Public Health Commons^™

Public Health Heart And Soul: Jean Ellet Chabut, Bsn, Mph (1942-2014), Julie Gleason-Comstock, Steven C. Gold, Greg Cline

Michigan Journal of Public Health

No abstract provided.

Table Of Contents

Michigan Journal of Public Health

No abstract provided.

Posters From The 2014 Michigan Epidemiology Conference, Talat Danish

Michigan Journal of Public Health

Poster session presenters from the annual Michigan Epidemiology Conference were invited to submit their posters for publication in the Michigan Journal of Public Health. Submissions were accepted from two authors on subjects much in health news and very relevant to public health. One poster looks at NHANES data for use of energy drinks with interesting recommendations for future research, and the other poster attempts to predict health care costs associated with hospital acquired Methicillin Resistant Staph. Aureus and Clostridium Difficile infections.

Posters included:

The MDCH SHARP MRSA?CDI Prevention Initiative: A Cost Analysis

Noreen Mollon, MS, Bryan Buckley, MPH, Gail Denkins, …

Libertarian Patriarchalism: Nudges, Procedural Roadblocks, And Reproductive Choice, Govind Persad

Georgetown Law Faculty Publications and Other Works

Cass Sunstein and Richard Thaler's proposal that social and legal institutions should steer individuals toward some options and away from others-a stance they dub "libertarian paternalism"-has provoked much high-level discussion in both academic and policy settings. Sunstein and Thaler believe that steering, or "nudging," individuals is easier to justify than the bans or mandates that traditional paternalism involves.

This Article considers the connection between libertarian paternalism and the regulation of reproductive choice. I first discuss the use of nudges to discourage women from exercising their right to choose an abortion, or from becoming or remaining pregnant. I then argue that …

Governing For Health As The World Grows Older: Healthy Lifespans In Aging Societies, Lawrence O. Gostin, Anna Garsia

Georgetown Law Faculty Publications and Other Works

So much of global health governance focuses intensely on a brief moment in the human lifespan—from a safe birth to infant and child survival. Yet, with all the attention to this early window of life (infancy to age five), the opposite end of the life spectrum is comparatively neglected. The Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) do not mention a healthy lifespan or a healthy old age. This inadequate attention to the older years of the life appears to be a glaring omission given the universal challenges posed by aging societies. Aging is a demographic fact in almost all countries, but it …

Coverage And Quality Of Antenatal Care Provided At Primary Health Care Facilities In The ‘Punjab’ Province Of ‘Pakistan’, Muhammad Ashraf Majrooh, Seema Hasnain, Javaid Akram, Arif Siddiqui,, Zahid Memon

Centre of Excellence in Women and Child Health

Background: Antenatal care is a very important component of maternal health services. It provides the opportunity to learn about risks associated with pregnancy and guides to plan the place of deliveries thereby preventing maternal and infant morbidity and mortality. In ‘Pakistan’ antenatal services to rural population are being provided through a network of primary health care facilities designated as 'Basic Health Units and Rural Health Centers. Pakistan is a developing country, consisting of four provinces and federally administered areas. Each province is administratively subdivided in to ‘Divisions’ and ‘Districts’. By population ‘Punjab’ is the largest province of Pakistan having …

Certified Personal Trainers And Physicians: An Evaluation Of Consumer Preference, Influence, And Decision Making On Intent To Use A Weight-Loss Medication, Linda Lemgruber Lobb

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

In health-related behavioral decision-making, the Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB) posits that attitudes toward a behavior are the function of three metrics: beliefs and strengths of beliefs toward the behavior, subjective norms around the behavior and locus of control for the individual (Ajzen, 1988). The purpose of this research was to identify the extent to which consumers would accept the recommendation of taking weight-loss medications, based on the source of the recommendation. Research shows that the source of knowledge for information plays a significant role in health-related decision-making of consumers (Pornpitakpan, 2004). In comparison to traditional weight-loss methods such as …

Influences Of Maternal Stress During Pregnancy On The Epi/Genome: Comparison Of Placenta And Umbilical Cord Blood, Jia Chen, Qian Li, Alexender Rialdi, Elana Mystal, Jenny Ly, Jackie Finik, Taira Davey, Luca Lambertini, Yoko Nomura

Publications and Research

Background: Maternal stress during pregnancy is one of the major adverse environmental factors in utero that is capable of influencing health outcomes of the offspring throughout life. Both genetic and epigenetic processes are susceptible to environmental insults in utero and are potential biomarkers of the experienced environment including maternal stress.

