Open Access. Powered by Scholars. Published by Universities.®

Public Health Commons

Open Access. Powered by Scholars. Published by Universities.®

University of South Carolina

Discipline
Keyword
Publication Year
Publication
Publication Type
File Type

Articles 241 - 270 of 1559

Full-Text Articles in Public Health

Urban School Neighbourhoods Dominated By Unhealthy Food Retailers And Advertisements In Greater Tunis: A Geospatial Study In The Midst Of The Nutrition Transition, Christelle Akl, Nehmat El-Helou, Gloria Safadi, Aline Semaan, Aya El Sammak, Tarek Trabelsi, Sonia Sassi, Chaza Akik, Jalila El Ati, Pierre Traissac, Hala Ghattas Ph.D. Jan 2024

Urban School Neighbourhoods Dominated By Unhealthy Food Retailers And Advertisements In Greater Tunis: A Geospatial Study In The Midst Of The Nutrition Transition, Christelle Akl, Nehmat El-Helou, Gloria Safadi, Aline Semaan, Aya El Sammak, Tarek Trabelsi, Sonia Sassi, Chaza Akik, Jalila El Ati, Pierre Traissac, Hala Ghattas Ph.D.

Faculty Publications

Objective:

Food environments are a major determinant of children’s nutritional status. Scarce evidence on food environments exists in low- and middle-income countries (LMIC). This study aims to fill this gap by documenting the obesogenicity of food environments around schools in Greater Tunis, Tunisia – an LMIC of the Middle East and North Africa region with an ongoing nutrition transition and increasing rates of childhood obesity.

Design:

In this cross-sectional study, we assessed built food environments around fifty primary schools. Ground-truthing was performed to collect geographic coordinates and pictures of food retailers and food advertisement sets within an 800-m road network …


“Courtesy, Respect, And Follow Through”: A Mixed Methods Evaluation Of Faculty Members’ Experiences, Needs, And Approaches To Research Collaborations, Daniela B. Friedman Ph.D., Christina Ek, Jean Neils-Strunjas Ph.D, Ccc-Slp, Andrea Tanner Ph.D., James R. Hébert Scd, Lorie Donelle, Sue E. Levkoff, Freda Allyson Hucek, Brooks Yelton Ma, Lmsw, Dwayne E. Porter Jan 2024

“Courtesy, Respect, And Follow Through”: A Mixed Methods Evaluation Of Faculty Members’ Experiences, Needs, And Approaches To Research Collaborations, Daniela B. Friedman Ph.D., Christina Ek, Jean Neils-Strunjas Ph.D, Ccc-Slp, Andrea Tanner Ph.D., James R. Hébert Scd, Lorie Donelle, Sue E. Levkoff, Freda Allyson Hucek, Brooks Yelton Ma, Lmsw, Dwayne E. Porter

Faculty Publications

Introduction: Guided by a communications-focused framework developed by an interdisciplinary team of authors, this paper presents data from a survey of health science faculty members to better understand how research collaborations are established and maintained. Methods: An electronic survey was distributed to faculty in six colleges at a Research 1 institution. Quantitative data were downloaded into Excel and then RStudio for descriptive analysis. Open-ended, qualitative responses were coded and analyzed for themes. Results: Most respondents were in public health (44.0%) or medicine (25.3%); 40.0% were tenured. A grant deadline was the main impetus reported for initiating research collaborations (86.1%). Most …


Reflecting On Partnerships Established And Sustained Over Four Cycles Of A Federally Funded Cancer Prevention And Control Research Program: Lessons Learned For Community-Academic Networks, Swann Arp Adams, Lauren Workman Ph.D., Mayank Sakhuja, Brooks Yelton Ma, Lmsw, Karen E. Wickersham Phd, Rn, Ciaran Fairman, Jan Eberth Ph.D., Sue Heiney Scd, James Hébert Scd, Freda Allyson Hucek, Lauren Schaurer, Daniela B. Friedman Ph.D. Jan 2024

Reflecting On Partnerships Established And Sustained Over Four Cycles Of A Federally Funded Cancer Prevention And Control Research Program: Lessons Learned For Community-Academic Networks, Swann Arp Adams, Lauren Workman Ph.D., Mayank Sakhuja, Brooks Yelton Ma, Lmsw, Karen E. Wickersham Phd, Rn, Ciaran Fairman, Jan Eberth Ph.D., Sue Heiney Scd, James Hébert Scd, Freda Allyson Hucek, Lauren Schaurer, Daniela B. Friedman Ph.D.

