Community Risk Factors And Health Inspection Violations In Mississippi Delta Census Tracts, Chrystal S. Early

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

A concerning public health issue in America is about food deserts urban and rural communities that lack grocery retailers that offer affordable, nutritious, and diverse foods. Empirical evidence has shown significant associations between neighborhood disadvantage/disorder risk factors of high poverty and high percentages of ethnic minority residents with presence/ absence of healthy food retailers in food deserts. The purpose of this quantitative correlational study, framed by the disparities in food safety conceptual model, was to examine if county-level poverty, number of African American residents, number of elderly (i.e., age 65 or older) residents, vehicle ownership, and crime rates were significantly …

Effects Of Nonadherence To Hiv/Aids Drugs On Hiv-Related Comorbidities In Eastern Nigeria, Chizomam Laura Ojukwu

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Developing countries like Nigeria continue to have HIV epidemic challenge due to the scarcity of evidence-based information and lack of resources to boost HIV education. The study population, Owerri, is one of the states in Nigeria with a high incidence rate of HIV. The purpose of this phenomenological study was to explore the experiences of people living with HIV/AIDS regarding the effects of nonadherence to HIV/AIDS drugs. The integrated theory of health behavior model provided the framework for the study. I collected, transcribed, and analyzed interview data to identify clusters and themes. Results showed that various factors influenced and (e.g., …

Predictors And Risk Factors Of Ebola Virus Disease In Sierra Leone, Kandeh Kamara

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Sierra Leone had the highest number of cases of Ebola virus disease in history during the 2014 Ebola epidemic. The purpose of this quantitative, cross-sectional study was to examine the relationship between sociocultural and behavioral risk factors and Ebola status among women and men ages 15 to 49 years in Sierra Leone. The ecological model served as the theoretical framework. Secondary data were collected from the Sierra Leone Ebola Disease Survey. Results of chi-square tests revealed that attending a funeral (p = .001), touching a dead body at a funeral (p = .023), contact with a sick person (p = …

Human Performance In Manufacturing Tasks: Optimization And Assessment Of Required Workload And Capabilities, Maria Chiara Leva, Lorenzo Comberti, Micaela Demichela, Alberto Caimo

Conference papers

This paper discusses some examples where human performance and or human error prediction was achieved by using a modified version of the Rasch model(1980), where the probability of a specified outcome is modelled as a logistic function of the difference between the person capacity and item difficulty. The model needs to be modified to take into account an outcome that may not be dichotomous and o take into account the interaction between two macro factors: (a) Task complexity: that summarises all factors contributing to physical and mental workload requirements for execution of a given operative task & (b) Human capability: …

​Youth Smoking In Europe. Strategies For Prevention And Reduction, Joan Hanafin, Luke Clancy

Books / book chapters

No abstract provided.

Development Of A Healthy Eating And Lifestyle Program (Help) Online Website For Filipinos: A Case Report, Noelle Lyn C. Santos

Internet Journal of Allied Health Sciences and Practice

Background and Purpose: Non-communicable diseases (NCDs) are a major public health problem in the Philippines and around the world. Preventive measures to reduce its continuous rise require improvement in the health system. Utilization of information and communication technology-(ICT)-based tools will allow dissemination of evidenced-based information in the population. This case report contains the description of the development process of a Web-based nutrition Website.

Case Description: ICT-based tools were explored as means of communicating nutrition information to the public because of the increasing access and usage of the Internet among Filipinos. An iterative process with five major phases were followed …

Electronic Nicotine Delivery Systems (Ends): Reasons For Use And Associated Factors In Self-Selected Nicotine Concentrations, David D. Allen Iii

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This study aimed to examine e-cigarette user reasons for use, changes in their nicotine concentrations, and factors associated with changes in their chosen nicotine concentrations.

Lung Cancer Screening In A Community Setting: Characteristics, Motivations, And Attitudes Of Individuals Being Screened, Margaret M. Byrne, Sarah E. Lillie, Jamie L. Studts

Behavioral Science Faculty Publications

We describe the characteristics of individuals being screened in community settings including factors influencing screening decisions and the level of information sought prior to screening. Individuals from two community-based radiology clinics (N = 27) were surveyed after screening. Screening efficacy and salience were the most important factors in screening decisions, whereas healthcare provider recommendations were rated not important. Half of participants reported no or little conversation about screening with their primary care provider, and 61.5 percent had not sought any information on screening. Individuals being screened in a community setting are unlikely to have sufficient information for an informed …

Pediatria En Panama: A Spanish International Health Experience, Vickie Blanco

Posters

Reports learning experiences while working with several pediatric care facilities in Panama.

