Public Health Commons^™

Responding To The Call: Building A Training Program To Diversify The Academy In Alzheimer’S Disease Research, Lucy Annang Ingram Phd, Marvella E. Ford, Christiana L. Johnson, Brianna Ashford-Carroll, Quentin Mccollum, Daniela B. Friedman, Sue E. Levkoff

Faculty Publications

Alzheimer's disease and related dementias (ADRD) are at the forefront of the United States (US) public health agenda due to their tremendous human and financial burden. Further, disproportionately high ADRD rates among racial/ethnic minorities require incorporating the unique perspectives of racially and ethnically diverse scientists, which will necessitate diversifying the scientific workforce that investigates disparities in aging. The purpose of this paper is to describe the training and mentorship initiatives of the National Institute on Aging (NIA)-funded Carolina Center on Alzheimer's Disease and Minority Research, emphasizing lessons learned from our engagement with underrepresented minority and minoritized (URM) Scientists. We highlight …

Nutritional Approach For Increasing Public Health During Pandemic Of Covid-19: A Comprehensive Review Of Antiviral Nutrients And Nutraceuticals, Vahideh Ebrahimzadeh-Attari, Ghodratollah Panahi, James R. Hébert Scd, Alireza Ostadrahimi, Maryam Saghafi-Asl, Neda Lotfi-Yaghin, Behzad Baradaran

Faculty Publications

Background: The novel coronavirus (COVID-19) is considered as the most life-threatening pandemic disease during the last decade. The individual nutritional status, though usually ignored in the management of COVID-19, plays a critical role in the immune function and pathogenesis of infection. Accordingly, the present review article aimed to report the effects of nutrients and nutraceuticals on respiratory viral infections including COVID-19, with a focus on their mechanisms of action.

Methods: Studies were identified via systematic searches of the databases including PubMed/ MEDLINE, ScienceDirect, Scopus, and Google Scholar from 2000 until April 2020, using keywords. All relevant clinical and experimental studies …

Perceived Vulnerability To Covid-19 Infection From Event Attendance: Results From Louisiana, Usa, Two Weeks Preceding The National Emergency Declaration, Ran Li, Bingcheng Yang, Jerrod Penn, Bailey Houghtaling, Juan Chen, Witoon Prinyawiwatkul, Brian E. Roe, Danyi Qi

Faculty Publications

Background: Individual perceptions of personal and national threats posed by COVID-19 shaped initial response to the pandemic. The aim of this study was to investigate the changes in residents' awareness about COVID-19 and to characterize those who were more aware and responsive during the early stages of the pandemic in Louisiana.

Methods: In response to the mounting threat of COVID-19, we added questions to an ongoing food preference study held at Louisiana State University from March 3rd through March 12th, 2020. We asked how likely it was that the spread of the coronavirus will cause a national public health crisis …

Evaluating A Technology-Mediated Hpv Vaccination Awareness Intervention: A Controlled, Quasi-Experimental, Mixed Methods Study, Heather M. Brandt, Beth Sundstrom, Courtney M. Monroe, Gabrielle Turner-Mcgrievy, Chelsea Larsen, Melissa Stansbury, Karen Magradey, Andrea Gibson, Delia Smith West

Faculty Publications

College-aged women and men are an important catch-up population for human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination interventions. Limited research has explored technology-mediated HPV vaccination awareness interventions aimed at college students. The purpose was to evaluate a novel, technology-mediated, social media-based intervention to promote HPV vaccination among college students. A controlled, quasi-experimental, mixed methods study examined the feasibility of a technology-based intervention among two undergraduate classes ( = 58) at a public university in the southeastern United States of America. Classes were randomized to receive one of two cancer prevention programs (i.e., HPV vaccination (intervention) or healthy weight (control)). Both programs contained eight …

Information Uncertainty: A Correlate For Acute Stress Disorder During The Covid-19 Outbreak In China, Danhua Lin, Daniela B. Friedman Ph.D., Shan Qiao Ph.D., Cheuk Chi Tam, Xiaoyan Li, Xiaoming Li Ph.D.

Faculty Publications

Background: Individuals’ stress in responding to the current COVID-19 pandemic may be exacerbated by information uncertainty driven by inconsistent, unverified, and conflicting news from various sources. The current study aims to test if information uncertainty during the COVID-19 outbreak was related to acute stress disorder (ASD) over and above other psychosocial stressors.

