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College Of Public Heath News, Georgia Southern University

College of Public Health: News & Publications

• Georgia Southern Graduate Credits Independent Study and Mentor for Success in Public Health

College Of Public Heath News, Georgia Southern University

College of Public Health: News & Publications

• ‘Rising star’ graduate: Sylvia Ofori’s Journey from Ghana to Georgia Southern to Harvard

College Of Public Heath News, Georgia Southern University

College of Public Health: News & Publications

• Jiann-Ping Hsu College of Public Health Establishes Development Council
• Georgia Southern Enlisted to Help Fight COVID-19 in Georgia’s Confinement Facilities

Effects Of The Covid-19 Pandemic On Health Behaviors And Mental Health During Pregnancy: A Systematic Review, Kara C. Middleton

Honors College Theses

The Coronavirus pandemic had many negative impacts on healthcare. During the COVID-19 pandemic, specialist care providers closed their offices to reduce transmission. Maternal healthcare was severely impacted. Mothers were unable to receive the prenatal and perinatal care they needed. Other specialist care, such as mental healthcare was severely impacted as well. There was also a lack of prenatal care occurring due to offices being closed. There is an established link between anxiety, depression, emotional eating, and Gestational weight gain. Gestational Weight Gain is associated with a higher prevalence of behavioral health conditions that were exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Characterization Of Folic Acid, 5-Methyltetrahydrofolate And Synthetic Folinic Acid In The High-Affinity Folate Transporters: Impact On Pregnancy And Development, Ana M. Palacios, Rachel A. Feiner, Robert M. Cabrera

Health Policy & Community Health: Faculty Publications

Objectives:

Folates are B vitamins that are essential for several molecular, cellular, and biological processes, including nucleotide synthesis, methylation, and methionine cycling. The physiological impacts of these processes on health also extend to cell proliferation, folate deficiency anemia, and reduction of the risk of birth defects during pregnancy. The primary objective of this study was to characterize the binding affinities of different folate forms, folic acid (FA), 5-methyltetrahydrofolate (5MTHF), and folinic acid, to the folate receptors α and β, and to the bovine milk folate binding protein. These three dietary forms of folate are found in enriched grains (FA), various …

The Role Of Socio-Cultural Perspectives And Vaccine Misinformation On The Intention To Receive Covid-19 Vaccination In A Selected Sample Of Georgia Southern Students, Alyssa G. Love-Archey

Honors College Theses

The purpose of the study was to explore sociocultural influences on the intention to receive the Covid-19 vaccination and to measure which sociocultural factor had the greater influence: misinformation about the vaccine or specific cultural beliefs (religion and/or cultural practices) on vaccine intent in Georgia Southern students. An anonymous, exploratory survey was utilized to collect information on these constructs in two selected groups of students: those who had been vaccinated prior to taking the survey and those who had not been vaccinated prior to taking the survey. Subjects of the study were undergraduate, master’s degree, and doctoral students of the …

Infant Car Seat Safety Education And Confidence Measure For Maternal-Child Nursing Students, Mariah A. Arnett

Honors College Theses

Studies have shown that nursing students experience a greater-than-normal amount of anxiety and decreased clinical confidence when in settings involving infants and children, which is said to have a negative impact on the learning experience (Lassche, 2013; Moscaritolo, 2009). Patient education is a vital aspect of nursing, but one that the student nurse may not feel comfortable taking part in, either because of their lack of nursing experience or because of a lack of experience with infants and infant safety (Potter, 2020; Lassche, 2013). This project attempts to assess for a change in clinical confidence after providing a subject specific …

The Microbial Load On Used Disposable Face Masks: Exploring Sustainable Disinfection Methods, Clara Ray

GS4 Student Scholars Symposium

Face masks have become common-place in public settings since the onset of the global COVID-19 pandemic, with many people choosing to wear masks in order to mitigate the risk of becoming infected with viral or bacterial infections. Two of the most widely-available types of masks are cloth masks, which may be reused if cleaned properly, and disposable surgical masks. Despite the fact that surgical masks are intended for one-time use, many people chose to store and re-wear them. The purpose of this study was to determine the changes in biological contamination on surgical face masks after daily wear and overnight …

Social Media Engagement Among Individuals With Depression Or Anxiety Disorder, Elizabeth Ayangunna, Gulzar Shah

GS4 Student Scholars Symposium

Background

With the increasing use of the Internet and its constant shaping of our perception of realities, knowing the consumer’s social media behavior can lead to the development of health interventions based on their preferred engagement pattern. This is particularly important for people with mental health conditions such as depression or anxiety disorder who may have challenges getting support from familiar people due to the stigma associated with these conditions.

Objective

The objective of this study is to examine the patterns of social media use and its correlates, including depression or anxiety disorder.

