Public Health Commons^™

Impact Of School Tobacco-Free Policy And Tobacco Risk Education On Youth Cigarette And E-Cigarette Use, Vahe Heboyan, Bruce Riggs

Journal of the Georgia Public Health Association

Background: Smoking rates have declined over the last half-century, however, e-cigarette use has more than tripled in the recent years. Tobacco-risk education and tobacco-free policies are critical policy instruments to help prevent youth tobacco use. This study evaluates the impact of these policies on youth cigarette and e-cigarette use.

Methods: Data from the 2013/2015 Georgia Youth Tobacco Survey (GYTS) is used to test for statistical differences in tobacco use status across school-based tobacco control policies and estimate their impact on cigarette and e-cigarette use. Data includes 5,285 participants representing 2013 middle school (n=2,099), 2013 high school (n=1,775), and 2015 high …

Making The Case For Community Health Workers In Georgia, Gail G. Mccray, Berneta L. Haynes, Adrianne S. Proeller, Christopher E. Ervin, Arletha D. Williams-Livingston

Journal of the Georgia Public Health Association

Background: Community Health Workers (CHW) can be an important and evidence-based response to reduce unnecessary morbidity and mortality in chronic diseases like asthma, heart disease, diabetes, cancers, HIV, and maternal/child health, and mental health. Georgia’s urban and rural diverse populations are at high risk from many of these conditions. Largely the outcomes in controlling these health issues are nonmedical and include social determinants of health, i.e., access to care, transportation, inadequate housing, and health literacy. CHWs can increase the capacity of individuals, families, and communities to improve their health. Historically, concerns of CHWs on healthcare teams to address these issues …

Maternal Mortality Among African American Women In The State Of Georgia, Causes, Policy, And Ethical Considerations, Zahra Shahin, Isabella M. Hardwick, Nancy Jeffery, Jalisa Jordan, William Mase

Health Policy & Community Health: Faculty Publications

Background

The U.S. is currently one of thirteen countries where maternal mortality rates (MMR) is worse now than it was fifteen years ago. Reducing maternal mortality is one of the significant challenges facing the health system in the United States, especially in the State of Georgia, which has one of the highest MMR in the nation. The purpose of this review is to explore the causes, policy, and ethical contextual factors contributing to increased maternal mortality rates among African American women in the State of Georgia. Also, identifying and addressing weaknesses and gaps that exist in the healthcare system and …

Social Ecological Factors Affecting Substance Abuse In Ghana (West Africa) Using Photovoice, Ahmed Kabore, Evans Afriyie-Gyawu, James Awuah, Andrew R. Hansen, Ashley Walker, Melissa Hester, Moussa Aziz Wonadé Sié, Dhruv Medarametla, Nicolas Meda

Biostatistics, Epidemiology & Environmental Health Sciences: Faculty Publications

Introduction: substance abuse is an important public health issue affecting West Africa; however, there is currently a dearth of literature on the actions needed to address it. The aim of this study was to assess the risks and protective factors of substance abuse in Ghana, West Africa, using the photovoice method.

Methods: this study recruited and trained 10 participants in recovery from substance abuse and undergoing treatment in the greater Accra region of Ghana on the photovoice methodology. Each participant received a disposable camera to take pictures that represented the risk and protective factors pertinent to substance abuse …

College Of Public Health News, Georgia Southern University

College of Public Health: News & Publications

• Georgia Southern: Reports on Ethics of Parental Refusal to Vaccinate
• Georgia Southern: Reports on Ethical Approaches to Mandating Influenza Vaccinations for Local Health Department Workforce in Georgia

College Of Public Health News, Georgia Southern University

College of Public Health: News & Publications

• Georgia Southern researchers receive major grant, aim to improve water quality monitoring on Georgia beaches
• Georgia Southern improves health in Coastal Georgia through new partnership
• Georgia Southern's Master of Public Health program ranked No. 1 in nation

College Of Public Health News, Georgia Southern University

College of Public Health: News & Publications

• Georgia Southern: Reports on Impact on Communities' Environmental Health Governance

A Shift In Global Thought And Practice: Assessing The Impacts Of The Human Security Paradigm On Global Public Health, Elizabeth Livingston Leone

Honors College Theses

With the increasing emphasis on health through human security since the 1990s by the United Nations, scholars have debated how human security has influenced public health. I examine how the idea of human security has become a paradigm and if this paradigm has adopted in public health programs. I argue that the rise of human security has led to an emphasis on the role of global actors, preventative care and health education when states adopt the paradigm. This adoption should in turn improve public health in Ghana and the Ivory Coast.