Methods: An anonymous online survey was conducted with 7800 college students throughout China from January 31 through February 11, 2020. Existing scales were modified to measure ASD and six potential stressors including information uncertainty during the COVID-19 outbreak. Hierarchical regression analysis was conducted to assess the unique association …

Integrating Health Technologies In Health Services For Syrian Refugees In Lebanon: Qualitative Study, Reem Talhouk, Chaza Akik, Vera Araujo-Soares, Balsam Ahmad, Sandra Mesmar, Patrick Olivier, Madeline Balaam, Kyle Montague, Andrew Garbett, Hala Ghattas Ph.D.

Faculty Publications

Background:

Lebanon currently hosts around one million Syrian refugees. There has been an increasing interest in integrating eHealth and mHealth technologies into the provision of primary health care to refugees and Lebanese citizens.

Objective:

We aimed to gain a deeper understanding of the potential for technology integration in primary health care provision in the context of the protracted Syrian refugee crisis in Lebanon.

Methods:

A total of 17 face-to-face semistructured interviews were conducted with key informants (n=8) and health care providers (n=9) involved in the provision of health care to the Syrian refugee population in Lebanon. Interviews were audio recorded …

Lc-Ms/Ms Quantification Of Nevirapine And Its Metabolites In Hair For Assessing Long-Term Adherence, Haoran Yang, Liuxi Chu, Yan Wu, Wei Wang, Jin Yang, Quan Zhang, Shan Qiao Ph.D., Xiaoming Li Ph. D., Zhiyong Shen, Yuejiao Zhou, Shuaifeng Liu, Huihua Deng

Faculty Publications

The adherence assessment based on the combination of nevirapine (NVP) and its two metabolites (2-hydroxynevirapine and 3-hydroxynevirapine) would more comprehensively and accurately reflect long-term adherence than that of a single prototype. This study aimed to develop a specific, sensitive and selective method for simultaneous detection of the three compounds in hair and explore whether there was consistency among the three compounds in assessing long-term adherence. Furthermore, 75 HIV-positive patients who were taking the NVP drug were randomly recruited and divided into two groups (high-and low-adherence group). All participants self-reported their days of oral drug administration per month and provided their …

External Stoma Diversion: A Palliative Measure For Peristomal Wound Healing In Resource-Limited Settings, Rachel W. Davis, Youmna A. Sherif, Catherine Anne Morrison

Faculty Publications

The provision of intestinal stoma care is challenging in austere settings due to limitations in surgical and wound care access as well as the high cost and sparsity of ostomy supplies. As a result, many surgical patients suffer from ostomy-related complications such as peristomal wounds and are unable to find relief for these complications from standard treatments and measures. This article describes the external stoma diversion, a cost-effective palliative surgical procedure that assists in the healing of peristomal wounds in resource-limited settings.

Parkindex: Validation And Application Of A Pragmatic Measure Of Park Access And Use, Andrew T. Kaczynski, S. Morgan Hughey, Ellen W. Stowe, Marilyn E. Wende, J. Aaron Hipp, Elizabeth L. Oliphant, Jasper Schipperijn

Faculty Publications

Composite metrics integrating park availability, features, and quality for a given address or neighborhood are lacking. The purposes of this study were to describe the validation, application, and demonstration of ParkIndex in four diverse communities. This study occurred in Fall 2018 in 128 census block groups within Seattle(WA), Brooklyn(NY), Raleigh(NC), and Greenville County(SC). All parks within a half-mile buffer were audited to calculate a composite park quality score, and select households provided data about use of proximal parks via an online, map-based survey. For each household, the number of parks, total park acreage, and average park quality score within one …

Monitoring The Spatial Spread Of Covid-19 And Effectiveness Of Control Measures Through Human Movement Data: Proposal For A Predictive Model Using Big Data Analytics, Zhenlong Li, Xiaoming Li, Dwayne Porter Ph.D., Jiajia Zhang Ph.D., Yuqin Jiang, Bankole Olatosi Ph.D., Sharon Weissman

Faculty Publications

Background: Human movement is one of the forces that drive the spatial spread of infectious diseases. To date, reducing and tracking human movement during the COVID-19 pandemic has proven effective in limiting the spread of the virus. Existing methods for monitoring and modeling the spatial spread of infectious diseases rely on various data sources as proxies of human movement, such as airline travel data, mobile phone data, and banknote tracking. However, intrinsic limitations of these data sources prevent us from systematic monitoring and analyses of human movement on different spatial scales (from local to global). Objective: Big data from social …

