Public Health Commons^™

Positive Psychiatry, Amresh Srivastava

Data and Test Instruments

Revolutionary advances in understanding mental disorders and in providing novel treatments have enhanced the expectations of patients and relatives. There is a growing demand on newer research in providing interventions that allow patients to live a normal life. Of late, concept of the illness itself has undergone significant change. It is now proposed that expected outcome from treatment of mental disorder is to achieve a state of ‚ ‘wellness.’ Positive psychiatry is a newer branch of psychological medicine that seeks to promote understanding of wellness and examines its application in intervention and prevention of mental disorders. The concept of positive …

Know Tommorrow Brown University Poster, Shepard Fairey, Risd Archives

Ecology and Environment

Poster for Brown University student event to demand action to counter climate change. "Brown emPOWER is joining dozens of colleges across the country for Know Tomorrow, a national day of action to raise awareness about climate change and its consequences. 2015 is the year for climate action as world leaders meet for the UN climate talks in Paris to sign a global agreement on climate. On October 2nd, join us for an evening of live music, engaging speakers, and environmental action on the Main Green at Brown University! Featuring: Kerry Kennedy, What Cheer? Brigade, Voces Verdes- Latino Leadership in …

The Impact Of Antenatal Care On Maternal Mental Health In Rural Maharashtra, Cameron Barker

India: Public Health, Policy Advocacy, and Community

This study seeks to understand the major mental health concerns experienced by pregnant women and recent mothers in rural villages in Maharashtra and how these concerns are impacted by different elements of holistic antenatal and postnatal care. The risk factors that may lead to poor maternal mental health are strongly tied to social factors and vary from community to community. Unfortunately, in most developing countries mental health takes a back seat to other health issues deemed more pressing. This is especially true for female specific illnesses, given that the overall health of women and girl children is often neglected. The …

The Perception Of Menstruation And Treatment Of Menstrual Ailments Among Tibetan Women In Mcleod Ganj, Himachal Pradesh, Kara Spafford

India: Public Health, Policy Advocacy, and Community

Despite recent incorporation of quality of life assessments into goal setting, menstrual ailments are still left out of public health initiatives in developing countries. Due to lack of studies on perceptions of menstruation and treatment options for menstrual ailments, the specific health needs of Tibetan women are not met. The present study seeks to determine how Tibetan women are influenced by societal views of menstruation and to explore access to treatment for menstrual problems in McLeod Ganj, Himachal Pradesh. A total of thirty-seven semi-structured interviews were conducted among Tibetan doctors at Men-Tsee-Khang (Tibetan Medical and Astronomy Institute) and Tibetan women …

Implementation Of The International Health Regulations (2005) Through Cooperative Bioengagement, Claire J. Standley, Erin M. Sorrell, Sarah Kornblet, Julie E. Fischer, Rebecca Katz

Health Policy and Management Faculty Publications

Cooperative bioengagement efforts, as practiced by U.S. government-funded entities, such as the Defense Threat Reduction Agency’s Cooperative Biological Engagement Program, the State Department’s Biosecurity Engagement Program, and parallel programs in other countries, exist at the nexus between public health and security. These programs have an explicit emphasis on developing projects that address the priorities of the partner country as well as the donor. While the objectives of cooperative bioengagement programs focus on reducing the potential for accidental or intentional misuse and/or release of dangerous biological agents, many partner countries are interested in bioengagement as a means to improve basic public …

Prevailing Against Polio: India's Holistic Development Strategy, Anonymous Submission

Ex-Patt Magazine

No abstract provided.

