Public Health Commons^™

Institute Of Public Health Newsletter, July - December 2024, Institute Of Public Health (Iph)

Institute of Public Health Newsletter (IPHNL) and Other Publications

No abstract provided.

Reply By Bueno De Mesquita Et Al. To Davidson, P. Jacob Bueno De Mesquita, Rosemary K. Sokas, Mary B. Rice, Edward A. Nardell

Arts & Sciences Faculty Publications

No abstract provided.

Environmental Metrics In Action: Exploring U.S. Superfund Sites Affiliated With The Fashion Industry, Nidia K. Trejo

Textile Society of America: Symposium Proceedings

Little is known of Superfund sites, long-term clean up sites, affiliated with the apparel and footwear supply chain in the United States. The United States Environmental Protection Agency (US EPA) manages the clean up of contaminated sites that pose a significant risk to human health and the environment under the Superfund program. A site can become contaminated if hazardous waste from industrial operations are mismanaged or dumped into the environment, in an uncontrolled manner. In this study, a proposed Superfund site (Mohawk Tannery in Nashua, New Hampshire), an active Superfund site (Ciba-Geigy Corp. in Toms River, New Jersery), and a …

Your Guide To Lowering Cholesterol With Therapeutic Lifestyle Changes (Tlc)

United States Natonal Institutes of Health: Materials

Need to lower your cholesterol? Therapeutic Lifestyle Changes (TLC) is a set of tools you can use to get results.

Ph 610: Biostatistics For Public Health Practice, Ruaa Al Juboori

GMAS Course Syllabi

No abstract provided.

Climate Change And Mental Health: An Interactive Educational Session, Andrea Costin, Daniel Fisher, Bethany Harper, Ramzi W. Nahhas, John Sullenbarger

Population and Public Health Sciences Faculty Publications

Introduction: Climate change is the single biggest health threat facing humanity, with direct and indirect impacts on mental health, yet health impacts of climate change remain notably absent from most medical school curricula. We describe a timely interactive educational session on climate change and mental health that was implemented and studied on a medical student clinical psychiatry rotation. Methods: We developed a 1-hour introductory session on the mental health impacts of climate change and potential solutions. The session was delivered to third-year medical students on their 4-week clinical psychiatry rotation and included pre- and postsession survey questions assessing their knowledge, …

Assessing Lung Cancer Screening Protocols And Outcomes: A Comparative Analysis Between Indonesia And The United States, Priscilla Sitorus

Nursing | Senior Theses

Background/Significance: Social inequity is a large problem within the healthcare system, especially in third-world countries, like Indonesia. Poor access to healthcare and screening protocols can contribute to delayed diagnoses, poorer outcomes, and increasing mortality rates. Purpose: This study aims to assess the effectiveness of lung cancer screening protocols in Indonesia compared to California and help identify potential barriers and factors in lung cancer screening in both regions. This will later help reform policy interventions and decisions to improve community access. Methods: The study will be divided into two portions using a mixed method approach. The qualitative component will include lung …

A Quality Improvement Study On Increasing Rates Of Lung Cancer Screening, Arpit Arora, Crystal Bharat, Sophia Zia, Pooja Paunikar, Dana Simpson

South Atlantic Division GME Research Day 2024

No abstract provided.

Identifying Factors That Reduce Substance Use Liability, Victoria Allen, Nick Blanch, Sunday Wright, Kelci Straka-Mai, Aarushi Patel, Caleb Bridgwater, Lubidia Menjivar, Cate Vaughn, Courtney Blondino Phd, The Mid-Atlantic Twin Registry, Michael M. Vanyukov Phd, Hermine H.M. Maes Phd, Elizabeth Prom-Wormley Phd

IRBEH/Spit for Science Publications and Presentations

No abstract provided.

Primary Care Physician Trust: The Importance Of Early Medical Intervention For African American Children With Asthma, Harrish Ganesh

AUCTUS: The Journal of Undergraduate Research and Creative Scholarship

Asthma is a prevalent condition characterized by an individual’s airway becoming inflamed, constricted, and leads to the formation of mucus and difficulty breathing. Nearly 27 million individuals are currently diagnosed with Asthma in the United States, and African Americans are 40% more likely to be diagnosed with asthma than Caucasians. This literature review analyzed multifaceted barriers that restrict African American asthmatic children from gaining consistent asthma treatment. Some of these barriers range from historical racial discrimination that leads to parental mistrust to financial and educational barriers that result in inconsistent pediatric care for asthmatic children. The combination of the above …

Improving Maternal Health Care Accessibility And Utilization In Remote And Island Communities: An Explorative Study In Ghana, Douglas Adu-Fokuo

CGU Theses & Dissertations

Background: Maternal mortality remains a global concern, with the World Health Organization (WHO) reporting a maternal mortality rate (MMR) of 223 deaths per 100,000 live births in 2020. In Ghana, the MMR was notably high, at 838, 776, and 875 deaths per 100,000 live births in 2019, 2020, and 2021, respectively. These figures exceed WHO’s high mortality rate threshold, particularly affecting women in remote and hard-to-reach areas. Geographic isolation, financial constraints, and inadequate infrastructure significantly impede access to essential maternal health services, impacting the health of women and newborns in Ghana’s remote and island communities.