Association Between Appendicular Skeletal Muscle Index And Leukocyte Telomere Length In Adults: A Study From National Health And Nutrition Examination Survey (Nhanes) 1999-2002, Lingzhi Chen, Nitin Shivaooa, Xiuxun Dong, Jingjing Ming

Faculty Publications

Background A higher body mass index (BMI) is associated with shorter telomeres. The loss of muscle mass with aging is associated with adverse outcomes. The appendicular skeletal muscle index (ASMI) is currently used to quantify muscle mass. Objective We investigated the association of the ASMI with leukocyte telomere length in adult Americans. Methods This cross-sectional study used the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) 1999–2002 dataset. Body composition was measured by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry. Low muscle mass was defined using sex-specific thresholds of the appendicular skeletal muscle mass index (ASMI). The telomere-to-single-copy gene ratio (T/S ratio) was converted to …

The Role Of Mental Health On The Relationship Between Food Insecurity And Immunologic Outcome Among People Living With Hiv In Guangxi, China, Cheng Chen, Xueying Yang, Chengbo Zeng, Xiaoming Li Ph.D., Shan Qiao Ph.D., Yuejiao Zhou

Faculty Publications

BACKGROUND

Previous studies showed that food insecurity could adversely affect clinical outcomes of people living with HIV (PLWH). The mental health pathways of such effects are suggested in existing literature, but empirical data are limited in resource-limited settings.

METHODS

This cross-sectional study aims to explore the role of depressive symptoms and anxiety on the association between food insecurity and CD4 counts among a sample of 2,987 PLWH in Guangxi, China. Path analysis was used to examine a hypothetical model and delta ztest was used to assess the indirect effects of food insecurity on CD4 counts through depressive symptoms and …

Development Of A Comprehensive Measure Of Organizational Readiness (Motivation × Capacity) For Implementation: A Study Protocol, Timothy J. Walker, Heather M. Brandt, Abraham Wandersman, Jonathan Scaccia, Andrea Lamont, Lauren Workman, Emanuelle Dias, Pamela M. Diamond, Derek W. Craig, Maria E. Fernandez

Faculty Publications

BACKGROUND: Organizational readiness is important for the implementation of evidence-based interventions. Currently, there is a critical need for a comprehensive, valid, reliable, and pragmatic measure of organizational readiness that can be used throughout the implementation process. This study aims to develop a readiness measure that can be used to support implementation in two critical public health settings: federally qualified health centers (FQHCs) and schools. The measure is informed by the Interactive Systems Framework for Dissemination and Implementation and R = MC heuristic (readiness = motivation × innovation-specific capacity × general capacity). The study aims are to adapt and further develop …

Evaluating Research Centers In Minority Institutions: Framework, Metrics, Best Practices, And Challenges, Angela Sy, Traci Hayes, Kelly Laurila, Carlamarie Noboa, Robbert J. Langwerden, Michelle M. Hospital, Doris A. Andújar-Pérez, Lakesha Stevenson, Suzanne M.Randolph Cunningham, Latrice Rollins, Hala Madanat, Tanya Penn, Shiva Mehravaran

Faculty Publications

The NIH-funded Research Centers in Minority Institutions (RCMI) program is currently funding 18 academic institutions to strengthen the research environment and contribution to health disparities research. The purpose of this multiphase mixed-methods study was to establish a uniform evaluation framework for demonstrating the collective success of this research consortium. Methods included discussions of aims and logic models at the RCMI Evaluators’ Workshop, a literature review to inform an evaluation conceptual framework, and a case study survey to obtain evaluation-related information and metrics. Ten RCMIs participated in the workshop and 14 submitted responses to the survey. The resultant RCMI Evaluation Conceptual …

Impact Of Mass Distribution Of Long-Lasting Insecticidal Nets (Llins) In Mozambique, 2011 To 2025: Retrospective And Prospective Modelling Of Child Mortality And Lives Saved, Erica Wetzler, Jorge A. H. Arroz, Chulwoo Park, Marta Chande, Figueiredo Mussambala

Faculty Publications

No abstract provided.

A Community-Based School Nutrition Intervention Improves Diet Diversity And School Attendance In Palestinian Refugee Schoolchildren In Lebanon, Zeina Jamaluddine, Jowel Choufani, Amelia Reese Masterson, Reem Hoteit, Nadine R. Sahyoun, Hala Ghattas Ph.D.

Faculty Publications

Background:

School feeding programs have the potential to supply children with healthy school food, alleviate short-term hunger, and improve children's educational outcomes.