College Of Public Health News, Georgia Southern University

College of Public Health: News & Publications

• Georgia Southern: Completes Molecular Survey Study for Pathogens and Markers of Pesticide Resistance in Human Head Lice from Madagascar
• Georgia Southern: Completes Pilot Survey of Mosquitos from Southeastern Georgia for Wolbachia and Rickettia felis

Associations Among Knowledge, Attitudes, And Practices Toward Palliative Care Consultation Service In Healthcare Staffs: A Cross-Sectional Study, Li-Chun Huang, Ho-Jui Tung, Pei-Chao Lin

Health Policy & Community Health: Faculty Publications

Background

The palliative care consultation service (PCCS) of the National Health Insurance payments has been promoted in Taiwan since 2011, although few studies have been conducted on healthcare staffs’ knowledge, attitudes, and practices regarding PCCS in Taiwan; consequently, the main objective of this study was to explore any correlations regarding the above by cross-sectional design using convenience sampling.

Methods

A total of 210 healthcare staff members were enrolled from a regional hospital from June 1, 2018, to September 30, 2018. Questionnaire items on the Palliative Care Consultation Service Inventory (KAP-PCCSI) were used to measure healthcare staff’s knowledge, attitudes, and practices …

College Of Public Health News, Georgia Southern University

College of Public Health: News & Publications

• Georgia Southern: Explores Health and Wellbeing in the U.S. House Ball Community: A Systematic Review

Pubh 4132: Health Promotion Program Planning I, Raymona H. Lawrence

College of Public Health: Faculty Syllabi (2014-2021)

Provides the student with the theory and practical applications of planning, developing, implementing and evaluating health promotion programs in a variety of settings. The focus will be on a global approach to planning with emphasis on the 5 settings for health promotion programming which include school, community, clinical, college, and worksite settings.

A Need For Patient-Friendly Language For Those With Low Health Literacy In Advanced Care Planning, Denisha Allicock, Addison Mickens, Tilicia Mayo-Gamble

Health Policy & Community Health: Faculty Publications

Work published by Georgia Southern University Press.

Georgia Rural Hospital Tax Credit, Samuel Opoku, Bettye Apenteng, Charles F. Owens, Linda Kimsey, Imaobong B. Ekpo, Emmanuel Akowuah, Michela Hizine, Oluwadamilola Onifade, Bill Mase

Center for Public Health Practice & Research

Background

Eight rural hospitals have closed in Georgia within the last decade, and more are financially distressed. In 2016, Georgia legislation created a state income tax credit for individuals and corporations that donate to qualifying non-profit rural hospitals of their choice. This law, the first of its kind in the US, was intended to provide struggling hospitals with financial support to improve viability. Using a mixed- methods approach, this study assessed the perspective of hospital executives concerning the program, examined community awareness of the program, and evaluated how hospitals used the money to enhance access to care for rural populations.

Improving Housing Quality To Reduce Asthma Rates And Healthcare Costs In Athens-Clarke County, Ga, Samantha J. Harris, John M. Johnston, Maria Bowie, Grace Bagwell Adams

Journal of the Georgia Public Health Association

Background: Asthma is a chronic respiratory condition that often develops from controllable environmental factors, such as poor air quality. Our study examined the relationship between mold in the home, which compromises indoor air quality, and asthma prevalence in Athens-Clarke County (ACC), Georgia.

Methods: Data from the Athens Wellbeing Project’s 2016 survey of 1,354 households in ACC was employed to examine indoor air quality and asthma prevalence in ACC. We provided descriptive statistics to examine asthma prevalence and asthma predictors, including the proportion of respondents reporting mold and pest problems, smoking prevalence, and the proportion of households reporting clinical obesity. We …

Participatory Process For Implementing A Colorectal Cancer Screening Intervention: An Action Plan For Local Sustainability, Selina A. Smith, Joyce Q. Sheats, Sandra J. Hamilton, Mary S. Whitehead, Ernestine Delmoor, Thomas Britt, Cassandra Harris, Janette Robinson-Flint, Cheryl Johnson, Corliss Mckeever, Connie L. Sorrell, Vincent R. Green, John W. Harmon, Dorothy L. Reddic, Jane Giddens-Cabarrus, Shirley Gordon-Seay, Benjamin E. Ansa, Daniel S. Blumenthal

Journal of the Georgia Public Health Association

Background: Rigid protocols can hamper translation of evidence-based interventions from research to real-world settings. This investigation aimed to develop procedures for modifying the study protocol of a community-based participatory research (CBPR) project and to analyze the theoretical constructs that underlie this process.

Methods: The research project is a dissemination and implementation study of the Educational Program to Increase Colorectal Cancer Screening (EPICS), an evidence-based intervention targeting African Americans in the United States. The study is being conducted in a partnership with community coalitions in 15 different cities. Each site initially presented unique issues that required modification of the study protocol. …

Social Media Usage And Influenza Beliefs, Risk Perceptions And Behavioral Intentions Among Students At A University In Southeastern Us, Jingjing Yin, Pei-Ling Tseng, Kotwoallama Reine Zerbo, Zion Tsz Ho Tse, Levi Ross, Isaac Chun-Hai Fung

Journal of the Georgia Public Health Association

Background: To document social media usage for the retrieval of health information among college students; and to understand the beliefs, risk perceptions and behavioral intentions among participants who retrieved CDC influenza information via social media.