Global Health Experience: Laos Friends Hospital For Children, Ashley Daniel

Posters

Outlines the learning experiences of a pediatric resident working within the Laos Friends Hospital for Children.

Panama: Exploration Of Multiple Health Care Settings And Spanish Immersion, Danielle Gonzales

Posters

Details how the urban and rural settings of Panama offer an unique opportunity for Spanish immersion and disease pathology learning experiences.

E-Cigarettes And Conventional Cigarettes: Perceived Risks And Benefits Among College Students, Evi Addoh

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

ABSTRACT Background: Accompanying the decline in cigarette smoking rates has been a rise in prevalence of electronic cigarette (e-cigarette) use. The ongoing investigations on the health impact of e-cigarettes have been accompanied by mixed messages and a lack of consensus which may lead college students to rely on their own perceptions of risk and benefits in deciding whether to use e-cigarettes. Conclusion: Considering the significant association of perceived risks and benefits with e-cigarette and cigarette use this study yields some findings that show the importance of appropriately addressing perceptions. It is paramount to keep the public updated on pertinent research …

Evaluating The Consistency Of A Breathing Flow Recording Device Across Different Elastomeric Half-Mask Respirators, Samuel Jennings Munnis

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

The National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) is the organization in charge of approving respiratory devices in the United States, as permitted by 42 CFR Part 84. Standards that NIOSH uses to certify powered air-purifying respirators (PAPRs) are based on respiratory data collected before the 21^st century. With new technologies, it is possible to gain a more accurate understanding of breathing flow of healthcare workers (HCWs). A new portable breathing flow recording device developed by The S.E.A. Group was intended for use with a Sundström SR100 mask with a P100 filter. This study tests the device with …

Improving Access To Antenatal Care In Ngara, Tanzania Through Implementation Of The Lady Health Worker Programme, Alison L. Bailey

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

Maternal mortality is one of the greatest health disparities facing the world today. A disproportionate number of women who die from pregnancy-related complications live in developing countries: the average maternal mortality in developed nations is 12/100,000, compared to 239/100,000 in developing nations; this rate is even higher in several sub-Saharan African nations. Reasons for this disparity include a lack of providers, inaccessibility to care, and poor quality of treatment in developing nations. Women living in the sub-Saharan country of Tanzania face many of these barriers, and as a result the country’s maternal mortality rate is 398/100,000. Antenatal care is an …

Trends In Opioid Use Disorder Among Pregnant Women And Opioid Use During Vaginal Delivery Hospitalization, Ayooluwatomiwa Deborah Adekunle

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

Background: The prevalence of opioid use in pregnancy has increased sharply in recent years. Kentucky is one of the hardest hits states and has seen many babies born with withdrawal symptoms over the past decade. Recent years have seen an increase in efforts to decrease opioid use in both inpatient and outpatient settings. However, Kentucky continues to have high rates of opioid prescription. This study aims at looking at trends in Opioid Use Disorder (OUD) in pregnancy, Neonatal Opioid Withdrawal Syndrome(NOWS) and the use of opioids during delivery hospitalization at a Kentucky tertiary institution.

Methods- Data on all deliveries between …

Examining The Effects Of Indiana’S Syringe Exchange Program On New Hepatitis C And Hiv Diagnoses From 2015-2017, Katherine Youngen

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

In 2015, a rural Indiana county experienced an outbreak of HIV related to intravenous drug use. 181 people were diagnosed with HIV between Oct. 1, 2014 and Nov. 1, 2015. This outbreak prompted the state legislature to implement a policy that legalized syringe exchange programs for the first time ever in Indiana. This capstone attempts to summarize the situation that led to the creation of this policy and the effects of this policy, Indiana Senate Enrolled Act 461 (IN SEA 461). Finally, this capstone makes recommendations for modifying the existing policy or implementing a similar policy in an area experiencing …

Case-Control Study Of Nutrition And Lung Cancer In Appalachian Kentucky, Afton N. Wright

