Public Health Commons^™

Microbial Diversity In The Sawmill Environment: Implications On The Health Of Sawmill Workers And Merchants, Nigeria, Ebere J. Okafor-Elenwo Ej, Odaro S. Imade Os, Osazee E. Izevbuwa Eo

Journal of Bioresource Management

There is an increasingly high suspicion of occupational health diseases amongst workers in sawmill factories. Hence this study aimed to determine the microbial diversity in some sawmill factories in Okada, Edo State, Nigeria to evaluate potential implications of the factory’s processing area on the health of the workers and wood merchants. Bacteria and fungi count in the bioaerosols within the processing area of each factory was performed with the passive air sampling technique. While in the sawdust samples, microbial counts were carried out with the pour plate technique. Identification of the microbes was performed with macroscopic and microscopic examinations as …

Prevalence Of Tuberculosis In District Haveli, Azad Jammu And Kashmir, Abu Ul Hassan Faiz, Ghazal Tariq, Ayesha Faiz, Lariab Zahra Faiz

Journal of Bioresource Management

Tuberculosis is an infectious disease with a common occurrence in population of Azad Jammu and Kashmir. The current study was designed to find out the prevalence of TB among the general population of a less developed District Haveli. Samples were collected from different hospitals and TB centers located in district Haveli and tested through sputum smear microscopy for conformation of positive for TB. The three-year (2015 to 2018) study was conducted to record prevalence of tuberculosis in selected area of Azad Jammu and Kashmir. The trend line of prevalence was made by using (SPSS software). Results produced linear trends yearly …

Addressing Covid 19 Among Vulnerable Populations, Tim Crawford, Sydney Silverstein, Craig Woolley, Laura M. Luehrmann

Population and Public Health Sciences Faculty Publications

This is the fifth installment in the Shelter in Place (SiP) Lecture series. This installment deals with the impact and implications of the Shelter in Place order on differing populations. It discusses how a variety of populations have differing experiences with social distancing, the virus, and other implications of the current pandemic.

Achievable Toilet Sanitation, Benjamin Goulart

Master of Public Health Program Student Publications

Human feces contains ten million viruses, one million bacteria, and 1,000 parasitic cysts, contributing to cholera, diarrhea, dysentery, hepatitis A, typhoid, polio, and various neglected tropical diseases (The Economist, 2019). Unimproved sanitation includes open defecation, shared latrines that lack privacy, or other sanitation methods with insufficient pathogen reduction of fecal material. The most affected regions are sub-Saharan Africa, Southern and Eastern Asia, Afghanistan, and Iraq (CDC, 2016). Without private toilets, girls reaching puberty are also less likely to continue school. Improved sanitation can contribute to increased human potential, human rights, and gross domestic product.

Differences Between Older And Younger Adults With Diagnosed Cardiovascular Disease: An Analysis Of Fels Study Data, Jacqueline Jacobs

Master of Public Health Program Student Publications

Most deaths in the United States (U.S.) result from complications of chronic diseases and at the heart of the matter is America’s number one killer: cardiovascular disease (CVD). CVD is culpable for 33% of U.S. deaths, killing more people than all cancers and chronic lower respiratory diseases combined.

Socioeconomic Status Impact On Smoking Rates In Ohio In 2019, Zafer Sattouf

Scholarship in Medicine - All Papers

Objective: To study the impact of socioeconomic status on smoking. Research Questions: This research study aims to determine the impact of socioeconomic status on smoking rates across counties in Ohio in 2019. It is investigating how different variables such as education, income, and employment status are correlated with smoking rates across different counties. Methods: Correlation studies and ANOVA were conducted to show how smoking affects premature deaths and how socioeconomic indicators affect smoking rates. Results: Smoking is associated with increased numbers of premature deaths in Ohio 2019 (p < 0.001). Higher levels of education, higher income, and lower unemployment rates has been associated with lower smoking rates in Ohio 2019 (p < 0.001).

Gender Differences In Marijuana-Related Problems Among Those Who Self-Reported Daily Smoking And Marijuana Use, Justin Ho

Scholarship in Medicine - All Papers

In 2012, the National Survey on Drug Use and Health reported about 5.2% of its respondents using tobacco and marijuana, with strong evidence of increasing marijuana use among tobacco users.¹ While smoking cigarettes has been shown to cause lung cancer,² additional studies associate habitual marijuana smoking with abnormal airway tissue histology, impeded airway conductance,³ decreased memory, psychomotor speed, and manual dexterity.⁴ Cigarette smoking and marijuana use are shown to have similar withdrawal symptoms such as irritability, anxiety, and depression,^2,5 meaning that this example of polysubstance dependence could become a valid public health concern, especially with …

