Public Health Commons^™

Differences In Rapid Increases In County-Level Covid-19 Incidence By Implementation Of Statewide Closures And Mask Mandates — United States, June 1–September 30, 2020, Sharoda Dasgupta, Ahmed M. Kassem, Gregory Sunshine, Tiebin Liu, Charles Rose, Gloria J. Kang, Rachel Silver, Brandy L.Peterson Maddox, Christina Watson, Mara Howard-Williams, Maxim Gakh, Russell Mccord, Regen Weber, Kelly Fletcher, Trieste Musial, Michael A. Tynan, Rachel Hulkower, Amanda Moreland, Dawn Pepin, Lisa Landsman, Amanda Brown, Siobhan Gilchrist, Catherine Clodfelter, Michael Williams, Ryan Cramer, Alexa Limeres, Adebola Popoola, Sebnem Dugmeoglu, Julia Shelburne

Environmental & Global Health Faculty Research

Background and Objective: Community mitigation strategies could help reduce COVID-19 incidence, but there are few studies that explore associations nationally and by urbanicity. In a national county-level analysis, we examined the probability of being identified as a county with rapidly increasing COVID-19 incidence (rapid riser identification) during the summer of 2020 by implementation of mitigation policies prior to the summer, overall and by urbanicity. Methods: We analyzed county-level data on rapid riser identification during June 1–September 30, 2020 and statewide closures and statewide mask mandates starting March 19 (obtained from state government websites). Poisson regression models with robust standard error …

Trends In Osteoporosis And Mean Bone Density Among Type 2 Diabetes Patients In The Us From 2005 To 2014, Yingke Xu, Qing Wu

School of Public Health Faculty Research

© 2021, The Author(s). This study aimed to examine how bone health changed among T2DM patients in the past decade. Continuous National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) data from 2005–2006 to 2013–2014 were analyzed to examine the trends of bone mineral density (BMD) and the prevalence trends of osteoporosis osteopenia among T2DM patients and non-diabetic people aged 40 years and older. The age- and BMI-adjusted mean BMD of the femur neck for the four NHANES cycles decreased linearly in both T2DM patients and non-diabetic people (both Plinear trend ≤ 0.009). Among women with T2DM, the mean BMD in 2013–2014 …

Is The Acsm And Friend Metabolic Equations Valid For Assessing Cardiorespiratory Fitness Among 18-34 Aged Men? : Preliminary Results, Marc-Olivier Dugas, Laurie Simard, Tommy Chevrette, Martin Lavalliere

Topics in Exercise Science and Kinesiology

Topics in Exercise Science and Kinesiology Volume 2: Issue 1, Article 2, 2021. Metabolic equations, such as ACSM and FRIEND, are used worldwide to indirectly measure the VO₂max in adults, but lack of accuracy seems to occur. 30 men of 18-34 years old performed a maximal incremental test on a treadmill during which direct VO₂max measurements was taken and then have been compared to ACSM and FRIEND metabolic equations. Point of application #1: Better evaluation and exercise prescription among athletic populations. Point of application #2: Act in prevention among sedentary and symptomatic populations. Point of application …

The Utility Of Genetic Risk Score To Improve Performance Of Frax For Fracture Prediction In Us Postmenopausal Women, Xiangxue Xiao, Qing Wu

School of Public Health Faculty Research

The ability of the fracture risk assessment tool (FRAX) in discriminating fracture and non-fracture in postmenopausal women remains suboptimal. Adding a genetic profile may improve the performance of FRAX. Three genetic risk scores (GRSs) (GRS_fracture, GRS_BMD, GRS_eBMD) were calculated for each participant in the Women’s Health Initiative Study (n = 23,981), based on the summary statistics of three comprehensive osteoporosis-related genome-wide association studies (GWAS). The primary outcomes were incident major osteoporotic fracture (MOF) and hip fracture (HF). The association between each GRS and fracture risk were evaluated in separate Cox Proportional Hazard models, with FRAX clinical risk factors adjusted for. …

The Association Between Cardiovascular Disease Knowledge And Risk Factors Among African American Breast Cancer Survivors In The Deep South, Michelle S. Williams, Chizoba Anyimukwu

Journal of Health Disparities Research and Practice

Purpose: African American breast cancer survivors in the Deep South have a disproportionately high burden of cardiovascular disease (CVD) mortality. Multiple potentially modifiable CVD risk factors are highly prevalent in this population, such as high blood pressure, obesity, and poor dietary habits. The purpose of this study was to assess the association between CVD health metrics and heart disease knowledge among the target population.