Methods: We profiled expression level of six genes in hypothalamic pituitary adrenal (HPA) axis functioning (HSD11B2, SLC6A4, NR3C1, NR3C2, CRHR1 and CRHR2), two imprinted genes (IGF2 and H19) and one neurodevelopmental gene (EGR1), from 49 pairs of placenta and umbilical cord blood (UCB) samples from a birth cohort. We also …

Massachusetts Healthy Aging Data Report: Community Profiles, Elizabeth Dugan, Frank Porell, Nina Silverstein, Ruth Palombo, Stacey Mann

Gerontology Institute Publications

The Massachusetts Healthy Aging Data Report: Community Profiles was created by researchers at the Gerontology Institute of the John W. McCormack Graduate School of Policy and Global Studies at the University of Massachusetts Boston and commissioned by the Tufts Health Plan Foundation.

In this report, we have created a custom profile of nearly 100 healthy aging indicators for every city and town in Massachusetts including the 16 neighborhoods of Boston (367 Community Profiles). Each Community Profile is designed to help community residents, agencies, providers, and governments understand the older adults who live in their cities and towns – their ages, …

Evaluation Of The Jewish Community Housing For The Elderly Memory Support Initiative, Joan Hyde

Gerontology Institute Publications

Jewish Community Housing for the Elderly (JCHE) is a large, multi-campus organization that houses and serves 1,500 residents (80 market rate and 1,420 low income). The average age is 80 years old, with one-third of residents 85 and older. Three quarters of the residents are not native English speakers. Through HUD and other funding, JCHE offers a range of supports to these residents, including translators, interpreters and staff with language and cultural competence, meals, transportation and, through their Service Coordinators, facilitation of resident access to government benefits, home care and other services.

According to the Alzheimer’s Association’s 2012 special report …

Assessing Transgender Attitudes Toward Health Care: Can These Attitudes Help Predict Health Outcomes?, Sara M. Shane

PCOM Psychology Dissertations

Research has identified the fact that race/ethnicity, sexual orientation, gender identity, socioeconomic status, education level, geographic location, help seeking behaviors, and experiences of discrimination are associated with health outcomes. In addition, attitudes towards providers can also help determine health outcomes. The transgender community experiences barriers to health care services and therefore their overall health is affected. There is not a sufficient amount of literature that assesses, using standardized measure, the attitudes of the transgender community and their health. The present study will assess the attitudes of the transgender community toward health care (mental and medical health) and, using standardized measures, …

Injury Prevention With Physical Therapy, Karen Kott, Margaret F. Lemaster

Rehabilitation Sciences Faculty Publications

(First paragraph) Ergonomics is the study of human performance (positioning and movement) and workplace design, such as equipment, ambience, and placement. The purpose of ergonomics is to maximize productivity by increasing safety, improving work quality, reducing operator fatigue and discomfort, and decreasing the risk of work -related musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs).^1-3

Disability And Women's Health, Stephanie Stockburger, Hatim A. Omar

Pediatrics Faculty Publications

Children, adolescents, and women with disabilities experience the same sexual development, pubertal changes, concerns, and desire to reproduce as their typically developing counterparts. However, society has tended to stigmatize women with disabilities as "asexual" and ignore this aspect of their health care. These women are less likely to receive gynecological exams, contraception, and evaluation of sexual dysfunction. Unfortunately, having a disability places women at risk for sexual exploitation and abuse as well as sexually transmitted infections. Therefore, reproductive health care for these women is imperative. A number of barriers to receiving reproductive care exist. However, with proper education and knowledge …