Depression And Disability In The United States, Colleen Pennington

Scholarship in Medicine - All Papers

Objective: To compare the prevalence of cognitive disabilities, mobility disabilities, and depression rates by varying categories including U.S. State, gender, and region. Methods: Data was obtained from the CDC Wonder data set for the prevalence of cognitive and mobility disabilities from the U.S. states for the years 2017-2018. Data was also obtained from the CDC for incidence of depression among the general population and those identifying with any disability. Data was analyzed with ANOVA and t-tests using SPSS. Results: Results reveal a significant difference in disability type and gender throughout the United States. There is also a significant difference in …

Health Disparities Surrounding Air Quality And Asthma, Carolina B. Nadal Medina

Scholarship in Medicine - All Papers

Introduction: Asthma is a prevalent disease in the US in both children and adults. Studies in the past have found disparities in asthma prevalence among different races in the United States as well as between gender. Objective: Compare asthma prevalence among racial and ethnic groups in the us, as well as gender, in the United States in both children and adults in the years of 2011 and 2014. Additionally, to see if there is a correlation between air quality, measured in PM2.5mm, and asthma prevalence in different racial groups and genders in both children and adults. Methods: Asthma prevalence data …

The Effects Of Daily Sunlight Levels On Suicide Rates, Amna Amin

Scholarship in Medicine - All Papers

The correlation between sunlight and mental health has been long studied and is even involved in the development of Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD), with subsequent development of light therapy for affected individuals. This points towards the question of the effects of varying levels of daily sunlight in the United States on rates of suicide – a reflection of the extreme state of suboptimal mental health. I have ventured to study this question, using publicly available data on the daily sunlight levels in various states in the U.S. during each month of the year and the rates of suicide in those …

Infant Death Rates Between Different Medical Attendants, Zenab Saeed

Scholarship in Medicine - All Papers

The function of midwives in the context of maternal health is important, especially when understanding the role of midwives in a global context compared to in the United States. Globally, midwives have served as historically important members in the process of childbirth, but their role has experienced changes in response to increased medicalization over the years, especially in the United States.1 Based of their use and effectiveness in a global context, literature suggests that it may be beneficial for both the healthcare system, mothers, and infants to expand the role of midwives in the United States.2 The purpose of this …

Impact Of Different Factors On Premature Deaths In Rural And Urban Virginian Counties, Christian Randazzo

Scholarship in Medicine - All Papers

The goal of this investigation is to analyze data that influences premature death rates in Virginian counties. Specifically, I am looking at how the rates compare between rural and urban Virginian counties in 2020. In addition, I am analyzing how the premature death rates correlates with low birthweights, with air pollution, with preventable hospital stays, and with children in poverty and see how these variables predict the variance in premature death rates by county. I am using data from the County Health Rankings website. They gathered their data via surveys, the National Vital Statistics System, the CDC health tracking network, …

Incidence Of Female Breast Cancer In The United States By Race And Region, Tiffany Le

Scholarship in Medicine - All Papers

Objective: Assess the distribution and incidence of female breast cancer in the United States in different races and regions of the United States. Methods: Collect and analyze CDC WONDER data from the Center for Disease and Control to see if there are varying rates of female breast cancer incidence between races and in different regions of the United States. Results: The results are expected to show a significant difference in female breast cancer incidence between races and a non-significant difference in female breast cancer incidence among different regions of the United States.

The Effects Of Foodborne Bacteria On Outbreaks, Illnesses, And Hospitalizations In The U.S., Henrietta Ofori-Sampong

Scholarship in Medicine - All Papers

Objective: To investigate the effects of foodborne bacteria on outbreaks, and outbreak-associated illnesses and hospitalizations in the United States (U.S.).

Methods: Aggregate data was obtained from the CDC WONDER (Wide-ranging Online Data for Epidemiologic Research) database showing the number of foodborne outbreaks (1993-2017), and outbreak-associated illnesses (1993-2017) and hospitalizations (1998-2017) caused by foodborne bacteria. Species of bacteria were grouped into 13 genera and 1 other. An Analysis of variance (ANOVA) test was used to compare the mean outbreaks, and outbreak-associated illnesses and hospitalizations for each of the years using the data by species for each year. Results: There was no …

The Relationship Between Upstream Variables And Diabetes In Ohio, Brenna Lammers

Scholarship in Medicine - All Papers

Chronic illness is a significant contributor to disease burden in the US. Among these chronic conditions, diabetes is one of the most prevalent. Knowing the relationships between various factors and the prevalence of diabetes would be beneficial to creating targeted approaches to address this major public health problem. Therefore, the objective of this project was to elucidate the relationship between social determinants of health (unemployment, food environment index, and access to exercise opportunities) and access to care variables (ratio of population to primary care physicians and percent uninsured) with prevalence of diabetes by county in Ohio. This was done through …