Cross-Cultural Childbirth: Prioritizing The Healthcare Experiences Of Migrant Women In Competent Models Of Care, Emma Hall

Independent Study Project (ISP) Collection

In the context of the feminization of increasing global migration, it is impossible to understand maternal and child health in a given country without considering the experience of female migrants. As the total migrant population increases in the European Union, migration and its effects on health care provision in receiving countries and the experiences of immigrant populations must be recognized. Past research exposes an increased risk of complications and maternal mortality in migrant populations, but little information exists on the tangible programs that could respond to disparity. According to the World Health Organization, maternal health refers to the health of …

Prevalence Of Depression Among Active Tb And Tb/Hiv Patients In Kisumu County, Esther Lee

Independent Study Project (ISP) Collection

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), one in four people have been affected by a mental health disorder at one point in their lives.^[1] Kenya’s mental disorders account for 5.9% of the total global burden.[2] Mental disorders like depression is often comorbid with TB and HIV and disproportionately affects those with lower socio-economic income. Kisumu, a city in Nyanza province, has the highest HIV and TB prevalence in Kenya. This study aimed to determine the prevalence of depression among TB non-coinfected and TB/HIV co-infected patients at Jaramogi Oginga Odinga Teaching and Referral Hospital (JOOTRH) and the Clinical …

Does Mode Of Contact With Different Types Of Social Relationships Predict Depression In Older Adults? Evidence From A Nationally Representative Survey, Alan R. Teo, Hwajung Choi, Sarah B. Andrea, Marica Valenstein, Jason T. Newsom, Steven K. Dobscha, Kara Zivin

Community Health Faculty Publications and Presentations

OBJECTIVES: To determine associations between use of three different modes of social contact (in person, telephone, written or e-mail), contact with different types of people, and risk of depressive symptoms in a nationally representative, longitudinal sample of older adults.

DESIGN: Population-based observational cohort.

SETTING: Urban and suburban communities throughout the contiguous United States.

PARTICIPANTS: Individuals aged 50 and older who participated in the Health and Retirement Survey between 2004 and 2010 (N = 11,065).

MEASUREMENTS: Frequency of participant use of the three modes of social contact with children, other family members, and friends at baseline were used to predict depressive …

Nutrition And Education In An Urbanizing Nation, Molly Pritz

Independent Study Project (ISP) Collection

Child malnutrition is a growing public health issue in Nepal, particularly in urban areas. Not eating enough, or not eating enough of healthy foods, can have life-long implications on development and cognitive ability. Because of its relevance to development within the country, many donor organizations and non-governmental organizations are working to promote child nutrition education programs. The purpose of this research is to investigate the implementation and structure of urban child nutrition educational programs involving treatment and prevention in Kathmandu, Nepal. Through qualitative interviews and field observations with three primary organizations, this research analyzes the patterns and disconnects between various …

How Social Determinants Of Health, Health-Seeking Behaviors, And Treatment Adherence Influence And Interact With Endemic Levels Of Pulmonary Tb And Mdr-Tb In Urban Rajasthan, Michelle Kagei

Independent Study Project (ISP) Collection

Tuberculosis, the worlds most deadly infectious disease, remains as one of the major causes of morbidity and mortality in modern-day India. The country has the highest burden of both tuberculosis as well as multidrug-resistant tuberculosis, a more recently emerging menace. This study focuses on the social determinants of health pertaining to tuberculosis, identifying and discussing “at-risk” groups in the population of urban Rajasthan. Jaipur was chosen as the field study location because of the city’s extensive levels of healthcare institutions and facilities. In order to identify common patient demographics as well as issues regarding treatment adherence, medical records and interviews …

El Parto Humanizado: Perspectivas De Profesionales En Las Maternidades Públicas De Buenos Aires, Lara Kaplan Westbrook

Independent Study Project (ISP) Collection

Con el reconocimiento de la tecnologización y medicalización del embarazo y parto en años recientes, el término violencia obstétrica y la ley del parto humanizado han surgido en Argentina. Aunque la ley define cómo los hospitales deben actuar para garantizar un parto donde la mujer sea la protagonista, su implementación depende de muchos factores, incluyendo la interpretación y opinión del profesional. Además, las mujeres que viven en situaciones de pobreza son quienes más frecuentemente usan los servicios de salud públicos y por ello suelen estar más expuestas a la naturalización de la violencia en la atención de la salud y …

