1 and 2 of Ukhiya Refugee Camp, Cox's Bazar, Bangladesh. We analyzed the qualitative data using the thematic analysis approach.

RESULTS: The Muslim-majority FDMN predominantly constructed …

Medical Providers' Use Of Maternal Mental Health Screening Tools During Prenatal Appointments In Southeast Georgia, Andreka Ewing

College of Graduate Studies: Theses & Dissertations

In the United States, maternal mental health disorders are the most common comorbidities experienced during pregnancy and after childbirth. In particular, the state of Georgia reports that 1 in 7 Georgian mothers experience depression, anxiety, obsessive-compulsive disorders, or psychosis related to these disorders. Research suggests that untreated maternal mental health can have adverse effects on the mother and unborn child. Conditions such as autism, mixed handedness, reduced cognitive ability, and affective disorders can develop while the child is in the womb of a depressed mother. Routine maternal mental health screening using a validated screening tool has been recommended to help …

A Student-Designed Multimodal Sex- And Gender-Based Women's Health Elective Program: Advocacy Curriculum For Medical Students, Lauren M Conroy, Danna Ghafir, Maitreyi Narayan, Hunter Mcspedden, Samuel Neher, S Shahrukh Hashmi, Rebecca Lunstroth

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

OBJECTIVES: The objective of this article is to describe the design and implementation of a multimodal, student-driven, sex- and gender-based women's health (SGBWH) elective with a curricular focus on patient and legislative advocacy. In this single arm, pre/post design, interventional study, we detail and evaluate the use of social media, newsletters, and round-table discussions in conjunction with a traditional lecture-based educational format to engage medical students in a virtual learning environment.

METHODS: We developed a 22-week SGBWH curriculum for pre-clinical and clinical medical students, which included a series of lectures on multi-specialty and gender-inclusive topics related to SGBWH, small group …

Factors Associated With Hiv Testing And Treatment Among Young Black Msm And Trans Women In Three Jail Systems, Nicholas Antos, Rey Flores, Nina Harawa, Natascha Del Vecchio, Rodal Issema, Kayo Fujimoto, Aditya S Khanna, Angela Di Paola, John A Schneider, Anna L Hotton

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Black men who have sex with men (BMSM) and transgender women (BTW) are disproportionately affected by incarceration and HIV. We assessed factors associated with HIV testing and viral suppression among 176 incarcerated BMSM and BTW in Chicago, IL; Los Angeles, CA; and Houston, TX. In multivariable logistic regression, having a sexual orientation of bisexual, heterosexual, or other vs. gay or same-gender loving was associated with higher odds of testing in custody (aOR 8.97; 95% CI 1.95 - 41.24). Binge drinking (aOR 0.19; 95% CI 0.04 - 0.92) and being unemployed prior to incarceration (aOR 0.03; 95% CI 0.00 - 0.23) …

Exploring Disparities In Prenatal Smoking And The Role Of Adverse Childhood Experiences, Patricia Da Rosa

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Cigarette smoking is the most common cause of premature death, killing half of its users. During pregnancy, smoking continues to be the leading cause of premature death for both mothers and newborns. Research has consistently demonstrated smoking is not randomly distributed across populations; it is, instead, socially patterned. Women from lower socioeconomic backgrounds, those experiencing mental health issues, and rural area residents are disproportionately affected. The life course framework emphasizes the impact of exposures in early life on shaping health inequities. Eliminating health inequities, including risky behaviors such as smoking, requires an understanding of the pathways that generate these inequities. …

Sexual Reproductive Healthcare: Reproductive Autonomy, Access Inequity And The Call For Service Expansion, Elizabeth Johnson

DSW Capstone Projects

Sexual Reproductive Healthcare (SRH) is a key component of not only women’s healthcare but healthcare for every one of every age. SRH impacts not only physical health and social emotional well-being but foundations of families, communities and society including the economic impacts and the challenges of inequity. By examining the history of sexual reproductive health care, including advances in access and subsequent barriers, funding and lack thereof, the impact bias in obtaining care and the ever-changing law, policies and regulations impacting care this Capstone highlights the current yet ever changing status of sexual reproductive health care in the United States. …

Factors Associated With Patient Portal Utilization, Preventive Services Utilization, And Health Promoting Behaviors Among Adults In The United States, Elizabeth Ayangunna

College of Graduate Studies: Theses & Dissertations

Background: Nearly 60% of adults in the United States are estimated to have one or more chronic conditions, necessitating strategies to improve the health status of persons with chronic disease. Given that health information technology (HIT) is considered highly valuable for superior disease management, it is imperative to examine how HIT use can improve health behaviors, which can in turn improve health status. This study aimed to examine if there was an association between patient portal utilization and the use of preventive services & health-promoting behaviors. Also, this study examined the influence of self-efficacy on preventive health behaviors among adults …