The Impact Of State Prescription Drug Monitoring Programs On Opioid Prescribing Practices And Opioid-Related Overdose Death Rates, Molly Scarbro

Scholarship in Medicine - All Papers

Objective: Most states within the US have implemented a form of a Prescription Drug Monitoring Program (PDMP). The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has developed a scale to rate each state’s requirements of prescribers use of the PDMP on timely submission of the data and consultation when prescribing opioids. This paper looks at the impact of three levels of PDMP ratings (Green, Yellow, and Red) on opioid prescribing practices and opioid-related overdose death rates in 2015 (prior to PDMP rating) and in 2017. Methods: Data was collected from the CDC Wonder database, a publicly available data set. A …

Video Games, Screen Time, And The Impact On Body Mass Index And The Cardiovascular Fitness Of Adolescence, Joshua Sylvan

Scholarship in Medicine - All Papers

Objective: To determine the effect of screen time/video gameplay has on the BMI and cardiovascular fitness of adolescence between the ages of 12 and 15 years old.

Methods: All data were collected and analyzed based on the CDC’s NHANES National Youth Fitness Survey (NNYFS).

Results: Analysis showed that there was no significant difference between body mass index and time spent using a computer as well as no significant difference between estimate maximal O2 uptake (primary endpoint for cardiovascular fitness) and time spent using a computer.

Looking Into The Importance Of Mental Health In Ohio, Tanner Graves

Scholarship in Medicine - All Papers

Objective: This study is meant to analyze the effects of poor mental health as it relates to other health outcomes. Methods: Data on mental and physical health will be collected from the County Health Rankings website. Then tests will be performed to compare rates of poor mental health days between Ohio and various other states. Then the number of poor mental health days will be correlated to physical inactivity and premature death rates to see if there is a positive or negative correlation. Lastly, poor mental health days and insufficient sleep will he used to see if those two variables …

Correlation Between Copd And Physical Activity In The United States, Ellie Ganz

Scholarship in Medicine - All Papers

Objective: My objective of this project is to determine whether there is a correlation between COPD and physical activity in the United States by looking at all 50 states. Also, to determine if there is a difference between the prevalence of COPD in different regions of the US.

Methods: Data was collected and analyzed using the publicly available data set from the CDC Wonder database (wonder.cdc.gov). A Pearson correlation test and an ANOVA with post hoc tests were used to determine correlations and differences between variables to answer research questions.

Results: There is a significant negative correlation between physical activity …

Traffic And Our Health, Atteh Akoto

Scholarship in Medicine - All Papers

Objective: The intent of this study is to find a correlation between long commute times, physical health, and mental health. Methods: Data was collected from a publicly available dataset on countyhealthrecords.org. Results: Increased percentage of lone drivers with long commutes and obese adults, positive correlation between long commuters and access to exercise opportunities, and negative correlation between long commuters and poor mental health days.

Investigating Preventable Hospitalizations And Potentially Related Factors In Ohio, Seth Guillozet

Scholarship in Medicine - All Papers

Objective: This research study aims to examine preventable hospitalization rates in Ohio and several variables to may be associated with changes in these rates. First, I will investigate how preventable hospitalization rates (PHRs) have changed in Ohio from 2016 to 2020. Additionally, Primary Care Physician (PCP) ratio will be compared from 2016 to 2020 in Ohio, looking for any change that has occurred between the years. Next, PHRs will be correlated to the percentage of population uninsured in Ohio to look for any relationship between these two variables. Finally, Ohio’s PHRs will be compared to Indiana’s for 2020, to look …

Differences In Social Determinants Of Health Between Rural And Urban Counties Of Ohio, Megan E. Luft

Scholarship in Medicine - All Papers

Objective: The objective of this study is to investigate any possible differences in social determinants of health between rural and urban counties of Ohio and how the determinants relate to each other. Methods: All data for each variable (percentage of population who have some college education, food insecurity rate, number of primary care physicians per population, average mentally unhealthy days for adults in a month, drug overdose death rate, life expectancy, and child poverty rate) was collected through County Health Rankings and Roadmaps from either statewide or nationwide programs through different studies and surveys from 2013-2017. I utilized descriptive statistics, …

Food Insecurity And Healthy Food Availability In The State Of Ohio, Yanley Sánchez

Scholarship in Medicine - All Papers

Objective: This research study aims to determine the impact of food insecurity and healthy food availability in the state of Ohio. It investigates how food insecurity in Ohio has changed between 2016 and 2020. It also investigates how food insecurity correlates with education level by looking at high school graduation rates. It also investigates how Ohio, a state with a high level of food insecurity, compares to California which has low levels of food insecurity. This study also compares how food insecurity differs in rural and urban counties throughout the state of Ohio.