Hurdles To Health: An Exploration Of The Social Determinants That Affect Attitudes Toward Hpv Vaccination In Salvador, Bahia, Brazil, Megan Rogers

Independent Study Project (ISP) Collection

In 2014, the Brazilian government began supplying free, preventative human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccines for girls between the ages of 9 and 13. This public health campaign has the potential to greatly reduce the high HPV infection rate in Brazil, but without targeted education and information to supplement this medical intervention the program is predicted to have a smaller impact. This study aims to assess how well information about the HPV vaccine is currently reaching young Brazilian girls and their families. Data was gathered by interviewing professionals who work in STD education, women’s issues, and healthcare advocacy, as well as one …

Exercising Agency In Medical Decision-Making Processes Conventional And Traditional Medicine -A Case Study Of 67ha, Antananarivo-, Sakura Oyama

Independent Study Project (ISP) Collection

The formal integration of traditional and conventional medicine has been touted as a prime method to improve access to quality healthcare in Madagascar. This study draws on interviews with both traditional and conventional medical professionals as well as 100 residents of 67ha, Antananarivo to critically analyze the advantages of each sector in order to understand how integration can be used to strengthen the medical-decision making capacities of marginalized populations. Currently the ability for millions of Malagasy to exercise their freedom of choice in seeking their treatment method of choice is seriously compromised not only by cost and accessibility but by …

Mercury Emissions From Coal-Fired Powerplants, Divya Gade

Environmental Management & Risk Assessment (PH 560)

Mercury is a neurotoxic heavy metal that pose a risk to the public as well as the environmental health. It is a naturally occurring element that is released into the environment from the natural or anthropogenic emissions. Among the anthropogenic emissions, coal-fired powerplants account for approximately 50 percent of the emissions because of the lack of regulations for the emissions from these facilities. The other larger sources of mercury emissions such as municipal waste combustors and medical waste incinerators are subjected to the stringent regulations thereby minimizing their total contribution. Mercury is a natural component of coal and is released …

Exploring Community Health Through The Lens Of The Community Unit In Kariobangi North And The Surrounding Areas, Maya Paris-Saper

Independent Study Project (ISP) Collection

Healthcare is a challenge in countries of the Global South. Not only do climates and trends of rapid urbanization affect the health status of many negatively, but also many health facilities are inaccessible and not of good quality, they lack enough medical personnel and lack the resources to adequately provide for patients who do not have the resources them selves. As the wealth gap increases all over the world and resources continue to be distributed unequally communicable and non-communicable health issues plague those in urban and rural settings at an alarmingly high rate and as health innovation has worked to …

Relationship Between Emissions Of Human Activities And Ozone Layer Depletion, Umer Murtaza

Environmental Management & Risk Assessment (PH 560)

Ozone depletion always holds an importance being a protective shield to humans and environment as well. Human activities and man-made substances are playing major role to this depletion which is increasing day by day. In this paper influence of man-made substances on ozone depletion and consequences of this depletion have been discussed. Role of chlorofluorocarbons as depleting agents is more comparatively other substances. Due to ozone depletion life on earth is affecting which are resulting different consequences like skin cancer, eye diseases and destruction of crops and aquatic life. EPA has worked a lot to save the ozone and many …

A Systematic Review Of Smartphone Applications For Parent, Coach, And Referee Sideline Concussion Symptom Identification And Intervention In Youth Soccer, Patrick Hoffman

Master of Public Health Program Student Publications

BACKGROUND: It is the collective responsibility of coaches, referees, and parents to identify the signs and symptoms of a concussion, assess a player’s acute medical condition, and report their observations. Increasing concussion awareness and empowerment of these entities is critical to ensure that concussions are properly managed, risk is reduced, and effects are mitigated.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this review was to provide youth soccer organizations and relevant parties with the most relevant, factual evidence-based smartphone applications for recognizing the signs and symptoms of concussions in youth sports.