Faculty Publications

Introduction: The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) funded Cancer Prevention and Control Research Network (CPCRN) is a national network which aims to accelerate the adoption and implementation of evidence-based cancer prevention and control strategies and interventions in communities, enhance large-scale efforts to reach underserved populations and reduce their cancer-related health disparities, and develop the capacity of the dissemination and implementation work force specifically in cancer prevention and control. Methods: Our site has been a part of the CPCRN since its inception in 2002 with the exception of the 2004–2009 funding cycle. As community-based participatory research is a core …


Health Consequences Of Racial Disparity In Access To Abortion: A Systematic Review, Lacy M. Frye, Calvin Odhiambo Jan 2024

Health Consequences Of Racial Disparity In Access To Abortion: A Systematic Review, Lacy M. Frye, Calvin Odhiambo

University of South Carolina Upstate Student Research Journal

Prior to the 2022 Dobbs decision, Black women already experienced negative maternal health outcomes at an alarmingly disparate rate in comparison to White women. Given that the Dobbs decision emboldens state power to enforce abortion restrictions or protections, there has been significant strides made in both directions. Nonetheless, within states where reproductive rights have been significantly eroded, the heightened abortion restrictions may compound the limited access that Black women previously had before Dobbs. This, in turn will exacerbate the already disparate negative maternal outcomes that Black women experience. However, research on the relationship between the lack of access to abortion …


Use Of Machine Learning Approaches To Predict Transition Of Retention In Care Among People Living With Hiv In South Carolina: A Real-World Data Study, Ruilie Cai, Xueying Yang Ph.D., Yunqing Ma, Hao H. Zhang, Bankole Olatosi Ph.D., Sharon Weissman, Xiaoming Li Ph.D., Jiajia Zhang Ph.D. Jan 2024

Use Of Machine Learning Approaches To Predict Transition Of Retention In Care Among People Living With Hiv In South Carolina: A Real-World Data Study, Ruilie Cai, Xueying Yang Ph.D., Yunqing Ma, Hao H. Zhang, Bankole Olatosi Ph.D., Sharon Weissman, Xiaoming Li Ph.D., Jiajia Zhang Ph.D.

Faculty Publications

Maintaining retention in care (RIC) for people living with HIV (PLWH) helps achieve viral suppression and reduce onward transmission. This study aims to identify the best machine learning model that predicts the RIC transition over time. Extracting from the enhanced HIV/AIDS reporting system, this study included 9765 PLWH from 2005 to 2020 in South Carolina. Transition of RIC was defined as the change of RIC status in each two–year time window. We applied seven classifiers, such as Random Forest, Support Vector Machine, eXtreme Gradient Boosting and Long–short–term memory, for each lagged response to predict the subsequent year's RIC transition. Classification …


Medicaid Managed Care Restrictions On Medications For The Treatment Of Opioid Use Disorder, Maureen T. Stewart, Christina M. Andrews Ph.D., Sage R. Feltus, Dominic Hodgkin, Constance M. Horgan, Cindy Parks Thomas, Thuong Nong Jan 2024

Medicaid Managed Care Restrictions On Medications For The Treatment Of Opioid Use Disorder, Maureen T. Stewart, Christina M. Andrews Ph.D., Sage R. Feltus, Dominic Hodgkin, Constance M. Horgan, Cindy Parks Thomas, Thuong Nong

Faculty Publications

Objective: To examine whether Medicaid managed care plan (MCP) utilization management policies for buprenorphine–naloxone and injectable naltrexone are related to key state Medicaid program policy decisions. Data Sources and Study Setting: We abstracted data on state Medicaid regulatory and policy information from publicly available sources and publicly available insurance benefit documentation from all 241 Medicaid MCPs operating in 2021. Study Design: In this cross-sectional study, we used bivariate and multivariate analyses to examine whether Medicaid MCP prior authorization and quantity limits on receipt of buprenorphine and injectable naltrexone were associated with key state Medicaid choices to leverage federal funds to …


Human Mobility And The Infectious Disease Transmission: A Systematic Review, M. Naser Lessani, Zhenlong Li, Fengrui Jing, Shan Qiao Ph.D., Jiajia Zhang Ph.D., Bankole Olatosi Ph.D., Xiaoming Li Ph.D. Jan 2024

Human Mobility And The Infectious Disease Transmission: A Systematic Review, M. Naser Lessani, Zhenlong Li, Fengrui Jing, Shan Qiao Ph.D., Jiajia Zhang Ph.D., Bankole Olatosi Ph.D., Xiaoming Li Ph.D.