Methods: The Heart Disease Knowledge Questionnaire was used to assess the participants’ knowledge of heart disease and heart disease risk factors. Questions from My Life Check were used to assess the participants cardiovascular health metrics. Multivariate …

Environmentally Marginalized Populations: The "Perfect Storm" For Infectious Disease Pandemics, Including Covid-19, Gabriella Y. Meltzer, Oyemwenosa Avenbuan, Christina Awada, Oluwakemi B. Oyetade, Tricia Blackman, Simona Kwon Drph, Mph, Esther Erdei Phd, Judith T. Zelikoff Phd

Journal of Health Disparities Research and Practice

COVID-19 has exacted a severe toll on the United States population’s physical and mental health and its effects have been felt most severely among people of color and low socioeconomic status. Using illustrative case studies, this commentary argues that in addition to COVID-19 health disparities created by psychosocial stressors such as the inability to socially distance and access quality healthcare, environmental justice communities have the additional burden of disproportionate exposure to toxic contaminants that contribute to their higher risk of COVID-19. Environmental contaminants including heavy metals and persistent organic pollutants found contaminating their nearby environments can alter the immune response, …

Are Binge Drinking Disparities By Sexual Identity Lower In U.S. States With Nondiscrimination Statutes That Include Sexual Orientation?, Naomi Greene, Renee M. Johnson, Joanne Rosen, Danielle German, Joanna E. Cohen

Journal of Health Disparities Research and Practice

Purpose Studies examining binge drinking disparities by sexual identity focus on intra- and inter-personal minority stressors experienced by lesbian, gay, and bisexual (LGB) populations. State-level statutes are powerful tools that can reduce health disparities. We examined how state-level nondiscrimination statutes that include sexual orientation as a protected ground (i.e., inclusive statutes) are associated with binge drinking disparities between LGB and straight adults. Methods We combined data from the 2015-2018 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS), the Movement Advancement Project (MAP), and administrative data sources for information on binge drinking, sexual identity, nondiscrimination statutes, and individual and state-level factors. We included …

Risk Factors Associated With Opioid Use Among African American Faith-Based Populations, Kelsey Christensen Ma, Jannette Berkley-Patton Phd, Alexandria Bauer Phd, Carole Bowe Thompson, Tacia Burgin

Journal of Health Disparities Research and Practice

African Americans (AAs) in the Midwest are more likely to die from an opioid overdose compared to Whites, despite lower rates of use. Little is known about factors related to opioid use among AAs residing in the Midwest, particularly church-affiliated AAs. AAs have the highest rate of church attendance among all racial/ethnic groups, and the Black Church may be an appropriate setting for prevention efforts. The present study sought to better understand factors related to opioid use among Midwestern church-affiliated AAs to inform future faith-based interventions. This study examined predictors of opioid use (ever) using survey data from Taking It …

Propelling Adolescents Toward Careers In Healthcare (Patch): A Medical Student Led Pipeline Program For High School Students Underrepresented In Medicine, Maggie Brownrigg, Sagar Patel Md, Kyle Roedersheimer Md, Melissa Wooten Md, Radhika Ghodasara Md, Banks Kooken Md, Iris Cheng Md

Journal of Health Disparities Research and Practice

Despite the growing diversity of the United States population, individuals from many racial and ethnic minority groups and low-income families continue to be underrepresented in the health professions. A diverse healthcare workforce would improve cultural competency and create a system better suited to address the vast health disparities in many disadvantaged communities, yet the current educational pipeline needs to expand opportunities to provide students traditionally underrepresented in medicine (UIM) a path to become a part of the healthcare field. The Propelling Adolescents Towards Careers in Healthcare (PATCH) program was founded to address this gap in the current health professions pipeline …