Objectives:

We linked community kitchens to a subsidized school snack intervention and assessed the impact of this intervention on nutritional (diet diversity, hemoglobin, and anthropometry) and educational (attendance and academic performance) outcomes of Palestinian refugee schoolchildren.

Methods:

We collected data from 1362 students (aged 5-15 y) and their parents at baseline, and at an 8-mo follow-up in 2 control and 2 intervention schools. We conducted linear, logistic, and negative binomial regression analyses to assess changes in outcomes of …

Building Capacity In Dissemination And Implementation Science: A Systematic Review Of The Academic Literature On Teaching And Training Initiatives, Rachel E. Davis, Danielle D'Lima

Faculty Publications

BACKGROUND: The field of dissemination and implementation (D&I) science has grown significantly over recent years. Alongside this, an increased demand for training in D&I from researchers and implementers has been seen. Research describing and evaluating D&I training opportunities, referred to here as 'capacity building initiatives' (CBIs), can help provide an understanding of different methods of training as well as training successes and challenges. However, to gain a more detailed understanding of the evidence-base and how D&I CBIs are being reported in publications, a field-wide examination of the academic literature is required. METHODS: Systematic review to identify the type and range …

Association Between Dietary Inflammatory Index And Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus In Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region, China, Wenhui Fu, Hualian Pei, Nitin Shivaooa, James R. Hébert, Tao Luo, Tian Tian, Dilibaier Alimu, Zewen Zhang, Jianghong Dai

Faculty Publications

Background Diet and inflammation have both been studied in relation to type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). The aim of this cross-sectional study was to examine the association between the Dietary Inflammatory Index (DII®) and T2DM. Methods Subjects were adults enrolled in the baseline study of the Xinjiang multi-ethnic natural population cohort and health follow-up study from January to May 2019. The study involved 5,105 subjects (58.7% men) between 35 and 74 years of age. The DII score was calculated from a data obtained via a food frequency questionnaire consisting of 127 food items. Results Logistic regression analyses were used to …

Why Parents Say No To Having Their Children Vaccinated Against Measles: Social Determinants Of Parental Perceptions To Vaccine Hesitancy, M. Lelinneth B. Novilla, Michael C. Goates, Mallory Showalter, Lynneth Kirsten B. Novilla, Tyler Leffler, Russell B. Doria, Michael T. Dang, Katelyn Aldridge

Faculty Publications

Background: Although national and state immunization coverage rates are high, the resurgence of measles points to local pockets of under-vaccination that correspond with higher non-medical exemptions and lower parental confidence on vaccines. The reported geographic clustering of vaccine hesitancy, particularly against MMR, points to social drivers that shape parental perceptions and decisions on immunization.

Objectives. To analyze: (1) why parents delay or refuse vaccination, specifically MMR; (2) social context of vaccine hesitancy and perceived reliable sources of vaccine information between vaccine-hesitant and vaccine-compliant parents/guardians; (3) role of families in countering vaccine hesitancy; (4) strategies at the public health, primary care, …

Terminal Logic Behavior And Strategic Defection Of Governmental Officials During Presidential Transitions In Guatemala: Implications For The Sustainability Of Food And Nutrition Security Policy, Jessica L. Escobar-Alegria, Edward A. Frongillo Jr., Christine E. Blake

Faculty Publications

Background: Presidents with no possibility of re-election overvalue far-future rewards and succumb to terminal logic behavior (TLB), responding to end-of-tenure legacy concerns despite political context. Government authorities perceiving the outgoing government is losing power at the end of term behave under the logic of strategic defection (SD), dissociating from the outgoing government once it is perceived powerless. In countries where re-election is impossible and government turnover and inconstant political parties are concerns, governmental officials at all levels may show TLB and SD during transitions that affect policy sustainability. Objectives: This study aimed to understand the context during presidential transitions that …

Parental Concerns And Uptake Of Childhood Vaccines In Rural Tanzania – A Mixed Methods Study, Lavanya Vasudevan, Joy Noel Baumgartner, Sara Moses, Esther Ngadaya, Sayoki Godfrey Mfinanga, Jan Ostermann

Faculty Publications

Background

Vaccine hesitancy has been recognized as an important barrier to timely vaccinations around the world, including in sub-Saharan Africa. In Tanzania, 1 in 4 children is not fully vaccinated. The objective of this mixed methods study was to describe and contextualize parental concerns towards vaccines in Tanzania.