Methods: We conducted an online survey to a convenience sample of students at a university in Southeastern United States during Spring 2015. The survey was self-administered and every matriculating student received an electronic invitation to participate at least once.

Results: A total of 930 students completed the online survey. Most participants (n=905, 97.3%) reported that they had used a social networking site in the previous …

Health Care Access By Weight Status In The State Of Georgia, Elizabeth Pullekines, Janani Rajbhandari-Thapa

Journal of the Georgia Public Health Association

Background: Obesity continues to grow in prevalence in the United States and within the state of Georgia. Obesity is a risk factor for many chronic and preventable diseases. As such, obese individuals have higher demand for health care services than non-obese individuals. In addition, the health care system can play a role in preventing obesity and other conditions caused by obesity.

Methods: This research follows the established positive relationship between health care use and access to health care services through insurance coverage. The paper analyzes how the Affordable Care Act (ACA) affected insurance coverage and access to health care services …

88th Annual Georgia Public Health Association Meeting & Conference Report, Colin K. Smith, Regina Abbott, Eleanora Zhilyak, Christy Sims

Journal of the Georgia Public Health Association

The 88th Annual Meeting of the Georgia Public Health Association (GPHA) was held in Atlanta, Georgia, on April 11-12, 2017, with pre-conference (April 10th) and post-conference (April 12th) Executive Board meetings. As Georgia’s leading forum for public health researchers, practitioners, and students, the annual meeting of the GPHA brings together participants from across the state to explore recent developments in the field and to exchange techniques, tools, and experiences. In recent years the venue for the GPHA annual conference has been Atlanta, but in an effort to expand participation across the state the 2018 GPHA Annual Meeting and Conference is …

Insights In Health Administration Education: Understanding The Role Of Personality In Teamwork, Lesley A. Clack, Erica Droste

Journal of the Georgia Public Health Association

Background: Developing a health promotion program plan requires attention to the links between objectives, activities, and overall program goals. Instructors developed the “Connecting the Dots” worksheet to help students establish these linkages.

Methods: The “Connecting the Dots” worksheet included six questions pertinent to the students’ health promotion program plans. The worksheet was given to the students in a flipped classroom setting. Evaluation of the effectiveness of the tool was based upon group presentations at the end of the semester.

Results: Students developed more viable program plans that included stronger links between objectives and corresponding program activities.

Conclusions: The “Connecting the …

Experiences Of Violence Among Female West African Asylum Seekers In Atlanta: A Qualitative Analysis, Kathleen E. Curtis, Dabney P. Evans

Journal of the Georgia Public Health Association

Background: As the world faces the greatest number of displaced persons in history, it is urgent for countries offering refuge and asylum to understand the needs of these vulnerable populations. Asylum seekers face great uncertainty in the US legal system, and female asylum seekers often face additional challenges. The Atlanta Asylum Network (AAN) facilitates access to low or no-cost physical, psychological and gynecological evaluations to enable a fair and complete judicial process. The purpose of this analysis is to assess the presence of various types of violence experienced by a population of female West African asylum seekers, and to make …

The Relationship Between Per Capita Income, Uninsured Rates, And Cardiovascular Mortality In Georgia Between 1994 – 2016, Monique Bethel, Mark A. Thompson, Adam E. Berman

Journal of the Georgia Public Health Association

Background: The association between cardiovascular mortality, per capita income and uninsured rates in Georgia have not been well described.

Methods: Cardiovascular mortality rates, per capita income and uninsured rates were obtained for the years 1994-2016, and their relationships were analyzed using univariate and multivariate statistical techniques.

Results: In bivariate analysis, a strong inverse relationship between cardiovascular mortality and per capita income (r = -0.917, p < 0.0001) was detected, while bivariate analysis detected no relationship between cardiovascular mortality and uninsured rates. Both per capita income and uninsured rates were negative predictors of cardiovascular mortality in multivariate analysis.

Conclusions: Per capita income increases in Georgia were strongly correlated with reductions in cardiovascular mortality. While there was not a linear correlation of healthcare coverage status and cardiovascular mortality, it demonstrated a protective effect in …

Characteristics Of The Health Information Technology Workforce In Georgia, Imaobong Ekpo, Emmanuel Akowuah, Bettye Apenteng, Samuel Opoku

Journal of the Georgia Public Health Association

Background: Advancement in medical technology, as well as the Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health Act, has in part influenced the demand for health information technology (HIT) workers. While other sectors have experienced a tremendous increase in the information technology workforce, the health sector lags in this regard. The aim of this study was to describe the characteristics of the HIT workforce in Georgia, relative to surrounding states and the United States.