Academic Predictors And Characteristics Of Self-Reported Juvenile Firesetting, Carrie Howell Bowling, Hatim A. Omar

Pediatrics Faculty Publications

The main purpose of this study was to address gaps in existing research by examining the relationship between academic performance and attention problems with juvenile firesetting. Two datasets from the Achenbach System for Empirically Based Assessment (ASEBA) were used. The Factor Analysis Dataset (N = 975) was utilized and results indicated that adolescents who report lower academic performance are more likely to set fires. Additionally, adolescents who report a poor attitude toward school are even more likely to set fires. Logistic regressions were run to determine if attention problems predicted firesetting and the findings indicated that attention problems are predictive …

Adolescence And Sexuality, Joav Merrick, Ariel Tenenbaum, Hatim A. Omar

Pediatrics Faculty Publications

No abstract provided.

Comparison Of Body Composition Measures In Older Adult Males, Cody Smith

Honors Projects

Body Mass Index (BMI) is a measure created to assess population wide staistics of obesity and stratify health risk. However, there are large differences in health risk when comparing BMI with measures of body composition. BMI is not a measure of body composition. Body composition measures are used to distinguish between fat mass, fat-free mass. This percent body fat is more significantly correlated with health risk.

This study analyzed various body composition methodologies including waist circumference at the umbilicus and at the narrowest point of the abdomen, sagittal abdominal diameter, bioelectrical impedance analysis, and air displacement plethysmography. The study’s purpose …

Breast Health And Access To Care In The Kentucky Women's Health Registry, Sarah Yeiser

Theses and Dissertations--Public Health (M.P.H. & Dr.P.H.)

Breast cancer is the second leading cause of death (14%) among all cancers in women in Kentucky.1 In 2010 the United States incident rates of breast cancer in white women were 122.6 per 100,000, and 118 per 100,000 in black women.2 Although breast cancer is diagnosed more in white women, black women are more likely to die from breast cancer and usually have more advanced stages of breast cancer upon diagnosis.2 In Kentucky from 2003-2007 the age-adjusted breast cancer mortality rate was 23.6 per 100,00 in white women and 32.8 per 100,000 black women. Black women die from breast cancer …

The Effect Of Television Watching On Condom Use Among 9th-12th Graders, Rashidat Mohammed

Theses and Dissertations--Public Health (M.P.H. & Dr.P.H.)

Abstract: At least one out of every three youth will acquire a Sexually Transmitted Infection (STI) by the time they reach 25 years old. Although this may be caused by a variety of factors, sexually-charged media are believed to play a significant role. In television, there are more sexually inaccurate messages than there are portrayals of sexually responsible behaviors. These messages are not only unrealistic, but they could potentially have negative effects on adolescent sexual behavior. Among these negative effects is failure to use condoms. When used correctly, male condoms are about 98% effective. Recommendations are presented to help address …

Improvement Of Tobacco-Free Policy Enforcement At The University Of Kentucky, Muchen Bai

Theses and Dissertations--Public Health (M.P.H. & Dr.P.H.)

Smoking has been known as the leading preventable cause of death and premature disease in the United States (DHHS, 2014). Every year, cigarette smoking causes more than 480,000, approximately, one in five deaths (DHHS, 2014). According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), "smoking causes more deaths each year than all of the listed combined: Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), Illegal drug use, Alcohol use, Motor vehicle injuries, and Firearm-related incidents" (CDC, 2014). Since 1964, 31 Surgeon General's Reports have revealed the causal relationship between health outcomes and tobacco smoke exposure (DHHS, 2014). The report, The Health Consequences of …

Association Between Co-Sleeping And Breastfeeding: Does Prenatal Care Make A Difference?, Brynne Kathleen Adams

Theses and Dissertations--Public Health (M.P.H. & Dr.P.H.)