Methods

This study combined data from 4 …

Association Between Smoking And Child Mortality Rate In Georgia Counties., Kingsley A. Kalu, Ho-Jui Tung Dr

GS4 Student Scholars Symposium

Association between Smoking and Child Mortality Rate in Georgia Counties.

Background:

Despite the major advances in health care, child mortality is still a major concern in the United States and Georgia included. Studies have shown that smoking (especially secondhand smoke) can cause multiple health problems in children, including mortality.

Objective:

The study objective is to examine the association between smoking and child mortality rate in Georgia counties.

Methods:

This study used data from the 2021 County Health Rankings for Georgia State. The total number of counties analyzed in Georgia was 159. Descriptive statistics and linear regression analyses were conducted to …

Public Health Interventions For Children Of Incarcerated Parents, Daniel Bullman

GS4 Student Scholars Symposium

The impact of social and structural determinants of health have lifelong consequences on an individual’s quality of life. Literature focusing on child health and wellbeing of incarcerated parents indicate significant negative health outcomes and adopted detrimental health behaviors. Using a systematic realist review, recent publications were reviewed for their potential discussion or recommendation for interventions in changing health outcomes. This review found that additional research is needed in identifying and testing potential interventions or determining if parallel public health initiatives have had positive impacts in promoting the health behavior change process for children and adolescents of incarcerated parents.

An Examination Of The Relationship Between Childhood Punishment And Adult Ipv, Anna G. Griffith

Honors College Theses

The goal of this project is to examine the relationship between childhood punishment and experiencing intimate partner violence (IPV) as an adult. Using an anonymous, self-report survey, students from Georgia Southern University were asked about their experiences with IPV, as well as their experiences of childhood punishment administered by both mother and father. The results show that children who receive corporal, verbal, and emotional punishment from their mother are more likely to experience all forms of IPV later in life. When analyzing the same relationships with fathers, corporal punishment is not associated with IPV while verbal and emotional punishment is.

Eta Sigma Gamma - Georgia Southern University Chapter: Breast Cancer Awareness Health Communication Plan, Jill Johns, Omolola Okunromade

Eagle Showcase: Excellence in Service-Learning (Archived)

The health communication plan was used to evaluate public health communication and advocacy promotion by efficiently increasing awareness about breast health and preventive services such as mammography screening among college students and women eligible for breast cancer screening. The communication plan was targeted towards empowering the Georgia Southern University chapter of Eta Sigma Gamma (ESG) members and other college students to act as health advocates by virtually disseminating information through the Facebook platform to their peer groups and social networks including friends and families in their community.

The purposes of the program evaluation and implementation measurement were to: 1) monitor …

College Of Public Heath News, Georgia Southern University

College of Public Health: News & Publications

• The Office of Advising Selects 2021-22 Outstanding Advisors
• Georgia Southern Recognizes Exemplary Donors at 2022 Gratitude Gala

Molecular Characterization Of Rickettsial Agents In Ticks (Acari: Ixodidae) From Sri Lanka, Gregory A. Dasch, Marina Eremeeva, Maria L. Zambrano, Ranjan Premaratna, S. A. M. Kularatne

Biostatistics, Epidemiology & Environmental Health Sciences: Faculty Publications

Because the majority of spotted fever group rickettsiae are transmitted to humans by tick bites, it is important to understand which ticks might play a role in transmission of rickettsial pathogens in Sri Lanka. The purpose of our study was to conduct molecular surveillance of 847 ticks collected in different locations in central Sri Lanka to determine which were infected with Rickettsia and Anaplasmataceae. Molecular methods were used to identify the ticks and the agents detected. Most ticks (Amblyomma, Haemaphysalis, and Rhipicephalus) were collected by flagging, and lower number was collected from dogs, cattle, pigs, a …

Perceptions Of Hypertension And Treatment Adherence In Impoverished Hypertensive Adults: A Qualitative Analysis, Sarah E. Hogg

Honors College Theses

Hypertension is a global public health crisis. It is the largest risk factor for cardiovascular disease, which is the leading cause of death globally (CDC, 2021). While it can be managed, there are additional barriers that hypertensive impoverished populations face in regards to hypertension management. The purpose of this study was to explore knowledge, attitudes, and perceptions of hypertension, and treatment adherence in impoverished hypertensive adults. Interviews were analyzed using thematic analysis, and were explained within the context of the health belief model. The results show that there was a lack of understanding of hypertension and its long term effects. …

Assessing The Effectiveness Of An Egg Intervention In The Nutritional And Food Security Status Of Infants And Toddlers From Rural Honduras, Aishat Adewoye, Mario Keko, Luke Roberson, Dziyana Nazaruk, Gisela Ramos, Laura Manship, Haresh Rochani, Asli Aslan, Ana M. Palacios

Biostatistics, Epidemiology & Environmental Health Sciences: Faculty Publications

No abstract provided.