Faculty Publications

Recent decades have witnessed several infectious disease outbreaks, including the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic, which had catastrophic impacts on societies around the globe. At the same time, the twenty-first century has experienced an unprecedented era of technological development and demographic changes: exploding population growth, increased airline flights, and increased rural-to-urban migration, with an estimated 281 million international migrants worldwide in 2020, despite COVID-19 movement restrictions. In this review, we synthesized 195 research articles that examined the association between human movement and infectious disease outbreaks to understand the extent to which human mobility has increased the risk of infectious disease outbreaks. …


Social Networks As Predictors Of Musculoskeletal Injury In U.S. Army Soldiers (Snap-Mski), Kristen L. Zosel Jan 2024

Social Networks As Predictors Of Musculoskeletal Injury In U.S. Army Soldiers (Snap-Mski), Kristen L. Zosel

Theses and Dissertations

INTRODUCTION: Musculoskeletal injuries (MSKIs) are the leading cause of medical non-readiness among U.S. Army Soldiers, costing the Military Health System an estimated $4.7 billion annually in direct and indirect costs. Current MSKI mitigation efforts focus on individual attributes such as body mass index and gender. However, emerging research highlights the significance of social ties on health outcomes and behaviors. This study examined the patterns of MSKI within military social networks and how social interactions, along with health behaviors such as sleep, physical activity (PA), and diet, co-occur in Soldiers with and without MSKI. METHODS: Phase 1 involved a cross-sectional sociocentric …


Cancer Survivorship And Subjective Cognitive Decline In The Us: Results From A Nationally Representative Sample, Monique J. Brown, Ally Hucek, Jingkai Wei, Loretta Anderson, Muzi Na Dec 2023

Cancer Survivorship And Subjective Cognitive Decline In The Us: Results From A Nationally Representative Sample, Monique J. Brown, Ally Hucek, Jingkai Wei, Loretta Anderson, Muzi Na

Faculty Publications

Cancer may be associated with objective cognitive decline. However, studies examining the link between cancer and subjective cognitive decline (SCD), which occurs earlier during cognitive trajectories, are lacking. In addition, research assessing risk factors for SCD among cancer survivors is scant. Therefore, this study aimed to examine the association between cancer and SCD in the past year, and assess the association between age of diagnosis, cancer treatment, and SCD among cancer survivors. Data were obtained from the 2021 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (N=15,447). Crude and adjusted logistic regression models, controlling for sociodemographic characteristics, were used to determine the association …


Patterns And Predictors Of Racial/Ethnic Disparities In Hiv Care Continuum In The Southern Usa: Protocol For A Population-Based Cohort Study, Xueying Yang Ph.D., Jiajia Zhang Ph.D., Bankole Olatosi Ph.D., Zhenlong Li, Sharon Weissman, Xiaoming Li Ph.D. Dec 2023

Patterns And Predictors Of Racial/Ethnic Disparities In Hiv Care Continuum In The Southern Usa: Protocol For A Population-Based Cohort Study, Xueying Yang Ph.D., Jiajia Zhang Ph.D., Bankole Olatosi Ph.D., Zhenlong Li, Sharon Weissman, Xiaoming Li Ph.D.

Faculty Publications

Introduction Health disparities exist at every step of the HIV care continuum (HCC) among racial/ethnic minority population. Such racial/ethnic disparities may have significantly delayed the progress in HCC in the Southern US states that are strongly represented among geographic focus areas in the 2019 federal initiative titled 'Ending the HIV Epidemic: A Plan for America'. However, limited efforts have been made to quantify the long-term spatiotemporal variations of HCC disparities and their contributing factors over time, particularly in the context of COVID-19 pandemic. This project aims to identify the spatiotemporal patterns of racial disparities of each HCC outcome and then …


Disease Severity Of Covid-19 In Different Phases Of The Pandemic: Do Healthcare Workers Have Better Outcomes?, Xueying Yang Ph.D., Fanghui Shi, Jiajia Zhang Ph.D., Haoyuan Gao, Shujie Chen, Bankole Olatosi Ph.D., Sharon Weissman, Xiaoming Li Ph.D. Dec 2023

Disease Severity Of Covid-19 In Different Phases Of The Pandemic: Do Healthcare Workers Have Better Outcomes?, Xueying Yang Ph.D., Fanghui Shi, Jiajia Zhang Ph.D., Haoyuan Gao, Shujie Chen, Bankole Olatosi Ph.D., Sharon Weissman, Xiaoming Li Ph.D.