METHODS: An evidence-based standard for concussion symptoms and identification was identified from …

Maternal Health In Villages Of Northern Uttar Pradesh Assessing Options, Practices And Outcomes In Bahraich District, Elizabeth Curtis

India: Public Health, Policy Advocacy, and Community

Maternal mortality distinctly highlights a health burden women face, particularly in developing countries. For that reason, poor maternal outcomes in rural India are a field in which Public Health workers and researchers continue to question and study. This project aims to understand the reasons behind poor maternal health outcomes for village women in Bahraich District of Uttar Pradesh. The focus of this topic is the accessibility of available health services and the attitudes of various players who distribute or consume services of the health system. Through fieldwork with doctors, medical institutions, auxiliary health workers, traditional health workers, and village women, …

Abortion In Brazil - Todo Mundo Faz: An Analysis Of Social Movements And Social Support For The Liberalization Of Brazil’S Abortion Law In Salvador, Brazil, Maria Camila Caicedo

Independent Study Project (ISP) Collection

This study analyzed the current actions of feminist movements, black women’s movements, and other advocacy groups that have a stake in the current debate for the legalization of abortion in Brazil. The purpose of the study was to assess the current political avenues for approaching the legislative body available to marginalized groups who are disproportionately affected by the criminalization of abortion. It was built upon a comprehensive review of existing literature, which found very little information on the actions of feminist movements and black women’s movements in Northeast Brazil. The study was conducted over the course of four weeks in …

Selection Of Pathogen Surrogates And Fresh Produce Safety: Implications For Public Health And Irrigation Water Quality Policy, Ethan Givan

Masters Theses & Specialist Projects

Foodborne illness continues to be a substantial public health issue in the United States, with fresh produce being one of the leading causes of outbreaks. Understanding routes of contamination of fresh produce and how pathogens survive on plant surfaces is paramount in improving food safety and reducing risk to public health. The objectives of this study were to select environmental E.coli isolates as pathogen surrogates of Salmonella typhimurium and E.coli O157:H7, assess lettuce plant contamination by spray irrigation water, and evaluate a common industry quality control (QC) E.coli strain (ATCC 25922). Selections of E.coli surrogates were made utilizing biofilm and …

Enc 2210 Technical Writing For Health Science, Johanna Hillen

Service-Learning Syllabi

No abstract provided.

Developing And Pretesting A Text Messaging Program For Health Behavior Change, Lorien C. Abroms, Robyn Whittaker, Caroline Free, Judith Mendel Van Alstyne, Jennifer M. Schindler-Ruwisch

Prevention and Community Health Faculty Publications

Background: A growing body of evidence demonstrates that text messaging-based programs (short message service [SMS]) on mobile phones can help people modify health behaviors. Most of these programs have consisted of automated and sometimes interactive text messages that guide a person through the process of behavior change.

Objective: This paper provides guidance on how to develop text messaging programs aimed at changing health behaviors.

Methods: Based on their collective experience in designing, developing, and evaluating text messaging programs and a review of the literature, the authors drafted the guide. One author initially drafted the guide and the others provided input …

Community Health Workers: Health System Integration, Financing Opportunities, And The Evolving Role Of The Community Health Worker In A Post-Health Reform Landsacape, Mary-Beth Malcarney, Patricia Pittman, Leo Quigley, Naomi Seiler, Katie B. Horton

Health Workforce Research Center Publications

Community Health Workers (CHWs) have been gaining attention from policymakers because of their unique role in addressing health disparities and socioeconomic drivers of disease, and because of their potential integration into the health care delivery system. To date, there has been limited research specifically describing the variation in CHWs’ roles and relationships, and how that variation relates to management, to financing, to health system integration, and to the competencies CHWs should have in different contexts.