Fruit And Vegetable Consumption Behavior Among Asian Americans: A Thematic Analysis, Chia Liang Dai, Manoj Sharma, Taj Haider, Hema Sunchu

Teaching and Learning Faculty Research

© The Author(s) 2021. Consuming 5 or more cups of fruits and vegetables (F & V) per day or 400 g/day for adults is advocated by most health authorities and has short-term and long-term health benefits. There have been numerous studies examining dietary behaviors among different US populations; however, the literature on F & V consumption behavior among Asian Americans (AAs) is sparse. AAs constitute a diverse group and as their population continues to grow in the US; there is a greater need to examine the health practices of AAs and their constituent subgroups. The study aimed to conduct a …

Remote Teaching Of Research Methods, Manoj Sharma

UNLV Best Teaching Practices Expo

Research Methods (PBH 360-1002) offered by the School of Public Health was taught remotely by Manoj Sharma to undergraduate students (primarily from public health) in Fall 2020. The specific teaching techniques that were used in teaching this course were delivery as remote learning, organizing the entire course in Canvas and making it available from day 1, recording all lectures beforehand in Panopto, utilizing cases studies, employing WebEx and its breakout sessions, and having skill-building activities in each module that were sequential. In this course, the fourth-generation multi-theory model (MTM) of health behavior change was utilized from a pedagogical perspective to …

Explaining Handwashing Behavior In A Sample Of College Students During Covid-19 Pandemic Using The Multi-Theory Model (Mtm) Of Health Behavior Change: A Single Institutional Cross-Sectional Survey, Manoj Sharma, Kavita Batra, Robert E. Davis, Amanda H. Wilkerson

Environmental & Global Health Faculty Research

Amidst the COVID-19 pandemic, handwashing offers a simple and effective hygienic measure for disease prevention. Reportedly, a significant proportion of college students did not follow handwashing recommendations provided by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in the pre-COVID era. The purpose of this cross-sectional study was to explore and explain the handwashing behavior among college students during the COVID-19 pandemic using a contemporary fourth-generation multi-theory model (MTM) of health behavior change. Data were collected from 713 college students at a large public university in the Southern U.S. in October 2020 using a validated 36-item survey. Statistical analyses included …

Covidistress Global Survey Dataset On Psychological And Behavioural Consequences Of The Covid-19 Outbreak, Austin Horng-En Wang, Over 50 Other International Authors

Political Science Faculty Research

This N=173,426 social science dataset was collected through the collaborative COVIDiSTRESS Global Survey – an open science effort to improve understanding of the human experiences of the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic between 30th March and 30th May, 2020. The dataset allows a cross-cultural study of psychological and behavioural responses to the Coronavirus pandemic and associated government measures like cancellation of public functions and stay at home orders implemented in many countries. The dataset contains demographic background variables as well as measures of Asian Disease Problem, perceived stress (PSS-10), availability of social provisions (SPS-10), trust in various authorities, trust in governmental measures …

Effects Of Resistance Training On Muscle Quality Index, Muscle Strength, Functional Capacity, And Serum Immunoglobulin Levels Between Obese And Non-Obese Older Women, Paulo Roberto Silva Junior, Dahan Da Cunha Nascimento, Ivo Vieira De Sousa Neto, Silvana Schwerz Funghetto, Ramires Alsamir Tibana, James W. Navalta, Fabiani Lage Rodrigues Beal, Jonato Prestes

Kinesiology and Nutrition Sciences Faculty Research

International Journal of Exercise Science 14(7): 707-726, 2021. Considering the negative impact of obesity on neuromuscular and immune systems, we sought to compare the effects of a 10-week resistance training (RT) program on muscle quality index (MQI), muscle strength, functional capacity, and immunoglobulins in older women with and without obesity. Thirty-nine older women participated in the present study (age: 69.02 ± 6.16, fat (%): 38.80% ± 6.28) and underwent a linear RT program performed on two non-consecutive days of the week. Body composition, functional tests, immunoglobulins, muscle quality of upper and lower limbs and absolute muscular strength of the upper …

2018 Statewide Child Death Report, Nevada Institute For Children’S Research And Policy, Dawn L. Davidson, Elizabeth Holka

Nevada Institute for Children's Research and Policy Reports

The purpose of this report is to provide comprehensive information regarding the circumstances by which children die in Nevada in order to prevent future child deaths and improve the health and safety of children in the state.