Faculty Publications

Background:

This study aimed to characterize and compare the demographics, clinical profile, and COVID-19 outcomes between healthcare workers (HCWs) and non-HCWs COVID-19 patients diagnosed in different phases of the pandemic defined by the vaccine rollout policy and different variants that circulated in South Carolina (SC).

Methods:

Extracted from the statewide electronic health record data, we analyzed the clinical outcome of 34,502 HCWs and 1,071,020 non-HCWs adults diagnosed with SARS-CoV-2 between March 2, 2020 to April 14, 2022. Logistic regression models were used to explore the association between different pandemic phases and COVID-19 severity-related outcomes.

Results:

Substantial reductions in mortality were …


Racial Disparities In Adequacy Of Prenatal Care During The Covid-19 Pandemic In South Carolina, 2018–2021, Emmanuel Fabrice Julceus Md, Mph, Bankole Olatosi Ph.D., Peiyin Hung Ph.D., Jiajia Zhang Ph.D., Xiaoming Li Ph.D., Jihong Liu Sc.D. Dec 2023

Racial Disparities In Adequacy Of Prenatal Care During The Covid-19 Pandemic In South Carolina, 2018–2021, Emmanuel Fabrice Julceus Md, Mph, Bankole Olatosi Ph.D., Peiyin Hung Ph.D., Jiajia Zhang Ph.D., Xiaoming Li Ph.D., Jihong Liu Sc.D.

Faculty Publications

Background: During the COVID-19 pandemic, hospitals’ decision of not admitting pregnant women’s partner or support person, and pregnant women’s fear of contracting COVID-19 in hospitals may disrupt prenatal care. We aimed to examine whether prenatal care utilization in South Carolina varied before and during the COVID-19 pandemic, and whether the variation was different by race.

Methods: We utilized 2018–2021 statewide birth certificate data using a pre-post design, including all women who delivered a live birth in South Carolina. The Kotelchuck Index - incorporating the timing of prenatal care initiation and the frequency of gestational age-adjusted visits - was employed to …


Dual Barriers: Examining Digital Access And Travel Burdens To Hospital Maternity Care Access In The United States, 2020, Peiyin Hung Ph.D., Marion Granger, Nansi Boghossian, Jiani Yu, Sayward Harrison, Jihong Liu Sc.D., Berry A. Campbell, Bo Cai Ph.D., Chen Liang, Xiaoming Li Ph.D. Dec 2023

Dual Barriers: Examining Digital Access And Travel Burdens To Hospital Maternity Care Access In The United States, 2020, Peiyin Hung Ph.D., Marion Granger, Nansi Boghossian, Jiani Yu, Sayward Harrison, Jihong Liu Sc.D., Berry A. Campbell, Bo Cai Ph.D., Chen Liang, Xiaoming Li Ph.D.

Faculty Publications

Policy Points The White House Blueprint for Addressing the Maternal Health Crisis report released in June 2022 highlighted the need to enhance equitable access to maternity care. Nationwide hospital maternity unit closures have worsened the maternal health crisis in underserved communities, leaving many birthing people with few options and with long travel times to reach essential care. Ensuring equitable access to maternity care requires addressing travel burdens to care and inadequate digital access. Our findings reveal socioeconomically disadvantaged communities in the United States face dual barriers to maternity care access, as communities located farthest away from care facilities had the …


The Relationship Between Cancer Screening Utilization And Racial Discrimination: A Systematic Review, Priya Small, Amanda M. Hinson-Enslin, Timothy Crawford, Joanna Anderson Nov 2023

The Relationship Between Cancer Screening Utilization And Racial Discrimination: A Systematic Review, Priya Small, Amanda M. Hinson-Enslin, Timothy Crawford, Joanna Anderson

Journal of Ideology

Objective. To assess literature about cancer screening and cancer screening adherence among people of color and how discrimination impacts cancer screening and cancer screening adherence outcomes among patients of color.