Methods

Between 2016 and 2017, we conducted a cross-sectional survey (n = 134) and four focus group discussions (FGDs, n = 38) with mothers of children under 2 years of age residing in Mtwara region in Southern Tanzania. The survey and FGDs assessed vaccination knowledge and concerns and barriers to timely vaccinations. …

Framework For A Community Health Observing System For The Gulf Of Mexico Region: Preparing For Future Disasters, Paul Sandifer, Landon Knapp, Maureen Lichtveld, Ruth Manley, David Abramson, Rex Caffey, David Cochran, Tracy Collier, Kristie Ebi, Lawrence Engel, John Farrington, Melissa Finucane, Christine Hale, David Halpern, Emily Harville, Leslie Hart, Yulin Hswen, Barbara Kirkpatrick, Bruce Mcewen, Glenn Morris, Raymond Orbach, Lawrence Palinkas, Melissa Partyka, Dwayne Porter, Aric A. Prather, Teresa Rowles, Geoffrey Scott, Teresa Seeman, Helena Solo-Gabriele, Erik Svendsen, Terry Tincher, Juli Trtanj, Ann Hayward Walker

Faculty Publications

© Copyright © 2020 Sandifer, Knapp, Lichtveld, Manley, Abramson, Caffey, Cochran, Collier, Ebi, Engel, Farrington, Finucane, Hale, Halpern, Harville, Hart, Hswen, Kirkpatrick, McEwen, Morris, Orbach, Palinkas, Partyka, Porter, Prather, Rowles, Scott, Seeman, Solo-Gabriele, Svendsen, Tincher, Trtanj, Walker, Yehuda, Yip, Yoskowitz and Singer. The Gulf of Mexico (GoM) region is prone to disasters, including recurrent oil spills, hurricanes, floods, industrial accidents, harmful algal blooms, and the current COVID-19 pandemic. The GoM and other regions of the U.S. lack sufficient baseline health information to identify, attribute, mitigate, and facilitate prevention of major health effects of disasters. Developing capacity to assess adverse human …

African American Emerging Adult Perspectives On Unintended Pregnancy And Meeting Their Needs With Mobile Technology: Mixed Methods Qualitative Study, Lucy Annang Ingram, Crystal Stafford, Quentin Mccollum, Mckenzie Isreal

Faculty Publications

Background: In the United States, a disproportionate number of unintended pregnancies occur among African Americans, particularly those in their later teenage years and early 20s. Mobile technology is becoming more ubiquitous as a method for health promotion; however, relatively little research has been done with this population to determine their perspectives about unintended pregnancy, the potential of successfully using mobile technology to prevent unintended pregnancy, and the content of such programs.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to obtain the perspectives of African American emerging adults about unintended pregnancy and the use of mobile technology to reduce unintended pregnancy …

Sensor-Measured Physical Activity Is Associated With Decreased Cardiovascular Disease Risk In African Americans, John A. Bernhart Ph.D., Mph, Ches, Gabrielle M. Turner-Mcgrievy Ph.D., Rd, Sarah Eustis, Mary J. Wilson Phd, Mph, Brent Hutto Msph, Sara Wilcox Phd, Edward A. Frongillo Jr. Ph.D., E. Angela Murphy

Faculty Publications

Introduction: Few studies have examined relationships between sensor-measured physical activity (PA) and cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk among African Americans. This study described relationships between PA and CVD risk in NEW Soul study participants. Methods: Participants completed a dual X-ray absorptiometry scan and measures of blood pressure, waist and hip circumference, height, and weight. Actigraph GTM accelerometers measured moderate to vigorous physical activity (MVPA). We assessed relationships between minutes/day of MVPA and total body fat percent, total lean body mass, total fat mass, total bone mass, total fat distribution, body mass index (BMI), systolic and diastolic blood pressure, and waist-to-hip ratio, …

National Nutrition Strategies That Focus On Maternal, Infant, And Young Child Nutrition In Southeast Asia Do Not Consistently Align With Regional And International Recommendations, Tuan T. Nguyen, Ashley Darnell, Amy Weissman, Jennifer Cashin, Mellissa Withers, Roger Mathisen, Karin Lapping, Timothy D. Mastro, Edward A. Frongillo Jr.