Incidence Of Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome Epidemic And Associated Predictors In Nevada: A Statewide Audit, 2016–2018, Kavita Batra, Patricia Cruz, Chad L. Cross, Neeraj Bhandari, Farooq Abdulla, Jennifer R. Pharr, Mark P. Buttner

Environmental & Global Health Faculty Research

Neonatal abstinence syndrome (NAS) is a postnatal withdrawal syndrome among neonates born to mothers with drug dependence disorders. NAS poses a significant public health challenge nationally, with a six-fold increase in incidence (1.2 to 6.7 per 1000 hospital births/year) from 2000–2016. Besides national data, it is critical to quantify NAS at the state-level to identify target areas for prevention. The objectives of this study were to ascertain statewide burden, including county and regional distribution of NAS in Nevada during 2016–2018, and to investigate potential factors associated with NAS. This study utilized hospital administrative data, and a total of 100,845 inpatient …

Individual- And Country-Level Correlates Of Female Permanent Contraception Use In Sub-Saharan Africa, Babayemi O. Olakunde, Jennifer R. Pharr, Lung-Chang Chien, Rebecca D. Benfield, Francisco S. Sy

Environmental & Global Health Faculty Research

Background: Female permanent contraception is a cost-effective contraceptive method that can help clients with the desire to limit childbearing achieve their reproductive intention. However, despite its benefits, the use of FPC remains low in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), and limited studies have examined the correlates of its uptake. In this study, we assessed the individual- and country-level factors associated with the use of FPC among married or in-union women using modern contraceptive methods to limit childbearing in SSA. Methods: This study was a secondary data analysis of individual- and country-level data obtained from the Demographic and Health Surveys (DHS) Program and …

The Lagged Effect Of State Gun Laws On The Reduction Of State-Level Firearm Homicide Mortality In The United States From 1999 To 2017, L. C. Chien, M. Gakh

School of Public Health Faculty Research

© 2020 The Authors Objectives: Gun violence is a pressing concern in the United States, where many laws targeting gun violence vary across states and localities. Studies have investigated the association between gun laws and gun violence, but not many focus on the role of time, which is critical for implementation. This study aims to determine the lagged association of gun laws with firearm homicide mortality to better understand the impacts of state gun laws over time. Study design: The design of this study is a longitudinal study. Methods: This study applied the distributed lag non-linear model to assess the …

Perceptions Of The Built Environment Among Older Adults Who Live In Age-Restricted Communities Compared To Those Who Do Not In Southern Nevada, Sandra Annan

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

As Americans are living longer, there has been exponential growth in the number of older adults. Growth in the aging population has created unique challenges. As seniors age, they face many changes in their health, financial stability, and lifestyle, making it challenging to remain independent. The inability to remain independent can be a stressful and depressing experience for older adults. Studies show that most seniors prefer to stay in their current living environment as they age, or age in place, rather than move into senior housing or other available housing options designed for aging. This study investigates how perceptions about …

Gardasil Vaccine Trends Within Nevada, California, And The U.S.: A Comparative Study, Karen S. Gutierrez

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Despite decreasing incidence in cervical cancer in the U.S., there continues to be an increase in public health concern for cervical cancer worldwide. Recent studies report that individuals are disproportionately affected based on region, sex, and race. Additionally, the human papillomavirus (HPV) attributable cancers may be reduced between 70% and 90% through the universal use of HPV-vaccines. In order to expand current knowledge and implement intervention programs in Nevada, it is critical to examine the associations among the Gardasil vaccine, cervical cancer screening, and adverse events following immunization as well as to understand the different socio-demographic subgroups affected. To our …

How Does Stress And Coping Impact Undergraduate Students' Mental Health On A Racially Diverse Campus?, Kristina Ricker-Boles