Methods. PRISMA guidelines were used for the systematic review. EBSCO/MEDLINE, Web of Science, and CINAHL were searched and articles were uploaded in to Rayyan Systematic Review software. Three independent reviewers identified additional articles by searching reference lists of relevant articles; they completed the screening process and reviewed the included articles.

Results. Nine eligible studies were included, among which two were qualitative and seven were quantitative. Studies included one cancer screening …


Establishment Of A Birth-To-Education Cohort Of 1 Million Palestinian Refugees Using Electronic Medical Records And Electronic Education Records, Zeina Jamaluddine, Akihiro Seita, Ghada Ballout, Hussam Al-Fudoli, Gloria Paolucci, Shatha Albaik, Rami Ibrahim, Miho Sato, Hala Ghattas Ph.D., Oona M.R. Campbell Oct 2023

Establishment Of A Birth-To-Education Cohort Of 1 Million Palestinian Refugees Using Electronic Medical Records And Electronic Education Records, Zeina Jamaluddine, Akihiro Seita, Ghada Ballout, Hussam Al-Fudoli, Gloria Paolucci, Shatha Albaik, Rami Ibrahim, Miho Sato, Hala Ghattas Ph.D., Oona M.R. Campbell

Faculty Publications

Introduction

By linking datasets, electronic records can be used to build large birth-cohorts, enabling researchers to cost-effectively answer questions relevant to populations over the life-course. Currently, around 5.8 million Palestinian refugees live in five settings: Jordan, Lebanon, Syria, West Bank, and Gaza Strip. The United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) provides them with free primary health and elementary-school services. It maintains electronic records to do so.

We aimed to establish a birth cohort of Palestinian refugees born between 1st January 2010 and 31st December 2020 living in five settings by linking mother …


Strategies Elementary School Children Use To Influence Mothers' Food Purchasing Decisions, Nazratun N. Monalisa, Edward A. Frongillo Ph.D., Christine E. Blake Ph.D., Rd, Susan E. Steck, Robin B. Dipietro Oct 2023

Strategies Elementary School Children Use To Influence Mothers' Food Purchasing Decisions, Nazratun N. Monalisa, Edward A. Frongillo Ph.D., Christine E. Blake Ph.D., Rd, Susan E. Steck, Robin B. Dipietro

Faculty Publications

This study aimed to understand the strategies elementary-school-aged children used to influence mothers' food purchasing decisions. Semi-structured qualitative interviews were conducted with 40 children aged 6–11 years and their mothers living in South Carolina. Strategies to influence mothers' food purchases were collected from children and their mothers separately. The interviews were audio-recorded, transcribed verbatim, and open-coded. The constant comparative method was used for data analysis. Coding matrices were used to compare children's and mothers' responses on the children's strategies. Children reported 157 instances of 25 distinct strategies to influence mothers' purchasing decisions. Mothers had concordance with 83 instances of these …


Contributions Of Centeringpregnancy To Women’S Health Behaviours, Health Literacy, And Health Care Use In The Netherlands, Mary-Ann Wagijo, Mathilde Crone, Birgit Bruinsma-Can Zwicht, Jan Van Lith, Deborah Lynn Billings Phd, Marlies Rijnders Oct 2023

Contributions Of Centeringpregnancy To Women’S Health Behaviours, Health Literacy, And Health Care Use In The Netherlands, Mary-Ann Wagijo, Mathilde Crone, Birgit Bruinsma-Can Zwicht, Jan Van Lith, Deborah Lynn Billings Phd, Marlies Rijnders

Publications

The objective of this study was to assess the effects of CenteringPregnancy (CP) in the Netherlands on different health outcomes. A stepped wedged cluster randomized trial was used, including 2132 women of approximately 12 weeks of gestation, from thirteen primary care midwifery centres in and around Leiden, Netherlands. Data collection was done through self-administered questionnaires. Multilevel intention-to-treat analysis and pro pensity score matching for the entire group and separately for nulliparous- and multiparous women were employed. The main outcomes were: health behaviour, health literacy, psychological outcomes, health care use, and satisfaction with care. Women’s participation in CP is associated with …


Dietary Inflammatory Index During Pregnancy And Changes Over Time: Associations With Post-Partum Sleep Duration And Quality And Depressive Symptoms., Nowrin Tamanna Oct 2023