Faculty Publications

We examined the consistency of national nutrition strategies and action plans (NNS) focusing on maternal, infant, and young child nutrition in Southeast Asia with regional and international recommendations. Between July and December 2017, we identified and extracted information on context, objectives, interventions, indicators, strategies, and coordination mechanisms from the most recent NNS in nine Southeast Asian countries. All NNS described context, objectives, and the following interventions: antenatal care, micronutrient supplementation during pregnancy, breastfeeding promotion, improved complementary feeding, nutrition in emergencies, and food fortification or dietary diversity. Micronutrient supplementation for young children was included in eight NNS; breastfeeding promotion during pregnancy …

Early Breastfeeding Practices Contribute To Exclusive Breastfeeding In Bangladesh, Vietnam And Ethiopia, Phuong Hong Nguyen, Sunny S. Kim, Lan Mai Tran, Purnima Menon, Edward A. Frongillo Jr.

Faculty Publications

Limited evidence exists on the complex relationship among interventions, early initiation of breastfeeding (EIBF), prelacteal feeding and exclusive breastfeeding (EBF). We examined whether early breastfeeding practices are associated with EBF and how much improving EIBF and non-prelacteal feeding contributes to increased prevalence of EBF. Survey data were collected in 2010 and 2014 as part of impact evaluations of Alive & Thrive (A&T) interventions to improve infant and young child feeding (IYCF) practices in Bangladesh, Vietnam and Ethiopia. Multivariable logistic regression analyses were used to examine effects of interventions and early breastfeeding practices on EBF. Structural equation modelling quantified the direct …

Elementary Classroom Teachers’ Self-Reported Use Of Movement Integration Products And Perceived Facilitators And Barriers Related To Product Use, Roddrick Dugger, Aaron Rafferty, Ethan Hunt, Michael W. Beets, Collin Andrew Webster, Brian Chen, Jeffrey Michael Rehling, Robert Glenn Weaver

Faculty Publications

Movement integration (MI) products are designed to provide children with physical activity during general education classroom time. The purpose of this study was to examine elementary classroom teachers’ self-reported use of MI products and subsequent perceptions of the facilitators of and barriers to MI product use. This study utilized a mixed-methods design. Elementary classroom teachers (n = 40) at four schools each tested four of six common MI products in their classroom for one week. Teachers completed a daily diary, documenting duration and frequency of product use. Following each product test, focus groups were conducted with teachers to assess facilitators …

Intermittent Pneumatic Compression For Venous Thromboembolism Prevention: A Systematic Review On Factors Affecting Adherence, Richard Greenall, Rachel E. Davis

Faculty Publications

OBJECTIVE: Venous thromboembolism (VTE) is a potentially fatal complication of hospitalisation. Intermittent pneumatic compression (IPC) is one approach to reducing the likelihood of a VTE. Adherence to IPC is known to be inadequate though the reasons for this remain unclear. This systematic review explores factors that affect adherence to IPC in the inpatient context. METHODS: Information sources-EMBASE, MEDLINE and PsycINFO were searched for literature between January 1960 and May 2019. Eligibility criteria-studies were included if they focused on inpatient care and examined factors affecting adherence to IPC devices. RESULTS: Included studies-a total of 20 out of 1476 studies were included. …

Racial Disparities In Air Pollution Burden And Covid-19 Deaths In Louisiana, Usa, In The Context Of Long-Term Changes In Fine Particulate Pollution, Kimberly A. Terrell, Wesley James

Faculty Publications

Black Americans in Louisiana are disproportionately dying from COVID-19, and environmental disparities may be contributing to this injustice. While Black communities in Louisiana's industrialized regions (e.g., Cancer Alley, Calcasieu Parish) have been overburdened with pollution for decades, this disparity has not been evaluated by using recent data. Here, we explore statewide relationships among air pollution burden, race, COVID-19 death rates, and other health/socioeconomic factors. Measures of pollution burden included satellite-derived particulate matter (PM2.5) concentrations and health risks from toxic air pollution (i.e., respiratory hazard [RH] and immunological hazard [IH], estimated by the Environmental Protection Agency). In addition, we evaluate changes …

Building Implementation Science In Nutrition, Andrea M. Warren, Edward A. Frongillo Jr., Rahul Rawat

Faculty Publications

The field of nutrition has been investing in the development of many nutrition-specific and -sensitive policies and programs aimed at improving population-level malnutrition in all its forms. When there is a need to learn about a new system, programmatic context, or target population to understand how to effectively deploy an intervention to help improve nutrition, it is important to be able to ask a broad range of questions, both in topic and in scope. Our aim is to provide a simple and conceptually clear definition and principles to elaborate the science of implementation for nutrition to distinguish it from other …