Children Receiving A Nutrition And High-Quality Early Childhood Education Intervention Are Associated With Greater Math And Fluid Intelligence Scores: The Guatemala City Municipal Nurseries, Ana M. Palacios, Lisa A. Villanueva, Matthew B. Flynn, Erik Parker, Stephanie Dickinson, Helen W. Bland, Greg A. Reinhart

Health Policy & Community Health: Faculty Publications

Background: About 47% of children < 5 years of age are stunted in Guatemala. In this study, the investigators aimed to compare growth and cognitive outcomes between children in second grade that attended five Guatemala City Municipal Nurseries (GCMN) vs. same sex, grade, and age-matched children. Methods: A cross-sectional design nested in a retrospective cohort was implemented between 2015 and 2019. Children that attended the GCMN and matched controls completed a math test and validated receptive language and fluid intelligence tests. The primary caregivers completed a sociodemographic survey. General and generalized linear mixed effect models were used to compare children that attended the GCMN vs. controls. The models were adjusted by maternal education, sex, asset score, and other relevant covariates. Results: Children that attended the GCMN exhibited greater math and fluid intelligence scores relative to the controls in the adjusted models (ß = 6.48; 95% CI (2.35–10.61)) and (ß = 1.20; 95% CI (0.12–2.29)), respectively. Lower odds of stunting were significant for children who went to any early childcare institution (AOR = 0.28; 95% CI (0.09–0.89)). Conclusions: The importance of integrating nutrition and high-quality early childhood education interventions in cognitive and growth outcomes is highlighted in this study. The GCMN model may be a scalable model in similar low-resource settings.

Association Between Serum Lycopene And Lung Cancer Mortality: An 18-Year Follow-Up Study Of A National Cohort, Evans Afriyie-Gyawu, Padmini Shankar, Gulzar H. Shah, Alicia A. Brown, Shannon Cearley, Akwasi Ampofo-Yeboah, Nathaniel Abrams, Jian Zhang

Health Policy & Community Health: Faculty Publications

Background: Lycopene is a carotenoid found in some fruits and vegetables that is responsible for the red pigment in tomatoes and tomato products. While many studies have shown a link between lycopene and protection against the initiation and/or progression of lung cancer, data on its effect on lung cancer survivability is limited.

Objective: The primary objective of this study was to see if there was a link between lycopene levels in the blood and lung cancer mortality. A secondary goal was to see if dietary factors influence lycopene levels in the blood.

Materials and Methods: A retrospective …

Covid-19 And Social Determinants Of Health: Medicaid Managed Care Organizations’ Experiences With Addressing Member Social Needs, Samuel T. Opoku, Bettye Apenteng, Linda Kimsey, Angela H. Peden, Charles F. Owens

Health Policy & Community Health: Faculty Publications

Background

The significant adverse social and economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic has cast broader light on the importance of addressing social determinants of health (SDOH). Medicaid Managed Care Organizations (MMCOs) have increasingly taken on a leadership role in integrating medical and social services for Medicaid members. However, the experiences of MMCOs in addressing member social needs during the pandemic has not yet been examined.

Aim

The purpose of this study was to describe MMCOs’ experiences with addressing the social needs of Medicaid members during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Methods

The study was a qualitative study using data from 28 semi-structured …

Implementation Of Community-Based Trauma-Sensitive Yoga Program For Youth With Complex Trauma, Vira Salzburn, Kierstin Graham

National Youth Advocacy & Resilience Conference

This presentation will discuss the implementation and scale-up of an evidence-based Trauma-Sensitive Yoga (TSY) program as a part of a larger community-wide safety and resilience-building effort. It will explain the effectiveness of TSY interventions for both clinical and non-clinical populations and highlight the physical, mental, emotional, and social benefits of a modified yoga practice for youth and young adults with complex trauma.

College Of Public Heath News, Georgia Southern University

College of Public Health: News & Publications

• High School Students Dive into Public Health, One of the Nation's Top Fields of Study, At Georgia Southern Institute This Summer

Performance Improvement For Rural Hospitals: Front Line-Driven Change To Decrease Transfer Time From Ed To Inpatient Admission, Chasatie Whitley, Eddie Perez-Ruberte, Linda Kimsey, Bettye Apenteng

Center for Public Health Practice & Research

Highlights: A recent performance improvement project undertaken by a Georgia Critical Access Hospital (CAH) demonstrates the potential for use of Plan-Do-Study-Act (PDSA) techniques to improve operations in the area of patient transfers from Emergency Department (ED) to Inpatient Ward. Implemented process improvement, including visual tracking of inpatient hold in the ED and bedside handoff led to reductions in admission decision to ED departure time and delayed or omitted ED admission orders.