Dietary Inflammatory Index During Pregnancy And Changes Over Time: Associations With Post-Partum Sleep Duration And Quality And Depressive Symptoms., Nowrin Tamanna

Theses and Dissertations

STUDY OBJECTIVES: Sleep and mental health are two important factors for a new mother, as adequate sleep and a healthy mind help her prioritize self-care, seek support when needed, and create a nurturing environment for both her and her baby. Among various plausible theories exploring the etiology of sleep disturbances and depression, the concept of inflammation is gaining attention. This study examined the hypothesis that more pro-inflammatory diets during pregnancy are associated with a decrease in sleep quality and duration, abnormal sleep timing and higher Edinburg Postnatal depression score (EPDS) scores 6 months and 12 months post-partum.

METHODS: A secondary …


No More Loosies: A Mixed-Methods Study On The Implementation And Enforcement Of The Loose Cigarette And Bidi Sale Ban In India, Mayank Sakhuja Oct 2023

No More Loosies: A Mixed-Methods Study On The Implementation And Enforcement Of The Loose Cigarette And Bidi Sale Ban In India, Mayank Sakhuja

Theses and Dissertations

Background: Sale of loose cigarettes and bidis (loosies) is widely accepted as a key factor in promoting the tobacco epidemic in India. This mixed-methods study aimed to broaden understanding around the sale and purchase of loosies addressed three aims: 1) To determine the prevalence and correlates of loosies purchase in India; 2) To examine the association between purchase behavior and health warning labels (HWLs) exposure and responses, and 3) To conduct a stakeholder analysis regarding the ban on the sale of loosies in India. Methods: Data from the 2018-19 Tobacco Control Policy (TCP) India survey (643 current cigarette users and …


The Intersectionality Of Rurality And Race On Covid-19 Vaccination Among Adults In The United States, Shiba Simon Bailey Oct 2023

The Intersectionality Of Rurality And Race On Covid-19 Vaccination Among Adults In The United States, Shiba Simon Bailey

Theses and Dissertations

Background Vaccination remains a cornerstone of public health, significantly contributing to the prevention and control of infectious diseases. During the COVID-19 pandemic, vaccine development was critical to prevent new SARS-Cov-2 infections. However, COVID-19 vaccination uptake among racial and ethnic minority populations and rural residents in the United States (US) lags behind their urban non-Hispanic White counterparts. Underlying causes of these disparities are unclear, but vaccine hesitancy, access to care barriers, and structural racism may be to blame. Such barriers may vary by residential urbanicity, leading to different racial/ethnic disparities in rural and urban America. Understanding the variations in vaccine uptake …


Adverse Childhood Experiences And Social Determinants Of Health In Relation To Cigarette Smoking And E-Cigarette Use Among Adults, Kankana Sengupta Oct 2023

Adverse Childhood Experiences And Social Determinants Of Health In Relation To Cigarette Smoking And E-Cigarette Use Among Adults, Kankana Sengupta

Theses and Dissertations

Cigarette smoking is the leading cause of preventable morbidity and premature mortality in the U.S. and other high-income nations. E-cigarette use or vaping is an addictive behavior. During the past 5 years, the prevalence of e-cigarette use has increased markedly in U.S. adolescents and young adults. The public health implications of this increased prevalence are unclear. Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) are associated with cigarette smoking in adulthood. However, the pathway from experiencing ACEs in childhood to smoking cigarettes or using e-cigarettes in adulthood is not clearly understood. Additional factors experienced between childhood and adulthood might either increase or decrease the …


Geographic Differences In The Magnitude Of Black-White Disparities In Having Obesity, Steven A. Cohen, Monique J. Brown, Furong Xu, Caitlin C. Nash, Mary L. Greaney Oct 2023

Geographic Differences In The Magnitude Of Black-White Disparities In Having Obesity, Steven A. Cohen, Monique J. Brown, Furong Xu, Caitlin C. Nash, Mary L. Greaney

Faculty Publications

Background

Obesity disparities in the United States are well documented, but the limited body of research suggests that geographic factors may alter the magnitude of these disparities. A growing body of evidence has identified a “rural mortality penalty” where morbidity and mortality rates are higher in rural than urban areas, even after controlling for other factors. Black-White differences in health and mortality are more pronounced in rural areas than in urban areas.

Objective

Therefore, the purpose of this study was to explore how rural-urban status and region moderate Black-White health disparities in obesity.