Objective: This study aims to …

Inequalities In Use Of Hospitals For Childbirth Among Rural Women In Sub-Saharan Africa: A Comparative Analysis Of 18 Countries Using Demographic And Health Survey Data., Manuela Straneo, Claudia Hanson, Thomas Van Den Akker, Bosede Afolabi, Anteneh Asefa, Alexandre Delamou, Mardieh Dennis, Luis Gadama, Nyika Mahachi, Welcome Mlilo

Centre of Excellence in Women and Child Health

Introduction; Rising facility births in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) mask inequalities in higher-level emergency care— typically in hospitals. Limited research has addressed hospital use in women at risk of or with complications, such as high parity, linked to poverty and rurality, for whom hospital care is essential. We aimed to address this gap, by comparatively assessing hospital use in rural SSA by wealth and parity.

Methods; Countries in SSA with a Demographic and Health Survey since 2015 were included. We assessed rural hospital childbirth stratifying by wealth (wealthier/poorer) and parity (nulliparity/high parity≥5), and their combination. We computed percentages, 95% CIs and …

Report: Evaluation Of Seal!Nd: School Year 2022-2023, Shawnda Schroeder, Jordan Jaeger

Indigenous Health Faculty Publications

The North Dakota school-based sealant program (SEAL!ND) prioritizes providing preventive oral health care to underserved students by targeting schools with 45% or greater of their students enrolled in the free and reduced fee school lunch program (these are considered qualifying schools). Although schools with a larger proportion of youth who are from lower-income households are prioritized by federal funding, additional schools participate and receive care from local dental providers (these are referred to as non-qualifying). During the 2022-23 school year, 58 schools participated in SEAL!ND; 40 qualifying schools (Q) and 18 non-qualifying (NQ); 55 of the 58 schools had two …

Infographic: How Well Do North Dakota Third-Grade Students Take Care Of Their Teeth?, Shawnda Schroeder

Indigenous Health Faculty Publications

93% of the third-grade students had visited the dentist at least once in their life. Children who report never seeing a dentist have a significantly higher need for urgent dental care.

Understanding Social Dynamics In Toxic Conversations And Public Health Intervention Acceptance On Social Media, Ana Aleksandric

Computer Science and Engineering Dissertations - Archive

Social media is now central to daily life, offering users a space to share content and opinions. However, these platforms also facilitate the spread of hate speech and misinformation, which can negatively impact public health. This dissertation develops methodologies to analyze social media data for insights that could inform health interventions. The research first examines user responses to toxic content, focusing on behavioral and emotional reactions, as well as group dynamics and bystander effects in toxic interactions. Another key focus is public opinion toward health interventions, particularly COVID-19 vaccination, using geolocated posts and analyzing factors such as race, ethnicity, and …

Geospatial Hotspots And Coldspots In Us Cancer Disparities And Associated Risk Factors, 2004-2008 To 2014-2018, Lei Guo, M. Courtney Hughes, Margaret E. Wright, Alyssa H. Harris, Meredith C. Osias

Faculty Articles, Papers, and Other Scholarship

Introduction

Despite declining cancer death rates in the US, cancer remains the second deadliest disease and disparities persist. Although research has focused on identifying risk factors for cancer deaths and associated disparities, few studies have examined how these relationships vary over time and space. The primary objective of this study was to identify cancer mortality hot spots and cold spots — areas where cancer death rates decreased less than or more than neighboring areas over time. A secondary objective was to identify risk factors of cancer mortality hot spots and cold spots.

Methods

We analyzed county-level cancer death rates from …

Clinical Characteristics And Outcomes Of Patients With Idiopathic Intracranial Hypertension In East Africa: A Retrospective Cross-Sectional Study, Zian Muikamba

Master of Internal Medicine

Introduction; Idiopathic intracranial hypertension (IIH) is a neurological condition characterized by elevated intracranial cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) pressure without demonstratable evident causes. The mechanisms leading to a particular predilection for women of childbearing age who are overweight and obese or who have recent rapid weight changes remain imprecisely described. The Modified Dandy criteria is used for diagnosis and includes-clinical symptoms, papilledema, lumbar puncture (LP) opening pressure, and neuroimaging. If undiagnosed, it can progress to disabling irreversible visual loss. Weight loss is useful in addition to medical therapy in treating the condition. Data in Sub-Saharan Africa is scarce.