The purpose of this report is to better understand the varied landscape; to offer categories of analysis that may help inform policy, management, and research; …

Review Of Sampling And Evaluation Techniques For Diesel Exhaust Particulate Matter In The Mining Industry And The Application Of A Vapor Phase Organic Carbon Correction Factor, Ryley Bosch

Graduate Theses & Non-Theses

The health effects associated with diesel exhaust exposure have been documented for decades. However, methods used to assess diesel exhaust have experienced considerable revision over the past twenty years. The latest sampling methodology considers particulate matter elemental carbon (EC) and organic carbon (OC) analysis along with the vapor phase OC analysis. The objective of this study was to evaluate the influence of vapor phase OC on the current National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) method 5040 sampling and evaluation techniques for diesel exhaust particulate matter.

A pilot study was conducted as part of a larger study evaluation biodiesel …

Immigrant & Refugee Family Wellness Through Yoga & Zumba, Elizabeth Crawford, Faith Swenson, Angela Serrani, Kathleen Cassidy, Brittany Roy

Immigrant and Refugee Family Wellness Engagement Through Yoga and Zumba

Research poster stemming from IPEC mini-grant funded student project Immigrant And Refugee Family Wellness Engagement Through Yoga And Zumba. Students from multiple health professions collaborated to provide Yoga and Zumba classes at the Riverton Community Center. The project aimed to increase the participants’ ability to utilize stress reducing activities through a blend of student created heath education materials and yoga and zumba classes for refugee women and children.

Comparison Of Integrated And Direct Reading Sampling Methods To Measure Biodiesel Particulate Matter In An Underground Metal Mine, Shelby Fortune

Graduate Theses & Non-Theses

Exposure to diesel exhaust, as well as the diesel particulate matter associated with the exhaust has shown to cause adverse health effect in humans. The International Agency for Research on Cancer classified diesel exhaust as a group 1 human carcinogen, in June of 2012. Due to these health effects, there has been an effort in the mining industry to reduce the amount of worker exposure to diesel exhaust. Biodiesel has shown to be a promising control to reduce diesel particulate matter that is emitted during the combustion process. The use of a biodiesel blend over straight petroleum diesel has shown …

Portable Heater Use In Ice Fishing Shelters And The Potential For Carbon Monoxide Exposure, Kellie Hicks

Graduate Theses & Non-Theses

Every year, more than 400 people in the U.S. die from accidental Carbon Monoxide (CO) poisoning. Carbon monoxide is a colorless, odorless, poisonous gas that results from incomplete burning of common fuels such as natural gas and propane. When CO is inhaled, it enters the blood stream and reduces the ability of blood to carry oxygen. The environment for ice fishing is cold and ice fishermen who use ice huts or tents commonly use portable propane heaters to heat their shelters.

During the 2012/2013 ice fishing season, random fishermen were selected to be part of a research study. Upon arrival, …

Treatment Accessibility For Co-Infected Idus In China: A Likelihood For Hiv, An Improbability For Hepatitis C, Jessica Collins

Independent Study Project (ISP) Collection

In a country which provides free medicine and care for patients living with HIV/AIDS, China has not included a crucial piece of the problem in its health care scheme. In Yunnan Province alone, 77.7 % of intravenous drug users are co-infected with HIV and hepatitis C. While these patients can obtain treatment for HIV with ease, they cannot do so to treat their hepatitis C infection, a viral disease that leads to liver failure. Recent trends indicate that more co-infected patients are dying of HCV rather than HIV due to treatment inaccessibility. This study investigates theseverity of HCV in China, …

European Policies On Cardiovascular Disease Prevention And Health Promotion: A Comparative Study, Alison Council

Independent Study Project (ISP) Collection

As the number one cause of death, cardiovascular disease represents a threat to both the economic and social well being of European countries. As a result of a variety of coordinated efforts between the European Union (EU), national governments, nonprofits, private industry, and local communities, cardiovascular disease (CVD) has been decreasing in most countries in recent years. Measures such as bans on trans fats in Denmark, social mobilization and prevention policy in Finland, and nutrition labeling in the United Kingdom have had major impacts on heart disease. For instance, Finland’s prevention programs have resulted in a 63% reduction in deaths …