Methods

Data were abstracted from the 2012 …


Understanding Commitment Of Local Food Banks, Faith-Based Organizations, And Schools To Provide Nongovernment Food Programs, Eliza M. Fishbein, Edward A. Frongillo Ph.D., Sharraf Samin, Audrey L. Richards, Christine E. Blake Ph.D., Rd, Ruth P. Saunders, Cheri J. Shapiro Oct 2023

Understanding Commitment Of Local Food Banks, Faith-Based Organizations, And Schools To Provide Nongovernment Food Programs, Eliza M. Fishbein, Edward A. Frongillo Ph.D., Sharraf Samin, Audrey L. Richards, Christine E. Blake Ph.D., Rd, Ruth P. Saunders, Cheri J. Shapiro

Faculty Publications

Background: Nongovernment food assistance is typically provided to families by faith-based organizations, schools, and food banks. Community organizations appear to be strongly committed to these programs, but little is known about the basis for this commitment. Objectives: The aim of this study was to examine the values and identities of community organizations to understand the reasons for their commitment to providing nongovernment food assistance. Methods: Thirty-three in-depth interviews were conducted with 36 leaders at faith-based organizations (19 participants), schools (14 participants), and a local food bank (3 participants) in South Carolina. Observations were made, and informational documents (e.g., flyers and …


Social Network Attributes Associated With Conversations About Smoking And Cessation And Differences By Socioeconomic Status, Victoria Catherine Lambert Oct 2023

Social Network Attributes Associated With Conversations About Smoking And Cessation And Differences By Socioeconomic Status, Victoria Catherine Lambert

Theses and Dissertations

Conversations about smoking and cessation in response to cessation messages appear to encourage quit attempts, yet there is some evidence that smokers with lower income and education have these conversations less often than their counterparts with higher income and education. No research has investigated the social network characteristics that encourage smokers to have these conversations or the mechanisms for SES differences in these conversations. Because social factors play a role in SES disparities in smoking and cessation as well as other health behaviors and outcomes, social network characteristics likely explain some SES differences in conversations about smoking and cessation. The …


The Genetic Associations Of Circadian Rhythm And Sleep Disorder Traits With Risk Of Monoclonal Gammopathy Of Undetermined Significance And Multiple Myeloma, Brittany Crawford Oct 2023

The Genetic Associations Of Circadian Rhythm And Sleep Disorder Traits With Risk Of Monoclonal Gammopathy Of Undetermined Significance And Multiple Myeloma, Brittany Crawford

Theses and Dissertations

Background: Circadian rhythm disruption and sleep have been widely studied for their roles in immunity and cancer development. Evidence for an association of circadian rhythm and sleep traits with multiple myeloma (MM) risk is inconclusive. No studies have investigated these traits in relation to monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance (MGUS). Given that MGUS precedes almost all MM cases, investigating sleep and circadian rhythm in relation to both MM and MGUS is necessary. The purpose of this dissertation was to explore the genetic influences of circadian rhythm and sleep traits on the risk of MGUS and MM. Methods: Data were leveraged …


A Comparative Analysis Of Adolescent Pregnancy Patient Outcomes In The United States And United Kingdom Healthcare Systems, Liza Hopper Oct 2023

A Comparative Analysis Of Adolescent Pregnancy Patient Outcomes In The United States And United Kingdom Healthcare Systems, Liza Hopper

Senior Theses

Individuals all across the world should have equal access to healthcare. However, one’s ability to receive and afford quality care differs between countries. Comparing the differences in healthcare structures in both the UK and the US provides great insight into how certain welfare models affect patient outcomes. In this project, I discuss the functionality of the healthcare systems in the UK and the US. Then, by delving into how they relate to adolescent pregnancy patient outcomes, one can compare how the healthcare policies relate to the patient outcomes of a vulnerable population group. In both countries, adolescent mothers, those who …


Analyzing African American College Student Willingness To Participate In Clinical Trials, Caitlin B. Ulmer Oct 2023

Analyzing African American College Student Willingness To Participate In Clinical Trials, Caitlin B. Ulmer

Senior Theses

Previous studies regarding African American participation in clinical trials have found that African Americans participate at a significantly lower rate than other ethnic/racial groups. Scholars argue that this lack of participation in clinical trials is a direct result of historical trauma linked to unethical experiments and African American distrust in the healthcare system. However, there is a gap in the literature because these studies focus on African American individuals above the age of 30. This study aimed to fill the gap by examining clinical trial participation among African American college students within the ages 18 to 23. This study also …