Methods; This study described …

Knowledge And Perception Of Hand Hygiene And Associated Factors Among Final Year Medical And Nursing Students In Dar Es Salaam Tanzania, Anthony Baltazary Ngowi

Master of Obstetrics and Gynecology

Hand hygiene, when practiced correctly and consistently is a simple and effective

method to prevent healthcare associated infections. These infections are acquired during a patients’ hospital stay and pose a major worldwide public health problem. The knowledge and practices related to hand hygiene among health workers need to be instilled early on during their training to develop a culture of correct and consistent practice. Existing literature has explored hand hygiene among health workers but very few studies have looked at it amongst medical and nursing students, who are the healthcare workers of tomorrow. This study aimed to assess hand hygiene …

Challenges In Post Graduate General Surgery Training In Tanzania: A Trainee’S Perspective, Shabbir Adamjee

Master of Surgery

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General Surgery residency training is a complex vigorous program which includes long working hours and complex surgical cases, in order to develop and attain the knowledge and the skills the trainee needs by the end of the program. Worldwide, general surgery programs have high attrition rates and residents have identified challenges which may be work related, related to social wellbeing and/or the residency program structure. Tanzania has public and private institutions providing general surgery residency training and although most have a quality assessment program the data is not readily available. Each institution has its personalized curriculum with its unique …

Microbial Profile And Antimicrobial Resistance Patterns Of Surgical Intra-Abdominal Infections At A Tertiary Hospital In Tanzania A Retrospective Cross-Sectional Study, Abduel Julius Kitua

Master of Surgery

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Among infections of surgical importance, intra-abdominal infections prevail among the most common in surgical patients with considerable morbidity and mortality. The ever-rising microbial resistance to commonly available antibiotics and geographical variations in microbial profile and resistance patterns poses a challenge to the management of these surgical infections of abdominal origin. The aim of this study was to evaluate microbiological characteristics and antibiotic susceptibility of isolates from intra-abdominal infections at a tertiary hospital in Tanzania and how these influence early treatment outcomes.

Factors Associated With Antiretroviral Drug Resistance Mutations Among Plhiv Failing To Achieve Virological Suppression On Second Line Treatment In Tanzania., Mabula M. Mabelele

Master of Internal Medicine

v> Human Immunodeficiency Virus / Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (HIV/AIDS) is a major public health problem affecting an estimated 38.4 million people globally, with the (54%) of them being from the Eastern and Southern African regions. Despite progress in the availability of multiple classes of antiretroviral drugs and early initiation of treatment with cART, many patients still fail therapy in the first and second-line regimens due to drug resistance driven by continuous acquisition of drug resistance mutation (DRMs). DRMs are high among adults failing treatment regimens, ranging between 50-97%.

Heartsmart: App-Based Implementation For Women With Cardiovascular Diseases, Briana Alfaro-Funes, Camilo Peña, Chelsea Vasquez, Folasade Jackson, Nicholas Williams

DC Health and Academic Prep Program (DC HAPP)

Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death for women in the United States, at a rate of 1 in every 5 female deaths. In the United States about 35% of women have an illness related to CVD like hypertension, lack of physical , and high blood cholesterol level. Since 1984, the number of deaths of women caused by CVD has surpassed the number of deaths in men as women makeup 52.6% of the total number of deaths caused by CVD in the United States (Zhang, 2010). There are many factors like oral contraceptives and menopause that can put women …

Medications For Opioid Use Disorder & Implications For Mobile Methadone Units, Sarah Boeke, Samantha Singer, Stella Resko

Substance Use Research Team

Research has shown the urgent need for updates to guidelines regulating opioid treatment programs (OTPs), especially as the COVID-19 pandemic exacerbated overdose rates and the drug supply became increasingly contaminated with fentanyl, synthetic opioids, and xylazine (Moghtaderi et al., 2023)(DEA, 2022). Part 8 of Title 42 of the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR), originally enacted in 2001, includes regulations that guide OTPs. The 42 CFR Part 8 final rule, issued by SAMHSA, updates these federal regulations. It is the first major revision since 2001, aimed at expanding access to care, improving patient outcomes, and integrating lessons learned from the COVID-19 …

A Case Study In Program Evaluation, Alyssa Osborne

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

As a result of a Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus (MRSA) outbreak at a local high school, the Lexington Fayette County Health Department (LFCHD) has been tasked with developing a program to ensure timely reporting of actions taken in the event of a MRSA outbreak or disease outbreak of similar nature (1). This program evaluation is guided by the CDC’s 6-step program evaluation framework (2), which was used to inform this assessment.