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

Background and Objectives

Lung cancer is the most common cause of cancer-related deaths world-wide. Recent studies suggest a possible association between nutrition and risk for specific histological subtypes of cancer. We examined the relationship between nutrition and lung cancer histology in Kentucky, a largely rural U.S. state that ranks among the highest in the nation in lung cancer rates, as well as diseases related to diet, such as diabetes and obesity. The objective of this study was to examine the impact of nutrition on lung cancer risk and histology in Kentucky. More specifically, we wanted to investigate potential associations with …

Influence Of Occupation And Geographic Location On Underground Coal Miner Exposure To Respirable Crystalline Silica, Quantez Ramaud Crowe

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

I. Specific Aims:

i. Review potential factors contributing to the resurgence of coal workers’ pneumoconiosis (CWP) in Appalachia and analyze the Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) Complete Quartz dataset for potential contributors of underground (UG) coal miner exposure to silica and coal dust.

Objectives:

1. i. To provide evidence of an association between silica and coal dust exposure and various UG coal miner occupations and mine locations.
2. ii. Explore changes over time in UG coal miner silica exposure, dust exposure, and silica concentration in samples collected.
3. iii. Determine if UG coal miners have experienced an increase in exposure to silica …

Analyzing Differences In Mental Health Treatment Seeking Behavior In Hopkins County, Kentucky, Kathryn Olson Gross

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

Rates of mental illnesses are consistently higher in the corrections system at all levels of incarceration. However, local jails are largely unable to meet the mental health needs of their inmates. Considering that there are several barriers to treatment seeking such as stigma, transportation, or availability of services in rural areas already, the treatment seeking behavior of people in jail differs from those not in jail. The objective of this research is to understand the factors that influence treatment seeking behavior among those in jails, and how those factors differ from those not in jail. Overall people in jail had …

Drugs, Alcohol, And Their Impact On The Severity Of A Traumatic Work-Related Injury, Keisha Mcfarlane

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

Objectives

Traumatic work-related injuries result in thousands of deaths per year in the United States. It is important to determine factors that may contribute to these deaths in order to find ways to decrease the risk of injury. The study objectives were to determine if alcohol and drug (prescription and illicit) use could increase the risk of severe injuries or cause a specific mechanism of injury (being struck by or against an object, a fall, or injured as an occupant in a motor vehicle) when consumed prior to an injury.

Methods

A retrospective, facility-based, case review study of traumatic work-related …

Assessing The Tuberculosis (Tb) Screening Compliance Rates And Treatment Completion Among International Students At The University Of Kentucky, Bongiwe P. Malinga

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

Background: Tuberculosis early screening and diagnosis are cost-effective strategies for infection control. Tuberculosis elimination which is aimed for 2030 requires that both latent tuberculosis and active disease be fully treated. This study measures the tuberculosis screening rates and treatment completion rates among the international students at the University of Kentucky between 2016 and 2018.

Methods: This retrospective cohort study included all J1 and F1 student visa holders enrolling from 2016 fall to 2017 fall. To accommodate the nine months treatment completion, the cohort period overlapped to 2018. Data were provided by the University Health Services and the sample size …

Consultation Experience In Public Health, Zimu Li

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

Nowadays, students safe in violence area is becoming to a huge problems, from the survey- National Youth Risk Behavior Survey we find that the sexual and dating violence rate is increasing during the past few years.For the willing that we try to reduce the risk of dating and sexual violence, we are going to build some programs and publish them to the society especially the schools to protect our teenagers. As we know that the period for students from high school to the university is a very important time to build their right social norms, we start a program called …

Implementing Components Of The Cafeteria Power Plus Project And The Five-A-Day Power Plus Project With The Catch’S Go, Slow & Whoa Program To Increase Fruit And Vegetable Consumption In Community Eligibility Provision Elementary Schools In Lexington, Ky, Kayla Payton Keller

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

Poor diet quality is a leading risk factor for many chronic diseases affecting Americans today. Increasing consumption of fresh fruits and vegetables during childhood helps to protect against chronic diseases in adulthood and overall prolonged healthier habits. Since 1988, trends in fruit consumption remain unchanged in the United States and vegetable consumption has slightly decreased. Communities living under the poverty level have a greater disparity for access to and consumption of fresh fruits and vegetables. This proposal is given by the Lexington Fayette County Health Department (LFCHD) and combines aspects of three evidence-based programs: the 5-a-day Power Plus Project, the …