Methods: The supply of the HIT workforce in Georgia, surrounding states, and the United States was estimated using data from the 2014-2016 American Community Survey (ACS). …

The Ethics Of Parental Refusal To Vaccinate: Costs, Community Safety, And Individual Rights, Olatanwa Adewale, Carla Cooper, Pascal Felix, Ashley K. Mitchell, Justin Savage, William A. Mase

Journal of the Georgia Public Health Association

Background: According to the World Health Organization (WHO), vaccination has reduced the burden of infectious diseases to a significant extent. In recent times, however, the focus has been more on vaccine safety rather than effectiveness. As with any other public health program, immunizations and associated policies are designed to protect the health of the public. Compared to minor risks of side effects of vaccination, the risk of infection often rationalizes the use of vaccination. In states like Georgia, with fewer outbreaks associated with non-vaccination, the need to access community immunity remains constant. Though some articles have assessed parental refusal of …

The Impact Of Maternal Literacy Skills On Child Weight In Mozambique, Ashley Watson, Shannon Self-Brown, Iris Feinberg, Whitney Rostad

Journal of the Georgia Public Health Association

Background: Infant mortality is a serious public health problem. One factor that is strongly associated with infant mortality is low weight in children. The percentage of underweight children under the age of five in Mozambique was 16% in 2012. In order to reduce the number of underweight children in this country, contributing caregiver characteristics of this problem should be investigated. One potentially relevant characteristic is maternal literacy, which has been under investigated. Objective: This study aims to determine whether maternal literacy affected the weight and body-mass-index (BMI) of children ages 0 to 3 years old in Mozambique.

Methodology: A cross-sectional …

Relationship Between Self-Report And Observed Parenting Among Parents In Treatment Versus Not In Treatment Populations, Rabab Zahidi, Jessica S. Rogers, Wendy P. Guastaferro, Daniel J. Whitaker

Journal of the Georgia Public Health Association

Background: Most maltreatment, by definition, is a failure of parenting. However, even without maltreatment, poor parenting can lead to a variety of negative outcomes including social, emotional and behavioral problems. Given that parenting plays a key role in child outcomes, one of the foci of interventions are parenting programs. Interventions for parents must be evaluated using standardized assessment tools, which leads to an important question; how can we best assess parenting? Observational methods (observing a parent and child interact) are often regarded as the gold standard in the assessment of parental behaviors but are cumbersome to administer. Self-reports of parenting …

Sociodemographic And Biometric Factors Associated With Eating Behaviors Among African American Women Aged 18-74, Takiyah J. Thomas, Jammie M. Hopkins, Riba Kelsey-Harris, Folashade Omole, Ernest Alema-Mensah

Journal of the Georgia Public Health Association

Background: Obesity is a growing problem in the United States and is disproportionately increasing among African Americans. The objective of this study is to examine the sociodemographic and biometric factors associated with eating behaviors among African American women.

Methods: We analyzed data from the 2009-2010 dietary screener and weight history questionnaire from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. Multivariable analyses were used to estimate adjusted odds ratios (AORs) and 95% confidence intervals (95% CIs) to determine the association between six specific eating behaviors and different sociodemographic and biometric factors. Analyses were conducted using SAS 9.4.

Results: The analyses show …

Living Arrangement: A Contributor To Vascular Disease In Asymptomatic African American Women, Meldra Hall, Elizabeth Ofili, Rigobert Lapu-Bula, Ernest Alema-Mensah, Stephanie Miles-Richardson

Journal of the Georgia Public Health Association

Background: Diminished social support has shown to lead to worse cardiovascular outcomes and since cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the leading cause of death in the United States (U.S.), it is critical to non-invasively study its precursor- vascular disease (VD). Assessing the impact social support has on vascular outcomes can unveil potential CVD susceptibilities in at-risk populations. African American women exhibit the greatest burden of CVD morbidity and mortality; therefore, the purpose of this study is to examine the association between living arrangement/social support and impaired vascular function in asymptomatic African American women.

Methods: Vascular function was assessed by a non-invasive …

Leveraging Technology To Address Patient-Centered Outcomes In Sickle Cell Disease, Tilicia Mayo-Gamble, Delores P. Quasie-Woode

Health Policy & Community Health: Faculty Publications

Work published by Georgia Southern University Press.

Hspm 7135-A: Public Health Policy Development & Evaluation, Ho-Jui Tung

College of Public Health: Faculty Syllabi (2014-2021)

This course introduces students to health policy development, analysis and management by examining issues in the health sector. It fosters an appreciation of the complexity of policy problems and provides the basic tools used in public health policy design, implementation and evaluation.