Prenatal care is important to ensure a healthy pregnancy for both a woman and her baby. According to the Mayo Clinic, prenatal care should start as soon as there is a positive pregnancy test and should continue throughout the pregnancy.1 The more prenatal care visits a woman attends, the more opportunities to detect potential problems and offer health education materials to help ensure a healthy pregnancy. Prenatal care visits are also used to discuss what may happen after the woman delivers particularly early infant care and breastfeeding. Mothers who do not receive adequate prenatal care are three times more likely …

The Relationship Between Perceived High Levels Of Stress And Non-Condom Usage Among College Students At The University Of Kentucky, Samantha Bearman

Theses and Dissertations--Public Health (M.P.H. & Dr.P.H.)

Introduction: Due to the paucity of research that specifically examines the non-use of condoms, during sexual encounters, as a maladaptive coping strategy for stress among college students; the purpose of my study, is to determine if there is an association between perceived high levels of stress and the decreased likelihood of condom use during sex among students at the University of Kentucky. Method: The cross-sectional descriptive study investigated health behaviors and attitudes towards health behaviors in a sample of 7,000 University of Kentucky students enrolled in courses for fall 2013. Participants were randomly selected to partake in an anonymous online …

Impact Of Routine Immunization Coverage In Controlling Measles And Progressing Toward The Introduction Of Rubella Containing Vaccine: A Comparison Study Between Rwanda And Uganda, Carmen Kupangi Dibaya

Theses and Dissertations--Public Health (M.P.H. & Dr.P.H.)

Despite the existence of safe and effective vaccines, measles and rubella present a major public health problem in many developing countries, disproportionally affecting low-income populations.1-3 Indeed, measles and rubella remain two of the leading causes of death and congenital defects in children worldwide.4-6 In 2008, an estimated 10 million new cases and 164,000 deaths were reported from measles alone.3 During the same time period, the United Nations International Children's Emergency Fund (UNICEF) reported an estimated 110,000 cases of Congenital Rubella Syndrome (CRS) in developing countries, with the continent of Africa shouldering 38% of the disease burden.7 Measles is a highly …

An Evaluation Of Three Positive Parenting Practices And Their Combined Impact On Developmental, Social, Or Behavioral Delays In Children Ages 1-5 In The United States, Sarah Cprek

Theses and Dissertations--Public Health (M.P.H. & Dr.P.H.)

Objectives: (1) Determine whether three individual positive parenting practices (PPP) – reading to children, engaging in storytelling or singing, and eating meals together as a family – decrease the risk of developmental, behavioral, or social delays among children between the ages of 1-5 years in the United States. (2) Determine if a combination of these parenting practices has an additive effect on the outcome. Methods: Multiple logistic regression and chi-square analyses were used to analyze data from the National Survey of Children’s Health 2011/2012 in regards to the relationship between each of the three individual PPP as well as a …

Distribution Of Wildlife Rabies In Central Appalachia And Analysis Of Factors Influencing Human Exposure, Sara J. Reilly

Theses and Dissertations--Public Health (M.P.H. & Dr.P.H.)

Abstract Background: The rabies virus is a Lyssavirus of the family Rhabdoviridae which affects all mammals and causes progressive encephalomyelitis that is fatal in nearly one hundred percent of untreated cases. In the United States, wildlife act as the primary reservoir for rabies and prevention, surveillance, and control costs remain high. The purpose of this study is to understand the current distribution of wildlife rabies in Central Appalachia, as well as identify any demographic or geographic factors which may affect the risk of human exposure at the county level. Methods: A spatial statistical analysis using StatScan was performed to identify …

Narrative And Qualitative Analyses Of Workers' Compensation-Covered Injuries In Short-Haul Vs. Long-Haul Trucking Industries, Mark D. Chandler

Theses and Dissertations--Public Health (M.P.H. & Dr.P.H.)