Women Identifying New Goals Of Safety (Wings) In Conflict Affected Regions Of Ukraine, Maryna Hrudii

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

According to Radio’s Liberty (Radiosvoboda) analyses of data provided by United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), the National Violence Hotline and the Geneva Center of Democratic Control of Armed Forces (DCAF), there were 1.85 million survivors of intimate partner violence (IPV) in Ukraine in 2014-2017, and of these, only 83,000 contacted the police. IPV and gender based violence (GBV) in Ukraine remain underreported due to the lack of law enforcement investigations, as well as due to stigma and shame. Women in conflict-ridden regions of Ukraine are at heightened risk for GBV/IPV. The project will IPV/GBV in Luhansk and Donetsk regions, where …

Reducing Infant Mortality Through The Nurse Family Partnership Home Visitation Program In Montgomery County, Alabama, Kristyn Hill

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

The mitigation of infant mortality (IM) has long been a public health effort within the United States. And although the rates have dramatically decreased with medical advancements, certain populations remain disproportionately affected. There are various factors that are thought to contribute to our IM rates and the disparities between women of varying demographics. Alabama has the highest rates of infant mortality in our county, and women of color within the state have even higher rates.

Many programs with goals of decreasing the IM rate within the United States have been implemented over time. In particular, home visitation programs have been …

Evaluating The Effects Of Safe Injection Facility Legalization On Fatal And Non-Fatal Overdose And Infectious Disease, Olivia M. Ramirez

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

In 2017, 70,000 lives were lost to fatal drug overdoses with approximately 46,000 of those involving the use of prescription and illicit opioids (CDC, 2018b). Unaddressed, the opioid epidemic is costing large amounts of money, lost productivity and valuable lives.

Injection drug use has also become increasingly common in the United States, as it is an efficient means of consuming opioids. Unfortunately, injecting drugs is also an efficient method of transmitting bloodborne diseases. Estimates show that in the United States, 8% of all new HIV infections in 2010 and 22% of all adults and adolescents with HIV resulted from injection …

Seasonality, Atmospheric Conditions, And Variation In Household Radon, 1990-2015, Nicholas Conley

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

_Background:

Radon is a colorless, odorless, and tasteless radioactive gas. Indoor radon exposure is responsible for at least 21,000 lung cancer deaths per year in the U.S. Radon concentrations vary greatly, with atmospheric conditions as one of the major factors contributing to this variation. There is also a link between season of the year and indoor radon values, with higher readings in winter compared with summer months. Seasonality studies are necessary in order to determine the best time for radon exposure screening. The purpose was to determine if atmospheric conditions (i.e., temperature, precipitation and wind) were predictive of observed home …

The Impact Of Medication Donation Repositories: A Policy Analysis, Lacey Brinegar

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

Two major issues surround the U.S. healthcare system: waste and inaccessibility of prescription drug medication. This paper primarily examines the financial impact medication donation repositories have on individuals and the healthcare system overall. Healthcare facilities may act as repositories for donated medications to be dispensed to those otherwise unable to afford them. The specifics of each policy vary from state to state with some policies covering a wider array of acceptable donations than others. Although Kentucky enacted a policy in 2005, the state still lacks any operational programs. By analyzing the policies of multiple states, this paper elucidates the more …

Culminating Experience In The Application Of Biostatistics In Public Health: A Report On My Consultation Experiences, Samantha Kennedy

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

Executive Summary

This portfolio is a compilation of three different consulting experiences that I have had to opportunity to work with as a part of University of Kentucky’s Master of Public Health program with a concentration in biostatistics. My portfolio consists of project descriptions, notes, reports, relevant SAS code and output, and other supporting materials for the three projects I worked with. Each of the projects that I worked with were vastly different, as was my role in them. As such the supporting documents for each are very different as well, but each does have a brief description of the …

Positive Action: Implementing A Social-Emotional And Character Development Program In Marshall County, Kentucky Schools, Mallory Antel

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

Approximately 8% to 10% of children less than 5 years old experience clinically significant mental health problems, and 10–20% of all children and adolescents have a mental health problem of some type. While the prevalence of mental illness is similar between rural and urban residents, the services available differ significantly. Less than half of rural counties have a mental health facility that provides outpatient treatment for children and adolescents, resulting in children and adolescents in these areas being largely underserved. Following family homes, schools are the primary locations responsible for youth development. Research shows that well- designed, well-implemented school-based prevention …