Evaluation Of Public Radon Messaging In Kentucky As Compared To Three Other States, Abigail Knapp

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

Radon poses a large health risk to those exposed to it, as it is an invisible, odorless, carcinogenic gas. Kentucky has high ambient levels of radon, but public awareness remains low as tobacco has been publicized as the main cause of lung cancer. As Kentucky has the highest incidence of lung and bronchial cancers in the United States, we aimed to examine the state’s health department radon page to see if it has sufficient information to warn residents about radon and provide resources. We reviewed the current Kentucky public messaging, radon rates, testing rates, and legislation compared to Ohio, Washington, …

Managing Stress: A Study Of Stress Response Mechanisms In Mycobacteria, Augusto C. Hunt Serracin

Biology Dissertations - Archive

Mycobacteria encompass many pathogenic species known to cause severe disease in humans. A well-known example is Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb), the causative agent of the lung disease tuberculosis, which kills millions of humans worldwide yearly. Pathogenic mycobacteria like Mtb are challenging to treat because of their innate ability to adapt to environmental stress. Their unique cell physiology and conserved stress responses allow them to combat biological insults, regulate growth, and regulate genes involved in stress; all these responses increase tolerance to antibiotics. The current therapies to treat mycobacterial infections are lengthy and, at times, unsuccessful, partly due to antibiotic tolerance. A …

Acceptability And Feasibility Of Screening With A Pediatric Care Provider-Led Social Determinants Of Health Identification Tool, Alison Eyre, Janice Cohen, Sarah Funnell, Lynsey James, Sheena Guglani, Hounaida Abi Haidar, Lindy Samson, Michelle Ward, Radha Jetty, Megan Harrison, John Lyons Dr., Leigh Fraser-Roberts, Susan Bennet, Douglas Archibald, Soha Khorsand, Tobey Audcent

Health Management and Policy Faculty Publications

Background Complex social determinants of health may not be easily recognized by health care providers and pose a unique challenge in the vulnerable pediatric population where patients may not be able to advocate for themselves. The goal of this study was to examine the acceptability and feasibility of health care providers using an integrated brief pediatric screening tool in primary care and hospital settings.

Methods The framework of the Child and Adolescent Needs and Strengths (CANS) and Pediatric Intermed tools was used to inform the selection of items for the 9-item Child and Adolescent Needs and Strengths-Pediatric Complexity Indicator (CANS-PCI). …

Leveraging Local Knowledge To Contextualize The Opioid Epidemic Within Healing Communities Study Communities: A Photovoice Protocol, Peter Balvanz, Ramona G. Olvera, Margaret Louise Mcgladrey, Marisa Booty, Dacia Beard, Sylvia Ellison, Craig Mcclay, Monica Nouvong, Carrie B. Oser, Owusua Yamoah, Linda Sprague Martinez

Health Management and Policy Faculty Publications

Since its inception 30 years ago, Photovoice has gained increasing popularity as a research method and more recently has been incorporated within randomized controlled trial (RCT) designs. Photovoice is a participatory action research method that pairs photography with focus group discussions to record community strengths and concerns, build critical consciousness, and reach policymakers. Adherence of Photovoice implementation to these original tenets of Photovoice varies. This article provides the Photovoice protocol developed by the authors to improve the methodological rigor of Photovoice integration into RCTs and help contextualize the landscape for the HEALing Communities Study (HCS: NCT04111939), a greater than $350 …

Gestational Weight Gain And Epilepsy In The Offspring: A Population-Based Retrospective Cohort Study, Jiawen Chen

Public Health Theses

AbstractBackground and aims: Epilepsy is one of the most common neurologic disorders in childhood, but the etiology for the majority of the cases remains unknown. As a modifiable trait in pregnancy, gestational weight gain (GWG) has been shown to be a risk factor for multiple adverse birth outcomes. This study aims to investigate whether non-optimal GWG is associated with the risk of epilepsy in the offspring using a linked database in California. Methods: A population-based cohort study was conducted using the linked database from the Birth Certificate Record in California (2007-2015) for GWG, and the diagnostic records of epilepsy from …

Climate Change And Its Hidden Victims: A Review Of The Link Between Climate Change Impacts And Sexual And Gender-Based Violence In East Africa, Ezinwa Osuoha

Public Health Theses

Introduction: Climate change is having profound and disproportionate impacts on East Africa. Rising temperatures, unpredictable rainfall patterns, and prolonged droughts have become prevalent, leading to profound humanitarian challenges. The effects of climate change in East Africa span beyond those related to agriculture, food insecurity, and economic well-being. Sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV) is only proliferated in the climate change context. In the event of natural disasters, sexual and gender-based violence increases in tandem with the increase in vulnerability and instability in affected communities. Due to its myriad health consequences, SGBV requires the attention of public health professionals, policymakers, and those …