ABSTRACT

Problem: Trucking transportation remains one of the most dangerous industries in the US. The aims of the current study were to (1) identify and characterize differences in injury types between workers in short-haul and long-haul trucking; (2) analyze and code narrative text to identify and characterize the on-the-job activities associated with injuries within each trucking industry group; and (3) identify areas for targeted improvement of safety interventions. Method: Quantitative and narrative analyses of 2012 Kentucky short-haul and long-haul truck transportation workers’ compensation first reports of injury and narrative text data were performed. Chi-square tests assessed differences in demographics, injuries, …

Examination Of The Prevalence And Mediating Factors Of Diabetes Diagnoses In Kentucky Women With A History Of Gestational Diabetes, Courtney Danielle Ryan

Theses and Dissertations--Public Health (M.P.H. & Dr.P.H.)

Diabetes mellitus (DM) is an overwhelming health issue in the United States affecting 25.8 million people, which is equivalent to 8.3% of the population.1 It is the seventh leading cause of death and a major cause of serious complications such as heart disease, stroke, kidney failure, nontraumatic lower limb amputations, and new causes of blindness among adults in the U.S.1 Paralleling the obesity epidemic, the rates of DM incidence and prevalence continue to rise each year.2 One particularly troubling public health issue related to DM is that over a quarter of the people who have this disease are unaware, even …

Connecting The Supply And Need For Buprenorphine Treatment In Kentucky Counties, Ellen Lavonne Parker

Theses and Dissertations--Public Health (M.P.H. & Dr.P.H.)

Abstract Background: Prescription opioid drug overdose mortality rates have surpassed those of motor vehicle accidents in Kentucky. While opioid overdose plagues the state, buprenorphine is an FDA approved medication that has proven effective in treating opioid dependence. Objectives: This study examined the supply of licensed buprenorphine providers and community treatment centers in each county of Kentucky along with the need for treating opioid use disorder in each county. Methods: Licensed buprenorphine physicians and community treatment centers prescribing buprenorphine were identified through the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration online treatment locator. The need for treatment was measured by calculating …

Measuring Sense Of Presence And User Characteristics To Predict Effective Training In An Online Simulated Virtual Environment, Gianluca De Leo, Leigh A. Diggs, Elena Radici, Thomas W. Mastaglio

VMASC Publications

Introduction: Virtual-reality solutions have successfully been used to train distributed teams. This study aimed to investigate the correlation between user characteristics and sense of presence in an online virtual-reality environment where distributed teams are trained. A greater sense of presence has the potential to make training in the virtual environment more effective, leading to the formation of teams that perform better in a real environment. Being able to identify, before starting online training, those user characteristics that are predictors of a greater sense of presence can lead to the selection of trainees who would benefit most from the online simulated …

Medical Student's Knowledge And Attitudes Toward Female Sex Workers And Their Occupational Risk Factors, Jenna T. Nakagawa, Muge Akpinar-Elci

Community & Environmental Health Faculty Publications

Background: The tendency for female sex workers to seek health care is highly influenced by physician attitudes and behavior. By identifying medical students' attitudes toward female sex workers and assessing their knowledge of barriers to seeking care, we can focus medical training and advocacy efforts to increase access to care and improve public health outcomes.

Methods: In this cross-sectional study, medical students from various countries were invited to participate in an online survey with close-ended questions and Likert scale statements. Responses were quantified and knowledge and attitude scores were assigned based on knowledge of barriers to seeking care and agreement …

Exposure To Endocrine Disrupting Chemicals And Male Reproductive Health, Hueiwang Anna Jeng

Community & Environmental Health Faculty Publications

Endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs) can interfere with normal hormonal balance and may exert adverse consequences on humans. The male reproductive system may be susceptible to the effects of such environmental toxicants. This review discusses the recent progress in scientific data mainly from epidemiology studies on the associations between EDCs and male reproductive health and our understanding of possible mechanisms associated with the effects of EDCs on male reproductive health. Finally, the review provides recommendations on future research to enhance our understanding of EDCs and male reproductive health. The review highlights the need for (1) well-defined longitudinal epidemiology studies, with appropriately …