Background: The Georgia Southern Flex Team, funded by the Georgia State Office of Rural Health, assists the state’s CAHs in pursuing financial and operational excellence. Under an ongoing grant, …

College Of Public Heath News, Georgia Southern University

College of Public Health: News & Publications

• Georgia Southern Professor Awarded Grant, Tests New Technology to Curb Exposure to Carcinogenic Dust Particles on Construction Sites

Generalization Of Net Benefit Of Diagnostic Tests Into Multi-Stage Clinical Conditions: A Collapsing Approach, Ferdous Ahmed

College of Graduate Studies: Theses & Dissertations

Evaluating diagnostic tests based on benefit-risk involves both the tests’ accuracy and the clinical implications of the diagnostic errors. Diagnostic tests are commonly classified into two stages: either positive or negative for a clinical condition (diseased or non-diseased). However, some diseases have more than two stages, such as Alzheimer’s. In diseases with more than two stages, the benefits and risks of the clinical consequences could differ from stage to stage. I could not find any investigations to account for the difference in benefits and risks of tests with more than two stages in the literature. The benefit to cost values …

Correlates Of Risky Sexual Behaviors Among African American Females In Juvenile Detention Centers, Eghosa E. Asemota

College of Graduate Studies: Theses & Dissertations

Introduction: In comparison to other demographics, research shows that African American female adolescents are over-represented in the United States Juvenile Justice System. Studies in this vulnerable population demonstrate higher rates of engagement in unsafe sex, and its attendant negative consequences of HIV infections, sexually transmitted diseases, and mistimed pregnancies. There is a paucity of studies that have specifically examined risky sexual behaviors amongst African American females in Juvenile Detention Centers. Objective: The aim of this study is to assess the relationship between the individual, family, peer, and societal factors, and engagement in risky sex among Black female detainees in Juvenile …

Characteristics And Regions Of Hospital Locations And The Risk Of Postpartum Hemorrhage., Zahra Shahin

College of Graduate Studies: Theses & Dissertations

Background: Postpartum hemorrhage (PPH) is one of the contributing factors to maternal morbidity and mortality that in addition to maternal risk factors, may be related to other factors such as obstetric practice and clinical management of postpartum hemorrhage. Therefore, this study aimed to explore the association of postpartum hemorrhage with characteristics and regions of hospital locations across the United States, as the outcomes may create opportunities to improve policies and protocols regarding PPH management more effectively. Method: A retrospective study was performed using the 2018 National Inpatient Sample (NIS) database. Low-risk delivery hospitalizations involving the third stage of labor with …

Effectiveness Of Telemedicine In Diabetes Management: A Retrospective Study In An Urban Medically Underserved Population Area (Umupa)., Lisa Ariellah Ward

College of Graduate Studies: Theses & Dissertations

The purpose of this research is to assess the efficacy of employing telemedicine (TM) technology compared to traditional face-to-face (F2F) visits as an alternative healthcare delivery service for managing diabetes in populations residing in urban medically underserved areas (UMUPA). Researchers investigating public health and healthcare systems fully grasp the enormous challenges encountered by vulnerable populations as a result of healthcare access barriers.¹ Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, F2F visits were most often utilized for healthcare delivery service, which frequently posed barriers for vulnerable populations. When marginalized people, encounter healthcare access barriers, a cascade of events generally occur leading to …

Becoming A Public Health Professional: Millennials’ Perspective On Organizational Assimilation And Professional Identity, Tony K. Winters

College of Graduate Studies: Theses & Dissertations

ABSTRACT

Public health must confront the ongoing challenge of workforce transitions and the impending exodus of existing employees. The millennial generation rises as an option to fill this workforce gap. Using the Socialization Resource Theory as a framework and qualitative data from in-depth interviews with 27 millennial professionals from federal, state, local, and non-governmental public health agencies, this study describes (a) the organizational assimilation (OA) process for millennial public health professionals, (b) explores the impact of OA on professional identity, and (c) describes how the OA process may impact the retention of public health professionals.

The results from this study …

Jiann-Ping Hsu College Of Public Health Magazine, Georgia Southern University

College of Public Health: News & Publications

• Message from the Dean: Stuart H. Tedders, PhD
• One-On-One: Marshall in Conversation with Aslan
• Alumni Feature: Improving the Body Art Industry
• Truth is Better than Fiction
• An Invisible Danger
• New Development Council
• The Period Equity Movement
• Averitt Award Winner and Together United
• Our Students Around the World
• Justice, Equity, Diversity & Inclusion
• Center for Addiction Recovery Making an impact: Scholarship recipient named
• Karl E. Peace Center for Biostatistics and Survey Research Working together: Biostatistics collaborations
• Center for Public Health Practice and Research Improving Health Outcomes
• Faculty and Students
• Office of Practice and Research
• College
• Photos