Methods: ANOVA with posthoc will be conducted …

Universal Health Coverage And Hiv In Hispanic America, Jenna Frantz

Scholarship in Medicine - All Papers

Objective: This study analyzes differences between HIV statistics in Hispanic American countries that have passed UHC legislation versus those that have not passed UHC legislation. In 2017, 0.4% of the population of Latin America and 1.2% of the population of the Caribbean was living with Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV).1 Because of these high rates of HIV in Hispanic America, as well as the lethality of HIV if untreated, HIV statistics and treatment outcomes in Hispanic America are of great concern. Relationships between HIV statistics and Universal Health Coverage (UHC) legislation could serve as a metric for UHC performance in Hispanic …

The Relationship Between Asthma, Race & Fine Particulate Matter In The United States, Samantha Mcknight

Scholarship in Medicine - All Papers

Objective: To assess how environment and race may impact childhood asthma prevalence. Methods: I analyzed data from CDC WONDER (www.wonder.cdc.gov). I performed descriptive statistics on average fine particulate matter for various states, as well as descriptive statistics on childhood asthma prevalence for various states. I determined if there was a correlation between states with higher prevalence of childhood asthma and states with higher levels of fine particulate matter using Pearson correlation. I used ANOVA with post hoc test to determine childhood asthma prevalence based on race/ ethnicity in the various states.

Results: The mean fine particulate matter in the 49 …

Effectiveness Of The Mini-Balance Evaluation Systems Test (Mini-Bestest) In Evaluating Balance In The Controlled Hypertensive Elderly Population, Melanie Sich

Scholarship in Medicine - All Papers

Objective: Provide additional evidence about the relationship between controlled hypertension and balance control by evaluating individuals’ gait stability, sensorial orientation, reactive postural response, and anticipatory postural adjustment using the Mini-Balance Evaluation Systems Test (Mini-BESTest).

Methods: A total of 76 (28 controlled hypertensive, 48 non-hypertensive) individuals were evaluated with the Mini-BESTest protocol. Each of the subscores obtained from the test represented the different subdomains of postural control, and they were compared between controlled hypertensive and non-hypertensive groups using a one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) statistical analysis.

Results: Hypertensive individuals tended to score lower than non-hypertensive individuals in the anticipatory postural adjustment …

The Impact Of Exercise Of Mental Health, Kala Griffith

Scholarship in Medicine - All Papers

Objective: Researchers have long recognized the positive association between exercise and mental health. With such a large proportion of the United States population being affected by mental illness, it is more important now than ever, to establish ways to improve the mental health of the country. The aim of this study is to evaluate the mental health of areas with differing levels of access to exercise, specifically Ohio and West Virginia, and begin making connections and associations about locations with similar data.

Methods: Data used in this study was gathered by the County Health Rankings and Roadmaps program (CHR&R). The …

Understanding The Relationship Between Early Childhood Education And Long-Term Health And Quality Of Life Outcomes, Ryan Mcnulty

Scholarship in Medicine - All Papers

Education is widely understood to be beneficial with regard to social opportunity, health outcomes, and quality of life scoring. Society opinion and literature are in accordance with this understanding. Much of the current literature, however, focuses on how higher education provides many of these benefits, but little investigates how early childhood education correlates with such outcomes. The objective of this study is to investigate what relationships there are between early childhood education performance and long-term health and quality of life outcomes. This investigation will explore Ohio’s third grade reading and math scores on standardized exams as compared to a national …

Understanding The Relationship Between Suicide Rates, Exercise, Commute Drive, And Healthcare Provider, Kaitlin Beemiller

Scholarship in Medicine - All Papers

Suicide is the tenth leading cause of death in the United States, with rates that have been rising significantly over the past decade, differing in varying states.1,2 Although there is not a lot known about the specific causes of these trends, recent literature has found a dose-response relationship association between inactivity and poor mental health, self-harm, and suicidal attempt, indicating that physical activity may possess a protective nature.1,4 Further expanding off this research, I wanted to investigate the relationships between rates of access to exercise, long commute drives, and healthcare providers to rates of suicide in 5 different states— to …

Association Between Sports Participation And Levels Of Physical Fitness, Jordan Italiano

Scholarship in Medicine - All Papers

Objective: Physical activity is a major component of overall health, especially in children. Increased physical activity in children provides many health benefits, and organized sports provide a great opportunity to meet the physical activity recommendations. In fact, participation in organized sports provides further health advantages, such as lower BMIs, compared to those who engaged in self organized physical activity and has shown to promote continued healthy habits throughout life. However, there has not been research looking at which sports are associated with the greatest level of fitness and provide the greatest health benefit for participants. In this study, we examine …