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

The study focuses on how subjective stress and mastery skills impact physical and mental wellbeing among UNLV undergraduate college students. Bovier, Chamot, and Perneger’s (2004) study was repeated within a racially diverse campus setting. The Transactional Model of Stress and Coping provided the foundation of this study with an emphasis on primary and secondary appraisal among racial and ethnic groups. The study utilized the Pearlin Coping Questionnaire, the Short Form-12 (SF-12), the Brief Encounter Psychosocial Instrument (BEPSI), and Duke-UNC Functional Social Support Questionnaire to assess subjective stress, mastery skills, and the moderator of social support while comparing the results among …

The Relationship Among Sociocultural Assimilation, Dietary Behavior, And Physical Activity In Adult Latinxs In The U.S., Erick Lopez

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

This dissertation examines the relationship between sociocultural assimilation and health behaviors among adult Latinxs in the United States to address whether different assimilation models promote or hinder Latinx health. Existing research on assimilation and health behaviors among Latinxs relies heavily on the use of proxy measures of assimilation such as length of time in the U.S., nativity, age of arrival, and language preferences for surveys. These studies tend to show that greater assimilation to mainstream U.S. culture among Latinxs is associated with the adoption of poor health behaviors and the erosion of the immigrant health advantage. Research that uses sociocultural …

An Exploratory Study Of The Likelihood Of Adopting Genetic Counseling And Testing For Lynch Syndrome-Related Colorectal Cancer Among Primary Care Physicians In Florida, Vanessa B. Crowther, Sandra G. Suther, Jullet A. Weaver, Clement K. Gwede, Matthew Dutton, Dongming Cui, Ivette A. Lopez

Journal of Health Disparities Research and Practice

Genetic counseling and testing for inherited cancer syndromes have the potential to save lives and may be an avenue for addressing health care disparities among African Americans newly diagnosed with colorectal cancer (CRC); and their close relatives. African Americans are more likely to be diagnosed with CRC at younger ages (under age 50 years), and diagnosed at later stages when cancer is more aggressive and difficult to treat, which are factors associated with hereditary cancers such as Lynch syndrome-related CRC. Considering the benefits of genetic testing for hereditary cancer syndromes - risk stratification, preventive surveillance, targeted treatment, and subsequent reduction …

Relationship Between Psychosocial-Cultural Factors And African American Women Obesity., Francoise Knox-Kazimierczuk

Journal of Health Disparities Research and Practice

Objective: To determine associations between African American female obesity and SEM variables.

Design: Data from the National Survey of American Life Self-Administered Questionnaire (NSAL-SAQ), a 2001–2003 nationally representative cross-sectional survey was used to extract data for African American women.

Participants: African American females at a BMI of 18.5 kg/m2 or greater were included in the final sample (n = 2,100) for analysis.

Main Outcome Measure(s): BMI

Analysis: Measures for socioecological model (SEM) were analyzed using a regression model in SPSS.

Results: Intrapersonal and community/institutional levels were found to be significantly associated with BMI. Two multiple regression analyses models were developed …

Generational Impacts Of 1930s Housing Discrimination And The Imperative Need For The Healthy Start Initiative To Address Structural Racism, Brittney Butler, Michael Outrich, Jessica Roach, Arthur James

Journal of Health Disparities Research and Practice

For nearly three decades, Healthy Start Initiative(HSI) has served communities with high rates of adverse pregnancy outcomes--with the goal to lower them by 50%. Despite a large focus on social determinants of health, HSI has narrowly addressed racism. The effects of legal housing discrimination continue to be felt and have profound implications for pregnancy. To understand the historical context of racism in these communities, we geospatially evaluated the relationship between HSI service areas and Home-Owners Loan Corporation(HOLC) graded maps. Using data from John Snow Inc, National Healthy Start Association, and Mapping Inequality we found that 73 of 100 communities served …

The Early Impact Of The Affordable Care Act Upon Colorectal Cancer Screening Utilization In Florida, Aldenise P. Ewing, Laura Baum, Rosalyn Roker, Marlene Joannie Bewa, Tali Schneider, Claudia F. Parvanta, Clement K. Gwede, Cathy D. Meade, Dinorah Martinez Tyson