Correlates Of Immunization Timeliness In Three South Asian Countries: Secondary Analysis Of Demographic And Health Surveys, Tanzir Ahmed Shuvo Oct 2023

Correlates Of Immunization Timeliness In Three South Asian Countries: Secondary Analysis Of Demographic And Health Surveys, Tanzir Ahmed Shuvo

Theses and Dissertations

Despite the availability of effective vaccines, 1.5 million children under the age of 5 years die every year because of vaccine preventable diseases. Improvements in vaccine delivery infrastructure have resulted in relatively high coverage of vaccines, but many children are not receiving their vaccines on a timely basis. Timely administration of routine vaccines recommended by the Expanded Programme on Immunization (EPI) ensures maximum efficacy. It is vital to explore rates of vaccination timeliness and the correlates of timely vaccination among children to design targeted interventions for improving both coverage and timeliness. We conducted a secondary data analysis of the Demographic …


The Utility Of Bayesian Predictive Models To Forecast Arboviruses In The United States Of America And Territories, Maggie Suzanne Jennave Mccarter Oct 2023

The Utility Of Bayesian Predictive Models To Forecast Arboviruses In The United States Of America And Territories, Maggie Suzanne Jennave Mccarter

Theses and Dissertations

Statistical models have been utilized to understand and forecast infectious diseases across the globe. However, these models have historically been difficult to access and interpret for non-specialist audiences. This dissertation focuses on one computationally efficient model fitting method, the integrated nested LaPlace approximation approach, to forecast three arboviruses in hopes of encouraging accessibility to statistical modelling. Such accessibility could provide areas who simultaneously are most susceptible to infection, and have the least resources, an invaluable tool for informing policy and prevention decisions. The resulting models included biological, land cover, and environmental factors and produced accurate forecasts of neuroinvasive West Nile …


Examining Cancer Patients' Perceptions Of The Impact Of Covid-19 On Teleoncology: Findings From 15 Nigerian Outpatient Cancer Clinics, Adedayo Joseph, Abdul R. Shour, Nwamaka N. Lasebikan, Mutiu A. Jimoh, Bolanle C. Adegboyega, Emmanuella Nwachukwu, Opeyemi Awofeso, Azeezat Ajose, Abiola Ibraheem, Omolara Aminat Fatiregun, Musa Ali-Gombe, Usman M. Aliyu, Abdallah Elsaid Kotkat, Olusegun Abayomi Biyi-Olutunde, Evaristus Oseiwe Oboh, Ismail H. Zubairu, Mohammad Rifat Haider, Bankole Olatosi Ph.D., David Puthoff, Adedayo A. Onitilo Sep 2023

Examining Cancer Patients' Perceptions Of The Impact Of Covid-19 On Teleoncology: Findings From 15 Nigerian Outpatient Cancer Clinics, Adedayo Joseph, Abdul R. Shour, Nwamaka N. Lasebikan, Mutiu A. Jimoh, Bolanle C. Adegboyega, Emmanuella Nwachukwu, Opeyemi Awofeso, Azeezat Ajose, Abiola Ibraheem, Omolara Aminat Fatiregun, Musa Ali-Gombe, Usman M. Aliyu, Abdallah Elsaid Kotkat, Olusegun Abayomi Biyi-Olutunde, Evaristus Oseiwe Oboh, Ismail H. Zubairu, Mohammad Rifat Haider, Bankole Olatosi Ph.D., David Puthoff, Adedayo A. Onitilo

Faculty Publications

Purpose

To examine cancer patients' perspectives on the impact of COVID-19 on teleoncology in Nigeria.

Methods

Data from a multicenter survey conducted at 15 outpatient clinics to 1,097 patients with cancer from April and July 2020 were analyzed. The study outcome was telemedicine, defined as patients who reported their routine follow-up visits were converted to virtual visits because of COVID-19 (coded yes/no). Covariates included patient age, ethnicity, marital status, income, cancer treatment, service disruption, and cancer diagnosis/type. Stata/SE.v.17 (StataCorp, College Station, TX) was used to perform chi-square and logistic regression analyses. P values ≤ .05 were considered statistically significant.

Results …