Journal of Health Disparities Research and Practice

Background: Colorectal cancer is the second leading cause of cancer-related deaths in the United States. Although preventable and curable through screening, early detection and treatment, a lack of health insurance is a major obstacle to receiving colorectal cancer screening (CRCS). Despite the Affordable Care Act (ACA) increasing access to health insurance by mandating coverage of CRCS, disparities in utilization rates continue. Therefore, researchers sought to better understand ACA related facilitators and impediments that affect the utilization of CRCS and collect specific recommendations from healthcare professionals to increase screening utilization rates in Florida.

Methods: Researchers conducted in-depth interviews with …

Employing Position Generators To Assess Social Capital And Health: A Scoping Review Of The Literature And Recommendations For Measurement In Future Population-Based Surveillance, Steven Meanley, Candice Biernesser, Teagen O'Malley, Todd Bear, Jeanette Trauth

Journal of Health Disparities Research and Practice

Beneficial social connections are critical to individual-level health because they can be used to avoid or minimize the risks and consequences associated with diseases. How to best measure beneficial social connections to inform social network-level health interventions remains poorly understood. A scoping review of health surveillance studies was conducted to highlight the utility of employing position generators to assess how access to beneficial social connections was associated with population health and disparities. Our review yielded 39 articles conducted across 14 predominantly high-income countries. Most studies (77%) with composite measures for beneficial social connections exhibited health-protective associations. Of the remaining articles, …

Internet All Nation Breath Of Life (I-Anbl) A Tribal College Student Engaged Development Of An Internet-Based Smoking Cessation Intervention, Joseph A. Pacheco, Charley Lewis, Christina M. Pacheco, Jason W. Hale, Jessica A. R. Williams, Sean M. Daley, Christine M. Daley, Won S. Choi

Journal of Health Disparities Research and Practice

Background: Compared to non-Hispanic white college students, American Indian (AI) tribal college students have the highest smoking prevalence in the U.S. (~34%). Culturally-tailored smoking cessation programs have proven to be successful in reducing smoking rates but may require new methods to reach college students. Currently, there is little documentation on the development and success of Internet-based smoking interventions for AI tribal college students.

Objectives: To develop an Internet-based smoking cessation program (Internet-All Nations Breath of Life or I-ANBL) with tribal college students.

Methods: We conducted six focus groups (n=41) at a tribal college. Focus groups included tribal college students who …

Child Food Insecurity In Nevada Counties, 2018, Ally Beckwith, Caitlin J. Saladino, William E. Brown Jr.

Health

This fact sheet synthesizes data on the child hunger discrepancies in Nevada counties from the Feeding America 2018 Map the Meal Gap Study. The information focuses on food insecurity experienced by children, and the food budget shortfall in Nevada.

Flame Retardants And Neurodevelopment: An Updated Review Of Epidemiological Literature, Ann M. Vuong, Kimberly Yolton, Kim M. Cecil, Joseph M. Braun, Bruce P. Lanphear, Aimin Chen

School of Public Health Faculty Research

Purpose of Review: Flame retardant (FR) compounds can adversely impact neurodevelopment. This updated literature review summarizes epidemiological studies of FRs and neurotoxicity published since 2015, covering historical (polybrominated biphenyls [PBBs], polychlorinated biphenyls [PCBs]), contemporary (polybrominated diphenyl ethers [PBDEs], hexabromocyclododecane [HBCD], and tetrabromobisphenol A [TBBPA]), and current-use organophosphate FRs (OPFRs) and brominated FRs (2-ethylhexyl 2,3,4,5-tetrabromobezoate [EH-TBB] TBB), bis(2-ethylhexyl) tetrabromophthalate [BEH-TEBP]), focusing on prenatal and postnatal periods of exposure. Recent Findings: Continuing studies on PCBs still reveal adverse associations with child cognition and behavior. Recent studies indicate PBDEs are neurotoxic, particularly for gestational exposures with decreased cognition and increased externalizing behaviors. Findings …